JC slammed his hand down on the alarm clock so the annoying beeping sound would go away and never come back. He squinted at the clock and groaned in agony. "Whhhyyy!?" he cried sleepily as he rolled back over on his side. The figure sleeping next to him moved under the sheets, so he smiled softly as he reached out for her. His hand snaked around her naked waist and sprawled his fingers over her stomach as he pushed her against his bare chest.
"You're going to be late," she mumbled.
"Yeah, yeah, what else is knew," he breathed into her hair as he nuzzled his way to her neck and kissed it softly.
God, he loved being in New York. It meant being with Atlanta. His girlfriend of four months owned a small loft uptown and she invited him to stay with her the first time him and the guys were in town for a concert. He stayed with her ever since. Sure as hell beat the hard mattresses at the hotel.
"What time do you have to be there," Atlanta said as she turned towards him and snuggled up to his warmth.
"Seven," he mumbled as his arms developed her. "What time is your meeting?"
"Not until nine," she said as she closed her eyes and let out a tired sigh. "But I need to get there early so I can try to beat the traffic."
"Where's your meeting?"
"World Trade Center."
She looked up at him. "Why in the hell are you guys recording so damn early??"
JC groaned and buried his face in the pillow. "I don't know," he muffled. He lifted his head and rested his cheek back on the pillow. "Ask the King of Pop since he insisted it."
Atlanta rolled her eyes. "Man, the plastic surgeries must have fried his brain."
JC busted out laughing and pulled her close to him. "Only YOU Atty can make me laugh at an ungodly hour."
"I do what I can," she giggled as wrapped her arm around his waist.
"Atty?" he asked softly as he propped his head on his hand and gazed down at her.
She looked up at his blue crystal eyes and saw the love that shown from them. However, he had not yet said those three magical words to her. She dreamed of the moment she would hear those words and wondered if it was going to be now. "Yes?" she asked shakily.
"I...." He took a deep breath as he reached up and ran his fingers through her light brown hair.
Atlanta noticed the nervousness in his voice. "Sweetie, what is it?" she asked with concern as she took his hand and held it against her cheek.
He let out a shaky breath as she began to kiss each finger one by one. He wanted to say it. He wanted to say it so badly, but something was holding him back. He wasn't scared. At least he didn't think he was, but whenever he opened his mouth to say it, he froze. "It's nothing," he finally said with a soft smile.
Atlanta tried to hide her disappointment. "Oh."
JC leaned down and kissed her softly, because he didn't know what else to say. He felt her hand rest against the side of his rough cheek and let out a sigh before slipping his tongue slowly past her lips. He loved kissing her. Tasting her. He could never get enough of her full kissable lips. He deepened the kiss over and over as he shifted over her. He could feel the vibration of her moan as he let all of his body weight down on her; pressing her against the mattress. Their kisses were slow and lazy, which matched their tiredness from being up before dawn. JC nibbled at her lips softly, before trailing wet kisses down her neck.
"JC," she whispered and shuddered when she felt his tongue touch her skin. "It's late."
He froze and then leaned up to give her a blunt look. "You're kidding, right?"
She chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You know what I mean."
"Uh huh," he said but then buried his face in her neck and continued to brand her skin with his teeth and tongue.
"What....I mean is...you need to get....going," she managed to say and then let out a soft groan of defeat when his lips traveled farther down her body. "Did you not get enough last night?"
JC grinned at her. "Baby, I can never get enough of you," he said and then gave her a wink before pulling the comforter over his head before continuing to his task.
Atty laughed when he disappeared under the sheets, but as soon as she felt his hot breath and warm hands on her skin, her laugher died. "Oh God," she whispered and then collapsed her head on the pillow and decided to quit arguing and just go with the flow.
Atlanta giggled happily as she threw back her covers. If she knew making love to her boyfriend while the sun came up made her so damn giddy she would have done it along time ago. She walked to the bathroom door, where JC had his shower going and opened it up just wide enough to shake her hand through and grab her silk robe that was hanging on the other side.
She yawned softly as she put on her robe while making her way down stairs. She lifted her rustled hair out of the collar before tightening the robe. She quickly put on a fresh pot of coffee for herself and JC, before fishing out a tin can of sweet rolls. She preheated the oven and then banged the cool can on the counter until it popped open, then quickly pulled out a pan and spread the rolls out before plopping it in the oven.
Atty glanced at the clock to see that it was a little after six and the shower was still going. She rolled her eyes. "Not again," she said as she made her way back to her room and to her bathroom. She walked up to the shower and peaked in to make sure her assumptions were correct. A sigh escaped her as she shook her head hopelessly when she saw JC sound asleep leaning against the shower wall. "At least he rinsed the shampoo out this time." Last time he fell asleep he still had shampoo in his hair.
