Okay, so my New Year's resolution was to get off my ass and get a chapter out. What do you know? I actually kept that resolution.
It's been a trying period of time since the last time I posted, and I'd like to thank everyone who stuck with me until this chapter. The death threats were even kept to a minimum--always a good thing. Between work, the holiday season, illness, and more, I wasn't sure I was ever going to get this thing out. It lingered unfinished for a month or better. I hope you enjoy it. Oh, yeah, homosexual and illegal and what not....
My biggest thanks this time have got to go to Karen, who dared the dangerous trek into my mind to make this more readable, and she did it on a notice of no more than a few hours. She's simply the greatest. Thanks to others, especially Drewbie, for just making me remember how much fun the world can be. And of course, SHMILY to someone who means the world to me.
And my love ever goes to my Joshua.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"I still don't understand why you feel you have to go?" JC asked me as he straightened his tie in the mirror.
I stopped brushing my teeth in mid-stroke, emptied my mouth, and looked at him incredulously. "Tell me you're kidding."
He sighed and rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. You two talked through things, and I thought you'd gotten things worked out."
"We did," I acknowledged.
"And said your goodbyes," he added.
"Sit down," I gently smiled. We took seats next to one another on the bed.
"Rich hurt me terribly. That's true."
"At one of the worst times of your life," he reminded me.
"That's also true," I conceded, "but we were both young and scared."
"That's no excuse," he protested.
"No, it's not," I agreed, "but he's gone now, Josh. I made my peace with him so I could make my peace with that."
"Closure's one thing, but this is bordering on unhealthy."
Rapidly reaching my boiling point, I just fumed. "I know you don't understand, but I have to do it--on my own terms. I need the sense of finality."
"So you drag me on a plane to Boston, a city you haven't set foot in for years, to watch them throw dirt on his casket just to be sure it's really over?" he glared.
I shook my head in disbelief. "That's a shitty thing to say."
His shoulders fell. "You're right, and I'm sorry. I'd like to lash out at him, but I can't. I just wish you could make me understand."
"I don't know how," I confessed. "I guess since my heart once belonged to him, a part of it always will."
"And I can understand that, Matt, but this love-hate merry-go-round you seem to be on with your feelings for him leave me feeling more in the dark than ever."
"When you lost Craig, it was sudden, and it was final," I told him. "You don't know what it's like to still harbor feelings that deep for someone, knowing they'll be a part of your life forever. That's what I thought I was dealing with until a few weeks ago. Now I'm trying to adjust mid-stride."
"I don't know?" he echoed. "How self-absor...never mind, I'm going to the car. Meet me downstairs when you're ready."
"What the hell was that all about?" I asked to no one in particular. Shaking it off, I finished dressing and joined him in the rental.
We rode to the cemetery in silence. Every time I tried to speak to him, he'd fiddle with the radio, roll down the window, or just generally ignore me. I realized that both of us were on edge, and we'd both been through a lot of late. The question remained as to what exactly had set him off like that. I replayed every word in my head, but nothing really stood out. Finally yielding to his stubbornness, we drove the remaining miles without a single word being uttered.
Kathy was already at the gravesite with Ashley at her side. She was wearing a dark gray, almost black, suit-jacket and skirt. Her hair was up in an immaculately tight bun. It was the first time I'd seen her really out and about since the baby was born. She looked good. Tired, but good nonetheless. Giving me that sympathetic half-smile of hers, she started walking towards us. Ashley became extremely fussy when she stood from her seat, and almost automatically, JC reached for him. The baby saw him, outstretched his arms, and quieted.
I motioned for Kathy to take one of the seats behind the section reserved from the family, but she protested, saying that since JC was going to be holding Ashley, he should sit. I started to argue, but he surprised me by taking a seat. The baby cooed with contentment as we watched the family arrive by limousine from the private viewing.
The chauffeur helped out an elderly woman I immediately recognized as Rich's grandmother. She nodded slightly in recognition as she passed me. Behind her followed Rich's father and mother. His father didn't even acknowledge my presence--no great shock, as he never did when Rich was alive, either. His mother squeezed my hand as she waited for everyone to move past her seat.
Next came people I didn't recognize at all. An attractive, and very pregnant, brunette woman with two boys who couldn't have been more than five and seven. They took the remaining three seats alongside the casket, and the priest began the services.
