Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 10:48:47 -0700
From: Piper <opiperick@home.com>
Subject: Promises, Promises (JT/JF; 1 of 1)

Author: Piper (opiperick@home.com)

Genre: Celeb, Boybands (Nsync)

Rating: PG-13 (Adult Issues)

Disclaimer: Not suitable for minors or homophobes. Fiction is fantasy,
therefore, so is this story.

PROMISES, PROMISES

"Dammit Justin," Joey whined, "she promised me she was on the pill!"

Joey anticipated the hurt and betrayal he saw in Justin's tear-stained
eyes, but his young lover's next question took Joey totally by surprise.

"And what exactly did you promise her? Will you keep your promise or
break it like she broke hers?"

Joey tentatively reached out to comfort Justin but before his hand could
make contact, Justin shied away and turned his back to Joey. Justin's
voice got quieter and more choked up as he continued.

"And what about the promises you made me Joey? That we made eachother?"

"Justin, please..." As soon as Joey's hands touched Justin's bare
shoulders, Justin crumpled into Joey's arms with a sob. Tears poured
from his bright blue eyes onto Joey's shirt as he caught his own breath,
threatening to break him as well.

"Justin, I love you. I love you Justin, please... Listen to me."

And then he broke too and the two troubled young men clung to eachother
in the middle of the dim hotel room, crying their eyes out over a love
that seemed forever doomed to them both.

"Justin, listen to me love, lover..." His eyes connected with Justin's
and seared them with their lust and sincerity. "No matter if this baby is
mine or not Justin, I'm in love with you. That kinda feeling doesn't just
CHANGE because an enormous responsibility is dropped in my lap..."

Justin interrupted, "...is that all a baby is to you Joey? A
responsibility?"

"Ugh," Joey moaned, "that's not what I meant Justin." He grasped Justin's
chin and re-directed it towards his face, forcing eye contact between
them. "I meant that I can be a father AND be your lover too. Loving a
son, or daughter I guess, doesn't jeopardize my love for you! Can't you
trust me Justin?"

Justin's pained eyes turned bitterly cold and he unleased his pain and
insecurities onto Joey with force.

"TRUST YOU? You want me to fucking TRUST YOU? Oh that's fucking BEAUTIFUL
Joey... Did she get PREGNANT while I was TRUSTING YOU ASSHOLE?" He
writhed to break free of Joey's embrace, "Let GO of me!"

And Joey relented, dropping his arms listlessly to his sides and his chin
onto his chest. Tears cascaded down his cheeks and dripped noisily onto
the carpet in the deafening silence that surrounded them. Justin stood
with his clenched fists upon his hips in a defiant stance ready to defend
his crushed heart to the death. It took him a moment to realize how
defeated Joey already was, that there was nothing but a scared little boy
before him - feeling more alone than he'd probably ever felt before.

Tentatively, Justin spoke, "Joey, I'm sorry..." But Joey didn't flinch
and the tears kept coming. So Justin did what Joey had done just moments
before and reached to embrace his sobbing lover, to provide him comfort
where there seemed to be none. Joey allowed his frame to be enveloped by
the love of his life and he too crumbled into a mess of tears in his
lover's arms.

"Joey..." Justin whispered, "Joey, I love you so much. I'm so sorry...
Let's not worry about anything until we can get that paternity test taken
care of, OK?"

Joey sniffled a nod.

"Everything's gonna work out Joey... You'll see... Everything will be
just fine and we can be together forever - just like we promised..."

end