Aubrey let go of Justin's hand Tuesday evening as he put his arms around a tall, skinny teenager. 

"Hey, Jon!" Justin greeted his brother.  Aubrey stood back, watching the two in front of her-a smile on her face.  She knew that Justin and Jonathan had different mothers but the resemblance between the two of them was more than evident.  There was no doubt these two were brothers.

"Who's the babe?" Jonathan asked, looking over Justin's shoulder at Aubrey.  Justin smacked the back of his head and Aubrey felt her cheeks warm as two sets of Timberlake Blue eyes looked at her.

"This is Aubrey." Justin informed his brother as he reached for her hand.   "The woman I'm going to be marrying--and your future sister-in-law--so you better apologize and show her some respect."

"Sorry." Jonathan apologized to Aubrey.  "It's nice to meet you." He said, extending his hand.  "I'm Jon, the better looking Timberlake brother." He said, puffing out his chest a bit.

"Hi." Aubrey replied with a chuckle as she shook the boy's hand.

Justin snorted in derision beside her.  "The most conceited, he means." He corrected the seventeen year-old under his breath.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Aubrey teased, turning to look at her fiancée.

Justin released her hand and put his hands on his hips as he looked over at her.  He narrowed his eyes as he pointed a finger at Aubrey.  "Watch it." He cautioned.

"Or what?" Aubrey asked with a grin.  "You don't scare me."

"Or you ain't getting none of this, girl." Justin waved a hand down his body then cocked his hip to the side as he snapped his fingers. "Mmm-hmm, that's right.  You heard me."

Aubrey laughed.  Leaning up on her toes she pressed a quick kiss to Justin's cheek. 

"Ahem." Jonathan cleared his throat.  Justin and Aubrey turned to look at him.

"Are Dad and Lisa inside?" Justin asked, changing the subject as he put his arm around Aubrey's shoulders.

"Yeah." Jonathan nodded then turned towards the door.  "Come on.  Mom said dinner was almost ready."

Aubrey's stomach fluttered nervously as Justin lowered his arm from around her shoulders and she followed him and Jonathan inside--the pressure of meeting the rest of his family eating at her. Relax. She told herself as they walked farther into the house.  It's no big deal.  Just relax.  They walked into the kitchen and Jonathan announced that they were there.

"Justin!" A middle aged woman with shoulder length auburn hair exclaimed as she turned from her place at the counter.  She greeted Justin with a big smile and a hug. 

"Hey, Lisa." Justin greeted his step-mom. 

"And you must be Aubrey." Lisa smiled at her and gave Aubrey a hug as well.  "Welcome!" 

"Thank you." Aubrey smiled as Lisa pulled back-her nervousness from moments ago dissolving in the face of Lisa's genuinely warm reception. 

"We've been waiting for you two to get here." Lisa continued as she turned back to the counter and picked up a bowl.  "Your dad and Steven are out back grilling," she told Justin.  "But the steaks should be almost done.  Come sit down.  Jon," She asked as she began walking away.  "Grab the salad from the fridge, will you?"

"Yes, ma'am." The teenager answered. 

Aubrey watched as the woman disappeared around the corner and smiled.  This was what she loved about Justin-he was normal.  Yes, he was worth more than she could calculate at the moment, and his face and voice were recognized around the world, but take all of that away and he was just a normal guy, with a normal family.  No pretenses, no superiority complexes, no judging, just regular people ready to welcome her in with no questions asked.

