"Jace?" She called downstairs, thinking he was down in the studio, but he didn't answer.  With a shrug she was about to leave when she heard a rhythmic thumping coming from the backyard.  Curious, she stepped to the window and smiled as she watched JC dribble a basketball a few times and then shoot it towards the hoop at the end of the court.  The ball hit the rim and bounced off landing in the grass beside the concrete.  Rachel watched as he jogged towards the ball, and smiled as he easily made the shot from the sidelines.  As if they had a mind of their own, her feet moved her towards the back door and she made her way across the yard to where he was running around dribbling the ball.

"Hey!" He said, smiling when he saw her.  He took another shot, the ball swishing through the net, then turned and faced her.

"Hey." Rachel replied, tucking her hands into the pockets of her jacket and shivering as a cold breeze hit her.  She looked up at the overcast sky, wondering if it was going to rain.  It had been threatening all day, but so far nothing had happened.  "I um...I just came to bring you back your key." She said looking down at the sneakers on her feet.  She'd spent most of the day running errands around town, picking out furniture and window coverings for the other projects she was working on and she was tired.  She looked at JC again and watched as he grabbed the hem of the baggy T-shirt he was wearing and raised the fabric to wipe the sweat from his face. Rachel swallowed and raised a brow as she looked at his stomach and chest appreciatively.  Damn! She thought, her stomach flipping as she recalled exactly how his skin felt and tasted.

"Why would you do that?" He asked, looking at her strangely.

"Huh?" She asked, completely distracted by his incredible body.

"I don't want the key back." He replied.

"I didn't want to assume anything." Rachel told him.  JC rolled his eyes then tossed the basketball to her as he grinned.  She barely had time to take her hands from her pockets and catch it before it hit her.

"The key's yours.  Come on." He said, gesturing towards the court with his head.  "Come play with me."

"No.  I'm terrible.  I can't play basketball." Rachel said, throwing the ball back at him.

"Sure you can." He countered, throwing the ball back at her.  "Anyone can play basketball.  It's easy."

"Jace..."  She shook her head.

"Just shoot the ball, Rachel." He told her.  She looked at him for a moment then stepped past him and walked towards the basket.  She stood holding the basketball in front of her as she looked up at the basket.  This is ridiculous. She thought.  I'm going to make a complete fool out of myself.  She threw the ball towards the net but missed it by a long shot.

"See." She said. 

"Try again." He said, jogging over to where the ball had landed and tossing it to her again.

"This is stupid." Rachel grumbled.  "I don't know--"

"Hold the ball like this." JC said interrupting her as he came up behind her and put his arms around her-his hands guiding hers into the correct position on the ball as her entire body tingled.  She fought against the desire to turn and look at him as he put his head down next to hers.  "Raise your arms up like this and bend your knees a little." Rachel did as he instructed, feeling him mimic the movements behind her.  "Aim towards the net and as you come up, throw the ball."  He let go of her and stepped back as she jumped slightly and threw the basketball.  She watched as the ball moved through the air and swished through the net. 

"Yeah!" She exclaimed, turning around and smiling triumphantly at him.  He laughed as he picked up the ball and began dribbling it. 

"See, I told you it was easy." He said.  "Have you ever played Horse?" He asked, cocking the ball on his hip as he came and stood in front of her.

"I don't know." Rachel shook her head.  "Maybe.  It sounds familiar.  How do you play?"

"We take turns shooting the ball." He explained.

"That's is?"  She questioned.  "Why is it called Horse?"

"Because, for every basket you miss you get a letter until it spells out the word."  He began slowly dribbling the ball back and forth between them.

"Then what happens?"

"When you get all five letters you're out." He looked up at her and she saw a glint of something in his eyes that made her suspicious. 

"And?" She questioned.

"Well, I've always played it that the loser has to kiss one of the other players."

"Uh-huh." Rachel folded her arms across her chest as she studied his innocent expression and fought against the grin that wanted to break free.  "And what happens when you're playing with just guys?" She asked.

"This isn't a game you play with just guys." He replied with a smirk and she chuckled.

"Alright, you're on." She said, suddenly stealing the ball from him and throwing it towards the basket.  It missed.  "Damn it!" She exclaimed.

"H!" He called out, taking the ball from her and jumping as he made his shot, and then grinned at her.  They played for the next twenty minutes, laughing and teasing each other as they moved around the court. 

