An All Star Christmas

Author's Note- Made possible by your ideas and my fingers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's Christmas time!"

A round of high five's and bright smiles bounced off the bus walls. It was the week of Christmas, and time for a well-deserved break. The members of Nsync had worked hard this year.

Now, each of them clad in baggy jeans and sweatshirts expressing each of their interests, the guys were chomping at the bit to go home. The bus began its acceleration with a soft lurch. Everyone took a seat as Joey asked, "Whose house are we going to first?"

"Mine," Lance smiled, blinking his eyes dramatically.

"Why?" Joey whined, making a face. "You're always first."

"Because Johnny loves me more. Everybody loves me more."

"Speaking of bullshit, where's Chris?"

Everybody looked around at J.C.'s question. "I thought we were missing something," Justin smiled. "But it's only Chris."

Lance glanced out the window, noting the snow-covered trees and grass as the bus got on the highway. "He's probably sleeping or something."

The others stared at him.

"You're right, Chris doesn't sleep. Stupid me."

"Well he's gotta be around here somewhere."

"I didn't even see him get on the bus," J.C. said, worry starting to emerge in his blue eyes.

"We didn't forget him, that's impossible," Justin said, getting up. "Surely somebody would have told him we were leaving."

"I didn't."

"I didn't."

"I thought I did," Joey said. "I don't know, it was kinda late, and he was playing a game, maybe he didn't hear me?" Joey began blushing as he pictured Chris waking up and running into wake the others, only to find he'd been deserted.

"Okay, before we get carried away, lets search the bus. Maybe he's passed out somewhere."

"Me and Lance will get the back, you guys check the front," Justin said, walking towards the back of the bus. He eyes picked through the clutter of the bus hoping to find Chris amongst it, laughing.

"Justin, what if he's back at the hotel, and room service walks in and they find him and out him and that insane group of teeny boppers tear him to shreds?"

"That's not gonna happen Lance, he's probably just- holy shit!"

"What? What, what what?" Lance repeated, standing on his tiptoes to look out the window Justin was temporarily frozen to.

Outside, being pulled by a thick rope, Chris sat on a sled on wheels. He had on a brown leather jacket, goggles, and a tan scarf that was whipping wildly around his neck. His legs were folded under him on a light blue plastic sled. Gloved hands gripped the sides as the sled moved side to side from the bus's high speed. Chris raised his right hand, mimicking twirling a lasso, and the sled drifted to the right, nearly sideswiping a car.

"Stop the bus!" Justin yelled, breaking his trance and running for the front.

"What? What's wrong, did you find him?" J.C. asked, following on Justin's heels.

Justin whipped around and pointed straight back. "He's behind us."

Joey headed for the window. "He's following us? What kind of car- oh."

Justin was first in line at the door as the bus slowly came to a stop on the side of the road. The doors opened and the guys ran out, the wind from oncoming cars sending a chill through their bones. They jogged the length of the bus, coming to a halt in front of Chris. Justin tapped his toes and crossed his arms. "Well?"

Chris looked up at them slowly, ice and muddy snow covering his goggles. "That was great," he beamed.

"You could have been killed!" Lance argued. "You ass. What were you thinking?"

"That it would be great," Chris smiled, his white teeth showing. Bits of ice were caught in his short facial hair and his ski cap was a solid mass of snow.

"Stop smiling Chris and get up. Go inside before you get hypothermia."

"Can't."

"Why?" Justin asked.

"My hands are frozen to the sled."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Lance! Welcome home! Come in boys, come in and get warmed up."

The four friends smiled gratefully at Diane as she hugged her son one more time. "Make yourselves at home, please," she smiled, shutting the door. "Dinner is almost ready. I'll go see if I can find Jim and let him know you're here." She glanced judgmentally at Chris as she walked into the next room.

Chris sighed, looking at his feet. "This will never feel like home," he mumbled.

Joey turned his head to look at Chris. "Why?"

"I'm not allowed to touch anything, remember? This place is like a fucking museum."

"Chris," Lance warned.

"Sorry. Freaking. Forgot I can't cuss either."

"You can't touch anything?" Joey asked. "Lance, that's not cool. Let him touch something."

"No. Everything he touches he brakes."

Chris picked up a blue glass vase and waved it in front of Lance. "How about this? I'm not braking this."

"Chris, put that down. God you're annoying."

"Fine. I just wanted to prove you wrong," Chris said as he set the vase back on the table. "See guys, Lance is overreacting."

Lance watched from across the room as the vase wobbled on the polished wooden end table, rocking back and forth on it's rounded bottom. Before he could make a move to get it, it fell over, rolling across the reflective wood and heading for the floor. Lance watched Chris stick his hand out just in time, catching the vase with an embarrassed smile.

