Date: Mon, 20 Jan 2003 03:32:18 +0000
From: Daniel M <brissyboi1982@hotmail.com>
Subject: Celebrity - boy bands - Degree my Love 02

Hey Gang, new year, new story, new games, new players... let's get this
party started.

DISCLAIMER:
Over a year off and I still hate this part... alright here we go. If you are
under 18 (or 21 depends on your local legal system) please avoid this as I
accept no responsibilty should ya mama walk in and catch you chokin' the
chicken to this. If you are offended by M/M concepts I think ya in the wrong
place! Why not go to Disney.com? I claim no knowledge of the personal lives
of mentioned celebrities within this fictional piece. I am not associated
with Univeral records (or any other record company for that matter). No
Goldfish were harmed in the making of this story!

AUTHOR'S CHAT:
Alright guys, I'm back and weirder than ever. I must say, it's been quite a
year hasn't it. 2002 has brought many new things into many lives. I just
want to catch up and say hello to everyone. I hope that I can continue to
earn the respect that I earnt with 'JC Dreams', 'Garden of Song', 'Hearts of
Ash' and 'Yesterdays Child'. I must say thank you also for the BBSA I
recieved in the 7th awards. It was a great compliment. Thank you to the
readers of 'JC Dreams' who nominated me. Also, anyone with any news on what
98 Degrees is currently up to (recording new album or anything... please let
me know). And has anyone ever noticed how drinking lots and lots of coffee
makes you hyperactive? Let's see on cup number 6 in ten minutes... this is
gonna be a fun story. Let it be said I hate mornings!

AUTHOR'S THANKS:
Thank you to Nifty for allowing me to post on this wonderful site along with
so many other talented writers. Thank you to Danny. You are my twin man...
love you! Steve... you've been there for me through the hardest times and
through the best times. You are an angel in disguise. I don't care what you
do for a job... I still love you. Darren... thanks for the shoot the shit
conversations, they help me more than you will ever know. Sprout... thank
you for your story 'The Gift'. It is a gift and I want to thank you for it
again.

RECOMMENDED READ:

The Gift - (boy bands) - Drew Lachey and another Drew... I am loving this
story... Sprout's pretty cool too.

Search and Rescue - (boy bands) - JC Chasez story. JC is paired with Matt
Hunter. I love the story... again WAITING FOR AN					 UPDATE... I tend to
think it'll take a while though! It always does.

My Everything - (boy bands) - charming story with Nick Lachey nad non-celeb
called Sean. Very fast paced... just the way I like it. Stories that is...
			      now go fetch your minds from the gutter!


FEEDBACK:
brissyboi1982@hotmail.com - messenger attatched to this email so feel free
to add me. If you email me, can you please note in the subject that you are
writing in relation to this story.

DEDICATION:
To my number one man, this story I dedicate to you.

					In loving memory,
				       Caleb Jared Murphy
			      16 - March - 1998 to 19 - July - 2002

		I wish I could have seen you grow up, I wish I could have watched you
date,
	    I wish I could have watched you marry, I wish I could have watched you
have kids,
		  		I wish I wasn't the one who outlived you.


I think that's it... alright alright I'm gonna start the story now... happy?



						     Degree my Love 02
						           by
							Sun Child


Anita and Mark made their way back to the dressing rooms and waited for Jeff
and his company to arrive. Jeff screamed on into the dressing room closely
followed by Nick who was hurling water at him. Drew and Justin tore into the
dressing room and tried to grab Jeff. All the they succeeded in doing was
slamming into Mark and Anita, bowling them over. Mark, hauled himself off
the floor and looked at the surprised foursome. Looking he arched an
eyebrow.
   "What did you do for you and your cohorts to tear into hear at such a
rapid rate of knots?" He asked. Jeff smiled sweetly.
   "Moi? What makes you think that I would have anything to do with it?"
   "Yeah and butter wouldn't melt in your mouth." Mark shot back.
   "It's true I'm a perfect Angel."
   "To bad your horns stopped holding your halo up and it slipped down to
become your asshole." Mark threw in again. Drew chuckled slightly to that
response and turned to Mark.
   "So do you suffer PMS or Mad Cow Disease?"
   "Same thing aren't they?" Mark asked. Jeff and Justin rolled their eyes.
   "This is going to be a match made in Heaven." Justin groaned.
   "What are you talking about? Heaven doesn't want me and Hell's too afraid
I'll take over." Mark offered sweetly. Anita clouted him in the arm.
   "Yeah yeah, have we finised 'A Night at the Improv' yet? Good because I'm
hungry and need a caffine fix." She told him. Mark sighed and rolled his
eyes. He looked over at Jeff.
   "Well hurry up. You owe me a coffee remember." Jeff nodded and bolted for
the showers. Five seconds later he returned grabbing Mark by the hand as he
flew back out of the room.

