You sighed as Sean squirmed away from you yet again, giggling and running as fast as his little legs could carry him toward his bedroom door, diaper in his hand and naked bottom hanging out. JC appeared suddenly in the doorway, scooping Sean up into his arms.
“Hey peanut. You giving Daddy a hard time?” He winked at you and you couldn’t help but smile back as he brought Sean back into the bedroom and sat down beside you on the floor and laid Sean in front of him. Sean held the diaper up for JC to take.
“How come he never gives you any trouble when you change his diaper?” You asked as you leaned your head against JC’s shoulder. He laughed lightly and turned, laying a kiss on the tip of your nose before turning back to the task at hand.
“Trust me, babe. While you were on tour, he did nothing but give me trouble. Then you came home and suddenly all my troubles were gone and you were the one forced to chase him all over the house.” JC smiled as he lifted Sean gently to slide a pair of pants on him. “It’s kind of nice not being the one that has to chase him all over just to get a diaper on him.” Your tongue came out in retaliation as he stood Sean up and slipped a shirt over his head. JC laughed. “I didn’t know we had two babies in this house.”
“No baby.” Sean protested, muffled through the shirt still covering his face. JC pulled it down over his head and adjusted it before kissing his forehead.
“No, daddy’s the only baby around here today. You’re a big boy.” Sean turned to you, a wide, toothy grin lightly up his face.
“Big boy,” he mumbled, almost unintelligibly. But you and JC knew him well enough to understand what he was saying most of the time. There had been only once, right after you got done touring, that you’d had a problem understanding. JC had gone out and left you alone with Sean for the afternoon. Sean had wanted something and was trying to tell you what it was, but for the life of you, you couldn’t understand what he was saying. It was a new set of words you’d never heard from his mouth before. He’d gotten so upset that you didn’t understand and had ended up crying hysterically. JC’d come home right in the middle of the hysterics.
JC had taken him from your arms, angrily asking you what the hell you did to him. You’d thrown your hands up in frustration, proclaiming you’d done nothing. And then, even through the tears, Sean had requested, once again, whatever it was he’d wanted. JC had understood immediately. He wanted a chocolate chip cookie. Well, hell, it hadn’t sounded like chocolate chip cookie to you.
In that moment, it hit you just how much you had missed by being away. Yes, you’d come home every few days, but you were still gone for, essentially, three months. Three months was a lifetime in a child’s life. You became very quiet as JC got Sean his cookie, the sobs stopping the moment he had the treat in his hand. Walking into the living room, you’d sat on the couch and buried your face in your hands. JC had come in moments later and set Sean down to enjoy his cookie before coming over to you, running a soothing hand across your back.
“I had no idea what he was saying,” you’d mumbled. “I hate not knowing when it comes to him.” JC had soothed you, reassured you that it had taken him quite a while to figure it out himself at first. That he’d only known when he had a cookie himself and Sean had pointed to it, saying the words. He’d apologized for getting angry and things had been ok. But it had still bothered you. Since then, though, you’d worked together to understand what it was Sean was trying to say. And it made you smile each time he got a new word out.
JC slipped his shoes on and stood him back up.
“All done!” Sean exclaimed as he climbed into your lap. “Go?”
“Yep, we can go now. Go get some pumpkins.”
“Pu-kin!” he repeated as you climbed to your feet, still holding him. Holding a hand out for JC, you helped him up as well, kissing him quickly before heading out of the bedroom.
*****
JC unbuckled Sean from his car seat and held him out to you while he grabbed the diaper bag from the floor behind the passenger seat. You watched Sean’s face as he looked around in wonder at all of the people, milling in and out of shops, wandering through the pumpkin patches, feeding the animals they had, or sitting, enjoying a warm cup of coffee or a treat made out of pumpkins. His eyes scanned back and forth, not really knowing what to take in first. You felt JC’s hand on your back and leaned into the touch slightly before moving forward.
