Pairing: Kevin and Joey
Words: empire; no strings attached; demolish; brusque


Joey stretches and looks with satisfaction at his freshly cared-for
lawn.  "And it was good," he says irreverently.

"And then come the damn people and spoil everything," Kevin says,
the first one through the door.  "Hope you don't mind the invasion. 
Everyone wanted to be here for this."

"For what?" Joey asks, wiping his forehead with the hem of his
shirt.  "I totally stink.  So whoever everybody is and whatever
you're here for, I gotta shower first."  It's not exactly
commonplace for the Boys to drop in, but it's not as unusual or
unnatural as the media makes it seem.  But for Kevin to get in the
house, one of Joey's guys has to be with him.  "And who's
'everyone'?"

"Oh, Lord."

"That's not exactly informative," Joey replies.

Kevin sits down.  "Bachelor party."

"What?"

"You're having one."  Kevin gives Joey a lopsided rueful kind of
grin.

"Why would *I* have a bachelor party?" Joey asks.  "Whom am I
supposed to be marrying?  Is this Chris's idea of a joke?"

Kevin shrugs.  "If it is, he didn't tell me.  You're not marrying
Kelly?"

"Not any time soon, no.  I mean.  Maybe.  Eventually.  In a
decade."  Joey sits back on his heels.  "So, probably not."

"Too bad."

"What crawled up your butt and died?"

Kevin stands up.  "Excuse me?"

"You're all stand-offish and mad at me.  And superior.  What's that
*about*?" Joey asks, also standing.

"I was *trying* to be friendly."  The emphasis makes it clear that
Kevin will no longer be doing so.

"Fine.  Why are you here?  Who all *is* here?"

"As far as I know, I'm the only one here other than you.  Everyone
else should be arriving shortly.  And I'll be leaving now."

"How did you get in?"

Silently, Kevin sets down the key Nick had given him.

"What... that key?  Where'd you get that key?"

"Nick.  He got it from Lance."

Joey stares at the key for another moment.  "And why are you here?"
he asks quietly, all the wind taken out of his sails.

Kevin gives him a tight smile.  "Because you had questions.  I'll
just get out of your way, shall I?"

"How are you involved in this?"

"I'm not.  I'm leaving."  Kevin turns toward the door and starts
walking.

"How did Nick get Lance's key?" Joey calls.

"Ask Lance."

Joey says, "Yeah, I'll do that."  And a few other things, too. 
Lance can be such an idiot sometimes.

Kevin doesn't say anything.

~~~~

"What the fuck were you thinking?  Giving a key to *my house* to
Nick Carter?  Are you insane?  Wait, I know you're insane.  What
were you doing?  You thought this would be a good way to get back
at me?  Fuck, Lance.  If you could just grow the hell up, you might
even be a passable adult.  I bet this fucked up bachelor party idea
is yours, too, isn't it?"

"No.  It's not.  I don't even know what you're talking about. 
You're not the marrying type.  You'd never get married, so why have
a bachelor party?" Lance asks quietly.  Joey told him over and over
again that Lance shouldn't expect a commitment.  Ever.  Because
Joey doesn't do commitment, especially not to people like Lance.

He didn't think there'd be any harm in giving the key to Kevin. 
Kevin's a good guy, and Lance trusted that Kevin wasn't gonna do
anything wrong.  The fact that the key passed through Nick's hands
isn't really a thing.  It's just that Nick sees Kevin more often
than Lance does.

Joey cannot stand Lance.  Or rather, he can't stand Lance's new,
superior attitude.  He used to be a nice, friendly guy.  Now he's
wearing his torn pride like a fucking coat, and he's a cold ass. 
What Lance needs is just to get over himself.  Joey did.  "Oh,
yeah?  You're wrong.  I am gonna marry her.  Because *she's* a
grown-up.  And she doesn't suck in bed."

"Congratulations," Lance murmurs.  He can barely breathe.  "Bye."

Nick drops down on the bed next to Lance.  "So what was that all
about?  Kevin's still pissed about being set up, by the way."

"I don't know *what* Chris was thinking," Lance groans, dropping
his head back.  "To be honest, he was probably hoping Kevin would
beat Joey up."

Nick rolls his eyes.  "Chris is weird.  Uh.  That was Joey, right? 
When're you gonna tell him that we're together, you and me?  'Cause
I get the whole bitter ex thing, up to the point where you tell me
you're just using me for the great sex until you can get Joey
back."

Lance rolls his head to look at Nick.  "I don't want to tell him." 
His eyes sting.  "I don't want him to say bad things about you.  I
don't want him to ever, ever touch you."

Nick moves down the bed and wraps his arm around Lance.  With the
same tone he uses sometimes on Aaron when Aaron's feeling homesick
and tired and too old, he says, "Hey, hey.  Don't worry.  I'm right
here.  I can take him easy."

Lance laughs a little.  "You're not as mean as he is, Nick."

Nick growls at Lance like a lion, then laughs.  Midway through the
laugh, his face turns solemn as he thinks of something.  "But
Kevin's pissed at him right now.  Said Joey was inexcusably rude,
even for the circumstances.  And Kevin's meaner than anyone."

Lance looks at Nick.  It's been almost a year since he ran into
Kevin while running away from Joey.  After Joey'd broken up with
him and broken his heart.  Kevin's a matchmaker, but Nick is a
lover.  "You're great, y'know?"

"I'm grrrr-eat!" Nick says, doing the Tony-the-Tiger routine.

Lance laughs and rolls over onto Nick.  "You are."

Nick catches Lance with his hands, then rubs his face all over
Lance's.  Lance is all smiles when Nick finishes.  Nick kisses him
on the nose.  "I'm not as smart as you or super-talented like Joey
or kickass like Kevin or cool like AJ.  But I like you."

"You're smart, talented, kickass and cool in your own ways," Lance
assures Nick.  "And I like you, too."

"Kiss ass," Nick teases, then kisses Lance for good measure.

Lance finds himself kissed and then cuddled close, his head tucked
against Nick's neck.  "You smell like cinnamon."

"Dunno why.  I should smell like salt and sweat and stuff."

"Did you use that new bodywash?"

"Well, yeah, but I've been outside since then."

Lance sighs and says, "You smell like sea.  You and Aaron went out
on the boat?"

Nick's face droops a little.  "Just me."

"You wanna take me out tomorrow?" Lance asks.  "We can call Aaron,
too, if you want."

Nick's expression doesn't change.  "He had to go do a thing.  He
won't be back for a couple of weeks, and by then, he'll probably be
busy again."

"You sad?"

"Yes."

"Any way I can help?"

"Not with that."

"Can I make you happier?" Lance asks, kissing Nick's chin.  "We can
go out on the boat now.  We can dance.  We can watch TV.  I can
make us dinner -- finger food."

Nick sighs and wraps himself further around Lance.  "That sounds
good.  I should be used to it by now is all."

"No.  You never get used to the people you love not needing you
back anymore," Lance says quietly.  "It hurts.  And I'm sorry,
Nick."

"It's not *that*.  Aaron's cool.  It's not that he doesn't need me. 
It's.  Jane."

"Are we ready to take him away from her yet?" Lance asks carefully. 
It's something Nick's wanted for a long time.  He wants Aaron safe
and secure and not forced.  Lance wants to help.

Nick snorts.  He twitches, a clear sign that he wants to get up and
move.  "If it was that simple, it'd already be fixed.  He keeps
going *back*."

"Wanna chain him to the bed?"  Lance rolls to the side a little so
Nick can get up.

Nick gets up.  "Yes!  No.  AJ says I gotta let him come to it on
his own or it won't count and even if he gets free of her he'll
just find someone else to be the same thing for him."

"Wanna have *her* chained to a bed?"

"Ew.  Something less sexual, please."

"To a rock?  With a large bird eating her liver?  Every day?"

"Yeah!  That sounds good."

Lance sits up and crosses his legs.  "We can still have counsel
declared to act in loco parentis for Aaron, and force her out of
his life.  She's abusive, Nick, even if Aaron can't say it.  She's
also insane.  Your dad knows it.  Your sisters know it."

"Can't," Nick says gloomily.  "He's legally emancipated."

"He's still a kid, though.  I had a lawyer look into it.  But.  We
can get a restraining order issued on his behalf.  If nothing else,
I mean."  Lance rocks a little, wanting to help, but knowing he
can't help Nick.

"Same problem.  If it's not his idea, it doesn't help much.  He'll
end up paying for her lawyers even."

"Want me to talk to him?" Lance asks uncertainly.  It's probably
the only thing he hasn't offered before.  He doesn't really think
that *he* has much to say to anybody.  Lance has no idea how to
deal with people.

Nick shrugs.  "You can.  If you think it'd help."

"Probably not," Lance says, grateful not to have to try.  He
doesn't want to fuck Aaron up.

"It sucks.  That's all.  The only thing that I *know* I can do is
let Aaron know that I care about him and that he has options.  I
want there to be more, though.  I miss him."

"Do you want to go with him?  On tours and interviews and stuff? 
Now that your album and tour are done, you've got the time."

"I drop in when I can.  But Jane doesn't like it and Aaron's the
one who gets hurt, y'know."

"Ask him if he wants you along?  Or we can just trail along behind. 
Or-- or just you."

"You'd wanna come with?" Nick asks, surprised.

"If you wanted me to."

"Oh."  Nick looks thoughtful for a minute, then asks, "What's that
mean?  Do you really want to go or are you just offering 'cause
we're having sex?"

"We don't have that much sex, Nick," Lance points out.  And they
don't.  It's weird, but they mostly just date, and cuddle and sleep
together.  They get hard, but tend to ignore it with the habit
built out of years of being on the road and too tired or busy to
take care of it.  They had their first date seven months ago and
went exclusive three.  Since, they've had sex maybe four times. 
"Not that I mind.  Or that I'd mind having more.  Anyway, the point
is that I like you, and I like being around you.  And I think that,
if it's up to me, I'd rather be around you and with you than not."

"Yeah, but do you like Aaron?"

"I do.  He's very, very sweet."

"Okay."  Nick smiles.  "Then you should come with."

Lance kneels up on the bed.  "Really?  I promise not to be any
trouble at all.  I won't get in the way.  If you tell me what
hotels you like best, I can do the booking.  Unless you just want
to stay wherever Aaron is, and I can arrange that, too, if you'd
like.  How did you want to travel?  Or-- I can just arrange it.  I
can take care of lots of things, I promise."  He grins, happy to
*know* he can do something helpful correctly.

"Wow."  Nick blinks.  "You must really like him."

Lance frowns a bit, feeling his forehead contract.  "What do you
mean?"

Nick waves his hand in the air.  "Well, you're so excited about
seeing him and everything."

"Oh.  Well, I do like him.  But I'm more excited about being good
at stuff.  Being useful for you."

Nick frowns.  "You don't have to be useful.  I like you."

"I know you do.  I like you, too."  Lance smiles and reaches up to
smooth Nick's frown.  "What's wrong?"

"I like you.  You don't have to make yourself useful.  You're my
friend, not my personal assistant."

Lance rolls over, straddling Nick and sitting up.  "You make me
feel good about myself.  I never thought that would happen again."

"Why not?  You're a good guy."

"After...  After Joey, I felt completely useless.  I felt like I'd
never done anything good and I'd never do anything worthwhile
again."

"That's stupid," Nick says fiercely.  "You're wonderful.  You have
so many talents.  You do a lot of things well that I can't do at
all."

"*You're* the special one." Lance smiles.  "You make me feel good,
like I said."

"That's silly.  You're silly." Nick grins up at Lance.

Lance laughs and winks at Nick.  "Okay, baby.  Now.  What kind of
hotels do you like?"

"Ones with rooms?"