"You're mom would have killed me for that one. But I didn't brake it!"

"Chris, just put it down gently, okay?" Lance smiled at the others. "It's okay, anyone under thirty can touch anything they want."

"Hey, there's your dogs!" Joey said, smiling. "Come here guys!"

In trotted a golden Cocker Spaniel and a longhaired brown dog. The brown dog was a little taller than its partner was but just as friendly.

"That one's Lexi, but I don't know the other one. Did your parents get a new dog?" J.C. asked.

Chris's eyes widened in recognition. "It can't be…" he murmured, narrowing his eyes at the happy dog.

"Mom, whose dog is this?" Lance called.

"Britney, come here girl," Chris said, giving his leg a pat. Immediately, the brown mutt trotted to him, her tail sweeping the air behind her.

"How'd-" Joey started, then remembered. "Is that really her?" he asked. A long time ago, Chris had secretly adopted a stray dog, which latter turned out to be pregnant. She died after giving birth to her litter. Chris had tried to keep the puppies a secret under his bunk but they got too out of control and he was forced to give them away. Now, standing in front of them, was one of the long lost puppies.

"I think so," Chris smiled as Britney licked his chin. "I think she remembers me. I thought I'd never see her again."

"Boys," Diane interrupted, walking into the living room again. "I have a special surprise for you. Well, mostly Lance, but-"

Behind Diane, three men appeared. Lance recognized them immediately but the others sat in confusion. The first guy had semi-spiked blonde hair and a fairly big nose. He barely resembled Lance. The second guy was a little taller, and skinnier, with light brown hair. He faintly resembled J.C. The last man was medium build with dark brown hair in the process of growing out. He had amazing blue eyes and sported facial hair not unlike Chris's.

"Who are they?" Joey asked, nudging Chris.

"You're Rascal Flatts," Lance said, standing up with his hand extended.

The Lance look-alike reached out his hand and met Lance's. "I'm Gary, this is Joe Don and Jay."

Lance shook hands with the other two country singers, smiling at each of them brightly. "This is a nice surprise, thanks mom."

"Thanks these nice gentlemen," Diane replied as the others shook hands. "I heard you and Meredith talking about them and I figured what a better way of getting you to meet them than to invite them over for dinner."

"I'm starving," Chris and Jay said in unison. They looked at each other for a few seconds, then raised one eyebrow in curiosity before turning away.

Diane smiled and gestured to the dining room. "Dinner's ready, right this way guys."

Joey poked Chris on his way in to sit down. "That guy looks really familiar," Joey whispered.

"I know. Who is it?"

"I don't know. I bet he's up to something." Joey sat beside Chris, who sat across from Jay. "Look at him. What's up with that goatee thing?"

Chris glanced across the table. "Tell me about it. Look, I bet he's the only country singer with his ears pierced. I bet he gets beat up."

Joey chuckled and looked around the table. Everyone seemed happy. Justin was pouring on the charm for Lance's mom, knowing that mom's talk to each other and J.C. was talking with Joe Don, not doubt about business. Lance, Gary and Diane were involved in conversation while Lance's father and sister brought the food in from the kitchen.

"Okay guys," Stacy announced, "Food's here." She glanced at Joey and Chris before setting the big plates at the opposite end of the table.

Chris elbowed Joey.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that evening the family was gathered around in the living room. The sounds of a crackling fire filled the air and the warm glow radiated happiness. A light snow fell on the bare ground outside, sparkling in the streetlights. Chris glared at Jay.

Jay glared back.

"…And then she took off down the street and didn't stop until she was in her house hiding behind her momma!" Jim finished his story, getting a laugh out of everyone except Chris and Jay.

Joey watched the brown eyes of Chris study Jay's blue ones. The two hardly even said a word to each other, why did they automatically hate each other? Chris was like that sometimes, he didn't really hate someone, and he just played like it for attention. Today happened to be Jay's unlucky day. Joey nudged Chris. "Leave it."

Chris looked at Joey out of the corner of his eye. He snarled.

"Chris, are you feeling okay? You look kinda…I don't know…agitated? Do you need to take a walk or something?" Diane smiled nervously, worried for her breakables by Chris's pent up energy.

Chris fell back into character. "No Mrs. Bass, I'm fine. Thank you."

"Well in that case, let's go out and watch Jim turn on the lights. Come on guys." Diane got up with a smile and grabbed her son by the hand.

"Chris, come on man, leave him alone and get out here. Join us. Its Christmas, your favorite holiday." Joey stood up hoping Chris would follow.

"I'll be out in a minute," Chris said. Then he looked up at Joey and smiled brightly. He was just having some fun.