“Ho-sey!” Sean yelled when he saw the large graceful horse attached to a wagon. A hayride. “Dada.” He looked up at you and his request was clear. He wanted to see the horse. You made your way over to the gentle animal and held Sean out, allowing him to pet the soft fur. He giggled and pulled his hand back when the horse snorted, glancing up at you and then to JC, his smile wide. You were glad he was a confident child. Not much scared him. But at the same time, it worried you a little too. For now, you had control over what he got to do and didn’t get to do, but you knew in a few years, he’d be a little more independent. That scared you.
“You wanna go on the hayride, peanut?” JC asked, rubbing Sean’s back lightly. Sean looked away from the horse and up to JC, nodding his head. You were sure he had no idea what a hayride was, but that hadn’t stopped him from wanting to do it. His attention was already back on the horse and JC just smiled and went to get the tickets.
Once he had paid for them, he came back and climbed up into the wagon, reaching out for Sean so you could climb up as well. The seats around you filled up and the horse was off, pulling the wagon over bumpy ground. Sean’s eyes were wide, taking in everything he could. He’d point to things he knew the name of, yelling out the words in a burst of excitement. Things he didn’t know, he’d ask you or JC, then repeat the name as best he could when you told him what it was. The driver, an older man who reminded you of your grandfather, kept looking back, smiling at Sean’s excitement as he pointed things out to you or JC and eventually the man allowed Sean to sit up on his lap, holding on lightly to one of the reigns attached to the horse. His excitement was contagious as you sat back, leaning slightly against JC, and watched your son.
After the hayride was over, Sean didn’t want to leave. He would have been content to sit there all afternoon riding around the land. But he came with you happily when you picked him up, thanked the driver, and handed him down to JC, who was already standing on the ground.
The corn maze had caught your attention the moment you’d drive up and you looked at JC now, memories shinning brightly in your eyes. His smile matched your own and you knew he was remembering too. The last time you’d been in a corn maze. Probably seven years earlier. Right in the middle of one of your tours. You and JC, along with Chris, Joey, and Lance had decided that for a month prior to Halloween you were going to hit something Halloween in every city you went to, time permitting. Haunted Houses had been on the top of your list, but in one town, you weren’t even sure where anymore, Joey had found a corn maze. Supposedly the biggest one in the entire US. So you’d all gone and run around, lost in the corn for hours. You’d started off with Chris, but lost him somewhere along the way and had eventually run into JC.
That night, as you were running through the corn, searching for your friends and laughing, having a good time, enjoying yourselves, he’d reached over and taken your hand. It had made you stop short, jerking against his arm as he tried to continue to run, pulling him accidentally back against you. As he’d pressed against your chest, you’d seen the look in his eyes right before he bent his head to look at the ground. He was embarrassed, but he wanted this. You’d slipped two fingers under his chin, lifting until his gaze met yours again before you leaned in to kiss him, lips pressing firmly against his own. It had been sweet, and loving, and not fiery in any way. But it had been the best kiss of your life. That night had started what would become the best relationship of your life. The forever kind of love you’d always hoped to find.
Standing here now, you couldn’t help the smile that reached your face. Couldn’t help but lean in and press your lips to his in the same sweet and loving way as you had that night. You pulled back slightly, but still stood close, lost in his eyes as you have been so many times over the years. The moment was broken, though, by Sean pressing a sloppy, wet kiss to your chin before turning in JC’s arms to do the same to him, grinning widely, happy that he could be part of all of this too. You looked down at his grinning face, happy that they were both a part of your life. There was no one else you’d want to share it with.
Taking Sean from JC, you grinned evilly at him before running off into the maze, calling behind you for him to catch you both. Sean giggled loudly the entire time, giving away every path you took and soon JC had found you, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and pulling you close to him.
“Gotcha.” It was whispered in your ear, a low, raspy, sexy as hell voice that you’d come to associate with your bedroom over the years. And just hearing it made you shiver against him. You heard the low chuckle and it made you smile.
“You’re evil. Doing that to me out here where nothing can be done about it.”
