Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 23:02:17 EDT
From: WriterGray@aol.com
Subject: NSYNC & Delwyn-Part3

This story in no way intends to imply that the members of NYSNC are
actually gay. If you are offended then leave now please, if you're not then
read on. This story is under copyright please seek the authors permission
before posting this elsewhere. Thank you.

Just so, everyone knows I really appreciate all the mail thank you for
writing it makes me work harder on the installments. BlakeNick will be
taking a sabbatical soon so this may be where mostly I will write the
story. Blake will still be listening to me ramble on to get the ideas
flushed out. If you were wondering the next installment will be the set up
of the BSB entrance.

Well, here it is you know I really hate cliffhangers and some of you got it
right some of you got it wrong I hope you like what I have done. And here
it is part3 oh and BTW if you want to drop me a line to writergray@aol.com


NSYNC & Delwyn part 3
By Grayson S. Vellar

No sound or light could be seen or heard as I felt myself being pulled
across the floor. I lay helpless, as so it seemed. The shadows had rushed
over me spewing hatred not knowing I was still alive. Another shot had been
fired but again he missed as I just froze in fear. My father was here I
could feel him somewhere in the room. He was waiting for his chance to save
me; I had to believe that. Lance was with my mother I knew he was safe I
could die knowing he was safe and be happy that we met. My thoughts became
morbid as I mistook deaths offering for a chance at self-redemption. Why
had I been so scarred to tell them the truth about my music? They loved it
so much I thought. They loved me. My assailant now breathed heavily into my
face. I could smell the alcohol. It was a rancid smell, as if he had wanted
nothing more than to crawl into the bottle himself. He apparently wanted to
die. I could smell the vomit still on his breath as he moved closer to me.

"It's your fault you little punk. If it had not been for you I would be
here," he said with an all too familiar voice. I was scarred with my eyes
shut as his hand felt my face and I did not move. I made myself dead to him
and everyone else.

"I can see why they like you so much Beautiful to the touch beautiful to
the eyes," He slurred out as he rubbed his hand on my faces. "To bad your
dead I would only love you with a pulse."

I could feel his weight pressing against me. His body now lay on top of me,
as I was helpless. I could not resist. I could not fight for if I did he
would kill me for sure. He began to sob as he lay there until the sounds
outside began again. I felt him rise off my body as another figure slowly
crawled across the floor. I waved them away they stopped and grinned. Chris
was the one still here in my own nightmarish state of being. He made his
way across the room to the piano.

`We protect our own.' My mind attempted to make me forget my own demise as
Justin's earlier words crept into my soul.

Chris was here there had to be more. I was not sure how many people had
made it I out, it was dark and there was no way for me to know
exactly. But, where were they I thought as I gently turned my head to see
if there was anyone else. The shadows became enraged as the lights came
on. Matt my father's security head stood above me flailing around in the
light. Searching out his target as he stabbed out into the air with his
gun.

He stood directly above me like a towering inferno as his eyes shot around
the room. He was pointing his gun straight out from his body towards Chris
and my father. They had taken up refuge behind the baby grand, he was no
longer staggering, and he knew what his goal was. They cowered trying to
take cover but it was no use, as the piano truly was not going to be a good
shield.

"Come out here and I will go easy on you!" Matt shouted. I stayed
motionless on the floor behind him, I did not wish to give up my
secret. Out of the no where a chair had been thrown from Matt's left hand
side of the room. A shot was fired at the piano. Matt turned towards the
chair's originator as Chris and my father made a run for it. I quickly
swept Matt off his feet as he fired another shot with its target ending up
being the ceiling.

"You little Son of a whore!!!!!" Matt screamed as he turned the gun on me
again. The lights again went out and began flashing back on and off as I
saw Joey running up. He was grinning as he stamped Matt's head into the
floor. I immediately rolled out of the way, as Matt began to flail his arms
out in my direction pulling the trigger repeatedly. There were no shots
fired, as the gun remained silent. My mind spun the words, 'We protect our
own' as it repeated in my mind spinning me to the safety of my own
thoughts.

My father ran over and opened up the side door as I saw Lance for the first
time standing at the light switch. He was saddened as he had tears in his
eyes. But in his heart, I knew he was ecstatic as he ran up to my side. His
hands immediately found mine as Lyle came running in the side entrance. He
had been shot in his shoulder. I was astonished to see him as the blood
still rushed out of his wound. He was in pain as he made his way over to
Joey and Matt on the floor and kicked the gun from his hand.