~~~~

That's how Lance finds himself on tour with Aaron Carter.  He and
Nick stay in the background.  Nick does a couple interviews and
opens for Aaron when the opening act gets the flu.  Lance just
hides and tries to make things go smoothly.

Jane Carter is with them, too.  Lance quietly hates her and sets
himself up as the booking agent.  *He* makes the contracts, and
*she's* not in them.  Neither is Aaron.  Aaron's untouchable,
pitifully small trust fund is.  The money goes there, and will stay
there until Aaron's twenty-five.  Jane has to content herself with
the incredible amount gained through merchandising.

Nick comes running into the room, excited.  "That was fun tonight! 
Wasn't that fun?  How'd you do that?"

Lance is spun around.  "How'd I do what?" he asks breathlessly.  "I
had fun.  It was a *great* show!"

"Jane left!  She's off the tour, and she said she's not coming back
'til you're gone!"

Lance hoots, clinging to Nick.  "We beat her?!"

"Nope.  You did."

"I didn't think she'd leave!"

"She did!  What'd you do?  What'd you *say*?"

"I didn't say anything.  I just...  wait, is Aaron okay?  We need
to know it Aaron's okay," Lance says, trying to go to the door.

"He was fine when I saw him." Nick looks worried.  "You think
there's something wrong with him?" He heads for the door.  There's
nothing more precious to him than his brother.

"Well, you said he didn't want to send Jane away, and he wouldn't
leave her..." Lance follows Nick.

"He was still here after she left," Nick says, loping down the
hall.

Nick hammers on the door, drawing the attention of the bodyguard.

A tall, redheaded woman answers the door.  "Not now," she says in
a supercilious voice.  Nick comes to a dead halt.  He's helpless
against women.  AJ's told him that it's his mom's fault, and Nick
kinda sorta believes it.  After all, only an idiot wouldn't know
that Jane is evil.  AJ also says that that's why Nick picks the
kinds of girls he does -- because he sees women as demanding and
bitchy and violent.  He'd gone to Howie for confirmation; because
he was sure AJ was just messing with him.  And Howie'd just looked
at him for a long time, then nodded and asked Nick if he'd thought
about being gay.  He looks at Lance.

Lance smiles.  "Okay.  I'll deliver the severance papers to you
*later*, then.  I understand that you're a little emotional over
your sudden termination.  Please.  Go cry in a corner.  Bye."

She opens her mouth, but no words come out.

"Oh.  Well, if you're sincerely sorry, I suppose I can reconsider. 
Go think on it."

She walks away, all the spring gone from her step.

"I *love* you," Nick says fervently, then rushes into the room.

Lance follows, carefully locking the door behind him.

"Aaron!" Nick yells.  "Aaron, where are you?"

There's a muffled sound from somewhere in the suite, and Nick heads
that way.  He finds Aaron in the bathroom, just turning away from
the mirror.

Nick checks him over, hands patting Aaron down as if to determine
whether Aaron is real or a ghost.  "You're still here.  You're not
planning on leaving, are you?  Please tell me you're not."

Aaron gives him a bewildered look.  "What?  Nick?"

Lance leans against Nick.  "We're worried about you because Jane
left, Aaron." He looks steadily at Aaron, watching for his lies. 
"Are you?"

Nick doesn't let go of Aaron, but he appreciates Lance's presence
anyway.  Lance can think when he's emotional.

Aaron shrugs.  "So she left.  She'll come back."

Nick looks at Lance for confirmation.

"What if she doesn't?" Lance asks.  "What if there's no more money
here for her?"

"There's always more money.  I'm still alive, aren't I?" Aaron
asks.

Nick nods.

"There's no more for her because I wrote her out of the venue
contracts," Lance says.  He steps away from Nick's side.

"Really?" Nick asks.  "*Cool*."

Aaron's face shuts down.  "What'd you give her instead?"

"I didn't give her anything," Lance says.  He's calm.  "I couldn't
write her out of the merchandise.  But basically she's getting
about a third of what she did before." 

"She's gonna be mad," Aaron predicts.  "I guess that's what she was
upset about earlier.  I didn't have time to listen right then.  I
bet she's gonna do something."

"She can write a song about *me*," Lance says.  "I'm all about
other people's parents hating me."

Aaron shakes his head.  "Something else."

Nick nods.

"It'll be all right," Lance says.  "Think about it.  The more she
does, the less money she'll have.  Eventually she'll run out of the
ability to hurt you."

"You don't get it," Aaron says.

"I wanna get it," Nick says.  "Tell me.  You know you can tell me
anything, little bro."

Aaron looks up at him.  "You know what she's like.  You know how it
is."

"Yeah, but what part are you talking about?"

"The part where nobody has any money but her and everyone has to go
to her if they want anything, and then she owns you."

Lance shakes his head and reaches out to touch Nick's shoulder. 
"Not any more.  You've got *both* of us now.  You don't need her,
Aaron."

"She'll do it to all of us though.  Angel and Bob and everybody
else.  You know she will," Aaron says to Nick.

"Yeah, but you know I'd give you anything, and you'd give it to
Angel."  Aaron has similar feelings as Nick about their sisters,
except about his twin.  "You'd both be okay.  I'd make sure of it. 
And Bob should sue her ass."

"We could use a girl on tour, y'know."  Lance rocks on his heels. 
"A sister-type girl."

"Angel has college," Aaron says.  "She won't come."

Nick hugs Aaron.

"Then she's okay.  And we're okay."  Lance reaches around to pat
Aaron's back.  "I can have somebody look in on her, if you want." 
Joey's in the area, trying to negotiate his way out of marrying
Kelly.  And Joey *seriously* owes him.

"She'll do something," Aaron repeats.  "You just don't know what it
is yet."

"Yeah, but you gotta get away from her sometime," Nick answers. 
"The sooner, better.  She's never gonna let go on her own."