Mark and Jeff finally stopped in Jeff's dressing room.
   "So did you like our show?" Asked Jeff.
   "Yeah it was okay I guess." Mark told him trying to pass off as being
non-fussed over the whole deal.
   "You guess?" Jeff asked dubiously.
   "Yeah I guess." Mark said, then cracked a smile. Jeff caught on seeing
the glint in Mark's eye and pounced on him driving him backward onto a couch
that was behind him.
   "You, my dear Mark, are going to be very bad for me. All this sarcasm and
wise cracks. Though I hear Drew is looking for someone to give him a run for
his money." Mark smiled up at Jeff.
   "Yeah but who said I was even remotely interested in Drew? Or have you
been reading my diary again?" He grinned at Jeff who smiled and shook his
head. Jeff leant down and kissed Mark on the lips, his tongue trying at
Mark's mouth, prying to gain entry to Mark's mouth. Finally submitting to
Jeff's probing he opened his mouth and allowed Jeff to take whatever
pleasures he could from the kiss. With Jeff's hands running down over Mark's
sides, Mark shivered from the sensation. While they were still mid-kiss,
there was a loud banging on the door and Jeff groaned into the kiss and
pulled back from it.
   "Yes what?" He called out.
   "Submit the toy boy to us. We promise not to harm him." Came Drew's voice
through the door.
   "Submit the singer to me and I promise to pervert him to my needs." Mark
yelled back. Drew bashed on the door again. Sighing Mark kissed Jeff quickly
on the lips again.
   "Go shower and then we can motor and have time together." Mark bargined
as Jeff leapt off him and moved to the shower. Mark opened the door to the
dressing room and walked out. Drew was standing there waiting for him. He
grabbed Mark's hand and led him back to the common room where Nick and
Justin were both sitting there waiting with Anita.