"You stupid son of a bitch! When are you going to learn to stop messing
with my guys!" Lyle shouted as he fell to the floor. He grabbed hold of his
shoulder trying to stop the pain. He was gritting his teeth in pain as the
wound stopped bleeding suddenly.

Matt continued to groan and fight bellow Joey's weight. As my mother came
back into the room, she ran over to where Lyle lay now silenced as she
approached. She had a look of anger I had never seen before written on her
face. It was one of hate and rage as she sized up the man lying on the
floor.

"So this is the puppy that will be put in a cage now," she said, as she
looked down at him. His face contorted to say something as she just wagged
her finger at him. "I would suggest you say nothing or I will have you
thrown away for good," she said, as she turned and walked away.

"Mother it was not him it was Matt who did this," I said, as my father
grabbed her into his arms and held her as she cried into his shoulder. She
was crying out hatred in his shoulder muffled from our ears of
understanding.

As I lay there contemplating my own remorse over this, all I could feel was
sadness. I found myself pulled from my thoughts with a shooting pain in my
side. As I reached for the pain, I felt something poking at my skin. I
reached for it and came to the realization that no one else had. I looked
to Matt's gun he had lost the clip before he fell. Here it was lyign in my
hand, I had apparently knocked more than Matt loose when I dropped him to
the floor. But, he had fired another shot after he fell; the one in the
ceiling.

`How had it gone off if.' Then it hit me the way the automatic loads is
through a bullet being pushed up one after another it must have reloaded
before the clip fell. My thought began to ramble on, as Lance pulled me
close to him.

`We protect our own. We protect our own.' I had not said a word to him. I
showed him the clip in my hand with a firm look of confused happiness.

"That's where that went," Lance said as he took the clip from my hand.

I looked at him for a moment and then realized they had been waiting to
make a move. They had been trying to rescue me. The words rang clear in my
mind again. 'We protect our own.'

"Delwyn we need to get you out of this room hun," It was my mothers voice
that broke my trance of thought. As she now stood above me trying to help
me up from my resting-place.

"Ok," was all I said as I began to stand. I noticed that I ached from my
waist down there was no way I could do this on my own. Lance reached out to
me and pulled me to my feet. Soon enough the police barged into the room.

"Well, take it form here," I heard one of them say to Joey as they cuffed
Matt and pulled him to his feet.

There was silence as Lyle stood facing me now. I was frozen in my tracks as
my father stepped in between us. Lance drug me to the bench at the
piano. As I was sitting there I began to play my song again. My mother
broke down in tears as I finished the song. No one said a word as I sat and
worked it out in my mind that all was going to be all right. Lance looked
deep into my eyes searching for me inside the real me he already knew so
well. I was there and he knew it that was all he needed, as he grinned.

"So what is the name of that song again?" He whispered as I sat there
staring off thinking of the events and how much closer we all would be
after this.

"It's called Don't Close Your Eyes." I said, standing up from the bench.

As we passed Lyle he reached out and tapped me on the shoulder. As he held
out his hand to me, I took it with little hesitation. I now knew why he was
there with them protecting them and now he had in some way tried to protect
me as well. As I looked into his eyes, I knew I was right as he hugged me
apologizing for his actions earlier.

Lance and I made our way out of the room through the side door and back
through the Kitchen area. I reached out and grabbed a hand full of some
Corn Chips as we passed a table, as Lance began to laugh at me loudly.

"Ok, so I am still hungry. You get drug around and room and act like that
its hard work," I said, as he returned to his quiet state. "Lance I am
sorry for saying that. I didn't mean it that way."

"I know you didn't, but it is too soon to joke around me I guess," he said
with a sadness I have never seen before in my life. His eyes were still
Lance, but his heart was broken and changed somehow. "I love you Delwyn and
I do not want to loss you," He said as he began to cry.

"You wont ever loss me. I am right here with you always," I said as we now
headed into my mother's office. I closed the door and held him in my arms
hidden away from prying eyes and in my heart, I knew he believed me. "I
love you so much." I whispered as a knock at the door stopped our world of
trust.

When I turned to the door, I was surprised to see Lyle standing guard and
not letting anyone in. He grinned at us as we separated. He stepped just
inside and half closed the door as he began to speak.

"Mr. Catz, your mother would like to come in if you two would not mind,"
his asking seemed rather odd but I took it as him trying to give us some
space as I just nodded at him.

"We have to give a report to the officers and we thought you had a good
idea by coming in here." My mother said as everyone except Paul and
Jonathan followed her in. "Ok, after we are all through telling them what
happened we are heading to the house and all of you are coming with us,"
she said, as she sat down behind her desk.