Aaron laughs, but it doesn't have any humor in it.  "Yeah.  I
know."

Lance moves around, squeezing through tiny spaces, ending up behind
Aaron.  He locks his arms around Aaron from behind as Nick does
from the front.

Aaron stiffens imperceptibly, but Nick knows his brother.  "It's
okay.  Lance isn't the kind of person who hurts people."

"Yeah, well, you told me to never trust anybody."

"Right.  Don't."

Lance looks at Nick, at the back of Aaron's head.  They're so much
alike, and so different.  And so hurt by this life.

"So," Aaron asks in a tiny voice, "what do I do when whatever
happens?"

"Come to me?  Please?"

"You were dealing with this stuff at your age.  I should be able
to, too."

"No, you shouldn't.  That's what big brothers are for.  To make all
the mistakes first so you can do it better."

"Big *bothers*, you mean," Aaron says, but he closes his eyes as he
rests against Nick's chest.

"Yeah.  That, too."

Lance says, "And big brothers' boyfriends."

Aaron doesn't say anything.  Nick squeezes Lance's forearm.  He
understands even if Aaron doesn't.

"You two wanna hang out alone?" Lance asks after a while.

Aaron glances up at Nick.

Nick shakes his head.  "Nah.  Aaron wants to get some sleep."

Aaron's eyes shine gratefully up at Nick, and then he pulls away
from Nick and starts pummeling.  "I'm not a little kid.  I don't
need to be put to bed."

"Do so," Nick says, grabbing Aaron and picking him up.  "Did you
brush your teeth?"

"Yes, mom."

"Hey.  No dirty words." Nick says, carrying Aaron out to the
bedroom.

Lance retreats from the suite.  He uses the thirty minutes before
Nick leaves Aaron's room to gather up all the extra key cards.  A
surprising number of people had keys to Aaron's room, and Lance
confiscates them all and terrifies the desk attendant into
promising not to give any others out.

Nick goes straight to the shower, and Lance doesn't press him. 
Instead, he calls ahead to the next hotel and informs them that
only two people get keys to Aaron's room; Aaron and Nick.

Nick comes out wearing a t-shirt and boxers.  He flops down on the
bed.  "Hi."

"Hey."  Lance lays over Nick's back.  "Aaron okay?"

"Yeah.  He's sleeping.  He gets real tired like that after shows
and needs to crash."

"Good.  Oh.  For you."  Lance sets a stack of keycards in front of
Nick's face.

"What're those?"

"Those are keys to Aaron's room."

"That's a lot of keys."

"Yes," Lance says darkly.  "It is."

"That's a bad thing, huh?"

"I think so.  I mean-- how can he possibly feel safe if all these
people can walk in any time they want to?"

Nick shrugs.  "That's the way it works, y'know.  They own your
life, not you."

"No.  That's the way it worked for you, and for us at the
beginning.  That's how it was for Aaron.  But it doesn't have to
be, and from now on, it won't."

"If you say so," Nick says doubtfully.  It's not that he doesn't
believe in Lance, but there's the way the world is, too.

"Take me to bed, huh?"

Nick rolls them over until he's blanketing Lance with his body. 
"We're already in bed."

"Sex me up, then."

Nick gives Lance a look.  "You sure?  You're acting kinda weird."

"Then make me act differently."

