"Together" Part Twenty

Together, seventh in "Living"

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Disclaimer: The young men who comprise the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and 98 Degrees are their own people. The author has not met anyone here described, nor does the author mean to suggest that these people act this way in real life. This writing is a work of fiction. I make no money from this venture.

Dedication: This slashfic is for Ewan McGregor and the Savage Garden slashers.

Notice: There are six stories that come before this one. Read those first. I'll wait.

Warning: "Together" includes depictions of, discussion of, and references to, consensual incest.

Together we have seen -"The Answer to Our Life"

"Together" Part Twenty

Steam. The bathroom was like a sauna. Nick fumbled for the light switch, trying to see. He reached into the shower and ouch! Holy - - god, Jeff! Nick wrenched the handle, getting into the shower himself. Grabbing at Jeff, he held Jeff under the icy spray. Freezing, it was freezing, so cold his teeth hurt. He turned Jeff under the water, wrapped his arms around Jeff. Held Jeff until his toes were numb.

"No, no," Nick said, sitting up and crawling over Drew. "It's not my turn to be in the middle. We have to put Drew in the middle."

"Brian wants to be with you," Drew said.

"He wants to be with you, too," Nick said.

"Then we can put Brian in the middle," Drew said.

"But then I can't be beside you," Nick said.

"We could play musical pillows," Brian said.

"Here. Snuggle nice and close. I said close," Nick said to Drew. He tucked Drew under his chin, wrapping Drew in himself.

"I can't breathe," Drew said.

"If you can talk, you can breathe," Nick said. "Where can we put Brian?"

Brian spooned behind Drew. He propped his chin on Drew's shoulder and whispered, "Hi."

"Hi," Drew said.

"I love you."

"I love you," Drew said.

Nick's fingers brushed Brian's nape.

Justin watched JC sleep. He ran his fingertip across the long fringe of JC's lashes. "Did I ever tell you you have beautiful eyes, baby?" he asked, his voice soft. He kissed JC's forehead. "I could look at you forever."

Nick dried off, making a mockery of his hair. Jeff was sitting on the closed toilet, naked, dripping.

"What were you doing?" Nick asked.

"Taking a shower," Jeff said.

"You're lucky you have any skin left!"

"I was cold."

Nick knelt in front of him. "Are you okay?"

Jeff didn't say anything.

Nick waited.

Jeff had yet to meet Nick's eyes.

Nick waited.

Jeff reached out and touched the shallow, near-invisible scar where a bullet had grazed Nick's shoulder.

"We're back on the road tomorrow. Better get some sleep while we can," Nick said. He stood, taking Jeff's hand, and pulled Jeff along to the bedroom.

Joey grunted, sitting up and scratching his balls. Might as well get up. He could sleep on the bus later. Or the plane. Or whatever. He wasn't sure where they were going.

Lance would know.

Oh, whoa. Right, duh, Joe. Lance was right here.

He grinned. Maybe that was why he'd dreamt about humping some pretty young blond.

Joey poked Lance's shoulder.

Lance groaned and rolled over.

Joey's eyebrows went up. Pretty, nothing. Let's head right to gorgeous.

He grinned. Lance's hair was staging a rebellion. He wondered whether he liked Lance better with stubble or without it. With it, Lance could work that hey, I'm a man, angle. Without it, there was all of that skin. Lance had great skin. Pale, clear... Kind of like a woman's. Not that he could risk telling Lance that.

Joey raised his head to look around the room, over his shoulder. No witnesses. Keep sleeping, Lance. He slid his hand closer, gingerly, and touched Lance's right nipple. Yeah, it felt like a regular little old nipple, only obviously not a woman's, because there wasn't anything else there. He rubbed at it, teasing it.

Lance smacked at his arm, shoving him away. "Joey! Keep your hands to yourself! What are you doing?"

"Hey, you'd better get up and start packing. This place is a mess."

"I'm not going on tour with you if you're grabbing at me," Lance said. "If I wanted that, I'd get a girlfriend."

"Boyfriend."

"Whatever." Lance turned his back to Joey and went to sleep.

