BORN TO BE MY BABY
By: Rachel
ŠJuly 1999
Note: Read "Always" first or you will be confused!
"Rainy night and the worked all day
We both got jobs cause there's bills to pay
We got something they can't take away
Our love, our lives..."
Justin drove through the streets of his hometown in the Memphis suburbs, finally glad to be returning to the place he always had called home. The boxes and suitcases piled into the backseat and trunk of his car made it hard to see through the rearview mirror and he smiled. He had moved to Orlando, Florida, ten years prior to pursue his music career and although *NSYNC had yet to run its course, the group itself had grown apart and decided to go their separate ways for awhile and pursue their own solo careers. Justin thought about staying in Orlando and working in the local music scene but decided against it and packed up, moving back to Tennessee. He knew he wouldn't have to worry about troublesome fans and that his privacy would be strictly guarded by the town's residents. Every time he had went home they still treated him as the little boy he had been when he still lived there. 'The Timberlake boy' or 'Randy and Lynn's oldest one'...that's what he was called. It was never "Justin Timberlake the Pop Star" and he appreciated that more than anything. His grandmother greeted him at the door with a warm embrace and sloppy kiss on the cheek and the strong, welcoming smell of homecooked food wafted through the air and he felt like he was truly at home again.
Two weeks came and went and Justin quickly got into the routine of things. Church every Sunday followed by a huge dinner at his grandparents house, slow country mornings and relaxing nights sitting on the back porch swing looking at the stars and engaging in conversations with his family. Usually he would have thought of it as boring and dull, but now he found himself thorougly enjoying the simple ways of life and he felt more comfortable than ever being home. Only one thing still haunted his mind...Lauren. They had kept in touch after her marriage to Brad for a limited time, but in the last two years they had no contact with each other whatsoever. He regretted that more than anything, but he felt as if he couldn't help it. His heart had slowly healed but he knew that if he ran into her too much, it would crumble again. He had eventually stumbled into a relationship that lasted four years, but even that gradually fell apart. Justin managed to push it back in his head and decided to wait on the right one. He had always felt as if Lauren were the one meant to be with him, but now she was with someone else, so it was obvious he was wrong. Still, the thought nagged at his mind continuously and he desperately tried to overcome the thoughts.
"Close the door, leave the cold outside
I don't need nothing when I'm by your side
We got something that'll never die
Our dreams, our pride.."
Justin had gotten a small job working in a hardware store that one of his grandfather's friends owned. He loved working there because it gave him something to do, as well as getting the chance to see all of the town folk who came in there on a daily basis. He was busy talking to Mr. Tom, an older man who came in every day just to talk to 'that Timberlake boy', when he saw her through the corner of his eye. His heart skipped several beats and his mouth became as dry as a desert day and he felt his palms becoming sweaty. He looked in Mr. Tom's direction and smiled and nodded as he answered the last question the old man had asked him. He quickly excused himself and ran down the aisle franctically searching for her.
"My heart beats like a drum (all night)
Flesh to flesh, one to one (and it's alright)
And I'll never let go cause
There's something I know deep inside.."
He ran up and down the aisles trying to find her and praying that she hadn't left. He hadn't bothered looking her up, afraid to seem too protective or even too obsessive of her. He knew he wasn't, but he didn't want anyone getting that idea. Besides, he didn't want to get in the way of her marriage. He ran past the tools aisle and caught a glimpse of her and could almost hear the soles of his shoes screech as he stopped as quick as he could. He took a few deep breaths and cleached his fists together, walking slowly back to the aisle and turning the corner. Her small frame was still cute as ever, and her brown hair was still beautiful. She herself was amazing to him still, after all of the years that had passed between him. His heart fluttered and the butterflies in his stomach intensified as he slowly approached her. Her heart jumped into her throat as she heard his sweet voice asking her if she needed help finding anything. She slowly turned her head and her eyes met his own beautiful blue eyes and her breath caught in her throat. She smiled, glad to see him again, and brought him into a huge embrace. Justin felt his knees go weak and struggled to keep his sanity as he felt her body pressed against his. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, telling her how much he missed her. Lauren reached up to her face to pull a stray hair out of her eyes and Justin was quick to notice the absence of her wedding ring. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He looked at her questioningly and in disbelief and Lauren sighed and nodded. Justin didn't know what overcame him but he brought her into his arms again, letting his joy be shown. He quickly realized what he was doing and stopped, apologizing to Lauren.
"You were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man
We got something to believe in
Even if we don't know where we stand
Only God would know the reasons
But I bet he must have had a plan
Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man.."
