Copyright April 2, 2002-April 19, 2004 by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Pairings: Thus far we've had JC/Justin, Nick/Drew/Brian, Nick/Jeff, Nick/Drew/Brian/Nick/Jeff, AJ/Lance, AJ/Howie, AJ/Kevin, Chris/Howie, and partridge/pear tree.

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 slashwriters.  It also is for Elizabeth and Jeff.

Notice: First, read "I Need You Tonight," "Boy Lead the Way to Ecstasy," "Not Easy," "No One," "Rest in Peace," "Destiny," and "Together." I know it sounds like a lot, but it'll only take you an hour or two.

        Justin smoothed back a stray strand of JC’s hair.

        “There’s proof they’re in love,” Chris said.  “He lets Justin touch his hair.”

        “Are we supposed to be grooming each other?” Joey asked Lance.

        “I already look great,” Lance said.  He ran his fingers along Joey’s lapel, smiling, a slightly wicked look forming in his eyes.  “So do you.”

        A knock on the bathroom door, and Howie leaned in.  “Kevin just went to fetch the grooms.  Are you two ready?”

        “Yes,” JC said.

        “Excellent,” Chris said.  “You two go be ready elsewhere, and you two go sit down somewhere.  Right now.”

        “Subtle,” Lance said, but he left the bathroom.  Joey followed him.

        “We’ll go be wherever we’re supposed to be,” Justin said, leading JC.

        The door swung shut, and Howie looked around the bathroom.  “Nice place you have here.”

        “It’s our new hangout,” Chris said.  He walked closer and smoothed Howie’s lapels, eyes on his hands.  “So, you look nice.”

        “Thank you,” Howie said.  “You look nice, too.”

        “Is it true that Aaron’s here?” Chris asked.  He raised his gaze in time to see Howie smile a little.

        “Yeah,” Howie said.  “He came.”

        “Isn’t that…  I thought he was…”

        “Distancing himself?” Howie asked.

        “That’s the nicest possible way of putting it,” Chris said.

        “He’s here,” Howie said.  “That’s what’s important.”

        “Is this what our wedding’s going to be like?” Chris asked.  “Formal and traditional, small and private?”

        “Our wedding can be however we want it to be,” Howie said.  “Formal and traditional, fun and different, small and private, lavish and extravagant.  Anything we decide.”

        “This one’s so private, I don’t think even ‘Entertainment Tonight’ knows about it,” Chris said.

        Howie smiled.  “That’s what Brian and Nick and Drew wanted.  They don’t want paparazzi trying to get in and helicopters flying overhead.  They get enough of that kind of circus as it is.”

        “Circus,” Chris said.  “Let’s get married at a circus!”

        Howie laughed.

        “I’m more of a Barnum and Bailey kind of guy, but I bet you’d want Cirque du Soleil,” Chris said.

        Howie patted his cheek.  “We can talk about it later.  I have to go.”

        Chris watched him step to the door.  Howie’s hand was on the doorhandle.  “Howie,” Chris said suddenly.  He swallowed.  “My love.”

        Howie turned with a gentle smile.  “Yes, Chris, my love?”

        “Will you dance with me?  At the reception?”

        A soft lowering of lashes, then a slow raising, revealing lovely, lovely dark brown eyes.  “Yes,” Howie said.  “Yes, my love.”  The door opened, and closed, and he was gone.

        “God.”  Chris leaned against the wall.  Remembering he was in a church, he looked up.  “Thank You, thank You, thank You.”

        “Are you ready?” JC asked Nick.

        “I’m so fucking nervous,” Nick said.  “I have to go take a piss.”

        “I don’t think there’s time,” JC said.

        “Who’s going up the aisle first?” AJ asked, flicking his fingertips through Brian’s bangs.

        “Age before beauty,” Brian said, glancing at Nick with a private smile.

        “I’ll go first,” Drew said.

        “You kind of have to,” his brother told him.  “If you came last, it would be kind of a…”

        “An anti-climax,” Jeff said.

        “You know, we didn’t have to invite you,” Drew said.  “We can send you home.”

        “I have to pee.”  Nick left.

        “Nick, man, we’re about to go,” JC said, hurrying after him.

        “What do you think?” AJ asked Kevin, surveying Brian.

        “I think this is as good as I’m going to look,” Brian said.

        “I think I’m about to wrinkle you,” Kevin said, and hugged him.

        “Thank you,” Brian said, hugging back.

        “For what?” Kevin asked.

        “Being here,” Brian said.  “You’ve supported us through everything.  Thank you.”

        “That’s what I’m here for,” Kevin said, releasing him.  “Congratulations.  You’re probably one of the only two people on the planet I trust can marry Nick and be good for him.”

        “And if I hurt him, I’ll need to watch my back in dark alleys?” Brian guessed.

        Kevin smiled.  “Something like that.  The same would go for him, regarding you, but we both know he’d never hurt you.”

        “Never,” Brian agreed simply, the weight of that in his eyes.

        “Stupid question, but who’s the second person?” AJ asked.

        Kevin’s gaze slid past Brian.  “Drew.”

        Brian smiled.

        When he realized that Nick was stepping up to one of the urinals - - which, really, wasn’t a huge shock, because that was what most people came into the men’s room for - - Chris turned away as casually as he could.  He’d been peeing in men’s rooms for pretty much his entire life, and he’d never been one of those guys who checked out other guys’ dicks.  It wasn’t that he wanted to check out Nick’s, either.  It was just that if he did see it, then he’d have seen it, and then he’d know what it looked like.  Soft, anyway, which wasn’t even a good indicator of non-soft, necessarily, but it still counted.  He’d seen other dicks, like JC’s and Justin’s and Lance’s and Joey’s and of course Howie’s, so he wasn’t dick-phobic, but he also didn’t want to have a mental image of Nick’s dick.  Thinking about anyone’s but Howie’s would feel disloyal.

        JC came in, slightly breathless.  “Nick, man, come on.”

        “I’m coming,” Nick said, flushing.  He turned to the sinks.

        “They can’t start without you,” JC said.

        Chris watched Nick wash his hands.  Thoroughly.  Slowly.  Nick was wasting time.  Why was Nick wasting time?

        “Nick, if you don’t get out there,” JC started.

        “He’s nervous,” Chris said.

        “I’m not nervous,” Nick said, sounding irritated.

        “You’re stalling,” Chris said.

        “I’m not - - what are you still doing here?” Nick demanded.

        “Me, I’m the bathroom attendant,” Chris said, and handed Nick a paper towel.

        “I just need a minute,” Nick said, drying his hands, avoiding their gazes.

        “Okay,” JC said respectfully.  He caught Chris’s eye and began to leave.

        Chris followed JC out of the bathroom and to where everyone else was waiting.  “Where’s Nick?” Howie asked.

        “In the bathroom, taking a moment,” Chris said.

        “Go sit down,” Howie said, gently shooshing him.  “I’ll go get him.”

        “I’ll go,” Brian and Drew said simultaneously.

        “I’ll go,” Kevin said firmly.  “You all get in line.”

        “Yes, sir,” Brian said.

        Chris discreetly kissed Howie’s cheek and went to take his seat.

        “I haven’t heard anything about a honeymoon,” AJ said, probably trying to distract him.

        “We’re going to wait until you’re all done recording,” Drew said.  “We’re not sure where we’re going yet.”

        “Can you stand still?” his brother asked.

        “I don’t think so,” Drew said.

        Behind him, Brian laughed at something Jeff had said.

        “Was I this nervous the first time?” Drew asked.

        “You didn’t think it was real the first time,” Nick said.

        “Remind me never to get married again,” Drew said.

        “I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” Nick said.  “Unless the three of you find someone else you want to get married to.”

        “No, I think the three of us are enough,” Drew said.  “Nick’s about three people all on his own.”

        “He’s not getting cold feet,” AJ said.

        “I know,” Drew said.  “He is, he’s worried about being a good husband to Brian.  He’s afraid of what’s going to happen to Aaron for being here, and he almost wishes Aaron weren’t here, but he can’t tell us that because we’re the ones who got him here.  But he’s going to go through with it.  He can’t not marry Brian, given the opportunity.”

        Silence.

        Drew realized that AJ was staring at him.  He looked at AJ, wondering what he’d said.

        “I’m impressed that you know what Nick’s thinking,” AJ said.  “I think I’m more impressed that you don’t think it’s about you.”

        “Nick’s not worried about me,” Drew said.  “If it were just him and me, we’d already be married by now.”

        “You didn’t have to rub that in,” Brian said.