"Leave me alone!" Rachel laughed when JC came up behind her and tried to grab the ball from her as she tried to make her last shot.  She had to either make this shot or kiss JC--they were both tied at the moment.  Either way she really didn't care, but part of her really wanted to make this shot--to show him she could do it.  He chuckled as he stepped to the side and folded his arms as he watched her.  "Knock it off." She chuckled.

"What?" He asked, throwing his arms out in front of him.  "I'm not doing anything."

"You're staring at me.  It's making me nervous."

"I'm sorry." He replied and turned around. 

"Punk." Rachel muttered under her breath with a chuckle then threw the ball.  "Damn it!" She huffed when the ball bounced off the rim and into the grass.

"I'm waiting." He said, turning back around with a smirk.

"Yeah, I bet you are." She grumbled. 

"What was that?" He asked.

"I said you're going to have to catch me first." She replied, and then took off running towards the house.

~~~~~

JC sprinted after Rachel as she tried to get away from him.  He caught up to her as she reached the back porch and grabbed her from behind.  She screamed out and began laughing as he brought her back against him, twirling her around.  "Gotcha!" He laughed.  He brought them to a stop and allowed Rachel to place her feet back on the ground as his arms slackened around her just enough to allow her to turn and face him.  His eyes connected with hers and he felt a shot go through him.  He still found it hard to believe she was really his; that they had somehow managed to overcome the issues they'd had to find a love so incredible and all consuming it took his breath away.  How in the world had he gotten lucky enough to find himself in love with, and loved by, someone as wonderful as Rachel was?  Slowly he lowered his head.  Rachel closed her eyes as she leaned up--her lips meeting his halfway. 

She wound her arms around his neck and he moved his mouth against hers as the rain that had been threatening all day finally began to fall.  She gasped as the first cold droplets hit her face and pulled away looking up as the sky opened up completely and the rain came down heavily--quickly soaking them both.  With a smile she looked at him again and pulled his head down, kissing him passionately.  His arms tightened around her and he pulled her flush against him as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.  He couldn't get enough of her and he dug his hands into her hair in an attempt to pull her closer.  Rachel began moving backwards and he followed her blindly, unwilling to let her go.  They stopped however, when her back came in contact with the outside wall of the house and he heard her inhale sharply.

Finally he tore his lips from hers and looked at her, both of them struggling for breath.  He ran the back of one hand across her cheek then, placing his hands on the wall to either side of her, leaned into her--pressing his weight against her as he kissed her again and again, attempting to convey his love to her with his mouth.  He felt her hands as they slipped beneath his T-shirt and groaned as her fingers moved over his stomach while her lips moved from his to brush along his jaw.

"Jace?  I've got MTV on the phone."  They broke apart and turned as Sarah came out on the patio.  "They want to know...Oh! Sorry." She smiled when she finally looked up and saw the position they were in.  She quickly went back into the house and Rachel and JC looked at each other again.

~~~~~  

"Damn assistants." JC remarked, lowering his head and kissing the corner of Rachel's jaw.  "Always getting in the way."

Rachel giggled as she put her arms around his neck.  "I was getting kind of cold anyway." She remarked.  He pulled back and looked at her, raising one brow.  "What?" She asked.

"I don't make you hot?" He asked.

"You are so cocky!" Rachel laughed.  He shrugged.  "Of course you make me hot." She assured him.  "But in case you didn't notice, it's pouring right now and it's freezing out here."  Rachel shivered at the cold and damp that had worked its way through her jacket and wondered briefly how JC was able to stand there in only a T-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts acting as if it were a hot summer day.  She gasped in surprise when he suddenly bent down and swept one arm behind her knees.  "What are you doing?" She exclaimed as he scooped her up in his arms.  She put her arms around his neck as he opened the patio door and walked inside the house without a word.  He made his way upstairs and Rachel giggled when he finally dropped her on his bed then took off his wet shirt and crawled up beside her.

"Better?" He asked as he placed his hands on either side of her and began nuzzling her neck as she fell back on the mattress.