Just as I was beginning to get comfortable Lynn walked up to Lance and I
and began to whisper. "Could you two stop holding each other they will be
here momentarily and I think it would not go over well." I could see her
point but it was going to be hard to ever let go completely tonight. My
mother leaned forwards and began to whisper back.

"That's why we are heading back to our house to eat and rest. I think it
would be best for us all to clear our thoughts together." Lynn grinned at
my mother, as I knew from then on that they would be friends.

"By the way you two I have something for you," Lynn said as she got closer
to us again.

As her arms wrapped around us both I felt her accepting me finally and my
tears began to fall again. Several minutes passed and more arms wrapped
around then more. I felt a tug at my pants leg. Jonathan stood next to me
hugging me and grinning. Again, my mind spun the words. I saw Lyle standing
off to the side off the room grinning at me as the words began again 'We
protect our own.'

"Delwyn your one of us now and so are you too Mr. And Mrs. Catz." Justin
said, as I began to laugh. "What's so funny," he asked.

"I just have not been able to get something out of my mind," I said as they
all looked at me questioningly.

"It's just that Justin told me you guys protect your own and then when Joey
stood on Matt's neck I kept repeating it over and over again. It saved me
somehow all of you did. Not one shot was in that gun as he pulled the
trigger, and I kept repeating it over and over again." I began to cry as
Lynn hugged me tighter. Then they all followed suit each hugging me
again. Lance being the last one and the longest as Jonathan let go only
seconds before Lance. Finally Lyle walked over to Lance and I am pulled us
both into a hug.

"Nothing like this is ever going to happen again. I will never let my
foolishness get in the way again," He whispered as a tear fell.

The police took their report rather swiftly asking us a series of questions
informing us that they usually would ask us all separately. But, when this
point was made my mother scoffed at them and they immediately backed down
on separating us. Joey was excited again as his adrenaline began to rush
again with the telling of the story as all the people who had exited
listened they all stared at me.

"What," I asked.

"I just can't believe this happened. How did you stay so calm?" Justin said
as Lynn shot him a look of displeasure.

"I just did. I felt like I better play dead or he will make me that
way. But, then when he turned to fire on Joey and Lance I reacted and he
hit the floor. It all happened so fast. I just want to stop thinking about
it." Lance squeezed my hand and the police officer did not notice. I smiled
at him and nodded my head at the officer. Lance just shrugged his shoulders
at me telling me he did not care.

"So all of this because he got fired. By the way who hired him, did you
guys have any knowledge of his past offenses?" The officer said as the guys
all said no or just shook their heads. My father sighed as he stepped
forwards.

"Well, I don't know how to tell you all this but he has a record of." he
looked at Jonathan and stopped. "I won't go over this in front of the
child." Lynn looked at my father with a puzzled look then it hit her what
he was trying to say.

"Officer, most of these men are hired by the label and I am sure they know
nothing of his past. There is no need to discuss this right now is
there. We do need rest and the Catz family has been nice enough to offer us
their home for such." With that said the officer closed his note pad and
shook my father's hand on his way out of the room.

"Ok, so now we all head over to our house and relax a bit and celebrate two
reasons for being here," my mother said, as she stood up from behind the
desk. Lynn turned around and met her face to face.

"What I meant was Justin's Birthday celebration and Delwyn's contract and
of course to the greatest friends he could ask for. Of course there is also
the budding um." She peered at me to find the right word.

I leaned over and kissed Lance quickly letting everyone know what she was
attempting to say. Lance blushed as everyone laughed at us. It was nice to
think we could all laugh again. We all had become closer by this but it was
also too much for one person to handle. I was sure there were still tears
to be shed. Lynn agreed and reminded my mother that she had counted off
more than two reasons. Of course, with my mother that was to be expected.

As we exited the restaurant, I noticed Lyle sitting in an ambulance. Matt
was sitting in the back of a squad car. He was saddened and sober now it
had been several hours since the investigation began. I waved at him
vigorously, making fun of him as Lance did the same. It was my ways of
saying I win you lose. The guys all began to laugh as Lynn and my mother
both yelled for us to knock it off. Soon enough Lance and I were laughing
with the guys. This was my life from now on I belonged here and I knew
it. Now all I had to do was figure out just what it was I was doing here to
begin with.

I looked over at my parents as they climbed into their Lexus and started it
up. I began to laugh on the inside as I thought that with all the money
they have they choose a Lexus. But, my parents were known for their
sensibilities and a Lexus was a good car. To me I would of course rather
have a BMW or something of that nature.