"Can I trust you?"

"When can you not?"

Joey thought, thoughtfully.

"I'll be out. I just wanna talk to him a minute." The others filed out talking about the things they'd missed in each other's lives. Jay remained seated across from Chris, his face expressionless. The front door of Lance's house shut and cheerful voices could be heard outside. Chris smiled. "So."

"What's your problem? Why do you hate me?"

Jay had a slight southern accent. Chris was proud that he was able to pick it up after living with Lance for so long. "What's YOUR problem?"

"Man, come on. I can't understand this boyband logic. What do you want?"

Chris got up. "I don't understand you. Hell, I don't know you. You're different than your friends out there." Chris glanced out the window. They were looking at the ceiling expectantly.

"You're freaking me out. You don't make any sense." Honestly, Chris had forgotten what he was going to say. Things don't last long when they're not there to begin with. But he had to make something up or else he wouldn't be Chris. "I don't like your hair."

"Are you gay?"

"What?" Engarde. We have a fighter.

"You know, a homosexual. It's okay if you are, but you're like, not in the right house."

Chris smiled and walked to the wood stove. "No, I'm not gay. And I believe I have more right than you do to be in this house. You're just a country singer."

"And you're a thirty year old boyband member."

Damn this guy was on his toes. Chris opened the door to the stove and put in another log. He looked up at Jay and smiled. "You know, I really do like you. And not like that. You're pretty cool. Jay."

Blue eyes studied him. "Thanks. I think."

"Yup." Chris added another log. "You wanna like, go out for a drink or something?"

"I can't."

Oh, he's one of THOSE. "Why not?" Chris threw in the last log.

"I'm pregnant."

Chris nodded, watching the flames. Like a boomerang, the word came back and slapped him in the face. "What?" he looked up at Jay.

Jay smiled.

Chris smiled. "That was good. You wanna join my club? You can be member number two."

Jay laughed. "Sure. Do we get a secret handshake?"

Chris brushed a hand against his jeans. That fire was getting hot. "I don’t know. I never had to shake hands with myself. I'll give you a certain blonde adolescent, like as a welcoming gift?"

"No thanks, we don't have time to take care of him," Jay smiled.

That stove is smoking pretty badly. He would have to tell Lance. "How about if we give you his caretakers also?" Damn that fire was hot- "Holy shit!" Chris jumped up, beating at the flames climbing up his pant leg.

Jay jumped up also. "Shit, like, stop drop and roll or something!"

Chris kicked the blazing log that had fell out of the stove. It rolled across the floor and stopped in the long white curtains at the window. Grabbing the nearest object, a pillow from the couch, Chris began beating his leg.

"What do you want me to do?" Jay asked frantically. Answering his own question, he ran into the kitchen and got a glass of water.

Chris stripped out of his pants and threw the blazing denim on the floor. His thighs immediately erupted in goosebumps though he didn't pay attention to them. In between strikes with the pillow, Jay returned, dumping the water on the flames and finally dousing them.

"Thanks man," Chris panted.

"The curtains!" Jay pointed to the seven-foot high flames that had engulfed the curtains that previously hung there.

"I am so dead," Chris said, remaining still a split second before racing to help Jay extinguish the fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joey's eyes widened. Had Chris lit himself on fire? Should he help? He glanced at the others who stood with their attention transfixed on the roof. They hadn’t seen yet.

He glanced back and forth between Jim carefully walking on the roof to the scene in Lance's living room. This was not good. Lance's mother already thought of Chris as a walking safety hazard and this would just add to the fire. Pardon the pun.

Funny, the flames look closer now. And bigger. Right where the curtains hung. Oh. OH.

Oh well, he didn't like those curtains anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris emerged from the bus's small bathroom quietly. Everyone was mad at him for nearly burning down Lance's house. Could he blame them? True, it was an accident, but it's not so funny when you're standing out in the snow for two hours while the fire department goes through their whole procedure. He knew he would not be going back inside Lance's house for quite some time.

"I'm going to KILL YOU!"

Chris didn't have time to duck. Lance's blurry form plowed into Chris, knocking him back against the wall. Almost immediately Joey arrived to break up the abuse.

"Lance I said I'm sorry!" Chris yelled, his voice muffled by Lance's sweatshirt.

"Lance come on man," Joey tried, pulling at Lance. "He didn't try to do it. It's not like he's a pyro or anything."

"He's as bad as a damn kid, Joey! You leave him alone for a minute and your house is up in flames!"

Chris twisted and struggled to get out from under Lance. He had never seen Lance hit anyone and he didn't want to be the first. Finally he felt Lance being pulled off him and Chris scrambled to stand up. They stood, huffing and red faced, angry green eyes boring into submissive brown ones. "Lance, please, I'm sorry. I'll pay for everything. I'll never go in your house again, I'll never go on your block again, I won't even ride the same bus as you, please, just don't be mad at me."

