"Josh, honey, have you left for school yet? Guess so if you aren’t answering the phone… Have a good day at school, call me when you get home and let me know all about it," Karen Chasez’s voice floated out of her son’s answering machine.

"Shit," JC Chasez muttered to himself, looking at the time.

"What?" asked his roommate, Tony.

"I’m gonna be late," he answered gathering up his stuff.

"Why are you going to school anyway? The schooling program’s just fine here."

"Because my parents don’t want me spending all my time at the studio, they want me to meet other people," JC explained.

"Oh fun. Have a good time, I guess," Tony shrugged, rolling back over and going to sleep.

"JC, you ready?" asked Shelly, the house mother assigned to his building, when he came out of his room.

"Yup," he nodded following her out.

"You excited about starting school?"

"Oh you know it," he rolled his eyes.

"I know it’s tough starting at a new school your sophomore year but this is a really good school. I’ve got a nephew that’s in your grade, he’d be willing to show you around I’m sure," Shelly said.

"That’s all right… I think I can manage," JC replied.

"All right," she shrugged and they rode the rest of the way to Dr. Phillip’s in silence.

"I’ll pick you up at three right here, okay?" Shelly said when they stopped in front of the school.

"I’ll be here," he nodded.

"Have a good day."

"Thanks," he offered her a smile climbing out of the mini-van, then quickly walked into the school.

"Can I help you?" asked a brunette lady behind the front desk when JC walked into the main office.

"I’m Joshua Chasez, I was told to come here to get my schedule," JC answered.

"How do you spell your last name?" she asked flipping through a box of papers.

"C h a s e z."

"Here you go, Joshua," she smiled handing him a schedule. "Do you need someone- In trouble already, Mr. Fatone? It’s only the first day," she scolded the brunette who walked up next to JC.

"I’m not in trouble, yet, Mrs. Cook," smiled the brunette smiled. "I came to get my schedule."

"Here ya go, Joey," she said handing it to him. "Oh I’m sorry, hon," she added to JC, "do you know where your first class is or do you need someone to help you find it?"

"I can-"

"I can show him," Joey offered, cutting JC off. "What class do you have?"

"I can find it myself, really," JC said.

Ignoring him, Joey looked at his scheduled, "Thomas, good deal, that’s where I’m headed. Follow me."

"Really I can-"

"Bye Mrs. Cook," Joey said cutting him off again, leading him out of the office. "What’s the sense in looking for it yourself when I’m going there?" he added to JC.

"I guess you’re right…"

"I’m Joey Fatone, by the way," he said. "You from Orlando?"

"JC Chasez. I just moved here from Bowie, Maryland."

"That’s cool. You enjoyin O-town so far?"

"It’s all right. I haven’t really been here long."

"Why’d ya move here, if you don’t mind me askin? Your dad/mom get transferred?" Joey asked.

"No actually I got a part on a variety show," JC answered.

"Oh yah? What show?"

"Promise not to laugh?" JC said, not sure why he cared what this guy thought.

"If it’s good enough to get you to move halfway across the country, who am I to laugh?"

"I got a part on the Mickey Mouse Club."

"Really? That’s cool! My aunt works as a house mother for some of the kids on the show," Joey said.

"Would her name happen to be Shelly, by any chance?"

"Actually yah, how’d ya guess?"

"She’s my house mother…"

"That’s cool. Don’t let her get to ya, she’s not really as bad as she seems at first," he said stopping at a class room. "Here we are."

"Thanks for showing me where it was," JC offered.

"Not a big deal. I know how it is to be the new kid. I just moved here last year from New York," Joey shrugged.

"Really? That’s cool."

"Fat-one, bout time you got here! I thought yas was ditchin out on me," a blonde girl said grabbing Joey’s arm.

"I’d never do that, Julia, but I might if yas don’t stop callin me ‘fat one’. You’s gonna give me a complex or something," he replied. "Oh by the way, Julia, this is JC Chasez, he just moved here from Maryland. JC, this is Julia Cobb," he introduced them.

"Nice to meet ya, JC," Julia said shaking his hand. "So what’s JC stand for?"

"Joshua Chasez."