I stared at the wooden casket in disbelief. So many times, it had almost been me lying there. Instead, inexplicably, I survived. Kathy sensed my troubled thoughts and gave my hand a squeeze. Placing my hand on JC's shoulder, she quietly took the sleeping infant from him and managed to push his hand atop mine in the process. He smiled at me and allowed Kathy to take his seat. He never let go of my hand.
When the service ended, everyone made their ways to their cars for the processional. JC walked beside me in silence, realizing that at that moment, I needed the quiet. As we fastened Ashley into the car seat, I heard someone behind me call my name. Turning to identify the voice, I saw the brunette woman and the two children with her.
"Are you Matt Hunter?" she repeated.
I nodded, not really sure of what to say or who I was saying it to.
"I wanted to meet you," she smiled. "Rich and I had been married a few years before he told me about you two. I confess that I was less than understanding at first, but something about the way he talked about you." Unsure of what to say, I just nodded politely. She turned her attention to the children with her, who seemed more interested in clinging to her dress and hands than anything she could possibly be saying. "Matthew, Nicholas, go to your grandmother."
Hearing the names of the fleeing children jolted me. Seeing this, she smiled understandingly and rubbed her belly. "And this is Hunter. He never asked me for a thing in all our years of marriage. Nothing, save that. At first, I adamantly refused because of the history between you two, but something about his voice, in the way he talked about you, finally won me over. He's only asked me for one other thing, and now I can do that and get on with my life."
As she paused to wipe her tears, I fought the urge to ask what that was. Instead, I waited for her to continue. "He wanted you to know that you were the first great love of his life, and hurting you was the biggest regret of his life." That said, she quickly turned and walked to one of the limousines.
"Wow," was all Kathy could muster.
Looking at the children waiting by the door with their grandmother as their mother approached, JC gave my hand a squeeze. "I guess you weren't that far from his thoughts after all."
"Let's go home," I smiled at him. "I'm finished here."
"Which one do you like?" JC asked me, talking with his mouth partially full.
I sighed wearily, looking at what seemed to be the umpteen millionth sample of wedding cake we'd tried. "You decide, hon."
"We're supposed to decide this together," he reminded, holding up one of the pieces and waving it menacingly in front of my nose.
"Actually, the bride's supposed to decide this," I grinned, "but seeing as neither of us quite fits that bill, we'll just improvise."
"Keep that tone up, and you might fit that bill after all," he giggled.
"You think so, huh?" I raised an eyebrow as I pushed my way atop him, lowering both of us onto the couch.
"Are you trying to take advantage of my virtue?" he smiled.
"Absolutely," I answered.
"I was hoping you'd say that," he said as he pulled me into a kiss.
"HEY!" Kathy screamed as she and Justin rounded the corner. "Save it for the honeymoon."
Justin just cackled. "You think these two are gonna go without that long?"
JC and I looked at each other incredulously. "I think we've just been insulted," I told him. "I believe you're right," he replied.
Before Justin had time to react, I had him pinned to the ground, and JC was tickling him. "STOP!" he screamed mid-laugh. "You know I'm ticklish there."
"I know everywhere you're ticklish, remember?" JC reminded him sardonically.
"Oh, really?" Kathy teased. "And just how do we know that?"
I watched JC turn every imaginable shade of crimson. Proverbially saved by the bell, I heard Ashley crying in the bedroom. "Just when this was starting to get interesting," she began with a Cheshire cat grin.
"If I go rock Ashley back to sleep, will you let me dodge that question?" JC asked, hopefully.
"Only if you keep him tonight," she smiled. "I haven't had a decent night's sleep since before we went to Boston."
"Deal," JC agreed quickly, jumping up and heading to the bedroom.
"That being the case," she started, picking up her purse from its usual spot by the door, "I'll go home and finish working on the guest list. Josh gave me his list, but if there's anyone else you want to invite, speak now or forever hold your peace."
"It's a little early for that question," I smirked. She rolled her eyes and started to say something, so I quickly cut her off, "I told you who all I wanted there."
"Speaking of," she glared, "have you asked Nick and the guys?"
"No, but I'm sure they're coming."
"Of that, I have little doubt, but you might want to get around to it so that they know when the rehearsal dinner is. They can't exactly change their schedule at the drop of a hat," she reminded me.
"Good point," I conceded. "They're doing a concert tonight. I'll call them tomorrow."
"Okay," she muttered, pulling her jacket over her shoulders. Justin returned from the kitchen after putting all of the cake samples back in the refrigerator. "Goodnight, gorgeous," she smiled, as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Later, hot stuff," he winked before leaning in to kiss her cheek in return.
