"Yeah, we can come and stay if you want us to," Kevin agreed with Howie.

Nick started to hum 'Backstreets Back' trying to sing the words but they weren't exactly coming out right as they headed on their way back to their house. Howie was right he was on his second wind and ready to stay up for at least another few hours.

Howie listened as Nick tried to sing the lyrics to 'Bverybody Backstreet's Back.' "Did you like the show?" Howie questioned in a soft, low voice.

"AJ scared me," Nick stated before he went back to singing again.

Kevin glanced at Nick confused. "He scared you?"

"How did he scare you?" Howie questioned, as well.

"He hurt the floor," Nick said as he turned to look at the window, having the hardest time sitting still.

Howie was confused. He looked over to Brian ready to ask him what Nick meant by that only to see that Brian had fallen asleep. "He was just dancing, Nicky, nothing to be scared about." Howie said. "Is everything alright?" He questioned as he noticed Nick squirming in his seat.

Nick nodded his head, "Yeah, me otay."

Kevin put his arm around Howie and sighed, he was tired himself and he got cuddly when he was tired.

Howie looked over at Kevin before resting his head on the older man's shoulder. "Are we almost there?" He asked sounding like a... two-year-old.

"We still have a few more minutes," Kevin whispered as he placed a soft kiss to Howie's cheek.

Nick looked over at Brian and giggled, bouncing on the seat a little more to try and wake him up. He was wide awake so Brian needed to be too.

Brian almost slid to the side, almost. Instead he jerked awake. "Huh, are we there yet?" He questioned looking around.

"Nut uh," Nick said shaking his head as he continued to bounce up and down.

"I think Nick has Mexican jumping beans in his pants," Kevin laughed lazily as he rubbed small circles on Howie's back.

"We're gonna have to give him a sleeping schedule," Howie said sleepily. "I think he's like at that age where he sleeps for a full 6-7 hours before waking up." He'd gone to the bookstore the other day and bought a few books regarding children from the ages of two and above.

"I'm sure he's just all weirded out today mostly because of being sick and sleeping a lot already," Kevin said with a smile, thinking it was so cute how into this Howie was getting. Last night he had kept Kevin up reading the parenting books, so yeah Kevin was pretty tired tonight.

"Hmm, yah, that could be it too," Howie mumbled. "But still we should set up a time schedule."

Brian looked at Howie and then at Kevin. He was too sleepy to ask them how they knew instead he said. "Okay, we'll do that tomorrow."

Kevin sighed a sigh of relief when the driver drove up in front of Brian and Nick's house. "Thank God we're here."

"Home, Home, Home." Nick chanted as they all got out of the car and headed inside.

"You're not sleepy, at least a little bit?" Brian questioned, hopeful.

Howie shook his head. "Nope," he answered for Nick.

Nick's answer was to hop like a bunny all around the front entry way, totally forgetting that maybe hopping wouldn't be the best thing to do with his tummy still a tad upset. He ended up learning the hard way when his stomach made a really funny noise and he stopped right away an 'ut oh' look on his face again.

"Nicky, you okay buddy?" Kevin asked, noticing Nick had a funny look on his face and was now just standing there.

Brian knew that face. "Gotta go?"

Nick shook his head no because well...it was a little too late. He looked down at his feet, shuffling around in embarrassment. Normally he didn't care, but being sick was a different story.

Howie looked at Nick and got a feeling that Nick had already went. "I think you should be asking if he needs a changing," Howie said as he looked at Brian and nodding his head.

Brian looked back to Nick. "Do you?"

Nick didn't say anything just kept his face down; he didn't feel as comfortable around Howie and Kevin as he did Brian, Justin and AJ.

Kevin got the hint and took Howie's hand. "Why don't we go get ourselves settled in our normal guest room and we'll come in to say goodnight when it's time."

Howie nodded his head picking up on Nick's shyness. "We'll see you guys in a few minutes." With that Kevin and Howie walked over to their guestroom they usually stay in.

Brian turned his attention back to Nick. "Let's go up, we might as well give you a shower while we're at that." Brian held his hand out for Nick to take.

"But me already have TWO shower today," Nick whined as they walked up the stairs. He didn't mind showers but a person can only take so many.

Brian wrinkled his forehead, yes, it was true Nick had taken two showers that day. He sighed, less work for him then. "You're right, sorry I forgot about that. Well, let's just change you then," Brian said as they walked up the stairs to Nick's room.