"Wait your name’s Joshua Chasez Chasez?"

"No it’s Joshua Scott Chasez."

"Then what’s with the JC Chasez?" Julia asked.

"J, girl, leave him alone," Joey said. "Sorry about her, she doesn’t know when to stop."

"Shut up, Fatone. I wanna know!"

"Well there’s already a Josh on the show and JC sounds a lot better than JS," JC explained.

"What show?"

"I moved here cause I got a part on the Mickey Mouse Club…"

"You an actor or a singer?"

"Singer, why?"

"Cause I don’t hang out with other actresses/actors," Julia answered. "Got played by a drama geek over the summer."

"I ain’t no drama geek," Joey exclaimed.

"Not you, I’m talkin about the other drama geek," she said rolling her eyes. "And you didn’t play me."

"Did so."

"Whatever. You only wish I dated sophomores cause you know you wanna get with me."

"As if, Cobb, as if," Joey said.

"You, JC, on the other hand are almost cute enough to make me break that rule so please tell me you’ve got a girlfriend back in Maryland or yas gay."

"Neither nor, sorry," JC replied.

"Of all the luck," Julia sighed. "Oh well, just promise me you’ll remind me I don’t date people my age if I ever should try to come on to you."

"All right…"

==

"So lets see Kelly Baldwin, Steve (he’s my brother), Matt Castleton, this is JC Chasez," Joey introduced him later that day at lunch. "We’re the ‘new kids’ cause we just moved here in the past two years," he added to JC. "Kelly, Steve, and I moved here from New York. Matt comes from Washington, and Julia’s from Detroit."

"JC here, which stands for Joshua Chasez although his middle name is Scott, joins us from Bowie, Maryland. He’s a singer and one of the new Mouseceteers who’ve graced our fair school with their presence," Julia said.

"Nice to meet you all," JC offered, getting the same greeting in return.

"So now that that’s out of the way, how’s about we figure out what we’re doing this weekend?" Joey suggested.

Orlando, FL 1994

"Can I help you?" JC asked the two younger cast members who were staring at him as he got ready.

"Take us with you?" Justin Timberlake asked with a hopeful look.

"Please?" added Britney Spears.

"You must be crazy," JC snorted. "Not only would your parents kill me if I took you with me but I’m pretty sure the studio would too."

"Please? We never get to go anywhere," whined Justin.

"I am not taking a twelve year old and a thirteen year old to a party. Go with the others to Universal or something."

"God no!" Britney exclaimed.

"Well you’re not going with me," JC said walking out of his room.

"Jace, Joey and Julia are here," Shelly said when he started downstairs.

"All right, Shell," he answered. "Watch these two, please," he added when Justin and Britney began to follow him.

"Kids, you can’t go," Shelly said, stopping them.

"It’s not fair," JC heard Justin whine as he walked outside, laughing to himself.

"What’s so funny, Chasez?" Joey asked when he climbed into car.

"Oh Justin and Britney actually thought I’d take them with me," he explained.

"Little kids are so cute," Julia laughed. "Which ones are they again?"

"The one with the curls and the blonde from Louisiana."

"They’re datin aren’t they?" Joey asked.

"They say they aren’t, but I think they’re lying," JC shrugged.

"Oh they’re totally dating," Julia said.

"How can you be so sure?" Joey questioned.

"You just can tell. If they aren’t they will be by the time they’re famous."

"You think they’ll be famous?" JC asked.

"Well they won’t be as famous as us but sure the boy’s got talent and you can already tell that she’s gonna be real pretty, assumin she does a few alterations," Julia answered.

"She’s twelve, give the girl some time. She might grow some breast," Joey said.

"I wasn’t talkin bout her breast, Fat-one," Julia sighed. "You’re such a pig. Why do I date you again?"

"Cause you made JC promise you he wouldn’t let you come onto him," Joey answered.

"So I had to settle for you, I remember now," Julia said. "Damn me and my big mouth. Can I take it back, Jace?"

"Sorries," JC shook his head.

"Oh that’s right, you got that girl, whats’er name?"

"Nikki," Joey supplied.

"How come she’s not here?"

"We broke up, too young for me," JC answered.