        “Sorry, beautiful.”  Drew tried to hold still.  It didn’t work.

        “Could you be a little more nervous?” Nick asked.  “I’m trying to break a world record, and you’re almost there.”

        “Shut up,” Drew said.

        “Okay,” Kevin said, and someone ducked in through a side door.  Drew turned, and Nick was right behind Kevin.  He’d been crying, but not hard.  Nick got into place behind Brian, giving Howie a one-armed squeeze.

        The music started in the church.

        Drew turned around and kissed Brian.

        Brian turned and kissed Nick.

        Nick caught Brian for another kiss.

        Brian turned back and kissed Drew again.

        Okay.  Drew took a deep breath and faced the doors.  “Let’s go.”

        The doors opened.

        Chris fidgeted and wondered whether he could find a ringmaster who could perform gay weddings.

        When the pastor declared them married, and they were about to kiss, Aaron lowered his gaze to the hymnal rack in front of him, and didn’t look up again until they were halfway up the aisle.

        AJ and Kevin followed Nick and Jeff up the aisle.  AJ casually rested his arm around Kevin’s waist.  “When are you going to ask me to do this with you?”

        “I don’t know,” Kevin said.  “When are you going to ask me?”

        AJ grinned.  “When I’m ready.”

        “I’ll be here,” Kevin said.

        Howie had gestured to JC and Justin to go ahead of him.  Taking the first step after them alone, he stopped by the second pew and held his hand out to Chris.

        “I don’t think you’re supposed to take audience volunteers,” Chris whispered.

        “Walk with me,” Howie said.  “See what it’s like.”

        “Okay, but don’t get any funny ideas,” Chris said, taking his hand and rising.

        “About what?” Howie asked, following JC and Justin, hand-in-hand with Chris.  “About us getting married someday?”

        “Yeah, about that,” Chris said.  “Hey, this isn’t bad.  Let’s walk the other way.”

        “Towards the altar?” Howie asked.

        “Yeah.  Maybe we could bring the pastor back, have him ask us a few questions about loving, honoring, and obeying each other while we’re standing there.”

        “We could even trade rings or something,” Howie suggested.

        “Sure,” Chris said.  “Even top it off with a kiss.  You know, for fun.”

        “Chris, would you like to set a date for our wedding?” Howie asked.

        “Okay, why not?” Chris said.  “How’s tomorrow?”

        They stepped into the foyer, where Brace was taking pictures and Kevin was directing traffic.  “Limos are headed to the reception,” Kevin said.  “Anyone who wants to go, either get in one, or get in your car and follow one.  Do not try to pick up guests on the way, because anyone who shows up at the reception who wasn’t here for the wedding will not be admitted, no exceptions.”

        “Where is this reception?” Chris asked.

        “The Rivera Magnum Hotel,” Howie said.

        “Nice place,” Chris said.  “I’ve never actually been in one of the rooms, but I’ve heard the sinks have hot water, cold water, and champagne.”

        “We could get a room and…find out,” Howie suggested, touching Chris’s neck, sex in his eyes.

        Danger, danger, danger.  “We have a whole reception to get through,” Chris said.  “Food.  Dancing.  Toasts.”

        “And after that?” Howie asked, keeping their gazes locked.

        “More food?” Chris guessed.

        “What are you doing back here?” Kevin demanded.  Chris looked up and saw Nick coming back into the church.

        “I have to-”

        “I’ll take care of it,” Kevin said.

        “No, I - - Aaron!”  Nick pushed through well-wishers as Aaron and Justin came through the doors.  “Are you coming to the reception?”

        “I don’t know, Nick,” Aaron said.  “I don’t think so.”

        “I want to talk to you,” Nick said.  “If you come, I can get away, we can talk.  But it has to be there, I kind of have to go.  It’s my reception.”

        “Is it…”  Aaron’s gaze drifted over the crowd.  “Is it going to be…”

        “What?” Nick asked.

        Aaron looked away.  “Nothing.”  He put his hands in his pockets, sighing, looking at Nick again.  “I’ll go, but I don’t know how long I can stay.”

        “Thank you,” Nick said.  “Can you guys get a limo?” he asked Justin.  “You don’t have to stay for the whole thing,” he told Aaron.  “I just want a chance to talk to you.  Just us.”

        “Yeah,” Aaron said.

        “Okay.  I have to go.  They’re waiting for me.  I’ll see you there.”  Nick hugged Aaron tightly and left quickly.

        “Hey.”  Justin was pulling on Chris’s elbow.  “The four of us are getting a limo.  You two can ride with us.”

        “You don’t want to ride with them, do you?” Chris asked Howie.

        “Of course I do,” Howie said.  “Let’s go.”

        “He’s coming,” Nick said.  He crawled past Brian to sit between Brian and Drew.  “God, Jesus,” and Nick hugged Drew, pushing his face to Drew’s neck.  “Married.  Fucking married.”

        Brian leaned against Nick’s back.

        “Married,” Nick repeated.

        Drew closed his eyes, stroking Nick’s hair.  Savoring.

        “I’d kiss you, but if I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop,” Nick said.

        “The hotel has the penthouse on hold for us,” Brian said.  “For after the reception.”

        Nick groaned against Drew’s shoulder.  “Don’t tell me that.”

        “Why not?” Brian asked.  “I’ve heard it’s a great place.”

        “You don’t know how much I want you right now,” Nick said.

        “Being married makes you horny?” Drew asked.

        “I want to be as close as I can,” Nick said.  “To both of you.  Right now.”

        “Oh, N-”

        “Don’t get started,” Drew told Brian, pinning him with a look over Nick’s shoulder.  “You’ll end up encouraging him, and we’re not having our honeymoon in the back of a moving vehicle.  Leave him alone.”

        “You’re holding him,” Brian said.

        “I’m not encouraging him,” Drew said.

        “You’re not exactly discouraging him,” Brian pointed out with a smile.

        That was just irritating.  Drew reached over Nick and grabbed the front of Brian’s shirt.  “Be,” he yanked Brian closer, “quiet,” and he kissed Brian’s mouth.  Brian made a quiet sound of pleasure and deepened the kiss.

        Nick squeezed his eyes shut.  “If you don’t stop it I’m sucking your dick.”

        Brian hesitated, opening his eyes.

        “Is that supposed to be a threat?” Drew asked, puzzled.

        “I like having my dick sucked,” Brian said.

        Nick pushed Brian away, sitting straight between them.  “Drew said we’re not having our honeymoon in the back of a limo, so we’re all going to keep our hands to ourselves.  Don’t touch me, don’t look at me, don’t talk to me.”

        Drew shrugged and straightened his jacket, looking out the window.

        Brian hummed to himself, fixing his cuffs.

        Nick clasped his hands in his lap and recited the alphabet backward in his head.

        The limo was silent, except for Brian’s humming.  Nick tapped his fingers together.  Drew scratched his nose.  Brian looked out his window.  Nick tapped his fingers some more.

        “Great marriage so far,” Brian said.

        “Yeah, I feel a lot closer to you right now,” Drew said.

        “Everybody shut up,” Nick said.

        Brian hummed.

        Drew checked his watch.  “Are we there yet?”

        “That was nice,” Chris said.  “I’d like to get married someday.”

        “Yeah?” Howie asked.

        “Yeah,” Chris said.  “What about you, Justin?”

        “I’m already married,” Justin said.  “Thanks for asking.”

        “You getting married?” Chris asked, elbowing Joey.

        “What?” Joey asked.  “What?”

        “Are you planning on getting married?” Chris asked again.

        “I don’t know,” Joey said.  He glanced at Lance.  “My personal life has taken an unexpected twist.”

        “Yeah, I know what those are like,” Chris said.  “One day you’re going along, happily convincing yourself you’re straight, and then some hot guy shows up, and next thing you know, you’re, well, that’s none of your business, but it was a big change.”

        Justin murmured something to JC, communicating primarily through his eyes.

        JC kissed Justin’s lips.

        “What would you say to getting married by a ringmaster with a clown on a unicycle as best man?” Chris asked Howie.

        Justin moaned at the slide of JC’s tongue.

        “What other ideas have you had?” Howie asked politely.

        Lance smacked Justin’s thigh.  “Get a grip.”

        “Oh, sorry,” Justin said, breaking their kiss, settling for gazing into JC’s eyes while JC held his hand.

        “We could get married on a beach at sunset,” Chris said.  “Surrounded by flamingos.”

        “Flamingos are nice,” Howie said, trying to be diplomatic about it.

