Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 23:30:15 +0100 (GMT+01:00)
From: I-really-am@2cute4u.co.uk
Subject: A little bit of love part4

Hi everyone - I'm sorry! I really am! Forgive me, it won't be
this late again! (i hope...)

I want to make this short and sweet, as much as i can ever be brief!
Some stories i forgot to mention last time that i am ashamed i didn't,
or are new and need reading.   GO READ!!!!!!!!!

Tears in your eyes: this one has got me on tenterhooks! Write more,
	dear, more! If you haven't already done so, go check out
	Colleen's other stories on her website - the ones i've read
	are great and NEED posting!
Any Path: I'm ashamed that the dear author of this story is able to
	have written SO MUCH in the time i've been away. Hat's off to
	you, dear.
Finding a belief: a breath of fresh air on the archive - very original,
	i think, and written by a great guy! I love it, and you will
	too - go read
Everything i said: I'm in awe at this guy's achievement - you're a great
	guy and a great author, Darren, and i cant recommend your story
	enough.
Studio in the country - brilliantly written; this guy has what can only
	be called talent. If you haven't already read it, do so!


There are loads more, but those are all i can think of for the moment
off the top of my head - i'm sorry if i didn't say anything, i'll try to
next time. What can i say, i'm in a rush!

People i want to say hi to (in no particular order):
Gabriella (MSR) - you're a darling! I said it before, now i'll say it
again: go read My surprise romance - it's fab!
Darren (EIS) - thank you for being: 1) a great friend; 2) a good laugh;
and 3) you. All hail the Uber-bitch! (that's me, old man <snigger>)
Pranav - i want to say thank you to you as well for being a great person
who i really, really like - i'm glad i know you!
Brent - Thanks for being someone to have a chat with - i'm sorry i've
been so busy recently.
David at Nifty - thank's for putting up with me! i've been an utter clutz
recently, sending things to post without actually attaching the posting!
There, i've admitted it - i'm sorry!
And finally - everyone who's emailed me so far; i really, REALLY appreciate
that you do. THANK YOU, God bless, you're great... basically: thanks!

OK, so that's Johns 'bit'

I now have to introduce my new co-author, Lurch,  who was last chapter's
editor. He's gone from reader to editor to co-author in just 4 chapters;
am i the only one who gets the feeling that soon he'll have taken over
completely? :)  It's his first time authoring (aah, bless :) ) so please be
gentle. Over to him:


Hi all,

Well for those of you who know me - it's Lurch here; I finally got around to
authoring (well, co-authoring) something at Nifty - I know it's about time
I mean I've been reading here for long enough.

My story recommendation - it's one J doesn't read - A Tale Of Two Boybands
by Aphrodite - and Aunty I didn't put the swearing in J did - so tell him off.

Umm - this difficult - I never realised how hard this bit is until now -
ENJOY - I know it's a little boring but it's had a major re-write in the
last two days and split into two - the exciting bits are coming - probably
next week if not sooner - though that depends on tomorrow (Thursday 17th)
for those in the UK who understand - GOOD LUCK to anyone as unfortunate as
us out there.

Enough with me - I've kept it short as Johnny-poo has a tendency to witter
on about absolutely nothing for hours on end - go read.

Lurch.


Back to John!
Well, charming!
I'll get him for that - and i think i'll do it by telling you all that i had
to do some spelling corrections on the above. So there. That taught HIM!
   But i'd like to add my best wishes to his - GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!


We've got some new email addresses, so could you please send all
correspondance (i.e. protestations of adoration :P ) to these addresses:
To contact both of us, please send stuff here:
	We-wish-they-were-our@bitofrough.co.uk
(What can i say, it was the closest i could get to "little bit of love")
If you want to talk specifically to Lurch (dunno why, but anyway :) ) please
send here:
	howie-is-lurchs@bitofrough.co.uk
(Guess who HIS fave BSB is?)
And to talk to me:
	I-really-do@ilovenick.co.uk
(Guess who's mine? I love my Nicky!)


You really should know the disclaimer by now:
1) this = fiction
2) them = We don't know
3) their sexuality = We live in hope (yes, you and me both)


Just to clear a few things up, 'coz this may get a bit complicated:

Speech marks (" ") denote speech (duh!)
Inverted commas (' ') denote thoughts
Asterisks (* *) denote emphasis - please read as if it was in italics

I know i said that i wuld try and get the next one out in html, but my
computer is misbehaving badly. Hopefully NEXT time! I hate not being able
to write with italics it's so much... yeah, i remember, i said i'd be
brief. I lied. Sorry.