The Limo was cold as I looked down, found my legs to be hurting, and
cramped. My heart raced forwards thinking this evening had produced so far,
it was only 9 o'clock now. I leaned against Lance's shoulder and closed my
eyes briefly. We were on our way to Marrin county where I lived I was sure
we would make it there safely.

Before I knew what was happening, I felt the car jerk and make the turn
onto my street. I had fallen asleep as I opened my eyes and looked around
the guys were now napping as well, we had all fallen asleep. Our driver
followed my parents up the drive to the house.  It was dark until they hit
the Garage door opener.  The house lit up coming to life as we all crawled
out of the car. Lynn stood staring at the house in amazement.

"Wow, this place is huge," I heard Chris say. I wanted to laugh but my
parents beat me to it.

"It's not that big is it?" I asked being facetious. Lance nudged me in the
shoulder as Chris frowned. I was beginning to laugh again as my parents
walked up to join us.

"Delwyn why didn't you open the door?" My mom asked. I looked over at her
sheepishly.

"Michelle if there is one thing I have learned about these boy's here it is
this. When they are all standing together it is like they only have one
brain cell to share amongst them," Lynn said while sitting down on one of
the benches on the porch.

"Daniel let me have your keys please," Michelle asked of her husband who
was standing off to the side talking with Paul. He did not notice her
asking him the question.

"See what I mean," Lynn said as we all burst into laughter.

"Daniel!" She shouted almost looking as if he was shocked, he dropped the
keys out of happenstance to the ground. We all dived for them as Lynn and
my mother laughed now. We did not notice but my father had fallen to the
ground with us and was searching just as fast. It was quickly turning into
a wrestling match as I found my father now pinned to the ground with us all
on top trying to pry the keys from his hand.

"I've got them!" JC shouted as he squirmed out of the pile falling down
next to all of us before making a run for the door. I shuffled over next to
him wrestling around trying to grab them as Lynn reached into the mix and
snatched them away. My mother began to laugh so hard she was coughing as
Lynn handed her the keys. Paul snapped another Polaroid shot of us all on
the ground he had been taking pictures all night now he had gotten one of
all wrestling. `Blackmail' I thought as we all tried to get up at once.
Lynn began to laugh again as she and my mom opened the door to head inside.

"Here, we should leave the tribe outside," She said noticing my mother
choking now. " I guess it's up to me to get you inside," she said, as she
headed over to the front door.

My mother followed closely behind her as we all gathered up our balance and
began to stand. I began to wonder if I was all right after all because of
the sharp pain in my side now. I had not been hurt in the scuffle at
restaurant to outside eyes. But internally I was falling apart as I began
to hurt all over. Lance was at my side as I began to grasp at my side for
fear of death. I felt my sides turn to fire as they began to twist into a
ball of nerves. I buckled under the stress as my heart raced. Here was I
was falling apart as collapsed under the pressure.

"Mom!" Justin Yelled. "Mom," Lance yelled. "Michelle," my father yelled.

Both of them came running out of the house stopping all laughter as they
saw my current condition. Each rushing to a side as they tried to find out
what was going on. Lance sitting next to my mother reached out and placed
his hand on my chest. I calmed immediately at his touch. Internally I was
on fire as it began to subside and my heart began to slow. I began to feel
better, as he sat patiently waiting a reply. Each of the women in my life
took a hand and began to try to help me up from the ground. I was standing
in no time as everyone who had been wrestling watched calmly. We had been
through a lot and here I was making the evening more difficult, I thought
as I stood shaking my head.

"You've got to relax and get some rest Del. You have been through a lot
tonight." Lynn said, as my mother shook her head in agreement.

We all headed inside the house where the group was shown around. I made my
way to my room quickly trying to get to my bed. As the group came to my
room, they immediately silenced themselves. I was now sitting up looking at
them as they froze staring around the room.

"What," I asked.

"We have seen most of the posters in this room but not all in one place at
one time." Chris said as Lynn was grinning at my parents.

"We call it his shrine." My father said, as I was blushing now.

"Hey! There is a picture of Kevin Richardson here next to Lance's," Joey
said.

I began to laugh. I was caught and I knew it. I had not really meant to
make this look so bad. But if you looked at it, you would think the same
thing as them. Deep in my mind, it was justifiable. I mean if you looked at
it you would certainly know I was a fan minus the hearts and all the notes
I had posted of things I had to say to them. Wow I guess it does look like
a shrine so to speak.