Justin kissed JC. "JC. JC. JC. JC, wake up." He kissed JC again. Slipped some tongue in there.

"Mmm." JC's eyes opened. "Hey, baby."

"It's morning time," Justin said. "Gotta make love to me before we blow this popsicle stand."

"I have to make love to you?" JC asked, pulling Justin closer, smiling. "What if I'm too tired?"

"JC."

"What if I don't want to?"

"JC." JC was being silly. Justin wasn't having a word of it.

"What if I can't get it up?"

Like that ever happened. JC was not human.

"But you say that I have to make love to you," JC said.

"Yes."

"Oh, baby," JC teased. "I don't know, I'm awfully tired. We made love last night. I don't think I can. But, if you really want... I could try it with my fingers."

That sounded good. "If you have to," Justin said, willing to compromise.

"Or..." JC drew circles on Justin's chest.

"What?" Justin was intrigued.

"You could make love to me."

Justin's hormones shivered. Oh, hell, yeah. "Yeah?"

JC smiled. "Yeah."

"Okay." Sure. No problem. Justin told his heart to stop pounding; JC could probably feel it. He was supposed to be cool about this by now. He'd done it last night; it wasn't that big of a deal.

Yeah, right.

Nick's face hurt.

If he moved his hips, his cock rocked into Drew's pelvis. Drew had a happy little good morning down there, too.

When he'd fallen asleep, Brian had been behind him. Now Brian was over there, behind Drew.

Drew's fingers were in his armpit. He hoped Drew wouldn't start tickling.

He hadn't lost any teeth or anything. So that was good. He was going to have to tour looking like he'd lost a fight with George Foreman, and it would be hell for appearances - - like anyone wanted to take publicity photos of this face? Not that he knew how it looked. He hadn't gone near a mirror. But he knew it was bad. It hurt. And Brian and Drew were way too upset.

They were playing it cool, of course. Maybe because it had been Jeff, someone they liked, not someone they wanted to make a sworn enemy. Maybe because they didn't want to upset him. The adults had to stay calm so they wouldn't worry their blond child.

Drew nestled closer.

He loved Drew. Drew was like a happy surprise, every minute.

Brian had broken up with Drew's brother and Jeff. He wished he'd seen Brian tongue-kissing Drew's brother. But Brian had broken up with them. Said good-bye and meant it. They'd all been going back and forth, trying to sort out a permanent situation, but Brian had set it in stone. No more fun love with the in-laws.

"I'll be nice. I want to treat you well."

"Why?"

"You deserve to be treated well."

He cupped the back of Drew's head, feeling soft hair.

"I don't know why Brian loves you. I can't. I know why I love you."

"You love me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you're you. Because you're Nick and you're special and you're fun and you're sexy and you say what's on your mind and you don't let other people get away with things. Because you can look in my eyes and see my soul and tell me what's in there. Because you were hurt very badly and you took a second chance and you let Brian back again when you didn't have to. Because you made Brian and Drew marry each other instead of asking them to marry you. Because I want to make love with you. Because you let me sit here and try to help you. Because you're amazing, Nick, and it makes me very sad that you don't understand that."

He reached behind Drew and touched Brian's cheek.

"Anything I want."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I want to have sex with you."

"Because..."

Jeff squeezed Nick's hand.

"No, that's not why."

"No, that's not why," Jeff agreed.

"Then what is why?"

"Because I love you."

"Oh," Nick said in a soft voice.

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah."

He traced a line down Brian's nose.

Jeff's thighs spread some more, left knee bending, right foot rubbing up against Nick's thigh, his hip. Nick was startled but held still. Jeff's hips lifted and settled comfortably, and Jeff rubbed at a nipple for a moment.

"He's horny," Nick said.

"Is that what that was?"

"He likes you."

Brian broke up with them.

"I told him that I love him very much. It was hard to say good-bye. I didn't want to leave him."

Brian was going to miss them. Brian loved Nick.

Brian loved Nick.

Brian...loved...Nick.

"Nick, you're squeezing me," Drew said. "What's wrong?"