"Otay," Nick said with a dramatic sigh. "Why Brian mad at Justin?" he asked as he walked into the bathroom with Brian and assumed his normal position of lying on the floor next to the tub.

Brian sighed. "I'm not mad at Justin I just... he shouldn't have made you go to the bathroom if you were crying like that." He removed Nick's diaper before grabbing the wipes to clean Nick up.

"It make me more ick if I had poopy in my daiper and couldn't be changed...ight?" Nick asked, showing how smart he really was now that he was in the right environment to grow better. "Dat what you say...dat what Justin say. Next time just bring ots and ots of diapers den me no gotta use potty...but me otay dis one time."

Brian chuckled as he ruffled Nick hair and then tickling his sides. "I leave you for a little over two hours and you're already growing up, that's not fair!" Brian playfully pouted.

"Me big boy," Nick said giggling like crazy as Brian tickled him. "So no be mad at Justin...he my fwend...you be his fwend."

Brian stopped tickling Nick and sat back on his heels. "Yes, big boy," Brian said. "Let's get you in your diaper."

"Yeah, me cold," Nick said and shivered for effect. As Brian was getting him all taped back up he was finding himself yawning like crazy, once again very sleepy.

Brian smiled big when Nick yawned. Oh goody, he wouldn't have to stay up for a couple more hours, after all. "Tired?" Brian questioned as they walked back in to Nick's room.

Nick nodded his head, his thumb going into his mouth since he had misplaced his binkie some place.

Brian let Nick crawl into bed so that he could tuck him in. Watching Nick suck on his thumb he walked over to Nick's bag and looked for the pacifier. "Hey Nick, where's your pacifier?" Brian questioned not finding it in the bag.

"Me no know," Nick mumbled around his thumb.

"Hmm," Brian said standing back up. He walked over to Nick's dresser and took out a new pacifier. Walking into the bathroom he took the plastic cover off and washed it before heading back over to Nick and handing it to him. "Okay, I think I'm going to have to tie a string to it and have it attached to you."

Nick smiled happily at that. He liked the idea of having his binkie with him all the time and it could never go away. "Otay, you do dat," he said with another yawn.

"In the morning, but for now, we'll leave it like this." Brian bent over and began to snuggly tuck Nick in and when he was done he placed a soft kiss on Nick's forehead. "Are you hungry or thirsty?" Brian questioned because he was feeling a bit hungry. The show went off with out a hitch and he'd given it his 110 percent, and now he was hungry.

Nick thought about that for a second. "Me have ba ba?" he asked, thinking a bottle would help him be not thrusty or hungry and hopefully in his mind not hurt his tummy.

Brian nodded his head. "Sure, gimme a minute," Brian said as he walked out of Nick's room and into his own. Heading over to his fridge he grabbed a bottle and heated it for a few seconds in the microwave. When everything was to his satisfaction he walked back into Nick's room.

Nick was still lying on his bed but he was talking to somebody. To somebody just walking in the room it would look like he was talking to himself but really he was talking to his new substitute Winky. "Me wuv living wit Brian...me wuv Justin and AJ, and Kevin and Owie. Me never ever wana go back to mommy and daddy cuz me no wana hurt no more."

Brian stopped short at the door when he heard Nick talking. Peaking in his head into the room he smiled at what he saw. Nick was lying in bed talking to his teddy bear. But what made his heart swell was what Nick was SAYING to the teddy bear. Quietly he said, "I love living with you, too and yes, you don't ever have to see your mommy or daddy... no more hurting."

Kevin walked up behind Brian who was standing in the doorway watching Nick. "Why are we just standing here?" he whispered in hopes not to scare his friend.

Brian nearly jumped through the ceiling and yelped when he heard a voice behind him. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack or something?" Brian questioned as his hand went over his heart to try and calm his nerves down.

Howie walked up behind Kevin and started laughing at the look on Brian's face. "How come I always miss the fun things?"

"I didn't mean to do anything, he's just jumpy," Kevin laughed as he patted his cousin on the back. "Just breathe cous."

Nick looked towards the door when he heard talking, "Ba ba?" he asked wondering if Brian had brought his snack like he had asked him to.

Brian glared at both Howie and Kevin before turning towards Nick. "Yah, I got your bottle." He walked into the room, Kevin and Howie following him, and handed the bottle to Nick. He took the pacifier out of Nick's mouth and set it on the night stand beside the bed.

Howie sat down at the edge of the bed and smiled down at Nick. Looking over at Brian he asked, "Wasn't he just jumping up and down, a ball full of energy... now he looks sleepy?"

