Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 15:40:05 -0800 (PST) From: Billy Burrew <billy_burrew@yahoo.com> Subject: Gift Of Love chapter 13 The Gift of Love... A New Tale of the Magi By Billy Burrew Disclaimer: As usual, I would like to comment that this story is purely fictional and that it is no reflection on the sexual orientation of any of the members of NSYNC, Backstreet Boys or their estranged manager, Lou Pearlman. Please read this and enjoy it for what I intended it to be, an entertaining story. There is not a lot of sex, tho there are some adult situations. Please be forewarned. Remember, in the words of Peter Vincent, the Vampire Slayer in Fright Night, "Forewarned is Forearmed!" -Billy B Chapter XIII: Kicking Off The Tour The next morning, Patrick awoke between two warm bodies. As he opened his eyes, he turned to see Lance curled up on his right side and Justin on his left. Patrick smiled and got up, walking quietly into the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day. As he emerged from the bathroom, Patrick smiled as he saw Lance, propped up on one arm, playing with Justin's hair and smiling as he looked down at the younger boy. "Awww.....that's so sweet! Where IS my camera?", Patrick said softly as Lance looked over and grinned. "Thank you, Patrick.", Lance said as he got off the bed and hugged the other boy. "Thank you for loving me enough to get me to love Justin." "I love you both...and I wanna see you both happy, if you truly love each other, you will be happy always.", Patrick said as he hugged Lance, then kissed him lightly on the lips. "I'll always love you too!", Lance said softly as a single tear fell down his cheek. "Remember that, please!" Patrick used his finger to wipe away the tear from Lance's face. "I will." Patrick and Lance woke up the rest of the guys and got them showering as Patrick began to cook breakfast for the group. After breakfast, the Backstreet Boys got a call from their managers and immediately headed off to the arena for sound checks and to get ready for their concert that night. Patrick and Mike began to clean up the house and put things back in order. Around 4 pm, the guys began to change and get ready to go see their friends perform. "It'll be interesting to be in the crowd, huh?", Justin asked with a grin, "Maybe I should make up a poster to hold up...something to make them laugh...like Kevin.....I wanna have your baby!" Patrick chuckled, "Well....I don't think that'll go over with the press. I'll hold up the embarassing signage, OK?" The guys all giggled and got into Lance's UT and headed over to the venue. Patrick decided to keep the hysterics to a minimum by going to collect the tickets himself, letting the guys pull on their disguises of baseball caps and shades while they waited for him to return. Patrick picked up the envelope that was waiting for him at the Will-Call window and laughed as he read the note Kevin wrote in marker: Patrick- Come and see us backstage as soon as you get here. It's cool....Security knows that you and "you know who"'s will be coming." -Kev A girl reading over his shoulder screamed suddenly and Patrick turned to face her. "OH MY GOD! YOU KNOW KEVIN?!?!", the girl screamed. Patrick nodded nonchalantly. "He and the guys came over to a barbecue party I had yesterday at a friend's house. They're good people", Patrick said with a grin then turned on his heel and went back to the UTE. The guys grinned as Patrick told them of the encounter as he passed out the tickets and the backstage passes and then followed Patrick to a less crowded entrance where he showed the guard the note and everyone's passes. Two more guards approached and took them backstage past the hordes of screaming girls, who surprisingly, never guessed who the guys really were. Patrick knocked on the door to the dressing room and Kevin immediately opened it, pulling him inside and into a big hug. "Hey Patrick....guys!", the guys said in chorus. Patrick sat down on the couch in the dressing room next to Nick and Brian. "So...are you all ready for this??", Patrick said, grinning as he gestured to the dressing room and the venue. "We better be!", Nick said, "We're glad you are here for opening night of the tour....it makes it even more awesome!" Patrick smiled at Nick who immediately pulled him into another hug. After chatting for a half hour as they waited, Patrick got up and announced that it was almost showtime and that they'd better get to their seats. As the guys followed the two guards to their seats, Patrick was glad that it was so close to showtime as the lights had been dimmed and no one noticed the NSYNC guys at all. The seats were first row middle and Patrick smiled as he saw that the first and second row had been reserved for safety's sake. As they sat down, the lights went off almost completely and the first song, Larger