The soft knock at the door made her look up from the unpacking she was doing.  "Hey," Liz smiled when she found him leaning on the door frame.

"You doing okay?" JC asked as he walked in the room.

"Yes," she nodded, putting damp hoodie she just took off on top of the bed.  It started to rain on their way to his car at the airport so they got a little wet. "Hey, uhm ... thanks again for letting me stay here," her cheeks flashed a little bit of a crimson shade.

He rolled his eyes as he playfully pouted. "For the millionth time, I told you it's all good. What kind of a friend am I if I can't let one of my friends, who, mind you, have saved my ass so many times in the past, stay in my house when I have the room? Actually I have three extra rooms. And ... even if I didn't, I would still let you stay."

She couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

"And thanks for picking me up at the airport too."

"You're welcome."

"And for helping me with my luggage in the rain."

"Now that you're definitely not welcome, we have to come up with some sort of payment for that. They were mad heavy yo! Seriously. What?  Do you have the kitchen sink in one of these suitcases?"

This time Liz laughed. "No. But that's coming. As soon as I find a place of my own, my parents are shipping out the rest of my stuff."

She has officially moved to Los Angeles because of an opportunity that she couldn't pass up. Writing was her passion and so when a publishing company offered her a writer spot in a monthly magazine they publish, she immediately jumped and took the opportunity of a lifetime, even if it meant leaving the only home she knew all her life.

But JC was there, so moving wasn't as hard for her. Yes, she was scared shit with the new adventure life dropped on her lap, but knowing that he will be there was a comfort for her.

They have met twenty years ago, in school, when he was still doing the Mickey Mouse Club, introduced by her brother, Joey. So she has been there to witness everything ... *NSYNC's beginnings, Transcon, Germany, Tearing Up My Heart, screaming fans, lawsuit, WEG, Bye Bye Bye, Pop and... the end.

She was there.

Chris, Justin, Lance and JC became her brothers too.

But she was especially close to JC. Neither of them knew why but it just happened. They became best friends. Not even his move to the City of Angels after bowing out of the limelight ended their friendship. In fact, the sincerity of the bond they had made them held on to their friendship, despite the distance. Two decades and their friendship was still there - intact and strong.

"What the heck? Were you even listening to what I've been saying? No need of finding a place. You can stay here."

"And have you been listening to what I've been saying? No, I can't."

"Why?" JC frowned. "Give me one good reason why you can't."

"Because I can't live off you. I mean, yes,  you are one of my best friends and yes, you're probably a gazillionaire but I can't let you take advantage of you like that. That's just wrong."

"A gazillionaire huh?"

She giggled. "Yeah."

JC shook his head and grinned.  "You're confusing with Justin. I'm just a guy who work hard and save hard unlike some gal's older brother I know."

Liz shrugged. "Hey, at least he has K.I.T.T. to show for it."

They both laughed at her brother's need to hoard Superman, Star Wars, Thunder Cats and memorabilia and yes, even Knight Rider's infamous car.

"So since I don't have to support some memorabilia addiction, you staying here won't break me. So stay."

"No."

"What if we arrange some kind of rent or something?"

"Really? You would take rent money from me?"

"Yes."

"Liar." She accused because she knew him to well.

"Well, it doesn't necessarily mean you pay me in cash, we can make it payable in kind."

"Oh, yeah? Like how?" One of her eyebrow arched.

He shrugged, walking over to the bed so he can sit on its edge, his long legs stretched out, and his arms resting on the feather top bed for support. "Like home cook dinner or breakfast, yeah, chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast would be nice," he grinned like an idiot.

"And do your laundry perhaps?"

"Ohhhh... that would be nice too." He nodded, still smiling.

"Wrong! You don't need a roommate then. You need a wife."

JC almost choked, thank god he wasn't dinking anything. "Hey, don't say bad words."

Liz laughed, "What's wrong with what I said? Maybe that's what you need."

"A wife? I thought we were talking about the possibility of you being my roommate and now you're marrying me off?"

"Eventually, maybe. For now maybe just a nice ...good ... decent woman."

"Why?"

"Because you are not getting any younger and it's a better choice than having a grocery list of hos."

"Shut up about my age and what the hell are you talking about?"

"I hate to break this to you my friend but even though you keep saying that you've been downgraded to the D list a long time ago since your retirement from being a sparkly pop star for the tabloid and gossip sites to even care, they still do. They still talk about you, especially your choices for your hos of the week."

"You should really stop reading that stupid crap, you know."

"Yeah but what if they get a whiff of me staying here ... dude, I don't plan on being called the flavor of the ho month you are shacking up with."

He made a face at her dramatics. "Shut up, it's not gonna happen. So don't worry about it."

"Well let's say we kept this on the DL from the tabloid mongrels but what about the actual hos?"

"What? You've lost me!" He frowned.

"Check this out, what if while I'm staying here you sweet talk some ho to go home with you ..." 

"Can you please quit saying that."

"What? Hos?" She laughed.

"Yeah." He rolled his eyes. 

"Would skanks be more appropriate then?"

"Stop." This time he eyed her with a warning. 

"Okay! Sheesh ... where was I? Oh yeah! So you sweet dirty talk some CHICK you meet at a club..."

"I'm too old to be hanging out at clubs," he interrupted. 

It was her turn to roll her eyes. "It was just an example! Geez, a girl can't get a break around here. Plus weren't you the one complaining about being called old earlier? "

He just shook his head in amusement. 

"So yeah, you're at an I'm too old to be hanging out at clubs gathering and you meet this chick and you two decided you want to do the nasty and you took her home and while you try to get to your room to seal the deal, I'm here in my room hearing some muffled voices, thinking maybe there's a burglar in the house so I come out with a baseball bat or something to scare them off and BAM! It's not a burglar but you and the chick and so yeah ... not only have I ruined your chances for a freaky deaky that night but  C, come on, how the hell do you explain a girl with a bat in your house to the chick you wanted to freak?" She punctuated her narrative with a smile.

"Oh my god! You really are a writer aren't you? I mean, we just got home from the airport about an hour ago and you already wrote a novel about me." 

"It's a gift," she said with smug. "And do you want to know how your novel will end?"

"No. But I know you'd tell me anyways." 

"Of course." She winked. "It will end with me asking you to explain the grocery list of hos ... I mean skanks... I mean chicks."

The mischief in her voice and smile made him laugh despite of. "What? You suddenly shift from writer to shrink? Am I in therapy now?"

"Come on, I mean your last serious relationship was what? Four years ago." 

"So what? Seriously it's not your god damn business."

"Yes it is," she went ahead and sat next to him on the bed. "You're my friend and I care a lot about you, so yes ... care to explain this debacle?" 

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that, dude!  Two out of five of *NSYNC is married and the other two are engaged. Guess who's the odd man out?" 

"So?" He shrugged defiantly.

"So? Come on, Jace! Between the five of you, you were voted first to ever get married, with all that sappy crap you've got going on back then! I mean, My brother, Joey? Joey, your best friend, your I'm-single-and-ready-to-mingle, best friend is now married with two kids! How crazy is that? And Chris? Our I-can-only-afford-a-spring-fling friend, Chris, is engaged! That was unfathomable back then and he swore it will never ever happen yet, he is getting married next year! I mean shit! Even Lance is fucking engaged. And then we have you, still single and goddamit, Jace, being careless." 

"What's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong with being careless? Are you for real? Come on now, I know you're better than that. You're supposed to be the responsible one!  Weren't you Mr. Dream Boy who writes all those stupid love songs so you should be, of all people, doing what my brother and Chris are doing right now!" 

He sighed. "Just leave it alone, okay."

"What if I don't want to?" She challenged, giving him sideway glance. 

"Are you trying to piss me off so I'll stop asking you to just stay?"

"Yes that too but look," she paused to put a hand on his thigh. "We're just worried about you, okay?" 

"We?"

"Joe and Chris..." 

"I'd say they're just jealous," he smirked.

She smiled. "I don't know about that because have you seen Chris lately? He's a different man. He's letting his girl call him baby cakes it's scary!" 

JC laughed and shook his head. She was right about Chris though.

"Seriously though, they're just a little bit concerned." 

"So they sent you? Ahhhh! Wusses!"

"I believe they said they have faith in my tenacity." 

"Nosey bitch is the unsugar coated version of that."

"God! Now you're now a cynic too. You used to be all sap and mush, what happened to you?"

"I grew up. I grew older."

"Then start acting like one. Instead of going around whoring yourself. Go find yourself a nice, good, decent woman."

"And we're back to that?" JC sighed, carelessly dropping himself into the bed.

"Yes."

"I think I'm about to agree with Joe about the tenacity bit." He folded his arm behind his head.

"So just surrender and tell me," she shrugged as she lay next to him, their legs dangling from the edge of the bed.

He ran his hand through his hair and sigh. "Because contrary to popular belief. Finding a nice, good, decent woman is very difficult especially if you thought you already found it four years ago only to realize too late that you really haven't."

JC never really talked about that break-up. Not to her at least. But it was obvious that it broke him. She believes that now is the time to un-break him.

"Maybe you are looking at the wrong places for her.

"Trust me, I've looked and uhm ... still looking."

"Here. You looked here, in the city of lights, the city of stars. It's harder here because ninety-nine percent of everything here is superficial. Have you even considered looking somewhere else, like home for instance? You know what? What if we fly back home and ..."

