Disclaimer: Kat and I do not know NSYNC Nor the Backstreet Boys or any other celebrities mentioned in the timeline.. If we did than we'll be very lucky and Joey wouldn't ever come out ever again. :)
Author's Note: This is an alternate universe. Nothing is real. Men can't have babies even though us females wish they could. This is something that came in my sick head and I managed to drag Kat in. So enjoy the story. It was fun writing it.
Author's Note Ps: Oh the story is now called Cosmic Companions. Thanks to Fluttergirl for the Title. Lets welcome Jackie to the story. She has been a big help in contributing to this story. Please email her and tell her that she's doing a great job. Thanks to Pukku for helping me find the wedding vows.
I found the vows at this website. http://member.aol.com/trevorb1/index.html The vows used here is called When Love Bekons.
WOW Cosmic Companions has been nominated for an award. Thanks to all who's been reading and making this story so popular. We're having so much fun writing it as well as reading it. You can see the nomination for our story and others at: FF Awards 2000. http://www.envy.nu/ffawards2000
Thanks to all our readers who sent feedback telling us how wonderful the story is. We're having fun writing it as you are reading it. Thanks again. One More thanks goes to Colleen who edited the last chapters. Thanks for the help girl. You Rock!
Pairing: Chris/Lance, JC/Joey/Justin.
Email: Since there are two people working on this story it's fair to email at least both. PLEASE email us :)
Shells: kevinsangel24@aol.com Kat: storykath@operamail.com Jackie B: crunkdoll@yahoo.com
======================== Cosmic Companions Chapter 17 Written By: Shell , Kat, Jackie and Colleen ========================
Joey reached into the bedside table and pulled out the worn list of names. He scanned down the highlighted piece of paper.
"Ok Daddy. Jack..."
" Nice." his father replied.
" Ummmm...Jordan..."
" Overused, next."
" Ahhhh," Joey flipped pages of his list," Scott."
" Same, next."
" Nathan..."
" Nathan..." his father trailed off.
"Nathan Thomas."
Phil was silent for a moment.
" I like that one. What else do you have?"
" Jude..."
" Jude? Do you really want to name your son Jude. You may as well put a kick me sign on him."
Joey rolled his eyes at his Daddy's melodramatism.
" Ok Daddy, that was one of Justin's picks anyway."
"I like Jeremy..."
" Ewwww."
Joey could see the look on his Daddy face. He scratched Jeremy off the list.
" Then there's Hunter. JC liked that one."
" Hunter Fatone Timberlake-Chasez?"
" Daddy we decided to drop my name...." he trailed off
" Drop Fatone?"
" Well, Daddy...I mean I'm not really Joey Fatone anymore..."
He rushed on hoping his Daddy would understand.
" I only Joey Fatone professionally and we don't want to make the babies names any longer than they have to be..."
" So we, JC , Justin and I, decided to drop the Fatone."
He nervously twisted his joined wedding band as silence crash in on the line. Phil sighed.
" Your father is not going to like this." he told his son.
" Your father is not going to like this." he repeated, making it clear in his tone that he didn't like it either.
" I know Daddy. But this is my family. My babies. My choice."
" What middle name have you chosen for Hunter?"
"Ummm Braden. That was my idea."
" Hunter Braden Timberlake-Chasez. Ok what else?"
Joey was glad the mini-crisis had been averted.
" Justin thought up Nicholas Anthony."
" I like that one. Well I was just making sure you were staying on top of things, sweetheart. Call Daddy if you need anything. You or Lance, Ok?"
"Ok Daddy."
" Daddy loves his baby."
" I love you too, Daddy."
" Bye sweetheart."
" Bye Daddy."
Joey rested his hands on his stomach wondering if this would be how he would act with his sons when they got mated and married. He went down stairs.
The entire living room was flickering in candlelight.
Chris and Lance were sitting at a table covered in rose petals. JC came over to Joey offering him the crook of his arm while Justin offered him the other.
Justin spoke, " We decided instead of trying to get you back, we would just kill you with kindness. We all figure the reason you two have been pulling pranks is because you're both bored."
"Yeah," Chris added as Joey sat down at the other table, "So this is our way of saying we're sorry for not being around all that much lately and that we love you."
Joey's eyes filled with tears and his lower lip began to pucker.
" I really don't deserve you two," he said.
" I love you."
" I love you honey." JC said.
" I love you Joey-bear." Justin said.
Lance wiped away tears.
" That was just beautiful."
Chris grabbed his hand and smoothed his thumb along the back of Lance's hand.
" I love you Lance."
" Ooooh I love you too Christopher."
" You fixed us food right? Cause I'm so hungry." Joey told them.
" Si mangia bene di paga poco." he added.