He gives Lance another look, not sure about what he thinks about
having sex to forget about stuff, or whatever Lance is doing.  But
Nick knows how to show caring best with his body.  And that's what
Lance needs.  So Nick lowers his head and kisses Lance long and
slow.

~~~~

Lance wakes up happy and determined.  And his plan works.  Suddenly
no one has a key to Aaron's room other than Aaron and Nick.  Aaron
starts looking less tired at night and more rested in the mornings. 
Nick smiles more often.  Lance does, too.

Right up until the night NSYNC appears in their hotel.

"Group meeting!" Chris hollers.  "I call Nick!"  He runs at Nick,
jumping up at him.

Nick raises his arms to fend the wild man off.  "Whoa.  Stop it. 
What the hell are you doing?"

"We're visiting," Justin says laconically, giving Aaron a thumbs
up.

Joey grabs Lance and noogies him to the floor.

"Uh huh," Nick says, kicking at Chris.  "Is that what you call it?"

Chris rolls away, bouncing to his feet as he sticks his tongue out
at Nick.  "Invasion force is such a loaded term, doncha think?"

JC hugs Nick.  "Ignore him.  He's been doing the Dew for the last
twenty miles."

"I cannot be ignored!" Chris shouts.  "I'm a force of nature!"

"You mean like lock him out in the hall?"

JC smiles crinkly-eyed.  "Yeah.  Something like that."

Lance finally makes it back to his feet.

"You're a traitor," Justin notes.  "You're all non-sync now.  Bad
Lance!"

Joey nods.  "We've come to punish you.  For being non-sync."

"Yes.  We're kidnapping Aaron.  He can be our new bass."  Chris
noogies Aaron.  "You can sing bass, right?"

Nick's about to swoop down on Chris like an avenging angel when he
catches the look in Lance's eyes.  Lance doesn't want him to pummel
Chris.  Nick pouts at Lance.

JC laughs to himself.  "You guys are so cute."

Aaron clings to Chris, and Lance smiles as he tilts his head.  Nick
looks over at Chris and Aaron but Lance misses his reaction. 
Justin's just pounced him flat on the floor.  "Hey!  Let go, dick
breath!"

"Nevah!  We are Nsync forevahr!  You are a traitor and shall be
punished," he declares, starting to tickle.  JC's and Joey's hands
join him a few seconds later.

Nick is torn between defending Aaron and defending Lance.  After a
second, when Lance starts wheezing, he wades in and starts pulling
people off of his boyfriend.  "Hey.  Let him breathe there."

Lance crawls toward Nick's ankles.  "Save me!"

He wades in further, standing over Lance.  Protecting Lance from
the guys piling back on top of him, Nick bends down and lifts Lance
to his feet.  "Better?"

Lance melts against Nick, snuggling tightly.  "Perfect."

Aaron rolls his eyes.  "Get a *room*.  For fuck's sake!"

Nick laughs.  "If you think this is bad, little bro, watch this." 
And he bends his head to kiss Lance.  Slowly.  With a lot of
tongue.

After a while, a far-off voice complains, "I want *their* room."

"Shut up, Chris."

Aaron's fascinated.  He drifts a little closer, watching.

Justin grabs the kid and starts dancing with him.  "So.  How're you
doing?"

"Did you see that?" Joey quietly asks Chris.

"See what?  The only thing I see are hot blondes kissing."

"JC?"

JC smiles to himself and shakes his head.  He knows, but he'd
already guessed before this.

"So I'm seeing things?" Joey asks, trying to sound pathetic.

"If you're not seeing two hot blondes kissing, then yeah.  You
probably need glasses."

"Break it up, break it up!"  Justin orchestrates the fighting and
pushing and talking that gets Lance away from Nick, and Nick and
Aaron out of the room.

Finally, NSYNC is alone.  "So," Justin says, shoving Lance down on
the couch.  "You're a traitor.  What the fuck are you doing?"

"*I* thought you had better sense than to take up with Nick. 
Jesus," Joey says, rolling his eyes.  "But I should have known."

Lance purses his lips and shakes his head.  "I love Nick.  We've
been together for nearly a year.  Y'all didn't even care enough
about me to notice."

"Oh, we noticed," Joey says.  "We just thought you'd rebound
already.  You're just supposed to fuck them, not *fall* for them." 
He rolls his eyes.

"Yeah," Chris says.  "You're only supposed to spread your legs for
good pop groups."  He rolls his eyes.

JC sits down at Lance's feet, head against Lance's knees and just
watches.

"The point here is that you're a traitor," Justin says.  "You're
helping Aaron Carter.  Aaron Carter is not a member of NSYNC, and
your mad skillz are supposed to be all ours.  You're *ours*." 
Justin glares.  "You're not supposed to be helping anyone else. 
Besides, he'll be fine.  We all were."

Lance is strangely touched.  Justin's a diva, but he's *their*
diva.  "We had each other."

"The rug rat's got Nick," Joey says.

"And you've got Broadway, Justin's got Janet Jackson's wardrobe
malfunction, JC has a mental disorder," Chris points out.  "Have I
mentioned lately that I think this is a bad idea?  Anyone? 
Anyone?"

Lance is glad.  Chris is always on his side.  They're simpatico or
something.  "And Nick didn't get saved, either.  They're mine. 
They're my family, too."

Justin shakes his head.  "No.  We're your family.  Just us."

"I'm sorry, Justin.  But you're gonna have to deal with it."

"You're fucking stupid," Joey says.

"And you're jealous," JC says simply.  "Can you admit that so we
can move on, or are we going to yell for a while more?"  JC's
demeanor is totally calm, as though suggesting that he plans to go
take a nap until the yelling is over rather than do anything to
prevent it.

Chris cackles.

Joey throws his hands up.

"He won't be happy.  He wanted me to be miserable.  He never would
have said such hateful things if he wanted me to get over him,"
Lance says, looking at anything but Joey.

"I don't think C meant that Joey should be happy," Chris says,
staring first at JC, then at Joey.  "I think he meant that Joey
should say what's really bugging him here.  And it's not you
helping Aaron's concert sales.  Right?"

JC beams at him.  "Exactly right."

"I know."

Justin stares at Lance.

Chris picks up on the look.  "What, laughing boy?  You're afraid of
Aaron?  Of AC?  Please."

"Lance is leaving.  We can't be us without Lance.  And-- the
*thing* happened, and Lance--" Justin breaks off as Joey storms
out.  "Lance left us," he finishes quietly.

Lance feels guilty and hurt.  They didn't ask him to stay.  They
didn't help him.  They didn't care where he was for a whole week.

Chris shoots JC a look, and grabs Justin's arm.  "No.  No, stop
fighting.  You're gonna come listen to me, you little shit.  I put
up with this because I miss him, too, and I thought, y'know,
closure's not always a dumb idea.  But..."  His voice is muted,
then cut off as Chris shuts first the sliding door between the
living area and the bedroom, and then the door to the bathroom.  JC
climbs onto the couch and curls up in Lance's lap.  "You should pet
me now.  It'll make you feel better."

Lance pats JC awkwardly.  "I think... I really want-- Nick!"  Lance
reaches out as Nick bursts through the door.

Nick is furious.  "Lance!  Are you all right?"  He strides to
Lance's side, trailing two bodyguards behind, but no Aaron.

Lance gently moves JC away, and stands.  He puts his arms around
Nick's neck.  "I'm okay."

He runs his hands over Lance.  "Really okay?  Or are you just
saying that so I don't try to kill anyone?"

Lance smiles a little.  Nick takes good care of him.  "Really okay. 
Joey's an asshole, but the guys are good."

Nick snorts.  "Can't prove it by me."  He wants to pick Lance up
and haul him out of the room bodily.  "Do you, uh, still wanna stay
here?  'Cause I'm all for having them thrown out of the hotel."

"You don't have to throw us out.  We'll be good," JC says.

Nick glares at him.  "Then why'd I get thrown out of the room, huh? 
And why's Lance so upset?"

JC shrugs.  "Because Joey's an asshole and Justin's an infant."

Lance turns in Nick's arms.  "But they'll be good now.  So they can
stay in the hotel, but they're going to get out of *our* room."

Nick gives him a dubious look.  "Wouldn't it be easier just to get
a new room?  This one has cooties now."

Lance grins up at Nick.  "You're so perfect."

"And you're warped.  But I like you anyway."

Justin and Chris come out from the bathroom, Justin behind Chris
and looking ridiculous hunched down like a small, scolded child.

"Justin has something to say," Chris announces.

"Yeah?" Lance asks.

JC glares at Justin.  "It better be good."

"I'm sorry," Justin says in a humbled voice.  "I shouldn't have
said that stuff.  It's great that you have your own life now."

"You know I'm still here if you need me, right?" Lance asks.  "But
not for every little thing.  Not for you to take for granted."

"Yeah, well--" Justin starts to answer.

Chris steps on his foot.

Chastened, Justin says, "Yeah.  I know."

Lance nods solemnly.  "Be nice to Aaron.  Nick and I are gonna get
a new room now."

Nick grins, huge and wide.  "Yeah.  What he said."

Chris comes to attention and salutes.  "Yes, sir, Major Bass, sir."

"Don't wait up."  Lance rubs back against Nick.

"Did you... uh... wanna pack first?" Nick asks, on the verge of
dragging Lance out.

"Pack later," JC says.  "Unless we're allowed to watch?"

"No," Nick growls.  He bends and picks Lance up, swinging him over
his shoulder.  "No watching.  Mine!"

"Nick!" Lance gasps.

JC cheers.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Chris says and throws himself
on the couch, sprawling out over JC.  "I fixed Jup.  Somebody else
has to fix Joey."

"Not it!" Justin yells quickly.

"Meanies," JC says, and pouts.

"Leave him broken," Lance calls as Nick carries him out.  "He tried
to tell me I was bad at cocksucking.  I believed him."

"Ooh," Chris says.  "He has a point.  There's no such thing as bad
cocksucking."

Nick doesn't hear them.  He's focused on one thing.  Getting Lance
alone in a room and getting his clothes off.

He even got them a new room before barging in to save the day and
rescue Lance.  The problem is that he doesn't have enough brain
cells left to remember which room it is or where he put the
keycard.  He stops in the middle of the hall and puts Lance down.

Lance knocks on Aaron's door.  "Please?  Please, please, please,
please can we use your extra bedroom?  Please?"

"Lance.  Room," Nick says, trying to communicate.

"Hell, no," Aaron says.  "Use that room.  It's yours."  He points.

"Room," Nick says happily.

Lance shoves his hands into Nick's pockets, looking for the key. 
"Key!  Key, key!"  At least someone has a working brain.

Just not him anymore.  Nick pushes Lance against the wall.  "Sex. 
Now."

"Ew!" Aaron yells, taking the key from Lance's hand and opening the
door.  "Go in there, icky brother-type people."

Nick really loves Aaron.  "Bed!"  He lifts Lance up again, this
time carrying him like a newlywed, and makes for the bed.  There's
gagging sounds behind them before the door shuts, but Nick ignores
them.

He tosses Lance on the bed and grins at him.  "Mine."

Lance slides up the bed.  "Show me."

Nick strips off his clothes and knee walks up the bed.  "Mine," he
says, before pulling Lance's polo shirt up and over his head. 
"Naked.  Now."

Lance helps Nick get him naked.  "Hi.  Naked now."

"Good."  Nick knows people tease him about his lack of verbal
ability, but he doesn't care.  The really important things don't
need much words, and definitely not fancy words.  "I love you," he
says, before his mouth descends on Lance's and starts devouring him
from the inside out.

Lance happily goes 'girly' and wraps arms and legs around Nick as
he kisses back.

~~~~

Lance rubs his fingers across Nick's chest idly.  "That was really,
*really* good."

Nick purrs and bumps his chin against Lance's head.

Lance smiles.  "Yeah.  And thanks."

"You're welcome," Nick mumbles.  "I was gonna kill them, but Joey
wasn't there and JC was just sitting there."

"Uh huh.  I don't wanna talk about Joey.  I want to pretend I'm
good."

"You're g-g-great!" Nick says with a tiger roar, because it never
stops being funny.

Lance is reduced to giggling.

Nick growls again and blows raspberries on Lance's stomach.

Lance gasps first, at being moved so quickly and easily.  Nick's so
strong, and so free with that strength.  It still catches Lance by
surprise to be moved, and have no indication but a little pressure. 
And no bruises, unless it's from sex.  Then he laughs helplessly,
pushing Nick away.  "Stop it!"

Nick lets go immediately and pulls back.  "Better yet?"

"Oh.  Oh, Nick.  Did you do that to make me feel better?"  He pets
his hand through Nick's hair.

"Yeah.  And because I wanted to."  Nick rubs his head against
Lance's hand.

"You're so sweet," Lance murmurs.  To initiate sex, just because
Lance is unhappy -- Nick's the sweetest guy.  Really.

Nick hums happily.  "Hah!  You should talk to my ex-girlfriends. 
They hate me."

"They're just bitter that they let you get away."

"Yeah, right.  'Let'."  Nick snorts.  Let doesn't usually involve
hitting.

Lance understands that tone.  He cups Nick's face and kisses him. 
"I love you.  I hate that you hurt."

Nick nuzzles him.  "Me too.  With the loving."

"My stomach hurts."

"Did somebody hit you?" Nick asks, expression quickly turning into
a glower.  "'Cause if they did, they're dead men."

"No, I think it's just stress.  D'you wanna order some room
service?  I wanna try some, I dunno, sorbet or something."  Lance
smoothes Nick's eyebrows.  "Or we can go down to the restaurant."

"I don't wanna leave, and I don't wanna let anybody else in," Nick
says, pouting.

"Room service," Lance agrees.

"But they don't come in and they leave the cart at the door," Nick
negotiates.

"Yes, sir."

"Good."  Nick crawls over Lance, going for the room service menu. 
He lets Lance get squished while he gets it out of the drawer and
then comes back.  Lance is gasping.  "Oops?" he says innocently,
before flopping onto his stomach and opening the menu.

Lance curls up against Nick.  Screw breathing, cuddling's much
better.