        “We could go to an Elvis chapel in Vegas,” Chris suggested.  He began to lose himself in Howie’s gaze.  “You can be young Elvis, and I’ll dress up like older Elvis, and we’ll hire JC to sing ‘Love Me Tender.’”  His fingers curled in the end of Howie’s ponytail.  “We could get one of the high-roller suites and gamble away all of our money and move to Italy and become goat herders.”

        “Goat herders?” Lance asked Joey.

        “We can live in a one-room shack.  You and me and Betty.”

        “Betty?” Howie asked.

        “The goat,” Chris said.

        “You want to be an Italian goat herder?” Howie asked.

        Chris sighed.  “I’d be a Brazilian peanut farmer if I could do it with you.”

        Howie kissed him gently.  Chastely, even, out of respect for their audience.

        “How soon can we get out of here?” Lance asked.

        The limo stopped.

        “Wow,” Justin said.  “You’re good.”

        “That was a coincidence, right?” Lance asked, looking around.

        The door opened.  They all got out, walking into the hotel.  As they crossed the lobby, Joey tugged Lance back to walk a few feet behind the others with him.  “Are we supposed to be like that?”

        “Like what?” Lance asked.

        “Touchy-feely.”

        “Joey, you are touchy-feely,” Lance said.

        Joey took his hand off Lance’s arm.  “I meant like them.  Am I supposed to be all over you?”

        Lance stopped walking.  “Joey, what are you talking about?”

        “I don’t know how this goes now,” Joey said, exasperated.  “I’m not used to touching you in public.  Am I supposed to hold your hand?  Do we kiss in public?  I don’t have cute little names for you.”

        “I don’t have cute little names for you, either,” Lance pointed out.

        “AJ called you James,” Joey said.

        “Yes, he did,” Lance said, narrowing his eyes slightly.  “Joey, what is this about?”

        “Do you want me to propose to you?”

        Lance looked at him in silence.  Then, “Joey, you don’t want to marry me.  You’re not even close to getting ready to settle down.  You know I’m not close to ready, either.  Not like that, not marriage.  Not with anyone, right now.”

        “I don’t know how boyfriends work,” Joey said.  “The gay sex thing was a lot easier to understand than this part.”

        “There’s nothing to understand,” Lance said.  “If you want to touch me, try it.  If I tell you to stop, stop.”

        “Okay,” Joey said.

        “Think you can handle that?” Lance asked.

        “Yes, smart-ass,” Joey said.  “You have some experience with this.  Give me a break.”

        “You’re thinking too hard,” Lance said.

        “I’ve never had that problem before,” Joey said.

        Lance smiled.

        “You don’t like PDAs,” Joey said.

        “I don’t need everyone to see me with someone else’s tongue in my mouth,” Lance said.

        “Can I call you Yummy?” Joey asked.

        “Not even one time,” Lance said, and started walking again.

        Brian squeezed Nick’s hand.  “Let’s go eat and party.”

        “I’m starving,” Nick said.

        Kevin handed Drew a plastic card.  “Room key.”

        “Thanks,” Drew said, pocketing it.

        “What’s going on back there?” Nick asked, glancing over his shoulder as they walked into the hotel.

        “Nothing,” Drew said.  “Kevin and I are just making private plans for later.”

        “Oh, that’s nice,” Nick said.  “So, Kev, when are you marrying AJ?”

        “That’s none of your business,” Kevin said.

        Nick just snorted, reaching back and pulling Drew forward as they reached the room.  Pulling open the double doors, they entered the reception.

        “Brian, Nick, and Drew Carter Littrell Lachey!”

        Everyone stood and applauded.  Brace started taking pictures.

        Nick walked with Brian and Drew to the head table.  He paused on the way to his seat, hugging people and shaking hands and accepting congratulations.  He hugged Howie and AJ longer than anyone, until he got to Aaron.  He hugged Aaron so long, not crying started to hurt.  Then he made himself let go and took his seat, with Drew to his left and Brian to his right.

        Kevin made everyone sit.  “Before we eat, I’m going to say a few words.  This honor was originally going to be offered to Nick Timmons-Lachey.  Then we noticed that the Backstreet Boys outnumber 98 Degrees in this marriage, two to one, so we’re going first.”

        Drew sighed as the room laughed.  “I’m going to request an annulment on those grounds alone,” he said to himself.

        “I’ve known Brian for all of his life,” Kevin said.  “He’s taught me a lot about love, and faith, and how to find beauty in life.  I think he can teach us all a lot about patience and forgiveness and how to stay close to what we believe in.”

        “And how to sing a little better,” Nick said.

        “Which brings me to my next point,” Kevin said.  “I’ve known Nick for what, some days, feels like my entire life.”

        Nick rolled his eyes.  “He’s going to insult me at my own wedding reception.”

        “Nick has taught me a lot about love, and loyalty, and truth.  He’s maybe the most brutally honest person I know, and I think that he can teach us a lot about standing our ground, and about opening up to each other.”

        Nick ducked his head, embarrassed.

        “I’ve only known Drew for a few years now, but I can tell you that he’s loving, he’s trusting, and he’s damned patient,” Kevin said.  “I think he can teach us a lot on how to put up with these two.”

        “Sit down,” Nick said.

        “To Brian, Nick, and Drew,” Kevin said, raising his glass.

        Drew tugged on Nick’s fingers under the table.  Nick turned to him, a question in Nick’s eyes.  Drew pressed the key card into Nick’s hand.  “Take Aaron upstairs and talk to him.”  Nick frowned.  “Now,” Drew whispered.

        “I can’t,” Nick whispered.  “We just got married.  There are people here.”

        “I’m telling you to go.  If I weren’t bringing it up, Brian would be.  Your friends will understand.”

        “Are you sure?” Nick asked.

        Drew kissed his cheek.  “I love you.  Come back for dessert.”

        “I love you,” Nick said, and kissed Drew’s cheek.  He turned to Brian.  “I’m going to-”

        “Go,” Brian said.  “We’ll save you the first dance.”

        Nick kissed Brian’s cheek.  “Pixie.”  He got up and pulled Aaron’s hair.  “Come on.”  Aaron glanced around, got up, and left with him.

        Drew leaned over Nick’s vacated seat.  “He’s fine.  Start worrying, and I’m going to tell Jeff to make an embarrassing toast.”

        “I’m not worried,” Brian said as the server placed a plate before him.

        Drew watched him.

        Brian mushed his peas with the back of his fork.

        “Jeff,” Drew said, beginning to turn in that direction.

        “I’m not worried,” Brian said.  “I just wish I could be there.”

        “Nick can take care of himself,” Drew said.  He signalled to someone down the table.

        “He’s a lot more secure than before, but he has no defenses against Aaron,” Brian said.  “That’s like asking a wet tissue to stand up to a nuclear attack.”

        Justin Jeffre came and crouched between them, behind Nick’s chair.  “What can I do for you?”

        “How’s Aaron?” Brian asked immediately.

        “He’s fine,” Justin said.  “Or did you want a real answer?”

        “A real answer,” Brian said.

        “He’s confused,” Justin said.  “Very, very, very confused.  Angry, afraid, and unhappy.  He’s trying to reconcile what’s in his head with what’s in his heart and what he’s being told.”

        “Did he say anything?” Brian asked.  “About anything?”

        “He didn’t confide in me, but we did talk about a few things,” Justin said.  “He asked me what he’s supposed to call all of you.  I said I call you gay men, and the best friends I’ve ever had.”

        Drew smiled.  “That’s adorable.”

        “What else did you talk about?” Brian asked.

        “In the car on the way here - - I rode with him, to make sure he didn’t change his mind and ride off into the sunset - - he asked me what Drew’s like.”

        “Really?” Brian asked, curious and hopeful.

        “What’d you tell him?” Drew asked.

        “I said that you’re a really good guy with a great sense of humor and enough maturity to balance out Nick,” Justin said.

        “So you lied to him,” Drew said.

        “Yeah,” Justin said.  “He seems like a good kid.  He just doesn’t know what to think right now, so he’s going with what he’s been taught.  It’s what we all do.”

        “Thank you,” Brian said.  “We wanted you in the wedding with us…”

        “Hey, it was no problem,” Justin said.  “It was an honor.  Congratulations.  It was a great wedding.”

        “I’m engaged,” Chris said without looking up from his plate.

        “Check out J and C,” Joey said under his breath.

        Chris looked down the table.  JC was feeding Justin blueberry pie.  “Well,” Chris said, after a moment, “at least he’s not using his fingers.”

        “Do you feed Howie?” Joey asked.