JC and Justin looked at each other.
" What's that mean?" Chris asked after a minute.
" You eat good and pay little. Something Daddy always says."
The house was quiet now, and dark. It was late, the moon had entered the sky many hours ago and now the stars were joining in, shining down on the roof of the big villa. Inside the house, four of the five habitants were asleep.
Lance was laying beside his husband, who had a way of wrapping himself around him and still give him place to breath. He wasn't completely sure why he couldn't sleep, normally he should be out like a light now. But his mind just wouldn't stop thinking about the night they had had. The absolutely breathtaking, beautiful night. Sometimes they way they felt about each other got somehow lost in the all the stress of everyday life, now even more so, with what had taken place lately. So when they did have this shiny clear moments of just pure happiness and love, Lance intended to cherish it. Placing a hand on his stomach, he smiled. It was all almost to good to be true. So what if the world kept giving them problems and strife, it was what was here, inside of him, sleeping next to him, that mattered.
The baby moved a little, it wasn't kicking, just turning over. Lance had to cover his mouth to not start to laugh as Chris did just the same next to him. Then he put his arm around Lance and snuggled into his side. At his touch the baby moved again. Silently whispering, Lance put his hand on Chris' arm. "That was your dad, peanut. But I guess you already knew that, didn't you? Every time he is near, I can feel you move, like you sense that he is close. I can't wait for you to be born, you know that? Only two months left, and then I'll get to see you..."
Lance's whispering voice trailed off as he thought about how his life would change by that. It wasn't going to be just Chris and him anymore, they would have another life depending on them, needing them. It was kinda frightening, but at the same time it was mind-blowing. They had created a little human being, just the two of them.
Next to him, Chris turned and then opened his eyes a little. "Hey, sweetoe, you and the baby ok?"
"We're fine," Lance assured him, "I'm just having a sappy moment here, that's all."
"Sappy is good," Chris said, pulling Lance closer to him. "Unless you start to cry...are you going to cry?"
"No, I am not!" Lance answered and whacked him in the arm.
"Chris chuckled. "I'm surprised that you have water left in your body at all and I am just teasing you."
"I do have a lot of water left," Lance sighed. "Unless I am about to have the largest baby in the world. I mean," he pointed to his stomach, "all of that can't be baby."
"Not if he's anything like me," Chris agreed. "I was a very small baby."
"That's because you're a little elf," Lance told him, "and you're too hyper to be any bigger. That would be...catastrophical."
He giggled as Chris quickly tickled his side. "Now who is teasing who?"
"I don't know," Lance answered, putting on a thoughtful face. "Oh yes, that would be me."
"Dork," Chris said affectionately and ruffled Lance's hair. "Hey, you're kinda warm, babe, you sure you're feeling ok?"
"I'm doing excellent," Lance sighed, cuddling up with Chris. "I'm just so happy that I have you and that we're going to have a baby and we're married now and...you are right, I should take a breath."
"I love it when you go talkative," Chris smiled. "So I take it that you liked the surprise?"
"IT was great," Lance answered, "It was perfect. I love you so much, baby."
"Love you too, blondie," Chris replied, giving his husband a light kiss. "Come here, you should get some rest, you look exhausted." Tucking the covers better around Lance they snuggled up together.
Joey was the one who woke up first. He reached over the side of the bed and grabbed a book and opened it.
He turned on the lamp beside him and turned the page. "you know boys your grandfather read this to me while I was still in the womb and after I was born."
"I'm going to read it to you" Joey smiled. "It's called The Little Engine that could."
He felt a slight kick and frowned a little. "Hey it's not a bad story. You liked it last night."
There was another kick from the other twin. He rubbed the spot. "I know you're tired but I'm not. I can't sleep and you both are doing back flips in there."
He whimpered as both his boys ganged up on him and kicked him hard. "Ow!"
"Both of you aren't being very nice" Joey pouted. "Okay you don't want a story, you don't want me to sleep, you two don't want to sleep, what do you want from me"
Joey felt his stomach rumble. "Food, I should have known. I'm in a mood for Chinese food with chocolate ice cream."
He looked at the clock and it read three o'clock in the morning. He was hungry, the twins demanded food so he punched Justin in the arm.
"OW!" Justin mumbled
"get up" Joe demanded.
"WHY" Justin whined.
"I want Chinese" Joey said.
"But it's too early!"
"I don't care! I want Chinese food NOW!" Joey said.
"I'm tired!"
I'm hungry. If you both want to sleep tonight you better get me my food" Joey growled.
"Wha..what's going on" JC yawned.
"Joey wants Chinese...I hope he means food," Justin explained. "Of course I want food," Joey answered, looking at Justin as if he just fell down from the moon. "The twins are hungry, and I won't be getting any sleep till I feed the little monsters."