"Oh that’s too bad," Julia offered. "So who ya goin to prom with now?"

"Kerri said she’d go with me."

"That’s cool."

==

"Why’d we bring Justin again?" JC asked sighing.

"Cause ya love me," he answered.

"Why not? None the other clubs’ll be hopin till way after either of you have to be home," Chris Kirkpatrick answered.

"True but at least if I had gone out with some of my friends we coulda gone to an 18 or older club."

"You’re such a bitch, JC, I don’t know why I hang out with you," Justin joked.

"Cause I’m the one with talent, remember?" JC joked back.

"Oh that’s right and I’m the cute one."

"What’s the make me?" Chris asked.

"Uhh the smart one, I guess," Justin shrugged.

"Now that’s a scary thought," JC laughed.

"Whatever. How’s about you two get lost so I can find me a woman?" Chris suggested.

"No way are you leaving me with the kid," JC shook his head.

"I’m not a kid!" Justin exclaimed.

"Ya are so, but you can’t help it," Chris said. "Fine lets just hit the dance floor at least."

"Look all three my bitches are here!" a female’s voice caught JC’s attention when he and the others got to the dance floor.

"Julia!" Chris and JC exclaimed at the same time. "How do you know her?"

"Since when do you two know each other?" Joey asked, wrapping his arms around Julia.

"Joey?!"

"This isn’t fair! I don’t know either of them," Justin pouted.

"Quiet, Justin," Chris silenced him. "So like how do you three know each other?"

"I went to school with them," JC answered. "How do you know them?"

"I work at Universal with them."

"He’s Universal Chris," Julia said.

"Oh duh, of course," JC said.

"So how do you two know each other?" Joey asked.

"We’re starting a group," Chris explained. "Like a vocal group."

"How awesome," Joey said.

"Vocal group, what like the New Kids on the Block?" Julia giggled.

"What of it?" JC said.

"No, that’s cool. They always have a good run, but you’re a few members short."

"That we are," Chris agreed.

"Ya know of anyone who’d be interested?" JC asked, glancing at Joey.

"I might," Joey said.

"Could ya be a little more obvious?" Julia exclaimed. "Either ask him to join or drop the topic!"

"All right… well ya wanna join, Joe?" Chris said.

"Yah, okay."

"Great now lets talk about you gettin me a drink, Chris," Julia said.

"You must be crazy," Chris replied.

Orlando 1995

"So what do you all think?" Chris questioned.

"About what?" Justin asked not looking up from the television.

"Who do ya think we should go with for our fifth?"

"Oh the one from Mississippi," Justin replied.

"I agree, he’s got a great voice and he’ll grow into his looks soon enough," Joey said.

"If nothing else, every group needs a pretty one," Julia giggled. "And Curly over there, just ain’t gonna cut it."

"Anyways," Justin rolled his eyes. "What about you, JC?"

"Yah I think that he’d work," JC nodded. "Chris?"

"He’s work able," Chris agreed. "If nothing else he seems like a good kid."

"All right, cool. Next order of business," Justin said.

"Uhh I think we’re out of business, actually," Chris said.

"Great then we can talk about me," Julia smiled.

"What’s goin on in the world of Julia?" JC asked.

"Daddy and Mama are being totally awesome and as promised I am going to Europe," Julia squealed.

"That’s great," the others exclaimed.

"So how long will you be gone?" Joey asked.

"I’m not sure yet," Julia shrugged. "I mean they’re giving me a year’s worth of time there but I’m not sure how much I’m gonna use at a time."

"If I were you I’d go for the whole year straight," Justin said. "Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"

"You wouldn’t make a year without your mom being there, Just," Chris cracked.

"It does have it’s appeal, but I mean be there for a year all by myself? What would I do?" Julia said ignoring Chris.

"See Europe," Justin shrugged, flipping Chris off.

"Yah… I’ll probably just play it by ear. Go for a month or so then decided how much longer I wanna be over there."

"Well whatever you do, you gotta save some time so that when we’re all over there we can all go out," JC said.

"You’re for sure going to Europe?" Julia asked.

"Lou’s plannin on it," he nodded.

