Abby looked at the suitcase on the bed in front of her. The stack of clothes in the duffel far exceeded the limits that the zipper would allow the bag to stretch to.

"Ah-hem," Carl said from the door. "You aren’t planning on leaving me all alone in New York for a month are you? "

"No," Abby said, a wailing element invading her voice. "I just have no clue what we’re going to be doing besides the Awards." She turned to Carl with a pleading look on her face. "Help me…"

"I’ve never gone anywhere with a famous pop group," Carl said. "I don’t know what to pack. Besides isn’t he paying for the dress? That’s what matters, right?"

"Yes he’s paying for the dress," Abby said. "But what else should I take? I can’t take all of this, but I need enough stuff to cover any situation."

Carl walked over to the bed and began rummaging through the suitcase. He held up a sparkly shirt. "Darling?"

Abby blushed. "What?"

"Since when have you owned a sequined shirt? I thought I’d trained you better than that."

Abby turned even redder. "Josh likes sparkles," she said quietly. Suddenly she smiled. "You think that’s bad you should see these pants that he has. They’re bright red and covered in sequins."

Carl cringed as the image invaded his subconscious. "And you lived with this man?"

Abby smirked. "You’d bump me off if you thought it’d get you a permanent residence in that apartment."

"Damn right," Carl said. "Are you going to insist on taking this shirt because JC like’s sparkles?"

Abby shrugged. "No, I guess I can survive four days without it."

"I could have survived my whole life without it," Carl said. He tossed it up by the pillows on her bed. He began rooting through her bag again. He tossed a skirt up by the shirt. "Honey, you aren’t going on a business trip. You don’t need that skirt. Why do you even have it? You don’t need it where you work."

"I liked it," Abby said pouting.

Carl eyed the offending skirt. "It’s not that bad, it’s just not you."

"I know," Abby sighed. "That’s why I never wore it." She took some stuff out of the bag and placed it back in her closet. "I asked you to help me decide what to take, not critique my entire wardrobe."

"Why does it even matter what you take?" Carl asked as he folded a shirt neatly. "You say you guys are just friends. You guys lived together. You’ve surely seen each other at your worst."

"I don’t know," Abby said. She shrugged. "I just want to look good."

Carl studied his friend. "You want to do more than look good." He eyed her face and then her suitcase. "You want to impress him."

Abby blushed slightly and began folding a pair of pants. "We’re just friends Carl."

Carl smiled. The flush in her cheeks said otherwise.

JC was nervous. He was waiting in the airport, a fisherman’s hat pulled low over his face and sunglasses covering his eyes. He didn’t really know why he was nervous, except that he hadn’t seen Abby in three months.

It was hard for him to remember that he’d only known Abby for three weeks before he left on tour. He never made friends that fast. It had taken him two months to feel like he knew Tammy well enough to ask her out. He’d asked Abby to move in with him three days after meeting her. That was just not JC.

He couldn’t even really remember what she looked like. He didn’t have a picture of her— just the newspaper cutouts from The Comet. He had a romanticized image of her in his head. The one he’d developed during their talks on the phone.

And then he saw her walking off the plane. She had a duffel bag slung over her shoulder and backpack on her back. She looked more real than he’d remembered. Her hair was still chin length and had managed to almost entirely slip out of the ponytail holder.  She stopped and looked around as soon as she was out of the main traffic of the passengers getting off the plane.

"Abby?" JC called softly as he walked up to her. He smiled as her head whipped around and her serious expression turned joyous.

"Josh!" She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "It’s been way too long."

"It has," JC said. His arms wrapped around her waist and he picked her up off the ground for an instant before gently setting her down. "You look great."

"Thanks," Abby said. "So do you."

JC reached over and grabbed the bag from her shoulder. "Is this all you brought?"

Abby nodded and adjusted her backpack on her shoulders. "Carl helped me cut it down to one bag."

"Ah-hah," JC laughed. "I didn’t think a girl could travel this lightly."

"I’m only here for three days Josh," Abby said as they made their way out of the terminal and into the bustling airport. "It’s not like I’m going on tour with you guys."

"Be thankful for that," JC said.

"It can’t be that bad," Abby laughed. "I survived living with you didn’t I?"

JC punched her lightly on the arm as they made their way out of the airport entirely.