"OK," JC caught on. "Well, there must be some take away Chinese place that is open at this time of night...what do you want, love?"
"You decide," Joey told him, "and oh, I want chocolate ice-cream too." "That we have in the freezer," JC said, looking thoughtful. "Justin, go get some."
"Oh all right!" Justin said, climbing out of bed. "Joey, why is it that you always get those cravings at these ungodly hours of the night?"
"I'm hungry," Joey pouted. "And I am pregnant. And it's your fault." "Not only my fault," Justin tried. "Yes, it is tonight," Joey replied. "Josh is getting me food, so it isn't his fault tonight."
"I give up," Justin laughed, "you can't argue with Joey-logic. I'll go get you your ice-cream, angel." "Thank you,2 Joey said sweetly.
In the end JC found a restaurant that was open and placed their orders. "I got hungry too," he explained. "And who can refuse Chinese?"
Half an hour later they were all lounging in the bed eating Chinese food and ice cream.
Joey made a healthy mix of most on the menu, added some ice cream on the side and started eating. JC looked at him. "I swear, those hormones must really be messing with your taste-buds." Shrugging, Joey answered: "Why? I like it this way!"
"What time is it anyway?" Justin wondered, he was laying along the end of the bed, on his stomach, eating springrolls.
Glancing at the watch, Joey answered: "it's about three, it seems. I'm tired." "You just said that you were hungry!" Justin protested. "I have eaten now," Joey said, "sleep good now."
"You only eat the ice-cream," JC said, "Come on love, you need some proper food too." "Tomorrow," Joey promised and yawned. "Now I am going to sleep again." Giving JC his plate he curled up in the bed again.
One minute later he was sound asleep leaving his confused husbands with a rapidly melting box of ice-cream and a lot of Chinese food.
"You know, now I am really not that tired anymore," JC admitted. "That's a first," Justin snorted.
"So, let's have a late night, Chine food pig-out...I can't believe Joey made us order all this and then he only eats the ice-cream."
Pointing his chopsticks at Justin, JC said: "The doc still thinks he needs to put on more weight, so I'm going to make sure he eats properly and not just the ice cream." "That's cravings for you," Justin sighed, "remember Lance and his chocolate covered just-about-anything's?"
"Only in my nightmares," JC smiled. "I still can't see how he could possibly eat that, but then Joey has been living on ice-cream for the last two months, so..."
"So now we're gonna be nutrition experts," Justin replied, "Well, there is a first time for everything."
Next Day
"I don't wanna"
"Joey you have to"
"But I don't wanna"
"Don't argue"
"DAD"
"Eat your veggies Joey. It's good for the twins"
"Uh..but Daddy..I don't wanna"
"Joseph"
"Don't make me!" Joey whined.
"Pouting don't work with me young man. Eat the vegetables now!"
"But"
"Now or you won't get no ice cream for desert"
"Fine" Joey grumbled as he took a carrot and started to munch on it.
"That my son in laws is how to get Joey to eat his carrots. He loves his veggies he really does its just when he has to he doesn't like it" Phil sighed. "And if you give your husbands any more trouble I will haunt you."
"I'll be good" Joey said in between bites. "Can I have ice cream to?"
"After you eat healthy hon" JC said.
"But"
"EAT"
"I'm eating, shesh"
Lance giggled.
"You to Lance" Phil said.
"But"
"No Buts" Said Jim Bass. "Eat"
"Why are we being picked on Joe?" Lance said as he munched on a celery stick.
"Because we're fat, pregnant and huge" Joey pouted.
"Oh yeah"
"After words you need to drink 32 ounces of water" Justin said.
"WHY" both protested. "We'll have to pee in like ten minutes."
"Because you have an ultra sound" JC smiled.
"I hate those" Joey pouted. "They make you drink all this water and wait an hour before seeing you. By them you're moaning in agony because you have to pee so bad. Then they take their sweet little time examining you. It's hell I say."
"Tell me about it. And when they say you can go but don't let too much out. How in the hell can you stop peeing. Once you let it out you don't want it to stop" Lance added. "Nope we're not going."
"We're gonna stay here find some way to clone ourselves so they can have the babies" Joey said.
"Ooh good idea" Lance grinned.
"I thought so to" Joey chuckled.
"You're both going." Joe Fatone Sr. replied. "You have to think about the babies growing inside you. It's not gonna kill you to get the check up."
"but.."
"No buts. You two are going and that's final" Chris said.
"But we're suppose to be off our feet" Joey grinned at his own cleverness.
"Taken care of" Justin grinned. "Whoala"
"Wheelchairs" both said.