"You just flew about an hour ago and now you want to fly back home?" He interrupted.

She playfully slapped his stomach with the back of her hand. "Shut up. I don't mean now you, idiot. I meant later," when she realized that he was about to say something, more than likely on the sarcastic side again, she arched a brow and added, "Later. Later. Like not right now."

He laughed. "So you think I can hook up with someone nice, good and decent back home? In Orlando?"

"Yeah, regular and decent unlike the made up starlets here. Most of our friends are doing okay, successful in their careers, I mean not successful like you fab five but they're all doing alright."

He scoffed. "I haven't been home in years ... I mean not long enough to ... I barely know people anymore."

"Well, I can help you get reacquainted and who knows, maybe I can hook you up with some of my friends... there's Jasmine Campbell ... you remember her from Universal? She's now a lawyer. And ohhh... Cindy Peters, her sister is one of your MMC kids, she's a teacher now so maybe she can set you straight."

"Does she have a ruler and would she spank me when I'm bad?"                                              

She sat up so she can playfully push him off the bed in disgust. "Oh my goodness! Get the hell out of my bed!"

"Ow! Hey stop!" He laughed, feigning pain. "And technically, I own this bed, so it's my bed."

"Whatevs! You can have it back once I get a place of my own! You are so hopeless!" She shook her head.

"What happened to Miss Tenacity?"

"You're making her cranky." She frowned.

"I told you to mind your own business. I mean, you're all talk, chica, but last I checked you are single too but you don't see me prying and conspiring to hook you up with a lawyer or a teacher."

"That's different." She sighed, dropping back in bed next to him.

"How in the hell is that different?" He arched an eyebrow even though he was still staring at the ceiling instead of facing her.

"Because, unlike you, JC? I don't have a different arm candy every other day and no I don't bring them home for a quick wham bam thank you ma'am. So there's nothing to be concerned about."

"You really have a way with words," he shook his head. "What I meant was Dean," he said cautiously mentioned her ex-boyfriend and when she didn't say anything he continued. "Care to explain that debacle," he said, using the exact words she used earlier.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and waited until she knew her heart settled and she had all the right words to explain her very own debacle.

"He didn't want me to leave."

"What?"

"He didn't want me to move here."

"Is he for real? Does he realize what a great opportunity you got your self here? How important that is for you?"

"Trust me he does ... but the whole long distance relationship kinda sucks too, you should know that. You guys are experts on that"

"Still, he should have ... I dunno ... that sounds kind of selfish, if you ask me."

"Aren't I being selfish too wanting to drop everything I have back home to follow a dream?"

"No. You need to do things for yourself too. Most of the time,  you need to be selfish to achieve that dream, to get what your heart really love. I did that, remember? I uprooted my whole family to come here for my dream. Then later on, when you finally see what you've made for yourself, you'd realize it was worth it ... that the results washes over your temporary selfishness and you forgive yourself. I mean look at me, as much as I was so guilty doing it to my family, but I made a good life for myself and them as well."

She sighed. "I know, that's why I am here." She paused and licked her lips. "I asked him to come with me, though."

"You asked him to live with you here? You asked him to move in with you?"

All she did was sigh and nodded, not wanting to rehash that memory and feeling when she was turned down by a man. It was rather humiliating that she wasn't even sure why she told him.

"Wow! That's huge, Liz." He was obviously surprised by that news.

"I know."

"But obviously I know what the answer to that is." He frowned, her disappointment didn't settle well with him.

"He said he couldn't do it. He didn't want to move. He can't do what your family did for you. And I was thinking well, maybe it's a test for us you know?" She said, as she pulled on her lower lip.

"So did he already fail or is the test still ongoing?"

"Maybe I'm the one who failed. I couldn't stay. I wanted to be here."

"Because you will be living your dream here."

"Yeah ..." she mumbled frowning at the fact that her heart was telling her another reason. Because you're here," her heart said which downright confused her. "So that's my essay on my current debacle," she sighed, wanting to put an end to the subject.

They were quiet for a while, both staring at the white ceiling, as they both tried to figure out why both their minds were whirling, why both their hearts fluttering.

"What about you?" She spoke first as she could no longer stand the silence. Maybe if she engages him again in some banter, whatever it is that's going on in her head and .... and okay, heart ... will go away.

"What about me?"

"What's your explanation for your debacle? You never really talked about it, at least not with me."

He shook his head.  "I'm not a writer like you. I don't whip out explanations in essay from."

"Hey, you write songs and lyrics so yes, you are a writer. Now go ahead and explain it. If you want, to make it easier for you, you can explain it in a song."

"A song? No."

"Why not? Come on, sang it!" She prodded mimicking one of his favorite slang expressions that she actually hates.

"I am not singing an essay."

"I didn't say you sing an ess... hey, wait a minute." She paused as an idea suddenly struck her. "Time out. I think I might be on to something here. What if that becomes your niche?"

"My niche? For what?"

"For finding the nice ... good ... decent woman for you. Maybe it's not the where and when but the how. Maybe it's the how. Maybe that's what's wrong."

"What the heck are you talking about now?" He turned to his side so now they were virtually eye to eye.

She found herself sighing the moment she met his eyes. The whole world knows how captivating his eyes were and friendship or not, she wasn't immune to it. Looking up at the ceiling she answered, "Your moves, your style, the kind of macking game you play, maybe that's the one that needs some tuning."

"My what?"

"Geez, C,  are you deaf or something? All you do is repeat what I say in a form of a question," she complained. "I mean so how do you ... you know? Get your mack on? Do you wait for them to recognize you? Or do you automatically whip out your I used to be a pop star card? Or do you just go all Neanderthal and thump your chest and say - let's go!"

He gave a delicious laugh. "You're weird, sweetie." He accused after he caught his breath.

"I'm weird?" She protested. "This coming from a grown man wearing Rainbow Brite socks?" She playfully nudged his ankle with her foot.

He laughed as he brought up one foot in the air to show off his brightly every-color-in-a-rainbow-and-then-some stripes sock. "What's wrong with it?"

 "It looked like the Crayola Factory barfed all over it."

 "They're fun," he defended putting his foot back down.

 "If you were nine maybe." She quipped. "Man, I would love to have a tour of your socks drawer," she rolled her eyes in mock.

 "You can take a tour of my socks drawer anytime, momma," he wagged his eyebrows playfully.

 "Well, shit. What kind of a lame ass cheesy come on is that?  No wonder you end up with hoes."

 "What?" He caught himself laughing again, and truth be known, he was enjoying it.

 "Well, pickup lines like that get you the hoes and skanks, not the nice, good, decent women.  You've got to change your ways, man."

 "I swear your character switch is impeccable. From writer to therapist and now Hitch."

 "Hitch?"

 "Will Smith movie, Hitch, the date doctor."

 "And I charge by the hour so let's hurry up and figure this out." She laughed.

 "There's nothing to figure out my nosey writer slash therapist slash Hitch friend."

 "Of course there is," she nudged him with her elbow. "Because I want you to be happy, because you deserve to be happy."

 "I'm happy," his words were lost in a sigh.

 "But you could be happy-er," she insisted. "So ... like I was saying earlier, you should try singing to them," she suggested. "That would be your niche."

"You mean just randomly walk up to some girl and start singing like I'm in an episode of Glee?"

She smiled. "Why not? Skanks doesn't have the patience for musicals so that will filter them out and leave the nice, good, decent ones. They usually stay and would swoon over your voice."

"Shut up, no one swoons over my voice."

"Wrong! People do. I don't know if you know this, luv, but you have one of the most beautiful voices in the industry." She cautiously turned to face him and sighed. "JC, when you sing ... you ... your voice IS music," she whispered bashfully, not knowing where the sudden tingling sensation that just passed her down from her toe up through her spine came from.

He smiled and the corner of his eyes showed off genuine happy lines. Happy lines that she have always loved, happy lines that are now hitting and tugging at her heart.  "Thanks."

With a sigh, she quickly looked away, confused at the sudden whirl in her heart. She licked her lips and gave herself a mental shake to dismiss it. "So, yeah ... you should sing like it's some Glee episode or something. I'm telling you its fool proof."

"Fool proof?"

"Yep. It's been proven. I've witness it."

"Oh yeah?" He rolled his eyes as he laughed lightly.

"During your hay days as a pop star, dude, the body count was unprecedented! Every girl just turned into puddle, I swear!"

"A puddle, huh?"

"Yep," she nodded emphatically, the bed sheets moving as her head moved.

"And it's fool proof."

"Uh-huh. It's spared no one."

"So did you puddled too?"

"Puddled?" One of her eyebrows arched.

"Yeah, you said I spared no one so were you one of my victims?"

"No!" She quickly said when she realized what he meant.

"I thought it was fool proof?"

"Yes, but not with me. I'm ... uhmm... I'm immune. Yeah. That's it. I'm immune." She stammered not knowing why he suddenly turned her stupid.

"You're immune?"

"Yes. And I also have an echo," she frowned. "But yeah, I'm immune because you're you and I'm me and I've known you since you've been singing M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E. Plus, dude I've seen you in that atrocious Hail Caesar haircut, and that sorta shattered any kind of hope ... so yeah ... I'm immune."

JC broke out in a chunky guffaw, enjoying every bit of her insult. She, after all these years, has never ceased to amaze him. "Yeah? Are you sure that you are immune?" He challenged, rolling to his side, using his elbow as an anchor so he can rest his head on his hand and face her. He figured, eye for an eye.