Nick lifts his head.  "Not gonna lay all over me and read the menu
over my shoulder?"

"You read it to me.  Or order for me."

Nick turns over on his side.  "You want me to call the tour doc? 
You sound sick."

"I'm not.  I'm just thinking too much."

"Stop thinking."  Nick kisses Lance's forehead.  "Thinking bad."

"I know."

Nick sighs and starts reading the menu to Lance.  He hates not
being able to fix Lance.  He likes it when he can make people
happy, especially Lance and Aaron.

"That one.  Strawberry Lemon Ice.  I want that."

"Okay.  Anything to drink?"

"Mmm.  Root beer," Lance says with a smile.

Nick grins at him and goes for the phone.  He stops before he
dials, frowning.  "Is it gonna bug your stomach if I get something
to eat?"

"No.  Not at all."

"Okay."  Nick grins at Lance again and orders what Lance wants plus
a burger and fries for himself.

"Don't forget a drink, baby."

"Mini-bar," Nick says.

"Oh.  Okay."

"I just want soda," Nick explains.  "Plain boring soda."

"I don't like soda.  It tastes bad."  Lance waits until Nick hangs
up.  Then he calls Aaron, and asks if Aaron would pretty please
bring their bags over.  "And leave them outside the door?  Yeah. 
Yes, we're weird.  Love you, too, kid."

"Should've asked Chris.  Not fair to bring Aaron into it."

Lance stops with the phone halfway down to the cradle.  "I-- I'm
sorry.  I d-didn't mean to.  I'll call back."

"Will you?"  Nick smiles winningly at Lance.  "I don't trust those
fuckers.  They did throw Aaron and me out earlier.  And not nicely
either."

Lance calls immediately and tells Aaron not to go.  "I know you
can, dude.  But why bother?"  Then he calls Chris.  It's a short
call.  "Nick?  No one's there right now.  I'll just go grab our
stuff, okay?"

"Nope.  You stay right here.  Take care of your stomach.  I'll do
it."

"Nick.  Nick, I don't want you to.  I don't want them to see you."

Nick pauses, already sitting up.  "You don't want them to *see* me? 
I don't get it."

"You're all newly-sexed and glowy.  I wanna keep that look
private."

A grin.  "You're cute.  I think we should just do without our
stuff.  Or send security."

"I'm going to get it.  Hold that look," Lance says, grabbing up the
hotel robe.  He dashes out.

Nick frowns.  He doesn't want anybody yelling at Lance.  But Lance
is going to be upset if he gets involved.

Joey's in their room, and Lance doesn't say anything.  He just
grabs their bags and leaves again.  He's back with Nick in less
than five minutes.

Nick is up, dressed, and pacing.  "You okay?" he asks, crossing to
Lance and feeling him all over.

Lance drops the bags and happily lets Nick feel him up.  And then
Lance does something unforgivable.  He plays against Nick's caring
and protectiveness.  "Joey was there."  He feels guilty as soon as
he says it.

Nick stiffens.  "Did he say anything?  Do anything?"

"No.  He was just there."  Lance feels young.  Knowing he's done
something stupid and pulling in all the comfort he can get before
he's found out.  "I'm fine.  He didn't do anything."

"Really?"

"Really."  Lance tries to let go.  "I'm sorry.  I played you and I
should stop holding on, but I can't make my hands let go."

"You don't have to let go."

"You aren't mad at me?" Lance whispers.  He's glad he can't see
Nick's face.

"No!  I'm mad at Joey.  And at myself for not going with you
anyway."

"Joey didn't do anything to me, though.  Why're you mad at him?"

"Because he could've, and I wasn't there to help."

Lance tries not to cry.  "Why are you so... you're never mad at me
for the things I do that are stupid.  You're never mad at me when
I'm bad at things.  You never call me names or tell me I'm terrible
at things.  You're always good to me."  He leans back enough to see
Nick.  "And I don't understand."

"I love you.  You shouldn't do those things to people if you love
them."

Lance goes up on his tiptoes to kiss Nick.

Nick kisses him back, then brushes his fingertips over Lance's
eyelids.  "Wanna lay down for a while?"

"Wanna do anything you want."

"Lay down," Nick decides.

Lance walks over to the bed and lays down.

Nick lays down with him and wraps his arms around Lance.  "That
better?"

"Everything's better with Nick on top."

Nick snickers.

Lance grins.  "I'm brilliant.  Or something."

"Yeah, you are."

"So're you."

Nick shakes his head.  "Not really.  I know people don't think I'm
all that smart."

"People are wrong.  You're incredibly good at knowing what people's
motivations are.  You might not know fancy words, or psychology,
but you get what drives people.  You can make anyone smile.  And
you judge people by what they do, not what they did."

"Well, yeah.  Kinda dumb to do anything else."

"See?  Brilliant."

Nick snorts, but lets Lance keep his illusions.

~~~~

NSYNC keeps showing up, either in whole or in part, everywhere they
go.  It's driving Lance mad.  It helps, though, because now he
takes his anger out in bargaining more closely on Aaron's
contracts.  He won't let *anything* hurt Aaron, financially,
professionally, or privately.

At the seventeenth tour date, Jane's waiting for them.  So is
Kevin.  Lance nods coldly to the one and warmly shakes hands with
the other.

"What're you doing here?" he asks Kevin.  "Did Nick know you were
coming?  He'll be thrilled!"

Kevin clears his throat.  "This isn't about Nick.  I'm here to talk
to you."

"Oh.  Okay, cool.  Let me get Aaron settled in his dressing room,
and I'll be right back out.  It's so cool to see you again!"  Lance
grins over his shoulder as he jogs off to check Aaron's rooms here
at the venue.

Kevin looks uncomfortably at Jane and waits.

Joey passes the doorway, then does a double-take, returning to peer
in.  "Mrs. Carter?  Richardson?  Hey, I didn't know you two were
here.  Hello!"  He walks in and shakes hands.  Jane smiles toothily
at him, and Joey knows she's a shark.  Duh.

Kevin's eyes narrow.  "Joey."

"Hey.  Visiting Nick?" Joey asks, offering his hand.

"Not in the way you mean.  Why are you here?"

"Visiting Lance," Joey says, completely at ease.

"Leaving soon?"  Kevin drops Joey's hand before the handshake is
fully complete.

"Nah.  Justin's in town, so I'm gonna be hanging with Lance for a
week or so."

"And who's taking over from you?"

"Oh, I think somebody'll show up.  I don't have anything much to
do, though," Joey says challengingly.  "I'm between shows, like
you."

"Not like me."

"Oh?  Are you doing something now, then?  I hadn't heard."  Joey
smiles his friendliest smile; unsure as to why Kevin's being so
defensive.

"Yeah, I'm here to find out why NSYNC's suddenly Aaron's opening
act."

"NSYNC is *not* opening for *Aaron Carter*," Joey says, laughing. 
"Though, hey, that's a thought.  We could do a show with the kid."

Jane's eyes light up.  "Oh, really?"

"Out of the goodness of your heart, I'm sure," Kevin says, folding
his arms over his chest.

"Well, sure.  Uh."

"Kevin!  I'm back," Lance calls, bouncing through the door.  He
sees Joey and his smile freezes.  "I see you've found Joey."

"Actually, I found them," Joey says.

"Kevin needed to speak with me," Lance says.  "Mrs. Carter, do you
need anything?  Please help yourself to the food tables.  We'll
make sure no one bothers you in here."

Jane glares at him.

"You have the time to talk to me?" Kevin asks, arms still folded.

"Sure.  Aaron's set up and Nick's keeping him going.  Everything
else runs smoothly, now."  He doesn't even mind that Jane glares
harder at the emphasis on 'now'.

"Can we talk privately?"

Lance leads Kevin out of the room and off into the shadowed
back-stage areas.  An emptied break room provides them a place. 
Lance bites his lip and waits for Kevin to start.  Backstreet isn't
like NSYNC.  If Kevin's here to say something, it's something
important.

"I was gonna chew you out for NSYNC hogging the spotlight, but I
got the impression from talking to Joey that it's not your idea."

Lance shakes his head.  "I didn't realize it was getting to be a
problem.  I'll take care of it."

Kevin nods.  "I believe you."  He gives Lance a small, wintry
smile.  "At least you admit there's a problem.  Want to tell me
*why* there's a problem?  From your point of view?"

"I'm not sure what the underlying problem is.  I'll get NSYNC much
less visible here, though.  I just don't know why they're -- why
they suddenly wanna be with me.  They miss me," Lance says.  He
doesn't believe it, but he wants to.

"Want to try again?"

Lance closes his eyes and shakes his head.  "No.  I don't want to. 
But I'll take care of it.  They're not going to leave until I
leave."  He knew he'd have to give Nick up eventually.  But he
thinks that, now that things are going, Nick can take care of Aaron
and the financial aspect of things.  That's something.

"Explain."

"I don't understand it.  Why they're here.  But I know that they'll
go away if I leave."

Kevin shakes his head.  "I think you do know.  And I'll get it out
of Nick if you won't tell me."

"I really don't know why they won't go.  They came because they
wanted to know what was up with me helping Aaron, and I told them,
and they didn't go.  Maybe they really *do* just want to be with
me."

"You don't believe that any more than I do."

"Why can't it be true?"

Kevin gives him a lifted eyebrow look.  "Which one of them dumped
you?"

"Joey," Lance says glaring at Kevin for a moment.  "Joey dumped
me," he whispers, the spit and fire going out of him.

Kevin nods.  "Why hasn't Nick gotten rid of him yet?  Or should I
ask Nick?"

"Nick?  Get rid of...  Why would Nick have to deal with my messes? 
I should be taking better care of it, yes, but I can do it."

"Yeah.  Right."

Lance stands, stiffly tall and proud.  "I apologize for causing a
situation and hurting your friends."

Kevin rolls his eyes.  "Don't give me that crap.  There's a
situation.  It needs to be fixed.  It's going to be fixed.  Where's
Nick?"

"He's taking care of Aaron and you leave him *alone*," Lance says
fiercely.  "Let them be until after the show.  Aaron needs Nick,
and Nick likes taking care of Aaron.  I'll keep Joey and myself out
of the way, if you please wait until after the show to talk to Nick
about this."

"You're telling me I can't talk to Nick?"

"Of course you can!  He's expecting you.  But will you please leave
the bad until after?" Lance asks, calm now.

"Fine.  I'll talk to Joey now then."

"J-Joey?"

Kevin nods.

"Well.  That's your right," Lance agrees.  "Um.  I bet he's at the
stage door.  I can show you the way."

"I think I can find it."  Kevin reaches out and squeezes Lance's
shoulder.  "The point is you don't want him here either."

Lance looks at Kevin.  "He's not sorry.  He was my friend, and I
have to get used to him again, but I can't stand that he's not
sorry."  He smiles ruefully.  "Why does fate always make you pick
me up when he knocks me down?"

A small smile.  "Least I can do.  You got Jane off of Nick's and
Aaron's backs.  If I get rid of Joey, then she goes away again. 
That's what she's here for, you realize."

"I didn't realize, actually."

Kevin nods.  "NSYNC is taking over Aaron's tour and harassing her
baby.  That's her story."

"Oh.  Well, fuckity."

"Not the way I would've put it, but yes."

Lance's smile is a bit strained.  "I'm slightly crass at times."

"I've heard worse.  Tell Nick I'll see him after the show."

"Yes, Kevin."  Lance trots off toward the stage.  It's almost time
for Aaron to go on.