“Just wait until later, baby. I’ll definitely do something about it then.” He pulled away as you groaned. You wanted this man. You loved this man. With all your heart. And you were glad that time and routine hadn’t ruined the love you shared with each other in the bedroom. It had never become old. He took Sean from you and set him up on his shoulders, holding on to his legs so Sean didn’t slip. Sean’s little hands wrapped around JC’s head, resting on his forehead as the three of you made your way out of the maze.
Once you had reached the edge of the maze, Sean started wiggling up on JC’s shoulders.
“Down, papa.”
“What do we say?” JC asked, lifting him off his shoulders and holding the squirming child in his arms. Sean stopped squirming and looked up at JC, a look of complete concentration on his face. He glanced over to you, as if the answer would appear in front of him. After a few minutes, his eyebrows crinkled up and he lifted his hands, shrugging.
“We say please,” you reminded him. His eyes grew wide and he smiled.
“Pweese.” The look on his face made you chuckle. He was such a happy and expressive child and you and JC were both very glad for that. You’re mom said it was because he was being raised in a house full of love. And you had to admit she had a point.
Once JC had set Sean on the ground, he linked his left hand with yours and his right hand with JC’s so he was walking between the two of you. Occasionally, he’d jump and the two of you would pull your arms tight, holding him in the air for a moment before lowering him back to the ground in a fit of giggles. You made your way over to the pumpkins that had already been picked, knowing full well that if you went out to pick your own, Sean would end up a muddy mess.
“Which one do you want, kiddo?” He let go of both your hands and slowly made his way through the pumpkins, picking out the perfect one. The perfect one, to him, ended up being one he could actually lift, a tiny pumpkin that would fit in the palm of your hand. But he brought it back to you proudly.
“Looks like we’re getting that one,” JC said, smiling at you. You nodded as you weaved your way though, finding a bigger pumpkin. One that you could actually carve. But you got the one Sean had found as well.
After you paid for the pumpkins, you made your way back to the car, Sean now back in JC’s arms, head resting against JC’s shoulder. He was worn out and you knew he’d be asleep in minutes after he was in his car seat. And, as predicted, you hadn’t even pulled out of the parking lot and he was fast asleep, head resting back against the car seat, pumpkin clutched close to his chest. You shared a soft smile with JC as he clasped your hand in his, the car ride home silent except for the soft sounds coming from the radio. But it was comfortable. You were content.
*****
After you laid a still sleeping Sean down in his crib, you made your way back to your own bedroom where JC was waiting for you. He was already stretched out on the bed in his boxers, shirt and pants discarded and thrown in the hamper across the room. You smiled and started to remove your own clothing but he stopped you, calling you over to him instead. He pulled you down next to him and laid soft kisses across the skin of your jaw.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered against your skin. Your eyes closed immediately without question, trusting this man completely. His hands found the hem of your shirt and slid underneath, bring the shirt up with him as he ran soft fingers across your stomach and chest. Once the shirt hand been discarded, you felt a soft, silky material brush against your chest, teasing your nipples and you arched into it.
JC shifted, straddling your thighs, but the silk never left your body. It skated across your skin teasingly, causing you to whimper almost silently.
“Do you trust me?” JC asked, leaning down, lips touching yours. There was no pressure, but you could feel the soft burst of air coming from his lungs, could smell the minty toothpaste on his breath.
“With my life.” Your response was barely a whisper, but the confidence in your words spoke loudly. His lips crashed against yours, his tongue sliding between your lips and twirling with your own. You responded immediately, pressing up into him, opening your mouth wider for him, allowing him to lick at each and ever corner of the hot cavern.
When he finally pulled back, you were panting harshly, but you still kept your eyes closed. You felt him move back so he was sitting further down on your legs, pulling you with him until you were in a sitting position as well. You felt the silk against your cheek, your eye lids, your lips, before he wrapped it around your eyes and tied it loosely behind your head. This wasn’t the first time he had blindfolded you and you were sure it wouldn’t be the last.