"I shouldn't do this but...."
She quickly whipped the curtain back. "WAKE UP!"
"Whoa shit!" he cursed as his body flinched awake. It was so sudden, he lost his footing and slipped, but luckily he caught his footing before he fell on his naked ass.
At this point Atlanta was laughing so hard she couldn't breath. "That...that, was classic."
JC pushed his wet hair out of his eyes and scowled at her. "That was NOT funny!"
"Oh, it sure as hell was," she breathed as she caught her breath. "Oh man, if only you fell, that would have been even better. Maybe next time."
"Why you little...." He reached out and grabbed her silk covered arm and yanked her in.
"JC!!" She shrieked as she tumbled into the tub. "I'm still dres.....Ahhh!"
JC laughed as he yanked her under the hot spray. "Yeah, not so funny now huh?"
Atty maneuvered out of his arms and glared at his grinning face. "You little shit."
"Mmm, yeah keep talkin," he said playfully as he yanked her against him. "Your hostility turns me on."
"Oh shut up," she said but just laughed as pushed him away. "I'm getting out."
Before she could even leave, JC yanked her back. "You aren't going anywhere, babe," he told her sternly and then flung the curtain back in place.
7:10 a.m
"Fuck, I am so late," JC cursed as he flew into the den. He sat on the couch and quickly put on his running shoes. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," he chanted as he tied his shoes.
Atlanta just smiled softly as she leaned against the kitchen counter while casually sipping his coffee. "Not my fault you wanted to go another round in the shower."
JC looked up at her. "Shuddup," he said with a sly grin, before standing up. "Okay now where's my wallet?"
Atty shrugged. "Beats me, could be anywhere."
"Dammit," he groaned as he started to throw pillows and lift cushions to find his wallet. "Where the hell is it?"
"Just to let you know...you're gonna clean this mess when you get back."
"Yeah, yeah, fine, fine," he said aimlessly as he got on his hands and knees and looked under the couch. "Ah-hah!" He fished it out. "There you are you little bugger." He quickly got up and tucked it in his back pocket as he walked towards Atlanta.
"Coffee to go?" Atty asked as she held up the thermos.
"Mmm," he moaned as he closed his eyes and smelled the aroma of coffee beans. "You are an angel."
"I know," she said with a wink. "Here's a sweet roll you can munch on your way there."
"I changed my mind," he said as he took it and then kissed her quickly. "You are a GOD SENT!"
She smirked. "I know this too." She then playfully patted his butt. "Now get...you're late enough as it is."
"Ugh, don't remind me," he said and then kissed her one more time. "Lunch maybe?"
"Sure, I'll be done with my meeting way before lunch time," she said as she walked him tot he door and opened the door for him.
"Cool, I'll call you on our break." He kissed her again. "Good luck at the meeting. Knock �em dead."
"I will."
He kissed her one last time and felt this sudden urge to linger. He softened the kiss as he nibbled at her lips, before finally making himself pull away. "Later baby," he said softly.
"Bye, sweetie."
He gave her a wink and a smile before trotting down the stone steps whistling happily as he made his way across the street. He glanced at his watch and his eyes bugged out. "Fuck," he cursed before breaking out into a sprint. "They're gonna have my head!"
7:25 a.m
JC busted through the doors of the studio. "I'm here, I'm here," he said out of breath as he bent over while resting his hands on his knees.
The rest of the guys were just hanging out on the couches with a huge grin on their faces. JC looked up at them and gave them a puzzled look. "Why are you smiling? Where's Michael? I need to apologize."
"No, you don't," Justin said with a chuckle.
JC leaned up with a tired sigh as he put his hands on his hips, still out of breath. "Yeah, I do...I'm like.." He looked at his watch. "Twenty-five minutes late."
Joey laughed as he got up and walked to him. "Actually, C...you're five minutes early," he said as he put a hand on his back.
"What??"
Everyone laughed. "I told you it would work," Lance said as he leaned back in his seat. "Works like a charm."
JC let out a frustrating groan. "Could someone PLEASE tell me what the hell is going on?"
Chris grinned. "Michael said to be here at 7:30."
"What?" he asked and then looked at Justin. "YOU told me 7:00."
"Right," he said with a laugh. "Because we know how you are when you're with Atty, so Lance said we should tell you to be here thirty minutes earlier so you would be on time. And it worked."
JC scowled. "You guys are ass holes."
Just then Michael walked into everyone laughing and smiled. "Good, you guys are all here on time." He looked at Lance. "I take it your planned worked?"