than Life began with the guys ascending the stage from below. Patrick was stunned by the intricate dance moves and the quality of their sound. As he looked over at Justin and the other guys he saw them have the same look of shock on their faces as well. Patrick smiled and leaned over to Justin and Lance. "They're pretty awesome, huh?", Patrick said facetiously. "Wow...yeah!", Justin said, "I've never been in the audience before. Was our concert like this?" "Yeah....more so", Patrick smiled, "especially when you dedicated that song to me." Justin looked over at Patrick and squeezed his hand. Patrick smiled and turned his attention back to the stage, marveling at the amazing spectacle. Near the end of the show, the guys started to slow the pace down a little, singing some of their slower ballads. After singing, "As Long As You Love Me", Nick began to talk up the crowd. "Hello Orlando!! WHOOOOOO!", Nick yelled, "How are we doing? Are you all having a good time?!" The crowd response was deafening and Nick smiled and continued, "We're gonna sing you a new song but we all decided we wanted to dedicate it to someone we all have gotten to know recently and who we asked to be here tonight." Patrick looked up and saw Kevin and Brian squatting above him and smiled. They held out their hands and grabbed Patrick, pulling him up onto the stage. Nick continued, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is our friend Patrick. We got the chance this week to meet and spend some time with him while he visited some friends in Orlando. Patrick is the bravest person we know. He was diagnosed with AIDS and was given 4 months to live....that was 5 months ago. He inspires us to really live life to the fullest each day. He's become one of our closest friends and we care about him a great deal. Patrick, I hope this song gives you a glimpse of how much you mean to us." Patrick smiled and looked around at the guys who had all gathered around him, and they began to sing: Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely So many words for the broken heart Its hard to see in a crimson love So hard to breathe Walk with me, and maybe Nights of light so soon become Wild and free I can feel the sun Your every wish will be done They tell me... Show me the meaning of being lonely Is this the feeling I need to walk with Tell me why I can't be there where you are There's something missing in my heart Life goes on as it never ends Eyes of stone observe the trends They never say forever gaze Guilty roads to an endless love There's no control Are you with me now Your every wish will be done They tell me Show me the meaning of being lonely Is this the feeling I need to walk with Tell me why I can't be there where you are There's something missing in my heart There's nowhere to run I have no place to go Surrender my heart, body and soul How can it be you're asking me to feel Things you never sow You are missing in my heart Tell me why can't I be there where you are Show me the meaning of being lonely Is this the feeling I need to walk with Tell me why I can't be there where you are There's something missing in my....heart --------- Tears streamed down Patrick's face as the guys sang the last note of the song. This one had been his favorite song on the Millennium album and he was honored that they would sing it for him. As the final note died and the crowd's deafening roar began, the guys circled Patrick into a group hug. Nick and Brian led him back to the side of the stage and helped him back down. As Patrick looked at all his friends, he noticed tears in all of their eyes, he realized that his life did make a difference. Patrick sat back in his seat and silently watched the rest of the concert. The ride back to Justin's house was full of conversations, mainly comments here or there about the concert. Patrick sat quietly in the passenger seat, lost in thought. As Patrick changed into his sleeping clothes, Justin and Lance knocked on the door and entered the bedroom. Patrick sighed and pulled his shirt on, then turned to face his two friends. "Are you OK?", Lance asked. "You haven't spoken since the concert..and we're kinda concerned." "I'm fine", Patrick said, "I just didn't expect anything like what happened to happen...it kinda hit me hard." "Oh", Justin replied, "Did you wanna talk about it?" Patrick sat down on the bed, sighing as he patted the mattress, indicating Justin and Lance to sit beside him. "Kevin, Chris, Howie and I had a long talk last night...", Patrick began, "and...and we kinda hit on the whole issue of death. I realized as I talked to them...that I am scared of dying, of just being gone...of losing all of you. I had thought I had come to grips with it months ago, but I was just overwhelmed by it last night...I'm really shaken up now." "You'll never lose us.", Lance said as a tear fell down his cheek.