        “No,” Chris said.  “Howie has grasped the function of utensils on his own.”

        “Hey.”  Brian appeared behind them.  “How’s the food?”

        “The food is great,” Chris said honestly.  “The wedding was great, too.”

        “Congratulations,” Joey said, rising to hug Brian.  “Shouldn’t we be coming to you?”

        “I’m getting rid of nervous energy,” Brian said.  “Kevin said if I didn’t stop playing with my fork, he was going to stab me with it, so I’m up and walking.”

        “I don’t think it’s good form to stab the groom at his own reception,” Chris said.

        “It’s okay if you use the salad fork,” Brian said.  “Just not the dessert fork.”

        “Etiquette no-no,” Joey agreed.

        AJ came up to them, slinging an arm around Brian’s shoulders.  “What’s it going to take to get this party started?”

        “You know we can’t cut the cake or start dancing until Nick gets back,” Brian said.

        “Cake?” Joey asked.

        “Most weddings have a cake,” Chris said.  “It even has a special name.  It’s called a wedding cake.”

        The double doors at the far end of the hall opened.

        “Excuse me,” Brian said, and went back to his seat.

        Nick and Aaron walked in.

        “Here comes the party,” AJ said.

        Nick and Aaron walked across the room, coming to the head table, taking their seats.  “Welcome back,” Drew said, as Nick seated himself.

        “Thanks,” Nick said, unbuttoning his jacket.  “What’d I miss?”

        “Pretty much nothing,” Drew said.  “We saved your food.”

        “The natives are getting restless,” Brian said.  “Are you ready to cut the cake?”

        “Sure,” Nick said.  “I like cake.”

        Brian signalled to a waiter.  “How’s everything going?” he asked Nick, mindful of Aaron at his other side.

        “Good,” Nick said.  “It’s good.  Damn, I’m hungry.  Aaron, give me your roll.”

        Aaron held it out in Brian’s direction without looking.

        “Thanks,” Nick said, reaching past Brian to take it from Aaron’s hand.  “Where’s this cake?”

        “Right here,” Drew said, as a cake on a cart was wheeled into the room.

        “Hey, that looks great,” Nick said.  It was a traditional white cake with white frosting.  However, instead of being constructed of increasingly smaller circle-shaped cakes, it was constructed of increasingly smaller triangle-shaped cakes.  “Are we supposed to feed it to each other?”

        “Yes,” Brian said.

        “Okay,” Nick said agreeably.  “Let’s go.”  He pushed back his chair, reaching for Drew’s hand.  Brian stood, following them to the cake.

        “How are you doing?” Kevin asked Aaron casually.

        “I’m fine,” Aaron said, eating steadily without looking up.

        Brian cut a slice of cake onto a plate.  Brace’s camera clicking in the background, all eyes on him, he raised his gaze to Drew’s.  “I think we’ve been here before.”

        Drew smiled.  “Feels even better the second time.”

        “What does?” Chris asked.

        “Great wedding, nothing went wrong,” Lance said.  “They all look great in white tie, no one tripped, no one screwed up the vows, no one so much as burped, farted, or sneezed during the ceremony.”

        “And that means they’re destined for happiness?” Joey asked.

        “How’s your cake?” Lance asked.

        “Delicious,” Joey said.  “I’m wondering if we’re allowed to ask for thirds.”

        “Exactly,” Lance said.  “Wedding cake never tastes this good.  It always tastes just a little bit like styrofoam.  This is delicious.  This is the perfect reception to a perfect wedding.”

        “Doesn’t that mean that something should go spectacularly wrong in the next five minutes?” Chris asked.

        Lance paused.  “I didn’t think of that.”

        “Give my toast?” Nick asked.  “I don’t have a toast.”

        “We asked you specifically to speak,” Drew said.  “Just get up and say something.”

        “About what?” Nick asked.  “I barely know you.”

        “You barely - - get up,” Drew said impatiently, shoving him.

        “Get Jeff to do it,” Nick said.  “Ask Howie and AJ.  Ask JC.”

        “Since when are you trying to avoid being the center of attention?” Drew asked.

        Nick grinned.  “Put it that way…”  He rose.  “We’re about to start the strip show!”

        Silence.

        Nick smiled.  “Just trying to get your attention.  Drew wants me to give a toast, and when I’m done they’re going to start the dancing, so I’ll try to keep it moderately short.  Which, for me, means it’ll be about an hour, so try to get comfortable.”

        “He’s not kidding,” Jeff said.

        “Traditionally, I’m supposed to tell embarrassing stories about Drew now, but then he’ll start telling embarrassing stories about me, and I don’t think anyone wants that.  So I thought I’d try to explain something to you, instead.”

        “You have embarrassing stories about him?” Nick whispered in Drew’s ear.

        “A million,” Drew whispered back.  “I’ll tell you later.”

        “Most of you know I’m in 98 Degrees,” Nick said.

        “How did he manage to make this toast about himself?” Nick whispered.

        “It’s a talent,” Drew whispered back.

        “The four of us, Drew, Jeff, Justin, and myself, are a team.  We’re a unit.  The blend of our four voices is what makes us 98 Degrees.  Sure, Jeff gets on everybody’s nerves, but we can’t kick him out.  The rest of us could still sing and still harmonize, but it wouldn’t be 98 Degrees, it would just be three guys singing.  We’d lose that special harmony.  If we had Jeff but we didn’t have Justin, we’d be missing that low note, and it would throw off everything, it would be too airy, too light.  We need my lead, we need Jeff soaring up there, we need Justin anchoring the bottom, we need…whatever the hell it is that Drew does.”

        Nick snickered.  Drew glared at him.

        “Drew and Nick and Brian’s relationship is a little unusual,” Nick said.  “People have asked why they need all three of them when everyone else settles into a couple.  They’ve asked why Drew needs to marry Nick if he’s already married to Brian.  If he already has a husband, why does he need one more?  If he really wants to be with Nick, why doesn’t he just divorce Brian?  Are they doing it for laughs, for publicity, because they’re confused?  But I’ve seen them alone and in pairs.  Brian and Nick, Drew and Nick, Drew and Brian, they’re great together.  They’re amazing together.  But it’s not quite as good as it can be.  When all three of them are together, it’s more than great, they’re more than amazing.  They need all three of them together to find that perfect balance that every relationship needs.  They need all three of them to contribute whatever it is that they bring to the relationship.  They find their own unique perfect three-part harmony that two people could never achieve.  So I’d like to raise a glass and invite you all to drink to Drew, Nick, Brian, and their unique, perfect three-part harmony.”

        “That wasn’t bad,” Nick told Drew as everyone drank to them.

        “It got better,” Drew agreed.  “I’ll still tell you those embarrassing stories later.”

        Brian leaned in, joining their conversation.  “Time to dance.”

        “Who’s going first?” Nick asked.

        “If it’s a whole song, we can each take turns,” Drew said.  “You two go first.  I’ll watch.”

        “I know it’s stupid, but I still don’t know who leads,” Nick said.

        “Drew leads, when we’re dancing with him,” Brian said.  “When you’re with me, I lead.”

        “Why can’t I ever lead?” Nick asked.

        “We’re better dancers,” Drew said.

        “You’re a better dancer,” Nick corrected.  “You, I lead,” he told Brian.

        Brian smiled.  “All right.”

        “Better dancer my ass,” Nick said, taking Brian’s hand and walking to the floor.  “Watch this, twinkle-toes.”

        Kevin glanced at Aaron, who was looking at a vague spot across the room, dark eyes troubled.  “You look good.”

        A moment, and then Aaron seemed to realize that he’d been spoken to.  He glanced at Kevin, then shifted uneasily away from eye contact.  “Thanks.”

        “It means a lot to Nick that you’re here.”

        Nick was pulling Brian to the center of the dance floor.

        “Once they find out I’m here, I’ll never get to see him again,” Aaron said.

        Nick and Brian got into position.  Nick suddenly dipped Brian as far as he could, making Brian laugh.

        “Is that why you came?” Kevin asked.

        Nick pulled Brian up again, laughing at him for faking dizziness.

        “What do you mean?” Aaron asked.  His feigned casual confusion might have fooled someone who couldn’t read Nick at a glance.

        “To make sure they cut him off,” Kevin said.

        The music started.  Nick got Brian back into position and tried a few unsteady steps.

        “It’s fucked up,” Aaron said, lowering his voice, giving Kevin a quick, intense look.

        “Would you let me lead?” Nick demanded of Brian.

        “I’m not used to this,” Brian said.