The first time had been an experiment. He’d been interested and so had you. So you’d let him. But the sensory perception you’d felt from your other senses had been amazing when your sight was gone. It felt like each and every nerve ending on your body was on fire. The soft sounds the two of you made reverberated around the room and echoed loudly in your ears. The smell of this man you loved had increased, playing with your mind, heightening your excitement. The taste of his skin, his lips, his sweet juices had been so much sweeter and saltier and so much more incredible than anything you’d ever experience before. And when you had finally come, you had exploded in a blur of light behind the darkness of the blindfold. It had been the most intense orgasm of your life.
He didn’t do it often, for fear of ruining the extraordinariness of it all, but when he did, you were more than willing to let him. It never went beyond a blindfold. He knew how important it was for you to be able to touch him while the two of you made love so he never took that ability away from you. But the loss of sight was enough. More than enough.
He laid you back down against the pillows and slid next to you, still pressed up against the side of your body. His lips trailed across your shoulder, biting gently before kissing the sting away. You felt his hand against the buttons of your jeans and knew the exact moment he got them undone. You withered slightly, trying to get the pants down over your hips and off your legs. With his help, you succeeded and you reached for him blindly once they were on the floor, pulling him to you, searching for his mouth, his neck, any skin really, to attach your lips to. You missed his mouth but found his jaw, which wasn’t a bad tradeoff, and you kissed and licked a trail up to his ear, sucking the lobe between your lips. He hissed and ground into you, hot, hard cock pressing into your hip.
Spreading your legs, you wrapped them around him, pulling him closer, sliding your body sinfully against his, causing him to thrust down into you. You’d been with him long enough for him to know your signals, to know exactly what you wanted. And tonight you wanted it hard and fast with minimal foreplay. Just enough to loosen you up first.
He pulled away from you and you whimpered at the loss for the few moments it took for him to shimmy down your body. Your legs were still spread and you felt his hands on your thighs, pressing gently to keep your legs open for him. His tongue licked at the hard, muscular thighs for a moment before he moved up, lapping gently at your full balls. You gasped and squirmed, trying to get closer. But he held you still, tongue never leaving your body. Slipping back farther, you felt the wet appendage lap at your tight opening and you pressed toward him, willing him to slip inside, willing him to make you whither.
He slowed his tongue down, licking slow, gentle circles around the small puckered entrance, teasing you, loving you. Your hands reached for him, blindly finding his head, burying your fingers in his chocolate curls. He had the most talented tongue you’d ever come in contact with. He knew exactly what to do to make things feel good, feel incredible. And he was doing it now, licking slow, gentle circles before stopping to press against the tight hole, but never penetrating, not yet.
And then you felt it. His tongue slipped past the ring of muscle, slipping inside. He pulled back quickly only to repeat it, getting deeper and deeper with each push of his tongue. You pushed back against him, trying to get him as deep as possible.
“Jace, baby. Want you. Need you.” Your sentences were broken, words tumbling out between panting and moaning. He pulled back, licking circles around the now wet opening a few more times before pulling away completely and sliding back up your body. Your legs wrapped around him automatically, pulling him against you.
With one hard thrust, he was all the way inside, pressed tightly against you and seconds later, he was moving, hard and fast, just how you wanted it. Just how you needed it. You pressed back up against him, meeting him thrust for thrust as your hands trailed over his back, leaving faint scratch marks in their wake. You felt his lips against your shoulder, your neck, your jaw, licking and sucking and biting.
“Gonna make you come, J.” It was mumbled against your throat as he sped up even more, pushing into you with an almost wild abandon. “Gonna make you come without ever touching you.” And you knew he could do it. He was the only man, hell, the only person, who had ever been able to. Just him, being inside you, pressed up against you, body slick with sweat, lips and teeth and tongue running over your body, was enough to make you reach that point and push you over the edge. His hand on your full cock wasn’t even necessary.
He switched angles slightly, just enough so that every thrust pushed him against your prostate, slamming into it over and over. You were so close. And he knew that. You felt his mouth by your ear, licking the line of sweat that had dripped down before his hot breath and whispered words hit your brain.
“So fucking sexy. Love being inside you. Love fucking you.” You wrapped your legs tighter around him and arched your back off the bed, getting him as deep as possible, as close as possible. One, two, three more thrusts and you exploded between the two of you, hot liquid running across your lower abdomen. He pushed into you one more time before he came as well, collapsing shakily against you. You wrapped your arms around him and pulled him against your chest, hot and sticky and sweaty, but sated.
