[chapter twenty]

(Two nights after the Billboard Music Awards)

"Denied!" Jon belted out.

"Shut your punk ass up!" Caitlin shrieked, pushing the button on the controller madly.

"Did anyone else notice that I'm kicking your ass?" Jon said snidely, executing a perfect move on the screen.

"There's no one else here to notice, dumbass." Caitlin retorted. "Doh!" She said, trying desperate to right her fallen character on the screen. The phone rang in the background, but the two roommates were totally engrossed in the wrestling game on the Nintendo in front of them. Moments later, Alex sauntered into the room with the cordless phone in his hand. "Caitlin, you busy?"

"Um...YEAH! Busy attempting not to get my ass kicked by spastic boy here!" Caitlin said.

"Ok." Alex put the phone back up to his ear and spoke. "I'm sorry JC, she says she busy right now..."

Alex was interrupted by Caitlin shrieking and jumping up from the floor in front of the TV. "Hold it! I'm not busy!" She said. "Pause the game, dork." She said to Jon.

"I don't think so." Jon said. "The rules say no pausing."

"How would you like to be up to your knees in floor?" Caitlin said threateningly. Jon hurriedly paused the game as Caitlin took the phone from Alex. "Hi JC!" Caitlin said happily.

"Hi sweetie. How are you?" JC said just as happily.

"Good...you? Are you back in town?" Caitlin asked.

"Yeah, we got back last night, and we've been doing paperwork stuff all day. This is the first chance I've had to break away and give you a call. Anything exciting happen while I was gone?" JC asked.

"Um..." Caitlin looked menacingly at Jon. "Jace, can you hang on for a second?"

"Sure." He replied easily.

"Repause that game MEATHEAD, or I'll cut your heart out with a spoon!" Caitlin demanded of Jon. Sheepishly, Jon repaused the game and backed away from the controllers. When Caitlin was satisfied that he wouldn't tamper with it again, she resumed her conversation with JC.

"Why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe?" JC said into the phone.

Caitlin grinned. "Very good, Robin Hood. So what are you doing tonight?"

"Going out with you, of course." JC said.

(Three hours later)

"Yeah, I'd say I definitely like you better in Orlando than all the way in Vegas where I can't keep an eye on you." Caitlin said teasingly, leaning against JC. The two of them were seated on a bench in the park where JC had first taken Caitlin on their tour of Orlando. They had eaten a leisurely dinner in a café downtown, and then headed to the park to catch up on the last few days, and just spend some quiet time alone. At dinner several diners had recognized JC, and a gaggle of girls had accosted him as they were leaving the restaurant. He was courteous as always, making small talk while signing autographsgrateful that at least they hadn't interrupted while they were actually eating. Caitlin felt very conspicuous in front of the autograph seekers, and was concerned that maybe JC being seen "on a date" might end up in the tabloids or on the internet, thus causing him problems. He had reassured her, and she had tried to put it out of her mind as they headed to the park for a walk.

"What do you mean?" JC asked, his voice light. "Afraid of another woman?"

"No. Frankly, I'm always afraid of the consequences when you obviously pick out your own clothes for awards shows or public appearances. I mean, DAMN! What was that white, tie-dye thing you had on?" Caitlin said with a grimace.

"Hey, I like that!" JC defended.

"That's the problem. If you had me around, you would never go out looking like that." Caitlin retorted. "You're way too handsome to wear such uggo clothes."

"You think I'm handsome?" JC said softly.

"When you aren't acting like a scoundrel." Caitlin said.

"Scoundrel? Scoundrel. I like the sound of that." JC replied, quoting Empire Strikes Back
perfectly.

"Seriously, Josh. Who picks out your clothes, and why are they still employed?" Caitlin said with a grin.

"You want the job? Be my personal clothing guru?" JC said.

"I'd love that. I must say though, I did fall off the couch laughing at you and Chris beating the hell out of each other." Caitlin said.

"We had a blast! Did you like the performance?" JC asked.

"All except for the pimped out clothing. But even that was funny." Caitlin said. "You guys really sounded great."

"Thanks." JC said. They sat in silence, looking out over the peace of the park, both lost in their own thoughts. "Penny for your thoughts."

"Just thinking about all kinds of stuff. Those girls tonight, you being in Vegas, us..." Caitlin trailed off. "Does Johnny know about...us?"

"Mm-hm. I talked to him about it ages ago. Now that Justin has gone public with Britney, I think he is loosening the leash a bit on us and our personal lives. As long as we don't flaunt any girls, we're allowed to have lives and girlfriends. Please don't worry about those girls. Or tabloids. Or anything. I can handle it." JC replied.