Justin took her hand, interrupting her thoughts and Aubrey looked over at him.  "Come on."  He said, giving her hand a tug.  "I'm starving."

~~~~~~

"Lord we thank you for this food.  We thank you for the bounty that is ours and for the love we share.  We thank you, Lord, for Aubrey..." 

Aubrey's head lifted and she opened her eyes in surprise as Justin's father mentioned her name in the blessing he was giving.  Justin squeezed her hand beneath the table and she looked over at him--their eyes meeting.  He gave her a quick wink then bowed his head again as his father continued.  

"We are blessed to have her as a part of our family now and ask that you watch over her.  Amen."

"Amen." Aubrey answered quietly.

"Amen." The chorus of echoes went around the table and Justin gave her hand another squeeze before he let go.  A strange feeling washed over her.  Nobody had ever prayed for her before.  Who were these people?  She wondered.  She turned to look at Justin.  Are you for real? She wanted to ask.  

"Have you two set a date yet?" Justin's father asked, pulling Aubrey from her thoughts.  She turned to look at him as he reached for the bowl of mashed potatoes. Her eyes slid back over to Justin wondering if he was having the same thoughts as she was--wondering what his family's reactions would be if they hadn't changed their plans last night.  His blue eyes held hers for a moment before he answered.

"Not yet." Justin answered.  "But hopefully soon." He continued, tearing his eyes from hers to look at his dad.  He smiled and Randy nodded as he passed the potatoes to Aubrey.

"Thank you." She told him, taking a helping and then passing them on.

"So, Aubrey," Lisa began from where she sat across the table from her.  "Justin told us you're going to school right now."  Aubrey nodded.  "What's your major?" Lisa asked. 

"Elementary Education." Aubrey answered as she continued to fill her plate. 

"She's going to be a Kindergarten teacher." Justin supplied proudly and Aubrey smiled as she looked at him. 

"That's great!" Lisa replied.  "Are you graduating this semester then?"

"No." Aubrey shook her head.

"How much longer do you have?" Randy asked.

"Too long." Aubrey replied with a chuckle.  "I've only been able to take a few classes at a time so it's taking me longer than usual." She explained. 

"Well, that's okay." Lisa assured her with a smile.  "Everybody has their own road in life and the path they're supposed to take.  At least you're working towards a degree--that's more than a lot of people can say right now."

"Yeah, look at Justin." Jonathan piped up.  "He didn't even graduate high school!" He teased.  Twelve-year-old Steven giggled from his place at the end of the table.

"Yes, I did!" Justin countered, flicking a piece of his dinner roll across the table at each of his brothers.

"Justin." Randy said firmly from his place at the head of the table.  Aubrey looked back and forth between father and son shared a tense and silent look. 

"Sorry." Justin mumbled, putting his roll back on his plate.  "I did graduate." He said, turning to look at Aubrey.  "It may not have been in the most traditional way," he looked at Jonathan pointedly then turned back to Aubrey.  "But I did.  I can have Mom show you my diploma when we get home." He continued.

"It's okay." Aubrey laughed.  "I believe you." She promised. 

"Is your family in California, Aubrey?" Randy asked, changing the subject.

"No." Aubrey shook her head.  "Just my grandmother." She continued as she took a bite of her dinner.  "That's who I'm living with right now.  My parents and brother are in Virginia..."

Aubrey told Justin's family about her family and dinner progressed with easy conversation and teasing banter between Justin, Steven and Jonathan.  Randy and Lisa Timberlake continued to ask her questions, genuinely interested in getting to know the woman who was engaged to their son and step-son, and told Aubrey about themselves and their family.  She laughed as Justin and his brothers teased and played with each other through the meal and watched as her fiancee seemed to transform before her eyes.  He had gone from a world famous celebrity and pop star to just a brother and son in the last hour.  He may be comfortable up on stage, performing in front of thousands, but this was his element.  He was home and she was finally getting to see the real Justin Timberlake-a man that only a few chosen people had the honor of knowing. 