"Am I sure? As sure as I know that your Hail Cesar haircut was scarier than the movie Conjuring."

JC laughed. "So you don't mind if I test your theory?"

"What?"

"Whatever!" He laughed. "But hey, seriously are you sure?"

With mischief in his eyes, he began singing. "I was alone, I took a ride, I didn't know what I would find there. Another road where maybe I could see another kind of mind there..."

Shit! Her brain screamed. He knew it was her favorite song. "Stop!"

Of course he didn't.  "Ooh, then I suddenly see you...ooh, did I tell you I need you? Every single day of my life..."

"JC! Seriously, stop!" She warned, sitting up, their nearness getting to her now, his voice was making the butterflies in her stomach twerk it like Miley Cyrus.

He winked and sang it! "You didn't run, you didn't lie, you knew I wanted just to hold you. Had you gone, you knew in time, we'd meet again for I had told you..."

"I'm warning you!" She threatened.

"What? Are you puddling now?"

"Puddling? That's not even a word," she frowned.

With a smirk, he sat up so he can lean into her and sing in her ears.  "Ooh, you were meant to be near me ... ooh, and I want you hear me ... say we'll be together every day..."

He deliberately sang each lyric slowly and Liz was glad she wasn't on her feet because she was a hundred percent that her knees went weak .... and she was one hundred and one percent puddled. "God!" She sighed, pretending to be annoyed as she reached over cover his mouth with her hand to silence him. "Jace ... stop!"

"Gahtumgohlauuh," he mumbled and laugh from behind her hand as he tried to pry her hand away.

"What?" She tried to look stern but couldn't help to let a smile escape when she saw how he was trying to squirm free from her.

"Got to get you into my life!" He sang, his eye beaming devilishly, she could swear tiny horns were sprouting out the top of his head.

"Stop. It."

"Why? Am I getting to you? Are you swooning now huh?" He teased, wagging his eyebrows and smiling at her flirtatiously.

"Shut up! No!" Liz insisted before she took a deep breath trying to settle herself, trying to figure out why he was acting that way in the first place. It was never like this before .... Never.

But now just one look in his eyes ... just hearing him sing ...

What was going on?

"What can I do, what can I be? When I'm with you I want to stay there..."

She was getting goose bumps as the song's words were pulling at her heart as it was singing what was in her heart because whether she denies it or not, one of the reasons why moving here was an easy decision was because of him. As of that moment she wasn't sure why just yet though.

"Oh my god, you're not going to stop are you?" She sneered more at herself than him.

"Nope. Not until you admit to puddle." He said smugly then sang again. "If I'm true I'll never leave and if I do I know the way there..."

In one swift movement, she was able to grab the pillow from the head of the bed and hit him over her head, covering his so she could silence him.

"What the ..." he managed to throw the pillow away from his face and with his long arms grab another pillow, hitting her square in the face.

"Ohhh ... you just did not do that!" She stood up and positioned herself for an attack.

With just one hand, his arm flew to hit her again, laughing as the pillow caught her head.

"That's it!" She declared and went on an attack.  They were laughing and screaming in between their scuffle until they found themselves on the floor, with her on top of him, pinning him.

They were face to face ... out of breath ...their smiling lips almost just inches away ...

He was caught by surprise at the sudden emotion that was rushing though his whole body that very moment. There was like a flash... or maybe an explosion when their eyes met, in that heap of laughter and sheets there was an overwhelming realization that hit him - she was beautiful.

His eyebrows furrowed as his brain tried to process what his heart was telling him. He had known her almost all his life and yes he knew she was pretty, but now ... it was almost as if he was seeing her in a different light for the first time ... her smile ... the sparkle in her eyes... the way her hair falls down her eyes ... the sound of her laughter ... her scent ... the way she felt in his arms....

He licked his lips and without even knowing it, he began singing what was in his heart, his essay and reason for his debacle.  "Ooh, then I suddenly see you ... ooh, did I tell you I need you... every single day of my life..."

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when he felt soft lips crushing down on his, catching him by surprise. The kiss was at first tentative and cautious then suddenly ... slowly... became warm and just absolutely wonderful... beautiful.

She didn't know what came over her. As she found herself on top of him, their breath just almost an inch of space away, in the heap of laughter and sheets, only one thing came to her mind when she looked into his eyes, his beautiful, tangerine dreams and marmalade skies, blue eyes - kiss him. There was a need... she needed to kiss him ... to taste him.

And so throwing all caution to the wind, she closed her eyes and tasted him. And it was beautiful. And minty.

His lips tasted like mint.

She wanted that kiss. At the recesses of her mind yes, she's been wanting that kiss.

There was an a whirlwind of a tornado going on in her heart and in her gut that at first she couldn't understand why but when he cautiously kissed her back ... as he took her in his arms .... she realized what was going on... not just why she wanted that kiss but why she was there ... why she was willing to drop everything and move her life to where he was. She needed to be with him ... because he was her home.

"Shit." She heard him mumble as he tried to catch his breath and tried to let go of her. Her heart stopped, afraid of what was going to happen next. It was too late for her and if he regretted any of this, she knew it would break her heart.

"Hey," he said, slowly releasing her, pushing her gently so he can sit up and catch his breath. He closed his eyes for a while, trying to calm his heart and mind that were both racing to one million different directions. When that didn't work, he stood up to pace, trying to make sense of everything. He was thinking it was impossible because she was one of the guys .... just Liz but now ...

He stopped in front of her and with just one glimpse at her ... sitting so vulnerable on the floor, by the foot of the bed, probably as confused and scared as he was ... yet so beautiful ... was enough to break him.

He knew that there was no stopping him when he got  her up to her feet, pulling her close to him, his arms encircling her waist as if he didn't want her to escape, and kissed her again, this time with urgency... with such boldness and fierceness. It was as if there was a need to fill a void ... to make up for lost time. He was afraid that she would push him back this time but she didn't... she kissed him back, deepening the kiss and allowing his tongue to taste her ... lick and playfully nibble on her lower lip like it was candy, tilting his world in its axis.

But it was when she sighed and melted into his arms after that kiss, after he felt her heart beat thump against his chest that he finally realized what his heart knew from the start. Now he understood the reason behind the string of women ... the emotional unavailability ... she was right ... he has been looking and looking for the right person ... his other half ... everywhere else but home. She was already there ... right there in front of him...

"Liz ..." He whispered in her hair, enjoying the sweet scent of her shampoo.

"Hmnnn..." was all she could manage what with her dream like state.

"Remember what we were talking about earlier?" He asked to which she only replied with a shake of the head because truth be known, her mind is blank right about now. "Remember how I'm asking you to stay here with me? Not to get a place of your own anymore?" 

She bit her lower lip after she released him so she could look up to him. She nodded and blushed when she met his gaze.

"I think you should stay," he nervously said. 

"Okay," she said softly, although she knew how big that response meant.

"In ... uhhh ... in my life. I want you to be part of my life ... stay in my life," his stomach was tumbling as he say each word. 

She smiled. "I've been in your life, Jace."

He sighed and with just that thought calmed him. "I know. Thank you," He couldn't resist brushing his lips with hers, kissing her again, sending electricity down both their spines. 

"You're welcome," she was still smiling, tingling at the emotion that was enveloping her now.

He looked down at her in awe of what seemed to be new but has been there all their life ... forever. "But how about forever?" 

"Forever?"

"Yeah. Staying forever with me because I ... uhmmm... I love you." 

Her heart literally jumped with pure bliss as soon as she heard those words. "You do?" Her smile was from ear to ear now that she thinks she might look stupid now.

"Yeah," he nodded, enjoying the feeling of what he said meant. "I guess since forever. I just didn't know it was there. I guess I need for you to kiss the hell out of me for me to realize it." 

This time she was giddy. "I guess it's the same for me. I needed you to puddle me up to realize that  I love you too."

"You do? You love me?" It was just simply amazing. When she nodded yes, he knew he needed to ask his question again. "So will you stay in my life forever?" 

Forever.

She loved the sound and idea of that. 

"Every single day of my life?"

He laughed at their cheesiness and sap as he nodded. "And mine." 

"Yes. I'll take forever then."

 

Let me take you down coz I'm going to strawberry fields...*

 

 

"What is this?" JC asked, pointing at about a dozen or so stick figures on the dry erase message board they had by the counter as he brought the strawberries he just cut the stem off and washed to the kitchen island where they were having breakfast.

"What?" Liz looked up from her coffee mug, her first for that morning.

"This," he tapped the white board again to show her what seemed to be a count down or up of some sort.

"Oh, sixteen."

"Sixteen what?" He placed the bowl of strawberries on the granite counter.

"Sixteen times I've been mentioned, photo-opt and blind itemed with you over at JADED," she replied, wiggling her eyebrow with a silly grin, smile knowing how much he despised that infamous gossip website.

"How many times do I have to tell you to quit reading shit from the site?" He warned, sitting himself in the stool beside her before pouring a bit of creamer into the mug of coffee she had gotten him earlier.

 "Well, what can I do? People call and text me to tell me I'm in it! Of course, I've got to see!"

"And you're counting each time?" JC asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yep.  I'm doing a countdown till they finally call me your ho. "

JC frowned and then shook his head as he stirred his coffee with the spoon that was in her mug. "You're weird."

"Babe, what did I say about you always trying to drag me into this who's weirder contest?  You will always win ... I mean, I have a bucket list full, including how you always take silverware that I am already using and use it , so shut up already."