Nick was lying there with his eyes closed, the bottle in his mouth holding it with one hand, his other hand down by his groin where it always rested as he slept. It would only be a matter of minutes before he would stop sucking on the bottle and he would be fast asleep.

"He looks so cute like that," Kevin giggled a little as he sat down next to Howie. "So peaceful, you would never know how much horror and pain is going through his head."

"Yeah," Howie said. "It's all really a shame." He reached his hand over and lightly moved the strands of hair on Nick's forehead. "Good night Nicky," Howie whispered before standing up.

Brian kissed Nick's forehead, again before removing the half empty bottle from Nick's mouth and placing it on the night stand table. He put the pacifier back in and looked at Howie and Kevin.

Kevin leaned over and gave Nick a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight buddy," he whispered before he stood up and said goodnight to his cousin before he and Howie headed back to their own room to get some much needed sleep.

As soon as Howie and Kevin left Brian took that moment to look around the quiet, peaceful room and then at Nick who was sleeping with a look of content on his face. "Sweet dreams," Brian whispered before turning the night light off and leaving the door slightly open as he walked out. Instead of heading back to his room he headed down to the kitchen to make himself a sandwich.

**********

The car ride was silent for a few minutes until AJ had to break it. "Am I really so awful of a person you don't even want to talk to me?" he said in a joking manner knowing Justin was tired; he just wanted to keep the mood light.

Justin was half asleep when AJ's voice brought him back to being awake. Turning his head to the side he looked at AJ's profile and shrugged. "Ooo sweepy," Justin mumbled. "No awful but dun ust." Justin didn't know what he was saying but he said it. If someone were to see that scene they would have guessed that Justin was the one who had reverted back to being a two year old.

AJ's eyes went wide and laughed a little. "Okay then..."

Justin lazily chuckled. "Sorry, are we there yet?" Justin questioned forcing himself to wake up and be just a bit more alert.

"No, but I was getting sick of the silence, sorry I didn't know you were actually asleep." AJ apologized.

Justin shook his head. "I was semi-sleeping and it's okay," Justin paused. "So, what's up?"

AJ thought for a minute, trying to figure out what he wanted to say knowing he was trying to make friends with the teen. "Justin, I know we haven't been friends in the past, and I know you don't like me but I guess what's happened with Nick has made a reason for us to have to all get along and I would really like it if we could try, because I know we both care a lot about Nick and stuff." He sighed and shook his head. "Okay, I suck with words...so I'll shut the fuck up now."

Justin smiled. "Listen, I'm sorry for acting like a prick, I'm a stubborn bastard when I wanna be one, and sometimes even Nick says that. Start over?" Justin asked, hopeful. "I'm willing to put everything aside and behind me and start over, what do ya say?"

AJ smiled big and nodded his head. "That sounds like a good plan, since it seems we have to do that a lot lately." Now that he and Justin were better he felt they could talk about something else. "I'm sorry if Brian is being a jerk to you. I think this whole thing is really bothering him a lot more then he's telling anybody ya know."

"Yah, I understand that but I honestly don't see why he's gotta be jealous. Nick chose him, he got that part of Nick that I," Justin stopped talking. He didn't want to tell anyone how much it killed him on the inside that Brian had gotten Nick, not realizing that they all knew... that they over heard him. "Nick's always going to love Brian, if you think about it... they were together when he had that stroke. I mean, yes, we lost the 18 year old Nick, he died. But he died still loving Brian. This Nick is almost like a reincarnation... so to speak..." Justin sighed. "I don't know if I'm making any sense.

"Yes, he may love Brian but he loves Brian as a father figure, not as a lover. He doesn't understand that concept of love. I think Brian is beginning to realize this and it's tearing him up inside. Then he looks at you guys and sees the potential of boy hood crushes and maybe more in Nick's eyes. You're his best friend...which as a kid you know is sometimes more important than your parents." AJ tried to explain from what he had been able to observe from Brian. "Plus, I know he sees the same look in your eyes right now."

Justin let everything AJ said sink in before blushing. "Am I THAT obvious? As for Brian, I don't know what to say."

AJ laughed a little and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I've just learned to read people...and well we kinda overheard you talking over the baby monitor the other day."

Justin's eyes grew wide in horror. "Oh God!" Justin nearly cried out as he brought his hands up and covered his face, slouching down in his seat.

