Those eight words brought everything in Justin's life to a screeching halt Saturday morning.  He'd just gotten back from taking Buckley and Brennan for a run and as he walked through his bedroom--headed for the shower--he'd turned on the television.  He was supposed to meet Joey, Lance and Chris over at JC's house in a few hours to talk with Johnny over the phone and start working on putting this whole reunion thing together, but his world had just come crashing down around him.  He sat down heavily on the end of his bed.

Normally he wasn't one to pay attention to the rumors that went around about him.  Ever since he'd been fourteen and his name had become a regular in the gossip columns, people had been making up stories about him.  As he flipped through a few channels--each news program running the same story--his heart sunk into the pit of his stomach.  If he'd never seen the girl before he would have been able to turn off the TV and not worry about anything--knowing his lawyer and PR people would take care of everything--but that wasn't the case this time. 

This girl was all too familiar.

He'd been trying to forget about her for the last two months; trying to ignore the nagging guilt in the back of his mind over his stupid mistake of sleeping with her.  His phone rang just then, startling him, and he answered it quickly without looking to see who it was first.

"Is it true?" His mother's voice came over the line as he sat there numbly watching Nikki up on the screen declaring to the entire world that she was carrying his baby.

"I don't know." He answered truthfully.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Lynn asked, not accepting his answer.

"Uh..." He hesitated.

"Justin Randall..."

"I don't know, Ma!" He replied in exasperation, running a hand over the top of his head.  "This is the first I'm hearing about it!"

"Is it a credible claim?" She asked.  "Do we need to worry about this?"

Justin remained quiet as he hung his head, placing his hand over his eyes--flashes of several different and painful memories making him sick.  "Yes." He finally answered--the weight of his poorly made, drug induced decision pressing down against him.  His mother sighed on the other end of the line.

"What about Aubrey?" She asked quietly.

Justin's eyes popped open.  Aubrey!  "Damn it!" He swore.  "Ma, I gotta go." He said his heart beginning to pound anxiously in his chest.  How was Aubrey going to react to all of this?  She'd been hesitant about their relationship in the first place and he was still working to prove that it was going to work between them.  He knew this wasn't going to go over too well with her.  This is going to undo all I've done.  "I'll call you later." He said, ending the call with his mom.  He quickly dialed Aubrey's number--cursing the fact that she was clear across the country from him right now.  This conversation would be so much easier if he could look her in the eyes and gauge her reaction to what he needed to tell her.

"Hi, this is Aubrey.  Sorry I couldn't answer.  Leave me a message and I promise I'll call you back."

"Damn it!" He swore again, hanging up and immediately dialing her number again.  He stood and began pacing nervously as he just got her voicemail again.  He hung up and tried a third time--desperation starting to set in.  He could deal with Nikki and her paternity suit.  What he couldn't deal with was losing Aubrey over it.  They'd come too far and he'd worked too hard to lose her now.  Had she already heard the reports?  Was that why she wasn't answering?  Had she found out about Nikki's claim and was pulling away from him?  Was her not answering her way of telling him it was too late?  That things were over between them?  Justin placed a hand to his chest as it became hard to breathe.  His heart felt like it was being squeezed and he knew he was going to lose it any second now.

"Hi, this is Aubrey.  Sorry I couldn't answer.  Leave me a message and I promise I'll call you back."

Justin stopped pacing and leaned his forehead against the wall--closing his eyes as he finally left her a message.  "Hi, it's me." He said.  "Listen...I need to talk to you."  He paused, debating what to say.  If, by some chance, she hadn't heard about it yet he didn't want to give anything away before talking to her.  But if she had heard... "Before you do anything, please call me." He continued.  "It's important."  He hung up, dropping the phone to the ground as he turned and slid down the wall--coming to sit on the floor of his bedroom.  Brennan came over and nudged his shoulder with her nose. 