"Seems that other group of his did real well so he hopin lightening’ll strike twice," Joey said.

"You’ll blow those other guys outta the water and everyone will be wondering who they are," Julia said.

"See this is why we keep you around, you’re great on the ego," Joey said.

"Well I try."

Orlando, FL 1997

"Happy birthday, JC," random people called out as he navigated through the party.

"Finally twenty-one, must be great," Justin said when JC reached them.

"You’ll be twenty-one someday, youngin," JC said. "Till then, yes it is wonderful."

"Few more months and Joey’ll be twenty-one and we can ditch the kids and have a good time here in America," Chris said.

"I ain’t no kid," Lance and Justin replied.

"You’re too young for the all purpose 21+ clubs so you’re a kid," Chris answered.

"Whatever," Lance rolled his eyes at Chris.

"Hey guys," a female’s voice said quietly from behind Joey.

"JULIA?!" they all exclaimed turning to look at her.

"Surprise?" she offered, smiling at them.

"What are you doing here?!" Joey asked hugging her. "I thought you were still in Italy!"

"You really think I’d let Chasez turn twenty-one without me?" Julia replied. "Happy birthday, Birthday Boy," she added hugging him.

"Thanks, Ju," JC smiled hugging her back. "This is great! I’m twenty-one and now that Ms Julia is here, the party is complete!"

"Aw thanks, JC," Julia laughed. "So what’s a girl gotta do to get a drink around here?"

"I’ve got a few ideas," Joey said.

"Sorry, Joe babe, but it’s C’s night," Julia replied. "You’re twenty-one in five months, we’ll look into it."

"All right, I’m gonna hold you to that," Joey said.

"Follow me if you want a drink," JC answered getting up.

"Don’t be gone too long," Chris said. "I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to her yet."

"Me either," Justin added.

"We’ll be back soon," Julia promised. "So how’s it feel to be twenty-one?"

"Pretty much like twenty but I ain’t gotta worry about gettin busted for drinkin," JC answered.

"So I have so much to look forward to then, huh?"

"You’ve got graduation to look forward to," JC pointed out.

"Then four more years of school for my master’s," she sighed. "You’re so lucky, getta travel around doin what you wanna do for a livin."

"Oh stop complainin! You’ll be makin hella money when you get outta school," JC said when they reached the kitchen.

"Maybe so, but I’m gonna be in college for the rest of my life it seems like."

"It’s worth it."

"Whatever. So tell me what you want for your birthday."

"I dunno, surprise me," he shrugged.

"I’ve got a few suggestions…"

"I thought you didn’t go out with guys your age."

"One we wouldn’t be going out and two until April you’re still older than me," Julia smiled.

"Dude, JC, there you are," Joey said the next morning when he walked into the kitchen. "Where were you? You and Julia disappeared around one."

"Coffee," JC mumbled sitting down.

Joey handed him a cup and said, "So where were you?"

"Did you see Julia leave?" JC asked.

"Yah she left about an hour ago, why- Ohmigod, you didn’t, did you?? You did??" Joey exclaimed.

"Uh yah…"

"Dude, that’s crazy!" Joey laughed. "I cant believe you and Julia!"

"Dude, I’m sorry, I know you and her are like on again/off again," JC said.

"Dude, it’s cool. I just never thought that you and Julia would, ya know?"

"Him and Julia would what?" Justin asked coming into the kitchen.

"Julia and I hooked up last night," JC answered.

"Dude, awesome! She’s like so hot!!"

"You hooked up with Julia?" Chris said coming into the kitchen.

"Yah…"

"Don’t be an ass about it with her," Chris said.

"What?"

"If you don’t wanna keep it going, don’t hurt her."

"I would never hurt, Julia! She’s been one of my best friends since I moved to Orlando!"

"I’m just sayin," Chris replied.

2001 Orlando, FL

"Is it just me or do our birthday parties just get more Hollywood each year?" Joey sighed looking around the room. "I mean shit we’ve even got strippers!"

"Lance planned the party," Chris explained. "But I’m not sure who planned the strippers."

"Well I thought JC might like them since him and Bobbee are on the outs again," Justin said

"Oh so it has nothing to do with that Brit couldn’t make it?" Lance rolled his eyes. "Where is JC anyway?"

