Chapter Six

Disclaimer: None of the main characters are mine. Authors Note 1: In order to get this fic to work, I had to change the date of the Europe Awards. They were in November of last year but I put it in October here.

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Saturday, October 4, 2003 (Los Angeles, CA)

After a short and sweet stay out on the road with Curtis, Mya and Marshall, Christina was somewhat sad to find herself once again back at home, all alone, with no one to talk to but her dogs Fozzie and Tiger.

Maybe I should think about getting a roommate when I get back from Europe....that way, I'll at least have someone else to talk to--during the couple of weeks, out of the year, that I'm here--other than my four living room walls.

Figuring that was something that she really needed to think about, Christina inwardly made a mental note to talk to her mom about it--wanting to know what the older woman thought about the idea--before making her way towards her answering machine; wanting some form of noise to fill the empty silence that was surrounding her.

"You have seven new messages..."

"There probably all from Stacey confirming the interviews that I have to do next week."

Just as Christina thought, most of them were from the other woman confirming her overseas interviews--all except for one, that is--which was from her manager saying he had news for her about the upcoming MTV Europe Awards.

Maybe they want me to perform again.

With that thought in mind, Christina made a move to pick up the phone to call Irving. But interestingly enough, just as her hand reached the portable device, it began to ring in her palm.

"Hello?"

"I can't believe you, out of all people, lied to me...again!"

What the hell..?

After taking a second to recognize the voice on the other end, Christina outwardly asked the younger man what he was talking about.

"I woke up this morning to find my mom in the kitchen reading the latest edition of Star Magazine, which has an interesting article in it of you and Eminem together in Las Vegas...the one place you and I swore we would never go to after that embarrassing incident a couple of months ago in Atlantic City...I can't believe you lied to me and didn't even bother asking me if I wanted to go with you two. What kind of friend are you!"

Without even bothering to hold back her roll of the eyes, Christina calmly told a dramatic Justin that she was sorry that she forgot to ask him to join the two of them in Vegas but promised that next time she went, they'd go together--just the two of them.

A comment which Justin responded back to with a sarcastic: "Whatever...!"

"At least, it doesn't look like you two had too much fun without me...from the looks of things, it looks like the person who wrote this article followed you and Em around the entire time you were in Vegas."

That's because he did. Christina inwardly retorted, before outwardly asking Justin if he knew who wrote the article. At least this way I'll have a name to go with that horrible looking face of his.

"Actually, it's the same guy who wrote that last article on you two after the music awards. Steven Michaels...he said that he was in Vegas on a family vacation when he spotted you and Eminem together in the MGM's casino playing blackjack. And he goes on and on, for the next two paragraphs, talking about how it was such a coincidence that the two celebrities--who made him famous in such a short period of time--were staying at the exact same hotel as he was and how he just happened on them every time he turned around--which sounds, to me, like complete and utter bullshit. So, if I was you, I might want to do a little checking up on the people who knew you and Em would be in Vegas last week 'cause I think you might have a couple of snitches in your camps."

With that thought in mind, Christina outwardly asked Justin if there was anything else in the article besides the reporter saying he just ran into the two of them all over Vegas.

"Not really.." Justin retorted, after a second. "But he does have a couple of pictures in here of you two in sort of an intimate moment."

An intimate moment?

Even though she knew exactly what Justin was referring to, Christina wasn't that surprised to hear herself asking Justin what he meant.

"He has photos of you two hugged up in some store. And it looks like you noticed the camera's and tried to move away from Em. But noticing this, Em pulls you closer and after telling the photographers to fuck off, he kisses you to calm you down...what a gentleman!"

If Christina needed any more proof that Marshall was behind the reporter being in Las Vegas at the same time that they were there, that was all the proof she needed.

I should have known he was behind that the entire time. Christina inwardly commented to herself before turning her attention back to Justin, who was still waiting for her to say something. "He can be sometimes....but anyway, not to put a damper on this conversation, but I have to go call my manager. He wants to discuss the upcoming second leg of my tour."

"Damn, what's with managers these days? There always about business....! I remember when the only thing they ever really cared about was getting the bigger deal out of our paychecks...! Things sure have changed in the last couple of months."

Without even bothering to hold back the smile that was itching to spread across her face, Christina jokingly told Justin that he was crazy and afterwords promised him that she'd call him back later.

"All right, I love you Chrissy."

"I love you too, J...bye."

"And what time do we have to be at the Leiths Ocean terminal on Saturday?"

"Two."

"And what time do we have to be at rehearsals on Friday?"

"One."

"And what are you wearing to the---?"

"I don't know Stacey, but if you ask me one more question that starts with And what..?, I'm going to be wearing an orange jump suit and you're going to be wearing a body-bag." Christina sarcastically interrupted her assistant, causing Ron--who was seated beside her--to slightly chuckle and Stacey to slightly frown.

"Give the poor girl a break, Chrissy. She's just trying to do her job....it's not every day that she has to, not only, make sure that you're where you're supposed to be but another three thousand people as well. Go easy on her."