"I really screwed up this time, Bren." He told the dog.  "I don't know if she's going to understand."

~~~~~~

"We don't need this kind of publicity right now!" JC exclaimed as he paced around his Living Room.  Justin had hurried over to his house, hoping the other guys hadn't shown up yet.  Luckily, they hadn't.  Unluckily, JC was now pissed off and yelling at him for being such an idiot. 

"You don't think I don't know this?!" Justin replied hotly.  "Do you think I planned for this to happen?  Hell no! But it did." He sat down on the couch.  "I need to figure out what to do about it."  Both men were quiet for a moment.  "Maybe it'll be okay." Justin said.  "It might not even be mine.  Besides, Joey had a kid the last time we were together." He offered as he looked up at JC.  "It didn't seem to hurt anything."

JC just looked at him in disgust.  "Joey had Brianna with his girlfriend," he stressed the word.  "Whom he later married.  This is completely different!  You knocked up some girl you don't even know.  I mean, who does that?!" He said, throwing his hands up in the air.  "Who sleeps with someone they don't know without using protection?"

"I did use protection!" Justin countered in defense.  "And you're really one to talk, Jace.  Before Rachel came along you were pretty quick to jump into bed with anything in a skirt." JC glared at him.  Justin stood up.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Rachel asked as she walked into the room, her eyes bouncing back and forth between the two guys.  JC looked over at her.  "Why are you guys yelling at each other?  You shouldn't be fighting." She told them.  "You're supposed to be planning a reunion, remember?" She asked. 

"Maybe someone should have thought of that before he decided to go get some girl pregnant." JC replied, folding his arms across his chest as he turned and looked at Justin in accusation.  An awkward tension descended over the room.

"I'm sorry, what?" Rachel asked, looking at Justin in shock. 

"Thanks, C." Justin replied sarcastically under his breath.

"Well, everyone's going to know about it by tomorrow anyway." JC said.

"Aubrey's pregnant?!" Rachel asked looking at Justin in complete shock. 

"What?" Justin asked.  "No!" He shook his head.  "It's not Aubrey."

"What do you mean it's not Aubrey?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.  "You got someone else pregnant?"

"That's the rumor going around." Justin replied.

"Is it true?" Rachel questioned.

"Possibly." Justin answered.  He watched as Rachel turned and grabbed the remote control for the television off the coffee table.  She turned on the TV, flipping through the channels till she found one reporting on the story that was slowly working to change his life. 

"Is that her?" Rachel asked him as she continued watching the screen in front of them. Justin shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at the floor. 

"Were you drunk?" JC asked.

"A little, yeah." Justin nodded.  "And...kind of high."

"And kind of stupid." JC added under his breath.

"You know what?" Justin said in frustration, turning to the guy he'd known for the past seventeen years and who had become his brother and best friend through everything they'd gone through together. "So I screwed up?  So I made a mistake?  Who hasn't?" He asked, throwing his arms out to the sides, his anger flaring.  "Yes, this is a pretty big mistake and I realize that it's going to affect the group and what we had planned and I'm sorry.  I came over here because I needed to tell someone--someone I trusted-about it." He shook his head.  "Thanks for being there for me, man." He growled then turned and stalked out of the house.

~~~~~~

"And once again, everything is going to be about Justin." JC grumbled under his breath.  He turned to look at Rachel who stood with her arms folded across her chest as she looked at him in disappointment.  "What?" He asked.

"He needs a friend right now, Joshua." She scolded him.  "He doesn't need someone to beat him up about this--he's doing that enough on his own.  Plus, he's right." She said.  "Nothing's been proven yet."

"What do you want me to do?" He asked in irritation.    

"Act like the man you are." She said, then turned and left the room.  JC scowled at Rachel's retreating form then let out a growl of frustration.  She was right.  He shouldn't have gone off on Justin like he had--he'd just been caught off guard and hadn't known what to do or say.  They'd finally all been able to get together to start putting things together for this reunion and this had to happen.

"What's up with Justin?"

JC looked up as Lance walked into the room. 

"Yeah, where's he going?" Chris asked as he and Joey joined them.  "He's coming back, right?"