"Guys, it's not a shrine. I just use you guy's for inspiration some
times. It is time I took them down especially since I have the real thing
now," I grinned as I said it as all but Lance exited the room.

"Lance, please say this is not as bad as it looks," I said as I looked down
at the floor.

"It's not. You should get some rest though. Believe me I could never stay
away from you. Besides your not the only one in the U.S. with this kind of
infatuation you know." He said, as he sat down next to me on the bed. He
pulled me back down onto the bed with him as we lay down. I kissed him
before slipping into a dreamy state only looking at him as I fell off to
dream land.

Back down stairs.

"Is he always this worried?" Lynn asked referring to Delwyn as she
questioned Michelle.

"No, actually he has never been this self-conscience about anything. Well,
except for the time he was." Michelle trailed off thinking of his
performance at the arena.

"Was what?" Chris asked knowing he was butting into a conversation he had
no business discussing with them.

"Ok, everyone let me explain my son since he is most like me and I think I
had some hand in his selfless acts." Daniel said as he sat down on a
barstool at the kitchen breakfast bar.

"You see our son is a good person he is so good that at times he has a
tendency to forget his own self to the point that he has nothing left. It
is because of this that he will not do anything for himself. Often times I
wonder if he is not meant to be a sort of servant to the people or
something of that nature. But then again, he would have to realize that
even in that there are bits and pieces of self-gratification." She paused
long enough to realize what she was saying as Daniel stepped in.

"It's funny before that night he had all kind of Backstreet Boys stuff on
his walls and then when he failed out there he felt it was time to move
on. After several months he suddenly found the strength and began to play
again after um which one of the posters was it Michelle?"

"It wasn't a poster Daniel it was the Picture of Lance and JC, he has it on
the Closet door. You know the one that used to have the picture of Kevin on
it. Of course he waited several days before he put that one back up."
Michelle began to laugh.

"After that he has been adding picture after picture then what 3 months
ago?" Daniel paused looking at his wife for an answer, which would never
come. "Well any how, he started to talk to Lance on the computer and the
pictures stopped being put up. He suddenly had a reason to stop. His
accident nearly killed him and here he was trying to make himself live
again. I was worried about him but then he started to play again last
week. It was amazing he thought neither one of us were home as he began to
play and sing. I have to admit I was about to cry my eyes out. But instead
I hid in my office listening to the miracle. Man I thought I was going to
loss it but as I read more and more of their conversations from the net."
There was a sudden gasp coming form everyone in the room.

"You read their conversations! I thought you only took records of them!"
Michelle screamed as everyone watched knowing they only wished to ask the
same thing.

"Well. Yes. I thought it would be best to keep an eye on him he was so
depressed. That is why I would not be in bed until all hours of the
night. Michelle I was protecting our son."

"That's the whole point Daniel we have been protecting him all of his life
and now when he is to be free it is because of our doing. This is not
right! He has to earn this on his own."

"Actually Mrs. Catz the truth is if you husband here hadn't set all of this
up ahead of time we would have made the arrangement's. We want him to be
there." JC said, as he looked at the rest of the guys.

"Oh I see. But, Daniel you had no right to do this to him. You have to stop
prying into his life. I told you months ago he has to start living his life
for him and not for us." Michelle said as she walked over to the sink.

Back in Delwyn's room.

I had a splitting headache as I rolled over to see Lance smiling at me. I
found it hard to remove my eyes from his as we kissed. "Daniel!" I heard my
mother yell.

Back Down Stairs.

"Daniel! You lied to me about all of this. I helped you set all of this
up. You should have told me about reading their Internet conversations,"
Lynn motioned everyone to make their way to the living room.

Back in Delwyn's room.

"What in the hell is going on down there. They have not fought in so long
an here they are just hours after. I have to get down there." I said
raising myself off the bed with Lance in tow.

"Delwyn they are fighting it is not a good idea to step in," Lance said,
while we headed down the stairs.

Back in the Kitchen.

"Michelle if I had of told you. You would have never done this."

"Your right! Daniel you told me this was something Delwyn wanted from us to
do for him because they offered. Now I look like and ass!"

"Michelle it was for our son. I would do anything to make him happy. He is
our son! You think it is so easy. You think I can just stand by while he is
suffering day in and day out. I had to help. You didn't read the
transcripts. I did!"

"That's it Daniel! You read about their personal conversations and did not
let me in on it and when you told me to just agree I did. Now I find out
you have been reading all of this for so long. I just don't know what to
think of you right now." Michelle said as she walked into Delwyn entering
the Kitchen.