Justin heard laughter out in the hallway of the hotel. Not the normal Chris being Chris laughter, but a female giggle. He quickly pushed the pause button on the Nintendo and hopped off the bed. He opened his door quickly, just in time to see the door across the hall from him close. It took him two steps to get across the hall.

"Jay-Cee!" Justin said loudly as he pounded on the door. "Stop mackin’ on Bee and leh me in."

The door opened immediately and JC stood there glaring at Justin. "Learn some patience Bro," he growled.

Justin shoved his way by the older man and threw his arms around Abby, completely engulfing her. "Bee! You actually be here!"

Abby smiled at the curly haired man as she disentangled herself. "Yeh, ah be here"

Justin took a step backwards and eyed Abby, then pouted. "You beez makin’ fun o me."

Abby nodded. "Of course I am. You make fun of me all the time. I can hear you in the background when I’m on the phone with Josh."

Justin giggled, his eyes dancing. "If you couh juh see his face when he be talkin’ to you…oh about you… oh any uh dat shit…"

"Did you come here for a reason Justin?" JC asked. "Because you’ve said hello now."

"But Abby an ah have a lot o’ catchin’ up tah do," Justin said. "I don’ talk to her erey day."

JC gave up talking and pushed Justin toward the door. He managed to keep one hand firmly planted on Justin’s back as he opened the hotel door. Using both hands he pushed Justin out into the hall and slammed the door behind him.

Justin stood out in the hallway and shook his head. He smiled when he heard the dead bolt sliding into place.

"You cuh ha’ jus tol me you wanted to fuck," Justin called through the door. "I wouldn’t ha wan’ed tuh watch anyway."

He walked back across the hallway and into his room, starting his game of Nintendo again.

JC shook his head as he walked back into the hotel room. "I want to apologize for Justin."

"It’s okay," Abby said. "Really." She laughed. "He’s sort of like I’d imagine a younger brother being."

"Definitely," JC said. He felt a sudden need to explain Justin’s actions and sexual innuendo’s. "The only younger brother you’d ever need. He’s delusional and imagines things that aren’t there."

Abby looked at JC quizzically. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," JC said blushing. "All that talk about mackin’ and stuff." He looked down at his hands. "He just wants me to find someone."

"Well I do too," Abby said. "You deserve someone who’ll be as good to you as you will be to them."

"You deserve that too," JC said.

Abby stood at the foot of her bed and stared at the dress spread across the bedspread. JC hadn’t let her look at it the night before claiming it was a surprise. Then he’d woken her up at the ungodly hour of ten and dragged her all the way across LA so that she could get the final fitting.

She had to admit the dress was gorgeous. It was the nicest thing that anyone had ever bought for her, or that she’d ever owned. The fabric was a maroon colored satin that shimmered softly in the artificial light.

There was even a small velvet necklace box lying on the dresser with a simple diamond necklace in it. JC had borrowed it of course, but still…

There was a knock on her door and she looked up suddenly before glancing at her watch. It wasn’t even close to being time for her to be ready.

She opened the door slowly, expecting to see JC or Justin standing on the other side. A tall blond woman smiled at her.

"Hi," she said as she stuck out her hand. "I’m Cassie, the PR person."

"Hi," Abby said with an unsure note in her voice. She took the other woman’s hand "I’m Abby."

"I know," Cassie said. Her voice was warm and reassuring. "JC made an appointment for you to get your hair and makeup done at the same time as me so I thought we could just go together."

"Sure," Abby said. She felt a sudden surge of relief.

"I thought you also might like the company," Cassie said as she stepped into the room. "I remember getting ready for my first awards show and it wasn’t nearly as big a deal."

"Yeah," Abby said. Her voice was slightly shaky. "I’m just, well, I can’t believe I’m here."

Cassie seemed about to reply when she saw the dress on the bed. "Oh my god, that is so beautiful."

Abby couldn’t help but smile. "Yeah, it is. Josh has good taste."

"That he does," Cassie said. "When he wants to at least. Have you seen his—"

"—Red sequined pants?" Abby interrupted.

"Uh-huh," Cassie said. "Those are just hideous."

"I know," Abby said. "I tried to tell him not to bring them, but…"

"He’s just stubborn like that," Cassie said. She looked down at her watch. "We should get going."

"Okay," Abby said. She looked around the room. "Do I need to bring anything?"