   "Look, Mark..." Began Nick.
   "wait let me guess, you're sorry for what happened before your show. The
others have talked to you and made you realise that you were wrong and can I
ever forgive you?" Mark guessed. Nick turned a little red and hung his head
in shame.
   "I'll have to think about this one."
   "Well if you've got to think, I guess asking for a head job is outta the
question." Nick grinned. Mark turned and arched an eyebrow.
   "Please, I've smoked fatter joints than that." Nick looked at Mark.
   "I was talking about getting the head job not the other way around, I
don't need to know your size."
   "Nick, please learn. I want something that will excite me, not annoy me
and won't get stuck between my teeth." Mark shot straight back.
   "How do you actually find yours... microscope, magnifing glass?" Nick
shot away, getting desperate for a come back.
   "How can you tell yours apart from your other belly button? It's like a
lightly coloured pubic hair." Mark continued. Drew and Justin flinched as
Nick conceeded defeat, not being able to shoot back with anything. Drew
chuckled again at Nick's loss. Mark rounded and looked at Drew.
   "Listen here Chuckles... behave before you start to look like a mother."
He shot at Drew.
   "A mother?"
   "Yeah, short, fat and wrinkeled."
   "Hey... I may be short but I ain't fat or wrinkled... we can tell this
can't we?"
   "Yet." Mark tossed in and left the comment lying there. Drew was about to
open him mouth when Jeff walked into the room, freshly dressed and hair
dripping slightly. He walked up behind Mark and wrapped his arms around
Mark's waist who jumped, not seeing Jeff enter. Smiling, he leant back
against Jeff's firm chest and smiled contentedly. Nick approached Mark
again.
   "Look, as I was saying before. Well as I tried to say before. I still
don't really know what to make of you, but let's leave the past there and
try again?" He offered. Mark smiled slightly.
   "Alright Nick. Just don't try to call me a gold digger again ok. I'd hate
to tell you that you're a no talent." Mark smiled. Nick opened his mouth in
surprise.
   "I am so talented." Nick retorted.
   "We aren't talking about whacking off here though Nick." Mark fired back,
his eyes gleaming. Nick shook his head, realising he had just walked
straight into that trap. Drew went to laugh again but caught a look from
Mark and kept quiet. Jeff smiled and put his chin on Mark's shoulder.
   "Did I hear something about a coffee before or am I dreaming again." he
asked.
   "Dreaming? With me in it? Ooooh must be a good dream." Then Mark looked
over at the others. "Why are you dreaming of them though? Must be a
nightmare."
   "Purely because you're in it." Drew threw in.
   "Wait until he sees you undressed." Mark said.
   "He already has seen me undressed." Drew said.
   "Didn't you know I like seeing strange men undress infront of me?" Asked
Jeff. Not one to pass up and opportunity, Mark jumped all over it.
   "And they don't come much weirder than him now do they?" Shaking his head
in defeat, Drew stood up and moved away to the showers.
   "How many do we have for coffee tonight?" Anita asked. Justin and Nick
looked at each other.
   "We're in." They said together. Mark and Jeff looked at each other and
shrugged, their plans for a quiet time together dashed. Jeff unwrapped his
arms from around Mark's waist and grabbed his hand.
   "Come on, let's go for a walk while we wait for those three to get ready.
Something tells me Anita's got something, or rather someone, no Justin's to
be mentioned, to entertain her." Mark smiled and followed Jeff out of the
room glancing at a bright red Anita. Grinning, both Mark and Jeff made a
hasty exit. Wandering the hallways, they found themselves near the stage of
the arena. The seats were empty and the crew weren't there pulling the set
and stage apart yet. Wandering out, they sat down on the edge of the stage.
Mark looked across at Jeff.
   "Jeff, I've got to ask. Why me? There are better looking guys out there
than me." Mark told him. Jeff shook his head and looked at Mark.
   "To be honest, I don't know. I saw you come out of the back of the store
when you heard a commotion. You didn't really bother with who we were. You
spoke to us like any one else." Mark smiled.
   "Wait until you meet my cousin. You'll understand why." Jeff arched an
eyebrow.
   "Do I want to know?"
   "You'll find it rather ironic and you'll want to wipe your hands clean of
me no doubt." Mark grinned. Jeff smiled in bemusement.
   "Mark, I'm really enjoying this time we've had together, do you think,
you know..."
   "Are you asking me out Mr Timmons?" Mark asked. Jeff blushed several
shades of red.
   "Are you saying yes?" Jeff asked shyly.
   "Jeff, I've got to ask. Am I just going to be one in a long line of guys
in a long line of cities that you have then discard?" Mark asked, concern
wrinkling his brow.
   "Mark, you are the first guy I have even shown interest in since before
tour started. I know it sounds weird, but in all the cities I've been to,
you are the only one I've found attractive enough to talk to."  Mark smiled
and leant in and kissed Jeff's forehead.
   "In that case, my answer is yes." He told Jeff. Jeff grinned like a
chesire cat and leant over to kiss Mark. Mark placed his finger on Jeff's
lips.
   "Conditions apply." Jeff looked at Mark with raised eyebrows.
   "Condition one is that I get a phone call while you are touring at least
twice a week. Condition two is no bullshit. I need to know what's happening
and I don't want to hear bullshit. We are honest all the way." Mark told
him. Jeff nodded.
   "Conditions met and agreed to." Jeff told him. Mark smiled and leant over
and kissed Jeff gently on the lips. Jeff happily returned the kiss. The kiss
was starting to build in fire and passion as Jeff pushed Mark onto his back
and started to lie on top of Mark when a clearing throat behind them shot
them part as though there had been a shot gun placed between their waists
and was threatening to fire. Anita looked down at them and smiled sweetly.
   "Before you give a encore show for the crew, let's get going for that
coffee." She smiled. Sighing Mark stood up and offered his hand to Jeff who
pulled up on it and stood up. Jeff leant over and picked Mark up. Mark
wrapped his legs around Jeff's waist instinctively. Jeff smiled and kissed
Mark. Mark broke the kiss and smiled before lying his head on Jeff's
shoulder. Jeff grinned and carried him towards the exit. Reaching the exit,
Mark lowered himself down to the ground. Anita had already brought the car
around with Drew, Justin and Nick all waiting inside it. Jeff and Mark
jumped into the back of the car as Justin had taken residence in the front
with Anita. Once she had confirmed that Mark and Jeff were in the back, she
stepped on the gas and they took off to a local coffee shop.