He rolled his eyes and laugh as he picked up a strawberry, popping the whole thing into his mouth.   "Yumanabuhahoo?"

"Didn't your mom tell you not to talk when your mouth is full? What did you say?"

He made a face at her as he swallowed. "You want to be called a ho?"

This time she smiled. "Well, you know, it seems like your only purpose for their website is to provide them with a list of hos but so far I'm a no go," she pretended to be disappointed.  "I only get a - ‘Who is she?', a ‘Who's that girl?' and my favorite to date - ‘FWB'."

"What's FWB?"

"Seriously, you've got to get into the lingo program!  F.W.B. -  Friends With Benefits."

"Ahhhhh..." he nodded. "Well ... true that ..." he shrugged, popping another berry in his mouth.

Liz took a strawberry from the bowl as well only to throw it at him.

"Hey! What?" He was laughing.

She shot him the look. "Careful now."

"It is true, though. We are friends and goddamit, we've got benefits."

"Oh, yeah?"

is eyes sparkled with mischief as he swiveled his stool so he can face her and then leaned in for a slow , sweet , delectable , strawberry fields flavored kiss.  "Very, very good, goddamn benefits." 

 

 

 

Thought I'd been in love before but in my heart, I wanted more

Seems like all I really was doing was waiting for you...*

 

It was right after Liz had added the nineteenth stick on the whiteboard for her countdown that she got the phone call.

"Hello?" She bit her lower lip nervously. She... okay ... THEY have been expecting and anticipating his call from day one and now that he's calling ... shit ... how come JC wasn't home to take this phone call.

"So when were you intending to tell me, sis?"

Liz cringed as her mind tried to remember the excuse they have been trying to formulate and memorize for quite some time now. "Well, we were trying to figure out the right time."

"And when would be the right time? Would that be after JADED post a picture of my sister and my best friend getting their mack on  in a restaurant?"  He snarled in sarcasm.

"Wait. What are you talking about? There's a pic of us in Jaded?"

"Yes," Joe replied.

Liz sighed, running to JC's office to flick her laptop open and immediately click onto the website.  She couldn't stop herself from smiling when she finally saw the pictures after a few scrolls down. They were in a booth in the back of the cafe, it was after a quiet walk the night before, and they were canoodling, yes, she used the word canoodling, because that's exactly what they were doing over coffee and chai. And someone got the money shot when JC leaned in for a quick kiss, blushing like teenagers afterwards, enjoying the freshness of their relationship and still amused and amaze of what they have.

She sighed and blushed at the memory but frowned when she realized something, no, they still haven't called her his ho. Today it was - ‘Is She The One?'

Wow. I'm the one? Wow. Who would have thunk?

"Liz? Hello? Liz?"

Her brother's voice brought her back from her sappy cloud nine.

"What the hell is going on Liz?" Joey asked when all he heard were shuffles and sigh.

"Hey,  yeah sorry, I had to check it out for myself.  So yeah, that's twenty."

"Twenty what?"

"Oh, I've been counting how many times I get a mention on Jaded and this is the twentieth time," she explained.

"You're counting your what? Honey, you're weird." Her brother accused.

She rolled her eyes even if he can't see her. "Oh please, not you too. Stop it. If I'm weird then you're weird. We share the same DNA big brother."

"Yeah whatever," he scoffed. "So, explain to me again why I'm the last to know, especially if JADED knows it twenty times over me?"

"Well, geesh, Joe, did you want for JC to call for a press con?"

"Don't," he warned. "Don't cop out with an attitude with this, Liz. A phone call from either of you would have been nice."

"We'll we figured the parentals would have told you. They stayed here when they took the rest of my stuff here."

"Well they didn't. They probably thought I knew already since the guy you're shacking up with is hello! My best friend."

"Sorry it's just that ..."

"Is he being a fucking wuss about it?"

"Hey, you knew from the get go that I was staying with him when I moved here."

"For a bit ... for a while ... while you were looking for a place ... it's cool. You're  staying at our friend's house, my best friend's house so yeah ... I wasn't worried  ... I knew you were safe  .. that is until you two decided to hook up."

"Shouldn't it be more of a relief for you, just like for mom and dad, that  I ... that it's JC? Someone we've known since forever?"

"No because since I've known him since forever, I know him and his crap and how his mind works. So no! Not with you."

"But it's okay if it's with a different girl?"

"Yes."

"It's not like I could help who I fall in love with Joe."

"I'm flying in."

"What?"

"Tomorrow. My plane lands at eight in the evening. Tell him to pick me up at the airport. I want him there."

"Joe, come on."

"What? You think I won't let him off without giving him the talk? Best friend or not ... and especially because he is my best friend, he IS getting the talk."

She just sighed.

"You don't even know half the battle I'm going through here Liz. I mean the mental picture of my best friend doing my ..."

"Don't say it Joe. It sounds bad when you say it that way."

"Well, it's bad any other way from where I stand. So cut me some slack here. Go tell your lover boy about tomorrow, I have to go now."

"I love you, Joe."

"Yeah, well, I love you too but that doesn't mean I won't kill him if I have to."

"Joe!"

"Bye, Elizabeth!"

Liz' forehead formed creases as she frowned at her phone. Although she knew that it wouldn't be as ugly as a blood bath as her brother hinted, she still felt nervous and scared of whatever  her brother have planned for JC.

Shit.

May the force be with him.

 

"Get out of the car," Joey instructed as soon as they were at JC's driveway, looking over his shoulder to Liz who was sitting in the back seat. It was the first time he said anything since his arrival.

JC has been fretting from the time she had given her the good news about Joey's visit so they could talk so he figured she's go with him to the airport to pick up her brother for moral support and to make sure Joey doesn't kill him the moment he lands.

"What? Why?" She demanded.

"Out of the car, Liz!"

"Joey..."

"It's okay, hun," JC interrupted, catching her eyes via the rear view mirror.

"Are you sure?"

JC nodded. "Might as well get this over with," he sighed.

"Joe, I swear..."

"What are you fighting this fight for him?"

"No, she's not!" JC quickly corrected. "Liz, it's cool, come on. I'll be alright," he nodded.

Liz sighed in resignation. "Fine," she rolled her eyes and in a huff got out of the car, banging the door close. "Don't let him get to you," she said, walking over to JC by the driver side and leaning in the window, bending down so she can give him a quick kiss at first but then the naughty in her decided to give her brother a show so she made the kiss linger and purposely moaned loud enough for her brother to hear just to piss him off.

"Oh fucking A! Stop it or the blood shed will commence now!"

Liz gave a satisfied laughed as JC eyes widened, mouthing, "What the hell were you thinking?"

She playfully shoved JC back into the driver's seat so she can have a better view of her brother.  "You better bring him back, Joe," she pointed an angry finger at her brother. "In one piece. Do you hear me? ONE PIECE!"

 

They went to a bar, JC figured if he was going to talk to Joey, it would be in a public place, where there will be witnesses, a lot of witnesses, just in case.

Joey ordered them a shot of Jack, neat, and when it arrived, he took one of the glasses and pushed it back and forth between his hands, letting it slide on the wooden surface of the bar. "Okay, now you can talk."

JC took his glass, and in one swig, drank himself some liquid courage.

"Joe..."

"Do you love her?"

Here we go ...

"Remember when we were in Europe and for a while there we were all obsessed with Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman?" Joey didn't really answer, so he just continued. "Remember how we told ourselves how cool it would be to be like Edward Lewis because he gets all the chicks and damn, that Lotus Esprit and of course, Vivian. He got Vivian in the end.  She may be a ho but she's got heart. And of course she was hot and dude! She's Julia Roberts."

Joey was still quite, still sliding his glass from one hand to the other.

JC sighed, biting his lower lips, he was more nervous now about explaining to his best friend how he felt than anything else.

"Joe, as much as I'm so glad and don't miss you calling me sappy and girly anymore, because you've called me that so many times that I lost count already, but dude, when I'm with your sister, when I am with Elizabeth, I become Edward Lewis ... I am Edward Lewis and I found my Vivian."

"Are you telling me that my little sister's a ho?" Of all the things he had to say when he finally decided to speak. Typical.

"Hey," he raised both his hands up as if surrendering. "I am not the one doing a countdown as to how long it would take a stupid gossip site to call her a ho. Maybe in her messed up perverted head, she want so be one, I don't know." He had to laugh though, love writhing in his heart.

"Ain't she special?" Joey scoffed.

"She is," JC agreed not even realizing he was sighing, "Weird and odd and crazy and funny and fierce and smart and snarky and all things beautiful and ... hot."

"Well shit," Joey finally decided to take a sip of his drink.

"Ohhh... fuck, sorry." JC's ears turned red when he realized what he just said.

"Dude," Joey began, shaking his head as if it would help erase the thought his best friend just planted there. "If you value our friendship and your life, please, please, never ever tell me that my sister is..." he stopped himself by finishing his whiskey. "Hit me again," he nodded at the bartender.

"I'm sorry," JC apologized again. "I know this may seem weird for you, Joe..."

"Weird? Dude, man, weird does NOT even begin to explain where I am at right now."

"I love her, man."

"Are you sure?"

"Is the pope catholic?" JC quipped then sighed as he watched Joey finishes his second drink in one quick swig. "Look, I know and understand your apprehensions, she is after all your sister."

