"I know this is a private beach," he told her, finally speaking.  A shiver once more skirted down her spine as his familiar voice washed over her.  "But I'm a guest.  I can show you my room key if you want."  He offered as he reached into his back pocket. 

She shook her head.  "I meant Hawaii, JC." Mayra clarified. "What the hell are you doing in Hawaii?"

"Oh." He said as he sat down in the empty lounge chair beside her.  "I'm on vacation."  He stated with a shrug.  Mayra's brows rose, waiting for him to elaborate.  That's it?  She wanted to ask.  You just decided to go on vacation and you just happened to pick the same hotel where I'm staying?  "Heather's getting married." He continued, breaking her from her thoughts.  "The wedding is here," he pointed at the beach where they were sitting.  "On Friday.  I just decided to come in a few days early."

"Oh, that's..." Mayra paused.  "That's great."  JC turned to look at her.  "For Heather, I mean."  Mayra smiled.  "That's great, for Heather.  I'm happy for her."

He looked at her for a moment.  "You look good." He told her and Mayra felt her cheeks warm. 

"So do you." She replied with a smile.  He broke eye contact with her as he leaned his head back against his chair and closed his eyes.  Mayra looked at him--still trying to wrap her head around the fact that he was here.  After three years of not seeing or speaking to him, suddenly here he was.  What she had said a moment ago was the truth:  he did look good.  Older, but good.  She winced slightly as that word came up in reference to him.  She had noticed the hint of grey showing at his temples.  Time was catching up with him.  He wasn't the same twenty-year old kid he had once been, bouncing around on stage.  He wasn't even the same thirty-year old she had met at a club in New York four years ago, but he still took her breath away.  He was like a good wine, she decided, cocking her head to the side slightly.  He continued to just get better with age. 

Since walking away from him, Mayra had been able to keep up with him thanks to the internet and the fan sites out there.  She had watched every episode of America's Best Dance Crew since it had started just to see his face and hear his voice for those few minutes he was on camera every week.  But there was nothing to compare with actually being in his presence once again; to hearing his voice and knowing that he was okay.  She had noticed a change in his behavior the last couple years and she had worried about him.  The man who had before been a constant in the media--attending almost any and all of the premiers, album releases, and parties that were thrown on both coasts--had progressively become more and more of a hermit since they had broken up.  When he wasn't taping ABDC there would often be three to four month--sometimes longer!--lapses where he wouldn't be seen anywhere.  There had been many nights when she had picked up her phone-i-ntent on calling him to make sure he was still alive--only to talk herself out of it.  He had had to change his number three times in the short span that they had been together because it had somehow gotten out and he had received multiple calls from crazy fans.  What were the chances he would still have the number he had had when she had left? 