"Yep"
"And you want us riding in them" Lance said.
"Yep" Chris said.
"No way"
"No way you're getting us in there" Joey said.
Both Joey and Lance were forced to drink the water. An hour later they were being pushed to the doctor's office.
"You were saying again Joe?" Lance said.
An hour later two very grumpy and very pregnant men were relaxing in the doctors office. "At least that is over with," Joey sighed. Lance was studying the out print of his ultrasound. "It was better this time, I can't believe how much the baby have grown."
Looking over his shoulder, Joey agreed. "Yeah, now you can actually see what it is."
Shaking his head, Lance laughed. "My god, you do have a way with words."
"Ok, so it was kinda nice this time, and get to see the little monsters. How JC and Justin reacted freaked me out though. I though they were going to start crying."
"Well, I could see that Chris felt the same way," Lance answered, running his finger gently over the black and white picture. "They weren't there for our last ultrasound, and the babies have developed so much in that time."
"It still freaked me out," Joey admitted. "It was the first time I really saw how much this is affecting them too...how strongly they feel about the babies too. I guess I have been focusing just on my side of this lately."
"I have been doing the same thing," Lance said. "I guess very Submissive do. There just so much stuff going on with your body, that you don't have much strength to focus on much else."
Lance stopped talking and when Joey looked at him, he looked sick. "You okay, Lance?"
"Yeah," Lance said, still looking a bit green. "I'm getting morning sickness in my seventh month, that is not fair."
"That's not morning sickness," Joey said, frowning. "If you get it this late, you should have had it all along. I had just for the first months."
"If it isn't morning sickness, what is it then?" Lance asked, and Joey could see the worry in his eyes. At this stage of the pregnancy the babies were just getting the fine touches and putting on weight.
"I'm sure everything is ok," Joey said, taking lance's hand in his. His concern grew as he felt the other's hand being much too warm. "But in all cases you should let the doc check it..."
"I will," Lance answered. "Where is the guy anyway?"
"Right here," their physician said, sitting down next to him. "You know, you have one emotional bunch of husbands out there?"
That made them both smile.
"Let's see," the doc continued. "Joey, your tests came out very good. You are still a but under the weight you should be, but not so much anymore. Just keep off your feet and resting a lot, and there shouldn't be any trouble with the twins. They seem to be doing just fine."
"Thanks," Joey smiled. "That's great."
"Lance," the doctor started, "I'm afraid your tests didn't come out quite as good. You're running a fever and your blood sample shoved signs of an infection. I'm going to set you on antibiotics, but I'm afraid to give you a very high dosage because of the baby."
"Is my baby going to be ok?" Lance asked, looking scared. The doctor smiled reassuringly. "Your baby is going to be fine. It's you I am worried about though. I would like to examine you more thoroughly though. Joey, you can join the others in the waiting room.
"Thanks," Joey said, giving Lance's hand a squeeze. "You're going to be just fine, Lance. You want me to say anything to Chris for you?"
"Don't say anything about this," lance said, "he'll just worry. Just tell him that I love him, ok?"
"Ok," Joey said, then he left the doctor's office.
Joey walked out and sat down with a frown. He was worried about Lance. It was only a fever and taken care of in a couple of days. Still it he was still worried.
"Joe" Chris asked.
"huh"
"What's wrong?"
"Lance loves you" Joey said rubbing his stomach.
"Fuck, something's wrong isn't it" Chris asked.
"I'
"Tell me Joey"
"I"
"NOW JOE" Chris said irritated.
"I shouldn't"
"IT'S MY KID" Chris said as he grabbed Joey but the collar and lifted him to his face. "TELL ME"
"BACK OFF" JC said as he pulled Chris away. "Damnit Chris we know you're worried about Lance. But Lance isn't the only one having a baby."
"Don't stress him out" Justin growled getting in his protectiveness phase.
Joey was shaken up with what Chris done. He was worried about Lance he could understand that. But he never thought Chris would do that to him. He shivered. "I'm sorry."
"Oh fuck..I'm sorry Joe. I didn't mean. It's just. I'm scared now" Chris said. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
'I'm fine" Joey croaked out. "Just shaken up. Lance is sick Chris. He has a fever. The baby is okay though."
"Will that hurt the baby?" Chris asked.
"No" The nurse smiled. "The baby's fine. It's that the father is sick. It's natural for a male to get sick. Even pregnant men get sick" the nurse smiled. "He'll be fine."
"I'm sorry Joey. Justin, Josh I didn't mean it" Chris said.
"it's okay. Just don't take it out on him. I'm sure the doctor is going to give Lance some medication to take" JC said.
"I hope so" Chris said. He smiled and hugged Lance as he came out of the office.
"Awe Joe, you told" Lance pouted.