JC took a deep breath as he scrubbed his hands over his face.  "You guys...might want to sit down for this one."

~~~~~~

"There you are!" Aubrey said as she put her purse down on the floor of her bedroom at her parent's house and picked up her cell phone.  She'd gone off this morning with her family, not realizing she'd left it at home.  The fact that it was missing hadn't registered until they'd been driving back from the annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival and she'd begun to question why Justin hadn't at least texted her all day.  She and her family had gone to the festival when they'd first moved to Virginia but hadn't been back since.  Since it turned out that she was home over the weekend it was going on they'd decided to go again.  When she'd begun searching for her phone in her purse, panic had sunk in thinking she'd left it somewhere on the island and would have to make the two hundred thirty mile round trip again between her parent's house in Ashland out to Chincoteague Island--not that she'd really have minded.  The scenery alone was worth the hours in the car. 

She breathed a sigh of relief as she lay down on her bed.  "Fourteen missed calls?" She asked aloud.  "Who died?" She pressed the button to check her voicemail--smiling when she heard Justin's voice.  She missed him.  As much as she was enjoying spending time with her family, and as much as she loved having Michael back safe and sound, she missed Justin and couldn't wait to get back home to see him.  She'd been going through withdrawals all day with no way to communicate with him.

"Hi, it's me." He said.  "Listen...I need to talk to you."  He paused, sounding almost panicked. "Before you do anything, please call me." He continued.  "It's important."

Aubrey looked at her phone in question as Justin's message ended.  What could be so important that he wanted me to call him before I did anything? She wondered.  She looked over at the clock on her nightstand.  11:45. "No wonder I'm so tired!" She said aloud, kicking off her shoes.  Although it was only nine back home in California and she knew Justin would still be awake, she was tired.  She'd flown in late last night and then had been up early in order to leave this morning and the time change and travel were suddenly catching up to her.  She pushed the covers down a little and wiggled beneath them--not even bothering to change out of her shorts and T-shirt.  She suddenly couldn't keep her eyes open another minute.  I'll call him in the morning. She yawned.  She knew a phone call with Justin would last at least an hour and she was beyond tired right now.  Whatever he wanted to talk to her about could wait until tomorrow.  Aubrey turned off the lamp by her bed and was asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

~~~~~~

Aubrey walked into the house and kicked off her shoes as she flipped through the mail in her hands.  Setting her keys and purse down on the table she systematically tore up the pieces of junk mail-throwing them away--then picked up the latest Victoria's Secret catalogue that had come.  She flipped through it as she walked back towards the Family Room.  What a lot of people didn't know about her was the fact that she loved Victoria's Secret.  It was her guilty pleasure.  She smiled as she thought about Justin's reaction when he'd found she had a credit card from that store and spent a ridiculous amount of money on their underwear.  He'd tried his hardest to get her to show him what she was wearing when he found out, but she'd told him to keep trying.   She drew her bottom lip between her teeth as the memory made her stomach quiver.  Sooner or later she wasn't going to be able to postpone the inevitable anymore.  She wondered when he'd be home tonight. 

She hadn't heard from him all day but that wasn't unusual these days.  Not only was he busy working with the guys on their new album and trying to keep the whole N SYNC reunion a secret until they were ready to announce something, but he was also in the middle of opening a new restaurant with Trace.  Aubrey couldn't understand how he did it all but Justin thrived on the stress that came with constantly being busy and having some major project to work on and she had to give him props.  With all he had going on, he still found time to spend with her-letting her know he was truly invested in their relationship and wanted it to succeed. 

Aubrey sat down on the couch and turned on the TV.  She didn't really pay attention to what was on, until she heard mention of a familiar name.

"Justin Timberlake is known for dating A-list celebrities which makes us  wonder how he met the new girl he's with.  It couldn't have been at a club since she looks like she has no idea what a club even is and we all know she's not that famous.  So, where did he meet her?  Did she win some contest we're not aware of?  And what does he see in her?  We did a little digging.  Although she does have a lot going for her--she volunteers at a swimming facility once a week--we wonder why at twenty-two she's still not meeting her potential."