AJ had tattoos all over his body. They were a part of him. Sometimes he stopped to admire them; sometimes he took them for granted.

He propped his foot on the sink and looked at his inner thigh.

Green ink. Ornate script.

        Eyes of green.
        Voice from the deep.
        This love is forever.
        Keeper of my heart.

Jeff hadn't slept much. Hadn't touched him, either, once they'd left the bathroom.

Nick wanted to talk to Nick. To Drew. To Brian. Most of all, he wanted to talk to Jeff.

He wanted Jeff to talk to him.

Jeff was packing, in a stubborn silence of self-loathing. Nick couldn't get a word out of him. And every time Nick got within a foot of Jeff, Jeff moved away, backed off, turned to something else.

They had about a dozen problems right now, and Nick wanted to start tackling them. But nothing, nothing, could be accomplished until he got Jeff to talk to him.

"JC?"

"What, baby?"

Justin looked into JC's eyes. "Can I touch you?"

JC smiled. "You know you can, Justin. Any time you want."

"I mean... Touch you, touch you."

"Anywhere."

He had free rein to touch JC any time, anywhere? Holy cow. He rolled left, getting on top of JC, and sat back.

JC's legs opened for him. JC was all casual about it. No shame, no embarrassment. Probably because he was the one doing the looking and the touching. JC was very willing to share with Justin.

Justin got lube on his finger and touched that private place he'd exploited minutes earlier. He pushed in and felt sort of shivery and light-headed for a second. He was in JC.

Justin tried not to go for too much, too fast. He kept it light, but steady. He wanted to give JC pleasure.

JC said his name with a quiet, pleased moan.

Justin went for two fingers. JC was getting hard again. He watched JC's cock fill, his mouth watering. His balls felt tight. He wanted to fuck JC again. Just one more time.

"Justin, oh, baby, that feels so good," JC said. His body did this sexy undulating thing, and Justin's cock throbbed. "You touch me right, baby, you know how to do it."

Justin opened his mouth, and let whatever came out, come out. "Does that turn you on, JC?"

"Oh, baby, you know you always do."

"Do you like it when I touch you?"

"Justin, yes, I want your hands on me."

"Do you like it when I touch you here?" He hit the hot spot, then scissored his fingers to stretch the muscle.

JC moaned, twisting. One hand reached behind his head to clutch at the pillow. "Yes, baby, yes. I love the way you touch me. I get so hot for you, Justin, the way you make me hard. Do you like it? Do you like it, baby? The way you turn me on."

"I like the way you want me," Justin said. He did, he loved it, the way JC's desire filled the room, the way JC's love became heat and passion, focused on him without mercy.

JC raised his hips and tightened his muscles at will.

Justin gasped, trapped in JC's shocking grip.

"Do you want to make love to me, baby?"

Nick held Drew to his body. "We're not leaving today."

"We're not?" Drew asked.

"We're staying here."

"What about the tour?"

"The guys can go without us."

"They'll miss us."

"Tough shit."

"What about the fans?"

"Everybody's there to see AJ, anyway. They'll be okay."

"If you're sure," Drew said.

"Yeah. We'll stay here. It's nice here."

"I like being here with you and Brian," Drew agreed. He scratched Nick's back, light and gentle, and smiled up at Nick. "I like being anywhere with you and Brian."

"Brian makes every place a good time."

"So do you."

"Yeah, I'm fun to have around."

"You're wonderful to be around," Drew said. "Kiss me."

"You can't give me orders."

Drew made kissy faces at him. First happy eyes, then bedroom eyes, with tempting, pouty lips.

Nick kissed Drew. Little, nibbly kisses. "Let's wake up Brian."

"Okay," Drew said. He wriggled around and faced Brian. He licked Brian's nose.

Nick laughed.

Drew kissed Brian and pulled his hair. "Wake up, wake up."

Brian grumbled and pulled Drew into his arms, getting cosy for more sleep.

"Mmm." Drew snuggled up to Brian in return.

Nick reached between Drew's thighs and cupped Drew's balls. Soft and warm. He rolled them in his palm.