~~~~

Joey looks up from his cigarette as Kevin approaches.  "Hey," he
says with a grin, grinding the butt out under his toe.  "Aaron
start yet?"

"And you care, why?"

"That kid has a hell of a set of pipes on him."

"The way I understand it, you're only here to keep an eye on
Lance."

"Mostly, yeah.  But Aaron and Nick are pretty cool, too."

"Really."

"Yeah.  What, you think they're *not* cool?"

"I think you're here to make sure no one gets too friendly with
your ex."

Joey snorts.  "As if.  Nick's totally in Lance's pants.  Then
again, Nick's a lot more patient than I am, so maybe Lance has
learned something."

"Uh huh."  Kevin leans against the wall, hands in his pockets.  "So
you figure it's only a matter of time before Nick breaks up with
him, too."

Joey shrugs.  "Whatever.  The whole 'rebound' concept doesn't seem
to apply to Lance.  He's such a dumb fuck, sometimes.  But Nick's
cool, so it's all good."

"So you're really worried about Nick then."

Joey scowls at Kevin.  "What are you worrying about?"

"Just trying to sort things out," Kevin says with a smile.  "Plus
I'm concerned about Nick, of course."

"Ah.  Is Lance doin' something to him?"

"Other than subjecting him to bad sex, you mean?" Kevin says with
a knowing twist of his mouth.

"Yeah.  But they don't seem to do that too often, so Nick's
probably cool with it."  Besides, Lance probably finally figured
out that screwing around with lots of people will keep his partners
from being totally bored with Lance's own meager skills.

"Dunno.  Sounds to me like he's waiting for someone else to step
in."

"Which one?"

"Nick, of course."

"Oh!  Wonder if he's told Lance that."  Joey ponders, leaning
against the wall.  "Well, I suppose that would make sense.  With
the way Lance is acting and all."  He nods his head.  "Yeah."

Kevin nods wisely.  "See?  I wonder who Nick's got his eye on?"

Joey shrugs.  "Didn't know he had any *one* in mind."  He frowns a
little.  "I really hope Lance understands what's going on, though."

"Why's that?  Isn't it his fault really?"

"What?  No.  It's just Lance.  Not a fault in it."

"He's just bad at sex.  Too bad.  I suppose that's why you and your
guys are here then.  To support him when Nick breaks it off."

Joey shakes his head.  "Man, you're paranoid.  We just missed
Lance.  Want him to know we still want him."

Kevin shrugs.  "Yeah, well.  From what I hear, you've been with him
for most of this leg of the tour.  Seems like maybe it's more."

"Not me in particular, just us.  Justin wants Lance to come back
and make life easy for *him* instead of helping Aaron out."  Joey
grins and rolls his eyes.  "He's so kid-like sometimes."

"Yeah.  I get that.  Seems to me that it'd be JC who wanted him
more, though.  Seeing as how the word is that Justin's in the
studio."

"C's good about taking care of himself."

"Lance must really enjoy having you here."

"You'd have to ask him.  Are you about done interrogating me and
pretending I don't know you're doing it?  I might not know what
you're getting at, but I know you're getting at something."

"I'm not interrogating you," Kevin says easily, face not changing
expression.  "I'm determining how far to throw you when I kick you
out of here."

"Ha."

Kevin raises his eyebrows and smirks.  "You're not welcome here. 
Not now, not ever.  I'll give you until the end of the show to pack
and get out."

"Okay."  Joey walks away; not that he's leaving.

Kevin smiles.  It's been a long time since he's had this much fun. 
He goes to find Lance.

Lance is sitting in a tiny room, drowning in paperwork.

"I need your presence for a moment, Lance."

"Can it-- no.  You wouldn't ask if it could wait," Lance mutters,
carefully sticking things in a pile.  "Okay, all yours."

"I just need you to stand next to me and look like you approve of
what I'm saying."

"What are you going to be saying?  And to whom?" Lance asks,
following Kevin.  "Aaron's got seventeen minutes left before the
next costume change."

"He can handle it.  It has nothing to do with the show.  I need to
talk to the head of security, if you trust him."

"Rick?  Yeah, Rick is a good guy."

"Perfect."

Kevin lets Lance lead him to Rick and introduce them.  The man is
large.  He's easily as tall as Kevin, but much broader.  That may
be necessary.

"Joey Fatone will be leaving the tour tonight.  He'll require some
assistance with packing, as well as with transportation.  I was
hoping you could assist him with this."

Lance makes a strange sound.  Something between laughing and
protesting, of course.

Rick looks at Lance.

Kevin very carefully doesn't glare at Lance, but he's not
particularly happy with Lance's response.

"As you were, Rick.  I'll go with you to Fatone's room."  Lance
nods firmly.

"Any other members of NSYNC, except of course Lance, will need
explicit permission before joining the tour.  It's nothing
personal, naturally.  They've had plenty of time to visit, but it's
time emphasis was put back where it belongs.  I hope you understand
what I mean."

Rick nods.

Lance smiles graciously.  "Thank you, Rick.  Now, I know you're
on-duty after the show.  I'm going to go and start packing for Mr.
Fatone.  Would you join me when you return to the hotel, please?"

Kevin gives Rick a look.  A long look down the bridge of his nose.

"I'll be happy to send someone with you," Rick says, glancing
between them.  He seems relieved when Kevin nods.

"Certainly."  Though no one will be there.  Joey's probably here,
and won't leave until Aaron does.

"Thank you," Kevin says, dismissing the man.  It's all about
attitude and what you don't say.

Rick leaves them, and Lance nods sharply to Kevin and turns to
leave, too.

"Wait," Kevin says quietly.

"What?"

"Don't let him push you around, all right?  I don't like the way he
talks about you and I don't think he has any respect for you or
what you want."

Lance looks at Kevin silently.

"Want me to come with?"

"I loved him hard and long," Lance says and walks away.

To Kevin, that sounds like yes.

Lance mostly ignores Kevin until they finally get to the back door. 
"You have to stay.  I told Nick you'd be here to talk to him, and
Aaron wants to see you."