Sitting within the shop, the group got a few looks of people recognising
them from somewhere but not sure where. They sat there discussing everything
from the guys recording and tour schedule through to the evils of dealing
with record companies within a retail aspect. As the time rolled by, Anita
started to yawn.
   "You got office tomorrow Anita?" Asked Mark. Shaking her head she yawned
again.
   "Nah, free day. Tomorrow is an official ScatterDay." She happily
announce. Jeff raised an eyebrow. Mark spoke up before he could ask the
question.
   "We have several days of the week here, FrieDay, ScatterDay, ScumbDay and
GlumDay." He told them. Jeff just nodded his head with an arched eyebrow,
   "Riiiiiiiight." He said rather amused. Drew chuckled again at the whole
thought of it.
   "Listen here Chuckles. It ain't all funny ya know." Mark told Drew. Drew
stopped his chuckling almost instantly, getting a laugh out of the rest of
the group. Justin looked at Anita.
   "Look, our hotel is right near here, why don't you crash in one of our
rooms tonight?" He asked. "That way we know you won't be too tired driving
home."
   "Nah, it's okay. I've got to drive that one home anyways." She said
jerking a thumb in Mark's direction. Jeff started to protest.
   "He can stay with us as well." Mark looked over at Jeff who blushed and
looked away. Mark placed his hand on Jeff's and smiled again. Jeff pulled
his hand out from under Mark's and looked around.
   "As much as I want to hold your hand Mark, I simply can't in public." He
said in a hushed tone. Mark nodded his head understanding. Mark stood and
reached for his wallet only to be met by a round of protest.
   "When I agreed to a backstage visit today, it was agreed that I would
pay." Mark said trying to settle the arguement.
   "That was with Jeff, not us." Drew shot back. Mark sighed.
   "Look you can let me pay for what I said I would or you can deal with me
being an unhappy and suffering nothing short of a male version of PMS. Which
would you rather play with Drew?" Asked Mark. Drew quickly leant back in his
chair and waved Mark up to the counter. Smiling in triumph, Mark made his
way to pay for the order. Upon returning the group all stood and made their
way back to Anita's car.

Driving back to the hotel Mark's cell phone screeched at him.
   "Hello?" Asked Mark.
   "Who is he? He looked hot." Came a familiar voice over the phone.
   "Ryan, where on earth were you?"
   "Look out the back windscreen." Ryan said. Twisting in his seat, he saw a
small blue car driving behind them. Mark shook his head and flipped the
driver a one fingered salute.
   "That would be a hmmm for you and a none of your business for me." Mark
offered. Still looking out the back window he saw Ryan give a fake pout and
heard him the laugh over the phone.
   "Well get Neets to pull over so I can meet him." Ryan demanded. Twisting
back in his seat Mark looked at Jeff.
   "You and your cohorts up to meeting another fan?" He asked. The guys
sighed good naturedly and nodded. Lifting the phone so Ryan could hear.
   "Neets, pull over, RyRy wants to meet the boys." Anita shook her head and
flipped on the indicator to pull over. Ryan followed suit and was about to
say something when he saw Mark take the phone away from his ear and hang up.
Stopping the car, they waited for Ryan to appear at a window. Within seconds
there was a curious head sticking in Anita's window. Spying the company Mark
and Anita was keeping he squealed.
   "Ohmigod, do you know who you guys are?" Mark laughed shortly followed by
the rest of the entourage. Ryan blushed realising how stupid the question
was.
   "Yeah, we belong to that little band, oh what was the name again... Nsync
or something?" Jeff asked with sarcasm. Mark elbowed him slightly.
   "So which one of you is with the breeder and who's with the
heterosexually challenged one in the back there?" Asked Ryan.
   "At least none of them is with the mentally challenged hanging in my
window." Anita shot back. Ryan reached in and pinched Anita's cheeks. Drew
glanced over at Ryan.
   "Well, we all thought we'd do a mix-n-match tonight. I've been curious
about being with a guy and Mark was saying earlier he's curious about
women."
   "So you're sleeping with Justin again are you Sprout?" Asked Jeff. Drew
blushed and sat back in his seat. Nick giggled at the whole concept.
   "Don't get too cosy Nick, after I'm finished with Anita, I'm coming to
your room." Mark threw in. Nick looked at Mark in shock.
   "What Nick, don't tell me you didn't realise you were the best looking
out of this lot?" He asked. Jeff elbowed him in the ribs.
   "What about me?" Mark grinned.
   "I said best looking, I didn't say best endowed." Jeff blushed and Drew
chuckled slightly. Mark looked at him.
   "As for you chuckles, you get the thing hanging in the window." Ryan
arched an eyebrow and Drew got a look of mortification across his face.
   "Feel special Drew..." Ryan started.
   "Of course he does. He has his own bus to drive him to school, his own
toilet at public washrooms and even his own Olympics." Mark cut in. Drew
looked at him confused and Jeff started to explain.
   "Special bus, special toilets, special Olympics... you know Special
People." Drew nodded then threw a dark look at Mark and Ryan grinned.
   "Ryan, you do realise that this would be a privelege don't you."
   "Sleeping with Drew Lachey of 98 Degrees... well DUH!"
   "No I meant you finally getting to sleep with someone of the human
species." Mark chirped. Shaking his head in contempt, Ryan looked over at
Justin.
   "You're the quiet one I take it?"
   "No, I'm the smart one who's staying outta this for safety reasons."
   "He's the one who lives with his foot in his mouth." Drew explained.
   "He doesn't need to at the moment, Ryan's the queen... I mean king of
that species." Anita threw in.
   "This is rich coming from the one who in senior high asked Mark what
being gay was when he came out to them." Ryan chided.
   "So I was a sheltered little Catholic girl."
   "So sheltered nd Catholic that the only thing you showed up more to than
church was casinos and bars." Mark dropped in. Anita turned bright red and
slipped down in her seat.
   "Are we ready to go back to the hotel yet?" Drew asked.
   "Brilliant idea, first intelligent thing you've said all night." Jeff
replied.
   "I will only speak in future when I have intelligent things to say then."
Drew said poking his tongue at Jeff.
   "And he was never heard from again." Mark commented omminously. Nick
started to crack up which only earned his a clip around the back of the head
from Drew. Nick stopped mid-chortle and glared at Drew. Sighing, Anita
started her car.
   "Time for the taxi to move on." She surmised and Ryan backed out of the
car.
   "Alright, nice to meet you all. And Mark I expect full descriptions
tomorrow." Ryan told him.
   "Ryan! You know the rules about who we go home with."
   "Alright, then we'll wait until they're OUT of town then." Mark shook his
head and looked at Ryan again.
   "See you at home sometime and we'll have hallway sex." Mark told him.
Ryan laughed and waved goodbye.
   "Hallway sex?" Asked Jeff as they drove away.
   "Passing in the hall and saying 'fuck you'." Anita explained. Laughing
quietly Jeff shook his head and leaned his head against Mark's shoulder only
to have Mark's phone go off again. Sighing he pulled it out and answered it.
   "Yes Ryan?"
   "Which one is it? Is it Drew?" Asked Ryan.
   "Goodbye Ryan." Mark said ready to hang up, pulling the phone away from
his ear.
   "Or Nick, I bet it Justin... no no, Jeff... Mark don't you hang up on me
don't yo..." Ryan shrieked as Mark pushed call end. Turning off his cell
phone, Mark tucked it back into his pocket. Cuddling back up to Jeff he
smiled and rested lightly against Jeff's shoulder.