Cassie shook her head. "Nope. You just have to let Marcos work his magic, and girl, can he create magic."

JC paced the hotel room as Justin and Lance sat on the bed.

"Why am I so nervous?" JC asked the two other men.

"Bro," Justin said as he turned to Lance. "He din jus be askin’ why he be nervous, did he?"

Lance nodded. "He did."

"Iss it possible fo anyone to be dat blind?" Justin continued as if JC weren’t even in the room.

Again Lance nodded. "I think it is."

Justin shook his head and ran a hand through his curls. "An after all dees years I be trainin’ him. I so ashamed."

"It’s not your fault J," Lance said as he put a comforting hand on Justin’s shoulder. "He’s just not smart like that."

"I am here you know," JC said as he stopped his pacing. He’d been trying to ignore his band mates, but he couldn’t hold in his comments any longer.

"We know," Lance said.

"Well… good," JC finished lamely. He started pacing again.

There was a knock on the door causing JC to jump and Lance and Justin to smile.

"I’ll get it," Justin said hopping off the bed and running in front of the startled JC. He threw open the door and smiled at Cassie and Abby.

Justin mock dropped his jaw. "Damn."

Abby smiled and walked into the room while Cassie stayed in the hall. JC immediately walked up to his date and looked her up and down.

"Have a good time tonight guys," Cassie said as she started down the hall. "Don’t do anything I’m going to have to cover up tomorrow. And tell Joey too."

"We be good tonight," Justin said. "I gih you mah werd."

"That’s what I’m afraid of," Cassie said as she reached over and pinched Justin’s cheek.

Justin batted her hand away and stepped back into the room shutting the door. "She jus don’ have da trust."

JC and Abby were smiling shyly at one another and Lance held his finger to his lips and motioned with his head toward JC and Abby. "Shh… you don’t want to interrupt the love birds."

JC and Abby both blushed and turned to glare at Lance.

"Don’t you have a date to go bug?" JC asked.

"She’ll be here anytime," Lance said. He looked at his watch. "You know June is never punctual."

"I heard that James," June said as she walked into the room. She leaned over to kiss him lightly on the lips. She looked around the room and seemed to notice Abby for the first time. She walked over to Abby and smiled. "Hi. I’m June."

Abby stuck out her hand and was glad when June took it. "Abby."

"Oh!" June said, recognition dawning in her eyes. "You’re Abby!" She turned to Lance. "You didn’t tell me Abby was coming."

Lance shrugged. "Sorry."

"I’m here," a voice called from the door. "We can go now."

"Britney!" Justin called. "You be ready." He gently wrapped his arms around her.

The sounds of Chris, Joey and their dates could be heard from the hall.

"Shall we?" JC asked. He held out his arm for Abby and they all left the hotel room.

Henry Wilkins stepped up to the rope by the red velvet carpet. With his story on JC and the torrid love quadrangle he’d moved up in seniority on the Comet staff. He’d been assigned to cover the Oscars… stars who were looking cuddly with people who weren’t their dates, stars who weren’t with their significant others, anyone who looked a little miffed about not winning an award. This was where it was at. The Academy Awards was another stepping stone in his career.

He took out his trusty notepad and uncapped his pen eager to start his reporting. His mini camera was attached to his watch for easy access. He scrutinized the stars on the carpet already. They weren’t the big names. The big names always arrived later… it was common knowledge.

The screams of the fans at the end of the carpet doubled in intensity. Henry leaned over the rope, trying to get a glimpse of who had just arrived. The first thing he saw was the dark brown hair that was spiked and tipped bright red.

There was only one person who had that hairdo. And he was in the band that had made Henry’s career.

Henry elbowed his way forward, moving down the rope. He saw the tall blond attached to Joey’s arm. She wasn’t exciting. Everyone knew that Joey always randomly picked girls to go with him. The girl on Lance’s arm was the same girl that had been with him to every function for the last year. Chris had Danielle, the only "official" ‘N SYNC girlfriend. And then came the pot of gold. Britney was hanging off of Justin’s arm. As he watched she slid her hand down his arm and intertwined their fingers. The camera on his watch snapped furiously. Gold, pure and utter gold. But then he saw the jackpot.