AJ reached over and gently put a hand on the teen’s leg in a comforting way. "Don't worry about it...would it make you feel any better to know that I think I'm crushing on Papa Bear?" he knew Justin would know he meant Brian.

Justin looked at AJ from between his fingers before slowly lowering his hands. Raising an eyebrow he asked, "You? Brian? Since when? How? What?"

"Hey, I should be saying the same thing about you. I mean the last time I heard you were dating some chick named Cindy." AJ laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno I guess I've kinda had feelings for Brian since the group started...but then his heart was stolen by somebody else." The main reason he was telling Justin all this was because he knew how the younger man felt.

Justin rolled his eyes. "To tell you the truth I never really dated her. I just said I did maybe, hoping, to get Nick jealous or something. Long story but needless to say he didn't get jealous and I called it quits with her. His heart was stolen too," Justin said in a soft voice. It felt good to talk to someone about all the feelings he kept inside. "Are you going to do anything about it now?" Justin questioned as an after thought.

AJ shook his head, "Nah things are too crazy right now I don't think Brian would even want to start another relationship. I'll just stick to being the best friend that I can be." As he finished saying this he was pulling into Justin's driveway.

Justin frowned as he saw his house and garage. After making amends with AJ and the little talk they just had he didn't feel like calling it a night. He wanted to talk more and he wasn't sleepy in the least. "Um, thanks for the ride," Justin said hesitantly as he opened the door but not getting out of the car. "And thanks for talking to me, g'night."

AJ noticed how hesitant Justin was to leave so he just blurted it out. "Hey you wana like go in and ask your mom if you can come stay at my place tonight...we can talk more and stuff if you want."

Justin froze as he looked over at AJ. It was almost like the older man had read his mind. Running his hand through his hair he said, "Sure, yah. Let me go in and ask if it's alright." Justin quickly got out of the car and took his keys out before letting himself in. Quickly walking up the stairs to his parents' room he knocked. No response. Quietly he opened the door and walked in. Walking over to his mom he gently shook her awake. "Hey mom, I'm sorry to wake you but is it alright if I stay over at AJ's tonight?" Justin questioned and smiled brightly when she nodded her head and gave him her consent but only if he promised to catch up with his academics. Justin promised. He grabbed a bag and put some clothes he'd need for the overnight stay at AJ's and locked the house.

AJ had been sitting in the car nervously. He had NO idea why he was nervous about Justin coming to his house to stay the night, but he was. He looked up quickly when he heard the door of the house shut and Justin walking back to the car.

Justin smiled a small nervous smile as he got back into the passenger seat. "You sure you don't mind?" He questioned. He didn't want AJ have invited him over out of obligation or something. He'd always admired AJ and his talent, besides Nick, his favorite Backstreet Boy was AJ. There was just something mysterious and thrilling about him that Justin found himself attracted to but his feelings for Nick overrode any of that.

"Of course not. I wouldn't have invited you over if I didn't want you to come." AJ said as he backed out of the driveway and started the five minute trip to his own house. It had been a long time since he had, had a friend over to 'spend the night' that involved just sleeping and not more than that. Sure, the guys had spent time at his house a lot but they were more like family than they were friends.

"Okay," Justin said as he turned his head and looked out the window. He didn't want AJ to see the big smile he was sporting on his face. He was excited and happy and filled with all sorts of feelings that he didn't know what to do with. "I've never been to your house," Justin said thinking about it. He'd been to Brian's, Howie's, Kevin's but never had be been to AJ's mainly because Nick never took him to there. He wondered why that was.

AJ sighed; he had never really been that close to Nick for some reason. Maybe it was because they were the closest in age he wasn't really sure. "Probably because Nick and I were never really that close, he never came to my house." He sounded sad as he said this, mostly wishing that things had been better between them before everything changed, but now he was happy that at least 'this' Nick seemed to like him a whole heck of a lot.

Justin looked over at AJ a sympathetic smile on his face. "You know what I don't get?" Justin questioned. "Nick totally looked up to you. I mean, yah he looked up to Kevin but that was in respect, fatherly/big brother kinda way. But he looked up to you as someone he modeled himself after. He thought you were the coolest guy ever, great voice, great comic, great dancer, and just an over all cool guy!" That was true for Justin too but he decided to keep that to himself. "I never really understood why he didn't spend much time with you."