One last thing: we'd like to stage a vote - who out of the two groups
has the cutest rear end? (we understand the difficulty of this choice)
Answers on a postcard, or alternatively to:

	Who-has-a@nicebutt.co.uk


Now, without further ado:


A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE, CH4



Ross' gaze moved from Brian towards Nick and Justin. "Congratulations!"
 He said, and again he smiled.

There was an air to him deliberately ignoring AJ's comment, something
that most of he room appeared to be in accord with; but there was a new
tension in the room that was plain for all to see.

"Excuse me?" Kevin enquired, in as calm and surprised a voice as he
could muster - trying to keep Nick and Justin's secret undisclosed. As
Ross' eyes fell on him he felt his spine tingle - there was something
definitely unsettling to Kevin about that golden-eyed stare -
surprisingly knowing and somehow distressing.

"I was congratulating those two on their fledgling relationship, Kevin."
It was the way he said it, so self-assured that unnerved Kevin.

Kevin and Ross stared at each other; whilst the rest of the room stared
around at each other, their gazes asking each other how he knew. Justin
and Nick were looking very nervous, wondering if they were so obvious
that anybody could pick up on it. If so, it would mean everyone would
know; irreparably ruining their images forever.

After a few moments hesitation Kevin realised that there was no point
in denying the new relationship. "How?" he asked in reluctant resignation.

"A good number of things actually," Ross replied. "Firstly, I have been
told that I have the most acute gaydar known to man. Their body language
is another thing, but what clinches it for me is the fact that they're
holding hands - it doesn't really help their cause at all."

The blondes blushed beet-red, whilst Ross grinned at their discomfort.

"I trust that your silence is assured, Ross?" Lance asked, in his usual
diplomatic manner; whilst outwardly very pleasant, there was an implicit
demand that *he* would have his silence one way or the other.

"You know it is - I'm not my niece, Sirella, after all." He considered
for a second before announcing, "Before you ask we don't get on. And no,
she isn't a fan." He finished pointing at Justin.  Justin's mouth snapped
shut; it was obvious that Ross was not going to be easily diverted. "I
take it that this is a recent development?"

"You could say that."

"Understood. From what I've heard about Kevin, you've probably already
had a lecture about keeping this a secret?"

There was a groan from the two on the couch. "Narrowly avoided," they
muttered almost incomprehensibly under their breaths.

"Really? You must be losing your touch. In that case I'll talk to you
two about it later on."

"Aagh" and "Ugh" were the two reactions to this latest development.
'Give us a break - we KNOW'

Ignoring this sorry state of conversation from the younger members of the
groups, he continued unabated "While we're still here in Orlando it's
going to be less of a problem, but when we go on tour you'll have to be
on your guard all of the time."

Justin appeared to be little more than a sulky teenager, being lectured
at on what to and what not to do. "Understood," came the sullen reply.

"And that means *all* of you. Remember. You are *not* a collection of
individuals. *You* are groups; for the time being *one* group. The secrets
of one are the secrets of all." Ross waved his hands from side to side
for emphasis, his gaze raking the ten young men in front of him. There
was something strangely intimidating about that stare, and none of them
were able to meet it. "In  fact we'll *all* talk about it later."

The two groups acknowledged their understanding of the fact with simple
nods.

"Good." His sunny disposition returned. "Now, I thought that I'd say
this now so as to get it out of the way-"

Nick interrupted him before he could continue. "Oh no, not more orders -
I'm a grown man you know. I know what I should and should not do, I know
how to behave etcetera, etcet-" he said in an obnoxious, bolshy style.

Nick was himself interrupted in his prime by Kevin scolding him with
"Nickolas Gene Carter!" which, as usual, was enough to get him to shut
up and sulk silently. His petulant attitude could last for hours, during
which he would occupy himself by giving them both the evil eye, his
childish response only proving their point. His pout did, however, give
Justin ideas. :)

"*As I was saying* before I was so rudely interrupted..." he paused to
glower at his fellow blonde "...if any of you ever want to talk to someone
about something, anything, then please feel free to speak to me, alright?
If I can help, I will, if I can't I'll find someone who can." His tone
warmed from icily offended to pleasantly considerate, even caring. It
made Nick feel like crap.

"Thank you, Ross, I'm sure we all appreci-" Kevin was cut off before he
finished.

"That means *you* too, Kevin. I know that the BSB depend on you as a
father figure, and that you don't always have someone to go to yourself.
I want you *all* to know that I am available to you, anytime. Alright?"

