LIKE A CHILD by Gwen
SEATTLE Shannon sighed as she came into her apartment. Another day gone without finding a job. She was either under qualified or overqualified and at some places, not qualified at all. She plopped down in her recliner, lazily reaching over and hitting the answering machine so that she could hear the messages. "Honey, I was just wondering how your job hunting is going. Your father and I are worried about you. Call me later, okay? We miss you!" Her mother. "Shan, it's David. I was wondering if you'd seen my blue jacket and if you have if you could somehow get it back to me." The asshole. "Shanz, it's your favorite cousin. I don't want to hear any more excuses. I'm putting you on a flight to where our first concert is in New York and it leaves tomorrow morning at ten thirty. You can at least go on tour with us for the first week and get your mind off things. And don't worry about rent or bills, I've got it taken care of. I'll have one of my bodyguards pick you up when you land which is at seven-thirty. See you at rehearsal!" Her retarded cousin, Josh. Shannon groaned and shook her head. She knew she should've been grateful for what Josh was doing for her, but it annoyed the crap out of her that she was going to give into him. Reluctantly, she picked up the phone and dialed Josh's house to let him know that the bodyguard or whoever, better be on time the next day.... ~*~ "I don't want to leave you and Aly tomorrow," Joey sighed, as he held Belle in his arms late that night. "Joey, we've been over this. You have to go. This is your job. When we got married we both said that we understood that sometimes we would have to sacrifice for each other. This is a sacrifice," Belle whispered. "Alyson and I will be fine. Your Mom is two miles away and my mother is here for another week." "I want you and Alyson with me. I'm sorry if that's selfish, but I can't help that I want my family with me!" Joey rubbed his eyes and then pulled Belle closer to him. "Lance is taking Noah," he said quietly. "As if Lance had a choice?!" Belle looked up at him. "Honey, I promise, as soon as Alyson gets on a schedule and is able to travel, you know I'll be on the first plane out to meet you!" Joey smiled and kissed his wife. "I love you, baby." Sometimes, you're the only thing in my life that makes sense...." ~*~ Lance could hardly keep his eyes open on the flight to New York the next morning. He had a hard time sleeping the night before because he was paranoid that he'd forgotten to pack something of Noah's. He'd checked Noah's suitcase five different times in the middle of the night, yet still he felt as though he were forgetting something. He finally realized what it was at three-thirty that morning. Alli. He had always taken Noah and Alli with him, but this time, there was just going to be Noah. "Get lots of sleep," JC whispered from across the aisle. "We've got an interview as soon as we land." Lance just nodded and looked down at a sleeping Noah. He was curled up in the seat, thumb in his mouth and his arms wrapped tightly around his blanket, which Noah lovingly dubbed "bwanky." Lance wished he could sleep that peacefully, but he knew it was going to be impossible. He was too jumpy, although his eyes were begging to be closed. Finally, Lance gave in and shut his eyes. But as soon as he had drifted off, he heard the pilot announce the descent into LaGuardia Airport. The plane touched down and startled Noah, who immediately cried for his father. Lance wrapped an arm protectively around his son until his whines ceased and the plane pulled up to the gate. He helped Noah out and began to retrieve his carryon. He looked behind him to see Joey still sound asleep in the seat next to Chris. "Is someone gonna wake him up?" Lance said to Justin. "Joe, wake up!" Chris hit him on the top of his head. Joey jumped and opened his eyes, prying himself out of his seat and stretching as he stood. Joey had been up most of the night, talking to Belle and taking care of Alyson, who woke up every two hours. When he left at the house at five-thirty that morning, Belle was already up and nursing Alyson. ~*~ The interview took place at CosmoGirl that day. The guys made themselves comfortable on plush couches and the woman who did the interview was nice enough to give Noah a toy truck that he could play with while she interviewed the guys. The little boy jumped up and down when she handed it to him and ran over to the window that overlooked the busy city streets below. Lance was pleased when Noah began to quietly crawl on the floor with the truck in his little hands. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all. "....So, this next tour that starts tomorrow night, will it be a nationwide tour or worldwide?" the interviewer asked. "We're not playing many cities this go round," Joey spoke up. "We'd rather wait until this summer to do the big tour and stuff. My wife and I just had a baby and Lance is dealing with a lot right now, so..." "DADDY, LOOK! BIG TWUCK! SEE?" Noah suddenly yelled from the window. Lance shifted in his seat, somewhat embarrassed, and cleared his throat, "I see, baby. Just a minute, Daddy's talking right now okay?" He turned to the interviewer. "I'm really sorry. He's two and into everything." "It's totally understandable," the woman smiled. She turned to Joey, "Did you want to finish that statement?" "Yeah, sure, like I said, we're all dealing with a lot of..." "Daddy, new diaper!" Noah whispered loudly. Lance looked at the other guys, who were trying not to laugh out loud. "Um, do you mind if I.." "Go right ahead," the interviewer smiled and Lance got up and went over to Noah. He picked him up, grabbed his Blues Clues bag, and headed for the nearest bathroom. "You know what you're going to learn really soon, Noah James?" Lance said, as he changed Noah's diaper. "What?" Noah looked up at his father. "Daddy is going to teach you to use the big boy potty," Lance snapped Noah's overalls back together and then washed his hands and carried Noah back into the office. "I'm so sorry," Lance apologized, as he sat down. "The interview's over," Justin whispered to him. "Oh," Lance grew even more embarrassed. He hadn't even answered one question. "Don't worry, Lance, I'm sure there will be many more interviews with CosmoGirl," the interviewer assured him, as the guys began to disperse out of the office. Johnny met them outside, "Lance, I need to speak with you." Lance nodded and walked over to Johnny with Noah in his arms. "Johnny, I'm sorry, he had to have his diaper changed and he gets really excited when he sees big trucks and stuff." Lance was starting to ramble and he knew it. "Just promise me that he's going to be well-behaved tonight at rehearsals," Johnny said. "I can't promise you that he will. He's two-years-old," Lance replied. "Dis many!" Noah held up two fingers, proudly showing off his age. Johnny gave a faint smile to the little boy and then looked back at Lance, "I know you have a big responsibility to your son. But you also have one to your fans and the rest of the guys. I'm sure you can find someone to watch him tonight." "I'll watch him," Lonnie spoke up. Lance turned around, "Lonnie, you don't have to..." "Hey, I don't mind watchin' your kid. Besides, he really took to me last time I was around him. I gotta pick up C's cousin at the airport. He can go along with me," Lonnie said. Lance bit his lower lip, "I don't know, Lonnie. I mean, what if he gets loose?" "Lance. Lonnie has been with us a long time. You can trust him to take care of Noah," Johnny assured him. "Okay," Lance sighed. "Yeah, okay, that's fine." He looked at Noah, "Guess what, baby boy?" "What, Daddy?" Noah wrapped his arms around Lance's neck and looked into his eyes. "You are gonna go with Uncle Lonnie tonight and pick up Uncle Josh's cousin, okay?" Lance told him, as he rested his forehead against Noah's. "Otay!" Noah grinned. Lance looked over at Johnny who nodded at him and then followed the other guys back to the awaiting limo.
Story Tags: daddyl lance