"I just ... man, and you know I wouldn't really meddle, but you are right she is my sister and I don't want her, even though we did agree that she's looking forward to it, ending up being called one of your hos on Jaded or any other magazines or gossip sites because you know damn well she doesn't deserve it."

"I know. I know. And trust me, Joe, she's not going to be part of the grocery list of my weekly ho specials. This is it for me."

"It better be and it was more of a every other woman every other day grocery list, bro. It was scary."

JC sighed again. "I know. Stupid. But .. I don't know I ... can I blame it on midlife crisis?"

"Dude you're not even midlife yet. If you acted that way during our hay days I would understand, I mean hey, I was there too ... girls throwing themselves at us ... man! Those were the days!" Joey smiled at that memory.

"Those were good times, huh?" JC nodded, going down memory lane as well.

"Good times." He agreed.

They were quiet for a while and before Joey, spoke again. "Tell me again that this is it this time, Jace. With Liz. Promise me that you are sure because this is different now, she is my family and hell, she's yours too. "

"I know that's why this time I know this is it. I am very sure." He answered earnestly.

"Yeah? Because I can remember sometime four years ago when you told me you were definitely sure too."

"Because I was but she wasn't. I ... man, I thought it would be different since I wasn't I the limelight so it wouldn't be about being a celebrity. But as our song goes ... I was too blind to see that it was still all about that. No matter how guarded I was, how hard I tried to filter out who wants you for you and not for anything else," he sighed. "I guess I wasn't that big of a star anymore..."

"Jace, stop." Joey interrupted, knowing how unfair it was and insulting it was for his friend, his brother to go through. "She wasn't worth it, okay?"

JC just nodded then took one gulp to finish his drink then pushed it toward the bar tender for a refill. "It's all good, man. It's so long ago. I made a mistake, I believed in fairy tales, I believed in the stupid love songs I wrote and sang about. How stupid was I huh?"

Joey nodded. "You know Liz called that right?"

JC rolled his eyes as he smiled. "How could I forget when she was bitching about Melissa from day one?"

"More like wanting to off her."

Both men laughed, clicking their glasses for a toast before taking a drink.

"Why did you think I didn't tell her all the details? I knew he would have committed murder if she found out what went down between Mel and I." He smiled. "Do you think she already knew back then  .. you know?" JC asked moments later, signaling the bartender for another shot.

Joey shrugged picking up his glass to swirl the amber liquid in it.  "I dunno."  But actually, he did. He knew it was there ... saw it as early as right after he introduced them to each other and became more obvious and evident through the years.  Joey knew that even if he somehow hoped it won't happen, he knew that eventually it was going to happen.

But in the same token, although he will never admit it for now, he was kinda relieved that it was JC because he was a good man and he knew he will treat his sister right, but like he decided, he won't admit to that just yet. He was going to make him sweat a bit because the boy has no idea what hell hole he has put him in right now. Because just that thought of his best friend and his sister together just gives him the freaking heebeegeebeezz!

"Did you?"

"No." He shook his head. "I mean, there was an innate need to protect her, care for her, love? Yes, but not like this...not like now ..." his voice trailed as a smile won over. "Because if I did, I wouldn't waited this long." He was quiet for a moment then continued.  "Do you know how it was for me, Joe? How despite the fame I felt like my life's puzzle wasn't complete? Then I met Mel..."  his voice trailed once more, not wanting to rehash that part of his life. "For a second ... for two years I thought my puzzle was complete but then it turned out that the pieces from her where does not even fit my puzzle, does not even belong to my puzzle. That broke me man, burned me good. And then I see you completing your puzzle with Kel and J with Jes, Chris with Amy, and man, even Lance,  I was like shit ... what the hell is wrong with me? I was jealous, man. So I guess that explains what your sister calls my grocery list of hos. I just kept going through all of them ... all of the puzzle pieces hoping to find the piece that would fit. And then out of nowhere, your sister decided to move here and need a place to stay for a while and somehow ended up at my place because she didn't want to stay at her brother's and intrude his almost one year wedded bliss."

Joey had to smile as he remembered the long drawn out argument they had about it. She was adamant, relentless, and her tenacity was amazing that he didn't even know how he lost.

"I wasn't even thinking of puzzle pieces you know, just trying to help out one of my best friends, but suddenly they were just there, I dunno, probably fell out of her suitcase while she was unpacking. And man, without even doing anything, they just sorta fell into place and fit. She had the fucking puzzle pieces I was looking for all this time. And her pieces fit mine perfectly."

"You know what kid? I was beginning to warm up on the idea of you and my little sister and then you start dropping words about how her piece fits into yours .. damn it Z! Didn't I warn you earlier? I swear if you give me that unwanted visual again tonight, you will lose a very important appendage on your body! Let me see if there are any more pieces that would fit anywhere!" Joey shook his head, giving himself a mental shake and then drinking his Jack.

"Sorry," JC laughed.

"I swear you're doing it on purpose," Joey shook his head.

"No, I'm not," JC swore. "I'm just trying to explain to you what's going on and trying to make you see how this is it for me, Joe. I mean if I only knew she had the pieces ... I mean .. I'm sorry ... shit!" He had to laugh again when Joey flipped him the finger. "What I meant was ... if I only knew he was the one then I wouldn't have waited this long to figure it out because, she has always been there."

"Maybe, both of you needed to run the course first," Joey said, finishing his drink. "Maybe you two needed to let it all out first. Maybe you guys needed to wait, live and learn so when you finally get together ..."

"You're probably right. It wouldn't be like this if we pushed it when we weren't ready yet. I mean after that debacle ..."

"Debacle," Joey interrupted with a smirk. "That's a good word for you, Z."

JC chuckled, relief that Joey didn't seem deadly anymore. "Why, thank you. Five bucks word, you think? Though I must admit that it's your sister's word."

"Ahhh... then you only get two-fifty, man." Joey laughed.

JC laughed too but was soon quiet, shaking his head to fight of the nervousness he felt again. "So ... uhm... are we cool?"

Joey nodded. "I don't have any choice." He said coldly. "But fine, I will have to say this, I really didn't want to because I wanted you to sweat a little but," he paused to sigh in surrender. He love them both - his sister, his best friend and he was, in spite of all the unwanted visuals, happy for them. "I am glad it was you. If there was anyone I trust with my sister, it's you, man."

"Thanks," relief finally washes over him. It was important for him that Joey gave them his blessing because he was his best friend.

"But..."

"Shit."

"You better believe it, kid, there is a but. If you hurt my sister I swear to god ..."

"Joe, in a perfect world, I won't even dare hurt her, but it's not ... so we will go through some hard days but, I promise you that I will try everything not to hurt her on purpose, is that okay?"

"Fair enough." Joey nodded. "But I'm still putting it out there that if you do hurt her, I will beat you senseless, boy."

"Just beat me up? Not offing me? How generous of you!" He dared to jest.

"I am leaving the killing to Liz," Joey said a-matter-of-factly and laughed at his threat. "You know she will."

JC nodded but smiled. Yes. He knows she will.

 

 

She found him sitting on the edge of his king sized bed, the bed they now share, unbuttoning his shirt until his white Hanes undershirt became visible. "Hey," she smiled.

"Hey," he looked up at her and smiled too.

"Where's my brother?" She asked with a raised brow.

"I dropped him over his at Lance, he's staying there while he's in town. He said something about until I was sure I had thick walls, he wouldn't spend the night here."

Liz laughed, getting exactly what her brother meant. "Man, you and my brother just have freaking dirty minds!"

JC held up his hand as if in surrender. "Hey, that's your brother's mind not mine." He laughed as he extending his arm to her as an invitation.

"So how was it?" She asked as he sat her on his lap. She eyed his face for battle scars but was relief to find none.

"It was okay. I believe Joey just made a drama over it to make us sweat a bit but it's all good." He assured him as he snaked his arms around her tiny waist and gave her a gentle kiss behind her ears, his favorite spot.

Her eyes automatically closed as she sighed. It was her favorite spot too. "Thanks for doing it for humoring him."

JC shrugged. "It had to happen anyways. Remember how I also talked to him about Cass, so it's fine. I let him give me the usual ‘I'll beat the crap out of you if you ever hurt my sister' bullshit routine and in return I pretended to be scared and promised him that I will try not to hurt you because you're kinda it. That you're my missing piece of my puzzle. My Vivian."

"Oh, lord!" She interrupted at the mention of Pretty Woman, rolling her eyes. "I forgot that you and my brother share that same obsession. Damn! You two are sappy! Seriously!"

"Shut it, you like sap!" He laughed this time his eyes disappearing as he chuckled.

"I do but let me tell you that as soon as you go overboard, I'm gonna have smack you around a bit, okay?"

"Fair enough. Besides, you can do anything you want with me honey because like I told your brother, you are the one," he gazed as her tenderly, smiling with his eyes, showing off the happy lines she loved.

She had to laugh as she remembered the blurb under their canoodling picture in Jaded.

"Why are you laughing? I just told you that you're THE one for me and you laugh!" He complained almost in whining.

Her heart was doing cartwheels in her chest as she continued to laugh and it took sheer power from stopping herself from doing it herself. "Stop whining!" She said, wrapping her arm around his neck. "It's just that .. did Joe tell you about our picture on Jaded today?" JC nodded and she continued. "The caption was - Is she the one."

This time a stupid grin graced his face. "Hah! I guess they can be right once in a while."

"So I'm the one huh?"

"Only one."