"Oh, no you don't," I laughed. "You've already dated a guy from two of the three biggest boy-bands around. You are not going for a third."
She quickly threw me the finger as she turned for the door. "Night, Josh," she yelled.
"Night, Kathy," came his reply from the bedroom just before the door closed.
Justin plopped down on the couch next to me as I turned on the television and began flipping channels. "And exactly how does he know `everywhere' that you're ticklish?" I asked him nonchalantly.
"I thought neither one of us had to answer that," he replied evasively, already becoming a bright red.
"First of all, that deal was extended to Josh," I reminded him. "Secondly, that deal was with Kathy, not me. What aren't you telling me, Curly?"
"Matt, this really is something you should talk to him about."
"You're not answering my question."
"Please?" he pleaded, intentionally giving me that look that he knew melted my resolve every time.
"Okay, but you owe me," I agreed defiantly, trying not to laugh.
"You name it," he laughed, kissing my cheek. "But for now, I figure I'll give you guys some privacy. You've got a very short time left as single men, and I figure you've got some wild oats that need tending to."
"You, goober," I laughed. "Generally, those oats aren't wild when you're `tending' to them with the one you're going to marry."
"You forget," he smiled, pulling his jacket on, "I've slept in the room next to you. It gets pretty wild."
I tossed a pillow towards him, but he was too quick, and he was out the door in time for the pillow to fall harmlessly to the floor.
I followed the subtle creaking sounds of the rocking chair in the bedroom. It was the same chair I rocked the girls in, my mother had rocked me in, and so on, for years. Ashley was curled up against JC's chest, the man's finger held firmly in the infant's hand. Here he was, pop star to the world, idol to millions, and he was completely captivated by the tiny form that clung to him for dear life. The look of sheer wonder and contentment on his face each time he held Ashley in his arms simply amazed me. The man, quite simply, was made to be a father more than anyone else I knew.
"Hey, you," I smiled quietly from the doorway.
"Hey, yourself," he replied in an equally low volume. Until he had spoken, I hadn't realized he was humming softly. Ashley buried his head further into JC's shirt, twisting it impossibly until I thought it was going to choke JC. He never made any indication that he wasn't completely comfortable.
I walked up behind them and ran my hand down the front of JC's shirt, trying to give him a little slack and rub his chest at the same time. I nuzzled my mouth and nose against the nape of his neck. He sighed and craned his neck to kiss me.
"Have I told you how much I love you?" I asked him as I pressed my forehead against the side of his head.
"I can never hear it enough," he replied.
"And I can never say it enough," I told him truthfully. "Nobody in my life has ever loved me or been as loved by me as you. I constantly ask myself what I did to deserve a man like you."
Smiling, he shook his head. "You loved me like no one ever could, and you stole my heart from the very start."
Ashley twisted again, and even JC grew visibly uncomfortable at the tugging at his neck. I reached down to the bottom of his shirt at the sides of his hips and gently pulled it up. With some brief arm changes, we managed to get it off without waking the baby. I ran my fingertips along the side of his torso, almost causing an involuntary shudder. I knelt on one knee beside the chair and kissed his shoulder. "Thank you," I mouthed silently.
"Why don't I put him down?" he asked.
I nodded and moved long enough for him to stand. Ashley was curled in his blankets in no time. JC gave him a smile, took my hand, and led me to our bedroom.
"Who all did you invite to the wedding anyway?" I asked him as I folded his omelet over onto his plate.
"Mostly family," he answered from the fridge as he grabbed the juice, "and some friends from the industry."
"People you can trust, obviously?" I asked, realizing the inanity of the question.
He grinned at me, knowing I'd figured out how stupid a question I posed.
"Can you forget I asked that?" I pleaded with him.
"Forgotten," he smiled, leaning over the table to kiss me, managing to snag some of the bacon from both my mouth and my plate in the process.
"You're horrible," I grinned at him, rubbing my foot against his bare leg.
"That's not what you said last night," he smirked.
"I don't recall saying much last night," I laughed.
"Well," he began, "we were both pretty vocal, but I don't think either one of us said much of anything."
"Think we're scarring the child for life?" I asked.
"Considering that our room's damn-near soundproof, and we had the baby monitor on, I think we were still good babysitters."
"Is there anything we're not good at?" I preened.
"After last night," he started, "I'd have to say that's a definite no."
With that, I leaned over the table to kiss him, returning the favor of stealing some of the sausage from his mouth and plate. It was a cute, comfortable routine we'd fell into some time ago. The more I pondered it, the more I came up empty trying to remember at what point he'd become such an integral part of my daily existence.