"At the bar," Joey replied.

"Fight with Bobbee?" Justin asked JC when he reached their table.

"How’d you guess?" he replied downing his beer.

"How many have you had?"

"This is just my second," he replied looking around. "Lovely BSB and strippers," he said running his eyes over both.

"BSB? I don’t think so," Justin exclaimed. "Lets go scare them away and go check out the strippers," he suggested.

"How’s about we just check out the strippers?" JC replied.

"Just as good," Justin nodded. "You guys coming?"

"Why not?" Joey replied as Chris and Lance nodded.

"Hey, Birthday Boy," JC’s brother Tyler.

"Hey, Ty," JC nodded. "Good show?"

"Yah, especially the blonde," he said nodding to the blonde that was facing away.

"Good deal."

"What are you looking for?" Justin asked after a while when he realized JC was looking around.

"I almost expect to see Julia any minute," he explained.

"Yah I know. When was the last time you saw her?"

"God it’s been what four years now? How about you?"

"Same here," Justin nodded. "Joe, Chris, either of you seen Julia lately?"

"I ran into her about two months ago," Joey nodded.

"It’s been about a year for me but I got an e-mail from her the other day. Why?"

"Oh we both just almost expect for her to show up, ya know?" Justin

explained.

"That’d be a Julia thing to do," Chris nodded.

"Yah," agreed the others.

"How would you like a lap dance, Birthday Boy?" asked a brunette stripper coming up to them.

"Naw, that’s okay," JC shook his head.

"Lia, girl, get over here!" the stripper said turning around. "Maybe you can change his mind."

"Who’s mind?" asked the blonde stripper Tyler had pointed out earlier coming over.

"Birthday Boy," she answered.

"What’s the matter, don’t want a…" started the blonde trailing off when she looked up.

"Julia?!"

"Um you know what, Kim, how’s about you handle ‘im? I need to go check back at home," the blonde said walking off quickly.

"Um okay," the brunette replied watching her go. "Are you sure I can’t help you?"

"Tell us where she went, please," Joey answered.

"Best bet is the pay phone right out the door," she said.

"Thanks," Lance offered as the other four ran out of the room.

"How’s Micah?" they heard the blonde question when they reached the hallway. "What a girl can’t call and ask how her baby is without something being wrong? … You’re right, I’m sorry… I’ll tell you when I get home… Probably in a little while… I know, but I’m gonna duck out early… You’ll still get paid for the whole night, don’t worry about it… Whatever, I’ll be home in a while and I’ll tell you about it… Bye."

When she turned around she saw the five members of *NSYNC standing behind her. "Jesus, don’t you know it’s rude to sneak up on people?" she exclaimed.

"Don’t you know it’s rude to run off without even talking to people who you’ve been friends with for most of your life?" JC retorted.

"Man whatever," she replied trying to push past them. "Will you get out of my way? I need to get home."

"Not until you explain why someone who’s getting a law degree is working as a stripper," Joey replied.

"You all wouldn’t understand and if you don’t get out of my way right now, don’t think I won’t kick your collective asses," she answered.

"Julia," Joey said, grabbing for her as she stormed through them.

"Joey, don’t push me," she answered. "I have to get home."

"Why? What’s so important at home?"

"It’s none of your business, okay?" she yelled before walking away.

==

"Julia, girl, what are you doing home early?" Alyson questioned when she walked into her apartment.

"You would not believe the day I’ve had," Julia sighed, throwing herself on the couch. "Come to Mommy, Micah," she added, holding her arms out to the three year old.

"What happened?" she asked.

"All right ya remember how I told you I ran into Joey Fatone a couple of months ago when I was takin Micah to the doctor?"

"When you told him that you were taking a friend of yours kid in?" Alyson said.

"Yah. Well anyway you know how I was working that party for Keley cause she has that test tomorrow, the party she couldn’t remember who it was for?"

"Yah, what’s that gotta do with Joey?"

"It was for JC Chasez and he was there, so anyway, you know how I basically stopped talking to all them after I got pregnant with Micah and I found out Billiam wasn’t his father?"