Lauren laughed and shook her head, bringing her finger to his lips to silence him. She slowly brought her mouth to his and gave him the kiss he had waited on for eight long years. Justin thought that at that moment he knew what it was like to experience heaven on earth and he didn't want that feeling to stop. He smiled at her and hugged her tightly, asking her to come over that night so they could talk. Lauren smiled at him and kissed him on his cheek, picking up the screwdriver she had been looking for, and walking away. Justin had to fight to break out of the daze he was in as he grudgingly convinced himself to work for the few hours remaining in his day.
"Light a candle, blow the world away
Table for two on a TV tray
It ain't fancy, baby that's OK
Our time, our way..."
Justin nervously prepared a small table in the living room for dinner, knowing that Lauren was never the one for extravagant things. His small house was comfy enough and he loved the privacy it gave him. Lauren arrived around eight and Justin instantly brought her into his arms. He had waited so long to be able to have the chance to hold her and instead of feeling his heart breaking like he was so sure it would, he felt it filled with the love he had longed for, for so long.
"So hold me close better hand on tight
Buckle up, baby, it's a bumpy ride
We're two kids hitching down the road of life
Our world, our flight.."
Lauren told him all about her breakup with Brad. How they were married for almost six years, but nothing could seem to work the problems they were having out. Fights, distance...she told Justin that it seemed like two people who were living under one roof could never be as far apart as they seemed at times. It took her a while to realize it, but suddenly one day she realized that she didn't love Brad in the way a marriage required love. And it didn't take her long to see that the one man who she did love enough to marry was the one she had thrown away. Justin.
"If we stand side by side (all night)
There's a chance we'll get by (and it's alright)
And I'll know that you'll be live
In my heart till the day I die..."
Justin smiled at her, happy to hear the words coming from her mouth. He found himself relieved to know that she still felt the same way as him and that he was not alone dealing with his old feelings for her. Lauren told him how she pined for him day in and day out but how her pride got in the way and that she couldn't bear to tell him how she felt. To deal with her feelings, she convinced herself that Justin had finally found someone to love and cherish, and that she had no chance with him anyway. Justin, in turn, told her about the hard eight years of struggle he had endured, trying to get over her, but simply couldn't. Lauren felt uncertain as to how the relationship was going to work out now, since all of the time passed, but Justin knew in his heart that they could work through anything that headed their way.
"Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man
We got something to believe in
Even if we don't know where we stand
Only God would know the reasons
But I bet he must have had a plan
Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man..."
Lauren and Justin got together shortly after that fateful night and it almost seemed as if the relationship picked up right where it left off so many years before. Justin knew at the moment she decided to move in with him that she was definitely made for him and he was made for her. His favorite memory was when they were standing in the living room dancing to the radio and a song came on that fit them perfectly. They laughed and began dancing fast to the song as the lyrics to Born To Be My Baby blasted through the living room stereo. As the song came to an end, Justin fell to his knees singing the last lyrics lines of the song and slowly pulled out the ring he had bought her two days before. He carried it around in his pocket, waiting for the perfect time to give it to her. Lauren gasped and tears instantly came to her eyes as she saw the ring. Justin slowly stood up and brought her into his arms, giving her the ring and promising her his lifelong devotion and love. He smiled and felt tears come to his own eyes as she shook her head yes.
"My heart beats like a drum (all night)
Flesh to flesh, one to one (and it's alright)
And I'll never let go cause
There's something I know deep inside..."
They planned the wedding for May, the month they had first met each other so very long ago. The days slowly peeled away, making them both anxious to finally be able to get married and be with each other until the end of time. Their nerves got so out of whack that they even considered running away to Las Vegas and eloping, but knowing that the country wedding they had planned at his grandfather's church would be the more sensible option. The day finally approached and Justin felt his heart beating wildly up until the hour of the wedding...not because of nerves, but because he knew that in only an hour she would be his forever.
"Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man
We got something to believe in
Even if we don't know where we stand
Only God would know the reasons
But I bet he must have had a plan
Justin lost his breath as she walked down the aisle. He was so glad that this time when he was at her wedding, he was going to be the one putting the ring on her finger and the one professing his love. It seemed like eternity as she walked down the aisle, every step taking a century. He smiled as he looked at her, the creme gown flowing to the floor and the baby's breath that held her hair in place. The smile she had plastered on her face could make the moon and stars jealous. She finally reached the altar and Justin took her hand in his, squeezing it gently and mouthing 'I love you' to her as they turned to face the minister.
"Cause you were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man
You were born to be my baby
And baby, I was made to be your man..."
They had decided on writing their own vows so they could tell each other exactly what they felt for each other without being limited to the everyday ordinary vows. Justin cried as he heard the words pouring out of Lauren's mouth and she squeezed his hands tightly, emphasizing every word of love for him. Justin decided on reciting the chorus to their song, knowing that those words could sum up his feelings the best. As he finished the words, 'You were born to be my baby, and baby, I was made to be your man', Justin leaned down and kissed her, sealing their fate forever.
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