        “Just look into my eyes,” Nick said.

        “Don’t steer me into anything,” Brian said.

        “Relax,” Nick said.

        “Maybe later,” Brian said, but he was letting Nick lead more gracefully.

        “What’s fucked up?” Kevin quietly asked Aaron.

        “He hates talking to us on the phone, he hates visiting us, because he always get harassed.  Nine times out of ten when he calls, he practically gets hung up on.  When he does get to talk to us, he gets yelled at and picked apart.  He’s never allowed to visit, and when he does get to spend a day or two, it’s the same thing, only all day long and right in his face.  You should see him, he’s miserable, he’s pissed off, he can’t yell back because then it’s even worse, he can’t cry because real men don’t, he can’t pick up a phone because he’d probably be calling Brian or Drew and that kind of behavior isn’t tolerated, what kind of example is he trying to set, does he really think that how he chooses to destroy his life doesn’t reflect on the rest of us.”

        “You’re trying to protect him,” Kevin said.

        “I’m here for Nick,” Aaron said.

        “You’re here because this will push things too far.  They’ll cut him off and he won’t have to deal with it anymore.  You’re trying to protect him,” Kevin said.

        Nick waltzed Brian over to Drew, releasing Brian’s hands and taking Drew’s.

        “Aaron, that isn’t what he wants,” Kevin said.  “It would kill Nick to be cut off from his family.”

        “Vultures aren’t family,” Aaron said.  “I think this is his family.”

        “Who taught you how to waltz?” Drew asked.

        “Kevin,” Nick said.  “Let me lead.”  He danced Drew in Kevin’s direction.

        “What about you?” Kevin asked Aaron.  “Nick loves you.”

        “Hi, Kevin,” Nick said, waltzing over in front of the table and dipping Drew.  “How am I doing?” he asked with a grin.

        “Good work,” Kevin said.  “Looking great.”

        “I told you I could do it.”  Nick brought Drew back up and danced away again.

        “He doesn’t need me,” Aaron said.

        “He wouldn’t keep smashing himself into that brick wall if he didn’t love you,” Kevin said.  “He keeps fighting, he keeps going back, because he loves you.  You’re worth it.”

        Aaron watched Nick hand off Drew to Brian.  “He seems really happy with them.”

        “He is,” Kevin said.  “They love him a lot.”

        Aaron didn’t smile, but his gaze softened.  “Good.”

        “Hi,” JC said with a smile, still dancing.

        “Would you mind if I borrowed him?” Justin asked the daughter.

        She hesitated, clearly not wanting to relinquish JC, then looked at Justin’s deadly smile and gave in, slipping off to find a new dance partner.

        Justin took her place, moving into JC’s arms.  “I’m keeping an eye on her.”

        “She’s nice,” JC said.

        “She kept you for three songs.”

        “I know you’re not jealous,” JC said.

        “Of course not,” Justin said.  “Just possessive.”

        JC smiled.  “You’re a good dancer, baby.”

        “I’m a great dancer, baby.”  Justin kissed JC.

        “Break it up,” Joey said, dancing beside them.

        “Oh, JC, looks like your girlfriend found fresh meat,” Justin said.  “She’s dancing with Lance.”

        “I’m not going to get jealous,” Joey said.  “Lance can dance with anyone he wants to.”

        “She has her hand on his ass,” Justin said.

        “The Bass ass?” Joey asked, and dragged his partner in that direction.

        Jeff and Chris were talking when Howie glided up to them.  “Chris,” he said.  “I believe I promised you a dance.”

        “Excuse me,” Jeff said, ducking aside with a smile.

        Chris turned to Howie.  “Now?”

        “Now,” Howie said, offering his hand.

        “We haven’t danced in a while,” Chris said.

        “Do you want to lead?” Howie asked.

        “I’ll try,” Chris said, taking his hand.  “One hand here, one hand there, chin up, one two three four, one two three four…”

        Howie relaxed, moving with Chris smoothly.

        “You look good,” Chris said.

        “Thanks,” Howie said.  “So do you.”

        Chris drew Howie closer.

        Howie’s fingertips rubbed up Chris’s spine.

        Chris suppressed a shiver and tried to look suave.

        Howie’s hand flattened itself across Chris’s lower back.

        Chris’s entire being was focused on the press of that hand.

        Howie left a soft kiss on Chris’s cheek.  “Are you having a good time, Chris?”

        “How soon can we get out of here and go make love?” Chris asked.

        “We can’t leave until Brian, Nick, and Drew leave,” Howie said.

        “What if we leave and come back?” Chris asked.

        “I think someone would notice,” Howie said.

        “We’re in a hotel.  We can just get a room.  It can be quick.”

        “Weren’t you worried about me having inappropriate sexual urges?” Howie asked.

        “It’s never inappropriate for me to lust after you,” Chris said.  “Come upstairs with me.”

        “For what?” Howie asked.

        “For what?” Chris repeated.  “For sex,” he said, remembering at the last second to lower his voice.

        “Yes, but what kind of sex?” Howie asked.

        “Does it matter?”

        “I want to know what I’m going upstairs for,” Howie said.

        “You’re not going to leave this reception until they do, are you?” Chris asked.

        “No, but it was nice of you to invite me,” Howie said.

        “Howie, I don’t think you understand.  My brain is melting down.  I’m going to spend the rest of the afternoon a quivering mass of horny nerves.  You know you fry my brain cells when you tease me.”

        “I haven’t been teasing you.”

        “You’ve been breathing,” Chris said.  “I’m teased.”

        Howie smiled.

        Chris groaned, resting his head on Howie’s shoulder.

        Howie took over the lead, drawing Chris even closer to his body.

        Newly married, Nick watched Brian and Drew dance.  They were talking quietly, easily, smiling at each other and laughing softly.  The DJ switched moods; as the song ended, he played a fast song.  Applause went up, and AJ appeared beside Brian and Drew.  Drew played innocent, pushing Brian towards AJ, disappearing into the crowd.  AJ started to dance with Brian, and Nick watched them for a minute.  Brian was happy.  Brian being happy made Nick happy.

        Then Nick went in search of Drew.  He found Drew standing in a corner talking to Justin and Jeff, and walked past them, opening a door and peeking into the next room.  It was another ballroom, only half as large as the one they were in, empty, with a few banquet tables near the door.  Nick closed the door and stepped over to interrupt Drew’s conversation.  “I have to talk to you in private for a minute.  Over there.  Justin, can you make sure no one interrupts us?”

        “Sure,” Justin said.

        “Thanks.  It won’t take long.”  Nick pulled Drew into the next room.

        “What are we-”  Drew’s voice was cut off suddenly by Nick’s kiss.  He found himself being lifted roughly and set on a table.  He was pushed down onto his back, Nick climbing over him and kissing him aggressively.  Drew sucked in air, wondering what to say to this, while Nick felt him up, kissing him passionately.  He kissed Nick back, loving the raw honesty, the open sexual aggression.  Nick wanted him, and Drew liked that Nick wanted.

        Then Nick lifted his head, breathing hard, hands coming to a stop on Drew’s chest.

        Drew panted up at him, trying not to push into his touch.

        Nick unbuttoned two of the middle buttons of Drew’s shirt.  He reached inside, stroking Drew’s skin through Drew’s undershirt.  “Can I make love to you?”

        “Not here,” Drew said, feeling breathless, nipples tight in anticipation of Nick’s touch.

        Nick’s touch travelled south instead, circling Drew’s navel.  Nick slipped back off of the edge of the table, standing on the floor, putting his mouth to Drew’s stomach.  The wet heat of Nick’s mouth through clothing was torture as Drew remembered what it was like to have Nick’s mouth directly on his skin, and the insistent press of Nick’s tongue made Drew moan.  He whimpered, spreading his thighs, clutching at Nick’s hair.  Nick’s hand pressed firmly between Drew’s legs, and Drew groaned, pushing into Nick’s hand.

        “Tell me I can make love to you,” Nick said.  He nuzzled Drew’s stomach.  “Tell me I can.”

        “Not here,” Drew panted, trying not to moan again.

        Nick pushed Drew’s shirt and undershirt up one-handed, breathing against Drew’s abs.

        Drew threaded his fingers through Nick’s hair, trying to catch his own breath.

        “I want you so bad I can taste you,” Nick said, and licked his stomach.

        Drew shivered.  “I know.”