We heard keys in the door, and he got up to rinse our dishes in the sink. "My money's on Kathy."
"Nope," I smiled, knowing I'd won the bet already and what I could collect for it later. "She has a conference call this morning."
"Well, your cousins just finished a show last night, so I doubt it's them."
Coming to the same conclusion, we just laughed at one another and shouted in unison, "Come in, Justin."
"Geez," he chuckled, rounding the corner into the kitchen, "you make it sound as though I'm unwelcome."
"If that were the case," I reminded him, "I wouldn't have given you a key in the first place."
"Good point," he acknowledged as he stepped behind JC and rested a hand on his stomach, trying to look over his shoulder. He picked up my fork and snatched an uneaten bite of JC's breakfast just before it hit to dishwater.
"Would you like some breakfast, Curly?" I laughed.
"Nah," he answered, mouth still full. "I had cereal at Grandma's."
"Apple Jacks, no doubt," I grinned.
"There's another kind?" he asked, feigning genuine surprise.
"How is Grandma?" JC asked, putting the last dish into the dishwater.
"Good," Justin nodded. "She says to ask where you two are registered."
JC and I just looked at each other. "Um, I think we forgot something," he laughed.
"I guess so," I conceded, "but there's not that much we need. I've had two houses full of stuff for years. Do you need much for the house in L.A.?"
"Yes and no. I just closed on it a few weeks ago, but there's so much fixing up they need to do that it'll be forever before it's ready."
"We can go pick out some stuff you like and get registered somewhere today."
"Sounds good. I'll do furniture and stuff closer to time," he yawned. "How's the house shaping up, Just?"
"And how should I know?" he asked.
"You've talked to Brit, right?" he reminded him.
"Well, yeah, I talked to her last night."
"And she tells me how the house looks whenever I talk to her. Does she tell you?" JC asked him.
"Um, we talk about other stuff," he blushed.
I just laughed and hugged Justin's neck. "Mind checking on that before your next digital getdown?" I asked him. He burned a deeper crimson.
"If we're going out," JC began, wiping his hands on the dishtowel, "I need to get cleaned up."
"Want me to come with?" I grinned.
"I said I wanted to get cleaned up," he smiled, "and the last time you and I took a shower, we still needed to get cleaned up afterwards, and we were out of hot water."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," I told him, pretending my feelings were hurt.
He leaned against me, placing his hands on my thighs. "Never," he growled, before kissing me. He quickly tore away and ran for the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
"Tease!" I yelled. The moment I did, I regretted it. Between my voice and the noise of the door, Ashley was crying, and there was no JC to instantly calm him. I lifted him from the crib and brought him back to the kitchen to prepare a bottle. Justin had already finished doing so and handed it to me when I sat down at the table.
He poured himself a glass of milk and started drinking. I steeled myself and asked him a question I had been wondering about for a while now. "Justin, who was Josh seeing before Craig?"
Milk shot out of his nose, and he had the look of a deer caught in headlights. "What makes you think he was seeing someone before Craig?"
I half-smiled, "That reaction, for starters."
"You just caught me off-guard," he choked.
"I noticed, but that's not an answer."
"And neither was yours," he coughed. "What makes you ask that?"
"Just a reaction he had to me shooting my mouth off about something before Rich's funeral."
He nodded in understanding and took a seat. "I thought you said you wouldn't ask me about this."
"No," I reminded him. "I said I wouldn't ask you about how he knows where you're ticklish." The minute the words passed my lips, the light bulb ignited, and his eyes widened in the recognition that he'd just told me something I didn't know. "You? You and he? When? How?" The questions continued to stammer forth without pausing long enough for any semblance of an answer.
"I really wanted Josh to be the one to tell you," he said, avoiding my eyes.
"I'm not mad, Justin. Just surprised, that's all."
"I just don't want it to be awkward between us now that you know he and I went out once upon a time."
"Why don't you start at the beginning?" I suggested.
"I think he should be the one to tell you," he offered, somewhat pleading.
"I'm asking you."
His head seemed to fall dejectedly. The look on his face broke my heart. He really thought this was going to hurt our friendship, though I had meant it when I told him I was just surprised. He sighed and began. "There's not that much to tell. We met those years ago on the Mickey Mouse Club. He was my best friend and the closest thing to a brother I'd ever known. We loved each other like brothers, but when he realized he was gay and told me, we both wondered if there was something more to it."
"That long ago?" I asked.