"What don't you think I appreciate all you do for me," I asked, stopping
her from leaving.

"Del, that is not what I am saying. I just wish I had of known everything
before all of this happened. Now if you will excuse me I have to pack a
bag. I will not stay in a house where I am lied too. Your father has to
come to his senses before we can work this out."

"You're not going anywhere," Lynn said as she walked back into the Kitchen.

The Kitchen spun in horror as my mother and father both shot each other
looks of pain. Lynn walked over to where I was standing and ushered me out
of the room. Lance stood waiting in the hallway for me as we headed into
the Living room.

"Hey guys what are you watching?" I asked sitting down in a chair.

"Actually we just finished watching the Backstreet Boys video for "The One"
it was really good." Justin said, while no one else responded.

"So, how are you Delwyn?" JC asked.

"Fine I guess. A lot is going on behind the scenes but I am fine. I guess I
was just tired. So what are the plans for tomorrow?" I asked.

"Well, to be quite honest tomorrow we will be on a bus sleeping on our way
to Sacramento. We actually have to leave tonight at 3:00 in the morning."
Chris said.

"Ok, I guess that means I better pack then" With that said I made my way
out of the chair and started to head out of the room to go back upstairs to
my room.

"Delwyn hold up!" Justin said, while everyone went back to watching
television. I could see Lance being held back by JC for some reason and
decided they had some thing to discuss alone. It was odd but I said nothing
I just wanted to get out of this house before World War III got any worse.

Back in the Kitchen.

"Look you two I have been where you are right now. You need to calm down."
Lynn said to both Michelle and Daniel now sitting side by side at the
breakfast bar.

"It think your right Lynn and I am sure you have been in some pretty heavy
situations with your husband we all have. But, he lied to me belligerently
and made no effort to let me know in the end. How can I trust that he will
not do this again?" Michelle asked now looking at her husband. Lynn sat
down at the opposing side of the bar.

"Michelle all I can do is tell you I understand about how you feel. But, at
the time I felt it was necessary to keep it all secret for Delwyn's own
good. I did not mean to cut you off like I have. You have to understand I
was trying to protect him from the beginning and when I saw the opportunity
to help, I did." Daniel said, as he placed his hand on his wife's.

"Daniel I don't know that I can accept that as a excuse. You say you were
only trying to help but in a way, it was underhanded. I mean it Daniel
promise me you will never do this kind of thing again. You will always fill
me in on what's going on." Michelle said, as she looked into Daniel's eyes.

"Well, in that case I must tell you Delwyn has no idea but I will fill you
in. All of his things have been packed for him already. I had Jon do it
this afternoon and well it only seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Ok I can live with that. I love you but you have to stop being so
impetuous." She said, as she reached over to Lynn's hand. "Thank you."

"Your welcome. With all we have gone through I would hope no more
devastation would happen here. We need all the happiness we can get right
now." Lynn said as JC walked into the Kitchen.

"Ok, just so everyone is informed we have decided that until this family is
back to normal Delwyn will not be coming with us. We took a vote and just
told Lance. He is not doing all that great but over all it will work out."
JC said as Michelle just froze in her tracks. Daniel looked at JC with
anger filled eyes.

"You guys can't do this we just got all of this settled." Daniel said, as
Lance walked back into the Kitchen.

"Mr. and Mrs. Catz you told me I was welcome in your home that I was now
one of the family. I hope you meant it. JC I quite. I won't leave him
here." Lance said, not missing a step as he moved over next to Lynn.

Back in Delwyn's room.

"Delwyn we need to talk about something," Justin said, as he sat down at my
desk.

"What's that J," I asked not knowing of my demise.

"Well, your parents have been married for quite some time. As I am sure,
you are well aware of the fact that we want you with us but."

"Justin you haven't changed your minds have you. Did Lance side with all of
you on this. Does he even know about this? Justin this is a joke right!" I
was jumping ahead of him and I knew it but he had made me see it somehow
before it was even said.

I was walking out of my room before he could answer my questions I had to
figure out what to do. I had to find out what was happening right
now. Lance met me half way up the stairs as I was now running.  He tried to
stop me as I walked into the Living room. JC was sitting holding his head
in his hands starring at the floor. No one said a word as I walked over to
his side. Lance and Justin made it to the doorway as I looked at each of
them.

"Is this what you all wanted. You know I should have seen all of you ready
to turn your backs on me. It always comes to this my friends are my friends
while they need me then they turn their back. My heart is not a revolving
door," I threw my hands up and headed directly into the Kitchen to find my
parents standing there.