        Nick straightened slowly, then rebuttoned Drew’s shirt.  He pulled Drew to sit up, then picked Drew up, his hands right beneath Drew’s ass lifting Drew to his body.  Drew moaned, closing his eyes, sliding down Nick’s body.  Drew put his hands on Nick’s shoulders, kissing Nick with wanton lust.  Nick slid down to kneel at Drew’s feet, nuzzling into Drew’s crotch, making Drew groan.  It was hard not to buck forward.  “We have to stop,” Drew said.  He didn’t know what was wrong with him, why he was weak, but he couldn’t seem to make himself walk away.  He didn’t really want to make Nick stop, only he knew that he had to.  They couldn’t do this here, now.  Not with everyone on the other side of the door; not without Brian on their wedding day.

        “Drew,” Nick moaned, fingers tracing the outline of the bulge of Drew’s cock through his pants.  “Fuck my mouth.”

        Drew dropped to his knees, claiming Nick’s mouth.  Nick kissed him hungrily, and for a moment their tongues were at war, until Nick’s hand came beneath Drew’s shirts to touch flesh.

        “We have to stop,” Drew whispered between kisses.

        “Just let me suck it,” Nick pleaded, kissing Drew’s neck.

        “We can’t,” Drew said.  “God, Nick, we can’t.  Not here.  We just got married, Brian’s not here-”

        “You keep moaning,” Nick said breathlessly, “it’s so fucking hot, you’re so fucking sexy.”  He pressed the heel of his hand to the ridge of Drew’s erection, making Drew groan and twist away.

        “Too good, too much, too much,” Drew protested, pulling his hips back but latching onto Nick’s mouth again.  “Nick, Nick, we have to get back.”

        Nick broke the kiss, panting against Drew’s shoulder.  “I know.  I know.  Just let me…hold you.”

        Drew wrapped his arms around Nick’s neck.

        “I want you,” Nick said, turning his face to Drew’s neck.  “God, I want you.  I want to feel your skin against mine.  I want to hear all of those little noises you make.  I want to feel your dick in my mouth.”

        Drew shuddered but tried to keep his voice level.  “The reception will be over soon.  We can go up to the penthouse.  Just a little while longer.”

        “I want you,” Nick said, his hand rubbing greedily up and down Drew’s side.  “I want Brian.”

        “We’ll go up to the penthouse.  We can stay as long as you want.  JC told Brian to take time off.  But we have to get out of here.  We have to get back to the reception.”  Drew frowned.  “Did you hear something?”

        “No,” Nick said.  “What?”

        “It was probably just the - - there, did you hear that?”  Drew left Nick’s embrace, walking to the door.  He tucked in his shirts and opened the door.

        “You two disappeared on me,” Brian said.

        “Don’t come in,” Drew said.

        “I’m coming in, but you have to come out,” Brian said.  “Jeff said he wants to see me privately, so I need the two of you out there to cover for me.  If we’re all missing, it’ll look a little odd.”

        “Nick?” Drew asked, turning.

        Nick pushed himself to his feet, running his hands through his hair, adjusting his tuxedo jacket.  “Okay.”

        Brian touched Drew’s mouth.  “You didn’t come in here for a quickie without me, did you?”

        “A little, but we didn’t get far,” Drew said.  “Do I look presentable?”

        “You look great,” Brian said, raising a hand towards Nick’s hair.

        “Ah, no,” Drew said, interceding.  “I wouldn’t touch Nick right now.  Not unless you want to end up ravished on the nearest table.”

        Brian smiled.  “That’s tempting.”

        “We’d better go out there,” Drew said.  He kissed Brian’s cheek and, taking hold of Nick’s sleeve, took Nick back to the reception.

        “You don’t have to stand guard,” Brian told Justin.

        “I don’t mind being the doorman,” Justin said.

        Jeff and Nick walked over.  “Hi,” Jeff said.  “Stop it,” he told Nick.

        “I’m slowly strangling to death,” Nick said, tugging at his bowtie with a grimace.

        “It’s fine, it’s just, here,” and Jeff turned Nick to face him, pulling the tie loose and then retying it.  He patted it into shape.  “Better?”

        “Yeah, thanks,” Nick said, feeling his neck.

        “Wouldn’t want you to strangle to death,” Jeff said.

        “Yeah, you’d have to start washing your own dishes,” Nick said.

        “Did you want to see me, or did you just want an audience for this comedy routine?” Brian asked.

        “Sometimes it can be hard to tell,” Justin said.

        “Let’s go in here,” Jeff said.  “It won’t take more than two minutes.”  The three of them stepped into the next room, leaving Justin to play doorman.  “I don’t need to be here,” Jeff told Brian.  “I just had nothing better to do.”

        “And what are you here for?” Brian asked Nick, curious.

        “I know that wedding presents shouldn’t be brought to the reception,” Nick said.  “This isn’t actually a wedding present.  I got it for you a while ago, I just didn’t know how to give it to you.”  He pulled a small jewelry box from his pocket.

        “Thank you,” Brian said.  He opened the box.  “Oh.  Oh, Nick.  This is incredible.  Thank you.”  He hugged Nick.  “Thank you.”  He stepped back, leaving a kiss on Nick’s cheek.  “You didn’t have to do this for me.”

        “I just wanted to let you know how important you are to all of us,” Nick said.  “You’re a very…special person, and I’m still honored to have you as my brother-in-law.”

        “Thank you,” Brian said.  “And thank you,” he said to Jeff.  “Would it be inappropriate if I put this on now?”

        “You’d have to get past that tie to do it,” Nick said.

        “Not a problem.”  Brian set the jewelry box on the table, then undid his tie and unbuttoned his collar.  Taking his new necklace from the box, he tried to fasten it around his neck.

        Jeff nudged Nick.

        “Can I help you with that?” Nick asked.

        “Thanks,” Brian said, letting Nick take over.

        Nick looked at the back of Brian’s neck, the sensitive nape, the way his hair curled at the edges.  He wondered what it would feel like against his fingers.  Against his lips.  Under his tongue.  Pushing that feeling back, down, he closed the clasp and stepped back.

        Around Brian’s neck was a slim silver chain.  Hanging from the chain, resting against his chest, was a silver cross bearing delicate platinum twists and tiny, elegant diamonds.

        Brian rebuttoned his shirt and fixed his tie.  “It sounds a little stupid, but I want to thank you guys for being here.  The two of you have always been there for Drew, and for Nick and me.  It means a lot to us to have you here today, celebrating our wedding.”

        “We wouldn’t be anywhere else,” Jeff said.

        “Thank you for your gift,” Brian said, and squeezed Nick’s hand.  “I’d better stop ignoring my other guests.”  He went to the door, opening it and stepping out into the reception proper.  “Justin,” he said.  “I want to thank you for being here today.”

        “No problem,” Justin said.  “I’ve been enjoying myself.”

        “Who would you like to dance with?” Brian asked.  “Anyone here, my treat.”

        “You should dance with one of the men of the hour,” Nick said, clapping a hand on Justin’s shoulder.

        “Do you dance with men?” Brian asked.

        “I’ll admit to having danced with Jeff,” Justin said.  “Right now, I think I’d prefer that very nice young lady over there.”

        “Oh, Paige, she’s good people,” Brian said.  “Let me introduce you.”

        “Won’t your telephone girlfriend mind you dancing with pretty young women?” Jeff teased Justin as Brian led him away.

        “No, I think - - be okay,” Justin said, following Brian.

        Nick frowned.

        “What did he just say?” Jeff asked.

        “‘I think…she’ll be okay,’” Nick said.

        “Was it…”  Jeff watched Justin.  “Yeah.  That must have been it.”

        “She,” Nick said.

        “She,” Jeff agreed.

        “He wouldn’t…  It’s Justin,” Nick said.  “We just heard him wrong.  The music, the noise.  It’s not like everyone we know is gay, that’s ridiculous.”

        “Right,” Jeff said.  “It’s Justin.  I don’t know what I was thinking.”

        “He did tell us his telephone friend is a woman, right?” Nick asked.

        “No,” Jeff said.  “He never talks about her.  We just assumed.”

        “He must have said something,” Nick said.

        “No,” Jeff said.  “Not to me.  But it has to be a woman.  He wouldn’t be spending that much time talking to another guy.”

        “Unless they’re friends,” Nick said.

        “Why would he hide a guy from us?” Jeff asked.

        Nick didn’t have an answer for that.  “It’s a woman.”

        “Right,” Jeff said.  “A woman.”

        Automatically tensing, Joey looked.

        JC and Justin were dancing.  Justin was smiling.  JC was laughing.  They looked happy.

        Joey didn’t get it.