It was a short girl who was looking very uncomfortable. Her hair had been primped and pinned in a way that she was obviously not used to. Her makeup was heavy and well done. She was tentatively holding on to JC’s arm. Henry recognized her immediately. This was better than Britney and Justin. This proved his story right, no matter what ‘N SYNC management had said.

His camera snapped and he grinned evilly. He’d thought his career was made before. His career had only begun.

Abby went into shock as soon as the long black limousine pulled up to Shrine Auditorium. She could see the crowds through the tinted glass. She moved her hands off of the satin dress, afraid that they would leave wet marks. The car moved slowly up to the drop off place.

"You okay Abby?" Britney asked from the other side of the limo. "You’re looking a little pale."

Abby felt stupid. She was sitting in a car with people who lived this life twenty-four hours a day. How would they understand how she was feeling?

"We all get nervous Abby," June smiled. She gripped Lance’s hand lightly. "I remember when Lance brought me to my first awards show."

Abby couldn’t do anything but nod.

Lance leaned over and gave June a peck on the cheek. "She was more nervous about getting out of the car than I was about the award."

Abby grinned tightly. She still didn’t trust her voice. She nearly jumped when she felt an arm descend over her shoulder and pull her in for a gentle hug.

"You’ll do fine," JC said. "We’re nobody’s here. No one’ll hardly notice we’re here."

Abby believed him for a second until the door to the limo opened and the sound of screams filled the car. The volume of the screams increased ten-fold as Joey pulled his date out of the car.

Abby swallowed, trying to get rid of the bundle of nerves in her throat. It didn’t help that JC grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze, gently pulling her towards the door of the limo.

"This’ll be great," he said. "Just have fun and keep an eye out for Ben."

"Ben?" Abby asked, worry creasing her brow. Ben who?

"Ben Affleck?" JC said. "Every woman’s dream man?"

"Oh," Abby said. She couldn’t even fight her nervousness long enough to laugh. Once she got inside the auditorium she’d be fine, until she saw her first star that is.

JC just grinned and pulled her out of the limo. The screams rose in volume even more. JC put Abby’s hand on his bent arm. He rested his fingers on top of hers, keeping her hand in place. He wasn’t going to lose her in the crowd.

"Let’s rock this joint," JC whispered in Abby’s ear. His breath tickled the inside of her ear. She couldn’t help but smile. They started down the carpet together.

Henry managed to stay close to his couple of interest. He was behind the bigger clump following Britney and Justin. He watched every move JC and Abby made. He watched their facial expressions, the movements of their bodies, how close they were standing, how often they touched— aside from the gentlemanly extended arm.

He was especially interested when Joan stopped the ‘N SYNC guys for the mandatory discussion about their outfits. He noted with an amused grin that they’d actually dressed with some semblance of style— apparently they hadn’t been allowed to dress themselves.

"Aren’t you just too cute," Joan gushed as she looked at the five men standing in front of her. "How are you guys doing tonight?"

"We’re doing just great," Lance said in his deep southern drawl. "Really excited to be here again. We had so much fun two years ago."

"Now, you have a movie coming out soon, right?" Joan continued.

"Yeah," Joey said. "It’ll be out in June."

"Now be honest with me," Joan said as she leaned forward, supposedly to get a more intimate feel to the shot. "Is it any good?"

"We like to think so," JC answered. He pulled Abby closer towards him as Joey’s date tried to push the shorter girl out of the shot.

"Now you all look absolutely fabulous," Joan said. "Care to tell me what you’re wearing?"

"Armani," Lance answered. "He did all our suits."

"And how about you?"  Joan pointed the mic at Abby, but Joey’s date stepped in the way with a bright smile outlined in red lipstick.

"I’m wearing a Vera Wang."

"I can tell," Joan said. "Now how about you?" She put the mic an inch away from Abby’s mouth.

Abby flushed bright red and began stuttering. "I, uh, don’t know."

"It’s a Donna Karan," JC answered, leaning into the mic. "I surprised her with it this morning."

"Well isn’t that sweet?" Joan cooed. "Oh! There’s Tom Cruise! I’ll catch you all later."

"Thanks Joan," Justin said as he rolled his eyes. Britney stepped out from behind him. She was doing her best to stay out of the spotlight. She had dropped away from his side as soon Joan had made a move towards the guys.