"Oh, Nick," Drew said, and hiked his hips against Brian's. He gasped, tensing against Brian's body.

Nick let go and climbed over his lovers, settling in behind Brian. He winked at Drew and slid down, one familiar hand lifting Brian's thigh. His other hand held Brian's balls to his mouth.

"Oh, let me," Drew said.

"No, he's sleeping, don't bother him," Nick said, and licked behind Brian's balls.

"You're doing it."

"I'm making sure he has good dreams."

"I can give Brian good dreams," Drew said.

"Are you hard?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"A little."

Nick sat up and pulled Brian's hips back away from Drew's so that he could see. "That's not little. Wanna screw Brian?"

"He's sleeping." Drew pulled Brian close again, in an attempt at modesty.

Nick rolled his eyes and lay down behind Brian once more, running his hand down Brian's side and in over Brian's hip. "Wake up so Drew can screw you."

Brian rolled over and got personal with Nick. "Okay." He hid his face in Nick's chest and went back to sleep.

Nick's hand pulled Brian's knee up over his hip. "Go for it, Drew."

"I can't just, no," Drew said.

"Here, I'll get him started. Give me the lube."

"Nick-"

"Give me the lube."

"No."

"Which one of us has been screwing Brian for the last thirty years? Gimme the lube."

Drew gave in and handed it to him.

Nick gave Brian one finger.

Drew watched. Brian made pleased sounds, held Nick closer, and rode Nick's touch as though they were one being.

Drew held his cock in one hand to keep it to himself.

Nick kissed Brian's shoulder, working his finger deeper. Brian looked content in his arms, someone who would be satisfied there for decades to come.

"I'm hard," Nick whispered. "He keeps rubbing against it. He wants it."

Drew's cock spat pre-cum over his fingers.

"He's getting greedy," Nick said. "I can feel it. He wants to be fucked. He wants you in there."

Drew couldn't stop watching the way Brian's ass closed over Nick's finger.

"God, Brian," Nick said, his breath catching. "Drew, do it before he makes me come."

Drew inched closer. He put his hand on Brian's side and felt shivering heat. Yes, yes. Holding his cock at the base, he found the angle and thrust, right in there, right into Brian, right beside Nick's finger.

Brian moaned, rocking away and then back to Drew, driving Drew's cock deeper to right where they both wanted it.

Nick twisted his finger free. Brian panted in protest. "You want it in there?" Nick asked. "You're not getting it. We'll make it up to you. Drew can do you really hard."

"How hard?" Drew asked, trying to keep from coming before he'd done anything.

"Really hard," Nick said.

Brian shivered.

Yes, yes.

Kevin was getting dressed. AJ had to go back to his own room to pack. He walked up and kissed Kevin.

Kevin opened for him, one hand on the small of his back. Not taken by surprise; not taking more than he had to give.

"Gotta go," AJ said. "See you later." One more kiss, and AJ left.

Nick had practice trying to wrestle Jeff into submission. Not that it ever worked. He was worried that Jeff might not take it well, this time. But he was running out of ideas.

He grabbed, tackled, and rolled, managing to pin Jeff to the bed, nearly maiming them both and kicking Jeff's suitcase onto the floor.

Oops. Jeff was going to have to start packing all over again.

Jeff's hands had balled into fists, and Jeff's eyes were angry, but Nick wasn't afraid.

Nick wasn't afraid, because he knew that Jeff was.

"Fact," Nick said. "I love you. Fact. I will always love you. That's why we're married, because I can promise you that and commit to it. Fact. We're married, which means that we're partners, which means that whatever happens, we're both in it. Together, you and me. Fact. I love your body. I admire your body. I lust after your body. I'm awed by your body. I am not, and never have been, afraid of it. I've never been afraid that you'll use it against me, in bed or out of it. Fact. You screwed up royally, but I'm going to help you whether you like it or not."

"Get off of me."

"No. When we leave here, we're going to talk to Nick and Drew, to apologize. They're the first hurdle. I'd put Brian off at first, because he's going to be harder to deal with, and we can put the other Backstreet Boys off until last. I'm a lot more worried about you right now than I am about what Howie thinks of us."