"Um, OK." Kevin responded weakly.

"Good." It seemed like that was something he said a lot. He was obviously
used to things going as he wanted them to. "Now, I was planning on
discussing some business but I hardly think that that is appropriate, given
the circumstances - it seems we have something to celebrate. Shall we go
out to lunch?"

There was a chorus of agreement around the room. Nick now wanted the floor
to simply open up and swallow him whole.

"Shame the happy couple can't have a little champagne to celebrate, huh?"
Ross smirked.

'On second thoughts, the floor can leave me where I am.'

"I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather get my own car, if that's
alright. Then we don't have to worry about imposing on you guys to ferry
us home later," Kevin stated.

"Oh, you wouldn't be imposing, Kev, really," JC replied automatically.

"It's very kind of you, but I think I would prefer it as well. And besides,
you've still got all of our stuff in the back of your cars. It's better we
do it now when we're *all* sober. As opposed to just those who're going to
drive - oh, and Nick and Justin, of course," Howie smirked.

'I'll get you for that, Howie,' Justin thought. His eyes turned towards Nick.
'Aww. He looks so *cute* when he pouts! So convenient too...'

A minute or so later (well, maybe a little longer), Nicks pout had disappeared
completely, his face joining Justin's in a silly grin.

'Goofball,' Brian thought, observing Nick's silly smile. As the two had
kissed, the room had gone quiet, peculiarly unable NOT to watch them. Brian's
head turned away from the two and his eyes unconsciously focused on Ross.

Ross was still looking at Nick and Justin, with a peculiarly...*satisfied*...
smile on his face. Then he turned and stared directly into Brian's eyes. Brian
managed to tear his gaze from Ross, feeling somewhat giddy, and appearing
somewhat flushed. He heard a low chuckle, but didn't dare look up to see who
it was.

"Umm, Nicky-poo..."

"Yes, sweetie-pie?"

A few retching noises and sniggers tried to intrude on their consciousness,
but they were far too involved to notice.

"Would... if... if I asked my mom, and she agreed, would... would you like
to stay with me? At my house?"

Nick goggled slightly, then turned towards Brian. "Brian... Bri... BRI!?"

He jerked up, and smiled wanly. "You do whatever you want, Nick. I'm sure I'll
be able to find someone to keep me company."

'It's not funny,' AJ told himself, 'It's not. Really, it isn't.' However, his
facial expression seemed to have trouble believing him. He was winning, but
only just.  The grin hadn't broken through *yet*.

"I'd love to Just. Thank you."

"Lance, can I use your phone?"

"Of course, Curly."

Justin ran of to speak to his mother.

"So how are we going to do this," Howie asked. "Can you guys drop us round to
our houses, and then we'll meet you somewhere for lunch?"

"Sounds sensible, doesn't it?" Ross replied "Can I give anyone a lift?"

"MEEEEEEEEE!!!" Chris shrieked, nearly wetting himself.

"Uh, Chris, man, you've got your car here, haven't you? You don't *need* a
lift," JC reminded him gently.

"So?"

JC just rolled his eyes.

"ME, then!" AJ half-asked and half-stated. He felt his conscience was clear
- he'd given Brian a chance to stake his claim first. Admittedly, not many
people thought that 13 milliseconds were much of an opportunity, but he felt
the demands of honour were satisfied.

"OK, AJ."

AJ's face adopted a martyred expression "I will not hog you, unlike some -
I'll catch a lift with someone else to get home after lunch."

"Well, that's nice to know."

Chris smiled at AJ through gritted teeth. AJ got the impression that Chris
would want some revenge for that one.

"THANKS MOM!!" came a exuberant and delighted cry from another room - the
door burst open, and Justin rushed in like a cat who'd just got the European
cream mountain all to him/herself. "Guess what?"

"You're pregnant!? Boy, Nick, you're a fast mover!"

The two blondes went strawberry. "Shut up, Joey."

"You're not? Damn, I was looking forward to being a godfather. I know! You've
just heard that Nick is on the awards panel for the 'Rear of the Year' award."

"Oh come on - he'd win without me interfering."

"I think that you "interfering" is just what he wants."

A nuclear reactor couldn't have given off the amount of heat that Nick's face
did.

"You know, I think that  we'll have to remember this - if we're ever in need
of a great deal of heat, like when the car has frosted up, in the middle of a
Siberian winter or something, all we need do is make a few comments to these
two. That'll soon sort it."

"Shut up, Howie."

"Oooh, somebody obviously hasn't got any recently." Howie joked.