"Much." She smiled. 

~~~~~~

Rachel sighed happily as they lay in bed together that night, listening to the rain that was still falling heavily outside.  Neither of them spoke-both content in just being together.  She snuggled closer to his side then turned her head and placed a kiss on his chest.  She felt him kiss the top of her head then she shifted so she was laying across him as she looked down at him.  He was lying with one arm bent behind his head, while his other arm was around her--his fingers idly combing through her hair.  "I love you." Rachel said.  He opened his eyes and looked at her, his lips lifting in a soft smile as his blue eyes drew her in.  She leaned down and kissed him.  "I mean it." She told him.  "I love you, Joshua Scott Chasez.  More than I ever thought possible."  He held the back of her head as he pulled her down and kissed her deeply.  She giggled when he growled suddenly and rolled them so she was beneath him. 

"There are a couple of things that aren't exactly fair about this situation." He said, placing a series of kisses across her jaw and down her neck.

"Such as?" Rachel asked, winding her arms around his neck and linking her fingers together as he continued teasing her with his mouth.  

"Well," He said, finally pulling back.  He leaned over her--his elbows on either side of her on the mattress--and looked down at her.  "First of all, what you do to me when you look at me like you just did should be illegal."  Rachel grinned as she ran her fingers through his hair. 

"And second?" She asked.

"And second." He said, kissing the tip of her nose.  "You know my full name, but I don't know yours."

She smiled.  "Olivia." She told him.  "Rachel Olivia Kline.  That's me." 

"That's really pretty." He told her sincerely.  "And now I can say what I wanted to a second ago and it will mean a whole lot more.  I love you, Rachel" he kissed one corner of her mouth.  "Olivia" he kissed the other corner.  "Kline." He finished, leaning down as he pressed his lips against hers fully and Rachel became lost once more in his kiss.    

~~~~~~

"Alright, these are your headphones." JC said Saturday morning as he handed Rachel a large set of headphones.  She looked at them feeling very unsure as she took them from him.  "You'll hear the music that's been recorded through them."  Rachel put them over her head.

She looked at him as a huge grin split his face.  "What?" She questioned as she took them off, feeling very self conscious.

"You look really cute wearing those." He replied leaning towards her and kissing her quickly.  "But you don't put them on all the way."

"Why not?" She questioned.

"Because if you do, you can't hear yourself sing.  You won't be able to tell if you're on beat or off key.  Usually you put them on so only one ear is covered." He said, taking them from her as he put them half on, only covering his right ear.  "See?" He asked.  Rachel nodded.  "Or you just hold it up to your ear." He said taking them off and holding one side up to his left ear.  "Like this."

"Are you going to be in here singing too?" She asked as she took the headphones from him.

"No.  I came in yesterday and worked on my part for a bit.  So you'll be able to hear what I've already recorded when I'm in there with Zack." He said turning and pointing at the guy he'd introduced her to a few minutes ago.    

She nodded, still dumbfounded that she was even here.  How in the world did she get here?  How was it possible that the man she'd dreamt about for so long had suddenly become her reality and had somehow talked her into singing and recording a song with him?!  Rachel shook her head in amazement. 

"Okay." He smiled as he took her hand.  "I'm going to be right there." He said again pointing towards the sound booth.  "You'll do fine."

"I don't know about this." She mumbled.

"Trust me." He said and then left the room.  Rachel watched as he sat down at the soundboard behind a panel of glass.  He smiled at her and she saw him push a couple buttons as she held the headphones up to her ear.  She was startled when she heard the song come through the headphones and her heart skipped wildly when she heard his voice in her ear.  Once again she was drawn into the passion of the music, the beauty of his voice and, like the first time they'd sung the song together, she missed her cue and he had to stop the music.

He leaned forward and spoke into a small microphone.  "Are you okay?" He asked, his voice filing the small room she was in.

"Yeah." She assured him.  "I'm fine.  Sorry." She smiled.

"It's okay.  We can start again."

This time Rachel took a deep breath and concentrated.  When her verse started she began singing.  After she was done with her lines the music ended and she looked over at JC who was smiling.  "Do you want to hear it?" He asked.

"Okay." She replied with a shrug of one shoulder.  He held the headphones up and listened as the part of the song she'd just recorded played back to her.  She gasped.  "Is that me?" She asked out loud, finding it hard to believe the voice she was hearing was her own.

"Sure is." He replied with a smile.  Combined with the music he'd put together, she didn't sound half bad.  Maybe this will work after all. She thought.