He scrunched his nose and made a face. "Gross. Give Josh credit for not being a cradle-robber," he smiled, despite himself. "This actually didn't start until we'd been together as *NSYNC for a couple of years. I was just coming into my own, so to speak." I tried not to laugh as he shifted uncomfortably and continued, "There was no one else I had ever felt as strongly about, so I asked him out on a date. He asked me if I was sure, and when I said yes, we went out. We dated a year, I guess."
"Did you sleep together?"
He was mortified. "That's none of your business! If you want the answer to that, you'll have to ask him."
"What's none of his business, and ask who what?" JC asked, one towel around his waist and another moving through his hair.
"Nothing, hon," I smiled. "Justin already answered my question."
Justin's face flushed to a deep scarlet hue. "Why don't you go finish getting dressed? I'll get cleaned up in a minute, and Uncle Justin can watch Ashley while we go out."
"Sounds good," JC said before retreating back to the bedroom.
"I never knew I'd have to wonder if you were admiring his bod, too," I chuckled.
"Shut up!" Justin blushingly laughed. "I realized that I wasn't gay. I mean, I loved him, but I just wasn't attracted to other guys. He realized it before I did and told me that he thought it would be best if we both moved on. We did, and the rest is water under the bridge for us."
"Thanks for telling me," I hugged him and kissed the top of his head. "I'm glad you did. It makes me realize that I've said some really stupid things to him without realizing."
He nodded. "Are we okay?"
"We're great," I smiled. "But if you make a move on him, you'll be making high notes that Chris can only have wet dreams about." He tossed the pillow at me as I escaped down the hall to the bathroom.
"Who are we looking for?" JC asked me, baseball cap covering his hair and a pair of sunglasses over his eyes.
"The first plane that comes in has all my folks from Ohio. It's the first time the whole family's been together since Nicky, Andy, and I were small. There's been all kinds of stepkids, half-siblings, and adoptions since then.
I was really kind of flattered that John and his kids wanted to come."
"You do, of course, realize that two houses or not, it's about to become Grand Central Station, right?" he smiled.
"Yup. Our families have always been that way," I smiled back at him. "We wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, I've rented a ton of hotel rooms. Look, there they are now."
Following my line of sight, he saw the huge brood of people coming towards us. Aunt Cate all but attacked me in a hug. "You look so good," she screeched.
"Good to see you, too," I coughed.
"Cate, let the boy breathe," John laughed. I couldn't recall the two of them being in the same room together in ages. It meant more than anyone would know, with the exception of Nick and Drew, that they could put aside their differences for me.
"Hey, Uncle John," I smiled, pulling him into a hug. It seemed like a lifetime since I saw him last.
"And this gorgeous young thing is the one?" Cate asked, pointing to JC, choosing her words carefully in case anyone was watching.
"JC," he introduced himself, leaning into a hug. "It's wonderful to finally meet you."
Cate pulled away and gave me a sign of approval. Knowing her and the sense of humor that she and my mother shared, had the kids not been around, something smutty would have come out of her mouth next that either involved his ass or his endowment. I shook my head, very grateful for the respite for all of us.
"As you obviously figured out," I continued for JC's benefit, pointing to each one as I named them off, "this is my Uncle John. The rest of these folks are Josie, Isaac, Zac, Timothy, Kaitlin, and Sally." I scooped each of the kids up in turn, suddenly very aware of my age when I realized how much they'd grown.
"So, JC, Mom embarrassed the hell out of you yet?" Nick yelled from where they were just rounding the corner.
"Nicholas Scott Lachey, you watch your language, there are children present," Cate warned him in that matronly way. One of the kids, true to form of anyone their age, instantly started with the eye-rolling and the disgusted way of saying "mother."
"Okay, Mom," he chuckled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. He turned to John and gave him a hug, "Hey, old man."
"Not too old to kick your ass, remember that," John quickly shot back.
"John!" Cate protested. "It's no wonder where they get their foul mouths."
"Who are you trying to kid?" Drew laughed, bypassing the parents to give JC and I a hug.
"Okay, I feel left out," Justin Jeffre complained from a few feet behind Nick.
"Nothing but love for ya, nothing but love," JC mocked in one of his voices, leaning in for the beginnings of a hug but instead withdrawing with a handful of whiskers from Justin's facial hair. "You've had this shit on your face since I've known you. Any chance of a bath soon?"
"I bunk with him from time to time. I wouldn't hold my breath," Jeff snorted. "On second thought...."