Knowing that her assistant had been under a lot of pressure as of late, given the fact that she was not only helping Christina get ready for the MTV Europe awards--which she was hosting--but also helping Christina get ready for the after party--which she was hosting, as well--caused Christina to decide to take some pity on her friend--if only just to shut both her and Ron up for a second.

"All right, you can ask me one more question, Stace. But then that's it! No more until tonight...I mean it."

Even though there was still quite a few things that she needed to make sure Christina was still clear on surrounding the next couple of days, Stacey reluctantly agreed that, after her next question, she wouldn't ask the brunette--sitting across from her--anything else until later on that night.

An agreement that Christina was more than pleased with.

"All right, ask away."

After taking a second to look down at the stack of papers on her lap, Stacey outwardly asked Christina a question that made the brunette tense up a little; given the fact that she didn't even know the answer to it yet.

"Are you and Marshall planning on going to the after party together?"

Last time we talked, he didn't say whether or not he'd be attending the MTV Europe awards...but then again, I haven't talked to him much since I found out that I'd be hosting it, so--

"Chrissy?"

Noticing that Stacey was still waiting for her answer, Christina shrugged her shoulders slightly--as if to say that she didn't know--before absentmindedly taking her cellphone out of her purse; outwardly telling her assistant that she'd see what Marshall wanted to do.

"All right....oh, and tell him I said: Happy Birthday."

It's his birthday..?

While inwardly wondering how Stacey knew it was Marshall's birthday and she didn't, Christina absentmindedly dialed her boyfriend's number; preparing to leave the white rapper a voice-mail, but interestingly enough, after hearing the phone ring in her ear a couple of times, she heard the man himself pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey...! Aren't you supposed to be out somewhere getting trashed right about now?"

As the familiar sound of Marshall's small chuckles echoed through the phone, Christina couldn't help but slightly smile to herself; having gotten used to the sound of Marshall's surprisingly short laugh while out on tour with him, Curtis, and Mya a couple of weeks ago.

"Nah, that was last year...this year, I decided to just spend my birthday at home, alone, with the people that really matter to me most--"

"Wait...! When did Hailie become more than one person?" Christina jokingly interrupted, causing Marshall to slightly chuckle once more before continuing with:

"Ha, ha, very funny....but I know you didn't just call to ask me why I'm not out at some club somewhere, so what's up?"

Feeling Stacey's eyes still on her, Christina quickly replied: "You're right...I was actually calling to ask you about the MTV Europe awards this weekend. I'm hosting it and the after party this year and I was wondering, if you're coming to it, if you wanted to be my guest for the night."

After a small pause was heard through the phone, Christina opened her mouth to ask Marshall if he was still there. But right before she could do so, he asked in an amused tone of voice:

"Are you asking me to be your date for the evening?"

What...?

Before Christina could outwardly say that that wasn't exactly what she had in mind, the fact that it was exactly what she was asking Marshall caused her to uncharacteristically blush a little before quietly replying: "Something like that."

A comment which, even though Christina couldn't see him, she could tell Marshall was grinning about over the phone.

"So, what do you say?" Christina reluctantly asked, after a second of hearing nothing but silence on the phone and seeing Stacey roll her eyes at her impatiently. "Are you coming or not?"

After another small second of silence was heard over the phone--which Christina could tell Marshall was mulling the idea over in his head throughout--the older man absentmindedly replied: "I'll see what I can do," before telling Christina that he'd call her back later; unknowingly leaving her to face an eager Stacey, alone.

"Well, what did he say?"

Knowing that Marshall's answer wouldn't be acceptable to her assistant caused Christina to let out a long sigh before absentmindedly replying:

"You get to ask me two more questions, but then that's it...I mean it."

October 19, 2003 (Edinburgh, Scotland)

To say that the EMA's had gone off without a hitch would be an understatement. In Christina's eyes, minus a couple of bad moments--that had a lot to do with Kelly Osbourne and her victim seeming cries--things had gone just as smooth as a baby's bottom. Maybe even smoother.

"So, Miss. Aguilera, now that you've knocked the EMA's out of the park, what's it going to be next...? The Grammy's? The Latin awards? The Oscars...or better yet, you and Slim Shady teaming up together to host the Source awards next year. What's it going to be?"

Without even bothering to hide her roll of the eyes, Christina quickly shot her--more than tipsy--friend a heated glare before looking down at her watch; outwardly telling everyone around her that she was ready to go.

The only thing I want to be hosting right now is a party for one, alone, in my bed.

As if reading her thoughts, an amused Trace--who had been silently watching Justin drunkenly bother Christina for over a half-n-hour now--shouted over the music, that the DJ was spinning behind them: "I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time for me to head back to the hotel...we've got an early flight in the morning and I need at least three hours of sleep before dealing with the loads of fans that I know will be waiting at the airport for one last peek at Mr. Thrustin Justin himself...anyone want to come?"

After hearing a few others at their table say they would go with him, Christina made a move to open her mouth to decline the offer. But just before she could do so, Justin interrupted her with: "You guys can't leave yet..! It's just after two o'clock and the party isn't even halfway over yet."