"Get off of me."

"Not yet. Let me see it."

Jeff's eyes flared with denial.

"Hold still. Hold," Nick emphasized, "still." He waited. Jeff didn't move. He backed off, letting go of Jeff's wrists, and sat up. He opened Jeff's pants. Jeff was looking at the ceiling in silence. He tugged clothes out of the way, pulling free Jeff's cock. He cradled the shaft in his palm. "You should look," he said, his voice quiet. "You should see how beautiful it is. God sure spent his time sculpting it."

"Get off of me." Tension was building in Jeff.

Nick ran a loving thumb over the head, then eased Jeff back into order. He crouched over Jeff again, and kissed Jeff's mouth. "I'm sorry I kicked your suitcase off of the bed. I'll help you pack it up again."

Packing wasn't easy, with junk spread over two rooms. Drew stayed his room, Nick stayed in the other room, and Brian went between them.

Nick sat on the bed, a small bottle of blue glitter in his hands. He'd helped Drew. Drew had asked him to do it. It had felt like a fantasy.

He hadn't expected to be able to help in the pixie painting. Hold the glitter for Drew, yes. But not, not touch Brian, share in Drew's private moment. He didn't want to ruin Drew's special exploration. But Drew had wanted him to help.

Drew loved him. Drew trusted him.

Maybe someday he'd make Drew purple.

They repacked Jeff's suitcase, packed Nick's, and straightened the room. Together.

Jeff coughed, breaking the silence. "You saw Philadelphia one too many times?"

"What?" Oh. He grinned a little. "Yeah. Rented it and made Drew watch it when I was putting him through the, 'So, you're gay' phase. That 'fact' speech stuck with me because I hated that woman."

"She was pretty obnoxious."

Nick looked around the room. "Looks okay."

"Better check." They split up, checking under and behind furniture, making sure they weren't leaving behind anything.

Nick locked up his suitcase and started to drag their luggage to the door. When he looked up, Jeff was watching him. "What?"

Jeff shook his head. "Nothing."

"What?"

Jeff tried to pass it off. "You were humming."

"Oh." Nick hesitated. "Sing with me?"

"We should get going," Jeff said.

"There's plenty of time." He waited. Jeff was doing that tense, not-looking-at-him, closed-body-language thing again. "We can sing 'Happy Birthday,' it doesn't matter," Nick said. "One song."

"We'll be singing soon enough," Jeff said.

"If we can't do it here, we can't do it onstage."

Jeff looked pissed now. More self-flagellation. Nick had to do something.

Nick licked his lips. Anything they'd written together was out. "I Do" was out. "Take My Breath Away?" "Because of You?" Maybe "Still." Maybe "Fly with Me?" He wanted something old and familiar, one of their old songs, to remind them of their history. How long they'd been together, as friends and as partners. "Let me take you to a place-"

Jeff looked up.

"-that you've never seen, never been on a dream, where I can take away your love your pain; girl I promise that you'll never hurt again." Come on, Jeff, pick it up, pick it-

"And I can make you feel the world belongs to you."

Nick's soul lifted. "You're the one, all I need, and you know that it's true." They went into the chorus together. Jeff wasn't moving, hadn't even looked at him; as he moved into the second verse, he approached Jeff. Took Jeff's hand. If he closed his eyes, he could almost feel it, right there, so close he could almost, almost...

"All I need in my life is you at my side. Let me be the one to hold you close, your hand in mine. And together we'll fly..."

He opened his eyes, and there it was. The song was theirs; the music was theirs. Jeff's voice twined through his, lifted him higher, wove and teased and loved. There was a thrill down his spine, a blossoming in his heart.

They ended, holding the balance.

He kissed Jeff. He had to, he wanted to.

Jeff's arm came around his shoulders; Jeff's kiss accepted his desire.

Oh, god. It was going to happen.

They were going to make love.

Brian embraced Drew.

Drew pretended those weren't tears pricking his eyes.

"Someday we'll be old," Brian said. "We'll sit around the house and polish our Grammys and reminisce about the old days. We'll finish each other's sentences and pad around the house in our undershirts. Nick will make us laugh until our dentures fall out."

