Justin entered the main room of the hotel suite to loud shouts and laugher. Seems Chris was beating Joey once again at some video game. Looking at the screen for a moment, he noticed that, yes, Chris was winning. Big shock there. Glancing around the rest of the room, he saw Lance perched on a chair in the corner, talking into his cell phone. And JC was asleep on the couch.

A soft smile reached Justin’s face. JC could sleep through anything. He had learned long ago to take each precious moment of sleep whenever he could get it, and nothing interrupted those few moments he found throughout the day to curl up and close his eyes. His head was resting against the armrest, an arm drawn up under him. His neck was tilted at an odd angle and Justin knew he would wake up with a stiff neck if he stayed like that for too much longer.

Making his way to the couch, he lifted JC’s head gently and sat down, situating him so he was laying with his head now on Justin’s lap. JC shifted slightly, burying his nose into Justin’s stomach, a soft sigh escaping his lips and seeping through the cotton of Justin’s tee shirt, before he settled down again. Justin let his fingers trail lightly though the soft chocolate curls resting on him, absently running a hand over the back of JC’s neck as he watched the game in front of him.

Suddenly, Chris tossed his controller, jumping to his feet and pumping his hands into the air, yelping at the top of his lungs.

“Yeah! Kicked your ass! Take that Fatone!” Joey set his controller down and climbed to his feet as well, heading for one of the empty chairs. “Where you going? We gotta play again.”

“Later man. I can only take you kicking my ass so many times before it starts to affect my self confidence,” Joey said, picking up a magazine off the table. Chris shrugged and plopped back down to the ground.

“When the hell did you get here?” Chris asked, noticing Justin for the first time.

“Just a little bit ago. You two looked busy, so I just sat down quietly.”

“He certainly looks comfortable,” Joey commented. Justin looked down and smiled, his fingers grazing JC’s cheekbones.

“I don’t know how he does it. With all the racket you two were making, you’d think the dead would be awake. But Jace just sleeps right through it.” Lance said, shutting his cell phone and joining them.

“It must be some sort of gift.”

“To ignore you two? Damn, I wish I had that gift,” Lance said, shaking his head.

“We wish we didn’t have to put up with you too, but you wormed your way in somehow,” Chris said, ruffling Lance’s hair. Lance jerked away and glared at him. “Oh come on Poofu, don’t be so touchy.” Chris pinched his cheeks, capturing him so he couldn’t pull away.

“Keep your hands to yourself, gremlin.” Lance yanked his face away.

“My mother never taught me that. She did, however, teach me how to play well with others. Something you, apparently, didn’t learn.” Lance rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

“Are you ever gonna grow up?” Chris shook his head adamantly.

“I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys-R-Us kid.” It was sung high and completely off key.

“And we let him in the band, why?” Joey asked.

“I started this damn band. I rule it completely. There is no way you could have ever gotten rid of me.”

“Well, we all have to have our in somehow,” Justin said, winking at Chris.

“What’s that suppose to mean?”

“Think about it. Jace is the raw talent, Lance has the bass voice, which is a necessity, I’m the designated heartthrob...”

“With the big ego,” Chris cut in. Justin kept going as though he hadn’t heard him.

“You started it, so you have to stay...”

“Never mind that I’m the only one that can hit the high notes.”

“And Joey, well. Um.” Justin stopped for a moment, lost in thought. “Sorry Joe, I have no idea what your in is.”

“Group flirt?” Lance suggested. Justin shook his head.

“Could have been any of us.”

“Resident teddy bear?” Justin shook his head again.

“No offense, Joe, but Jace is a much better teddy bear than you are.”

“You’re just bias,” Joey said. Justin nodded his consent.

“I know what his in is,” Chris said suddenly. The other three looked at him curiously. “Our name doesn’t work without him.”

“What?”

“Think about it. Without Justin, we’d be Sync. Without me, we’d be N’ync (In Ink), which sounds funny but still works. Without Lance we’d be N’Syc (In Sick), which would probably not make people like us much, but that’s not the point. And without C, we’d be N’Syn (In Sin), which would probably make parents hate us but still works. But without Joey, we’d be N-S-N-C. It’s not pronounceable. Therefore, Joey has to stay.”