The group continued toward the entrance of the auditorium. Abby and JC stayed toward the end of the pack, walking slowly and allowing Abby to glimpse the stars.

"You survived," JC said quietly, bending down towards Abby’s ear. "Joan’s the worst part of the evening."

"I hope so," Abby said. "Next time tell your date what dress she’s wearing."

"I’ll make a note of it," JC said. He dropped his arm and grabbed Abby’s hand gently. "Do you want to mingle or go find our seats?"

Abby shrugged. "Whatever you want to do. You’re promoting your movie."

"Just stick close okay?"

Abby nodded and unconsciously gripped JC’s hand harder. She followed him through the crowds. Her face was beginning to hurt from keeping a perpetual grin plastered across it. She was silent while JC chatted with lots of people. Most she didn’t recognize, but there were a few… well, she was just in awe of the people she was standing within breathing distance of.

It seemed like hours later when ‘N SYNC finally decided to enter the auditorium. In reality Abby knew it wasn’t longer than 30 minutes. They’d only arrived 45 minutes early. She was happy to sit in the plush seat. She was glad that she’d been sat between JC and Justin. She knew that if the cameras even made it up that far they’d focus on Justin and Britney.

"Isn’t this awesome?" JC asked as he looked around the room. The seats stretched above him and the balcony was almost over their heads. "I always forget how big these places are."

"You perform in bigger," Abby said.

"I know," JC said. "But we never get to see how many people are out there. You can’t see the audience for the stage, only hear them."

"Oh," Abby said. She looked around the room and again felt awed that she was even there. "I don’t think I’d do good in Hollywood."

JC smiled at her, his face warm. "No, I don’t think you would. You don’t like tabloids."

Abby couldn’t stop herself from cringing. "Don’t even joke about it."

"You know the Comet is going to pick up on the fact that you were here with me, don’t you."

"That’s why I didn’t want to come," Abby said. She felt her nervous excitement of the evening draining away from her.

"But you know what?" JC asked.

"What?"

"I. Don’t. Care." JC placed his hand on top of Abby’s arm. "So what if they link us together. I could think of lots worse people to be linked with."

"But it’s me," Abby said. "You need someone glamorous and who can deal with the spotlight."

"I don’t want someone who can play the game though," JC said. "I want someone who can be with me."

The lights dimmed in the auditorium before Abby could respond. She was too much in awe of the whole production to talk over the Oscar theme song. She didn’t know what she was doing there. It was obvious she didn’t belong, even JC saw it. Hadn’t he just said that she couldn’t ‘play the game’ in a roundabout way?

She felt JC’s arm descend over the back of her seat and his hand begin to rub her bare shoulder lightly. She looked at him with a worried expression.

Then Billy Crystal walked on the stage. She gave up worrying and decided to enjoy the show. She was at the Oscars, somewhere she never would have imagined herself.

The apartment was dark, lit only by the flickering light of the TV. The sound of kissing would have been loud to an observer.

"Aren’t you just too cute?" Joan’s voice came over the TV.

The girl pulled away from Brad. "Ooh!" she squealed. "It’s ‘N SYNC!"

Brad couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He couldn’t escape from the memories. Every time he heard an ‘N SYNC song which seemed to be every other song on the radio, whatever station he went to, reminded him of Abby. Every day he was at the bar he thought of Abby. Every time he looked at a girl he thought of Abby and what he’d given up.

JC’s words echoed through his head. Abby wanted Brad. That’s what the other man had said. Brad just didn’t see it like that though.

His eyes were unwilling drawn to the screen, the girl beside him already leaning forward. He sat forward at the image he saw.

Abby. His Abby on the arm of that singer.

His hands clenched, his muscles tensed and his teeth ground together. He felt a surge of jealously flood his system. It was one thing to think that Abby had wanted JC and another to see them together.

They were standing just too close. Their arms fit together too well. JC leaned towards her just too familiarly.

"Baby," the girl beside Brad said. "They’re just a band. You don’t have to get all tense and shit. They aren’t challenging your masculinity or anything."

Brad nodded because he didn’t trust himself to speak.

"Oh baby…" The girl cuddled up to his side and brought his head towards her with the palm of her hand. "I still like you better."

"Really," Brad said with a smile. "You wouldn’t take one of them if they walked through the door right now."