By the time they were ready to leave, Aubrey could hear a very subtle Southern drawl creep into his voice--which she thought was incredibly sexy--and she wondered what he would have been if he hadn't have grown up to be The Justin Timberlake.  What had he dreamed about being when he was a kid?  What had his answer been to the question that everyone asks, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Aubrey pushed her thoughts aside, though, as Justin took her hand and they said their good-byes--promising to come over again before they left at the end of the week.  Without Justin being who he was, they never would have met and she probably would be married to Andrew right now.  She shivered at that thought.

"Are you cold?" Justin asked as they walked towards the big black truck he had rented at the airport. 

"Nope." Aubrey shook her head as she smiled up at him.  "I'm perfect."

"Well, I can't argue with that." Justin smiled as he released her hand--putting his arm around her shoulders as he pulled her against his side.  "You are pretty damn perfect."

Aubrey chuckled as she put an arm around his waist.  "Your family is really great." She told him as they stopped in front of the truck and he opened the door for her. 

"Yeah, they are." He smiled as he looked back at the house they had just left. 

"You're very lucky." Aubrey continued.

"So are you." He told her as he looked down at her.  "They're your family now, too." Aubrey smiled.  "And if, God forbid, anything should happen between us, I'm sure that Jon would step up to keep you in the family."

"What?" Aubrey asked with a laugh.

"Oh, I saw they way he was looking at you during dinner." Justin teased, his blue eyes sparkling.  "I think you've captured another Timberlake heart, Aubrey Janae."

Aubrey rolled her eyes, though she smiled and could feel her cheek warm.  "He's seventeen."

"Which is a lot closer in age to you than I am." Justin countered.

"What are you saying?" She asked, looking at him in question.

"Nothing." He shook his head and shrugged-appearing to act innocent, but she could still see the mischief in his eyes.  "I'm just pointing out the facts, that's all."

"Hmmm..." she hummed, pretending she was thinking it over.  "You're right." She nodded.  "He is closer in age..." Justin's smile disappeared and his brows furrowed as he watched her and Aubrey smiled.  "Good thing I like older men." She told him.  "Always have." She went up on her toes and kissed him.  "Always will." 

Justin put his hands on her face as he kissed her fully. Aubrey melted against him and was just getting into the heated exchange when he released her suddenly and turned her away from him.  "Get in the truck, woman." He told her playfully slapping her rear end as he helped her up into the cab.  "I'm getting cold standing out here and there's a warm bed at home calling my name." 

Aubrey laughed as she got into the vehicle and he shut the door.  She watched as Justin walked around the front of the truck and smiled as he opened his door and sat down beside her.  "Can I tell you something?" She asked as he started the truck.  She slid across the bench seat towards him and Justin turned to look at her.  "Your accent is cute."

"What accent?" He asked turning to look over his shoulder as he pulled away from the curb.

"It's subtle." She told him.  "But it wasn't there yesterday when we left L.A.  This is a different side of you I haven't seen before." Her lips turned up in a smile as her eyes roamed over his profile.  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as Justin turned to look at her briefly before turning his eyes back to the road. 

"And what do you think of  this ‘different side'?" He asked, glancing back and forth between her and the road.  Aubrey's smile widened. 

"I love it." She breathed as she leaned closer and kissed his cheek.   Justin smiled and Aubrey settled against him.  Slipping her hand into his, she threaded their fingers together, and laid her head against his shoulder as he drove.  "What do you think you would be doing right now," she asked, her mind returning to her earlier thoughts.  "If you hadn't gotten into the entertainment business?"