Arriving at the hotel, Nick told Anita to park around the back as there
seemed an over abundance of teenage girls accumulating at the doors to their
hotel. As the guys made their way up to the hotel rooms, they all looked at
each other wearily.
   "I don't know about you lot, but I'm hitting the hay as soon as we get
upstairs." Drew offered. Nick yawned and agreed. Jeff and Mark looked at
each other and shrugged while Justin and Anita stood to the back of the
elevator talking quietly, not noticing any other conversation that floated
around the small room. Finally they arrived at the pre-destined floor and
they all piled out.
   "Who's room is breakfast in this time?" Asked Nick wearily.
   "Mine." Said Jeff and with that dragged Mark outta the elevator and down
the hall to his room.
   "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Anita called after them.
   "Please, that gives me even more options." Mark called back.

As soon as they were inside the room, Jeff slammed Mark back against the
door and kissed him passionately. Mark was shocked for a moment then relaxed
into the kiss thens started to kiss back with a certain fever that both
scared and excited him. Jeff lifted Mark up off the ground and carried him
over onto the bed where he lay down on top of Mark and kissed him
repeatedly. Sliding his hands down Jeff's sides, Mark tugged Jeff's shirt
lightly up over his back revealing more and more skin. Jeff moaned slightly,
lifting his mouth off Mark's and closing his eyes.
   "I've been wanting this since I was in your store earlier." Jeff told
him. Mark smiled coyly.
   "I've been wanting this since you sang 'I Do (Cherish You)'." Mark told
him. Jeff leaned back slightly bemused.
   "What? Tonight?"
   "No, about five years ago." Jeff grinned and launched himself into
another attack on Mark's body.