"He had to" Justin said.
"Baby, I'm gonna pamper you so bad" Chris said. "Will Lance be fine."
"He has a fever. Nothing more than bed rest, lots of liquids, medication and he'll be fine. Don't worry it won't harm the baby."
"Thank goodness" Chris said.
"I will see you in two months in the delivery room" Phil smiled as he shooed his patients out.
"Maybe not" Joey pouted as they went home.
Joey sighed for the millionth time. He was forbidden to go new Lance until Lance was free from his illness.
It didn't help Joey any because it only made things too boring.
He flipped through the channels trying to find something to watch. He knew it wasn't over with the press. They were still attacking his husbands and Chris. A lot of fans were angered by this. Not the fact that they were married but how could the press be so stupid. They've gotten a lot of support.
He stopped it on MTV when he heard a shocking report.
"Newflash: Ricky Martin escapes from prison. More at eleven."
He thought things could get better. With two months to go before the babies were here. Now he had to deal with one ex abusive boyfriend. He sat there numb trying to figure out what to do.
Lance was back in bed, as he had anticipated. And he was so incredibly bored. Chris were downstairs with JC and Justin going over some of the work they had gotten done earlier. They practically had to haul him away from Lance's side, and Lance knew he would be away for long.
But still he was bored. Getting up his cell-phone, he called Joey's cell-phone. That was the only way they were allowed to talk to each other. If Joey caught whatever bug lance had got, it could prove really dangerous. So for once, both of them listened to what they were told.
The phone rang quite a few times before Joey picked up. "Hello," he answered, flatly, sounding like he was far away.
"Joey? You ok?" Lance asked, getting worried from Joey's tone of voice. "Anything happen? You're not getting sick too, are you?"
"Depends," Joey answered, "what kind of sick you mean... Did you se the news?"
Clicking the TV back on Lance flipped through channels to find a news update. "What happened, are... Oh my God, that can't be true."
"Believe me, it's true," Joey's voice had now gotten an icy edge. "And he didn't pull that off alone..somebody helped him. And I think we all know who that fuck is."
"Johnny," Lance stated. "I wish I knew what the hell happened that day..who those guys in the car as, they must have been working with him all along.2
"Probably," Joey answered, taking a deep breath.
"You sure you're all right?" Lance asked. "Why don't you get Justin and JC up and tell them?
"I'm doing fine," Joey assured him. "I'm just pissed off right now and the twins don't take me getting much of anything very lightly these days. And I will tell JC and Justin. I just had to let it sink in first, I thought we had gotten rid of the guys a long time ago."
"I hoped so too," Lance told him. "But I'm sure he isn't going to show up again. Last time he ended up in jail. This time your daddy is going to wring his neck if he even shows up within state borders."
At the mention of his parents, Joey cringed. He was expecting a rabid phone call from either one of his dads any moment, and then the house and neighborhood would be swarming with mobsters. Oh joy...
One of the babies kicked him hard in the side, reminding him that he had to calm down.
Then the door to his room was pushed open and he was simultaneously hugged by his two very upset husbands. "Lance, gotta go," Joey managed to say into his phone. "I'm being hugged to death here..."
Lance had to laugh a little. "Ok, I have a huggable husband here too... Talk to you soon."
As Justin and JC had released him enough so he could both breathe and speak, Joey asked: "How did you guys know? Did you se it on the news?"
"No,2 Justin shook his head. "The police called. They think he might be heading this way. Ow!" He sent JC a look. "Don't kick me. We made a deal, remember? No more sheltering, from now on we discuss stuff."
"What he said," Joey answered, and raised an eyebrow at JC. "Were you really going to keep this from me?"
"I was going to tell you, love," JC sighed, sitting down next to him. "But I wanted to make sure that it didn't upset you...ok, I know you would be upset anyway. I was just trying to run damage control."
"It's ok," Joey said, taking his hand. "So they really think he might be coming back here?" He really didn't like the sound of that.
"They found a diary of sorts laying behind," JC explained, putting his arm around Joey and Joey rested his head on JC's shoulder. "apparently he has gone quite a little obsessed here... He is determined to get you back."
Joey liked the sound of that even less.
"Just great..Damnit to hell" Joey cursed. "What are we going to do?"
"First of all your dad called. He was speaking Italian half the time that's all I know" Justin shrugged.
"That's not good" Joey said softly.
JC rubbed his shoulders. "Don't worry Joe. It'll work out."
"What if they come..What if they" Joey trailed off.
"They won't do shit cause your dad is trying to find them right this minute" Justin said.
"Joy" Joey sighed.
"Well we'll look out for you and Lance as much as we can. But for now let's just live life" JC smiled.