AJ shrugged his shoulders. "I really don't know, but doesn't really do much good thinking about it now. At least this Nick seems to like me around." AJ pulled into his driveway and pulled the car into the garage. He didn't really want to think about his and Nick's friendship from before because it wouldn't really do any good. Turning the car off he smiled at Justin. "Well we're here...obviously."

Justin nodded his head as he looked out the window at the big white house. "Nice," Justin said. "But as for Nick, I think he might grow up covered in tattoos," Justin joked as he looked at the tattoo on AJ's bicep. "Like his idol."

AJ actually blushed bright red; something that didn't happen to often or more like didn't allow anybody to see. He was the big tough tattooed freak he wasn't allowed to let anything get to him. "Let's get inside before the sun comes up," he suggested as he opened his door and got out of the car and headed towards the garage door that would lead them into the house.

Justin quickly followed AJ through the garage and into the house. He stood in the foyer and waited for just what to do next.

"Umm are you hungry or thirsty or something?" AJ asked as he put his keys down on the table inside the door.

"Sure," Justin said as he followed AJ into the kitchen. He placed his bag on the seat beside him and settled in at the counter.

AJ walked to his fridge and opened it looking inside to see what he had to eat. "Umm I could make us sandwiches," he said glancing over at Justin to see his reaction.

"That's just fine," Justin said with a smile. "I'm a growing boy; I'd eat just about anything anytime." Justin chuckled.

AJ laughed as he grabbed the stuff he would need for the sandwiches and carried it to the counter. "I remember those times, and yet I never gained any weight from it either." he said patting his stomach.

"Hmm, me neither," Justin said as he watched AJ head over to the counter. "But I tend to work out a lot. Do you need any help?"

"Yeah same here...we're worked to the bone enough that I think it would be impossible to gain weight." AJ said and shook his head. "Nah I've got it...I'm going to make you one of AJ McLean's famous hoagie sandwiches."

Justin raised his eyebrow. "Hoagie? Famous? How come I've never heard of it?" He questioned craning his neck to see just what AJ was doing.

AJ laughed and shrugged. "I don't know, but I think you'll like it." He said as he started to put together the huge sandwich.

"Hmmm," Justin said as he watched the sandwich come together. His stomach growled and Justin blushed.

"Hungry?" AJ asked laughing as he finished up one of the sandwiches and handed it to Justin. "This should help. Would you like something to drink?" He walked back to the fridge to see what he had. "Umm coke, fruit punch, water."

"Thanks," Justin said as he took the sandwich. "Coke, please." But he didn't touch his food. He was taught to wait until everyone was served their meal before starting to eat.

AJ grabbed both of them a can of coke and then went back to fixing his sandwich. Once it was done he sat down at the table across from Justin and smiled. "You can eat it ya know...It wont poison you."

Justin stuck his tongue out at AJ. "I was waiting for you," he said before picking up his sandwich and taking a big bite out of it.

AJ watched Justin eating for a second before he started eating his own. They sat in silence for a few minutes while they both worked on filling their empty stomachs.

"So, was Nick a good boy tonight?" AJ asked after a few minutes.

"Mmm hmmm," Justin said as he was in the process of chewing his food. Taking a sip of coke to wash down the food he said, "Yea he was." Then Justin remembered Nick's reaction to AJ's dancing. "But we did have a problem while we watched the beginning of the show."

AJ raised an eyebrow, "A problem?"

"Yup, with you, actually," Justin said. He drank more of his soda before explaining what he meant. "The part where you were 'making love to the floor' you know doing the wave with your body... Nick freaked out."

AJ still looked totally confused until it hit him what Justin was saying. "Oh shit...I never thought about that freaking him out."

"Me neither, that was until he practically hid behind me shaking. He said he didn't want you dancing like that anymore," Justin said.

"I guess we'll just have to remember to not let him watch that part of the show. I think that's the only place I really go all out like that," AJ said, feeling awful now for causing Nick pain.

"Don't feel bad," Justin said as he noticed the sad look on his face. "I explained to Nick that you were just dancing and being crazy. He understood that but still prefers that you didn't do it anymore. But I understand if you get carried away. I'll probably just flip the channel or distract Nick until you've finished."

"You make it sound like I'm actually doing IT with the floor," AJ laughed a smirk on his face now.

Justin chuckled. "Well, yah but that's because it looked like it... to Nick. It triggered the memory of when his father..." Justin trailed off knowing that AJ knew about what he was talking about. "Do you know why he's scared of the toilet?" Justin asked curiously.

AJ shook his head as he chewed on a bite of his sandwich.