I laughed as my eyes searched him out. To my pleasant surprise, a radiant little girl was in his arms. "Hi, Alyssa," I greeted softly. She groggily searched for who was calling her name, and with a little effort on Jeff's part, she was reaching for me--okay, for a place to sleep, but it's a subtle distinction. "How's Mom?" I asked him.
"Wonderful," he smiled. "She's flying in tomorrow for the ceremony, but she had some paperwork to catch up on before she could leave work."
"So who all are we waiting for?" Nick asked.
"Where are we sleeping?" Isaac asked.
"And when can we go?" Josie chimed in. She smiled at me. "No offense."
I laughed to myself, thinking she reminded me of Rodney Dangerfield at that moment. I tossed the keys to Cate. "The keys to Mom's house are on there along with the keys to an Excursion I rented for this. The parking space number is on the ring. If you guys want to head back, you can rest up before the rehearsal dinner tonight."
"Sounds like a plan," John commented, snatching the keys from Cate's hand. "We'll see you tonight, guys."
"Later, Dad," Nick and Drew said in unison.
"Bye, boys," Cate smiled as she ushered the kids towards baggage claim.
"So how long do we have until the next plane?" JC asked me.
"About an hour, I think," I answered. Absentmindedly, I looked over at Jeff. "Did you and Alyssa want to go on to the house?"
"I'm fine, and she seems content with you right now," he smiled.
"Lance is driving up later this afternoon," JC reminded me. "Joey and Chris should be here in about an hour and a half."
"When's your family coming?" I asked him.
Motioning towards the Cheers bar in the airport, we kind of ducked out of the flow of heavy traffic and into a booth. Nick ordered a round of Cokes while JC was reading over the e-mail he'd printed out. "Shit!" he muttered, quickly standing.
"What?" Drew asked, marginally alarmed.
"Their plane just landed," he announced.
"You're kidding me!" I protested, shifting Alyssa into my other arm as we made our way back to the terminal receiving area. "How did we manage this?"
"Not a clue," he smiled, leaning towards me as though he were about to kiss me. Sensing this as well, Nick butted in between us, draping an arm over either of our shoulders.
I exhaled sharply at our narrowly avoided disaster. I was definitely going to have to talk to that boy, but for now, it would have to wait. Heather and Tyler came rushing through security and hugged myself and JC, respectively, while Roy and Karen dragged along an excessive amount of carry-ons.
"Planning on staying a while, Roy?" I laughed.
"You never know what to expect," he replied, "but it'll be a good thing I brought multiple suits when I have to go to the funerals of all my children because they were bludgeoned to death with luggage."
"Is that a hint?" JC grinned.
"Not a very subtle one," Tyler muttered as he grabbed one of the pieces.
"So where are we going?" Karen asked, surveying all of the people standing around us. "Hey, sweetie," she interjected as she kissed JC's cheek before repeating the greeting and the kiss for my benefit. "And hey, darling," she smiled, stroking Alyssa's chin. "Can I hold her?" she asked, not really certain who she was addressing the question to in the first place.
"This is Jeff's daughter, Alyssa," I told her. Jeff nodded in acknowledgement from behind me.
"And no, you can't, mom," JC cut her off. "There's a chauffeur downstairs by baggage claim that's here to take you all to your rooms at the Peabody."
"Geez, no staying in a house with more people than oxygen in it? I think we'll manage," Tyler smirked.
"Can I kill your brother?" I chuckled at JC.
"Later," Heather laughed. "You guys have stuff to do, and we need to go get cleaned up before the dinner tonight. That is, of course, unless you'd rather go in the shorts you're wearing now, Ty, hole in the crotch and all."
Tyler quickly looked down to realize that his sister was just harassing him. "You can be a real bitch sometimes," he muttered under his breath with a grin. JC quickly slapped one side of the back of his head while Roy took the other. "HEY!" they shouted in unison. "Okay, this is scary," the pair plus Tyler echoed.
"We're leaving," Karen laughed, pushing everyone in some massive dogpile towards the escalators.
JC just looked at me solemnly and shook his head. "Why can't we pick our relatives?"
"Because who'd pick you?" Curly laughed from the background.
"What are you doing here?" I giggled.
"Here to pick up my family. I've still got some time, though."
"So who are we waiting on now?" Drew asked in that impatient, childlike tone he uses when he's trying to make a point.
"Another boyband," I heard Kathy growl as she snuck up behind me, allowing Ashley's foot to bury itself in my kidney.
"Ouch!" I cried. "Not only am I stuck sorting out this comedy of errors, now I'm being assaulted by kids."