Aubrey's jaw dropped as the reporter continued talking about her. 

"It turns out she's going to school part-time at UCLA.  To be a teacher.  But how can you be a great teacher if you can't even manage to go to school full-time yourself?  Doesn't she realize she's going to have to do that when she IS a teacher?  Maybe that's why she's with Justin.  After all these years of him protesting girls who don't have jobs and glom onto celebrities, he's finally been seduced by one and doesn't care that she's hanging off him and using him for his money.

"She's been spotted around town cozying up to Justin's friend and former band mate, JC Chasez's, fiancé--she certainly seems to know how to work the system.  Although sources indicate that she and Rachel Kline used to work together, there must have been some scheming that went into her getting together with Justin.

"What exactly does she have going for her?  We just don't understand why he's with her. He's never been someone to be with a "normal" girl.  Why now?  Does she have some super powers we're not aware of?  I think, he's just a little desperate right now.  His breakup with Jessica earlier this year must have hurt a little more than we all thought.  Come on, JT!  If you're keeping her around because you're lonely, I have several girlfriends--who have real jobs and smaller jean sizes--who would be more than willing to volunteer for the position."

Aubrey's eyes popped open as she came awake, her heart pounding in her chest and her breathing rapid.  It was just a dream.  She told herself over and over again, concentrating on calming her heart rate back down.  It was just a dream.  She turned and looked at her alarm clock.  9:00. She reached for her cell phone needing to hear his voice; needing to reassure herself that everything was going to be okay.  She needed him to tell her that her dream was silly and unfounded.  Even though it was only six a.m. in California she didn't care.  Justin was normally an early riser, so she was going to take a chance that today would be no different.  She dialed his number and held the phone against her ear. 

"Oh, thank God!" Justin replied with a heavy sigh as he answered on the first ring.  Aubrey could almost literally see him collapsing in relief onto the couch. 

"Justin?" She questioned as she sat up, leaning back against her headboard.  "What's going on?" Aubrey asked beginning to worry.

"Nothing." He said taking a deep breath.  "I just..." He paused.  "I didn't think you were going to call me back." He said.

"Why wouldn't I?" She asked. 

"I called all day yesterday and you didn't answer.  I thought..." Again there was a heavy pause on his end.

"I'm sorry." She said.  "I was gone all day with my family and I left my phone at home by accident.  We didn't get back until almost midnight and by the time I got your message I was exhausted."

"You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice." He said.

"Are you okay?" She asked him, really beginning to wonder about his odd behavior.  "Is...is everything alright?"

"No." He answered.

"What's going on?"         

~~~~~~

"What do you mean you're going home?" Michelle Davis asked as Aubrey set her bag down on the floor by the front door a few hours later.  "You just got here!"

"I know, Mom." Aubrey said, putting her hands on her hips.  "I don't want to leave but I have to.  Justin needs me right now."

"Why?" Her mother questioned.

"I don't know." Aubrey said.  "He wouldn't tell me but I know something is going on.  He was acting really weird over the phone but wouldn't come out and tell me what the problem was.  I just...I can't stand the thought of him going through something without being there for him."

"You really like this boy, don't you?" Her mother asked, putting her hands on her hips.

Aubrey nodded.  "Yes." She said. "I do.  And he needs me right now."

"Okay." Michelle nodded.  "Let's go see if we can find you a flight home."

~~~~~~ 

Aubrey let out a groan of frustration as she sat down heavily on the couch later that afternoon.  There was no flight to L.A. available until tomorrow morning--two hours before she was already scheduled to fly home.  Everything was booked.  She pulled her legs up on the couch, hugging them to her chest as she rested her chin atop her knees.  Something big was going on back home--but Justin wouldn't tell her what.  She felt anxious and fearful and completely helpless.  How was she supposed to be there for Justin when she was clear across the country from him?  After hanging up with him this morning Aubrey had tried calling him multiple times but he hadn't answered.  She was afraid that whatever it was that was making him act so weird was making him pull away from her. 

"Hey." Michael said coming and sitting down next to her.