"Oh okay," Justin said as he ate the last bit of his sandwich. "I think I'll tell you AFTER you've finished eating."

AJ finished off the rest of his sandwich and laughed a little. "Okay I THINK I'm ready for this but I seem to think this is pretty bad if you couldn't tell me while I was eating."

"It IS bad," Justin said as he widened his eyes and shook his head. "Nick's scared of the toilet because his mom used to stick his head in it... when it still had shit causing for him to taste it...." Justin said. "I believe his exact words were, 'mommy made me eat poppy outa potty'."

AJ's eyes went wide and he almost gagged at just the thought of it. "Oh god that poor kid, I don't blame him one bit for being scared to death."

Justin nodded his head. "God, I felt awful because he was sitting on the toilet when he told me this, tears flowing like waterfalls. I didn't know and he didn't say anything when I told him he'd have to use the potty since there weren't any more diapers."

"I guess we'll just have to make sure we pack a lot of diapers from now on just in case and gradually keep asking him if he wants to go to the potty and stuff. I don't think if we keep making him go...not that you forced him...he might just keep getting more and more scared. I'm sure at some point it will all just click and he won't care anymore...at least I would think," AJ said with a contemplative look on his face. He really had no idea if Nick would ever get over this. "I mean he must have at one point in his life he sure wasn't in diapers when we met him."

"Yah," Justin agreed. "But I think that's why Brian was acting like that earlier. I think Nick must have told him what a big boy he was because he used the toilet," Justin reasoned. "I never seem to do anything right in Brian's eyes."

"It's because he's being an over protective first time parent." AJ laughed. "He's just as scared as you are about screwing things up. I personally think we need to all just calm down and relax and I think Nick will pretty much teach us how to take care of him. I mean so far in the last week we've realized we can't make him use the potty...no showering with him. He says 'bye bye' when he's about ready to take a dump. That he loves his train set and his teddy bear. He needs his binkie at all times and even though he's a big boy sometimes he loves his bottle."

Justin nodded his head. "But wouldn't it be easier if we all like worked together, I mean I see that you all work together when it comes to Nick but I'm like always the last one to know anything. It'd be nice to be a part of you guys, a part of something important in Nick's life." Justin sighed as he got up and put the empty plate in the sink and washed it.

AJ watched Justin walk to the sink and smiled a little. "How would you like to come on tour with us and like be Nick's best friend/Nanny person?"

Justin turned around and rested against the sink. Folding his arms across his chest he said, "You know how much I'd love that but you also know that I can't."

"If it's because of school we already have a tutor because of Nick." AJ pointed out. "And if it's because you think the other guys don't want you, you don't have to worry because we already talked about it. We tried to do things on our own and well tonight was proof that it's not exactly going to work."

"It's because of the first thing but also because I don't know what my parents are going to say about that," Justin said, his forehead wrinkled in deep thought. "But that would be awesome if I could travel with you guys!"

"Just talk to them," AJ nodded a smile forming on his face when he could tell how excited Justin was about the idea of coming on tour with them. "I'm sure Nick would be a lot less bored with his best friend there with him. I mean the kid can only color so many pages in a coloring book before he gets bored stiff."

Justin laughed. "Yah, I bet. I could like take him sight-seeing and stuff." Justin was getting really excited as he thought of all the things he could do with Nick. All the places he wanted to show Nick. Places that Nick had showed him when he brought him on tour before.

AJ got up and took his own plate and put it in the sink. As he was doing this the front of his body accidentally rubbed against Justin's and he was slightly shocked when he felt jolts of electricity go through his body at the small contact. 'What the fuck?' he thought to himself as he ran water on the plate.

Justin took in a quick breath as AJ's body came in contact with his. He cleared his throat and moved aside a little to give AJ some room to wash his plate. Justin didn't know what to think about the shivers that coursed through his body... the fluttery feeling at the pit of his stomach. "So, what now?" Justin questioned trying to break the sudden tension that fell over them.

"We could go into the living room and talk more if you want, or we could just go upstairs and sleep if you're tired." AJ said quickly, he always talked fast when he was really upset, frustrated or nervous beyond belief and right now was the last reason. He had no idea why his body was having weird sensations happen to it around the younger man.

"I'm not really that tired anymore, which I find a bit funny." Justin stated with a chuckle. "But if you're tired I totally understand. I could like just watch a movie or something, if that's alright with you."