~~~~~~

Justin thought about Aubrey's question for a moment--silence filling the space between them.  "Uh..." He cleared his throat, watching the road in front of them. "I don't know." He answered honestly. 

"Come on." Aubrey prodded, nudging his shoulder with hers.  "What did you want to be when you grew up?" She looked up at him with a smile.

"Honestly?" Justin asked.  "Music has been my thing since before I can remember.  Dad was the choir director at church so I was introduced to it from the beginning.  I guess you can say it's in my blood.  I remember being teased about it when I was younger." He admitted.

"You were teased?" Aubrey asked.  Justin nodded.  "Why?"

"Because I didn't fit in." He told her.  "Before everything happened and I got the spot on MMC, I was the weird kid at school who didn't like football." He chuckled.  "I was kind of a loner."

"Really?" She asked.  He turned to look at her and nodded at the disbelief on her face.

"Really." He said.  "I guess...I guess if I hadn't been given the chance to do what I'm doing now...I probably would have stayed here and become like the music teacher at the high school or something." He paused, his mind wandering down some of the different paths he could have taken in life.  It had been a while since he'd thought about all the different possibilities life could have offered him.

"Do you think you would have been happy doing that?" Aubrey asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Maybe." Justin answered.  "It's hard to say, but I think..." He thought about it for a moment.  Would he have been happing doing that?  Staying here and being a music teacher?  "Yeah." He nodded.  "Yeah, I think I would have been happy.  Why?" He asked as he turned into his mother's driveway.

"I was just curious." Aubrey replied with a shrug and a smile.  "It's kind of fun to think about ‘what if?'"

"Except that we wouldn't have ever met." Justin reminded her.  "So in that regard it's not that much fun to think about it."

Aubrey smiled and gave his fingers a squeeze.  "It could have happened." She told him.  "You never know.  I could have finished my degree and decided to take a teaching job here.  We could have run into each other at a district meeting or something."

"Hmmm...I like that scenario." Justin smiled as he turned off the truck.

"Would you have asked me out without Rachel around interfering?" She asked as they both got out and began walking towards the front door. 

"I told you that I thought you were cute the first time we met." He replied.

Aubrey stopped and turned to looked at him, putting one hand on her hip. "Thinking I'm cute and asking me out are two entirely different things." She reminded him.  "Be honest." She told him.  "Would you have asked me out if someone like Rachel wasn't around meddling?"

"Yes." Justin nodded.  Aubrey raised one eyes brow as she looked to him.  "Eventually."  He admitted a bit sheepishly.

"That's what I thought." Aubrey replied with a smile and a shake of her head.  She turned to start walking again but Justin reached out, placing a hand on her arm to stop her.

"Okay, so maybe it would have taken a few district meetings for me to work up the nerve," he admitted. "But I would have eventually asked you out." He assured her. 

Aubrey put one hand on his face as she leaned up and kissed him. "You don't think you would have already been married to somebody else?" She asked as she took his hand and they began walking again towards the front door.  "Your high school sweetheart, perhaps?"

"Well, I don't know for sure." Justin answered.  "But no--at least I hope not." He smiled as he took her hand again.  "But let's not focus on ‘what if' anymore." He continued.  "I like things just the way they are." He told her.  "And I don't want anything to change.  Except for your last name." He grinned and Aubrey laughed.  They came to a stop on the front porch and Justin just stood--looking at her.  Aubrey looked up at him with her beautiful eyes and he reached a hand out, tucking her hair behind her ear--one question coming to mind.

"If I had been the high school music teacher and we had met at that meeting...would you have married me next weekend?" He asked.