"Hey." Aubrey replied without enthusiasm.  Michael put his arm around her and she leaned against him--tucking her legs underneath her as she put her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest.  It felt so good to have him home and know that he was safe. 

"I'm sure everything will be fine." He told her. 

"Thanks." Aubrey said.  "I just..." she hesitated.  Her family knew about Justin--to an extent.  She'd told them about him, just not who he really was.  She felt trapped almost, wondering if she could trust them with his identity and she wondered if this was what it had felt like for him the majority of his life.  What a horrible way to go through life--never knowing who you could trust.  But if I can't trust my family, she wondered.  Who can I trust?

"You just, what?" Her brother asked.

"Nothing." She smiled up at him.  "You're right.  Everything will be fine.  I'm worrying too much about it."  Michael narrowed his eyes as he looked at her, clearly not believing her.  "Do you want to watch a movie or something?" She asked.  "There're a couple of really good ones you've missed the last couple years."

"Sure." He replied.  "Whatever you want, Freckles."

~~~~~

"So wait." Michael said as the extra scene at the end of the credits on Ironman faded out.  "What does that mean?  Are they making a sequel?" He looked over at Aubrey.

"Yep." She nodded. "Put in The Incredible Hulk.  That's the next one."

"The next one?" Michael asked.  "How are Ironman and the Hulk connected?"

Someone knocked on the door just then and Aubrey stood to go answer it.  "Just put it in." She said.  "You'll see." She smiled at her brother as she walked towards the front door.  Luckily her father--a movie addict--had just about every movie ever made so they never had to go out and rent anything. 

"Which Hulk movie?" Michael called out from the Family Room.

"The one with Edward Norton." She yelled back as she opened the front door.  Her eyes widened in surprise and her heart leapt in her chest as a pair of familiar blue eyes met her.  "Justin." She breathed as she jumped into his arms--wrapping her arms around his neck.  "What are you doing here?"

~~~~~~

Justin put his arms around Aubrey and held her tightly.  He felt like he'd been drowning at sea and someone had just thrown him a life line.  Lowering his head he pressed his face into her neck and concentrated on not letting his emotions get the better of him.  The sense of stability and peace he got from just holding her was amazing.  He'd been one step away from completely breaking down the last thirty-six hours but suddenly it seemed like there was a glimmer of hope--a light in the darkness that had descended upon him.

"What is going on?" Aubrey asked, bringing him out of his thoughts as she pulled back slightly and looked at him.  He lifted his head as she placed her hands on his face. 

"I just needed to hold you." He said.  "I couldn't do that over the phone this morning and I couldn't wait for you to get back tomorrow."

"Must be nice to have your own jet and the money to fly wherever you want, huh?" She teased as she stepped out of his arms.  He watched as she quickly closed the still open front door of her parent's house behind her then turned back to him.  She went up on her toes and kissed him, her arms coming around his neck once more.  He hugged her tightly again, sending a silent prayer of gratitude heavenward for this woman.  She had been brought into his life just when he needed someone most.  She always knew what to say, even when she didn't know what was going on.  Now help me know what to say.  He prayed.  He didn't know how this night was going to turn out and that thought scared him more than this whole paternity suit looming over him did.  I don't want to lose her.  He pulled back and put a hand on her face.

"Is there somewhere we can talk?" He asked.

"Sure." She nodded.  "Just let me--"

She turned and Justin looked up in surprise as the front door suddenly opened. 

"Hey, Aub, are you--oh, sorry." The guy Justin had only seen once in a picture, but who he knew was Aubrey's brother Michael, interrupted them. 

Aubrey glanced back and forth between her brother and himself.  "Michael," she said nervously tucking her hair behind her ear.  "This is...Justin.  Justin, this is my brother, Michael." She said in introduction. 

"Hey." Michael said, extending his hand in a friendly gesture though his expression was guarded as he recognized who Justin was.  Justin couldn't blame him--it wasn't everyday you learned your sister was dating a celebrity.