"I'm not tired; we can go watch that movie together," AJ said with a smile as he led Justin into the family room where he had a theater type thing going on. "Go pick out something you want to watch, I'm going to go to the bathroom real fast." He said pointing to a huge cabinet across the room that was full of movies.

Justin nodded his head and walked over to the big case that held the movies. He had absolutely no idea what to watch or what he was in the mood for. 'Maybe something funny and not too emotional would be best,' he thought to himself. Justin smiled as he came across a movie he hadn’t seen but wanted to see. He opened the DVD case and inserted it in the DVD player and waited for AJ to return.

AJ came back out and laughed when he saw what movie Justin had picked. "Very good choice I haven't seen this in a long time." He said as he went and sat down in the theater style chair, patting the spot next to him. "Come sit and watch." He said as he grabbed a remote and turned down the lights.

Justin walked over and sat down beside AJ. "I like this," Justin said as he wiggled in his seat and looked around at the make-shift theater. "It's almost like we're at the movies, except we're not and that we're the only ones here." Justin chuckled.

"Exactly why I had it made," AJ giggled as he leaned back in his seat, his arm draping over Justin's not really realizing what he was doing.

"You got popcorn?" Justin questioned getting nervous. He needed to do something to calm himself down; hopefully AJ had popcorn cuz then that'll give him just enough time to get his head together.

"Oh yeah, good idea!" AJ said as he hopped out of his seat. "I'll be right back." With that he walked to the back of the room where there was another smaller room that had a kitchen and a full working bar in it. It all came in handy when entertaining people.

Justin sighed as AJ walked out to get them some popcorn. He leaned his arms on his thighs and rested his face in his hands. 'What's going on?' Justin thought to himself. 'This is only AJ we're dealing with here... why am I feeling like this?' Justin sat up straight and leaned back in his seat. 'I'm just imagining things. There's nothing going on and AJ like's Brian... why the hell would he like me? Yes, I must stay cool!' Justin closed his eyes to cleanse his mind.

AJ came walking back into the room a few minutes later with a bucket of popcorn, two bottles of beer and a can of coke just in case. "Hey I brought these...but you don't have to feel pressured to have it or anything just thought maybe you would." he rambled nodding towards the beer in his hands.

Justin opened his eyes when he heard AJ's voice. "I've drunk beer with Nick before, so it's cool but right now I think I'll stick with coke," Justin said. He was already nervous enough as it is he didn't want to take beer and start blabbing things that he didn't even know.

AJ nodded his head and smiled as he handed the coke to Justin. He then sat down opening his own bottle and setting the popcorn between them. He took a deep breath as he tried to get himself to relax, hence why he had the beer. It helped him relax and he really needed that right now.

Justin opened his can and took a sip of his soda. "Is the movie okay?" Justin questioned not sure if he picked a good movie or not.

AJ nodded his head and smiled. "Perfect," he said as he looked in Justin's direction a little longer then he needed to before turning his attention back to the screen.

'Alrighty then,' Justin thought to himself. Taking a deep breath he settled back in his seat and watched the beginning of the movie. He blindly reached his hand into the bowl to get some popcorn.

Of course how things happened to work out, AJ's hand was in the popcorn bucket at the same time that Justin put his hand in it and they ended up practically holding hands. AJ swallowed hard and moved just his eyes to look at Justin, for some reason not able to move his hand. 'What the fuck is wrong with me!' his mind screamed.

Justin's hand froze and as his eyes moved down to the where his hand was, his fingers practically linked with AJ's. 'Well what are the odds... this was just so predictable,' Justin thought to himself before looking up at AJ.

AJ looked at Justin with a confused expression on his face that he couldn't seem to get to go away. He knew he should just pull his hand away and do the cool thing and laugh it off but for some reason he wasn't allowed to. "I umm..."

Justin nervously chuckled. "Sorry," he apologized and slowly began to unlink their fingers.

"No...I'm sorry," AJ said as he pulled his hand out of the bucket and put it on his own thigh which was bouncing up and down a sure sign he was beyond nervous. He was still looking right at Justin though not able to take his eyes off of the curly blonde.

Justin ran his other hand through his hair before he cleared his throat. "What?" Justin asked in a quiet whisper. The way AJ was looking at him was a bit unnerving but he kind of liked it.

Hearing Justin talking to him shook AJ out of his thoughts and he quickly looked away, mumbling 'sorry' again.

"Don't apologize," Justin said. "I was just curious as to what you were thinking about. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Justin said looking back at the movie playing before him.