"An old married couple," Drew said. "With Nick. We'll be hard of hearing, we'll forget things, we'll be cranky."

Brian smiled. "It'll be wonderful."

Drew kissed him. "Can I wear mismatched shorts with socks up to my knees?"

"If I can hike my pants up to my nipples."

Laughter, another kiss. "It's a deal."

"Are we finished here?" Brian asked.

"Yeah." They picked up their luggage and, holding hands, went to get Nick.

Nick and Jeff had made love many times before, and would many times again. The same positions, the same bodies. Love, familiarity, passion, comfort, desire, routine. In essence, it was always the same; in experience, it was always new, always different.

Nick took reassurance from Jeff's body. The same body he loved, the same man he loved. This was Jeff. Everything would be okay. What fear had disrupted, could be rebuilt.

Nick was not a complex person. As long as he was with Jeff, he could handle what life threw at him. As long as they were together, they could stand together, and be strong for each other.

Jeff had been strong for him in the past.

It was his turn now.

He wouldn't let Jeff down.

Nick sat on his suitcase and thought.

Brian had hurt him, and Brian had come back.

Jeff had hurt him. Maybe Jeff would come back, too.

No, he'd let Brian come back. He'd encouraged Brian to come back. He should encourage Jeff to come back, too.

Invite Jeff.

If Jeff came back, Drew's brother would come back. And then Drew and Brian would be happy.

Brian and Drew came in. "Hey," Drew said, and bent down, and kissed him. "Is it meditation time?"

"One last orgasm for the road?" Nick offered. Drew wanted to say yes, but wouldn't, so Nick smiled. "I'll suck your cock, Drew. I'll suck it so hard you'll still feel it when you get on the bus. It'll be so good, just thinking about it later will make you come." He put his hands on Drew's hips, pulling Drew into position. "And guess what? Then you can suck Brian."

"Are you going to have this effect on me when I'm eighty?" Drew asked.

"Damn, I hope so," Nick said, lowering Drew's pants.

Joey rounded up Lance. He didn't want to go down by himself, in case there were Backstreet Boys there. He didn't dare interrupt JC and Justin's final moments of private time, and Chris was probably busy washing Howie's feet, so he made Lance his companion.

Justin Jeffre was down in the lobby, reading. Joey and Lance sat with him to wait for their oversexed friends.

"Interesting week," Joey offered.

"I'll say," Justin said. "Being on tour might seem more relaxing."

"It's great, how our little vacations make touring boring by comparison," Lance said. "Travelling, performing, publicity - - mundane, compared to this."

"We all might want to look into making some new friends," Justin said.

"I hear that," Joey said. "Normal people. Ordinary, boring, everyday people."

"Dennis Rodman's looking good," Justin said.

"Look out, here comes Howard the Great and his lapdog," Joey warned. Justin hid behind his book. Lance hit Joey. Chris and Howie set down their luggage to be carried to the buses; then Howie backed Chris into the wall. Howie was whispering something; Chris was looking entranced, tucking Howie's hair behind one ear, letting Howie feel him up.

"He's a lecherous freak," Joey said.

"Joey, you make him look G-rated," Lance said. "If you don't like it, don't watch."

"What is it about the Backstreet Boys?" Joey asked. "Brian I can live with. Nick, I can deal with him if Brian and Drew have him sedated. Kevin became a freak of nature overnight. The other two, I spit upon their - - ouch!"

Kevin walked into the lobby.

"Oatmeal," Joey muttered.

"What?" Justin asked. "I thought he was Jell-O."

"I spit in their oatmeal," Joey said. "I think he's flavorless gelatin."

"You like Brian?" Justin asked.

"I don't like him," Joey said. "I can't like anybody who falls under the heading of 'Backstreet Boy.' But I can tolerate him. If I have to."

"He thinks Brian's cute," Lance explained to Justin.

Justin smiled. "Brian is cute."

"See?!" Joey shouted at Lance. "Justin's straight, and he thinks Brian's cute. Not that I think Brian's cute. But I'm straight."