"Packing shouldn't take that long.  I'll help."

"Kevin, leave me alone!" Lance demands.  "You'll be there when Joey
gets there."

Kevin holds up his hands and retreats.

"Thanks."

~~~~

There's a knock on the door as Lance finishes packing Joey's things
away.  Nick sticks his head in.  "You okay?"

"No.  But we can't do anything about it until later."  Lance smiles
at Nick.  "It'll be fine, baby."

Nick comes in and loops his arms around Lance's waist.  "Kevin said
you didn't feel good."

"Kevin was right."  Lance zips Joey's bag closed with finality.  "I
might have to leave for a while.  I hope not, but maybe."

"What?  Why?"

"NSYNC is too visible.  It's hurting Aaron."

Nick snorts.  "No way."

"Yes.  Way."

"Kevin told me that you were hurting.  He also said not let anyone
hurt you and not to let you do anything stupid.  You leaving would
be stupid.  So you can't."

Lance leans back into Nick.  "How the fuck did you figure me out so
fast?"

"Me?  I didn't figure anything out.  Kevin told me that."  Nick
holds Lance more firmly, moving one arm to wrap across Lance's
chest.

"Joey's about to kill me."

"No, he won't."

"He might."

"He'd have to get through Ted, then Kevin, then me.  Not gonna
happen."

"I'm going to talk to him alone."

Nick's arms tighten.

"I love you, too."

"I think talking to Joey alone counts as doing something stupid."

"I know it does, but I still have to do it."

"Promise you won't leave with him."

"I promise.  That's an easy one."  Lance turns in Nick's arms. 
"Because I don't want to leave at all, let alone with him."

"Good.  I'm selfish.  I don't want him to have you.  Ever."

"Never again."

Nick kisses Lance's forehead, then his cheeks and his nose.

Lance tips his face up and kisses Nick.  "Now go.  He's in the
hall."

"I'm gonna stand right outside.  If I hear anything..."

"There will be yelling," Lance warns, pushing Nick to the door.

"Any hitting or screaming, and I'm coming in."

"Okay."  Nick goes out as Joey comes in.

Lance himself comes out nearly twenty minutes later.  There's been
yelling and little screaming, but no hitting.  Just deadly insults
-- cruel words and crueler looks.

Nick wraps his arms around Lance as soon as he sees him.  To
comfort Lance and to keep himself from smashing Joey's face in.

Lance makes a hurt sound.  He steps back, taking Nick's hand and
pulling him to their room.

Before the door closes, Nick looks at Ted, "Make sure he gets out
of the building and doesn't get back in, okay?"

Ted nods.  It's a public place, so kicking out isn't precisely
allowed.  But there's ways.

Nick closes the door behind them and locks it.  Then puts the chain
up.  Once they're secure, he goes after Lance.

Lance backs away from Nick, leading them toward the bed.

"Sex?" Nick asks.

"No," Lance says quickly.  After hearing Joey once again belittle
his sexual abilities, it feels like pity.  Lance doesn't want that.

"Okay."  Nick kicks off his shoes, but leaves his clothes on and
climbs into bed.  "C'mere?"

Lance sprawls on Nick's chest.  "It's not that I believe the
hateful things he said, it's that he said them."

Nick wraps his arms and legs around Lance.  "Uh huh."

"I'm okay."

"Maybe."

Lance wants to be fine, and so he refuses to think he's not.  He's
tired of being needy, tired of demanding so much from Nick.  "I
am."

Nick strokes Lance's back.  "*You're* fine.  But maybe a little
upset?"

"A little."

"That's why I said you were maybe okay.  'Cause you're good the way
you are, but yelling sucks."

"I'm good at yelling."

"Sometimes," Nick allows.  "But it sucks when people yell at you."

"It doesn't matter.  It's just Joey."

"Kevin said you still love him."

"I don't.  But I loved him a lot, and there will always be a part
of me that remembers that."  Lance rubs Nick's back.  "You're my
forever, Nick."

Nick nuzzles him.  "I like that."

"Damn good, because I do, too."

"As long as we get to be crazy together, right?"

"Just together is good for me."

"What?  I don't get to be crazy?" Nick teases.

"Nah, you do.  You can be as crazy as you want my loving baby
darling."

Nick snickers.  "Now you're just being silly."

"I'm very silly," Lance declares indignantly.

"Oh, good."

"Nick.  Nick Nick Nick.  Nick, I love you a lot.  What are we going
to do when this is over?  The tour, I mean.  Are we going to stay
together?  Really forever?  Just you and me and no cheating?"

"You wanna break up with me?"

"I want to never break up with you.  I want you to never break up
with me.  I want to be together until we die."

"Um.  Are you okay?"

Lance laughs.  "I suppose I do sound fucked up."

"Just a little.  S'okay -- it just makes me worry about you."

"I'm fine," Lance says, and drops the subject.

"Uh huh," Nick says.  "Sure."

"Shush, you.  How's Aaron?"

"He was good when I left.  Kev's with him."

"Well.  It's not Jane, and that's good."

"Yeah."  Wistfully, Nick says, "I liked it better when she wasn't
here.  That was nice."

"She'll leave again," Lance predicts.  "She actually had to spend
her own money to come."

"I really hope so."

"Don't worry," Lance says, rolling them over so that Nick's on top. 
"I'll take care of her.  I can drive anyone away."

"Yeah?  Then how come I'm still here?"

"Because I *want* you."

"And Joey and Justin?"

"You.  I want you near me."  Lance sighs heavily.  "Please.  This
is -- I'm really open right now, and I know it's off-putting.  I
don't mean to be, but I can't think of an appropriate way to say
this."  He inhales and exhales.  "I want to keep you.  You're mine,
and I mean to be with you forever.  I'd -- if you were a woman, I'd
ask you to marry me."

"That's pretty cool."

Lance presses his face to Nick's shoulder for a second.  "Toad. 
It's better than cool."  He laughs in relief, happy to have it out
in the open.  "Now.  Should we go be social?"

 Nick considers the question.  "Depends.  Do you feel better enough
to deal with Jane?"

"Oh, yes," Lance says with a wicked smile.

"Okay, then.  But Kevin gets to be scary and handle Joey."

"Joey's gone."

"Just in case."

Lance shifts and gets off the bed.  "Mmm," he murmurs, stretching. 
"Okay."

Nick gets up, feels Lance up, then bounces out, humming.

Lance chases Nick.  "Hey!  Get back here, sneaky man!"

Nick pauses in the hallway, laughing at Lance.  "What?  You said
you were ready."

Lance jumps on Nick's back.  "Brat!"

Nick hooks his hands under Lance's knees.  "No, that's Aaron. 
Remember?  The shorter one?  Oh, wait.  He's still taller than
you."

"Hey!  You're a jerk.  Just because you ended up with tall genes,"
Lance says.

Aaron's door bursts open.  "I can hear you all the way in here!"

"Hey!"  Nick jogs down the hall, still holding Lance.  "You're
back!"

"Duh!  I'm tired, but I ordered us dinner.  Come in and eat with me
and Kevin."

"Not your mom?" Lance asks.

Aaron smirks.  "Kevin made her leave!"

Nick ducks as he carries Lance through the door.  "Go, Kev!"

Kevin inclines his head regally.

"Did you give her any money?" Lance asks, regaining his own feet.

"Cab fare."

Nick giggles.

Lance rolls his eyes.  "She doesn't deserve even that."  He's glad
to see Aaron agree.  It was harder to break the emotional hold than
the financial hold, but Aaron seems much happier now.

Kevin shrugs.  "She's gone."

Lance nods and takes a seat at the table.

Nick grabs Aaron and does the happy dance around the room.

Lance calmly takes a plate and dishes some of everything onto it. 
"So, Kevin.  How are you?"

"Good."

"Lance, on Kev's planet, that means 'prove that you care about the
answer, you insignificant bug'."  Nick grins impishly.

Kevin rolls his eyes.  "Better now that that ass is gone.  Happy?"

"Very," Nick assures him.

Lance nods.  "Thank you.  And I really am sorry I let it get so out
of control."

Surprisingly, Aaron's the one who answers.  "No big.  You got rid
of Jane.  We get rid of Joey.  It evens out."

Lance smiles at Aaron.  "You're a totally sweet guy, you know? 
They're not quite the same, but I appreciate you saying that."

"Seem the same to me."

Nick nods emphatically.

Lance notes that Kevin doesn't nod, and that's fine.  "Well
thanks."

Kevin smiles, just a little.  "It was a pleasure."

"I don't know about *that*."

"Joey was here when I came back," Nick confesses.

Kevin looks up sharply.  "He was?"

"Uh huh.  They yelled and stuff."

"I really don't like him," Kevin says.  The mild phrasing disguises
the threat.

"He's Joey.  Why should he listen to you?  You're no one to him,"
Lance says.  "He's gone now."

"Someone who's concerned about your welfare.  But that doesn't
matter to him, does it?"

Nick shakes his head.  "About as much as Aaron getting enough sleep
matters to Jane."

Aaron curls up next to him, tucking his feet under Nick's thigh.

Lance keeps his eyes on his plate, eating a prime cut steak that
sits like charcoal in his stomach.  "Chris will want to come back,
if it's okay.  He really likes Aaron."

"Chris is okay," Nick agrees.  "You always say you like him and he
takes your side on stuff."

"He knows the best pranks," Aaron chimes in.

Kevin snorts.  "Best reason not to invite him."

"He's very, very protective," Lance murmurs to Kevin.  "He's a good
guy to have on your side."

A nod from Kevin.  "As long as you want him here."

"Yeah," Nick agrees.  "No more people that make Lance miserable. 
Sorry, Aaron.  You're gonna have to do the rest of the tour without
the blonde dancer with those big boobs."

Aaron kicks him.  "What, you volunteering to take her place?  She's
prettier."

"You wish."

"You were macking on your dancer?" Lance asks.

Aaron squirms.  "Not really."

"He was humping her against the wall," Nick informs Lance.

Lance looks at Aaron.  "How old are you again?"

"Twenty one," Aaron replies promptly.

"He's eighteen," Kevin says.

"Meanie," Aaron says.

Lance sets down his silver wear.  "D'you need the safe sex talk?"

Aaron rolls his eyes.  "No, dad."

"Yeah," Nick agrees.  "I already gave him the safe sex talk this
month."

"Do you need condoms?"

"He needs a girlfriend."

"No, I don't.  I've *had* girlfriends.  They suck."

Nick giggles.  "Sometimes."

Lance groans.  "That was terrible, Nick.  Besides, boyfriends suck,
too.  And Aaron's just fine the way he is." He turns his attention
to Aaron.  "But you talk to me if you need protection.  You're
cute, but I'm not good with babies."

"Old people talk." Aaron covers his ears with his hands, then
sticks out his tongue at Lance.

"He knows," Nick tells Lance.  "I think."

"I know," Aaron says, pulling his hands down.  "I just think it's
stupid repeating it all the time when I don't even *have* sex all
that much."

Lance shrugs.  "I totally understand that.  We were all in that
place.  It's just that, being in a place where you don't get it as
much as you think about it, it's easy to just *do* it when you have
the chance.  To forget about the safe things, and just get it in --
or off -- or whatever.  Besides, if you've got three choices of who
to go to, hopefully you're comfortable enough to ask at least one
of them for supplies."

"More than that," Aaron says.  "Me and that dancer?  She got
totally embarrassed when Ted interrupted us to give me a condom."

"You didn't?  I would have had a heart attack!"

"No.  And ignore what Nick says."

Nick grins.

Lance asks, "Hey, is she the one with the..." he makes a large
cupping motion in front of his chest.

"Uh huh," Aaron says.  "She's the one Nick wants to get rid of."

Lance looks at Nick in a silent request for information.

"Earlier I said that there shouldn't be any people on tour that
make you miserable, so we'd have to get rid of her.  It was a
joke."

"Ah.  I dunno.  Is she nice?  D'you know her, Kevin?" Lance asks.

Kevin shakes his head.

"She's probably *really* nice.  Right, little bro."

Aaron kicks him.  "Shaddup.  It's not like that.  If it was like
that, it'd be wrong."

"Just checking," Nick says, passing his plate to Lance, then
grabbing one of Aaron's feet and starting to tickle it.

"I hate brothers!" Aaron shouts, laughing and kicking out at Nick.

"Tell me about it," Kevin says.

Lance fills Nick's plate and passes it back.  It's good that
Aaron's got a little bit of happiness and sex-sense going on. 
Kevin, though.  Lance rolls his eyes.  "Just cause you're the
*oldest*."

Kevin gives him a we-are-not-amused look.  "Like that stops
Kirkpatrick."

"He did his best not to be..."

"The important part is that you're happy with the life you've
chosen," Kevin says, looking at Lance.

Lance looks at Nick and Aaron, still playing around.  "Yeah."

"Joey won't make you happy." Kevin keeps his voice pitched below
the level where it would get Nick's attention.

"That's why I'm with Nick."

"It's a start.  Keep him away."

Lance feels his weariness and hurt showing through.  "I never could
make Joey do what I wanted.  But I'll try."

Kevin shakes his head.  "It's not about making people do what you
want them to do.  It's about refusing to do what they want you to
do." He gives Lance a small but real smile.  "If you need help with
making someone else do what you want, you know who to talk to."

Lance tilts his head.  "How's Kristin?"

"A good example of what happens when people want different things."

"Oh.  Oh, man, I'm *so* sorry."

Kevin shakes his head.  "It's not a tragedy.  We get along.  We're
comfortable with each other.  Just not...  close."

Lance blushes.  "Um.  Is that...  difficult?"

"Not as difficult as it should be?" Kevin suggests.

"Do you...  need help?  Like, um.  I dunno.  Somebody to hang with
sometimes?  Or Chris's number, because I know he thinks you're
hot." Lance frowns.  "Then again, so do JC and Justin."

Kevin snorts.  "Not everything's about sex, Lance.  If I was going
to look for someone else, I would.  But I'd be looking for someone
who had deeply held ideas about how the world should be and a
commitment to making it that way.  Having someone thinking that I'm
hot isn't enough."

Lance suggests, "How about I give you Chris's number and you try
him if you ever feel like it.  He's mellowing.  And don't tell him
I said that, or he'll prank me into next decade."

"Lance," Kevin says gently, "I'd also be looking for a woman."

"What, you mean we *aren't* all gay?" Lance feigns shock.  "No,
seriously, that's cool, too.  Chris can still be good to hang with. 
Plus he knows really cool women.  I think it's 'cause he's got so
many sisters."

Kevin rolls his eyes, but doesn't turn Lance down either.

Lance shrugs awkwardly, going back to his food.  "I'm really bad at
making people happy.  Except for Nick.  Sorry if my bumbling is
annoying."

"Don't be sorry.  Happy people like seeing other people happy."

"Annoying, interfering people try to force other people to be
happy," Lance replies.

"Are you forcing or suggesting?"

"I dunno."

Kevin rolls his eyes.  "Nick."

Nick's head pops up from the floor, just over the edge of the
couch.  "Yeah?"

"Cuddle with your boyfriend."

"Hey, no.  I'm eating here." Lance plays down.  He doesn't *need*
cuddles.  Right now, that is.

Nick gets up off the floor.  "Hold on," he says, then moves Lance
so Lance is sitting in his lap.  "How's that?"

Lance feeds Nick.

Nick hooks his chin over Lance's shoulder and eats, content.