"Maybe." Aubrey replied as she took a step closer to him--closing the space between them.  She put her arms around his neck and leaned up on her toes to kiss him.  "Anything's possible when you're pretending."

~~~~~~

"I don't think I really buy you as a high school teacher." Aubrey stated later that night as she crawled up on the bed in the room she and Justin were staying in at his mom and step-dad's house.

"Why not?" Justin asked, flopping down on the mattress beside her. 

"I don't know." She replied, crossing her legs beneath her as she turned to face him.  "I just...have a hard time seeing it for some reason."

"What do you see?" He asked as he put his hands beneath his head and stretched out his long legs.  Aubrey's eyes traveled over his body in appreciation before meeting his eyes once more.  Sometimes he was far too tempting for his own good!  Justin grinned smugly at her, a knowing gleam in his eyes, and she unfolded her legs--pushing at his hip with one foot.

"I don't know..." She chuckled.

"What do you see?" He asked again.  "I'm curious now."

Aubrey pulled her legs beneath her again as she chewed on her bottom lip in thought.  She cocked her head to the side as she studied him.  "A bartender?" She guessed.

"A bartender?!" Justin exclaimed with a laugh.  "Really?" He asked, one eyebrow raising in question.

"Well," Aubrey began.  "You are a restaurant owner...a bartender isn't that different and hard to believe, is it?" She asked with a laugh.

"I guess not." He conceded.  "Is that all you see me doing?" He asked.  "Working in a bar somewhere?"

"Well, I'm sure you'd find time to go golfing once in a while with your parents." She teased.

"And?" He prodded with a chuckle.

"And..." She drawled.  "I can see you trying to break into the music industry.

"Yeah?" He asked with a grin.

"Yeah." Aubrey nodded.  "But I'm not sure that making the rounds at all the karaoke bars is going to get you the big break you're looking for."

"And what kind of music do you see me playing at these karaoke bars?" Justin questioned.

"Mmmm..." Aubrey mused.  "Country." She smiled as Justin rolled his eyes.  "I can see you--looking pretty hot I might add--up on that stage with just your voice and a guitar..." She trailed off at the mental image in her head of her fiancée--savoring the idea. 

Justin moved--sitting up and rolling off the bed--and Aubrey watched as he walked towards the closet.  "A guitar like this?" He asked, pulling out an acoustic guitar.

"Yeah." Aubrey nodded with a smile.  "That's the one.  Where did you..."

"I keep it here for when I come to visit." Justin told her as he walked back towards the bed and sat down on the edge--propping the instrument on his knee.  "You never know when inspiration is going to hit."  She watched as he spent a few seconds tuning the guitar then put his fingers on the frets and strummed a few chords.  He closed his eyes as he began humming out a song she didn't recognize-goose bumps breaking over her as he began to sing. 

When the ground beneath you starts a-shakin'
And you forget the place we came from
When you're lost and lookin' for you're way home
You're way home to me
I'll come out and find you
When the world around you starts a-movin'
And you should wonder if I still love you
If you feel the darkness comin', risin' inside
I'll make a light to guide you back home

And after all the sky is fallin' down
And after all the water's washed away
My love's the only promise that remains

When your doubts have got you thinkin'
Nothing's ever really sacred
And you're afraid you might believe in...
Believe in me    

Aubrey watched Justin in awe as he continued to sing to her-her stomach quivering as his eyes met hers.  She'd listened to him sing before--on CDs, on the few talk shows he'd been on with the rest of the guys since they'd gotten back together, and he was always singing to himself either at home or in the car-but this was the first time he had sung specifically to her; with nothing but a guitar and his beautiful, clear voice.  She wondered why he hadn't done more songs like this one in his career.  Songs that really showcased the talent he possessed.

And after all the sky is fallin' down
And after all the water's washed away
My love's the only promise that remains

The last note faded away and Aubrey sat, looking at him in awe.  "That was amazing!" She breathed.  "Did you just make that up?" She asked.

"No." He shook his head as he turned--setting the guitar down against the wall.  "You told me you saw me as a country artist....that was a song I wrote and did with Reba a few years ago for her Duets album.  What'd you think?" He asked turning back to look at her.

Aubrey put her hands on his face--kissing him warmly.  "One way or another," she said, pulling back to look at him.  "You would have been a musician." She told him.  "You're right.  It's in your blood.  It's who you are." She finished, feeling a twinge of jealousy.  She didn't feel like she could say the same thing about herself and she envied him the fact that he was so comfortable and confident in who he was and what he wanted in life.  While Aubrey knew that teaching was what she wanted to do, lately she'd begun to wonder who she was as a person.  She didn't feel like she could answer that question with any sense of certainty.  And it made her wonder--about herself and about their relationship.  How could Justin be so sure that she was what he wanted when she wasn't sure of even who she was? 