Jeff was soon dressed only in a pair of boxer briefs and socks, still
ravaging Mark's lithe form. Jeff jerked up a bit and reefed Mark's shirt off
him and gasped at what he saw. From Mark's right colarbone right down to
about an inch above his navel was a jagged red scar. Mark flinched and
grabbed his shirt back and yanked it back on and tried to get out from under
Jeff, who was still visibly in shock. Struggling to move past Jeff, Mark
must have snapped Jeff out of his trance, only to have Jeff move off him and
pull him to a sitting position beside him.
   "Mark, what happened?" He asked, concerned. Mark looked at Jeff then
looked away and down to the ground. When he looked back over at Jeff, his
eyes hadn't moved and was waiting patiently for an answer. Sighing Mark
turned and faced Jeff.
   "Ok, I want you to know that I am fine and this happened about six years
ago." Jeff simply nodded and waited for Mark to continue. Seeing this, Mark
drew a breath and looked at Jeff.
   "I was going through a hard patch in life. I could see all my friends
happy and in love. I was seventeen and had fairly much worked out I was gay.
I had told Anita and Ryan and that was cool. I was extremely lonely because
heaven knows, life ain't easy when you're gay and at high school. No one was
game enough to take me on over it, but other than that it was standard run
of the mill days. I started to use the net. It opened up this big huge world
to me. All this gay porn and ways of meeting men. It excited me." Mark drew
a breath and Jeff sat there waiting.
   "I'd been chatting to this guy online for quite a while and he finally
asked to meet me. We met and went for coffee and this was great. We did it
again and eventually called ourselves a couple as much as we could as I was
still far from out at home. As far as the parentals knew I was straight.
Anyways, things had been strained between the husband and myself for quite a
while and we had a rather large fight one night."
   "The husband? Is that your step-dad?" He asked. Mark shook his head.
   "Far from it. He's the biological father. Anyways, that's jumping ahead.
As I was saying, I had a fight with the husband and he threw in some comment
about never meeting my girlfriends. I turned and looked at him and said
'That's because, for your information Daddy, I'm gay!' He lost the plot. He
threw vases, books, CDs... anything he could lay his hands on. He stormed
off and sent my mother down to tell me I had five minutes to pack the shit I
needed and get out. So I did. I packed my shit and left. Never spoke to them
for three months after." Jeff was puzzled.
   "Did one of the vases hit you or something for that scar?"
   "I'm getting to that, stop jumpin the gun. As I was saying, I packed my
shit and left. I went to the only place I could think of, my boyfriends. I
guess seeing me appear on his front door step, two bags in hand full of
clothes and other necessities kinda put him off. He told me he couldn't see
me and that it wasn't working for him. I was heart-broken until I heard the
other voice. Pushing the door open, there was a naked guy sitting on his
couch. I looked at him and got angry. I flattened the bastard then grabbed
my bags turned and ran. I heard a car start behind me, I guessed it was a
neighbour's or something, at that point I didn't really care. I ran. That's
when he hit me. My supposedly loving ex-boyfriend ran me down. I was
homeless and lying on the ground dying. Someone must have called an
ambulance, because I awoke two weeks later in intensive care with more cords
and cables hanging off me than Christopher Skase." Mark looked at Jeff who
had tears in his eyes that were starting to leak down over his cheeks.
Reaching out with his thumb, Mark gently wiped them away.
   "But like I said, that was a very long time ago and I'm here and alive
now." Jeff sniffled and nodded. Leaning over, he kissed Mark gently on the
lips, this time with no hungry passion, more with a hunger to show his
compassion for Mark's pain soaked tale. Mark smiled a little and hung his
head as well.
   "I guess I kinda ruined the mood for us tonight huh." Jeff shrugged.
   "Well, we're meant to share these stories. Isn't that what boyfriends are
for?" Jeff asked smiling. Mark smiled and lay back on the bed.
   "I'm bushed. Can we skip the wild monkey love until another night
please?" He asked. Jeff nodded and peeled back the bedsheets then leant over
and kissed Mark again.
   "Anything for you." Mark pulled his blue jeans and socks off and reached
for his shirt but stopped in contemplation. Jeff made the decision for him
and lifted Mark's shirt off him himself.
   "I accept you and every part of you. Every lump, bump and scar." Jeff
told him smiling. Mark smiled back.
   "You, Mr Timmons, are going to be a hard man to resist."
   "Ahh, a good man is very hard to find though."
   "I hard mind if very good to find as well." Mark threw back. Smiling,
Jeff turned out the light and cuddled into Mark and kissed him lightly.
   "Sleep well and sweet dreams." Mark kissed him back.
   "You too Mr Timmons, sleep very well." With that Mark reached over and
turned off the lamp that stood beside the bed.