She smiled not knowing what to do with this man in her arms because he just melted her puny, sappy heart. "Should we call Jaded and confirm that?" She teased.

She recognized the spark that she saw in his eyes as soon as his lips formed a naughty, sexy grin. "I actually have something else in mind to confirm that," he said as he nuzzled into her neck.

She sucked in air as she bit her lower lip, enjoying the sensation his lips was giving her and when she could no longer contain herself, she gently held his head with both her hand, lifting it so she can meet her gaze. "I love you, Josh.

"I love you, Liz." his voice was lost as their lips touch for a kiss and the confirmation commenced.

 

 

Now it's time to say good night, sleep tight.*

 

 

"Josh?"

This was usually their favorite time of the day- in bed, ready for their reprieve from a tiring day. He spent a good eighteen hours inside the recording studio, completing a track with one of the artist he was working with and she clocked in her usual eight hours to the publishing mecca and a few more in front of her laptop at home, editing future  features.

It was the time of day that they look forward to, unwinding, enjoying the intimacy and small talk, lying close to each other, knowing eventually they will be falling asleep in each other's arms.

"Hmnnn?"

"Are you awake?"

"No."

"Jay-ceeee..." Liz added a little whine, deliberately making the slightest of movement in his arms.

"Go to sleep, Liz," he mumbled.

"Your light is still on."

"Turn it off then."

"But it's YOUR light, on YOUR side of the bed," she reminded him, allowing her eyelids to flutter open to eye the offensive lampshade by his side of the bed before looking up at him.

His arms tightened around her. "I'm already asleep, remember?"

"But the light is in my eyes."

"Then close them."

"It doesn't matter, they're still bothering me," she complained.

The corners of his mouth moved, threatening to smile. "Then that's your problem."

Oh! He just didn't say that!

She was fuming but kept her cool as she tried to formulate her attack.

With a sly and determined look in her eyes, she looked up at his profile. He was beautiful, but goddamn it, a certified pain in the ass. So no, she was not backing down.

She allowed her fingers to lazily trail from her side to his chest then started drawing imaginary circles as she scooted herself a few inches up so her lips can begin tracing light kisses on his shoulder then nuzzling into his neck.

"Liz..." his voice struggled in a gruff.

"Hmnnn?"

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to make you turn off your light." Her lips smiled in the kiss.

There was a soft moan as JC maneuvered himself so he can now be on top of her, claiming her lips for a slow, sultry, kiss. When he felt Liz snake her arms round his neck and relaxed into the kiss, he gently pulled away rolling himself back to the opposite side of the bed.

"But now that the light is by YOUR side, now you can turn it off," he gave a smug laugh of victory.

Her eyes grew wide, huffing as she pushed away from him, incredulous at how she was played.  

Oh hell to the no!

"I swear I will move to the guest room and sleep there if you don't turn that damn light, JC," she threatened.

The mattress shifted as she heard a groan. "Are you telling me that you'd rather get up, walk down the hall to the guest room than to simply reach and turn of the lamp?" He placed an arm around her waist trying to pull her close.

"Yes," she frowned, pushing his hand away. She was not backing down. It's called principle or more appropriately, revenge.

"Liz, honey, I love you but you are weird."

"So said the idiot who much rather argue with his girlfriend and push his chances of sleeping alone and not getting any rather than lifting his finger to turn off the lamp shade that was on his fucking side of the bed."

"What?" JC sprang up to sit.

"That got your attention, did it?"

"You're not really moving to the guest room and you're not really serious about the ..."

"Bet me." She dared.

"Maybe I would ..." he dared to tease.

Liz shook her head at his tenacity as she sat up, ready to get out of bed. "You would? You want to find out? You really want to do this, C? You want to make a bet? Over a fucking lamp shade?"

JC was ready to say yes, you know, pride and shit, but then made a mistake by giving his brain a second to consider her threat. He had to bite his lower lip when after a quick weighing of the pros and cons of the would be bet, he realized he really didn't like the cons that much and so for that time, just that time though, he was going to whip out the white flag of surrender.

"No," he frowned, hate to accept defeat.

"I thought so," she smirked. "Now turn off the damn light and let's go to sleep."

JC made a face.

Liz smile smugly. "Go on."

With a sigh, he begrudgingly reached over her to turn off the light. "There, happy?" He asked his girlfriend in the dark that he didn't see her smile.

"Very," she replied in satisfaction, laying back to bed, snuggling into their sheets. She heard another sigh from JC before she felt him settle next to her, shifting until he had turned on his side, facing her back, and resting an arm around her waist and nuzzling into her neck, thinking this pro was worth his pride.

"Liz?" JC whispered a few minutes later.

"Hmnnn..."

"Are you still awake?"

"No."

"Liz ..."

"Go to sleep, JC."

"Well, how do you suppose to fall back to sleep after that drama you just pulled? I'm wide awake now," he complained.

"Josh?"

"Yes?"

She was almost tempted to turn the lights back on again just so he could see her victory smile. "That's your problem."

 

It has been decided that they were going to see Thor 2 later that night with Joey and Cass since JC needed Joey with him so they can ponder upon the consequential significant of the alignment of the Nine Worlds as the movie trailer suggested and Liz needed Cass (and Cass needed Liz) to swoon and drool and sigh with when that gratuitous half-naked Thor scene (Oh and they better have that gratuitous half-naked scene or else!) comes to play in all his glory on the silver screen.

And since JC was still out doing his music man thing in a recording studio somewhere, Liz decided to prep herself by whipping out her Thor DVD and enjoy the beauty that was … is … Thor or Chris Hemsworth, either or … she’ll take ‘em …. both.

Yes, please.

She took in a deep breath when the familiar scene began to play on JC’s big ass flat screen TV. It was when Thor needed human clothes and if you ask Liz, Thor looked hot in those human pants clothes so really, he didn’t really need the human shirt clothes. Those human pants clothes were enough.

Yes, please.

She finally exhaled as he paraded in that low-rise–showing-off- that- V-on-his-front-torso-and-that-center-of-the-hip/butt-dimples-human pants, and ran her tongue between her lips before she sucked on her lower lips as she watched his movements as if it was in HD slow motion.

“OH. MY. GOD!”

She sighed.

Again.

Sigh.

And again.

Swoon.

Sigh.

Drool.

 

“Liz…” It was JC. He was home and he was ignored.

He rolled his eyes. He finds his girlfriend’s unhealthy obsession with Thor rather amusing. “Liz, hun, I’m home!”

No response. Her eyes still glued to the TV where Thor was now putting on a shirt. Thank goodness, he thought. Now, in a few seconds, her Thor force field, that same force field that protects Asgard from its enemies, will turn off and she will snap out of her Thor fog and will finally come down to earth and re-join the mere mortals like himself.

A soft moan and then an audible sigh followed.

“If I didn’t know any better I would think you were watching some porn with the way you’ve been quietly moaning back there.”

She knew that JC was home but she also knew how her fascination with the god of Thunder amuses him and in turn it amuses her to just push his button.

“Well, you know,” she began, leaning back on the couch, touching two fingers to her lips for a second then blew out imaginary smoke, pretending to have a puff of a cigarette. “It was really good for me as I was sure good for him,” she deadpanned.

JC couldn’t help but laugh as he took a seat next to his girlfriend. “I’m pretty sure it was, dear,” he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead.

She closed her eyes and sighed at the touch of his lips then quickly backslid her attention to the god of thunder. “You mock!” She complained. “But come on! Look,” she took the remote and rewinds the movie a few seconds back to where Thor was half naked again. “Look it! Man! How can you not orgasm over that!” She sighed. She swooned. She  drooled. All over again.

JC choked and coughed even though he wasn’t drinking anything. What did she just say? Orgasm?

“You okay there bud?” Liz patted her boyfriend’s back with a giggle.

“What the heck, Liz? Orgasm? Really?”

She looked at him as if he had suddenly grown two heads. “Really,” she nodded. “Isn’t he orgasmic?”

“Hell no. He’s not to me!” JC declared.

“Well, of course, because if he was to you then I should seriously consider my choice of partnership here.” She teased.

JC shook his head once more. “You know what? Bite me.” He frowned.

“Maybe later tonight but right now can I just have a bite of Thor?”

“Lady, you are certifiable!” He complained.

“Yet you love me,” she said smugly.

“I’m seriously thinking about it right now,” he deadpanned.

She made a face at him which he thought was cute but would not admit it even if hi life depended on it. “Shut up!” she frowned this time. “But seriously, can I make a request, C?”

“A request?” He repeated as he was skeptical.

“Uhuh,” she nodded.

“I’m afraid to ask woman, but go on.”

“Just in case the world turned on its axis and takes us to a parallel universe where Thor offers to have sex with me, promise me you’ll let me?” She batted her lashes at him as if she was just asking for him to get her some water.

“What?” JC in return looked at her as if she had two heads.

“You heard me.”

“You want me to be okay just in case Thor asked you to have sex with him?”

“Yeah,” Liz nodded giddily.

“Why would you think that it will be okay with me that you sleep with another man?” He asked with a frown.

“Because he’s Thor!”  Duh. “It’s a forgivable cheat, a free pass.”

“A free pass? Liz, come on!”

“What? Every couple has a freebie list,” she informed him. When JC simply raised his eye brow at her, she continued. “Didn’t you have a freebie list with your exes?”

“No,” JC quipped.