It was a few minutes later when AJ finally spoke up and told Justin what he was thinking about. "I was thinking about how I liked your hand touching mine a little more then I should have."

Justin looked at AJ, shock and surprise on his face. "You what..." Justin said not believing his ears.

AJ took a long sip of his beer before he repeated himself. "I liked your hand touching mine. I don't get why...I'm beyond confused...but I did."

"What if I said I liked it too? What if I said I liked it when you accidentally brushed up against me in the kitchen?" Justin gulped.

AJ ran a hand through his hair, trying to get his brain to process what was going on. "I have no idea what's going on...but I liked that too." he said looking over at Justin.

"Okay, at least we're on the same page here," Justin nodded his head and smiled. "This is just weird."

"Tell me about it, I mean it was only like an hour ago we were talking about the other people we liked but can't have and here we are...well...liking each other." AJ said with a slightly nervous laugh.

"Yah, the one's we can't have... have... had each other. You like Brian yet Brian was with Nick. I like Nick but he was with Brian. Is it just me or do you feel like you're living in a movie scene?" Justin questioned wrinkling his nose.

AJ laughed nodding his head in agreement. "Yeah, and isn't the next part supposed to be that the two people left out end up together?"

Justin chuckled nervously. "That's how it usually happens," he paused as he looked at AJ. "Is that what's going to happen?"

"I umm...well we obviously have some feelings for each other...right?" AJ asked as he looked down at his own hand and then over at Justin's remembering how good they felt together.

"Yah, from what it looks and feels like... yes, we do," Justin said as he absently licked his lips before taking his bottom lip and biting it. He does that when he's thinking or when he's nervous. In this case, he was both.

AJ had never been nervous about liking somebody before, but for some reason he was now. He knew Justin wasn't just somebody he could fuck for one night and let him go, so he had to think of things differently, in ways he normally didn't. Taking a deep breath he reached his hand over and gently took Justin's in his gently, looking into his eyes, but not saying anything.

Justin watched his hand where it was currently in the AJ's grasp. His lips were dry again and so he licked them before flickering his eyes up at look into AJ's eyes. "I've never been with a guy before," Justin confessed. He needed AJ to know.

"I've never been in a real relationship that didn't consist of more then just fucking." AJ confessed, looking down at his lap knowing that would turn Justin away quickly.

"Oh," Justin said as he felt his heart drop at AJ's admission. He stayed quiet for a few seconds before pulling his hand away. "Maybe we should like think about things... get some sleep and think about it or something. We're both pretty tired, long day and all, maybe when we wake up, rested and feeling better, things will make more sense." At least he hoped it did. Otherwise, this was going to an awkward experience for the both of them.

"I don't mean I want that now." AJ said quickly knowing Justin probably thought that. "I'm sick of pointless relationships." He looked at Justin and sighed. "Yeah...maybe that would be a good idea." He had a feeling he had totally fucked things up like he always did.

Justin pretended to yawn as he stretched. He really needed to get to bed fast and think about everything that happened that day. Maybe all this is just a dream? Maybe he'd fallen asleep in the cave or on the couch with Nick…maybe. "I think that would be a good idea too," Justin said looking at AJ.

"Okay," AJ said quietly as he turned off the TV and stood up. He then led Justin out of the room thinking he would just clean up the mess tomorrow. Once out of the room he led Justin back into the kitchen so he could get his bag and then up the back stairs.

Justin quietly followed AJ up the stairs and down the hall. He felt the need to tell AJ what he was feeling just in case this wasn't a dream. "I like you, AJ, just so you know. I just don't know if all this is just a dream or if it's real."

AJ let out a breath he didn't even know he had been holding. "Really...you do? Cuz I thought you would like hate me after what I just said."

"But you said that you were sick of pointless relationships," Justin pointed out. He stopped at the one of the doors that he assumed was probably the guest bedroom he'd be staying in. He looked at AJ as he bit his bottom lip wondering just what was going to happen or what will be said next. This was all too surreal.

AJ leaned over and opened the door for Justin before kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Good Night Justin." he whispered with a small smile before walking down the hall towards his own room.

Justin stood there a bit disappointed but took in a deep breath and walked into his room. He dropped his bag by the bed before flopping down on it on his stomach. He was too tired to give a damn about the fact that he didn't change into his normal sleep wear. Heck, he didn’t even remove his sneakers. But there he was lying on the width of the bed, his legs sticking out and his arms hanging from the other end of the bed, already fast asleep.

End Of Chapter Nine.