In The Beginning, by Mercutio (mercutio@europa.com)

It wasn't that way in the beginning, everything had been simple and
their chief concern had been how to get laid in between jobs and
their frantic lives.

In the beginning... okay, maybe it hadn't been that simple even
then, what with money troubles and the ever-present anxiety about
just what they were doing trying to become pop stars and the whole
Lou thing, but it had been different.  Easier maybe.

Chris sits down on the carpeted step and wraps an arm around Joey. 
"Hey."

Joey doesn't look up from his study of the living room floor.

"It's not the end of the world, y'know," Chris says.

Joey shakes his head.

"Seriously, man.  Nobody's dead.  No heart attacks, nobody's
collapsed, Justin hasn't yet been stoned from the stage, Lance's
wittle feelings haven't been crushed -- this is something that
happens every day."

"I know," Joey says.

Chris hugs Joey tighter.  "And you've still got me!  Right here,
big as life and twice as annoying!"

He makes faces and duck noises until Joey gives him a tiny smile.

"That's better.  Listen.  She's still yours.  It's just something
that happens to kids.  They grow up.  They go to school.  They drop
out and become rich and famous pop stars.  It's the natural
evolution of life, and kindergarten is the very first step.  You
can't fight evolution."

"It's not funny," Joey says fiercely.  "It means something to me."

Chris swings around until he's kneeling in front of Joey, elbowing
his way between Joey's legs and wrapping his arms around his waist. 
"Hey, no.  It's okay.  I know it's not funny.  It wasn't funny when
Lance left for Russia, and it wasn't funny when Justin set off on
his own -- or when you did.  It's never funny being left behind by
the people who love you."

Joey focuses on Chris, reaching out to him and touching his face. 
"I didn't try to leave you behind.  It just... happened."

"I *know*," Chris says.  "Not my point.  My point is that the
people who love you come back.  Or they make room for you where
they are.  They're always with you in here," he touches Joey's
chest, "and you're always with them, too.  Don't think of it as
being left -- think of it as little spores of Joey-love propagating
around the world."

Joey snorts, but his hands come up to hold Chris close.  "Thank
you," he says.  "For coming to me."

"Nowhere I'd rather be," Chris says.  "Hey, wanna go to the school
and wait and pick Bri up there?"

Joey's face brightens.  "Yeah?"

Chris laughs and kisses him.  "Yeah, c'mon."