"I like that" Joey said. "Hey shouldn't we get candy for the kids tomorrow?"
"Oh that's right it's Halloween" Justin smiled. "Of course."
JC thought of something. They just got Kevin back. What if they found out that Ricky escaped along with Johnny. He hoped Kevin will be okay.
"Lay down Joey" JC said.
"Oooh We're gonna get freaky..but I won't be able to see anything" Joey pouted. "My stomach is in the way."
"NO I wish we could but doctors orders were NO SEX" Justin said in a dramatic tone.
"Damn" Joey pouted
"Just relax honey" JC said as he gently rubbed Joey's belly. "Hello in there. How are you doing? You two being good."
"Please be good" Justin begged. "Then Daddy won't hurt us."
Joey sighed dreamily. The rub was feeling good. "Ooh I like that."
Justin hummed.
I'll be your strength
I'll be your hope
keeping your faith when it's gone The one you should call was standing here all alone.
Joey smiled. He loved that song. "that's right...sleep my little ones.."
JC continued to rub as he started to sing.
Both JC and Justin smiled lovingly at they're soon to be family and sang together causing Joey to yawn.
Just close your eyes Each lovin' day And know this feeling won't go away Till' the day my life is through This I promise you This I promise you
Over and over I fall When I hear you call Without you in my life, baby I just wouldn't be living at all And I will take You in my arms And hold you right where you belong Till' the day my life is through This I promise you This I promise you
And I will take you in my arms And hold you right where you belong 'Til the day my life is through This I promise you, baby Just close your eyes Each lovin' day And know this feeling won't go away Every word I say is true This I promise you Every word I say is true This I promise you I promise you
As they finished singing to Joey and the twins, Josh pushed a hair back and kissed Joey's forehead softly. "Don't worry baby he'll never hurt you again."
"Josh?"
"Justin, I want to buy a gun."
"You sure about that?" Justin said, frowning.
"For protection," JC explained. "What if that maniac shows up again? And he brings some friends too?"
"I know," Justin nodded, keeping his voice low, to not wake Joey. "I even agree with you, it's just that I've never thought about this before...I have never felt in need of a gun before."
Going over to the window to check that the lock was on, JC led Justin out of the bedroom. "Let's discuss this another place. This is something Joey does not need to know about."
"But," Justin started. JC held up his hand.
"I know what you're going to say, and we both know what Joey's going to say. So I'll get one, and we'll both learn to use it. Chris should too."
"Ok," Justin answered. "You wanna do this the regular way, or should we just ask Joey's dad?"
"We run more to him with our problems than we do with our own fathers," JC remarked, almost smiling. "And I think that would be a good idea. He can get it fast, and with no question. Hell, he'll even teach us how to use it himself!"
"So he would," Justin agreed. "I wonder how many of his men that's already watching the house?
"A lot, I expect," JC replied, casting a look out the window. "They'll probably stay back to not alarm any of our neighbors. And I do actually think that they are waiting for Mr. Martin to make a move, so they can catch his sorry ass."
"Now I wish he would show up," Justin admitted, going over to the window, "so they could catch him, put him back in jail or do whatever they see fit."
"I don't think he'll make it to jail this time," JC said slowly. "not of Mr. Fatone's men get to him before the cops do. hen I think we have seen the last of Ricky martin."
Justin followed JC around as the older man made sure all doors were locked and the alarm set. "Could you check that the windows upstairs are closed and locked, Just?" JC asked. "And make sure that Chris and Lance keep their windows locked tonight."
Justin went back upstairs to do what JC had requested. Turning the air-condition up a bit, so it wouldn't be so warm, he methodically checked all the windows and locked them.
Poking his head into Chris and lance's room , he found the two of them laying in bed, talking. "Hey," he said, "keep the windows locked tonight, just in case, ok?"
"I already locked them" Chris replied, "why take any chances? How is Joey doing?"
"Sleeping at the moment," Justin told him. "But he was very upset, of course. I know we all tell him not to worry, but I think it's possible not to."
"You can't expect him not to worry," Lance said, snuggled up in Chris' arms. "And if I know Joey correctly, he is feeling in some way that this is his fault."
"But that is ridiculous!" Justin protested. "He can't help that that guy is after him?"
"Think about it," Lance told him. "Ricky is his former boyfriend, he is coming after Joey, not any of us, But we might get hurt in the process. I know I would be going crazy by now. Even if he doesn't tell you, he going through a lot of different emotions over this."
Lance's words had given Justin a great deal to think about. Coming into the living room upstairs, he checked and closed the windows. Standing by the shelves, he saw Chris and Lance's wedding picture. The happy faces of the photograph made him smile. Looking around for the picture usually standing right next to it, he couldn't find it. JC, Joey and his wedding picture was gone.