"Look who's talking," Nick responded harshly, to which Howie just shut up and
stepped completely out of the conversation.  Nick tried to continue with "If
memory serves me right - and it does - you last dated long before I last did
so what does that say about you when the girls will take a gay boy over -"

Kevin, Brian and AJ rightly interrupted Nick then, shouting "NICKOLAS GENE
CARTER", and AJ continued: "SHUT YOUR CAKEHOLE!"

Justin was about to step in and defend his new boyfriend but when he went to
stand up he found two pairs of hands holding him down into his seat."

"*Right*. All of you, stop this nonsense *now*. Will you *please* stop this
repetitive winding up of those two before they die due to lack of blood to
anywhere but their faces?" Ross stated forcefully. Somehow he managed it
without having to raise his voice once. 'Or at least wait until I'm not around
and Nick's calmed down a little,' he finished to himself.

"Thank you, Ross." Justin said calmly, though urge to throttle Howie remained.
He spun around in his more usual hyper-active manner and ran over to face Nick
again "Nick, Mom said you can stay."

"Really?" Soon the two of them were back to canoodling on the couch again.
Nick quickly forgot all about the incident. Justin certainly appeared to enjoy
helping him to forget.

Nick contemplated Brian, smiling at the sight again before him.  Meanwhile
Howie sulked away into a quiet hidden recess of the room (well, at least
conversationally if not physically), and brooded.

"Well, it looks as though those two are sorted, but what about everybody
else?" Kevin asked finally lifting his gaze away from the two of them and
breaking the harsh conversational black-hole the room had turned into. "AJ's
with Ross, but for everyone else lets just keep the travel arrangements as
they were, shall we?" 'That'll pose fewer problems and no chance of an argument
- this way I get to talk to Brian and Howie and Nick shalln't be stuck inches
from each other for the whole journey.'

"Fine. That means that you and Brian are with me and Howie's with Lance," JC
agreed.

"Good. So where shall we meet for lunch?"


			*	*	*


"Well, that was a surprise, wasn't it?" Howie asked. Well, conversation has to
start somewhere. They'd been driving in silence for miles.

"Yeah..." Lance replied. He appeared to have something else on his mind.

"Did you have any clue about Justin? I have to say that I wondered a bit about
Nick but could never be sure."

"Yeah I know what you mean, it's not something that you can just ask someone,
is it? But no, I never had a clue about Curly. He always struck me as one of
the straightest people I know. I mean he's had loads of girlfriends - both have
- but..."

"Both? Who's the other?"

'LANSTEN! PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELF! Now *think quickly*!'

"Err, Nick of course, who else? I'm sure I've read hat he's had a few
girlfriends..."

Howie gave Lance a considering quizzical look 'he's read about us in magazines
- that's odd...'

"Oh, he has - but not many. They've tended to be short and fleeting. Turn left
up ahead. It's the fourth on the right."

			*	*	*

Howie was watching him drive off, Lance saw in his rear-view mirror. He berated
himself as he drove to the restaurant. 'Control, Lance, control. You can't let
yourself down like this. You can't let everyone else down.'

			*	*	*

The Lamborghini pulled into the driveway of AJ's house. It would have been nice
to be able to say that they had been talking, but it would be a bit of a lie -
in fact, AJ had been talking, and this had resulted in Ross entering a mild
state of shock. 'Note to self - never let that boy take you shopping.'

"I'll just dump my stuff in the house and I'll be right back."

"OK."

AJ started hauling the large suitcases indoors, starting with the one which he
had perched on his lap - innumerable shopping trips had left AJ with sufficient
amounts of clothing to outfit a regiment. Something he had said filtered into
Ross' conscious: "Luckily I only took the really *essential* stuff with me, or
we'd have never got it all in the car!" His eyes crossed briefly - if those
were essential, he really didn't want to see how much of the more expendable
stuff there was. 'Note to self - remember previous note to self. It may be
advisable to underline it, too.'

His mind turned to the two groups, considering each person. The brief meeting
he had had with them basically confirmed the reports of their personalities,
which was fortunate - he felt that they could work well together. But his
thoughts returned to less... professional matters before he could really
consider them separately as individuals. 'Brian.' Well, that had been
unexpected. He smiled to himself. 'Oh well, I've had worse surprises.'

He laughed, not caring if anyone heard him. No one would get it, anyway.


			* 	*	*

To be continued...



Well, what did you think? Didja Like it? Didja, didja? Please tell us!
(We-wish-they-were-our@bitofrough.co.uk)


J&L