Lance finally calmed down enough to hear the apology thick in Chris's voice and sighed. Joey released him. "It's okay Chris. Forget it. I'm not mad anymore." He looked up at Chris. "I mean it."

A smile crept across Chris's face. He threw himself at Lance, hugging him. "Thanks man, I’m really sorry."

"Isn't this cute?" Justin teased as he stood in the doorway.

J.C. walked up behind him. "Now kiss and make up," he smiled.

Lance flipped them off and turned to look at Chris again, who was making a kissy face at him. "Ew, no!" Lance laughed, pushing Chris away. "God you're gross."

"So Chris, are you gonna burn down my house too?" J.C. teased. "I think my mom was talking about remodeling the living room, so just make sure it's a controlled fire-"

"J.C., go to hell," Chris smiled as he moved to the window. The sun was shining brightly, sparkling off the snow and heating up the area around the windows nicely. Feeling extremely relaxed in the hot sun; Chris let his eyes drift shut. Only a few short days of vacation left before they were forced back into their hectic schedule. But one look at the fan's faces made it all worth it.

Chris opened his eyes when he felt a body plop down next to him. Justin smiled quickly before laying his shaven head on Chris's shoulder and attempting to fall asleep too. Chris smiled at the closeness of their relationship and turned to look out the window. "What the hell is that?" Chris asked, turning in his seat as the objects in question flew by outside.

"What?" J.C. asked, looking up from his laptop.

"It looked like a group of animals walking down the road."

Lance laughed. "What kind of animals?"

Chris remained serious. "A goat carrying something in its mouth, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a rabbit."

"Sounds like you're average road kill to me," J.C. smiled.

"They were alive you dumbass! Up! Walking down the highway!"

"Chris, is it time for your medicine?" Joey asked.

Chris pouted. "Screw you. They were there."

Justin softly rubbed circles on Chris's stomach. "Dude, shut up. I believe you."

Chris flinched at the touch. Justin had learned that from his days with Dani. Chris had been upset over something, and Dani curled up next to him like always, gently running her fingertips over Chris's abdomen. Chris shut up instantly, both relaxing and tensing at the same time. His mind began trying to figure out whether or not he liked the sensation instead of feeling hostile. Chris missed Dani.

Chris closed his eyes and dreamed of the good old days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"WAKE UP!"

Justin was in his face, staring into Chris's eyes with excited blue ones. "We're there."

Chris made a face and stretched, pushing Justin in the chest. That guilty feeling crept into his chest, like he wasn't suppose to have fallen asleep, but did, and now he was the lazy one. "Where's there?"

Justin grinned. "My house."

"Oh God."

"Yup. So come on, let's go say hi." Justin got up, patting Chris's knee the way he knew the older man hated, just to get him to follow.

Chris glared at the back of Justin's shaven head as he got off the couch. 'No use in being mad,' he thought. "This can't be worse than Lance's house."

"Dude, relax. Nothing is worse than Lance's house."

"I heard that!"

Chris stepped off the bus into the sunlight. The snow was a little less here. Single blades of grass poked through here and there, trying to survive the ice at their base. A brown dog walked around to the back yard, it's longhaired tail flying happily. Beside him, Busta sniffed the ground enthusiastically.

Lynn appeared at the front door. A smile lit her face when she realized Her son had arrived. Pushing open the glass storm door, she beamed, "Justin! You guys made it!"

Justin hugged his mother. "Of course we made it."

"Chris!"

Chris looked up just in time to see Justin's two younger brothers running straight for him. Busta ran at the kids, bouncing around their feet as they plowed into Chris, hugging him tight. "Hey guys, how ya doin'?"

"We missed you!" Jonathan, the older of the two replied. "Mom won't let us practice making your mud pies anymore."

"Well why not?" Chris asked, glancing at Lynn with a smile.

"Cuz when we tried to bake it, it started smoking really bad and the fire people came."

Chris sat up, lifting the boys off him. "You shouldn't play with the oven boys, I'm really disappointed in you. Didn't I teach you better?" Then, in a lower voice, Chris added, "Good job guys, give me five."

Paul came out of the house with a huge grin. "Hey guys, glad you're here. You're mother's been waiting by the window all day." He gave Justin a quick hug then shook hands with Joey, Lance and J.C.

"Did you guys save up some candy for me?" Chris asked hopefully.

Jonathan smiled and looked around. "We got a pillow case full under Steven's bed."

Chris's mouth watered. "Oh. Thank you. Thank you thank you. We'll get into it later tonight, okay?"