With the blindfold still on, you turned your head and pressed a soft kiss to his temple, your fingers tangling in the curls at the nape of his neck, damp with sweat. You felt his hand slid up your body and he slipped the blindfold off. It took your eyes a minute to adjust to the dim light in the room but when they did, you saw JC resting on his forearms over you, smiling down at you. He leaned down and let his lips linger over yours for a minute before climbing off of you and the bed and making his way toward the bathroom.
When he returned, he ran a warm washcloth across your stomach and soft cock, cleaning you before tossing it across the room into the hamper. You opened you arms for him and he was in them immediately, snuggled against you.
“Love you,” you whispered against his lips.
“Always and forever,” was his soft reply. Slow, sleepy kisses were shared as you held each other, relaxed and comfortable in each other’s arms.
*****
Dada, look!" Sean yelled as he came running into the kitchen. He was all dressed up, wearing a Simba costume that he'd seen at the Disney Store that he'd wanted immediately. He looked like the cutest little lion you'd ever seen. You picked him up, resting him against your hip.
"Look at you. How does a lion go?"
"Rharr!" He yelled, giggling loudly. You looked up as JC entered the room, leaning against the doorframe, arms folded across his chest and a smile on his face. The white sailor's outfit he wore made your breath catch in your throat. His hat was in his hands still and you made your way over to him, plucking it from him and placing it on his head.
"Hey, sailor." You grinned widely and leaned in to capture his lips. "You look hot, Jace." You'd wanted to say 'fucking hot' but Sean was still in your arms, listening intently to the entire conversation, so you'd censored yourself. JC smiled and stepped back, letting his eyes run over your body, taking in the camouflage pants, combat boots, and dog tags hanging around your neck.
"You think I look hot? Look at you. In fact, I really think you should go just like that. Who needs a shirt?" You laughed and pinched his side playfully.
"Somehow I don't think we'd ever make it to the party if I didn't put a shirt on."
"Hmm, probably not," he said, winking as he took Sean from you arms. "You ready to go trick or treating, peanut?"
"Twick tweet!" Sean yelled, arms flailing wildly, the excitement evident in his eyes. The two of you hadn't taken him the year before. He had still been too young. But you'd explained the concept of Halloween to him for this year, and he understood it completely. And he'd been more than ready all day to finally go Trick or Treating. In fact, when he'd woken up that morning and you'd gone to get him from his room, he'd already wanted to get dressed in his costume. Somehow, between you and JC, you'd distracted his attention from it all day until it was finally time to get ready.
"What time is your mom coming over?" JC asked, setting Sean down.
"She should be here any minute," you said, glancing up at the clock hanging on the wall. "Maybe I should go finish getting dressed, huh?" The two of you were taking Sean out trick or treating and then your mom was going to watch him while you went to a party at Joey's house. He'd decided that a Halloween party was necessary this year, since last year none of you had really done anything. So he'd planned it all out, told everyone they had to dress up, and guaranteed it was going to be the party to end all parties.
As you made your way upstairs to find your shirt, you heard the front door open and Sean's excited voice as he ran to his grandmother. You heard her gushing over the lion outfit and then telling JC how handsome he looked in the sailor costume. You smiled to yourself as you slipped the shirt over your head. You were glad your family, and JC's too, for that matter, had always been so accepting of the two of you. You'd been really nervous when you'd first told them.
It had been about six months into your relationship. Chris, Joey, and Lance already knew, but you wanted your family to know as well. You already knew they loved JC like a son. That had come from years of friendship between the two of you. You just hoped they'd still be ok with it all after you told them you were together. You'd gotten your families together, both sets of your parents, his parents, and his brother and sister for dinner and then after dinner, you'd sat them down and told them. They'd all taken it extremely well, they'd all been completely happy for you. And now, years later, they were still just as happy as ever for you.
You came back downstairs, greeting your mom with a kiss to her cheek before grabbing Sean.
