Lance watched as JC packed his bags. Their home now completed, JC explained he had to get back to Orlando, had to get in the studio with Justin to start laying tracks. "You could come too," he suggested, tossing in some jeans. "I know you're not due for vocals yet, but still."

Lance was miserable, and pouted well. "No, I wouldn't want to get in your way."

JC crossed the finished bedroom to grab his deoderant. "Lance, don't be like that, please. This is your album too. We have to have it done for summer release. Christ, do you realize the tour starts in two months?" He threw some socks in his luggage and snapped it shut.

"I know," Lance whined, plucking some dead leaves off the hanging spider plant in the window. He felt JC's stare on him and sighed. "I do know," he repeated. Orlando was only a couple hours away, a day trip, and he felt childish for acting like this, pouting and carrying on. The past few weeks had been glorious, laying on the beach and puttering about the house, doing completely normal things like barbequing and watching cheesy movies. He didn't even mind when JC locked himself in the studio room he'd made out of the second bedroom, not showing his face for hours. "I'll just miss you is all."

"So come with me," JC said, grabbing Lance's hands causing the dead leaves to scatter to the rug. "Justin will be glad to see you. Hell, he'll probably be fucking thrilled not to be alone with me and my bitchy attitude."

Lance laughed, knowing JC spoke the truth. "Well, maybe," he smiled.

JC kissed his lips, cupping his face with his large hands. "Come with me, Lance. Hop in the car with some clothes and let's go. I'll even stop and get you an ice cream cone on the way."

Lance perked up. "Yeah? Butter Pecan?"

JC nodded, moving his lips to Lance's ear, tickling him with hot breaths. "With hot fudge even."

It was tempting, but Lance was having such a good time being tucked away from real life. Feeling JC's hands on him was more tempting though, and he imagined dripping ice cream down JC's chest and licking it off on the ride. The beginnings of an erection grew in his pants and he sighed. "Okay, you got me,"

An hour later, their modest home was locked up tight, the neighbors to the left promising to water their plants. Lance hopped in the passenger side and buckled up. JC headed toward the interstate. "Ah, ah," Lance reminded him. "Ice cream first."

JC laughed, reaching over to rest his hand on Lance's knee. "All right. Ice cream first." Lance placed his sunglasses over his eyes to block out the sun's bright rays, and tapped his hand on the window in time with the rock station JC had chosen. JC was into rock lately, ever since the Superbowl and meeting Aerosmith. Lance didn't mind, he always had a soft spot for the stuff.

The ice cream palace was innundated with teens, dozens of them, causing JC to stiffen. "Let's go somewhere else," he suggested, already backing out.

"No," Lance said firmly, setting his lips in a fine line. "No, Jace. We're not hiding, not after the great weeks we've been having." He was hurt that JC hadn't changed. He was still worried about people figuring it all out, putting two and two together and learning that they were in love. "You know, we're still in a group together. We can still go out without fans thinking we're fucking."

JC sighed, unable to push the tense feelings down. He hated hiding, but lived in constant fear the secret would escape and single handedly bring down N Sync. "Okay," he compromised, "But no lovey dovey shit, please."

"Fine," Lance spat, ice lacing his tone. He waited until JC parked and climbed out, not saying a word. Within minutes, the two were surrounded by overexcited girls, thrusting pens and napkins at them, gushing into their ears, coping feels. JC shook with nerves, having a hard time without security to get his back. He stood on tip toes and noticed Lance being gracious, signing and chatting with a big smile on his face, acting as if it was no big deal. His heart pulled proudly, and he understood why fans flocked to Lance. He never made it seem as if they were they lucky ones. He always made them feel like he was the lucky one. And if he ever sensed fear, he never showed it.

JC flinced as a girl grabbed him around the neck, letting out an earthshattering cry near his ear. "Ohmigod, JC, ohmigod."

JC pulled at her arms while another girl grabbed his ass with a lewd wink. He smiled the best he could, wishing he'd been nicer to Lance, wishing Lance had just said 'okay, let's go to a drive thru or forget the ice cream'. But no. Lance wanted his ice cream, and seemed to be having fun punishing him at the same time.

Several employees finally came out to escort the two singers inside. Lance grinned widly as he ordered his ice cream, ignoring the scowl on JC's face, and the scratch mark on his neck. He licked at his cone with a grin. "Serves you right," he whispered, heading back to he car.

JC growled, wiping his face with a napkin. He took his milkshake, signed one more autograph for the waitress behind the counter, and followed his calm, cool boyfriend back. Once in the car and safley on the road, JC broke the silence. "Sorry," he said, sipping his drink. He was sorry, sorry that he wanted to hide, sorry for the anxiety that rose sickeningly in his chest everytime he faced a mob of fans, sorry he wasn't more like Lance. He kept his eyes on the road purposely, afraid to meet the olive eyes that stared hard at him, scrutinizing his actions.

"Jace, I just want you," Lance said, lapping his ice cream as it melted. "I want you all the time no matter who says or thinks what. That's why our house was so important to me." He shifted sideways in his seat, studying JC's strong profile. "Remember when we told Chris about us? And he said as long as you're happy it's all good. Remember when we finally told Justin, and we were petrified because he was younger and loved you like a brother, and we thought he'd flip out? And he hugged us both hard, and he said, I quote, "love is a unique thing, something we're not all lucky to get. If you love each other, cherish each other, never be afraid of what you have.""

JC gulped as Lance spoke, recalling each image vividly. "Of course, but Lance...."

"No buts," Lance cut him off. "We love each other. I understand that we can't scream it from the rooftops, but don't treat me like a stranger when you're afraid."

Silence fell upon the two of them and they rode a while in the quiet, each lost in thought.

JC turned off into a parking area. "Lance?" he said, rubbing his mouth, choosing his words carefully. He loved that person sitting next to him, male or not. There was nothing in life that said you had to pick a sex to fall for. If Lance was female, he'd love him as well. That much was clear to him.

"What?" Lance responded, still aggrivated by JC's lack of respect for his feelings.

"Don't be mad at me. Please. I can't take it when you're disappointed in me." He struggled with his words, wishing he could just write it down and hand it to him in a neat little package. "I love you so fucking much. God, I can't even think straight when things aren't right with us. I can't see when you're not around, I can't hear. I don't live, not really." He stopped, a small choke catching in his throat.

"Oh shit," Lance whispered, unlatching his seatbelt and moving closer, wrapping his arms around JC. "I know. I know you love me. I just, hell, I don't know. I get sick of you being scared. I think you're going to leave me because of it, leave me like everyone else has."

JC bit his lip hard, pulling away to stare into those eyes, eyes he saw each night when he fell asleep. "Never, baby. I'll never leave you." He used his thumb to brush over Lance's lips softly, and tugged his chin upward when Lance tried to look away. "Never, hear me?" He leaned in to kiss him tenderly. "I promise."

Lance nodded, letting his held breath out. Promises meant the world. He knew JC would never go.

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