After a dozen or more takes, JC joined her in the recording room and they worked on the part of the song that they sang together for awhile.  Rachel found herself completely mesmerized as she stood facing him while they sang into the same microphone.  His body moved along as he felt the beat of the music and his blue eyes held hers steadily, as if he were singing just to her.  As the song ended on their last take he leaned over and kissed her.

"You guys sound great together!  Rachel, where have you been all my life?"

They both turned to the window and Rachel chuckled when she saw Justin sitting with Zack behind the soundboard. 

"What are you doing here?" JC asked.

Justin shrugged.  "I was bored, so I came down to see what was going on.  Thought maybe I'd play around a little with a song I've been working on." He replied.  "Did you write this song, C?" He asked.

"Part of it." He replied.  "Zack, can you play back that last take." He asked and the large black guy sitting next to Justin nodded.

"Who'd you write it with?" Justin asked.  JC pointed at Rachel and Justin looked at her in interest.  "Mmmm." He mused.  "You really are amazing." He said.  "Jace wasn't lying.  You can dance, you can sing, you write songs...what can't you do?"

"That's for me to know and JC," she replied with a smile as she looked over at JC as he stood listening to what they'd just recorded.  He winked at her as he took the headphones off. "To find out." She finished, looking back at Justin. 

"I'm starving." JC said.  "Wanna go get some lunch?" He asked taking her hand and leading her out of the room.

"Sure." She replied.  "Are we done?"

"For now." Justin said as they walked into the sound booth.  "JC's a madman when it comes to recording.  You're going to be working on this song till it makes you sick.  I'll tell you this," he said, leaning back in the chair he was sitting in, looking at them.  "If you two can survive recording this song together, you were meant for one another."

"Thanks, Justin." JC replied sarcastically then turned to Rachel.  "Don't listen to him.  I'm going to take it home and play with it a little.  We'll probably have to come back in and record a couple parts over again later."

"Probably?" Justin mumbled sarcastically under his breath as he turned and began studying the soundboard intently.  JC reached out and smacked the back of his head as he smiled at Rachel.  "Ow." Justin said, rubbing his head.

"Ready?" JC asked Rachel.

"I was born ready." Justin replied standing up.  "Where are we going?"  JC looked at him.  "What?" He asked with a shrug.  "Rachel wants me to come, don't you Rachel?" He asked, walking over to her and putting his arm around her shoulder.

"Don't put me in the middle of this!" Rachel laughed as she put her hands up in surrender. 

"Girl, don't do this to me." Justin said, placing a hand over his heart and looking at her pathetically.  "I thought we were tight."

"Tight?" Rachel asked raising an amused brow and beginning to laugh.  "Is that why you never call me?"

"Give me your number." He replied, pulling out his phone.  "I promise I'll call you.  Tonight." He said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. 

"And we're leaving now." JC said, stepping between them and turning Rachel towards the door.  Rachel shrugged as she looked at Justin over her shoulder.  Call me.  He mouthed, putting his phone up to his ear.  She laughed as she turned back around and slipped her arm around JC's waist.  "Sometimes I think he's still going through puberty." JC said as they walked outside together.  "He's a shameless flirt."

"And you're not?" She replied with a chuckle, putting her sunglasses on.  "Pretty sure you give Justin a run for his money in that department."  He grinned down at her and she just shook her head.