“Yes! I have my in. No way you guys can kick me out.” Joey exclaimed.

“You’re also the only completely straight member of this damn group. We need at least one straight one.” Justin said, his hand rubbing gently over JC’s shoulder. Chris grinned at Lance, who blushed slightly. It had become public group knowledge just recently that Chris and Lance had fooled around a little bit. It wasn’t a major thing, not like JC and Justin’s relationship, but Lance got embarrassed slightly when the guys brought it up.

“You’re so cute when you blush, did anyone ever tell you that?” Chris asked. Lance’s blush deepened.

“We have got to be the gayest boy band in history,” Joey said, rolling his eyes. “I swear, I ever start checking out guys, I’m kicking all your asses.”

“It doesn’t exactly work like that, Joe,” Chris informed him.

“Please. It has to in some way. Neither of you were gay or bi or whatever the hell you are before each other. Neither one of you ever checked out guys. You can’t tell me either one of you actually thought you were bi before each other. JC, I think we all had him pegged from the beginning. And Justin, I never would have guessed it, except for, well, it’s JC so I understand. They’ve always had a weird dynamic to their relationship. Something none of us could even begin to understand. What they have is unique and special.” Justin smiled down at the man resting on his lap.

“You two are so cute together,” Lance said, smiling fondly. Chris and Joey nodded their heads in agreement.

“It’s just so unconscious most of the time. At least in private. In the public eye, you guys are careful, but when we’re alone, I don’t even think you guys are aware just how affectionate you are with each other.” “Does that bother you guys?” Justin asked, absently running his fingers through JC’s hair again. They all shook their heads.

“See, like right now. You have no idea you’re even petting him, do you?” Chris asked. Justin looked down, his hand stilling in JC’s hair. He ducked his head, embarrassed. “It’s just cute. That’s all.”

“I love him. I like being affectionate with him.” Justin sighed deeply. “Thanks guys, now I’m gonna be all conscious about it.”

“Don’t be. We really don’t mind. We were just pointing out one of the dynamics of your relationship. You guys are so different, yet work so well together.”

“We’re not different.”

“Yes, you really are,” Chris said. “I mean, think about it. He’s into Jazz, and museums, and painting, and culture. You’re into sports and cars and bikes and video games. I think the only thing you guys have in common is music. But you guys make it work. I think it’s great.”

“I love him, what can I say?”

“Do you ever wish it were different? Do you ever wish you weren’t gay?” Joey asked, honestly curious. Justin shook his head.

“Honestly, if someone told me I could wake up tomorrow and not be gay, I would say no in a heartbeat. The love that we share is incredible and the things he makes me feel are far more than any pain I might ever have to endure. The price of giving him up is way more than I would ever want to sacrifice. There is absolutely nothing in this world worth his love.”

“Wow, J. That was almost deep. I’m impressed.” Chris grinned at him for a moment before he noticed the glare Justin was sending his way. “And on that note, I think I’m taking off. Joe, Lance, let’s go get some food. Leave the infant alone with Big Daddy.”

“The way you say that makes it sound so wrong,” Justin groaned. Chris snickered and pushed Lance and Joey out the door.

“We’ll bring you back something to eat.” Justin nodded as the door closed. He felt a gentle press against his stomach and looked down, seeing JC pushing a soft kiss into his shirt.

“Are you awake?” JC nodded sleepily, Justin’s fingers still running through his hair. “How long you been up?” JC turned so his eyes were trained on Justin, silver blue staring sleepily up at him.

“Long enough.” He stretched and wrapped an arm around Justin’s waist, snuggling closer. “I heard what you said.”

“Which part?”

“About me. Thank you, Justin. You have no idea how warm that made me feel inside to hear you say that.”

“It’s the truth, baby. There is nothing in this world that compares to your love. And I’d never want to be without it. I love you.”

“I love you too, J. Always will.” JC buried his head in Justin’s stomach again, eyes closing, Justin’s hands once again running absently across his smooth skin and soft hair.