The silence stretched between them but Mayra couldn't think of anything to say to him to break it.  She turned her head, forcing herself to stop staring at him and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth--thinking.  In every fantasy she'd had of meeting up with JC again, she hadn't ever factored in the feeling of awkwardness that now consumed her.  What were you supposed to say to the guy that you ran out on when you met him randomly at the beach three years later?  "I'm sorry" just didn't seem like it would cut it.  She heard JC shift around in the chair and her eyes slid over to him again reflexively.  Her gaze ran over the length of his body stretched out before her and she found herself consumed with butterflies as she was once more bombarded with memories.

~~~~~~~~~~

She didn't know what it was, but something woke her with a start the next morning.  With a gasp, Mayra sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest with one hand.  She pushed the hair back from her face as her eyes surveyed her unfamiliar surroundings.  Her hangover finally caught up with her and she groaned as her head began pounding--the room beginning to spin.  She placed her free hand against her forehead and closed her eyes and leaned back against the headboard.  "Lo que estaba pensando?" She muttered.  What was I thinking?  "Four LIT's and half a bottle of tequila?"  She groaned again as memories began coming back to her from last night. 

She was surprised she could remember anything at all to be quite honest. 

She remembered JC taking her hand and leading her through the club, back to the VIP section where he and his friends were.  She remembered talking, laughing, and flirting with JC-pinching herself a few times when he wasn't looking to convince herself she wasn't dreaming.  She remembered dancing with him--the way his body moved should be illegal she had decided.  He had kissed her and the world had literally tilted.  His perfect mouth had taken hers captive and Mayra had willingly surrendered.  He had confessed to seeing her when she had first come in and being there behind her at the bar on purpose--he had wanted her to bump into him so they could meet--and had asked her what she and her friends had been toasting and celebrating earlier.  She had told him they were celebrating her birthday and he had laughed.  She remembered questioning him about it and him telling her that that was the reason he was out with his friends.  His birthday was next week and since he was in town for only a few days they had decided to go out and celebrate early. 

"I wish I had known." She had told him as they had sat close together in a secluded corner. She had reached a hand out, her fingers playing with the top button on his shirt.  She had looked up at him through her lashes.  "I would have brought something to give you."  She remembered the way his eyes had darkened, the way her stomach had quivered and her heart had begun to flutter in her chest.

"You could, uh..." he had licked his lips and swallowed.  "You could come back with me to my hotel room." He suggested, leaning toward her--his lips brushing along her jaw line as one hand had reach up and into her hair on the other side of her.  Mayra had felt a shiver skirt down her spine and she had pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as his fingers had tangled themselves in her hair and he had smudged his lips up to her ear.  "You could be my present." He continued, his hand had suddenly released her hair as he had reached out to grip her waist.  He had expertly pulled her over so she was straddling his lap.  Mayra had placed her hands against his shoulders--a moan escaping her as his lips had connected with hers.  "I wouldn't mind unwrapping you." He admitted, as he had pulled back slightly--their eyes meeting.

Mayra suddenly felt a hand on her bare shoulder and opened her eyes.  JC brushed her hair back as he leaned over and began placing a series of small kissed over her shoulder and up her neck.  "Stop." She said, ignoring the pull of desire in her belly as she pushed him away.  As much as she wanted to relive last night with this man, her head felt like it was going to split wide open.  She needed to get rid of this hangover first before they did anything else. He pulled back, giving her a questioning look but Mayra just groaned as she slid back down, laying her head on the pillow once again and closed her eyes.  He sidled up next to her, his lips nibbling their way up her arm and shoulder.  "JC, I said stop." She told him.  "I have a headache and I--"

She stopped, her eyes popping open as he was suddenly on top of her. "Wha..."She trailed off at the almost predatory look in his eyes.  He lifted one arm--his hand coming to rest behind her head as he rested his weight on his forearm, elbow bent.  She watched him closely, trying to determine what he was up to.  He bent his head, his lips brushing against the side of her mouth.  Mayra closed her eyes, a breathy sigh escaping her.  Her arms reached up, winding around his neck.  Her fingers dug in to his dark hair as he continued placing warm, slow kisses along her jaw.  She wasn't paying any attention to his other hand until she suddenly felt his fingers between her legs.  Her eyes opened for a brief second in surprise before closing again as she let out a gasp--her back arching at the sweet, torturous contact. 

"Do you really want me to stop, Mama?" He asked, his lips moving against her ear as he took the sensitive skin of her earlobe into his mouth.  His fingers continued moving expertly against her while his mouth continued roaming over her neck and throat--all traces of her earlier hangover quickly disappearing. 

Mayra shook her head, her fingers tightening their grip on his hair.  He let out a groan and her body broke out in goose bumps.  "Don't stop." She breathed, managing somehow to find her voice.  "Please....don't stop..."

~~~~~~~~~~

"Stop!" 

 Mayra was jolted from her memories by Cassie's screech.  The little girl launched herself into Mayra's lap and Mayra sent a quick prayer of gratitude heavenward.  That particular memory had caught her off guard and she was sure a few more seconds and it would have turned into a very embarrassing situation.  Her eyes slid over to JC--wondering if he had been able to sense what she had been thinking about and praying that he hadn't. 

She frowned.

He was asleep.

Typical.  Mayra thought with a roll of her eyes.  When they had first met she had assumed all the stories of how much he loved to sleep had been made up for the media.  She quickly realized that was not the case.  She had never known a guy who really and truly loved to sleep as much as JC Chasez did. 

"Make him stop, Mayra!" Cassie pled as she burrowed her head against Mayra's chest.  Mayra put her arms around the child as she pulled her gaze from JC and focused on Cassie.  She looked up as Ethan approached them, laughing.  Cassie braved a peek, only to scream again as her brother held out a silver dollar sized crab--its claws opening and closing, while its other legs moved around in an attempt to get free.  Ethan walked toward them menacingly, holding the crab out towards his sister--an evil grin on his face. 

Mayra had to bite back a laugh as Cassie whimpered and tried to burrow closer to her.  "Ethan." She finally said, forcing her most authoritative tone and fixing the ten-year old with a pointed look.  "Leave your sister alone." She told him.  Ethan pursed his lips as he narrowed his eyes into a glare and humphed.  He turned and started walking away.  "And put that thing back where you found it." She called after him.  "He's gone." Mayra said, looking down at Cassie.  The little girl sat up, pushing her hair away from her face as she looked around-making sure Ethan really had left.  "Are you okay now?" Mayra asked. 

"Mmmhmm." Cassie nodded.  Her blue eyes turned curiously to JC.  "Who's that?" She asked, pointing at him.

"It's rude to point at people, Cassidy." Mayra said, reaching out to lower the girl's hand.  "He's..." she trailed off, not sure for a moment how to introduce JC.  "He's staying at the hotel like we are." She explained, finally realizing that she really didn't have to introduce JC to the six-year old.  Cassidy didn't care who he was, or how Mayra knew him. 

"Why is he taking a nap out here?" Cassie asked, bouncing slightly on Mayra's lap.  "I take naps in my bed.  Does he not have a bed?" She questioned, her eyes turning back to Mayra--a look on distress on her face. 