"Watch it, that's my son you're talking about," Kevin threatened before cracking a smile and leaning in to hug me.
Looking at Kristin and the rest of the Backstreet Boys trailing behind, I just wanted to throw up my hands in surrender. "How is this even remotely possible? We've got just minutes to get one group off to where they're going before we've got another one."
"What do you mean, how is this possible?" Kathy growled. "I did it this way on purpose. I spent the better part of six weeks coordinating flight schedules so you wouldn't have to make a million trips out here. It wasn't easy, and some gratitude would be appreciated."
Recognizing one of her more "hormonal" moods, I offered my most sincere and humble "thank you."
"I was wrong," she frowned. "Groveling is better."
"Later," I laughed, "when I have time."
"Unless the bedsprings wear out at the hotel, I don't foresee that being any time in the immediate future," I heard someone whisper in my ear.
"Brian," I smiled in recognition. Shifting Alyssa into Jeff's proffered arms, I gave Brian a fierce hug. "It's great to see you again."
"It's good to be here," he half-smiled. "Of course you know Nick, A.J., and Howie, if only by reputation."
"Nice to meet you," the all greeted in turn. "You sure you don't mind us crashing with these two?" A.J. asked. "Any excuse for a good party," he smiled devilishly.
"Not in the least," JC jumped in, hugging and shaking hands with all of them like lifelong friends.
"Any excuse for a good wedding gift," I smiled back.
A.J. stared at me for a minute, sizing me up before turning to Kevin in shock. "I like him," he announced flatly.
"Told you," Kevin smirked.
"Actually, I believe phrases like We should do something together' and You're going whether you like it or not' were what you told us," Nick Carter pointed out.
"I feel so loved," I laughed at Brian.
"Don't mind him," Howie laughed. "He's just mad because we made him get on the plane before all the good cartoons."
Nick gave him a sarcastic nod and smile before flipping him the bird. "Actually," he said, "we wouldn't miss seeing the person craz--I mean, `lucky,'--enough to marry this worthless poser."
"Aww," JC cooed, "I wuv you, too, Nicky."
"Are they always like this?" I groaned.
"No. Sometimes they're complete dorks," Kristin beamed from next to Kathy.
The duo were currently making a fuss over Ashley, who was starting to get fussy.
"Home, Jeeves!" A.J. shouted.
"Whatever, bitch!" I shot back, barely pausing in mid-sentence.
He looked at me with surprise and Kevin just shook his head. "He grew up with Kathy. Did you really think you'd be that much of a challenge?"
"I'm better than the blond girl over there," A.J. smiled defiantly.
"I doubt it," Kevin and Jeff said in unison.
"Okay," Nick Lachey chuckled. "That was just disturbing on so many levels."
"On that rather awkward and uncomfortable note," Kathy began, "I'll get this batch of knuckleheads out of here. Kevin, you and Kris are staying with me so you can spend some time with the baby. The rest of you inbreeders are staying at the Peabody, so go tell `Jeeves' to get your damn bags. Rehearsal dinner's at seven, you're all invited, and if you're late, you'll be pulling your testicles out of your eye sockets."
With that, Kathy began the defiant march towards the escalator to baggage claim. Nick Carter looked over at A.J. "Think she's serious?"
A.J. shrugged. "I don't know," he cracked a smile, "but she scares me."
"Wise choice," Kevin assured him, tapping both of them on the shoulders as he and Kristin followed Kathy.
The remaining four Backstreet Boys looked at one another and hiked their arms and legs up in Snagglepuss mode. "Exit, stage left."
"I'm glad my children act older than that fearsome foursome," I grinned.
"That's because they were mentally older than them by the time they quit playing with their Big Wheels," Curly laughed.
"We heard that!" four voices echoed through the concourse.
We all looked at one another and just began to crack up.
"You guys realize you're kind of causing a scene, right?" I heard a deep, Southern voice resonate from behind me.
"I didn't think you were coming up until this afternoon," JC smiled at him.
"Couldn't sleep. Figured I'd go ahead and drive up. That way, I can drive me, Joey, and Chris back to the house and grab a nap before all hell breaks loose."
"And I'm taking my folks to Grandma's house," Justin announced. Looking around at one another, he was the first one to point out the semi-obvious. "Isn't that everyone you're picking up?"
"I think so," I verified, double-checking the itinerary. "Kathy's got some other flight numbers on here, but they're not coming in until after the dinner. There's already confirmation for hotel rooms and transportation at the Peabody."
