It had been practically a week. A week without seeing him, feeling his warmth, or hearing his laughter in person. Yeah, she'd talked to him on the phone last night, but it wasn't the same. Plus it had been the first time she'd gotten a hold of him after many failed attempts through the week. He had sounded tired and out of it on the phone too, yet he had agreed to meet up with her, as she tried to tackle some Christmas shopping.

She really hoped nothing serious was going on and that maybe the hectic pace of the holidays was just getting to him. It was rare for her to go this long without seeing him, unless he had an extended business trip somewhere. She just wanted to see his smiling face and to feel his touch. After making the plan to spend Christmas together in LA, she wanted everything to be holly jolly and merry.

Dominique was dressed comfortably in some jeans and a red sweater that JC had bought her last Christmas, along with the diamond drop pendant necklace that had been her birthday gift. She waited near the mall entrance, having texted JC to meet her there. So far she hadn't gotten a text back as to whether he was almost there or running late. So she unzipped her purse that was slung over her shoulder and grabbed her phone from a pocket. There still wasn't any sign from him and she really did hope he was going to show. He said he would.

About ten more minutes or so passed and she heard the familiar ring-tone that she'd programmed to play anytime JC called. She sighed before answering.

"Hey, JC."

"Hi, babe. Sorry I'm running late. Just got a parking spot. I'll be at the entrance in a moment."

"It's fine. I'll be waiting."

"Okay." She heard him hang up then and she closed her phone, sliding it back into her purse. She wasn't sure what to expect when he appeared, but she was going to act as normal as possible.

When she finally saw him in the distance, she noted that he had on a gray hoodie and some tight jeans that hugged him more than they needed to. A fedora was also atop his head, covering up his hair, which she assumed had bed head. He looked tired and as he got closer she could see just how bad the bags under his eyes were. His crystal blue eyes also appeared to be more gray and lackluster. He also was sporting a five o'clock shadow upon his face and she knew he hadn't shaved in at least a few days. She still thought he was beautiful, but definitely bent out of shape. The leather bag he carried his laptop and other work-related items in was also slung around his shoulder, which made her guess that he was coming from or going to go to the studio.

Once JC was just a few feet in front of her, he mustered up a smile and greeted her. "Hey, sugar." His voice came out low and little scratchy.

"Hi, babe. You doing alright?" Dominique asked with a smile, followed with a chuckle.

"Yeah, why?"

"You just look tired. Very tired." He shrugged.

"Yeah...I guess so. I was busy this week." She nodded her head.

"I came to that conclusion."

"I'm sorry. I wish I could've called you back and not get a million missed calls."JC sighed and then closed the space between him and Dominique, pulling her into his embrace.

She breathed him in the moment she felt their bodies pressed up against each other and she nuzzled her face into his neck. Her arms held on tight around his thin waist and she could feel him melt against her too.

"Mmm...I missed you." She spoke softly against his skin and then felt the roughness of his scruff upon her cheek as she moved her head up to look at him. Her eyes connected with his and she was just happy to see him in the flesh again.

"I know and I missed you too." His voice cracked and then he coughed softly.

"You're not getting sick are you?" He shook his head.

"Nope. I just was up pretty late lat night and had to be up early this morning."

She just nodded and then reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘Alright, well...you think you can handle some shopping with me? I need to buy some gifts and maybe I'll get some ideas for presents for myself."

He held onto her hand, accepting the gesture. "I think I can handle it. Are we going to stop at Victoria's Secret?"

"Why you ask?" She asked, pretty sure she knew the answer anyways.
He smirked. "So I can pick out a gift for me."

"JC, I don't think you need a bra." She teased.

"But I do need some sexy lingerie for you to wear for me."

She raised her eyebrow. "Oh really? So sexy lingerie for me is a gift to you?"

"Yup." He grinned sheepishly.

"Well Santa still needs to decide if you've been a good or naughty boy this year."

"I'm always good. That's what my mom says." Dominique chuckled loudly then.

"Your mom doesn't know what happens behind closed doors, babe."

JC blushed then and shook his head. "You're definitely on Santa's naughty list, sugar.

"You too, handsome."

JC pressed a kiss to Dominique's cheek and then tugged on her hand, wanting for them to start walking and get to the shopping.

An hour later or so they had gone to a few stores and Dominique had picked up some perfume, jewelry, and other assorted accessories for some of her girlfriends. She also tried on a few dresses for herself with New Year's in mind, but none of them were special enough to want to purchase.

"You're making some ground at least with your Christmas shopping." JC commented as they walked up to Victoria's Secret. "Better than I'm doing."

"Have you even bought anything?" He shook his head.

"No, I think I'm going the internet route this year. It's so much easier to just get stuff shipped wherever and not have to shop in stores."

"Lazy ass." She smirked at him.

"Just being technologically savvy, sugar." She laughed at him.

"Okay..sure. Whatever you say, Chasez. Just don't buy me any *NSYNC memorabilia off of Ebay."

"I'm not that twisted!" He cried out and Dominique laughed.

"Come on, let's just see what Victoria's Secret has." JC followed Dominique into the lingerie store and they found themselves near the bras and panties seconds later.

"These are purr-fect." JC purred as he picked up a pair of lacy, leopard print panties.

She turned her head at him and chuckled. "I know animal print turns you on, babe. You're such a dirty man."