Unfortunately.. Christina inwardly commented to herself before letting out a small sigh and then speaking up for the first time in the last hour or so. "You know, I'm not allowed to leave here until almost everyone's gone so, Trace, why don't you and everyone else just take Justin's limo back to the hotel with you guys. And then, J can ride back with me and Ron when it's okay for us to go."

"I like that idea, Trace...I really do! I say we go for it. What do you think?"

After rolling his eyes at the younger man beside him, Trace thought about it for a second before hesitantly asking Christina if she was sure about that. "A wasted Justin is ten times more annoying than a sober Justin--especially around other people."

"Hey...I am right here, you know!"

"And your point would be?"

While silently laughing at the two men in front of her, Christina quickly replied back: "Don't worry, I'll be fine. And as long as Justin doesn't make a complete ass out of himself or me in the next couple of hours, he'll be fine as well. So, go...and take Stacey with you. She needs some rest."

After taking another second to ask Christina if she was completely sure or not, Trace quickly stood up from his seat at the table--getting the attention of everyone at the party, who had came with Justin and him--and told Christina that he really appreciated it.

"Don't mention it...now go! And text me when you get back to the hotel so I know you guys made it there safely."

"All right...night Chrissy, night J." Trace called out, over his shoulder, before turning around and making his way towards the exit of the club; leaving Christina alone, with no one to talk to, but an over the top tipsy drunk Justin.

"So, tell me again....how many awards did I win tonight?"

Something tells me this is going to be one long night.

Four O'clock, AM (Old Waverely Hotel)

"Can somebody please remind me again why I agreed to--not only-- host the awards show but the after party tonight, as well?"

Without even bothering to direct his eyes away from the slowly moving numbers in front of him, Ron shrugged his shoulder slightly, before outwardly retorting: "My guess is that you're a glutton for punishment...but don't worry, in about three minutes you'll be able to rest that tired little head of yours on about two hundred dollars worth of cotton sheets."

"I can hardly wait!" Christina tiredly moaned, just as the doors to the elevator opened in front of them; announcing there arrival to the fifteenth floor. Thank God!

"I'm going to go take Justin to his room. You want to wait here while I go do so or you want to come with?"

Usually Christina would tell Ron that she'd go with him, just to make sure Justin--who was practically leaning on Ron for support--got to bed okay. But judging by how tired she was feeling at the moment, she figured that she'd just call him later to see if he was okay.

"I should, but if I don't get into a bed right now, I'm not going to be going anywhere anytime soon...I'll just call him later when I wake up."

"All right..." Ron began, before turning around and practically carrying a literally passed out Justin down the hallway towards his room. "Just yell if you see anything suspicious in your room."

"Will do!" Christina loudly commented, before making her way towards the other end of the hallway; stopping suddenly when she noticed the sight of a familiar looking man coming out of her hotel room. "Byron..? What are you doing here?"

After quickly turning around at the sound of his name being called, the man in question waited until Christina was close enough for him not to have to yell before opening her hotel room once again; motioning for the petite brunette to step inside.

"What's going on?" She opened her mouth to ask, but before the first word could leave the tip of her tongue, she had to stop as she noticed Marshall spread out across the sofa in front of her fast asleep.

What's he doing here..? I thought his flight had been canceled.

As if reading her mind, Byron quickly replied: "After our flight was canceled, Em booked a later flight out here so he could surprise you at the after party. But then that flight was delayed a couple hours--making us not touch down here until around midnight--and by then, he figured by the time he showered and got dressed to head over there, you'd probably already be on your way back here, so he just decided to crash in your room until you got back....but now that you're here, I should wake him up and tell him to head downstairs to see if there's any more rooms available for the night."

You should, but..

Even though she was still trying to get over the fact that Marshall had actually gone out of his way just so he could surprise her--something she knew he probably did for publicity purposes alone--the fact that she was completely exhausted right now caused Christina to outwardly reply: "You know what...? Don't even worry about it. There's no use in waking him up now since he's already asleep. And besides, I'm sure every room in this hotel is booked because of the awards...so, I'll just let him sleep here tonight and then tomorrow when some of the guests have left to go back to the states--if he wants to stay a little longer--we can make other arrangements for him in a different hotel room."

Figuring that was a good idea--since he didn't really want to deal with a moody Marshall right now--caused Byron to outwardly reply: "That sounds like a good idea to me...I'll go outside and tell your 'guard and then we'll work out the rest of the details when you and Marshall get up later."

Before Christina could say okay to that comment, a small yawn came out of her mouth; telling the bodyguard in front of her that she should probably start heading to bed soon.

"All right...well, I'll be outside if you two need me...night, Christina."

"Goodnight Byron." Christina tiredly commented, before turning around and making her way into the master bedroom that was on the other side of the room; leaving the older man to stare after her in slight appreciation.

"Em doesn't even realize how good he's got it....he's not only dating--but sharing a room--with one of the most gorgeous women in the world and he's too deep in his sleep to enjoy it.....I wonder about him sometimes."

With that being his last comment, Byron turned around and made his way out of the room; unfortunately not hearing the only half asleep Marshall's next comment.

"Don't worry. You're not the only one."

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