~~~~

"It's not the same," Lance tells Nick as they get ready for bed
that night.  "You and Aaron, and the Boys, too.  It's not the same
as NSYNC.  This is a different family."  He crawls into the bed,
kneeling over Nick.  "But," he says, after carefully reviewing the
day -- from Kevin ordering Nick to cuddle him, through Aaron
throwing water balloons, to the fat-free kettle corn they'd eaten
while watching 'Dogma' -- "I'm glad to be part of your family."  He
grins.  "Sorry your in-laws are so annoying."

Nick reaches up, putting his hands on Lance's hips.  "They're not
so bad.  I like Chris.  If they weren't such jerks to you, they'd
be okay."

Lance settles his hands on Nick's chest, dragging his fingers
through the sparse hair there.  "They're like brothers.  They're --
they just take me for granted.  Not that they should pay more
attention, it's just that they're used to me."

"That sucks."

"It just *is*," Lance replies.  Nick's hands are moving on him. 
Small comforting movements that are actually a little arousing. 
Lance firmly turns his thoughts from that.  Too often, he copes
with situations by turning uncomfortable conversations into sex. 
Nick deserves better than that.  And -- as Lance is coming to
realize -- so does he.

Nick rubs Lance's sides.  "You're too good to be taken for
granted."

It's impossible not to smile at Nick.  Maybe that's why Lance is so
happy now.  "I think you might finally be teaching me that."

"Good."  Nick smiles back.

"You're aware, aren't you?" Lance asks quietly.  "That I've fallen
in love with you?"

Nick nods.  "I know I love you and that you feel the same things I
do, maybe more so, even if you don't like talking about them."

"God.  You're so smart."  Lance leans down and kisses Nick.  "I
love you."  He grins and kisses Nick, messy little kisses all over
his face.  "Goodnight!"

Nick tugs Lance down and gives him a real kiss, on the lips and
with no pulling away.  "We don't have to go to sleep right away. 
If you don't want to."

"Well.  As long as you're not sleepy..."