Steven and Jonathan nodded, smiling.

"Chris, guys, come on. It's getting cold," Lynn called. The others were walking in and Lynn stood holding the door open, waiting for the kids. "John, let's go get our surprise."

"Okay!" John replied as he got up and all but ran inside. Busta ran after him barking.

Chris got up slowly, a small slice of pain cutting through his knees. He picked up Steven and carried him inside. "I'm getting too old kid. Will you bring me my cane when I can't walk anymore?"

"Yes," Steven nodded, placing his head on Chris's shoulder.

Lynn shut the door behind them and followed them into the living room. "Justin, we have a surprise for you guys. With your busy schedules, you don't get to hang out with other people very much, and I think you guys could learn a lot from each other."

"Is Uncle Larry here?" Justin asked, looking from his mom to his dad.

Lynn looked to Paul. "Is he out of jail yet?" Paul shrugged. "No Justin, that's not who's here. John and Steve, would you two like to bring in our guests?"

"Okay mom," John yelled and together they disappeared down the hall.

"Is it Rascal Desert or whatever?" Chris asked Justin sarcastically.

Justin shrugged and turned confused blue eyes to the hall as Lance threw a TV Guide at Chris.

Chris picked it up. "Look who's on the cover, it's-"

"Hanson!" Jonathan announced, leading Taylor in by the hand. Behind him were Zac, and Steven pulling Isaac.

Chris laughed.

J.C. smiled politely.

Lance looked them over.

Joey looked at Justin.

Justin looked at his mother, then to Joey and Chris, then to the three brothers. "Hanson?"

"Told you he still thinks he's better than us," Zac said to Taylor.

Lynn smiled. "Yes. I asked if they could come stay with us a couple days, so you guys could pal around and have fun and things."

"With Hanson?"

"Yes. Is that okay?"

"I guess."

"What?"

"Yes! Yeah, that's cool. There's tons of things we need to catch up on anyway," Justin smiled, looking at the brothers.

"Good. Now who wants to start putting lights up outside while I finish dinner?"

"I will!"

Lynn looked between all the boys. She raised an eyebrow. "Well, they should be up in no time then."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The eight guys stood in a circle, staring down at the giant ball of Christmas lights. It loomed back. The strings wound tighter right in front of their eyes. It laughed. 'You think you can untangle me?'

"We can do it," Justin sighed.

'Ha. Many have tried. None have beaten me.' The ball leered.

"Why don't we just buy new ones?" Chris asked.

'Just like the others. Surrender now weaklings.'

"Because it's the principle of the thing. These work. It's just a matter of untangling them," Justin replied.

The knee-high heap chuckled and sat back, knowing it was impossible.

"Well…"

"It's not untangling by itself," J.C. said.

"That'd be nice."

"They should make lights that untangle themselves. That would kick ass," Isaac smiled.

"Yes," Justin started in his copy of Chris's copy of Cartman's voice. "You should invent it because you need all the money you can get because you guys suck and haven't had a new song in like forever."

"Guys, don't start," Lance interjected.

A snowball hit Justin in the chest. Zac laughed.

"You little shit," Justin hissed, trying to ignore the chuckles from his friends. He bent and grabbed a handful of snow and began packing it in hand. He threw it back, but Zac ducked and the snow hit Joey in the crotch.

Joey yelped. "Damnit Justin, I'm on your side!"

Chris pushed Lance. "Yeah Lance, I'm on your side!"

The eight glared at each other. Nobody moved except for nervous, playful eyes. Breaths puffed in the cold air.

"SNOWBALL FIGHT!"

Justin pounced on Zac, who was almost as tall as he was, and pushed him into the snow, sitting on him. Chris began heaving armloads of snow at Lance, while Joey and J.C. tackled the other two members of Hanson.

The ball of lights sighed.

After half an hour of grunting, cursing, wrestling, panting and laughing, the guys found themselves too exhausted to stand. "That was fun," Zac panted, brushing ice off his coat.

"The most I've had all day," Joey agreed.

Justin sat up. "The lights are still there," he said.

'I knew you'd come back. I've been waiting little ones.'

"Yup."

"Well, I'm hungry. Let's do this." Justin picked up a strand and slowly began working.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I wish you could stay longer."

"I know mom, me too," Justin mumbled into his mother's shoulder. "We'll be back soon enough."

"You boys take care of yourselves, and call me."

"Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Hauneuka!!"

"Is he going to be okay?" Lynn asked, pulling away from Justin slightly.

Justin turned to look at Chris as the older man bounded around the bus. He definitely had gotten into sugar somewhere. He'd been babbling and singing all morning, on top of giving Jonathan and Steven piggyback rides, and practically cleaning the whole house while singing 'Whistle While You Work'. Definitely found sugar. "He'll be okay."