Justin's blue eyes held hers steadily as he sat looking at her.  Without a word he lifted both of his hands--brushing his fingers through her hair before pulling her in for another kiss.  Aubrey closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck as she fully participated in the warm and passionate exchange--allowing him to push the questions from her mind as he laid her back against the pillows.  She was trying so hard not to dwell on the insecurities she felt that she almost forgot where they were.

Almost.

"Justin!" She exclaimed, pushing him away suddenly.

"What?" He asked, looking down at her in confusion--a dazed look in his eyes.

"We can't do this here!" She insisted.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because." She replied, exasperated that he didn't see the inappropriateness of the situation.  "We can't have...we can't do this in your parent's house!"

"Why not?" He asked again.

"What if..." Aubrey trailed off and looked at him, silently willing him to understand what she was saying so she wouldn't have to say the words.  She rolled her eyes and blew out a frustrated breath as he continued to just look at her uncomprehendingly.  "What if they hear us?" She asked.

Justin began laughing.  "You plannin' on screamin' out my name tonight, baby?" He asked with a cocky grin on his face.

Aubrey slapped his chest.  "Not now." She told him as she pushed him off of her and rolled over to the edge of the bed.

"Awe, come on." Justin pled as he reached out for her and pulled her back to him.  "I can be quiet, if you can be quiet." He challenged, wrapping his arms around her from behind.  Aubrey shivered involuntarily as his warm breath caressed her neck

"No." She told him.

"No?" He asked, his lips brushing softly against the sensitive skin below her ear.  "Are you sure?" He breathed, one of his hands beginning to wander as he gripped her hip then moved down her leg.

"No." Aubrey echoed, barely holding onto her sanity.  "I mean yes!" She quickly corrected herself.  Justin nipped at her earlobe playfully and she bit her lip to keep in the moan that wanted to escape.

"See." He prodded quietly.  "You can keep quiet." 

Aubrey wanted to turn around and wipe the smirk from his face that she could hear in his voice but stayed put.  She knew that turning around would be her undoing.  Justin would have full access to every one of her weakness when it came to him if she did that.  Instead she shook her head.  "Not here." She told him. 

"We're going to be here for a week." He reminded her-his hand becoming bolder.  Aubrey released a tiny whimper, though she fought hard to keep it in.  "Are you sure?" He asked again.  She closed her eyes and nodded.  Though her body was begging her to give in to him, she couldn't.  She couldn't give in to him and allow him to love her knowing that his parents were only a few rooms away! 

"Damn it!" Justin exclaimed quietly as he released her and turned on his back.  Aubrey chanced a look over her shoulder at him.  "I really need to get my own house out here." He murmured.  His eyes met hers and she smiled sympathetically at the frustration written all over his face.  "Either that or we're getting a hotel room for a couple of nights."

"I'm sorry." Aubrey offered turning and snuggling up to his side.  "I just...can't."

"It's okay." Justin replied pulling her closer as her placed a kiss to the top of her head. 

"No, it's not." Aubrey shook her head.  "I'm always pushing you away and telling you no--that we have to wait.  I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Justin assured her.  "I'll survive." He smiled.  "This isn't the first time I've gone to bed sexually frustrated because of you." He teased and Aubrey could feel her cheeks warm. 

"I'm sorry." Aubrey apologized again.  "You don't deserve this." She shook her head in self recrimination.  What kind of a girlfriend and fiancee was she?  He didn't deserve everything she put him through and he didn't deserve always being rejected and pushed away.  "You should--"

"Kiss me." Justin interrupted her as he turned on his side.  Aubrey looked at him in question.  "Kiss me." He said again.  "We haven't made out in a while." He continued.  "There's a lot to be said for just kissing." He grinned.  "And I do love kissing you." 

Aubrey continued to just look at him for a moment--her question from earlier at dinner coming to mind.  Are you for real?  She wanted to ask.  What kind of man was okay to settle for simply kissing when there was so much more he wanted to do?

"Kiss me, Aubrey Janae." Justin commanded quietly, his blue eyes scorching her with their heat.

Aubrey leaned forward and pressed her lips against his--the kiss slowly building in passion and intensity as their lips blended together perfectly.  If Justin knew one thing, it was how to kiss her.  He knew how much pressure to put in to it, how to slant his lips at the perfect angle, and when to release and give her time to catch her breath.  Aubrey ran her fingers through his short hair as she wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to once more press her back against the pillows.  One of his hands rested at the back of her head--his fingers massaging her scalp as they worked to move her into whatever position he wanted and needed--while his other hand rested on her hip

"Justin..." She breathed as his mouth released her own for a few brief seconds.

"I'm here." He answered as he placed several feather soft kisses along her jaw line.

"I love you." She told him, forcing her eyes open to look at him.  "Don't ever leave me." She stated, suddenly needing his reassurance that her insecurities from earlier were unfounded; that no matter what, he wouldn't walk away one day.

"Never." He vowed and sealed his promise with a heated and driven kiss--leaving Aubrey completely breathless and tingling from head to foot.  "Never."      