"You think your fight only affects you, well let me tell you something it
has worked better than you expected. They have just decided I am not to be
with Lance and you win. I hope the both of you are happy. I finally made
real friends and you could not help yourselves but meddle could you? Could
you? You always mean well but this time you actually stepped in at the
wrong time. Congratulations!" I ran up the stairs to my room.

I fell to the bed and began to cry. Here I was finally getting my life
together and having the happiness, I had always searched for. Lance was my
all and I was going to loss him. I heard a commotion behind me more than
one person was coming into the room. I was not about to turn around to look
at them. Here I was upset and all they could do was gloat at me. I began to
hear the sounds of the posters being ripped and torn from the wall next to
the door. They left as quickly as they came into the room as I heard Lance
whispering just on the other side of the door.

"This is not going to work guy's. What if he doesn't come out?" Lance said
to the others just outside the now closed door.

"Lance he has to make the decision on his own," JC said.

"I know that, but if it does not happen I am not going with you all when
you climb on that bus. I am staying with him no matter what," Lance said,
as I began to look back around the room. I could not understand why they
all were still here if they did not want me around them.

I was looking directly at the closet door where they had taken down my
pictures of Lance and them. Now in their place were four smaller pictures
taken by Paul earlier in the evening. There was one of Lance and me holding
hands sitting in the restaurant we looked so happy then just hours ago. My
tears began to fall as I set there staring at it. I looked at the next
Picture it was of Lynn and I hugging at the dinner table. I was shocked at
how comforting this made me feel. It was so funny at the beginning of the
evening she had showed very little pleasure in my presence and now here was
the evidence to showed she had been won over. The next picture was of me at
the Baby grand singing Heaven in your eyes. My eyes were closed at the
time, as I sang from my heart to them. I felt a rush come over me as I felt
the moment again.

"We have to say something to him JC. I wont loss him over this. You had no
right to make the decision without thinking about what this was going to do
to him. I love him and this is not right." I heard Lance saying to the
others outside my door.

"Well, Lance it is entirely up to him to decide. I know we have screwed
this all up. But, if he does not make the decision on his own to forgive us
and come then he will be stuck here because of his own decisions. This has
nothing to do with any of us any more. He can not hide from himself any
longer." JC paused. "Lance we are like brothers a family. And families make
mistakes. We made one he has to see us for who we are and our imperfections
all together. We can not hide who we truly are from him. You already have a
real relationship with him. But that was only because he had no idea who
you were when you two started. We're a family and he can be part of it but
we are not a poster on a wall." He finished.

As I looked at the last picture, I began to realize what he was saying
about us all being closer and a family. It was a picture of all of
wrestling around for the keys to the door. It was funny how we all looked
so serious trying to get them. I noticed that JC was really pulling at my
leg trying to keep me from getting them as Joey was crushing Justin. Lance
seemed to be getting Chris pinned rather than getting the keys and my
father was laughing at the bottom of the pile. Over all we were laughing
and playing as if nothing else mattered. We were a bunch of guy's fighting
to have fun. I walked over to the door. Not sure of what to say as I opened
it.

"Alright so when do we leave. I still have to pack and you guy's better be
ready to go as well." I said as Lance just looked at me with surprise. I
was certain no one was going to say a word until Chris stepped forwards
shaking my hand.

"Perfection is over rated welcome to the family." He said as I just laughed
at his comments. My parents stood just down the hall hugging while Lynn and
Paul stood silent. Jonathan was standing there grinning from ear to ear as
Lynn stepped forwards.

"We'll replace anything they ruined Del welcome to the family." She said as
she stopped at the edge of the circle.

"I have to get packed now guys." I said as Lynn just laughed.

"Your father already took care of that Delwyn. Your stuff is down in the
trunk of his car already." She said, as she turned to walk away.

"What Dad you trying to get rid of me already." I laughed out.

"Nope just wanted you to be prepared that's all." Was all he said, as the
four of them headed down stairs again.

"Ok, so now does anyone want to explain what happened here?" I asked as
they all looked to Lance who just stood grinning at me.

"Latter," was all he said, as he walked past me into my room closing the
door.

"That's out cue to leave," Chris said, as everyone began to back up and go
down the stairs.

I laughed as I turned around and headed into my room again. Lance was
laying on my bed relaxing as I closed the door. He was lying with his eyes
closed looking as angelic as he possibly could. I couldn't stand just
staring any longer as I made a b-line for the bed and jumped. I missed
Lance by inches as the bed shook and swayed.