“Well, come to think of it, you didn’t keep them long enough to even make up the list, you slut. Seriously I should have had you cloroxed and bleached clean before I took you in.”

“Ahh! That’s what I love about you, sweetheart, ever the romantic.” He rolled his eyes.

She laughed. “But seriously though you never had a freebie list?”

“No.”

“Come on, even Ross and Rachael had them.”

“Who’s Ross and Rachael.”

“Ross and Rachael. Friends. Duh!”

“Ohh … is that the one with Isabella Rossellini on Ross’ list?”

“Yes! So if the ultimate iconic couple like Ross and Rachael has a freebie list, I think we should get one too.”

“What? No.”

“Yes. Because I want one so to be fair you can start one,” she smiled and fluttered her eyelids for effect.

As much as JC tried to resist, he knew that this was a lost case for him as every time his girlfriend is dead set on one thing she will find a way to make it happen, including the fluttering of the eyes (Ohhh! She plays dirty!), Miss Tenacity, remember?

“Fine! Go ahead,” he sighed in surrender.

“Yay!” She clapped her hands as she drew both her legs up unto the couch, leaning against JC’s chest and got comfortable. “Can I start?” She asked excitedly.

“Of course.”

“How many can we have? Ten?”

“Ten? Geesh! And you call me a slut,” he teased.

She frowned. “Well how many?”

“How many was Ross and Rachael’s?”

“Five.”

“There you go – five.”

“Okay, fine, five,” she frowned. “It would be hard to just have five tough.” She complained.

“I don't know if I should get insulted,” JC complained.

“Oh, shush!” She laughed. “Okay, so obviously number one is Thor or Chris Helmsworth, doesn’t matter. He’s orgasm on a stick.”

“Honey, really, I don't need an essay after each guy’s name,” JC frowned.

“Don't you want to know why I picked them?”

“No!” He was quick to answer.

“I’d tell you anyways so suck it up, my love! Number one is Thor and he can use that magic hammer on me anytime.” She smiled naughtily.

“Again with the visual! Stop!”

She laughed. She loved pushing his buttons that way.

He won’t admit it to her right that minute, because he know she was purposely irritating him for fun, but he loves her laugh.

“Okay, number two …” she paused for a bit to think. “John Mayer.”

“I don't think Katy Perry will agree. As your boyfriend I have to caution you with that … you don't want to hear Katy roar.”

“I don't care,” she said defiantly. “His whole your body is wonderland vibe is just orgasmic!” She sighed wistfully.

“There you go again with the O word. Can you skip it when you describe your freebies please? Is that too much to ask?” JC pleaded.

“You’re such whiner, no! Suck it up,” she instructed with a hammy smile.

JC rolled his eyes. She continued.                                                         

“So Thor, John Mayer and next is, Channing Tatum. Afterall, he has the Magic Mike and they even made a movie about. He can definitely Channing All Over My Tatum ,” she sang the infamous song that went viral about a year ago to promote his movie with Jaime Foxx.

“You’re helpless,” JC shook her head as he watched his girlfriend even do a little dance as she sang.

“Don't be a hater,” she batter her lashes then continued. “So next on my list will be Adam Levine. Not just because he moves like Jagger but three words - sexiest man alive!” She said, counting each word with her fingers. “So, yes. Please.”

“You’re hopeless!” He laughed again

“Yet, you love me,” she smiled smugly because she knew that for a fact as she exaggeratedly reached her pursed lips to give him a wet, noisy kiss on his cheek. 

JC hmped. “I guess I do because I’m sitting here listening to you name men you want get your freak on.”

It was her turn to laugh. “And I still have two more. So are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he nodded, trying to keep a straight face.

“Okay, number four would have to be Bruce Banner.”

“The Hulk? You had Thor and now Hulk. Are you planning on putting in the Avengers in your list?”

“No, since you only allowed me five slots, she reminded him. “Plus as tempting as Iron Man and Captain America are they don’t do it for me.”

“No?” His eyebrow arched.

Liz shook her head. “No. Then Hawkeye looks like he’s brooding all time so I can’t deal with that stress. And I know hands down Scarlett Johansson is gorgeous and sexy, but I don't and sorry to disappoint your threesome fantasy, I don't and won’t swing that way. So yeah, just the Avengers with four letter names.”

JC laughed. “But sweetie, I hate to break this to you but if you want to do it with the Hulk, you’re gonna die.”

“Whachutalkinbout?”

“He will crush you to dust.”

“I said, Dr. Banner, you idiot. Not the green guy.”

“It doesn’t matter because any guy, Dr. Banner or not, will get tensed and frazzled and carried away while doing it and bam! He will turn into the green guy anyways and like I said, again, he will crush you to dust thus, dying.”

Liz frowned. “Can you please stop popping my freebie list bubbles? Okay, let me be specific, it’s the actor that played Dr. Banner.”

“Bill Bixby?”

This time she sighed. “What did I say about popping my bubbles? And excuse me, weren’t we just talking about the Avengers? Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson … which only meant that I wasn’t talking about the Bill Bixby- Lou Ferrigno Hulk but the Mark Ruffalo-CGI Hulk.”

“You’re putting Mark Ruffalo in your list?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

JC shrugged. “I dunno. Kinda like, isn’t he too serious to be in your list?’

“Serious is hot, my boy.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He nodded.

“You better,” she nodded back. “Okay, last but not the least, my number five, I pick Jacob.”

“Jacob who?”

“Twilight Jacob.  Seriously, I don't know what other people saw, especially Bella,  in Edward because he’s all clammy and colorless and nothing but Jacob? Tall, dark and man! Those abs! Some kind of delish,” she sighed yet again, with matching dreamy look in her eyes.

“One word – statutory.” JC said in smug.

“Excuse me, Taylor Lautner is legal. He’s twenty-two,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Exactly! He’s twenty-two. Cougar.”

She smiled smugly and began singing, “and you’re gonna hear me roaaarr! Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh! You're gonna hear me roar!”

“Oh, for the love of Edward and Bella! Enough already! You’re done, woman!” JC raised his hands to stop her.

“Fine, but can I say that, for the record, five is not enough for me?” She frowned.

“Duly noted,” JC nodded with a laugh. “So let’s go! We are meeting your brother and Cass at six. I think they want to have dinner first before the movie.” 

He was ready to get up but Liz stopped him. “Wait, what about your list?”

“Do I really have to?” JC complained.

“Yes.” She insisted.

He sighed. “Alrighty then, I’ll choose Julia Robert,” he stuck out his thumb. “Scarlett Johansson,” then stuck out his pointer finger. “Katy…”

“Wait… wait… wait!” Liz waved her hands to stop JC.

“What?”

“Aren't you going to explain why they are in their list, like I did?”

“No.”

“C!” She whined.

“It’s my list, I can do what I want, hun.”

“You’re no fun!” She complained. “Come on, Julia Roberts because we all know that you and Joey have been obsessed with her since Pretty Woman.”

“Oh, great! Now you’re going to do the commentaries for me?”

“Yes, unless you want to do them yourself.”

She was unbelievable. She will not let him win. So he surrendered. “Fine. Like you said, Miss Roberts because Joe and I worship her.”

“As you should,” she agreed.

“And since you passed on Scarlett Johansson, I’ll take her too.”

“Good choice,” she approved. “I mean, if I was a guy or like I said, swing the other way, I would like to do her too.”

“Ahhhh …. for the first time, you are giving me a good visual, woman!”

“Shut up you pervert,” she nudged him with her elbow.

“Ow!” JC grumbled. “Hey!”

She raised a brow at him as he laughed. “Can we move on now? You’re number three. Go!”

“Katy Perry.”

“Ahhh…so you’re the one who want to hear her roar.” She teased.

“Absolutely, she is after all uhmmm … gifted.”

Liz laughed. “Oh my god! You are such a guy!”

“Hey, I figured while you’re with Johnny Mayer, I can entertain Miss Perry for him.”

“Ohhh! Hey! I like that! Team work, high five!” She raised her hand up to him for a fiver.

“I swear if people hear this conversation they will think we’re sick!” He laughed after their high five.

“I’d say they’ll be jealous of our bad ass list.”

“Sure.”

She giggled the looked up at him. “So to continue, who’s your number four?”

“Princess Leia.” He said without a beat.

“Princess Leia?” She repeated just to make sure she heard him right.

“Yes.”

“As in Carrie Fisher?” She made a face. “And you were calling me a cougar earlier?”

“No not the actress, but the character, the Princess Leia character. Like earlier, you wanted the actor that played  Dr. Banner, Mark Ruffalo, right?”

“Uhuh.”

“I want it the other way around. I want the Princess Leia character, not Carrie Fisher, the actress that played her. “Specifically, the Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi when she was held captive by Jabba the Hutt and wearing that …”

“Slut slave costume,” she finished for him.

“I was going to say hair buns …” he smiled naughtily.

“Yeah right.” She rolled her eyes knowing exactly what her boyfriend was thinking. “But okay, I’ll give it to you.”

JC laughed. “Thank you.”

“So last but not the least, you’re number five? Should I give you drum roll?”

He thought for a second with his eyebrows all furrowed. “I don't think I have a five.”

“What? Come one. There are thousands of gorgeous woman out there, pick one!”

“Ahhh every man’s dream, their girlfriend begging them to pick someone else to sleep with!”

“Don't make me smack you,” she threatened. “How about Mila Kunis?””

“Nah.” He shook his head.

“Really?” She couldn’t believe it.