~~~~~~

"The wedding's off?" Rachel exclaimed as she and Aubrey sat, having lunch a week later back in California. 

"Postponed." Aubrey corrected, dipping a chip into the salsa sitting on the table and putting it in her mouth. 

"I should have kept my mouth shut." Rachel murmured under her breath as she picked up her diet Coke and took a sip.  I shouldn't have said anything. She thought, thinking back to everything that had transpired between herself and JC since she'd told him of Aubrey and Justin's hurried wedding.  If she had just kept quiet, he wouldn't have gotten so angry and upset.  But he also wouldn't have opened up like he did.  She reminded herself. 

"What?" Aubrey asked, bringing her from her thoughts.

"Nothing." Rachel shook her head.  She couldn't change the past, and all things considered, she was glad that it had finally forced JC to open up to her and talk about his past.  "Why are guys postponing it?" She asked, picking up a chip and dipping it in the salsa.

"We talked about it." Aubrey told her.  "And decided that now's not the right time."

Rachel sat, looking at Aubrey for a moment in amazement.  "You're my hero." She told the other girl.

"What?" Aubrey chuckled, confused.

"I don't know how you do it." Rachel continued, shaking her head.  "How in the hell do you say no to him?!" She asked, unable to comprehend her friend and the relationship she had with Justin.  Aubrey looked at her in confusion.  "I gotta tell ya," Rachel said, leaning across the table.  "I love JC, with all my heart, but there have been a few times when that man of yours has turned his charm on me..." Rachel trailed off with a sigh--the memory of the first time she'd met, and danced with, Justin at the club JC had taken her to for her birthday a few years ago coming to mind. "I don't know how you're able to withstand that!  How do you have the will power and self-restraint to tell him no?"

"I think the fact that I was going to marry him this upcoming weekend is evidence that I don't always tell him no." Aubrey chuckled.

Rachel laughed.  "True." She nodded.  "But how did you get him to change his mind?" She asked.  "From what I know about Justin, and from what I've observed, he's very stubborn.  When he sets his mind on something he goes after it a hundred and ten percent."

"We talked about it.  I told him I wasn't sure it was a good idea and he asked me what I wanted to do." Aubrey replied.  "He told me whatever I wanted, he would do and I told him I wanted to wait."

Rachel lifted one brow as she looked at Aubrey.  She chuckled as she shook her head.  "I told him." She remarked feeling a smug sense of satisfaction and wishing Justin were there so she could rub it in his face.

"Huh?" Aubrey questioned, her brows furrowed in question. 

"Before you two met," Rachel began.  "Justin made some comment about how JC and I were so cute together we made him sick." She smiled at the memory.  "I turned to him and told him that one day he was going to meet a girl who would turn his whole world upside down and he was going to find himself in the middle of sickeningly sweet relationship, and loving every second of it."  Aubrey smiled and Rachel chuckled.  "Oh, how the mighty have fallen!" She teased.  "Who knew I was so good at predicting the future?" She mused and Aubrey laughed.  "So realistically," Rachel asked.  "When do you think you guys are really going to get married?"