"Cause you thought it might be Joey," she nodded. "But then you thought about it and realized that wouldn’t be right because you would’ve already been pregnant when you two go together last."

"Right so anyway they were all up in my business trying to figure out why I was stripping and I guess I freaked, ya know? Cause they were like the last people I wanted to know I was doing that," Julia answered stroking Micah’s hair.

"Sounds like you’ve had a rough day," Alyson sympathized. "What should I tell them if one of them calls?"

"They have the wrong number for all I care," Julia sighed. "I made a fool out of myself, but I doubt they’ll call, not good for their image."

"Whatever girl," Alyson shook her head. "Do you work at the daycare tomorrow?"

"Yah," Julia nodded. "Do you?"

Alyson nodded. "It’s open house."

"Shit, I forgot about that," Julia sighed. "Guess it’s good I came home then, there’s gonna be a ton of people there tomorrow."

==

"Why are we here again?" Justin inquired when they stopped.

"Because I told Kelly I would bring Brianna and check it out and then Bri’s gonna go to the photo shoot with us," Joey answered.

"Well can I hold my baby girl?" Justin asked.

"I already called her," JC replied, getting the four month old out of her seat.

"That’s not fair," Justin pouted.

"Grow up, you two," Joey shook his head. "Lets hurry, we’re supposed to meet Chris and Lance for lunch before the shoot."

"We’re hurrying," Justin and JC said following Joey inside.

"Hello and welcome to Butterfly Gardens," a brunette woman greeted them.

"Hi," Joey offered. "Uh my girlfriend called, Kelly Baldwin."

"Oh of course," the brunette smiled. "Alyson, where’s Julia?" she asked the red head the stood next to her. "I’ve got another group for her to show around."

"Um actually, Julia’s already showing someone around, how about I do it?" she suggested, quickly, looking at the three men that stood there, before whispering something in her ear.

"All right," agreed the brunette.

"Hi, I’m Alyson," the redhead introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you," Joey said. "I’m Joey, that’s JC, Justin, and Brianna," he added.

"Nice to meet all of you," Alyson smiled. "If you’ll follow me, we’ll begin our tour."

"You know a lot about Butterfly Gardens, have you worked here long?" Joey questioned after Alyson had finished showing them around.

"My mother worked here when I was a child so I’ve been here for as long as I can remember," Alyson answered. "It’s really a great daycare."

"It looks like it," Joey nodded. "What do you guys think?"

"I don’t wanna leave Bri here," Justin pouted. "Cause then would I get to see her?"

"It wouldn’t be all the time, fool," JC exclaimed. "It looks like it would be very nice," he added.

"Are you one of the people who would be taking care of Brianna?" Joey asked.

"No I work with the two through five year olds," Alyson shook her head. "Barbara works with the babies though," she said, pointing at a blonde across the room. "I can introduce you if you’d like."

"That’d be great," Joey nodded, following her over.

"Barb, this is Joey, he’s thinking about bring his daughter, Brianna here," Alyson explained. "You’re still working with the babies, aren’t you?"

"Yah, but I’ve got a couple I’m showing around, you should talk to Julia," answered the blonde. "She’s not showing anyone around."

"Oh that’s okay, we can-" Alyson started, trailing off when Julia walked up behind the,

"Julia, we’ve got a father who would like to talk to you," Barbara said her.

"What can I help you with?" asked the blonde. "Go to Aunt Alyson, Micah," she added.

"Hi I’m Joey," he said turning around. "Julia."

"Joey," she said quietly. "JC, Justin," she added noticing them.

"You work here?" Joey said.

"Um yah.. about six months now," she nodded. "You uh wanted to ask me some questions?"

"Is there a certain schedule kept? Like naps, feedings, all that?"

"We usually work that out with how the parents run things at home," Julia answered.

"How many caretakers are there?"

"There’s four of us.

"Are all the caretakers certified?"

"We’ve all taken the required child care classes," Julia nodded. "Barbara and another of the girls also have their master’s degree in child care."

"Mommy," the little boy in Alyson’s arms said, holding his arms out to Julia.

"You have a son?" JC exclaimed, when Julia grabbed the brunette.