"Do you really want to?" Caitlin asked seriously. "I mean, the constant questions and hounding and..."

"I want to. But the question is, are you ready for it? I mean, I've lived with this for years. I can understand how it might be overwhelming for a quote "normal" person, but I'm willing to answer the questions and pose for the pictures, if you are willing to put up with all the hounding and photos." JC said seriously. He pulled Caitlin closer. "Or we could just keep it our little secret for a while."

"Secret trysts, huh?" Caitlin teased, trying to lighten the tone.

"Something like that." JC grinned. "Don't think any more about this stuff tonight. Ok? We'll deal with it as it comes. Or not at all, if the case may be. Ok?"

"Ok." Caitlin said. "You're the boss."

"So...what do you want for your birthday?" JC asked.

"I don't know. I haven't put much thought into it." Caitlin said.

"Well, I'm hoping you don't have plans for Friday night yet...I'd like to take you out for your birthday." JC said.

"I'm free, but my birthday isn't for days yet!" Caitlin protested.

"I like to be early." JC said with a grin. "So, Friday night?"

"Friday night." Caitlin reaffirmed. "I'm all yours."

"Thank God." JC said softly, as he closed the distance between their lips.

"So, where are we going Friday?" Caitlin asked as their lips parted.

"It's a surprise." JC said.

"Oh come on! A hint? I don't know what to wear!" Caitlin pleaded.

"No hints. Wear something comfortable and casual. How's that?" JC said.

Caitlin pouted, and JC laughed, tugging on her lower lip. "Don't you like surprises?"

"I don't trust you." Caitlin said.

"You shouldn't." JC said with a devilish grin. Caitlin's pout melted into a grin, and she hugged JC to her. "Much as I don't want to, I do."

"Do what?"

"Trust you."

JC closed his eyes as he laid his chin on the crown of Caitlin's head. Sighing deeply, he gave silent thanks to the powers that be for Caitlin, and for her trust in him. She kept him grounded, kept him sane, kept making him fall for her, in all kinds of little ways...

(Half an hour later, Caitlin's house)

"I'm positively knackered. I'm going to bed." Caitlin announced to the guys as she cruised through the family room towards her bedroom.

"JC wear you out?" Scout asked teasingly from the sofa.

Caitlin merely grinned in reply, and Alex raised an eyebrow. "You and Mr. Chasez behaving yourselves?"

"Give it a rest, dad." Caitlin replied, sticking her tongue out at him. "Yes, he's quite the gentleman. Except for the bodice-ripping sex in the back of the jeep in the driveway..."

Alex shook his head chidingly. "You know, that's not funny to us overprotective older brother types."

"I'm teasing Alex. Seriously. We just went and grabbed a bite to eat, then went for a walk. I'm just tired because I worked all day, and I have to work early tomorrow morning." Caitlin said.

"Sucks working for a living. Just marry JC and sponge off him for the rest of your life." Jon said with an evil grin.

"Oh. Ok. I'll tell him that plan tomorrow." Caitlin said with a grin. "So, he's taking me out for my birthday on Friday. I don't know if I should be scared or what."

"Where's he taking you?" Jon asked.

"He wouldn't say. Weasel." Caitlin smiled. "I like surprises, but knowing him, he'll charter a jet and fly us to Vegas or something. I wouldn't want that."

"Why not!?" Scout asked.

"I just want a nice, relaxed evening with him. No paparazzi, no autographs, no anything." Caitlin said. "I'm such a simple gal to please, really."

Everyone laughed at Caitlin's smirk. "I'm sure he'll plan something fun. Speaking of birthdays, what are WE doing for yours?" Alex asked.

"You want a party?" Jon asked.

"I don't really know anyone down here yet to party with. Let's just hang out, do our thing, eat big food and relax. Is that totally lame?" Caitlin asked.

"Whatever you want, baby sister." Alex replied. "Laid back and relaxed, you got it."

Caitlin smiled her thanks, and heaved a sigh. "What?" Jon asked.

"Nothing. Just...thinking about birthdays reminds me of mum and dad. I always wished I could have the stereotypical birthday party with them...cake, pizza parties, silly party games..." Caitlin trailed off.

"Me too." Alex said quietly.

"No worries. We're your family now. And you are going to have a laid back, relaxed, happy birthday. Ok?" Jon said.

Caitlin smiled. "Ok." Caitlin smiled. "Right. I'm going to bed. Night, loves."

"Night Caitie."

"Night Bird."

"Nightie-night."

chapter twenty-one