"Thanks for being civil to the Hanson brothers, I think they had fun," Lynn smiled.

"No problem, they're not as annoying as I thought," Justin replied, remembering their snowball fight.

"Well I'll let you guys get going, I've held you up enough. Don't want you to miss your bus. Well, I do, but…"

"I love you mom." Justin gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek before slowly backing towards the bus. "Now on to J.C.'s house."

"J.C.'s house! J.C.'s house!" Chris began chanting as he bounced around the bus once more before bowling Justin over and running to wrestle Joey. Justin rolled his eyes and waved goodbye to Lynn before turning, the bus doors shutting after him.

Lynn sighed as she turned back to the house. "They never get to spend enough time here," she said to herself. She started back to the front door when something caught her eye. "What's this?" She bent down and picked up the brightly colored paper. "Where'd all these candy wrappers come from?"

Lynn looked up and saw that the pile of wrappers was lying right below her son's bedroom window. Raising an eyebrow, she pondered the situation. Looking up a little further, she saw the strings of lights blowing gently in the soft December wind. "What the-?" There, on top of her roof, right in the center of what she would have called the best lighting job ever, sat the huge tangle of lights that she had given the guys to straighten out. Half of it blinked while half burned clear bulbs, half-multicolor.

She could have sworn it grinned triumphantly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

J.C.'s dog was scary. He was big, hairy, slobbery, and loud. The total opposite of J.C. Should be Joey's dog.

The dark Akita played rough, always inadvertently hurting his opponent during rough housing. He'd look at you and stand perfectly still, except for the tail wagging furiously, his ears perked, eyes alert, and then he'd jump. Baron was a solid eighty pounds of dog muscle. Again, should be Joey's dog.

Justin watched Baron out of the corner of his eye as they approached Justin's front step. Baron panted happily, watching the five men. A light brown female sat at his side, sniffing the air calmly. Dogs always looked suspicious.

"So J.C., who's going to be at your house?" Joey asked as they came to a stop.

"Nobody. I don't want anybody, unless it's someone with actual talent, like Aerosmith or John Mellencamp or somebody."

"I bet your parents invited somebody stupid," Justin teased.

"Are your parents home?" Chris asked, shivering slightly.

J.C. rang the doorbell again. "Should be."

A snowball flew threw the air and hit Joey on the ass.

"What the hell! Justin, knock it off ass wipe!"

"Ha! It wasn't me, I swear!"

"It was so, I saw you!"

"How did you see me if I didn't do it?!"

Another snowball hit J.C. in the back of the head.

"Guys! Knock it off!"

Joey and Justin looked at each other. Chris laughed. Lance looked curiously at J.C.

"Josh you idiot! Over here!"

J.C. and the others turned to the voice. Tyler and Heather stood on the other side of a large tree, armed with snowballs. J.C. smiled at his siblings then was hit with another snowball.

"J.C., you pussy, you gonna take that from-" Chris was cut off as a snowball nailed his shoulder. "Oh it's on now!"

Chris dove off the step, Justin at his side. Joey, Lance and J.C. moved with less enthusiasm as they began packing snowballs. Justin and Chris threw full force, mostly hitting their opponents. "Cover me," Chris said as he began rolling a snowball on the ground. He rolled it around and around until it was the size of a basketball.

"Holy crap," Justin smiled, ducking a hurled ice ball. "That'll do some serious damage."

"I'm goin' in," Chris said. He picked up his massive ball and crept around the yard, coming in on the younger kids from the side. When he was about six feet away he stopped. "Incoming!" he yelled, throwing the giant snowball with all his strength. It sailed through the air and hit Tyler on his shoulder and face. Tyler fell over as Heather screamed.

"I won! I won I won I won!" Chris sang as he danced around his fallen foe. The others joined him, laughing and helping Tyler up.

"Nice to see you too Chris," Tyler huffed, brushing off his coat.

"Hey, you started it," Chris replied.

Heather gave J.C. a quick hug. "Nice to see ya again. How you doin'?"

"We're fine. I see you two are still talking to each other." J.C. bumped hands with Tyler and nodded.

"She's still a bitch bro."

"And he's still a mama's boy."

"Ha. Mama's boy," Chris mumbled, ducking away before Tyler could grab him.

"Where's mom and dad?" J.C. asked as the group headed for the front door.

Heather brushed the hair out of her face. "They went to the airport. To get their company. Didn't say who."

"Speak of the devil," Tyler said, nodding as a dark colored mini van pulled into the driveway. "I guess we'll find out who it is now."