"Hey." Justin replied, shaking his hand.  Michael held onto his hand tightly and didn't let go right away--his brown eyes giving Justin a silent but obvious warning.  Hurt her and I'll kill you.  He nodded slightly to indicate he understood and Michael let go of his hand as Aubrey stepped between them.  

"I'll be right back." Aubrey said to Justin as she put her hands on her brother's chest, pushing him back into the house.  "Don't go anywhere." She told Justin.

~~~~~~  

"You're dating Justin Timberlake?!" Michael exclaimed as Aubrey closed the front door.

"Shh!" She told him sharply.  She didn't want Justin to hear Michael--or their parents for that matter!  Aubrey grabbed her sweatshirt from where it was hanging by the front door.  Although it was the middle of the summer, nights were still chilly.  She didn't know how long she and Justin were going to be out and she didn't want to have to cut anything short because she was cold.

"Yes." She said.  "I'm dating Justin Timberlake."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Michael asked.  "And how in the hell did you meet him in the first place?"

"Would you have believed me if I'd told you?" She asked as she sat down on the couch and put her tennis shoes on.

"Probably not." Michael answered.

"That's why I didn't tell you." She said.

"Who was at the door?" Their mother asked, walking down the stairs.

"Justin--"

"A friend." Aubrey interrupted her brother with a warning look.  "I'm going out." She told her mother.  "I don't know when I'll be home.  Don't wait up for me." She said standing and quickly left before they could stop her or ask any other questions. 

Justin looked up, straightening from where he'd been leaning back against the house as she came back outside.  "Let's get out of here before they stop us with more questions.  Did you get a ride here or did you drive?" She asked.

"I rented a car." He said pointing at the black Chevy Silvarado parked at the curb. 

"Perfect." She smiled.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"I'll show you." Aubrey replied.  "Let's just get out of here first." She said as he unlocked the truck and held the passenger door open for her.  Aubrey gave him a kiss as she got in then smiled as he closed the door.

~~~~~~

Justin took a steadying breath as he walked around the front of the truck.  The fact that Aubrey hadn't slammed the door in his face or kicked his sorry ass to the curb gave him hope that she still didn't know what was going on back home.  He didn't understand how she hadn't heard about it, but he wasn't going to question it. 

"I think your brother wants to kill me." He said as he got into the truck and started the engine.

"Why do you say that?" Aubrey asked as he pulled away from the curb. 

"Because I'm dating his sister." He replied.

"He'll get over it." She said with a smile.  "Although, when he does he's probably going to ask you to hook him up with Angelina Jolie." She teased.  "So watch out."

Justin laughed in spite of himself.  "If it'll put me in his good graces I'll do it." He told her. 

Silence fell between them as he continued driving, until Aubrey spoke up again.  "How'd you find my parent's house?" She asked.

"I lied to your grandmother." He replied.

"What?" Aubrey asked with a laugh.

"I went over there this morning and told her I had to fly out here for business and wanted to see you tonight before you flew back home tomorrow.:

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" She laughed.  "Lying to Grams?" Aubrey shook her head.  "I don't think you can go to heaven if you lie to someone's grandmother, can you?" She teased.

Justin frowned at Aubrey's remark.  She didn't know it but her words hit a little too close to home.  That's not what's going to keep me out.  He thought.  He leaned his left elbow up on the door of the truck as he ran his hand over his head. 

"I was teasing." Aubrey said as she reached out and put a hand on his other arm.

"I know." He replied, looking over at her.  "I just..." He trailed off--not sure what to say or where to begin.  He put both hands back on the steering wheel-gripping it tightly.  Aubrey reached over and took his left hand, sliding her fingers between his. 

"Turn left up here." She said pointing at the intersection they were approaching.  He did as she directed.  Following the rest of her directions he put the truck in park as they came to an empty parking lot. 

"Where are we?" He asked.

"A park." She said.  "Come on." She let go of his hand as she unbuckled her seat belt and got out.

Justin took a deep breath as he got out as well and joined her.  As he walked towards Aubrey he couldn't help feeling the outcome of the conversation was going to determine the rest of his life.

Here goes nothing.  He thought.