"They aren’t going to, so it’s not an issue, is it?" the girl said. She brought her lips to his. "Besides, you’d kick their asses wouldn’t you? I know you’d win."

"Of course I would," Brad said as he pushed the girl down onto the couch. "None of them have anything on me."

Tammy was happy for the first time in years. She had her own apartment with her own furniture. The décor was a pea green. It had been hard to find all the fabrics to furnish everything, but she’d done it.

She turned on the TV and settled into the chair. This was the first time in three years she hadn’t been to the Academy Awards. She was happy not have to deal with the designers and the media and all the other hoopla.

The cameras panned the inside of the auditorium.  She leaned forward as she saw a familiar head of dark hair. He was leaning over a shorter girl. They were both smiling and looked really familiar with each other.

"Abby?" Tammy asked the TV. She was cute, not model material, but cute enough.

Tammy smiled watching JC watch Abby. She recognized the look on his face. It was one she should know since he’d looked at her that way for eight months.

"Good luck," she mumbled as the camera flashed away from them. "Good luck JC."

Abby was curled up in the corner of the limo, her head resting on JC’s shoulder. They’d done the awards, then the parties. Everyone inside the limo looked tired but Abby couldn’t imagine they felt the strain like she did. They at least had done this before.

"Couldn’t you have brought me to the MTV awards or something as a warm up?" Abby asked JC without moving her head.

"I’ll remember that too," JC said. He wrapped his arm around the girl cuddled to his side. "Did you have a good time?"

Abby nodded into his chest. "Thank you for asking me to come."

"There’s no one else I would have brought," JC said. "You aren’t going to freak about the tabloid story that will result, will you?"

Abby shook her head, rubbing her hair out of its carefully styled arrangement.

"Good," JC said. "I was going to have to keep you on a short leash then."

Abby just nodded sleepily. She felt her eyes drooping closed and her breathing begin to even out. As she dozed off she felt a hand gently rubbing her back. It was a soothing motion, lulling her into a deeper state of semi-consciousness.

JC sat in the back of the empty limo, gently staring at the girl in his arms. It was a feeling that he’d been searching for since that day Tammy had walked out on him. It was a sense of completeness. His thumb traced patterns on Abby’s upper back, playing with the stray hairs that rested on her neck.

He didn’t want to wake her up. This was one of those perfect moments. That was the only way he could think to describe it.

"Abby," JC said softly. He leaned down so his lips were mere centimeters away from her ear. "We need to go inside the hotel."

Abby sat up. Her eyes were blurry and she blinked, trying to clear her vision. "Where’s everyone else?"

"They already went in," JC said. "You were asleep."

"I’m sorry," Abby said as she ran a nervous hand over her hair. "I didn’t mean to fall asleep."

"It’s okay," JC said. "You were tired."

Abby nodded. "Well, shall we?"

JC scooted towards the open door. "Let’s get you to bed."

"I need to get upstairs first," Abby said. "And get all these pins out of my hair. Do you think Cassie’s around?"

JC shrugged. "I can help you."

"I wouldn’t ask you to do that," Abby said.

"Hey," JC said with a laugh. "I paid for the hairstyle. I can at least help dismantle it."

"If you really want to," Abby said. They walked into the service elevator and traveled in silence up to the floor reserved for the guys. It was completely silent.

"Is Britney spending the night?" Abby asked suddenly. "You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I just sort of wanted to know for my own information."

JC nodded. "I’m sure they’re just watching movies though. In reality they really are just good friends. They enjoy giving Cassie heart attacks."

Abby laughed. "Cool. I was just curious."

"You’re one of us," JC said. "Anything you want to know, just ask it."

Abby yawned instead of responding.

JC opened the door to his room. "Do you want to get out of your dress first and then come here to get the pins out, or do you want to do it now."

"Let me get into jammies first," Abby said. She walked to the next room down and pulled out her key. "I’ll knock on the connecting door."

"Okay," JC said. He stepped into his room and closed the door.

Abby carefully unzipped the back of her dress, carefully stepping out of it. She slipped off the shoes and sighed as her feet rested flat on the ground for the first time in hours.

She picked the hanger off the bed and rested the dress upon the padded wire. She pulled on her T-shirt and boxers before looking in the mirror. She looked silly, her face fully made up and wearing a ratty shirt. She looked at the mirror and saw a silver chain going around her neck. She unclasped the necklace hurriedly, setting the diamond concoction into its case.