Justin found his heart beating fast. He looked on the ground to make sure it didn't fell.
"Just?"
"I can't find my wedding picture. It was here next to yours" Justin panicked.
"maybe Joey has it?" Lance suggested.
"I don't want to disturb him. But what if Joey doesn't have it" Justin asked. "What if that bastard has it?"
"I would like to know how he got past the security" Chris said.
"Same way the press did"
"We live in a gated home Just. We would know if someone broke in." Chris assured the frightened young man.
"Just Check Joey" Chris said as he yawned.
"All right" Justin said as he rushed upstairs.
"Please let Joey have the picture" Chris said softly as he made way to his husband.
Justin walked in and saw Joey laying on his side holding something in his arms. He sat next to him and saw the picture of all three of them and sighed with relief. They had to find Johnny and Ricky and put them away forever
He gently took the framed picture and saw water marks on it. He looked and frowned at his husband's tear stained cheeks. He gently rubbed the tear marks away.
He didn't want the gun in the house but if it is to protect Joey and Lance than to hell with it. He'll do it. He and the others were going to have to talk about this.
Justin found JC downstairs, along with Chris. "Lance is sleeping," the dark-haired man said. "Josh said that you two wanted to talk to me about something?"
"We do," JC replied, "or at least I do... Justin doesn't completely agree with me on this...but I think it is necessary."
"What's going on?" Chris asked, "is there another problem?"
"I want us to by a gun, for protection," JC said straight out. "And we're going to need to know hoe to use it properly"
"I have thought about it too," Chris admitted. "If he could get in here that day, he might get in another time." He turned to Justin, "I know, I just told you upstairs that there was a very little chance of it. But still there is a chance, and I don't like that."
"At least we'll have some sort of protection," JC said. "I'm not too thrilled about getting a gun into this house, but I would feel safer knowing that it was here."
Hesitating a little, he added: "I am going to Joey's dad for help though. I don't want this to leak to the press. They would see it as an excuse to crawl all over us again."
"I wonder how it all died down so fast when Ricky first got arrested," Justin wondered. "I would have suspected that they were going to give us all hell for that for months!"
"That was because Joey's dad phoned very editor of every newspaper, TV channel, radio channel, Internet site, anything, and told them that if they made a big deal out of it, he would personally show up in their office with a really big gun."
"He probably did that all over again this time," Chris said, "I haven't seen any reporters around lately."
JC smiled. "So you're ok with this, Chris? It would probably be best if you didn't tell Lance. I am not going to tell Joey. It is just going to make him think that we really expect Ricky to come back, or any other baddie for that sake, and I don't want him to worry more than he already does."
"I know how Lance feels about guns, so he'll be better off not knowing," Chris said slowly.
Lance rolled over in the bed and woke up when he found the bed empty.
looking around he couldn't see Chris anywhere. Trying to sit up, he made a face at his large belly. "Let's speed things up a little, what do you say?" he smiled, patting his stomach. "And you come out, and I'll get un-fat again?"
"Not to mention able to move again," he added in his thoughts.
Realizing that he had left his soda over at the dresser, he sighed. Getting as drink meant moving, and that wasn't what he did best lately. But he was really thirsty.
Contemplating to get to his feet and going to get his soda, Lance finally managed to sit up straight. Just when he was swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Chris came back in.
"Honey, you are supposed to stay in bed!" Chris told him.
"But I am thirsty!" Lance complained.
"Then I will get you something to drink!" Chris told him. "So get back in bed, love."
Bringing Lance his soda, Chris sat down next to him. "How are you feeling, babe?"
"I'm feeling ok," Lance answered. "Don't think this was a very determined bug."
"I hope not," Chris smiled. He put his hand to Lance's forehead. "You're not so warm anymore, I think your fever is going away."
"I hope so!" Lance said, putting his empty glass away. "Being sick is boring!"
"Poor baby," Chris replied, hugging Lance close to him. "I hope you get all better soon too."
Snuggling up to his husband, Lance agreed.
Joey sighed as he was on the couch all alone again. Lance was still in bed getting over his fever.
"I"M BORED"
there was no answer.
"HEY! BORED PREGNANT GUY OVER HERE!"
"SO AM I!" the other voice replied.
"HEY LANCE!"
"HEY JO-JO I'M SO FREAKING BORED"
"I'm GONNA DIE OVER HERE!" Joey screamed back.
"What's the shouting for" a voice replied.
"Dad we're bored. My butt hurts, there's nothing on TV, my butt hurts and did I mention I was bored" Joey whined.
"Joe, it'll be okay. There's over eight hours left before bedtime" Phil smiled.