The buzzer sounded the following morning jolting both Mark and Jeff from
sleep. Opening an eye Mark looked at the sound of the alarm and saw a body
next to him stirring. Closing an eye he groaned in realisation that it was
in fact morning. Staggering out of bed, he pulled on his jeans and shirt and
looked at the sleeping figure next to him. Padding out of the bedroom, he
found the kitchen and looked around. As he shuffled through the kitchen
items, there was a consistent banging on the door to the room. Wandering
over to the door, he flicked it open to find Drew and Nick standing there,
along with the breakfast that the guys had ordered the night before.
   "Morning." Drew chriped at him as Mark gave him a dirty look.
   "What's that, we're not a morning person?" Asked Nick. Mark flipped him a
one fingered salute and went back to the kitchen and continued his hunt.
   "What are you looking for?" Asked Jeff smiling as he appeared out of the
bedroom.
   "Expresso machine."
   "It's under the sink and it's called Espresso not Expresso." Jeff
corrected him.
   "You say Espresso, he says Expresso, I say it's all fucking caffine."
Mark grumbled. Jeff laughed and pulled the machine out and plugged it in. As
soon as a pot was ready, Mark made himself a strong cup of coffee and sat
there savoring the feel of the caffine returning to his system. A banging on
the door made the small company jump.  Wandering over and opening the door,
Nick stepped back to let Anita and Justin stagger on in.
   "Mornin'." Anita bubbled. Mark glared at her from under sleepy eyes.
   "Ooooh, still blood in the caffine stream huh." Mark meerly nodded his
head and lifted the cup back to his mouth. The others stood around looking
at Mark in bewilderment.
   "He's not a morning person." Anita told them. Jeff arched an eyebrow.
   "We kinda picked that one up for ourselves." Anita stuck her tongue out
at him and Mark glanced at her.
   "Go clean your mouth out bitch, you still got a pubic hair on it." Jeff
giggled to himself as he saw Justin turning a deep crimson red. Anita leaned
into Mark's ear and whispered.
   "Be nice to me, it's 7:30 and I gotta drive you to work by eight." Mark's
eyes shot wide open and he threw the last of his coffee back. Racing to the
kitchen he put the mug in the sink and quickly rinsed it. Flying back into
the bedroom he located his wallet, watch, shoes and extras which he had left
there. Putting them all into correct pockets, he flew back out and grabbed a
piece of toast, he kissed Jeff quickly.
   "Running late, call later, gotta go. Anita, car, drive, five minutes
ago." With that Mark disappeared out the door with a questioning boy band
looking at his wake. Anita sighed and shook her head. Leaning over she
kissed Justin lightly goodbye and hurried out the same door that Mark had
hurtled through moments before.

Driving through the city, Mark looked at Anita.
   "You have that 'I've just had wonderful sex all night' look on your
face." Anita blushed.
   "Why don't you? I mean you seemed the think a certain Mr Timmons seemed
to get along very well." Anita ribbed back.
   "He took my shirt off and half freaked." Mark told her sadly. Anita
sighed.
   "I'm sorry Mark. Maybe one day you'll find someone who can look for
beauty beyond the skin depth."
   "I think I have with Jeff. He said he accepted me lumps, bumps and scars.
It was just enough to ruin the mood after I told him the story behind the
scar. Hence the 'call later' remark to him as I left." Mark confessed.
   "You didn't leave." Anita said. "You flew out of there like you would
catch something had you stayed." Anita smiled. Mark hung his head ashamed.
   "I guess I did make a rapid departure didn't I." Mark commented thinking
back.
   "What would ever make you think that?" Anita asked. "The whole cloud of
smoke behind you? Maybe the four shell shocked boy band members who looked
on in your wake?" She asked. Mark sighed and shook his head.
   "And there goes my love life again. I will learn the lesson of more haste
less speed one day." Mark sighed. Looking out the window, it occured to him
that he hadn't turned his phone on yet and pulled it out of his pocket
hitting the power button. Sitting it down on the dash Mark looked out the
window again. Moments later, his phone chirped to life. Picking up the
phone, Mark looked at the caller ID and then answered.
   "Yes Mr Timmons, what may I do for you?"
   "I hate caller ID." Jeff told Mark laughing.
   "And I adore it. Sorry about bailing so fast this morning." Mark told
Jeff.
   "It's cool, you were running late for work. I was just wanting to know
what time you were finishing?"
   "About two this afternoon I think." Mark said.
   "Want me to come by and pick you up?" Jeff offered.
   "That'd be nice. Afterwards, we'd need to go back to mine so I can shower
and change." Mark told him. Jeff happily agreed and they agreed to meet at
two that afternoon. After hanging up Anita looked at Mark.
   "And?"
   "He's picking me up from work." Mark beamed. Anita grinned.
   "Here's hoping he's a keeper." She smiled at him. Mark smiled back and
prayed the same thing.