"Come on." He said pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.  "There's a great little café around the corner.  Let's go turn some heads."   

~~~~~~

December

"So I think you should write a fan fiction story." Megan told Rachel over the phone one evening as Rachel was at home mixing up a pan of brownies.

"What?!" Rachel exclaimed then burst out laughing.

"Yeah.  About your's and JC's relationship." Megan continued.

"Are you serious?" Rachel asked as she poured the brownie batter into a pan.

"Of course I am." Megan answered her.

"JC would flip out!" Rachel insisted.  "You know how private he is.  I'd never get away with it." 

"Why wouldn't you?" Megan asked.  "You use a penname and no one will know who you are.  I think you should do it!  You'd have to change some names of course, to protect the innocent--like me--but I think it'd be great story."

"I'm not a writer!" Rachel countered as she continued laughing.

"Well neither are most of the people who write fan fiction." Megan chuckled.  "You've read the stories.  You don't have to be an award winning author to post something online.  All you've got to have is a basic understanding of the English language and a great storyline...both of which you have."

"Again," Rachel laughed.  "JC would absolutely freak if he found out." 

"Who says he has to know?" Megan responded.

"Seriously?" Rachel countered as she put the brownies in the oven.  "There's no way!  Wasn't there a fan fiction story back in the day where the girl JC was with was a fan fiction writer?" Rachel asked as she licked the spoon she'd been using then started cleaning up the mess she'd made.

"Yeah, which is why I think you could totally get away with it." Megan laughed.  "You guys are like a modern day Cinderella story--complete with the wicked stepmother.  It's so romantic.  People would eat it up!"

"Oh, brother!" Rachel shook her head as she laughed.  "You are something else, you know?" 

"I know." Megan responded.  "So, you're going to do it?"

"No." Rachel chuckled. 

"Why not?" Megan whined.  "Come on!  Please?  I'm going on maternity leave pretty soon and I'm going to be bored out of my mind.  I need something to keep me busy while I'm waiting to have this baby."

"Then why don't you write the story?" Rachel countered.  "I seem to remember you saying you were contemplating writing a book a few months ago."

"Hmmm..." Megan mused.  "You know, that's not a bad idea.  Maybe I will."

Rachel groaned.  "Just remember what I made you promise the last time you got the idea to write a book about me."

"What's that?"

"You have to let me read whatever you've written before you post anything." Rachel said.

"Why?" Megan questioned.  "Are you worried I'm going to incriminate you?"

"Yes!" Rachel laughed.  "You know far too much about me for me to be okay with this scheme of yours in any way, shape or form."

"I promise to change your name and leave out important bits of information that, in the extremely off chance, someone we know reads the story they won't know who I'm talking about."

"I don't know..." Rachel shook her head.  "I don't think this is a good idea.  I'm just quirky enough that if anyone we know did read the story they'd know it was me."

"Oh, quit worrying." Megan laughed.  "Who reads fan fiction anymore anyway?  And not just fan fiction but N SYNC fan fiction."

"Well, apparently you do." Rachel said and they both laughed.  "There's probably more people than we think that still read that stuff.  But, let's change the subject." Rachel said.

"Okay, what do you want to talk about?" Megan asked.

"Christmas." Rachel replied as she hopped up on the counter.  "And what I'm going to get JC.  What the hell do you get a man who has everything?"

"Hmmm..." Megan hummed.  "That is a good question."  She was quiet for a moment.  "I'm going to have to think about this one.  Uh...what do you think he's getting you?" Megan asked.

"I have no idea.  All he told me was that he had it covered.  Then he got this mischievous look in his eyes and a grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat.  I could almost literally see the horns growing on top of his head."  Rachel said and Megan laughed.  "I'm kind of afraid."

"That means it's going to be good, whatever it is." Megan assured her.

"Exactly!" Rachel responded.  "Which is why I need to make sure I get him something good."

"Well...lingerie is always appreciated." Megan stated.  "Or so I've been told."

"Oh I have no doubt it would be appreciated." Rachel replied with a roll of her eyes even as a tingle ran down her spine.  Megan made a noise of interest and Rachel felt her cheeks warm slightly.  "But that's kind of a cop out."

"Okay..." Megan drawled.  "At the risk of having this conversation become R-rated, I have to ask...is he good?"

Rachel smiled as she thought about Megan's question.  Finally with a giggle she answered.  "Yeah, he's good."

"I knew it!" Megan exclaimed with a giggle of her own.  "So what do you think you would have done if, when we were seventeen, someone would have told you in ten years you'd be have an intimate relationship with JC Chasez?"

"I would have thought they were completely crazy." Rachel replied, telling Megan the same thing she'd told JC. 

"Okay, we have to talk about something else." Megan laughed.  "This is way too trippy for me."