"Ready to go, monkey?"
"No monkey. Lion, dada." As if you needed reminding with the furry hood covering his head. But you just smiled.
"We won't be long. I don't think he'll make it very far," you told your mom as JC grabbed the bag for Sean's candy and the three of you stepped out the door.
Sean got the hang of it all quickly and before long, he was more than content to knock on the door he was standing in front of, hold his bag, and say trick or treat. He'd turn around, grinning at you and JC who were always standing just a few feet away, when the candy got dropped in his bag. Then, at the very last minute, the smile would leave his face and be replaced with his mouth opening into an 'o' shape before he turned back around. He'd forgotten to say thank you and would always remember at the last minute, thanking the woman or man who had giving him the treat before running back to you and JC.
He insisted on walking himself, so it was a slow journey around the pricey neighborhood the three of you lived in, but neither you or JC minded. You were both too busy enjoying the fun your son was having. Every time you'd finish at another house, he'd stop and look in his bag, eyes going wide at the treasure found inside before grinning up at the two of you.
People gushed over him at almost every house. He was, apparently, the cutest thing they'd ever seen. And you had to admit, you agreed completely. But maybe you were just bias. Sean would just grin at the compliments, holding up his bag and waiting patiently for the candy to be dropped into it. None of the gushing even seemed to faze him.
"He's just like you," JC said, nudging your side with his elbow. "He has this confidence that is just amazing. Just like you do."
“How is that possible though?” You asked, looking up at JC with a slight sadness in your eyes. “He’s not really my son.” JC knew what you meant immediately, even though it came out sounding like a horrible statement. He was your son in every sense of the word, except that he wasn’t biological. He didn’t share any of the same genes as you.
“Nature verses nurture, Justin. No, he’s not physically your son, or mine. But he’s you and me mixed completely. He’s never going to look like either of us, but when it comes to personality, he’s more like us than I think we even know yet. He’s sunshine, and love, and happiness, and confidence. And it’s because he’s been raised around us, with us. And that’s what we have, what we share with each other and him every day. So that’s what he’s going to be. I’ve always believed in the nurture side of that argument. It’s up to us what he becomes, how he acts, what he is. And I think we’re doing a pretty damn good job so far.” JC smiled and leaned in to press a soft kiss to your temple.
“Me too, sweetness. Me too.”
Sean was tired of walking and getting bored with the whole concept of walking up to each door a short time later. The three of you hadn’t even made it all the way around the neighborhood yet, but that was ok with you. Picking him up, you put him on your shoulders as the three of you headed back home.
You dropped Sean off with your mother, warning her not to spoil him and let him eat too much candy, kissed him goodbye, and you and JC were off again, this time in your car, headed to Joey’s house.
Kelly greeted you at the door, dressed as an angel, halo hanging above her head. You both kissed her cheek in greeting as you stepped into the house. Joey was visible immediately, dancing across the living room in a bright red devil costume, drink in his hand as he loudly made a toast to Halloween, and parties, and fun, and drinks and anything else he could think of to toast to at the moment.
“The difference between good and evil,” Kelly said, winking at the two of you.
“I’ll never figure out how you put up with him all these years, Kel,” JC said, grabbing two glasses of Champaign from a passing tray and handing one to you. She just sighed and smiled at both of you.
“I love the crazy bastard. What can I say? Have fun guys. I’ll catch up with you both later.” And just like that, she was off again, greeting more people, being the gracious host while Joey just partied in his own little world.
You were sure you didn’t even know half the people here, but that was ok. You were more than content to sit back and just have fun. It’d been a long time since you and JC had partied like this. Now that you had Sean, the parties were almost non-existent. Your lives had taken a definitely turn when he’d been born. You weren’t complaining at all, because you’d been ready for it, knew it was coming, and had almost welcomed it. You’d both been ready to grow up some, stop partying so much and actually start a family. But it was still nice to get out every once and awhile, just to have fun and not have to worry about what Sean was getting into. He was safe at home with your mom and you were content to not worry about him. You knew he was in good hands. She’d done a good job raising you after all.