"Hey! Watch out." Lance said as he flipped me over in mid flight and pinned
me to the bed.

"Guy's you have no time for that." JC shouted from the outside of the door.

"Damn can't we get any time alone?" I shouted.

"You will have plenty of time. We have to get to the Hotel." JC said as he
opened the door seeing Lance pinning me. "I didn't need to see that did I,"
He said as he quickly closed the door stepping back out.

"We'll be down in a sec!" I shouted from under Lance.

"Just hurry. We all need to pack and get out of town," JC said as he made
his way down the hallway.

"Maybe we should make them wait." Lance said. I began to laugh as he had
this evil look in his eyes.

"Maybe but with what just happened here I don't think they have enough
pictures to make me forgive them." I said realizing I had hurt him as he
let go. " I heard you in the hall. I love you but you have to promise me
something. You will never break up the group to stay with me no matter
what." He stared at me with hurt eyes. "Promise me"

"I promise, but you have to promise me one thing first. You will always
tell me before something like that happens." Lance said.

"I promise you too." I pulled him into my arms and we began to kiss.

"Delwyn!!!!!! It's time to go!" My mother shouted from downstairs.

"Lance we have to get moving I am sure you don't have a butler to take care
of your packing." I said, while pushing him off of me.

"No, but that does sound like a good idea now that you mention it." He said
grinning as I picked up my backpack and started to put my CD's into it
along with two books and the CD player.

"I don't think there would be enough room on the bus for all of his things
to do you? I mean Jon is a great person but um we might."

"Delwyn I didn't mean it. I was joking!" Lance said as he jumped off the
bed.

"I know but I had you going there didn't I," I said while taking down the
picture except for the one of all of wrestling around. That one would stay
here waiting for my return for memory sake and to give my father something
to remember and laugh. I knew he would take it the hardest out of my
parents he was over protective but he meant well. I was going to miss them
but I was sure they would be coming to see me at some point in time. Lance
reached for the picture to help me.

"No I want this left here to remind my parents of how happy I am to be
going with you," I said, while he just nodded.

As we exited the room, I looked back at all the times I had spent here. I
had grown up in this room. Here was the one thing that led me to lance my
laptop still sitting in its place on my desk. Lance continued down the hall
to the end of the landing. I was half tempted to just grab it but we would
have plenty of access to computers and besides I had the real thing here
with me why would I need it I thought as I closed the door. As I reached
Lances side he grabbed my hand and squeezed.

"I know this is the hardest part. I love you Delwyn," with that said, he
leaned forwards. Our lip's brushed as electricity rushed through our
bodies. It felt soft and gentle not rushed as we began to comfort one
another's desires and hopes. As he parted, my lips with his, his tongue
swept mine as our bodies clashed against one another. I gently backed away
and looked into his eyes. There was the man before me, the reason for my
happiness, my desires, and my love.

No words were spoken as we made our way down the stairs to everyone waiting
for us at the bottom. My mother had tears in her eyes as my father was
holding his hand over his grinning mouth. He looked like he was blushing
with happiness. I looked at Lance as we walked down the steps. He was as
happy as he could be. The guy's looked as if they were getting impatient as
Justin swung the door opened and closed several times. When we reached the
bottom of the stairs, we all headed out the front door towards the Limo.

"Wait! I have to grab my jacket," Lance yelled as he ran back into the
house.

It took him forever to find it I thought as he had the driver place it in
the trunk. This seemed odd but he was Lance and I was still getting to know
him. We were off in a flash as the Limo took off being followed by Justin's
parents as well as mine. We made it to the Marriott by the Bay in less than
30 minutes. A record time I thought as we pulled into the parking lot
noticing the Bus was not there.

"Where the bus?" I asked as JC looked out the window in a horror.

"I don't know but it is supposed to be right here," He said as our Limo
pulled right up to the spot where it was supposed to be.

Lynn rushed over to the door and pulled it open.

"We have a problem guy's," she said as she leaned into the door. "It seems
Matt claims he placed a bomb on the bus. The Police have impounded it and
they are tearing it down trying to find it. They don't think you will be
able to leave on time for Sacramento," with that said JC stepped out of the
car and pulled his Cell phone out of his inside pocket.

"JC I already called the label they are trying to figure out what to do
they should be calling us anytime. Oh and Delwyn Mr. Bradshaw says welcome
aboard the team," she said.

To be continued.

Thank you for all your responses it has been great reading them all and I
have tried to answer them all. If you did not get a response, it is because
I did not receive it. Please send it again, I love to read what you think.
Writergray@aol.com