        “They’re happy,” Lance said.  “They’re actually happy, Joey.  This isn’t the calm before the storm, this isn’t JC working his ass off to keep Justin happy, this isn’t Justin pretending to be super-happy to rub something in JC’s face.  They’re being happy like regular, normal happy people do.”

        Joey watched them, looking for signs, all of the old clues.  Plastic fakeness to Justin’s smile, desperation in JC’s touch.  He waited for them to stop smiling.

        They kept smiling.  JC said something, and Justin laughed.

        “You don’t get it,” Lance said.  “Joey.  They’re okay.  They still have a lot to work on, but they’re okay.”  He squeezed the back of Joey’s neck.  “We can relax.”

        Joey met Lance’s eyes.  “What?”

        “Relax,” Lance said.  “We can actually relax.  We don’t have to worry about damage control anymore.  They’re fine.  Our work here is done.”

        “What if-”

        “Relax,” Lance said again, and kissed him.

        Joey licked his lips.  “You don’t like PDAs.”

        “No, but I do like kissing you,” Lance said, and did it again.

        “Really?”  Justin turned his head to see.  He watched for a moment, smiling.  When they were done, he tightened his arms around JC.  “I remember being like that.  When we first started.  It didn’t matter where we were or what was happening, I couldn’t keep my hands off of you.”

        JC laughed.  “Justin, we’re like that now.  We’ve been like that every day we’ve been together.”

        “We are like that now,” Justin said.  “I feel like that again.  Everything’s new, and being with you is like being alive in a whole new way.  But for a long time, JC, it wasn’t like that.  It was a whole lot darker than that.”

        “We had to be with each other,” JC said.  “We had to be together or we couldn’t breathe.  When you weren’t with me, my mind was dark, black, empty, my heart was in pieces, my soul was dying.  And then I’d see you again and it was like color returning, flowers blooming, everything coming back to life.”

        “Your love placed too many demands on me,” Justin said.  “You suffocated me, JC, you smothered me, but I couldn’t breathe without you.  I literally couldn’t breathe, I had panic attacks, I hyperventilated, I lost it.  You were so demanding, but I needed you so much, I couldn’t live if you weren’t touching me, you were all there was in the world that made me feel special.”

        “We were addicted to each other,” JC said.

        “And to sex,” Justin said.  “I was addicted to your touch, and every time you touched me, it was like sex.  God, I can’t remember how many times one little touch led to full-out sex.  Some days, every day, all you had to do was put your hand on my arm and I was ready for it.”

        “What’s different now?” JC asked.

        “We have more perspective now,” Justin said.  “I know you love me.  You don’t have to prove it to me every second to make me feel loved.  I can get by without making love every half hour all day long.  Before, we would have made love in the church, here at the reception, and probably in a limo on the way here.  But we haven’t, and I’m okay with that.  The way you look into my eyes is all I need, JC.  I’m always going to be your biggest fan and hugest supporter and madly, madly, madly in love with you, but I’m not addicted.  I’m not obsessed.  Not the way I was before.”

        “All I ever wanted was to make you happy,” JC said, touching Justin’s cheek.

        “All I want is to make you happy,” Justin said, and kissed him.  “I love you, JC.”

        “I love you, Justin.”

        “First Joey and Lance, now JC and Justin, I can’t, Jesus, have you seen-”

        “Nick,” Aaron said.

        Nick spun around.  “I was looking for you.”

        “I’m going to go,” Aaron said.

        “You don’t have to,” Nick said.

        “No, I, I actually am seeing Caitlin tonight, so I have to go over there,” Aaron said.

        “Dressed like that?” Nick asked.

        “I’ll change clothes in the backseat again,” Aaron said.

        “We’re in a hotel,” Nick said.  “Go up and use our room.”  He handed over the key card.  “You can leave it at the desk on your way out.”

        “Okay.  Thanks.”  Aaron pocketed it, shifting awkwardly.

        “Thank you for being here,” Nick said.

        “Yeah,” Aaron said, scratching the back of his head.

        “Are you leaving?” Brian asked, coming up out of nowhere.

        “Yeah,” Aaron said.

        “Thank you for coming,” Brian said.

        “Yeah.  Thanks for, uh, calling.”  Aaron shook Brian’s hand.  He made eye contact with Drew for the first time since walking up.  “It was nice to, uh, see you.”

        “It’s great to see you,” Drew said, shaking his hand.

        “God, I’m so glad you came,” Nick said, hugging Aaron.  “I really miss you.”  He closed his eyes.  “I love you.”

        “I love you,” Aaron said.

        Nick let go.  “I’ll call you.”

        “Yeah,” Aaron said.  “Bye.”

        Nick watched him go.  “Jesus.”

        “I didn’t expect him to be that old,” Drew said.  “In my head he’s still twelve.”

        “Ah, he’ll always be a kid to me,” Nick said.  “Thank you,” he kissed Drew’s cheek, “and you,” he kissed Brian’s cheek, “for the best wedding gift ever.”

        “I don’t want to interrupt the moment,” Brian said, “but have you seen Kevin or AJ in the last half hour?”

        Not that AJ or his dick had any objections to that.

        He was certain, actually, that Kevin’s behavior was his fault.  Maybe he shouldn’t have rubbed his hip into Kevin’s groin or spent an hour giving Kevin all of his best “I know how badly you want to fuck me” looks.  He definitely shouldn’t have told Kevin that if they hadn’t had Nick and Jeff in their limo on the way over, he would’ve got Kevin off.

        Now he was naked across a hotel bed with his dick in Kevin’s mouth and his body fighting the urge to beg.  He knew he wasn’t going to be allowed out of the room before Kevin fucked him, and he was okay with that.

        Drew was standing by a table of hors d’oeuvres.  “Shouldn’t you be dancing?” Chris asked him.

        “I’m trying to keep a low profile,” Drew said.

        “At your own wedding reception?” Chris asked.

        “You don’t want to look too deeply into this,” Drew said.

        “Aha,” Chris said.  “Caviar?”

        “Oh, no, thanks.”

        “What’s it like to have Backstreet Boys break in and invade your home?” Chris asked.

        “Ah.  Well, it’s a little unsettling at first, when they’re unexpected and you’re naked, but I think it’s something I’m going to have to get used to.  They made themselves pretty comfortable.”

        “Naked?” Chris asked.  “I’m buying padlocks and huge, snarling, drooling dogs.”

        “Good luck,” Drew said.

        “Naked,” Chris repeated.  “That’s just uncalled-for.”

        “Drew.”

        It wasn’t so much the word that caught Chris’s attention.  For the word itself to have caught his attention, it would have had to have been his name, not someone else’s.  What made his ears perk up and his head swivel was the tone of voice.  The tone of Nick’s voice.  Chris had heard that tone somewhere.  Not from Nick.  From JC, his memory decided, in those moments when JC was outright stalking Justin, seconds before JC made his last move and Justin was about to be mounted.

        “Nick,” Drew said, and backed up to the other side of Chris.  He made it an almost casual move, like he wasn’t running for cover, and Chris would have admired that, if Drew hadn’t just put Chris smack between predator and prey.

        Nick was undeterred.  He stepped forward, with a look on his face that was somewhere between hungry, anticipatory, and savoring.  “I want to talk to you.  Alone.”

        “Talk to me here,” Drew said.

        “It’s private,” Nick said, reaching past Chris and taking hold of Drew’s arm, pulling Drew around Chris and so close that Drew’s body was millimeters away from being pressed to Nick full-length.

        This was why Drew had been keeping a low profile.  He’d been trying to fly under Nick’s radar.

        “I don’t want to leave the reception,” Drew said.  “Give me a few minutes.”

        Liar.  Liar, liar, pants going up in flames.  Drew’s mouth was saying, “Not now,” but Drew’s eyes were saying, “Right now, a minute from now, and any time you want it.”  Or something like that.  That probably had a lot to do with the way Nick was stroking Drew’s wrist, and the way Nick was looking into Drew’s eyes, and the way, hmm, all right, Nick was sucking on the inside of Drew’s wrist and kissing Drew’s fingers.

        Maybe it was time to get these people a room.

        “Nick,” Drew said, twisting his hand free.  “Go get something to drink.  And go say hello to Donna, she’s been waiting to talk to you.”

        Nick cupped Drew’s chin in one hand, gently drawing Drew closer, tipping Drew’s face to his.  His fingers stroked Drew’s jaw, and the heat of his gaze raised the room temperature, and Chris just knew there was about to be a good floor show.

        Drew pulled back, stepping behind Chris again.  “Not now.  Not now,” he repeated, more firmly.