"I know you're straight," Lance said.

"I am."

"I am, too," Justin confided. "It's okay. Be strong, my brother."

"Courage," Joey said, and they bumped fists.

Lance had no idea why Joey was babbling and nervous, but he figured Joey would get over it once they were back on the road.

AJ sauntered in, pants slung low, tattooed arms exposed. He dropped his gear and perched on the arm of Kevin's chair. He was dressed to the nines, full of sex and attitude, complete with hat and sunglasses. He tugged at his laces and talked to Kevin.

Joey tried to picture uptight, stick-up-his-ass Kevin putting up with AJ for longer than five minutes. It couldn't be done.

Laughter came down the hallway. What was Mrs. JC doing out of bed already? Joey watched JC and Justin's entrance. Justin leaned over the back of the sofa to talk to them; JC stood behind Justin, straightening Justin's T-shirt.

Nick and Jeff arrived. Nick said something to Justin Jeffre. He was holding Jeff's hand. Macho guys held hands? In public? Joey held Lance's hand. Lance put up with it for a minute, then pulled free.

Brian came. Dropped off luggage. Didn't say anything, didn't look at anybody. Left, came back, dropped off more luggage, left again. Joey counted heads. All of *NSYNC, three Degrees, three Boys. Yep, only the Carter Littrell Lacheys left to go. Maybe Nick and Drew were still, um, enjoying private time, and Brian was playing bellhop.

"It's time to go downstairs," Drew said into Nick's chest. They were standing in the middle of Nick's room.

"No."

"We're going to be late."

"Don't care."

Brian tugged Nick from Drew. "Let's go down."

"He's my Drew," Nick said, "and he's coming with me."

"I don't fit in your suitcase," Drew said.

"We'll stow you in the overhead racks," Nick said. "Under the seats. Hide you in my bunk. I want you in my bunk, in my bed on the bus, I want to be with you there."

"I want that, too," Drew said. "You can be with Brian there."

"He elbows me in the stomach."

Drew smiled. "Brian, stop elbowing Nick."

"Nick takes up too much room," Brian said.

"At least I don't talk in my sleep," Nick said.

Drew flicked Nick's shoulder. "Everybody kiss me. I'm going downstairs now."

Nick squeezed Drew. "My Drew."

"Your Drew."

"You love me."

"I love you, Nick." Drew held on, closing his eyes. "Every day, all day, I love you."

"I love you."

"I know you do. You always show me."

"You're going to be safe and happy and healthy."

"I am. So are you."

"Then you'll come home and be with us."

"I'll come home, and you'll come home, and we can be together, like we should be."

"Brian can cook and you can do the laundry and I can suck you every day."

"That sounds good," Drew said.

"Are you crying?"

"No." Drew wiped his tears on Nick's shirt.

"I love you and you're my Drew."

"Always."

"Do I have to let go?"

"Soon."

"Later."

"May I lick your nose?"

"You want to?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Drew?"

"What?" Drew kept holding onto him.

"You never hurt me. And you always trust me." He didn't want to let go. "You're crying again."

"I love you."

"Go let Brian kiss you." Nick handed Drew over to Brian.

"I love you," Brian whispered. His embrace wasn't as big as Nick's, but his love was just as fierce. "Remember how much we love you, remember how much we care. You know that we're always thinking of you. We're always missing you."

"I can't leave you now," Drew said. "I can't, there's-"

"Ssshhh," Brian soothed. "You're always with us."

"You're making my Drew cry," Nick said.

Drew sniffled, wiping his nose, blinking a lot. He tried to pull himself together.

"Gimme kiss," Nick said. "Blow your nose first."

Drew blew his nose and wiped away more tears. Then he went up on his toes and kissed Nick.

"Kiss, kiss, my yummy sexy Drew," Nick said.

Drew licked his nose. "I love you." He looked into Nick's eyes. "Thank you, Nick."

"For what?"

"Letting me be your Drew."

"Go kiss Brian. You can't make me cry."

Drew kissed Brian. They kissed, and hugged, and kissed, and whispered their love. Then Drew let go and said, "Nick, I want to ask you something important."