All in all, it was a good night. You drank, more than you probably should have, caught up with people you hadn’t seen in a while, chatted with Joey, Chris, and Lance, and just let yourself relax and have a good time.
You lost track of JC through most of the night, catching only quick glimpses of him across the crowded room. Your eyes would meet and he’d smile or wink before turning back to the conversation in front of him. You could tell he was having just as good of a time as you were. He’d let himself relax and stop worrying about Sean as well and it was evident. You caught a flash of him again, talking to Kelly, just before the two of them made their way out to the makeshift dance floor. They moved together to the beat of the music and you had to smile. JC was sexy as hell when dancing, always had been. He moved with a grace that few people possessed. You’d always loved watching him dance. And even tonight, even though the dance with Kelly was not sexual in any way, it was turning you on. You loved that he still had that affect over you body, even after all these years. That something as simple as dancing could make you want to do naughty things to him.
The song ended and a new one started, but JC and Kelly kept moving, still dancing easily with each other. You made your way across the dance floor and stepped up behind Kelly, catching JC’s eye over her head, leaning low so your mouth was by her ear.
“Mind if I cut in?” She turned and smiled at you, pressing a kiss to your cheek before squeezing JC’s hand lightly and moving away.
“Have fun,” you heard as she walked away.
“Hey sailor,” you said, winking as you stepped into JC’s arms. The two of you began to move together easily. It was kept clean, both of you remembering exactly where you were, but there was a definite sexual undertone lying just below the surface. Your eyes never left each other, both shining brightly as you moved across the floor. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the song was over. Joey had stopped it upon seeing the two of you dancing and was changing CDs. The opening notes of “Bye Bye Bye” filled your ears and you glanced at JC before turning to find Joey across the expanse of the room. He was standing on the bar, smiling widely at the two of you. Chris was next to him, grinning like a fool. And then, before your very eyes, he started to chant. You couldn’t hear it over the music, but soon others had picked it up until it was almost a roar filtering across the room. Dance. Dance. Dance. It was chanted loudly, people yelling encouragingly.
You glanced back at JC who winked and stepped away from you. And then, before your very eyes, he started doing the dance. The one that had been choreographed for the song years before. The one you weren’t even sure you remembered anymore. But here was JC, doing them just as flawlessly and perfectly as he had during the No Strings Attached Tour when you’d first learned them. He glanced at you again, encouraging you to join in. So you did. You couldn’t deny this man anything, even if it meant making an ass out of yourself by not remembering the dance steps. But as you took your place beside him and picked up where he was at, it all came rushing back to you. It was as natural as if it was during the promotion for the No Strings Attached album when you’d done this song over and over on every TV show imaginable.
The two of you moved easily and gracefully around the floor. People had stepped back and formed a large circle around you, cheering you on. And then just as the first chorus hit, Chris, Joey, and Lance were there, finding their spots, joining in. It had been years since the five of you had performed together, but the chemistry you all had way back then was still there, still evident as ever. You all played off each other, moved together perfectly, and you were all having a blast.
You’d forgotten how wonderful a feeling it was, to be performing, to be singing and dancing with your best friends. And of course, the love of your life. It’d been way too long and the emotions flowing through your body were almost overflowing. But in the best way possible. And you could see it on all their faces. They all felt the same.
When the song finally ended, you all stopped and turned to look at each other, matching grins on all your faces. And it was just the five of you again. It was as if everyone else had faded away, slipping into the background. Chris was the first to speak.
“I’d forgotten how good that felt, to perform with the four of you. I’d forgotten the rush we always got from doing that with our best friends. Someone remind me in my old age never to forget that again.” You all embraced each other, hugging tightly one at a time. And just like that, you were five years younger, embracing after a concert, happy at a job well done. And you knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the four men standing there with you were all thinking and feeling the exact same thing. No matter what happened in life, no matter where you all went or ended up, you’d all still have the memories. The memories that no one could touch. The memories that no one shared but the five of you. Those memories were special, sacred. And you were glad of the reminder, glad that someone, some higher power, wasn’t letting you forget.