"I'm sure he has a bed." Mayra chuckled at Cassie's worry over whether or not JC had a bed.  "Sometimes people like to take naps outside." She explained. 

"Can I take a nap outside?" Cassie asked.

"Maybe." Mayra replied.  "We'll see."

"I'm hungry." Cassie proclaimed.

"Okay." Mayra smiled, chuckling again to herself at the child's random jumps in conversation topics.  She lifted Cassie off her lap.  "Go tell your brothers it's time to go." He watched as Cassie ran off toward Ethan and Richard.  Taking a deep breath she then turned, placing her feet on the sand, and began gathering up her things. 

"Are they yours?"

Mayra jumped slightly and looked up at JC in surprise.  "I thought you were asleep." She replied, the words coming out before she could stop them. 

"I was until the yelling began." He replied with a hint of teasing in his voice. 

"Sorry about that." She apologized. 

"It's alright." He said, sitting up and turning to sit on the edge of his chair facing her.  Mayra watched as he lifted his arms above his head in a stretch.  His T-shirt lifted with the action, allowing her a quick peek at his stomach before his arms lowered and he placed his hands on his thighs.  She swallowed, her eyes slowly rising to meet his, as her earlier memory came back. 

"Don't stop...please...don't stop..."

She stood up quickly and walked over to where she had thrown her book.  "Conseguir un asimiento de ti mismo." She muttered under her breath as she stalked angrily across the sand and retrieved the paperback.  Get a hold of yourself.  Her earlier shock at seeing him and the resulting memories that had toyed with her emotions dissipated and were replaced by anger as she returned to her chair.  Just who the hell did he think he was, showing up like this?  Sure she had fantasized about one day meeting him again and having everything turn out differently than it had, but she hadn't actually thought it would happen!  She had been doing pretty well at coping and he had to show up and ruin it all.  Now she'd never be able to move on.

"You didn't answer my question." JC said.  Mayra looked at him--the sight of his gorgeous face and those incredible eyes fueling the angry fire burning inside her.  How dare he sit there looking so delicious.  "Are they yours?" He asked again.

"Are what mine?" She asked with an irritated huff as she put a hand on her hip. 

"The kids." He clarified, gesturing toward Cassie and her brothers.  Mayra looked at him in stunned silence, one eye brow raised.  "I mean...I know...I know they're not yours but...are they your stepkids or something?" He asked, stuttering at the look on her face.  Was he really asking her this?  "Niece and nephews?" He questioned hesitantly, trying to guess her relation to the trio headed towards them. 

Mayra gave him a withering look as she help up her ring-less left hand for his inspection. "I'm the nanny." She told him.  He looked at her, nodding slightly in enlightenment but remained silent.  Reaching down she lifted and then slung her beach bag over her shoulder as the kids came up to her.  She forced a smile on her face as she turned to look at them.  "You guys ready to go?" She asked.

"No." Ethan and Richard answered in unison. 

"Do we have to go?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah, I'm not hungry." Richard added.  "Can't we just stay a little bit longer?"

"I think we've stayed long enough today." Mayra replied--trying to ignore the way JC's blue eyes were watching her intently from where he sat.  Doesn't he have anything better to do than just sit there looking at me?  She questioned.  She clenched her jaw and had to take a deep breath. "We're going to be here all week." She reminded the boys.  "If we stay any longer you're going to be totally sick of the beach before we leave."

"No we won't." The boys insisted, shaking their heads.

"I'm hungry." Cassie cut in, grabbing hold of Mayra's hand. 

"Let's go." Mayra said, gesturing with her other hand for the boys to start walking back to the resort.  Ethan and Richard hung their heads and kicked at the sand as they began trudging up the path that led from the hotel down to the beach.  Cassie let go of her hand as she trotted after her brothers.  Mayra sighed as she began following after the children. 

"Mayra."

She stopped, cursing the wave of longing that swept through her at hearing him say her name.  She gripped the handle of the bag on her shoulder with both hands as she turned around.  "Yeah?" She asked, hoping to appear as non-chalant as he had been since showing up.  If this whole encounter isn't bothering him then it shouldn't bother me.  She thought.  He had obviously moved past whatever feelings he may have once had for her and his indifference was moving her closer to accomplishing that same task. 

"You...I..." he hesitated, lifting one hand to rub the back of his neck as he looked down at the sand.  "It was good to see you again." He finally said, looking back up at her. 

Mayra was quiet for a moment, wondering why it felt like they were breaking up all over again.  "Yeah." She said quietly.  She cleared her throat as she squared her shoulders and pulled her head up.  "Listen," she said.  "Tell Heather I said congratulations."  He nodded and with that she turned and walked away--her eyes and throat burning with the tears she refused to let fall.  She had gotten the answer to the question she had carried around the last three years.  She fought the overwhelming urge to turn and look back at him.  There's nothing there anymore.  She reminded herself.  She had sealed her fate that night by walking away.  He had moved on and past her and now she needed to do the same.