"Me? What?"

Drew took Nick's hands. "While I'm gone, I want you to take care of my Brian for me."

Oh.

"Promise me you will. I can't ask anybody else."

"Do I have to?"

"No, you don't have to," Drew said.

"But you're asking me to."

"Yes."

"Can't Kevin do it?"

"You're the only one. I can't be with him every day, and I want to know that someone's taking care of him for me."

"I bet he could take care of himself."

"I know that he can, but it won't be the same."

"Guess not." Nick looked at Drew. This was one of the greatest responsibilities he'd ever been given. He could turn it down. He could say no.

Drew was looking up at him, all soft eyes and love.

"Okay. I'll look after him for you," Nick said.

"Thank you, Nick." Drew gave him a hug and a kiss.

Then it was time to go.

Howie was still oozing all over Chris. AJ was still perched on Kevin's armrest. Nick and Jeff were standing off to one side like security. JC was talking to Justin Jeffre. The other Justin was hanging out with Lance and Joey. There were people bustling around, trying to get everything in order. Time to move 'em out.

Drew came in, fingers laced through Nick's, Brian right behind them.

JC and Justin stopped talking.

AJ stood.

Justin, Joey, and Lance looked.

Howie turned around.

Kevin stood.

AJ stepped closer.

Howie stepped away from Chris.

"Nick," JC said.

"Are you okay?" Justin Timberlake Chasez asked.

AJ was inspecting the damage.

"Who did this?" Kevin asked.

"Brian, what happened?" Howie asked.

"God, everybody back off, I'm fine," Nick said. Drew squeezed his hand. Brian took his other hand.

"Who hit you?" AJ asked. Justin Timberlake Chasez was behind him; he turned and said, "Would you get out?!"

Shock flared in JC.

"You're sure you're okay?" Justin asked Nick.

"It's none of your business," AJ said. "One of your back-up singers probably did it, anyway."

"Nick is my friend," Justin said. "They're not my back-up singers, and they wouldn't hit Nick. We hit you because you're a-"

"Nobody is going to touch AJ," Kevin said.

"Does that include you?" Joey asked. "'Cause it looks like your hands are all over the guy."

"Told you," Nick told Drew.

"Nick," Howie said, "who hit you?"

"Nobody," Nick said. "I'm fine."

"I did."

Everybody turned.

"Nick, I'm sorry," Jeff said.

Brian stepped a little in front of Nick, an instinctual move to protect.

That was enough for AJ. He tossed aside his hat, dropped off his sunglasses, and was across the room, heading straight for Jeff.

It was a good thing that there were a lot of security men on hand.

Someone was sent to round up ice packs.

"I can see the headlines now," Chris said. "'Boy band brawl.'"

"Aren't we supposed to be banding together to fight the evil forces who oppose us?" Justin Timberlake Chasez asked.

"You mean, hard rock, or the homophobes?" Kevin asked.

Justin Jeffre laughed. He couldn't help it. A few others joined in, and the tension eased.

"Can we sort out now who's busy hating whom, so I know who I'm allowed to talk to?" Chris asked.

"I was trying to keep track," Joey said. "I'm guessing that Brian hates Jeff. How Nick and Drew and Nick feel about it, I'm not sure. I hate all Backstreet Boys, as a rule. Lance and AJ have gone their separate ways, and I'll donate a kidney to keep it that way. Lance hates Howie and Kevin. I don't care who AJ likes or doesn't like. Chris probably hates AJ. JC and Justin hate AJ. Does anybody besides Kevin actually like AJ?"

"I do," Howie said. "But I probably shouldn't mention it."

Joey turned to Justin Jeffre. "You're the only one getting along with everybody."

"Because I spent all week locked in my room," Justin said. "The only way to survive a vacation with you people."

"For the record, there are fourteen of us, and only two of us are straight," Joey said.

"I'm telling you, it's something in the water," Chris said.

"Maybe it's the air at Jive," Lance suggested.

"It's a boy band thing," Howie said.

matthew@matthewtime.com
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