The group walked over to the now parked vehicle. Baron weaved his way through the long legs, barking happily as he went to the driver's side. Roy opened the door and petted the dog quickly before turning to his kids. "Hey Josh, welcome home!"

"Hi dad!" Josh rounded the van and gave his father a quick hug as Karen opened the passenger door. "Hey mom! What were you doing in there, taking a shower?"

Karen laughed lightly and smiled at the rest of the guys. "No, your father hasn't added a shower yet. How are you doing?" she asked, going to J.C. with open arms.

"This is so cute I'm gonna puke," Tyler mumbled, glancing at Chris and Joey.

"I’m with ya," Chris replied. "What new games you got?"

Tyler, Chris and Joey started towards the house when Karen called them back. "Hold on a second guys, I want you to say hi to our guests."

"Okay, hold on a sec. Did all you moms get together and decide to invite people over?"

Karen looked at Justin. "Maybe. Why?"

"Because. Uh…why?"

"Just to surprise you. Don't you like hanging out with other singers your own age?"

"Uh yeah, I guess…"

"Wait, our own age?" questioned J.C.

"Howdy boys."

AJ McLean appeared on the opposite side of the van. Behind him, Nick and Brian stood while Howie and Kevin got out of the passenger side of the van.

"See boys, look who we got to spend the next couple days with us," Mrs. Chasez chirped.

"You guys are gonna have to sterilize your van now," Chris said.

AJ smirked. "So did they show you the dog house out back you'll be staying in?"

Chris nodded. "Right next to yours."

"Well boys, let's go inside and check on the turkey."

Karen took Roy by the hand and led him in. "Come on, before you get frostbite," she called back.

"After you," Howie smiled, motioning for J.C. to go first. Slowly the group entered the house, with Chris, Tyler and AJ last.

"Hey AJ, I got you a Christmas present man," Chris said. "You know, I got in the season and all, I think it's time we grew up, what do you think?"

AJ eyed Tyler and Chris suspiciously. "Uh…I guess, what'd you get me?"

"It's right in here," Chris fished around in his pocket. "Oh there it is!" Chris pulled out his hand, which was now flipping off AJ. "I saw it and thought of you!"

Chris and Tyler began laughing and Tyler high fived Chris. "That was a good one," he chuckled.

"You both suck," AJ huffed, then stormed off.

"Okay boys, time to eat!"

Chris and Tyler looked at each other. "FOOD!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So J.C., how's the writing coming?" Roy asked as the enlarged family sat around the table.

"Good."

"Don't you ever get writer's block?" Heather asked from the other end of the table.

"Yeah, that's why they copy us," Kevin muttered under his breath.

"No," J.C. said, oblivious, "I get a lot of inspiration from everything around us. I just write a little at a time."

"Too bad you don't have anything worth copying," Joey said to himself.

AJ turned to Heather. "So, did you get out 'Greatest Hits' album?" he glanced at Justin with a smirk.

As Heather opened her mouth, Justin interrupted, "J.C., I thought your songs had to be great for them to be on a greatest hits album."

AJ rolled his eyes. J.C. looked up from his plate. "Yeah."

"What?!"' AJ asked, making a face at Chris. "Stop staring at me freak!"

Chris laughed quietly as Tyler tried to conceal his laughter next to him. "Your imagining things," Chris said, trying to be as serious as Chris could.

"Boys, stop teasing each other," Karen said light-heartedly. "It's Christmas time."

"Everything's really good Mrs. Chasez," Howie said.

"Brown noser," Justin coughed.

Nick glared across the table. "So are you experiencing a little premature balding, or are you trying to look like that?"

"Are your pants five sizes to small or is your voice naturally that annoying?"

"ELF BOY! Knock it off!" AJ growled.

Chris blinked and continued staring.

Karen sighed. "Who wants dessert?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Bye! Come again!" Joey and Chris waved as the Backstreet Boys filed into their limo.

Kevin and AJ paused to discuss something about the luggage while Justin came up to stand with his friends. "Hey guys, help me figure this thing out," he said, struggling with his new paint ball gun. "The safety is stuck or something."

"Let me see it," Joey said as he took the realistic gun. He began examining it as J.C. stepped out of his front door, followed by his mom and dad.

"Promise to call us when you get to Joey's house?" Karen asked, taking hold of J.C.'s shirt.

"I promise mom."

"OK," Joey said, holding up the paint ball gun. "I think it's fixed. You try it."

Justin took the gun and aimed it straight ahead. He pulled the trigger, firing the gun and tearing a yelp from Kevin, who placed a hand on the seat of his pants.

"What the hell was that for, ungrateful little prick?" Kevin yelled, rubbing himself.