She tugged a few of the pins out of her hair, but there was no way that she was going to be able to get them all out by herself.

Her feet bare, she padded to the door connecting her room and JC’s. She opened her door and was surprised to see his door already open. He’d pulled on a pair of flannel pants with his dress shirt and was working at his tie in the mirror.

"I see why they don’t let you dress yourself," Abby said. Her voice sounded amused, even though she was so tired.

"I was just getting comfortable," JC said. "That’s all."

Abby sat down on the bed while he finished taking the tie off. She looked away as he unbuttoned the shirt, pulling it off and exposing his wife beater.

"I’m not getting naked," JC said. He climbed up on the bed behind her, sitting cross-legged.

Abby blushed and grinned. She leaned forward so that he’d have better access to her hair. His fingers were gentle as he pulled the pins out of her hair. He worked in silence for a few moments, his fingers probing the fixed curls, searching for the elusive pins holding them up.

"How many pins did they put in?" he asked as he looked at the pile growing beside him on the bed.

Abby shrugged. "I don’t know. It took a long time though."

"It must of," JC said. He found himself running his fingers through the curls, trying to loosen the spray holding them in place.

Abby unconsciously leaned into his touch, bending her neck to meet his hand. "That feels good."

JC pulled a few more curls loose and watched as they bounce back to the position they’d been held in for so long. He ran his hands through the soft hair searching for any pins he’d missed. When none were forthcoming he let his hands trail farther down her neck until he was gently rubbing the muscles in her neck.

Abby rolled her head forward, stretching the muscles and giving his probing fingers better access. "Don’t stop, whatever you do."

"Yes ma’am," JC said. "I take it that feels good?"

"Uh-huh," Abby mumbled. She rolled her head to the left as JC focused on the right side of her neck.

JC looked over his shoulder at the wall that the bed rested against. "Scoot back, okay?"

He moved so he was resting against the pillows and the wall. Abby managed to crawl up the bed and put her head on his chest and smiled. "You make a comfortable pillow."

"Well you make a good teddy bear," JC retorted. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed.

"Mm-hmm," Abby mumbled. She felt her eyes drifting closed. "Goodnight Josh."

"’Night," JC said. He rolled slightly so he could reach the light, flipping the switch and plunging the room into darkness.

JC was the first to wake up. He was happier than he had been in months. Had it only been three months since the day Tammy had broken his heart? It felt like so much longer. His life had changed so much since then.

He looked at the girl lying next to him. She’d rolled away from him in the night and she now held the pillow tightly. He smiled. She was the reason he was as okay as he was. She was the only reason.

She rolled over suddenly and blinked. "What time is it?"

"Seven," JC said. "We’ve only been asleep four hours."

"Oh," Abby said. She blinked and looked at JC. "You okay?"

JC nodded. "I just wanted to say thank you."

"For what?" Abby asked. She rubbed a wrist across her eyes.

"For being you," JC said. He reached a hand out and pushed a lock of hair out of Abby’s face. Before he could stop himself he’d moved across the inches that separated their faces. His lips brushed hers and he felt a hunger ignite within him.

Abby moaned against his mouth. Her mouth responded eagerly and her tongue licked his lips before she suddenly pulled away.

"We shouldn’t be doing this," Abby said.

"Why?" JC asked.

"It’s too soon," Abby said. "I mean you’re still hung up on Tammy…"

"I’m not," JC interrupted. "I haven’t been for over a month."

Abby opened and closed her mouth trying to come up with another excuse.

"Do you not like me?" JC asked.

"It’s not that," Abby said. "It’s just…" she trailed off, unsure of what to say. "I like you JC. Brad tried to tell me and then Carl tried to tell me… I just don’t think I’m quite ready."

"Justin wanted me to hook up with you the day he and I went in there the first time."

"Really?" Abby asked. She was staring at his lips and the way that they perfectly formed the words he wanted to say. "Can we just wait until after your tour’s over?"

JC stared at her for a few seconds. "We will talk about this then."

"Okay," Abby said. She closed her eyes and moved over to JC’s chest. "But in the mean time I’m going to keep you for a pillow."

"I’m always glad to be of service," JC said as a laugh rumbled through his chest. "That’s what I’m here for."