Mark's day at work passed slowly and uneventfully until about midday. Mark
was sitting in his office, finishing off paperwork when he heard a commotion
in the front of the store. Sighing, he could already guess the cause and
rose from his seat and walked out into the store to find Jeff standing there
surrounded by hordes of hormonal teenage girls. Jeff saw him and looked at
him for help.
   "Mr Timmons, thank you for coming to the meeting we arranged, won't you
please come into my office out the back." Mark said loud enough for all the
girls to hear. The girls all backed away slowly and Jeff made his way around
the counter and scooted into the back area. Mark motioned Jeff into his
office and closed his door.
   "Alright, what are you doing here? I don't finish for two hours yet?" He
asked Jeff. Jeff lifted his backpack and pulled out some brown paper bags,
presumably containing food.
   "You didn't have much breakfast so I thought I would surprise you." He
said smiling shyly. Mark smiled back at the thought and leant over and
kissed Jeff lightly.
   "Thank you, that's very sweet. Though I think it was you who got more of
the surprise." Mark laughed. Jeff blushed and nodded his head.
   "I do believe you are right." Jeff grinned. Looking up, Jeff let his gaze
wander around the room, stopping at a picture on the desk of himself.
Reaching out he picked it up.
   "Dare I ask?" Jeff grinned at Mark. Mark blushed furiously.
   "I put it there this morning. First time I've ever done it, kinda made me
feel good to put a photo of someone special on my desk." Mark told him. Jeff
leaned over and kissed Mark.
   "Well, I am very grateful for that. You'll have to get me a photo of you
now though, you do know this don't you." Jeff bargined. Mark sighed.
   "If I had one of me I would. The most recent one I have is about two
weeks before the husband threw me out of the house." Mark admitted. Jeff was
a little shocked.
   "What? You don't even have a passport photo?"
   "Yeah, on my passport though." Mark said blandly. This time it was Jeff's
turn to sigh.
   "You aren't gonna make this easy for me are you?" He asked and Mark shook
his head in response. Mark smiled and filled out another form then filed it
away.
   "Well, I'm finished for today now. I'm meant to be out the front but I'll
go check that Rach can't handle it." Mark said excusing himself. He returned
moments later with a mixture of amusement and disappointment on his face.
   "Bad news... store is full of people. Good news... most of them are
buying. Better news... most of the stock they're buying is 98 Degrees stock.
Jeff arched an eyebrow questioningly.
   "Word got out that you're here I guess so they're all here trying to see
you." Jeff stood and kiss Mark again.
   "Well let's not keep them waiting." Jeff walked out of the office leaving
Mark standing there who hurried out when he heard the loud shrieking.
Walking out Jeff was getting clawed at over the counter. Mark looked at the
masses and then yelled out
   "If we have one more person reach over to grab at Mr Timmons we will be
closing this store, now get under control." The crowd ignored him until he
grabbed Jeff and pushed him into the store room. The crowd seemed to grow
angry until Mark reappeared and stepped up onto the counter.
   "Unless you all get under control, Jeff Timmons will stay where he is and
we will close this store. He is here of his free will giving up his free
time for you. He will stand at the counter and sign posters, CDs or
whatever. That is it, please get under control." The crows listened that
time and sorted themselves out. When they had gotten ready, Mark climbed
down and grabbed Jeff and brought him back out. Handing Jeff a marker,
people made a line to get articles signed. By the time the last person had
been through, Jeff was exhausted. Smiling, Mark escorted Jeff back to his
office and sat him down and kissed him lightly.
   "I'll be right back, time to go ring off my register and sign out." Jeff
nodded as Mark walked out to the store.
   "Your boyfriend has a cute ass." Rachel said whispering in his ear.
"Don't worry Marky, my lips are sealed. About that raise though..." Rachel
grinned.
   "About that redundency package." Mark threw back. Rachel smiled and
walked quickly away. Grinning, Mark rang off his register and took the float
to his office and counted it up. He looked over at Jeff who was barely
awake.
   "Well, you're very good for business. Normally we don't make a grand a
register on a Saturday. Today mine took two and half." Mark told him when he
finished doing all the tallying. He handed Jeff a docket and pointed to the
bottom.
   "Read out that number to me."
   "Two thousand, five hundred and thirty two dollars, eighteen cents." Mark
smiled and dumped the docket into a bank bag.
   "Excellent, yet again a perfect float." Mark smiled and dumped the bag
down the safe chute. Standing, Mark grabbed his phone and walked out of the
office, Jeff trailing behind tiredly. Closing the door and locking it, Mark
walked out into the store and waved Rachel back to him. Rachel came quickly.
   "I'm off now Rach. Usual Saturday drill. Knock yourself out, and no
flirting with the customers this time. We know what happened last time."
Rachel blushed.
   "Not my fault he was your boss."
   "Who grilled my ass about over friendly staff." Mark told her. Rachel
grinned and walked back to the customer she was serving. Motioning Jeff out
the back door, they both made a hasty exit, save being harassed by fans
wanting a piece of Jeff. Making it safely to a cab, Mark gave the driver
directions and they were embarked on their way to Mark's residence.

---
Alright gang, there's the second chapter in 'Degree my Love'. Hope you all
enjoyed.
Latahs,
SC. xxx