Justin's eyes grew big as he took a step back. "Hey man, I'm sorry," he started. "Damn thing just went off?"

Chris and Joey tried to hide their laughter as AJ glared at Justin while Kevin threw his bag in the trunk of the limo. "I think it's time to go," Justin said as J.C. walked up.

"What happened?" J.C. asked as the limo sped off.

"It was great," Chris laughed.

"Justin just shot Kevin in the ass!" Joey smiled, clapping Justin on the back. "He's a big boy now!"

J.C. rolled his eyes as his giggling bandmates filed on the bus. J.C. turned back to his parents as he stepped on the bus. "I love you momma," he smiled, then sighed, and climbed the last step, the doors shutting behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh J.C., your house it just so much fun, Joey, will your house be that much fun?"

Joey smiled and J.C. rolled his eyes. "I hope there's someone for Justin to shoot. Maybe we could all take turns."

"Yeah!" Chris beamed. "Like, total annihilation or something!"

"Yeah Chris, just like that. How many cookies did you have?" Lance went back to typing on his laptop.

"Not the whole dozen," Chris replied shyly.

"This has been the best Christmas ever so far," Justin said.

The bus came to a slow, soft halt, signaling their arrival to Joey's house. The older bus driver opened the door to the buses lounge. "Okay guys, we're here. Everybody out!"

Justin grabbed his paint ball gun and tucked it under his coat. "Let's lock and load."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No sooner had Joey's finger touched the doorbell then the door swung open and the smells of turkey and potatoes and fresh cookies greeted the cold winter air, along with Joey's big, Italian mother.

"Joey!" she beamed, wrapping her son in a huge hug. "Boys, how are you?"

"We're fine Mrs. Fatone," Lance replied, the next in line for a hug.

"Call me mom, you poor thing. Has it been that long since you've been gone?"

Lance looked to Joey and J.C. for help and Phyllis dragged him inside.

"Where are they?" Justin asked Joey. "Where's 'The Guests'?"

"I don't know," Joey replied as they entered the house. "Keep on guard though. They might be lurking around this very corner-"

"Surprise!"

Justin, Joey and Chris froze in their tracks. There before them, stood not another boyband, but Chris's mom and sisters. "Chris! I'm so happy to see you!" she said, giving her son a hug. "Phyllis invited us over to surprise you and I couldn't resist seeing you a few days early!"

Chris turned to Justin. "Put down your weapon Rambo, false alarm." Chris turned back to his mom. "I'm glad you're here, I couldn't wait to see you either."

"Well isn't this cute," Lance smiled as he walked up. "Chris, did you avoid going to your house because you're afraid I'll try to get even with you?" Beverly looked confused. "Your son burned down my house," Lance explained.

"I didn't BURN it down, I just had a little accident," Chris fended. "Come on Joey, let's go build a snowman and name it Lance, then we'll let Justin shoot it with his new paint ball gun."

"Ha ha," Lance laughed sarcastically.

Beverly shook her head and grabbed Taylor's hand. "Come on sweetie, let's help in the kitchen. Your big brother is feeling a little violent."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Fire!"

A long series of red paint balls exploded on the white, icy chest of the five foot ten inch snowman. Then its head fell off.

"Nice job Timberlake. A little to the left next time. But nice job."

Joey saluted the blonde cadet.

"Hey Joey, when did you get a dog?" Chris asked, squinting across the yard.

"I've always had Nakita Chris, what are you talking about?"

"No, a REAL dog," Chris said, pointing at the large form about fifty feet away.

"That's no dog," Justin said, putting down his gun. "It's got horns."

"Not horns," Joey said. "Antlers."

The three men stood next to each other, silent and in wonder and disbelief. Slowly, the animal, which could only be described as a reindeer, trudged towards them. It's head bobbed as it picked it's way through the deep snow with heavy hooves. Its strong breath puffed warm in the air. Then it spotted them.

"It's looking at me," Chris said.

"It's looking at all of us," Joey said.

"No. It's glaring. At me."

"Why?" Justin asked.

"Because that's just the kind of vacation I've been having," Chris replied.

The animal grunted and blinked, then began charging. "Yup…it's coming for me!" Chris yelped, then took off. He yanked open the back door and charged in, startling the baking mothers and playing children. "RUN! RABID REINDEER!"

Chris took off again, just as a four-foot-high-at-the-shoulder reindeer clattered it’s hooves against the linoleum kitchen floor. Screams echoed through the house as both Chris and the deer thundered through the house and out the front door. Beverly ran to the window, followed by the others, just in time to see Chris and the reindeer flying down the snowy street.

Beverly sighed and looked at Phyllis, then back to the ransacked kitchen. She smiled. "Merry Christmas everybody."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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