JC simply shrugged. “Too Black Swan.”

“Are you kidding me? You mean you didn’t enjoy that whole thing she did in the movie with Natalie Portman?”

“I am not going to discuss that with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re not Joey, you’re my girlfriend.”

“Aren't you glad I’m not Joey though? Because if I am then that’s just wrong!” She made a face. He laughed. “Fine! Geesh! We’re skipping Miss Kunis  so …how about….hmmmm… oh! I know! How about Miss Janet? Miss Jackson if you're nasty?” She smile

“I would love to have her in my list but, I have way too much respect for her to even think about doing the nasty with her,” he admitted.

She shrugged. “Make sense. How about one of them underwear models? Or Sports Illustrated covers?”

“Been there done them,” he said non-chalantly.

“What?” Her eyes grew wide as she sat up turning to face him.

He actually blushed. “Well, I was part of *NSYNC, remember?”

“You’re a man whore, love, that’s what you are. I swear I should have sent you to the CDC for decontamination.” She shook her head playfully.

“Okay how about … hhmmm… I know! How about Danielle Murano? I mean, she’s a singer-song writer like you, her voice is angelic and she’s gorgeous! And hey, I believe she’s more gifted than Katy Perry.”

He laughed but remained silent                               

“So what say you? I think we have a winner, right? Because come to think of it, she’s the girl version of you, minus the breas … I mean the gifts.” She laughed finding what she just said funny.

JC leaned back, resting his head on the back of the couch, his arm around her suddenly tightened a bit, his thumb nervously ran up and down her skin.

“C?” Liz picked up on his switch to uneasiness.

“Hmmmnn…” His eyebrows furrowed as he bit his lower lip

 “What? So Danielle Murano? Yes?”

“No.”

“No? Why not?” She frowned, curious as to what was going on.

“Uhm …” he needed a moment, cautiously determining how to answer her.

“C, what’s up with you?” She demanded.

He sighed and threw a prayer in heaven. “Uhhhh... been there, done her?” It was more of a mumble.

“What?” She sat up like a spring. “What?”  She wanted to make sure she heard him right.

He didn’t answer, afraid to say anything else.

“Did you just say … You and Danielle Murano? The anointed pop diva?”

“Well …” he was still trying to be cautious not wanting to turn this into something really, really bad. “Did I already say that I was part of *NSYNC?” His face scrunched up like a wadded piece of paper.

“Hhmmmm …” It was her turn to be silent, which worried JC.

“When was this?” She asked moments later. “During your slut years?” She was trying to wrap her brain around that brand new information.

JC looked at her girlfriend for any sighs that would tell him what she was thinking to no avail. “No,” he shook his head. “This was before. I was still singing then,” he answered uneasily.

Her eyebrows furrowed. “During *NSYNC? Really?”

“She opened for us during Strings, remember?”

Liz nodded. “So it was happening then? How come I didn’t know about this?”

“Uhm… management wanted to kept it on the DL,” he nervously offered his explanation.

“So you kept it even from your family and friends?”

“Joe… the guys knew,” he admitted.

“Of course.” She nodded tersely.

“Hey,” he took her hand. “Hey… it was a long, long time ago. So don't worry about it, okay?”

She remained quiet.

Danielle Murano!

Liz thought that her list was a shot at the moon kinda list, it was simply for fun and harmless … but when JC tells her that he can cross out one person off his list… not only did it reminded her that he was still a celebrity, retired or not, but it also turned the jealousy switch on even though she wasn’t supposed to since it happened before they got together. And frankly, she didn’t want JC to know that she was a bit off and jealous.

But of course, he knows. Why do you think he was being very careful with his words? “Liz …” he sighed. “Listen,” He sat up so he was facing her, gently squeezing her hands. “This thing with Danielle, it was nothing, okay? And more importantly, this was before you, okay? Besides you brought her up.”

She took a deep breath, looking at their entwined hands. She knew that this shouldn’t even be an issue, that it shouldn’t affect her at all but … “If I didn’t, would you have said anything?”

“No.”

“Why not? I tell you everything.” She whispered.

“Because it doesn’t merit to be mentioned, to be remembered, it was a quick thing. It didn’t last long and it was nothing, Liz.”

She was still quiet sorting out her feelings.

JC sighed. “Elizabeth, look at me,” he said softly, pulling her back to him. He waited for her to meet his gaze before he spoke again. “Hey, listen, I don't want her nor need her in my list, okay. As a matter of fact, I’m done with lists, any list. I had them, I must admit, before you, I had them, I had a lot of them, but I don't need them anymore because I have you. You are all I need.”

Liz took a deep breath. Suddenly she felt foolish for letting the green-eyed monster influence her even for a second. It was just that, she loved JC so much that she … she was selfish, for a lack of a better word, when it came to him. But she knew that there was really nothing to be worried about because he loved her too … she feels it … her heart knows it.

She bit her lower lip so as to try and stop herself from smiling. She was swooning, goddamit! This man really knows how to melt her heart. “Man, I guess, that’s why you’re a heartthrob, huh? That thing you just said, I must admit … I’m a puddle right now,” I blushed in admittance.

His eyes smiled first before his lips, obviously pleased with what I just told him. “So you’re finally admitting to puddling, huh?”

She nodded with a laugh, forgetting all about what’s her name and falling more in love with this man.

“I knew it.” Now he was just being smug.

“Yes,okay.” Liz admitted. “Sorry for being a brat,” this time she frowned. “I was just … I dunno … as the great John Lennon said – I’m just a jealous guy … gal.. girl … whatever.”

“Ohhh, baby, jealous is hot!” He wagged her eyebrows playfully, and then stopped as if he realized something. “But not the mad jealous kind okay? Not the Fatal Attraction bunny boiler kind. That will be bad. Very, very bad.” He frowned.

“I promise,” she laughed raising her right hand.

“Good.” He nodded.

“So you say that jealousy is a bit hot, right?” She asked, wrapping both her arms around his neck.

JC arched his brow. “What do you have in mind, woman?”

“Well… what you said about not needing a list was all sweet and heart puddling…”

“And…”

“And I know I shouldn’t need a list as well because I am the luckiest girlfriend ever because I have the bestest boyfriend ever who, mind you, kept on reminding me that he was part of *NSYNC…”

He laughed. “But…”

She clucked her tongue then pursed her lips. “Well … being that we are watching Thor later … I mean … it would be hard to just give up my list and …”

“What if I turn on my heartthrob charms and use my puddling powers so that the lady can forget about her list?”

“Oh lord! I created a monster! Now he’s calling himself a heartthrob!” She rolled her eyes.

“What? You just confirmed my puddling capabilities, remember?”

“Yeah, but we are talking about Thor here so I don’t …” she stopped midsentence when she realized what JC was doing. “C… what are you doing?” She managed to say as she felt him nuzzle against the crook of her neck, making her gasp and then sigh, erasing and dropping Twilight Jacob and the Hulk off her freebie  list.

“Shhhh! I’m trying to give you amnesia,” she felt him smile against her skin.

“You need to do better, hun, especially if there will be a naked Thor in that movie tonight.” She gave a soft laugh, trying very hard to contain herself.

There was a grunt and a swift movement that made her yelp as he picked up her legs so they are draped over his lap and she was facing him. All she saw was quick flash of naughtiness in his eyes before he began working slow circles with his mouth on her shoulder, making his way back to the side of her neck.

The boy was good.

Channing Tatum and John Mayer who? Body is wonderland or not, they were forgotten.

“How am I doing so far?” He asked snapping her out of her delicious bliss, much to her disappointment.

Giggles escaped her lips as she tried to make her mind focus. “Uhmnn… you were just doing fine until you ruined the moment by asking how you were doing.”

“Well shit.” He frowned. “So Thor is still there?” He asked, tapping his temple with his finger.

She nodded. “Sorry but yes,” she said, sticking out her tongue playfully.

“Ohhh .. is that an invitation, Liz?”

“What?”

Before she knew it, he had pulled her on his lap and was kissing her, making every bone in her body scream and surrender into stupored bliss.

“How about that?” He asked after he released her, his eyes, though still had a blaze of mischief, glowed with love and amazement for the woman that sat speechless before him.

It took every ounce in her to shake out of her trance because if you ask her, not only has she forgotten about the whole list, Thor included, she also, for a second there, forgot her name.

“Can I take your silence as a yes?”

“No.” She managed to say after taking a few calming breaths to slow down her heart rate.

“What?” It was evident that he was surprised that Liz was able to speak after the kiss that may give Jack and Rose's edge of the Titanic epic kiss, a run for its money.  

“Ask me again after we see the movie tonight,” She managed to get her game back on.

JC replied with a sigh and a frown.

Liz gave a soft laugh as she entwined her fingers with his. “I love you, JC.” She kissed his pouted lips.

“Enough to drop Thor from your list?”

“Enough to say maybe,” Liz countered.

He gave another exaggerated sigh before he said, “Fine! You win! You get a free pass. You get to keep Thor. But you got to remember that like you, I share the same sentiments as John Lennon okay? I’m just a jealous guy too.”

“Honey, remember what you said earlier? I too share your sentiment. A little jealous IS hot,” she smiled and now it was her eyes that beamed with mischief this time.

“Well, in that case …” his words were lost as their lips met again, forgetting Thor, forgetting their list, forgetting time and space and shamelessly forgetting to meet Joey and Cass later that night to watch Thor.

 

/end

 

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