"Micah," she nodded.

"How old are you, buddy?" Justin asked, smiling at the little boy.

"Three," Micah answered. "Mommy, it Jussin," he added to Julia.

"Micah’s a big fan of your group," Julia explained to the three men.

"Would you like an autograph, Micah?" Justin asked.

"Please?" he nodded.

"No problem," Justin said.

"So what do you think of Butterfly Gardens?" Julia asked.

"It’s nice, and Alyson did a good job telling us about it but maybe we could get together sometime and you could tell us some more about it?" Joey suggested.

"Maybe.. When?"

"Well when do you go on lunch break?"

"About twenty minutes…"

"We’re supposed to meet up with Chris and Lance in about twenty minutes, would you like to join us?" JC asked.

"To talk about Butterfly Gardens?"

"Among another things," Joey nodded.

"Um yah, all right," Julia said, knowing it wouldn’t be just about the center.

"Great," Joey smiled.

"All right, so where do you wanna meet?"

"The Blue Star, say 11:30?"

"Sounds good. I’ll see you there then," Julia said.

==

"Thanks for dropping us off so that I didn’t have to park," Julia said when Alyson stopped her car in front of the Blue Star.

"It’s not a problem," Alyson waved it off. "So anyway I’ll be back to get you at 12:30 to get you unless you call."

"All right, thanks again," Julia replied. "Tell her bye, baby."

"Bye, Sony," Micah said.

"Bye, Micah," Alyson waved.

"Right on time," Joey greeted when Julia walked into the restaurant, holding Micah.

"I try a little more now to be on time," Julia replied, following Joey to the table.

"I think I’m gonna faint, Julia Cobb was actually on time," JC joked.

"I’m not looking so fashionable so it wouldn’t do me any good to be fashionably late, now would it?" Julia replied, making a face at him.

"Who’s this?" Chris asked, gesturing to Micah. "I don't know for sure, but I don't think you're supposed to take the children with you when you leave the daycare."

"He’s my son," Julia replied, trying to keep a serious face.

"He’s cute, how old is he?" Lance inquired.

"Three," Julia answered. "Can you say ‘hi’, Micah?" she asked her son, who buried his face in her neck. "He’s usually not so shy."

"So would it be rude to ask you about last night since we’re here to talk about Butterfly Gardens?" Joey questioned after they’d spent a while talking about the daycare.

"Depends, what do you wanna know about it?" Julia replied, watching Micah.

"Uh how about what were you doing?"

"Okay after I had Micah the only job I could really get that would allow me to still go to school and be with Micah was stripping…"

"But you’ve got a job at Butterfly Gardens."

"I’ve only worked there a couple of months," Julia answered. "Anyway a friend of mine asked me to fill in for her and I couldn’t say no cause I needed the money to get Micah some new clothes."

"If you needed money why didn’t you ask Micah’s father?"

"Because the guy I thought was Micah’s father, isn’t, and I don’t know who his real father is," Julia replied. "Now see this is why I left last night, you all don’t understand what it’s like to not have money for everything you need. You’ve had it too long."

"This coming from the girl whose parents bought her everything," Chris muttered.

"Do your parents know what you were doing?" JC asked, casting Chris a disappointed look.

"They took care of Micah for me when I was out," Julia answered. "I don’t see why you guys care anyway. Besides the fact that I’ve barely talked to you guys in the last four years, what makes it okay for other women to strip, but not me?"

"Because it’s different, you’re different," Joey replied.

"What, you don’t think all those other girls are somebody’s friend, daughter, sister, or whatever?"

"I can’t explain it, okay?" Joey sighed. "You’re just the last person I ever expected to see doing that."

"Money’s money and it’s not like I was sleeping with the guys or anything," Julia answered. "Can we please drop it now? Last night was the first time I stripped in months."

====

"Hello?" Julia said answering her phone. "Micah, don’t put colors in your mouth," she added to her son.

"Umm hi, is this Julia?" came a guy’s voice.

"Yes it is, may I ask who’s speaking?" she replied, grabbing Micah’s colors away from him. "I told you not to put them in your mouth, so now you can’t have them," she told him when he began to pout.