"I don't know." Aubrey shrugged.  "I think...we're probably going to wait until after the tour is over.  We're not making any plans right now." She answered. 

Rachel nodded, sitting back as the waitress came to deliver their food.  "Can I ask you another completely unrelated question?" Rachel asked as she picked up her fork and took a bite of her taco salad.

"Sure." Aubrey replied, cutting into her chicken burrito and taking a bite.

"How come you're only going to school part-time?"

~~~~~~

Aubrey looked at Rachel as she chewed the bite she'd just taken.  "Because I can't afford to go full-time." She replied.  Hadn't they already had this conversation? She thought, trying to think back, but she couldn't remember. 

"That's what I don't understand." Rachel continued, reaching for a chip and popping it into her mouth.  "Your dad's in the Army, aren't there a million scholarships out there that you can get because of that?"

"If you're going full-time." Aubrey nodded. 

"What's stopping you from going full-time?" Rachel asked, as she took another bite of her food. 

Aubrey looked at her for a moment.  She could see the wheels spinning in Rachel's head and wondered what she was thinking--what she was trying to get at.  "My car payment." Aubrey replied.  "And my insurance."  She took a sip of her water and another bite of her burrito.  "Plus I help Grams out with grocery money and I have a couple credit cards that I've had to use in the past and I'm working on paying off.  Why?" She asked.

"How much do you need each month to pay your bills?" Rachel questioned.

"Um..." Aubrey thought about it for a moment.  "To just pay the bills?" Aubrey asked.  Rachel nodded.  "Seven hundred." She replied. 

"And what do you think your schedule would be if you were going to school full time?" Rachel asked.

"I'd probably be in class from eight to twelve every day." Aubrey answered.  "Rachel...what's going on?" She asked, completely confused. 

Rachel smiled as she put down her fork.  "I'd like to make you a proposition." She began. 

"A proposition?" Aubrey echoed.  "What kind of a proposition?" She looked at her friend in question. 

"I'd like to offer you a job." Rachel stated and Aubrey looked at her in surprise. 

"A job?" Aubrey asked.

Rachel nodded.  "You can work from one to six Monday through Friday--with a possible, occasional weekend every now and then depending on what events we have going on--and I'll pay you twelve dollars an hour.  That'll give you more than what you need for your expenses and give you time to go to school full time so you can finally be done with your degree.  What do you say?" Rachel asked.

Aubrey sat in shock as she looked across the table at Rachel-everything she had just been offered running through her head.  "What would I be doing?" She asked, needing to have all the details so she could make an informed decision.

"Basically what you're doing now." Rachel told her.  "I know you don't want to be a receptionist your entire life, but I need someone to be there to answer the phone and make appointments and help with all the little projects that come up.  Plus I think it would be really fun to be able to work together again and you'd be doing me a huge favor." Rachel smiled, looking at her with a hopeful expression.

"Can I think about it?" Aubrey asked, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.  It was tempting to jump at the offer, but she wanted to really think about it.  Rachel nodded. "When would you need an answer?" She asked. 

"As soon as you have one." Rachel smiled. 

"Okay." Aubrey replied.  "I'll let you know in a few days."

"Great!" Rachel exclaimed.

"So I take it things with the loan officer went well last week?" Aubrey asked as she took another bite of her lunch.

Rachel nodded as she sipped her Coke.  "I've just got to find the right location to set up shop and then we'll be open for business." She explained, with an excited smile on her face.  "I thought we were going to have our first event this weekend," she gave Aubrey a pointed look, "but it fell through."

"Sorry." Aubrey offered with a chuckle.

"Don't worry about." Rachel replied.  "We'll have our first client in no time!  I've already got Megan working on some marketing designs and I've been passing out my business card to everyone I meet.  The phone should start ringing any day now."