"This is trippy for you?" Rachel responded in shock.  "How do you think I feel?  I'm the one that's--"

"I don't want to know what you're doing." Megan interrupted her with a laugh.  "You just keep that between you and your lover."

"Remember how you're the one who started this conversation." Rachel laughed, twisting around and looking behind her as a knock sounded at her front door.  She smiled when JC walked in.  "You're the one who asked me if he was good." She said, causing JC to lift a brow and look at her in interest as he shut the door.

"I know." Megan replied.  "I know."

"Listen, I gotta go." Rachel said, as JC walked towards her.  "I'll call you later." She said as he came to stand in front of her and placed his hands on the counter on either side of her.

"Is he there?" Megan guessed.

"Yeah, he just got here." Rachel replied giggling softly as JC leaned forward and began kissing her neck, the light scruff he had tickling the sensitive skin.

"Alright.  I'll talk to you later." Megan replied with a chuckle.  "Ask him what he thinks of my story idea."

"Um, no." Rachel replied and Megan laughed.  "Bye." Rachel said as she hung up.  Placing the phone on the counter she put her arms around JC's neck.  "Hi." She greeted him with a smile.

"So am I?" He asked looking at her, his blue eyes sparkling.

"Are you what?" Rachel questioned him, even though she knew what he was asking.

"Good." He replied.  "I came into the conversation too late to hear your answer."

"Looking for an ego stroke today, are we?" She asked, evading his question.

"Among other things." He answered her with a suggestive smirk as he leaned closer to her, pressing his weight against her legs. 

"Are you hungry?" Rachel asked as her fingers played with the short hair at the nape of his neck.

"For you?" He inquired, placing his hands on her knees and spreading them.  "Always." He stated as he stepped between her legs then leaned forward and began nuzzling her ear.  

"And I used to wonder why all your songs were dirty." Rachel replied with a roll of her eyes and a smile as she tightened her arms around his neck.  "You're insatiable."  She said.  He chuckled softly in her ear and she shivered.  He leaned back and looked at her.  Placing a quick kiss on his lips she pushed him away.  "I just put some brownies in the oven." She told him.

"That's good." He replied not moving.  "But you didn't answer my question."

Rachel narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she looked at him.  "You're..." She shrugged.  "You're...très incroyable." She told him with a smile. 

"Do you do that on purpose?" He asked running one hand down and back up her leg.

"What?" She asked innocently.

"Speak French." He replied.  "You know what it does to me."

"Oui." Rachel giggled as she kissed him.

"I like you like this." He observed.

"Like what?" She questioned.

"Sassy and flirty...I really like it." He said as he pulled her closer.

"Of course you do." Rachel replied confidently, finally succeeding in pushing him away and getting down off the countertop.  "And why?  Because you're dirty." She said over her shoulder as she turned to walk into the front room.  He reached out and smacked her butt as he followed her out of the kitchen.  Rachel giggled as she turned back around and walked backwards the remaining steps to the couch then sat down. 

"What do you want to do tonight?" He asked as he sat down beside her on the couch.

"Hmmm..." She pulled her legs up beneath her and snuggled against him.  "Well, we've got about fifteen more minutes until the brownies are down so we could just make out--"

"I like that idea." He replied putting his arm around her and pulling her close.

"Or..." She said, sitting up and grabbing a piece of paper off the coffee table in front of them.  "You could explain something to me."

"Explain what?" He asked.    

"Do you remember," Rachel asked, holding the piece of paper in front of her.  "A conversation we had a while back about your ‘unique sense of fashion'?" Megan had sent her an email yesterday with a picture she'd found of JC attached and Rachel had died laughing when she'd seen it.  This was by far the best picture she'd ever seen when it came to illustrating the point she'd been trying to make a few months ago.

"Yes." He replied, looking up at her.

"Care to explain...this?" She asked with giggle as she handed him the paper.  Rachel could see red creeping up his face and couldn't contain her laughter anymore.  "What the hell?" She asked through her laughter.  "What were you...I've seen a lot of crazy pictures of you over the years but that is the most ridiculous picture I've ever seen!  Of anybody!  What were you thinking?" She fell back on the couch as she continued laughing. 

"It was...I was just..." He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at the picture again then back at her.  "What is so funny?" He asked, getting defensive.

"You!"  She exclaimed.  "What the hell are you wearing?" She propped herself up on her elbows.  "Between the big, flowy shirt and vest combo and that mask...I can't figure out if you're trying to be the Phantom of the Opera or Zorro.  And who exactly are you shushing?" She fell back and held her stomach as she giggled uncontrollably.  "I just..." she wiped the tears from her eyes.  "I can't stop laughing."