"You love it." He smirked, setting the panties down and then roaming over to the bras and finding a zebra print one. "What about this?"

"No, thank you, freak."

"You're calling me a freak? You're Dominique the Freak." She stepped beside him and then rubbed her hand upon his cheek.

"Only for you, Chasez."

"How sweet of you, honey. But, really? Could you ask Santa for some animal print lingerie?"

She laughed. "We'll see...we'll see."

"Guess that's better than nothing." He pecked her cheek and then he sighed.

"So do I get to watch you try any lingerie on?"

"Nope."

"No?"

"That's right. A big fat no." He pouted then, letting his bottom lip jut out.

"You're pathetic. Don't even start whimpering, JC."

"Not even one bra?" She shook her head.

"Come on, please. I deserve something for shopping with you."

She narrowed her eyes at him after those words." You could've seen me in more than one bra this past week, had you made more time for me and picked up your phone. Also, I shouldn't have to reward you for shopping. You should want to go shopping with me because you love me and want to be in my presence."

JC stepped back and took a deep breath. "Wait a minute, I thought I apologized for not calling back and I thought I explained to you that I've been busy. You know I love you, Dom. I do want to be in your presence."

"I know, I know, but I guess it just frustrated me that I could get a hold of you and after such an amazing night last Sunday, that I didn't expect things to fizzle."

"Fizzle? Babe,they call me J-Sizzle."

"Josh, be serious for a moment. Please."

"Okay,okay,but what do you mean things are fizzling? I get busy for a week and you're acting like I did you wrong and I don't love you anymore." Dominique shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess I've just been spoiled having so much time with you lately and you've always been so courteous. That to suddenly not know what you're up to and not hear a peep from you just kind of sucked. It sucked a lot."

Just as JC was about to respond to her, his cell phone went off and he lifted the top of his leather bag open to fish out the ringing device. He answered the call as soon as he got his phone to his ear.

"It's JC, what's up?"

Dominique decided to not be near him as he took the call and she hoped that she didn't open a can of worms or anything, speaking up the way she did. She just really wanted Christmas to be perfect and she didn't want her boyfriend to start slipping away from her.

A few minutes later, JC sidled up next to her and he looked at her carefully. "Hey, sorry I had to take the call. It was Eric. He managed to book me another session for today, to make up for one that the guy I'm writing for has to cancel on. He wants me to head over to the studio pretty soon."

Dominique's shoulders slumped at the news and she didn't say a word. She ignored him and kept her eyes on the shelf that she was looking at.

"Dominique?"

She still didn't utter a thing.

"Dominique, come on. Speak."

She found her voice, but still didn't look at him. "Go to the studio then. I'll finish up here by myself. Maybe I'll hear from you later, maybe I won't."

He sighed and shook his head, even though she didn't catch sight of it. "You know my schedule can get hectic and especially with Christmas coming up I need to get as much as I can before the holiday hits and the new year rolls in. I'm writing for a few artists right now, on top of some meetings for ABDC, since auditions are happening in January again. I have projects left and right and I'm just trying to do everything I can."

"I know, I know...because you love what you do and you spread yourself thin for your craft. You want to make music and help everyone you can at the same time." It coming out harsher than Dominique expected it to.

"Don't say it like that. I know you understand, Dom. I know you do."

She turned to look at him and her chocolate brown eyes met his crystal blues as she sighed before speaking. "You're right, JC. I do understand, because I have the same passion for writing and wanting to get books published. I work hard too and enjoy being creative. I know it's a common bond between us that makes us appreciate each other and get all hot for one another too. Yet, I've never left you out in the cold, wondering what's going on, the way you have with me. I would've made time, even if it was thirty seconds to call and leave a message. I know I can write a lot more from home and work almost anywhere, but still...I just don't know, Josh. I just don't know."

His blue eyes then turned icy, s if he was shooting daggers into her chocolate brown gems. "I was getting bored of shopping anyways. Not like we were going anywhere that interested me. Oh...and you know what I do know, since you don't know?"

She scoffed at his remark and as much as she didn't want to ask, she asked anyways."What do you know?"

"You're being a bitch." He growled and it didn't phase him that the words left his mouth.

She froze in place, her heart racing, as she replayed the ugly words back in her mind. He'd said them and she quickly looked away before he could see any anguish on her face.

"Guess I'm not going over to GameStop and buying you a bunch of sports games for Way after all." She said bitterly remarked. "Should've chosen your words carefully."

JC's phone rang again and he let it ring without answering. "I bet it's Eric or Kristian calling to see if I'm even near the studio. I've got to go, Dom. I'm sorry I've got to leave shit like this."

"Yeah, well just don't pass out due to exhaustion and don't forget who your girlfriend is. Oh wait...you just called her bitch. Maybe you don't care about your girlfriend anymore."

"Dom..."

"JC...just go."

He tossed his hands up in the air, unsure of what was going on right now, but knowing he really had to head back to the studio. He didn't even dare try to kiss her or touch her, as much as he wanted to smooth things over.

Dominique watched him leave the store then and head out into the mall, back toward his car. She had never said goodbye to him in this manner, in fact, it was anything, but a loving goodbye. She wasn't sure whether to blame him or blame herself, but regardless she felt all the holiday spirit leave her body.