"Julia, hi, this is JC Chasez…?" answered the guy on the phone.

"JC? Wow, I can honestly say you were the last person I expected to hear from," Julia said.

"I wanted to apologize to you for what a jerk Chris was being yesterday," JC explained.

"Wasn’t your fault," Julia answered.

"I know but I felt bad, you two used to be good friends."

"People change," Julia replied. "Micah, stop that, or you won’t get your colors back for a week," she told her son who was still pouting.

"I guess so…"

"All right if you’re anything like the JC I used to know you didn't call just to apologize for Chris, so out with it," Julia said.

"I dunno really why I called, I guess to see how you were," JC answered.

"I’m fine, Josh," Julia answered. "How about yourself?"

"Can’t complain."

"This still doesn’t seem like what you called for."

"I was wondering if you weren’t busy if you’d like to do something," he finally confessed. "Micah too, of course," he added.

"Well I was getting ready to make dinner… You could join us if you don’t mind grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup," Julia offered.

"I’ve never minded it before," JC replied.

"All right, great… Um so how about you come over in thirty minutes?"

"I’ll be there," JC smiled and listened as Julia gave him directions to her apartment.

==

"So you don’t know who Micah’s father is?" JC asked, after Julia had finished putting Micah to bed.

Julia shook her head. "Originally I had thought it was this guy I was dating in Europe, who I broke up with around the time I got pregnant, but we did blood tests when Micah was born and he wasn’t. Then for a brief moment I thought maybe it could be Joey, but I was already pregnant the last time him and I got together, which was like two months after Billiam and I broke up. So I don’t really have any clue who it could be."

"When’d you and Billiam break up?" JC asked.

"I don’t remember exactly, just that we’d already broken up when I came back to the US for your birthday."

"My birthday?" JC said, looking at her.

"Your twenty-first…?"

"I remember," JC nodded, seeming lost in thought. "When’d you get pregnant?"

"I gave birth to Micah in May so what August?" Julia shrugged. "Why?"

"Hmm? Oh no reason," he replied after a moment.

"He looks so much like you," JC said, when Julia returned from checking on Micah. "Only with brown hair."

"That’s what people say," Julia replied. "I don’t really know if he looks like me or it’s just there’s no one else to compare him to."

"It’s not that," JC shook his head. "He’s just your eyes, nose, your facial expressions, even the energy that radiates off you is the same."

"Thanks, I think," Julia replied. "I wanna thank you for coming over tonight, that was really cool of you. Micah’s such a huge fan of you guys and getting to spend time with you really means a lot to him."

"It’s no problem. Micah’s a great kid and I’ve always enjoyed spending time with you."

"Me too," Julia smiled.

"Promise me it won’t be so long in between visits?"

"It’s not up to me, Jace, you’re the one that’s all over the map," Julia replied.

"Well then I’ll have to make sure it’s not so long," he stated.

"All right."

"So how about you fill me in on the last three-four years of your life?" JC suggested after a moment.

"Starting when?"

"Um after my twenty-first birthday?" he suggested.

"I’ll give you the cliff notes," Julia replied, and began to fill JC in what had happened in her life since they saw each other last.

"So lemme get this straight, you switched to entertainment law because of what we went through?" JC cut in.

"Yah well as a former dreamer of stardom I don’t want people to get fucked over like you all did," Julia shrugged.

"Whatever happened with that?"

"With what?"

"Your acting/singing?"

"Well when I got pregnant with Micah I put it on hold and I guess I just haven’t really had the drive to try again," she replied.

"None at all?"

"Well I’ve done a few nonprofit plays at school but nothing to get excited about," she answered. "I’ve met some agents and managers since I switched to entertainment law and they’ve passed me on some offers but most of them involve leaving Orlando and with Micah and school I couldn’t just up a leave, ya know?"

"I guess so but you graduated in May, didn’t you? What’s keeping you from going now?"

"Fear of failure," Julia answered truthfully. "I’m afraid to find out I’m not as good as I think I am."

"You are as good as you think you are, Ju," JC said.

"Thanks," she smiled. "Maybe I’ll take one of the leads sometime."

"No harm in trying."