"OH that makes me Feel So much better" Joey said as he rolled his eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me young man" Phil said.
"Where's Justin and JC. I need to torture them" Joey said.
"Joseph, you've switched their boxers, cut Justin's hair, dyed their hair green. Don't you think that's enough" Phil said.
"You forgot that I shaved JC's legs and crotch" Joey grinned.
"JOSEPH!"
Joey grinned. "Well that's what they get for knocking me up in the first place. I have NO patience."
"that's for sure" Phil sighed.
"Let's see..maybe I could put ice cream in their bed" Joey said.
"it's your bed too sweetie" Phil said. "Why don't you do a puzzle?"
"cause I would throw it against the way screaming insanity" Joey smiled.
"there's video games?"
"Makes me nauseous. the twins don't like it when I play video games." Joey pouted as he looked at his stomach.
the phone rang as Joey answered. "Hello welcome to the world of insanity. Joey Speaking."
"HEY JEFF"
"What's going...What" Joey's face became stoic.
"Really now. And Dad is doing what? Great..They're gonna end up shooting off their balls. Thanks Jeff. Love you to bye."
Joey frowned as he hung up the phone.
"Hon?" Phil asked.
"You know what My idiotic husbands as well as lance's is doing" Joey said.
"Oh no"
"They've bought a gun from dad" Joey growled. "A FUCKIN GUN."
Joey grabbed the intercom and pushed it. "lance Our stupid, idiotic husbands of ours have bought a gun."
"WHAT"
"A Gun. Jeff told me he heard them speaking to my father. Something about protection." Joey said.
"I don't want a gun in this house"
"Neither do I. What if one of the kids finds it. I'm scared he might do something stupid. Not to mention they're gonna kill themselves with it."
"Oh..Mr. Kirkpatrick thought he was tricky..Well he's in for a nice surprise" Lance said
"Same with JC and Justin. I hear them now. talk to you later." Joey said as he cut Lance off. "Not one word daddy."
"Believe me. Joe and I are gonna have words about this" Phil replied as the door opened.
Continuing their conversation by their cell-phones, They discussed what to do about the entire issue. "I can see why they did it," Lance pointed out. "It's for protection. And they did it because of us."
"I know," Joey answered, "and I also see why they didn't discuss this with us first either..."
"They didn't want us to be upset," Lance told him, "you know that."
"I know that too," Joey sighed. "But still... Like the gun is going to do them any good... Neither of them can use it."
"Well, Chris does, actually," Lance said. "His dad taught him. He is a colonel, you know. So he taught Chris, just in case. You know that there would be guns in their house. So he is an excellent marksman."
"Chris?" Joey said, surprised, "our little Chris, with pink hair? That is one thing I can't picture. But that's good really, because the two klutzes I married will shoot away something vital if ever trying to fire a gun."
"So what are we going to say when they get back home?" Lance asked, "They don't know that we know."
"I think we should not tell them," Joey decided. "That wouldn't be any fun. Let them feel guilty about it for a few days. If we act awfully nice to them for a while, they will feel even worse."
"They should feel bad," Lance agreed. "And I like your plan."
"They'll be home any minute now," Joey said, "time to make them suffer a bit. I hate it when they do something like this, and they promised me that it wasn't going to happen again. So this time I am not letting them get away that easily."
"Just don't run away again," Lance warned him. "The state you left Justin and JC in last time was painful to watch."
"I won't," Joey promised. "I can't move anyway, how the hell am I supposed to run any where??
"I miss moving," Lance answered, "I miss being able to get out of the bed by myself, well, I miss a lot of stuff. Being able to actually see my feet is one of them."
"Just a couple of more months now," Joey replied, "then it's over. You know, in some strange way I am going to miss this..."
"Me too," Lance admitted. "But I still don't think I'll be doing it again for at least a year. Imagine having two little ones running around."
"Excuse me?" Joey said, "having twins here, remember?"
"That is true, and no, I haven't forgotten," Lance told him. "But they don't have Chris for a dad... My kid is going to be hyper. He could probably use an extra set of parents to wear out."
Laughing, Joey replied: "I wonder who the twins are going to take after. Hopefully JC and they'll sleep a lot."
"I really can't see any children of yours being nice and sleep a lot," Lance said dryly. "They are going to get in trouble from the day they're born."
"They are going to be perfectly well-behaved," Joey claimed. "They are so not!" Lance answered.
The sound of the front door opening made them both stop. "They're here," Joey said, "now, remember, you don't know anything." "Yes, I know," lance said. "I'm blond."
"You don't know anything about the gun," Joey told him.
"Oh," Lance said. "No of course not. What gun?"
"I do hope you're joking," Joey answered. "Talk to you later."
================ End of Chapter 17 ================