"It was part of a photo shoot I did a few years ago.  It was...Okay, you know what?" He said, putting the picture on the coffee table and turning towards her.  "I'm going to start shushing you in a minute."

"Promise?" She asked, still laughing.  He growled and she let out a little squeal as he literally pounced on top of her.  She wrapped her arms around his neck as he began attacking her.  She squirmed beneath him as one of his hands moved down her side, his fingers tickling her.  "Stop!" She exclaimed through her laughter.  "Stop!  JC stop.  I mean it!"  He stopped tickling her, but didn't move from on top of her. 

"Are you going to stop laughing?" He asked looking at her sternly, though a mischievous glint was in his blue eyes.  Rachel bit her bottom lip as she nodded up at him.

"I'll try." She said and she did--for about four seconds--but she couldn't help it.  She began giggling again and he groaned as he bent his head--resting his forehead against her shoulder.  "I'm sorry." She said, threading her fingers in his hair.  "I can't help it.  It's just too funny!"  She continued giggling as JC began nuzzling her ear.  She shivered as he playfully nipped at her a few times. 

"Jace?" Rachel breathed--his mouth becoming heated against her skin.  Again she felt his teeth graze her and she tightened her grip on his hair.  "If you give me a hickie I'm going to slap you." She warned him.  He said nothing, just shifted slightly--his lips never leaving her skin.  Rachel soon found herself trapped between him and the back of the couch and she sighed as a delightful shiver went down her spine when his lips finally connected with her own.  If there was one thing she'd learned over the past few months it was that she had become hopelessly addicted to the taste of his kiss--she could never get enough.  She moaned as he moved to deepen the contact between them, hitching her leg over his hip as he maneuvered one leg between hers.  With one final deep kiss he pulled his lips from hers and stared into her eyes.  "Wow." She breathed and he smiled.

"I've got something for you." He said.  He brushed the hair from her face then ran his hand over the leg that was thrown over his.

"Oh yeah?" She questioned, eager to know what it was but hesitant for him to move.  She loved being this close to him--feeling every inch of him pressed against her.  They fit so perfectly together, like two connecting puzzle pieces, and she didn't want to let him go just yet. 

"Yeah." He nodded, his blue eyes sparkling.

"What is it?" She asked him.

"An early Christmas present." He replied as his hand moved up her side, his fingers slipping beneath the hem of her T-shirt.  Rachel tried to control her reaction to his touch but she knew he could see what he was doing to her--the smug look in his eyes gave that away.

"Christmas is two weeks away." She informed him, trying desperately to ignore his hand as it flattened against the skin of her back and started snaking its way upward.  "Jace..." She warned even as she closed her eyes.  He chuckled as he leaned forward slightly and kissed the corner of her jaw. 

"Are you ready?" He said.

"Mmmm...that's a dangerous question." She replied breathlessly and he chuckled.

He looked at her for a second, and they both startled when the timer on the oven went off.  "Ugh." Rachel groaned as JC withdrew his hand, untangled his legs from hers and stood.  "I'll be right back." She said, standing as well and walking into the kitchen.  She removed the brownies from the oven, turned it off then walked back into the front room.  As she sat back down on the couch he reached into his back pocket and withdrew a long white envelope.  He looked at it for a moment then held it out to her. Rachel took it from him as she shifted and leaned back against the arm of the couch.  With an excited grin, she opened the envelope.  As she withdrew what was inside she gasped, her eyes flying up to meet his.

"I'm really hoping you have a passport." He said, looking at her anxiously.

"Are you serious?" Rachel asked, placing a hand to her chest as she looked back down at what he had given her.  She couldn't believe what she was looking at.  "Paris?"  She looked back at him.  "We're going to Paris?!"

"We leave in a week." He said with a grin.

Rachel was speechless.  "I..."  He was taking her to Paris for Christmas!  Rachel let the plane tickets fall to the floor as she quickly closed the space between them, throwing herself onto his lap.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She said, winding her arms around his neck as she kissed him over and over.  "Really?" She leaned back and looked at him.  "We're really going?" 

"We're really going." He laughed.  His hands came up her back and into her hair as he kissed her deeply. 

"Why?" She asked pulling back again. 

"Because I love you." He said, kissing her.  "Because it's a crime that someone who can speak French as beautifully as you do has never been to that country." He kissed her again, a little longer this time.  "And because I told you we needed to work on broadening your horizons."

Rachel smiled as she licked her lips.  "How am I ever going to top this?" She wondered out loud.  If she'd had trouble deciding what to get him before, she was completely at a loss now.

"You don't have to."  He replied, tightening his arms around her as he kissed her again.  "I've got everything I want right here."