"Yeah, that's some of the people I invited," JC remarked.
"How come I don't know who all's coming to our wedding?" I asked in a forced tone of worry.
"Because I know you," he smiled. "You'd get nervous. Like I told you, it's some friends from the industry."
"Come on," I urged. "I want some names."
"Johnny and Melinda?" he offered.
"They won't make me nervous," I pouted.
"I know," he smirked. "That's why they're the only two I told you, and the only two that I'm going to." With that, he raised an eyebrow devilishly and started for the exit.
"It's a good thing he's getting married tomorrow," Nick grinned as he grabbed his carry-on and started to follow his future cousin-in-law.
"Why's that?" Lance asked as he helped everyone with their bags.
"Because after that stunt, he wouldn't be getting any for a while, otherwise," Drew answered.
"You're absolutely right," I laughed.
"And I'm sorry I asked," Lance groaned.
"See you later, Curly," JC waved as Justin preceded us out of the VIP receiving area. This was a well-rehearsed routine of theirs. Without the ball cap and sunglasses, it was obvious who he was, and anyone that might slow down our exit would be over there with cameras and autograph books while we could slip by in peace.
It never failed to amaze me just how much of their lives weren't truly their own. Honestly, they rarely complained about it, though I could see the exasperated looks on their faces from time to time when they just weren't up to it. After a pang of sympathy for all of these guys, I watched Jeff shift Alyssa onto his hip as we all grabbed the bags and headed for the parking lot.
"How much longer until the girls get here?" JC asked, fumbling with his necktie.
"Not a clue," I was forced to admit. "Soon, I hope. I really wish they had just flown."
"Hmm," he smiled, "would I rather be stuck on a plane for a couple of hours or on a road trip with some cute guys who offered to drive them up?"
"Don't look at me like that," I rolled my eyes. "I'm still not thrilled about them dating."
He undid the silk tie completely and began again from scratch. "What dating?" he chuckled. "A van with six girls and three guys is hardly some enchanted evening."
"You know boys," I reminded him. "They think about sex constantly."
"Thinking about sex now, are we?" he smirked, raising an eyebrow. His face quickly fell into a pout when he realized he'd knotted the tie once more.
"Not in the least, horn-dog," I grinned, "and no, we are not gonna get distracted. Time's running short as we speak."
"I just wanted . . . ."
"I know what you wanted," I assured him with a smile, "and later, I promise."
"Okay," he relented, "but you know I'm just trying to get you a little less uptight about the girls. It's only a six-hour drive. They left in plenty of time to get here."
"How do you know that?" I asked him.
"You're the not the only one who called Sister Marie," he confessed.
"You're gonna be good at this father thing," I told him.
"You're already good at it," he smiled, before kissing me and adding, "among other things."
"Sweet talker," I grinned again. "You just need some help with your tie, don't you?"
"How'd you guess?" he laughed, showing me the knotted-up fabric around his neck. "Normally, I can tie these things in my sleep."
"Maybe you should go to sleep," I suggested.
"Awfully brave for someone whose nose is inches from my teeth," he warned.
"I've had other parts I was more concerned with closer than that," I shot back.
"Everything's about sex with you, isn't it?" he smirked.
"Actually," I pointed out, "everything's about sex with you."
"Good answer," he smiled, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into a kiss.
"Do I need to turn the hose on you two?" I heard my cousin, Nick, ask from behind me.
"Hardly," I laughed. "We don't have that much time."
"My point exactly," he laughed in return.
"Um, Nicky, not that all that many people would complain, but don't you think you should wear a shirt?"
"Smartass," he growled. "I came to ask you if I left a shirt here the last time we were here."
"You did," I told him. "It's hanging in my cloest."
"Why's it hanging in your closet?" he teased.
"Because I bought it for you, and you forgot to take it with you," I reminded him.
"Oh, yeah," he acknowledged. "Just don't be trying to steal all my clothes."
"In about another twenty-four hours," JC began, "he won't have much use for clothes."
"Eww...mental image...leaving now," Nick laughed, grabbing his shirt and shutting the bedroom door behind him.
"Was that really necessary?" I smiled.
"Was I lying?" he asked.
"Not in the least," I agreed, kissing him and tying his necktie while I did. "Now let's get out there."
TO BE CONTINUED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What's next in the story? Why, a wedding, of course. Will it be the last chapter? Tune in for some announcements--same bat-time, same bat-channel.
Drop me a line at m_n_hunter@hotmail.com