        Nick gave Drew one last long, deep look, then turned and walked away.

        Drew sighed, lifting a glass.  “I don’t know if this reception is going to last much longer.  The sharks are circling.”

        “Sharks, plural?” Chris asked.

        “Plural,” Drew said.  “Warn me if you see Nick headed this way again, and warn me if you see Brian, too.”

        Brian?  Brian wouldn’t act like that.  Chris watched Howie for a minute, admiring the way Howie looked, the way Howie moved.  He wanted to dance with Howie, but it wouldn’t be fair of him to monopolize Howie’s time.  He lived with Howie; they were engaged; Howie said ‘I love you’ to him and tongue-kissed him and made seductive wild love with him every night.  It wouldn’t be sporting of him to shove that in everyone’s face.

        Chris shifted his gaze slightly and oh.  Brian.  Brian walking in their direction, eyes on Drew.  “Run,” Chris said.

        “What?” Drew asked, distracted by something.

        “Run,” Chris said.  “Brian’s coming.”

        By then, of course, it was too late.  Brian was in their midst, putting a hand on Drew’s arm, leaning in close and whispering something into Drew’s ear.

        Drew’s eyes closed.

        Brian’s hand slid down the inside of Drew’s forearm to mate palm to palm.  Drew tightened his grip slowly as Brian kept whispering.

        Chris wondered what Brian was saying.

        Brian took one step back.

        Drew opened his eyes.  “Get Nick,” he said, and walked over to the DJ.  Chris glanced around for Howie.  The music stopped.  “Thank you, everyone,” Drew said.  “This has been an incredible day for us.”  Nick and Brian joined him.  “Thank you for celebrating with us.”

        “We love you,” Brian said.  “This room is rented for the rest of the evening, so stay as long as you like.”

        “We’d stay, too, but we have somewhere else to be,” Nick said.  “Bye.”

        Chris joined in the applause as the three of them left.  Then, soft, intimate, just behind his ear, “Chris.”  He spun quickly.  “One last dance, before we go,” Howie said.

        “Before we go where?” Chris asked.

        Howie held up a key card with a smile.  “Upstairs.”

        “More than half of the rooms aren’t furnished, some of the rooms are only half-painted, the refrigerator’s empty, and you want to be there?” JC asked.

        “Yeah,” Justin said.

        “Yeah,” JC said, smiling at him.  “Me, too.”

        “I’m glad Nick finally got to marry Brian and Drew,” Justin said.  “Making it official.”

        “I’m happy for him,” JC said.  “I know it’s been hard, Justin, it’s been really hard, but I’m glad we’re married.  Being married to you is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done.  You round out my life, you fulfill me.”

        “You’re saying that I complete you?” Justin teased.

        “You do,” JC said, and he smiled.  “You know that you do.”

        Justin kissed him.  “You fulfill me, too, JC.  I love you.”  He kissed JC again.  “I live you.”

        JC kissed him back.  “I love you, too, Justin.  I live you.”

        Jeff tapped his fingers on Nick’s broad chest as they danced.  “You look good.”

        “You look great,” Nick said.  “I’m going to have to dress you up more often.”

        “Dress me up?” Jeff repeated.

        Nick grinned.

        “Are you getting kinky on me?” Jeff asked, trying not to smile.

        “Are you saying you’d refuse?” Nick asked.

        “It seems to me that you’re too self-conscious for role-playing,” Jeff said.

        “I can get over it,” Nick said.

        “I believe that,” Jeff said.  “So if I greet you at the door dressed like a-”

        “We won’t even make it to the bedroom,” Nick said.

        “I didn’t even tell you what I’d be dressed as,” Jeff said.

        “It doesn’t matter,” Nick said.

        Jeff grinned.  “I’ll have to test that theory.”

        Lance sighed.  “Get your hands off my ass, Joey.”

        “Sorry.”  Joey slid his hands up, slowly, to Lance’s back.

        “What do you feel like doing?” Lance asked.  “Chris is already gone, JC and Justin don’t look like they want company…  Where can we go in black tie?”

        “We don’t have to go anywhere,” Joey said.  “We can go home.”

        “If you want sex, we can just get a room here,” Lance said.  “Everyone else is doing it.”

        “I don’t want sex,” Joey said.  His hands began a slow slide down again.  “I want you in my bed.”

        Lance smiled to himself.  “When did you get possessive?”

        Joey’s right hand squeezed, and Lance felt his body begin to respond.  “When I met you,” Joey said.  “Now I don’t have to hide it anymore.”

        Justin Jeffre stepped off to a private corner by the door to answer his vibrating cell phone.  Just as he was explaining that he was still at the reception, the doors opened to admit Kevin and AJ.

        “Shit,” AJ said, running his hand over his hair.  “I think we’re late.”

        “It looks like they’re already gone,” Kevin agreed, sounding disappointed.  “I knew we should have come back earlier.”

        “Howie’s not here, either,” AJ said.  “How long were we gone?”

        “I lost track of time,” Kevin admitted.  “I wanted to get back in time to say good-bye.”

        “I don’t know what’s happening to you,” AJ said.  “Becoming irresponsible, ditching your best friends at their wedding reception to sneak off and get laid, not even coming back in time to wish them well before they go?”

        “Are you trying to make me feel guilty?” Kevin asked.

        “I had a great time,” AJ said.  “I’m just wondering where it came from.”

        “It came from me,” Kevin said.  “I can be as irresponsible as anyone, if I want to.  I weigh my priorities and decide whether it’s worth it.  It almost never is.  But today, when my options were stay here, or miss a few dances to make love to you, I chose to be with you.  I thought we’d get back earlier.”

        AJ raised his eyebrows.  “You’re going to have to learn that you’re incapable of having a quickie.”

        “It looks like everyone’s leaving,” Kevin said, looking around the room.

        “And?” AJ asked, knowing that Kevin was going somewhere with that.

        “We already have a room,” Kevin said.  “It would be a shame to waste it.”

        “We’ve already used it,” AJ said, trying not to smile.

        “That’s no reason not to use it again,” Kevin said, his fingers tracing the line of AJ’s jaw.

        Upstairs, Howie ground his hips to Chris’s, kissing Chris’s mouth, pulling at Chris’s clothes.  Chris began to moan, rocking against him, rolling them over.

        When Chris was beneath him, Howie turned his focus, kissing Chris’s neck, sucking on the tattoo there, bringing his hand to Chris’s groin and exerting pressure until Chris made a suffering noise and began to buck and writhe.

        “I want to make love to you,” Howie said, raising his head to look into Chris’s eyes.  Missing any expression, any reaction, was a mistake.  Chris was a handsome man, beautiful to Howie’s eyes, and and Howie wanted to see and memorize every emotion flickering across Chris’s face.

        Chris kissed him.  Chris’s eyes were bright.  “I could go for that,” Chris said, a little breathlessly.  “My love?”

        “Yes?” Howie asked, gazing into Chris’s eyes.

        “I don’t care when we get married.  I don’t care how we do it, whether we have clowns or flamingoes or rabid frogs.  As long as I’m marrying you, none of that matters.  We’ll have whatever kind of ceremony you want.”

        Howie kissed him slowly.  “Chris, my Chris.  My love.”  Another kiss, gently.  “There’s only one thing I truly want.”

        “What is it?” Chris asked, gaze curious and concerned, hands peeling back Howie’s clothes.

        Howie smiled.  “You.”

        “I never thought I’d have this,” Nick said.

        “I’ve wanted this,” Brian said, “for such a long time.”

        “This is the most unexpected thing that’s ever happened to me,” Drew said.  “I’ve married two men.  Two.”

        “Yeah, I went down to the church to get married, and they were having a special,” Brian said.  “Two for the price of one.  I figured, why not?”

        “Gift with purchase,” Nick said.

        “I thought, if I ever met someone, I might find a good partner,” Drew said.  “I didn’t even expect to have a real wedding, a real ceremony.  Especially not in a church.  And if I did meet someone, I didn’t think he’d be anything like either of you.”

        “Oh, you wanted someone good-looking?” Brian asked.

        “I didn’t think anyone like you would ever be in my life,” Drew said.  “I didn’t think I could ever feel this way.  But I look back at my life before, and I don’t even recognize myself there.  I was happy, but nothing like this.  My life was full, but nothing like this.  I was living,” he said.  “But nothing like this.  This is living.  I wish that everyone, everywhere, could feel like this.”

        “I know,” Nick said.  “I do, too.”

        “To us,” Brian said.  “To love.  To living.”