He chuckled. "Like a charm."
"Ya'll suck," JC pouted as he fell on the couch next to Justin.
"Ya'll hang tight for a minute," Michael said in his quiet toned voice. "I'll be back soon and we'll get started."
"So how's Atty doing?" Justin asked once he left.
He smiled brightly. "Perfect. Wonderful. Amazing."
"So she's doing okay huh?" Chris said with a teasing smile.
"Have you told her yet?"
JC's smile dropped and let out a sigh. "No."
"Idiot." Joey muttered.
"Shut it," he said as he eyed him. He then sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I almost did this morning but....I dunno I froze."
"Don't worry, it'll come out in due time," Lance assured him. "It will just come out without you even thinking about it. You'll see."
"Yeah," he said shakily. "I got plenty of time right?"
"Right," they said.
9:45 am
"JC, wake up."
JC felt someone shaking him as he slowly drifted out of his dead sleep. "Leave me alone," he mumbled as he tried to shake the person off. They had been recording all morning and they finally had a break, so JC crashed on the couch to rejuvenate.
"JC, something happened...wake up."
JC recognized Joey's voice as he rolled over on his back. He opened his eyes and blinked up at him. "Huh?" He noticed the worried look he was giving him. "What's the matter?"
Joey sighed and sat next to him while JC sat up. "JC, there's been an attack. A terrorist attack."
His eyes widened. "What? Where?"
"Here. In New York. Did you not hear it? Kind of sounded like thunder?"
JC shook his head in confusion. "I was out cold. Joey...what happened?"
"Which tower did Atty have her meeting in?" Joey asked.
JC's heart dropped at the sound of her name. "What? Why? I don't know, she never told me."
Joey swallowed hard at the lump in his throat. "JC....terrorists had taken over a plane and deliberately crashed it into the World Trade Center."
"Oh my god," JC whispered as his words hit him. "This can't be happening."
"We're watching the news now in the other room," Joey told him. "Why don't you come see."
He couldn't speak so he just nodded as Joey helped him up. "Don't worry, I'm sure she's fine JC," he heard him say as they walked down the hall. "It was just one tower and it hasn't collapsed."
"If anything happens to her, I...." He was cut off when his cell phone started ringing in his back pocket. JC quickly pulled it out, hoping it would be her. "Atty?"
"JC!" she cried.
"Oh my God, you're okay," JC said as he walked away from Joey and held his other hand over his ear so he could hear.
"I'm fine, I'm in Tower two," she said shakily.
"Get out. Atty you have to get out of there."
"I know, I'm heading out right now as we speak," she told him. "I can barely he...."
"Atty, can you hear me? You're breaking up."
"JC? You still there, I can barely hear you..."
"Atty, I love you," he cried. "Please, get out...I love you." JC heard her try to say something and but couldn't make it out. "Atty? Can you hear me?" JC slowly pulled the phone away from his ear and shut his eyes as he felt the tears start to come. "I lost her."
Joey walked over to him and put an arm around him. "But she's alive, C. She'll get out."
"Joey! JC!" Justin cried as he came through the doors from the room everyone was staring at. "Tower two just got hit."
JC's heart went up to his throat. "Oh God," he cried as he felt his legs give out and fell to his knees. He hunched over as he wept, rocking himself as the tears started to fall uncontrollably. "Please God, make her be all right....please."
Joey and Justin stood there watching their friend in pain, not knowing what to do. Finally Joey, knelt down and put his arms around him. "JC, come on," he said quietly. "Let's get you off this floor."
JC didn't object when Joey pulled him up to his feet. He was in too much shock. He couldn't lose her. Not now. Not ever. He didn't notice Justin coming up on his other side, putting a comforting hand on his back. He didn't notice going through the door which led to where everyone was. Everything was a blur. "Here sit," he heard someone say, but wasn't paying attention enough to know who said it.
JC's eyes slowly traveled up to the TV and he let out a soft gasp. "God," he croaked when he saw both of the towers being engulfed with smoke and flames. "How could someone do this?"
"I don't know," Lance said as he ran his fingers through his hair. "But whoever it is, will pay for this."
Joey shut his cell phone shut. "You guys that was Johnny. He wants us out of NY."
"How? We can't fly." Justin pointed out
"I'm not leaving without Atty," JC said softly.
Joey sighed. "He's setting up a caravan to drive us back to Orlando." Joey looked at his watch. "We leave in an hour."
"I'm not going," JC said quietly. "Not until I...I....know."
"Oh, God," Chris exclaimed when he watched Tower 1 begin to fall.
"Fuck," Justin muttered when he saw the Tower collapse into a cloud of smoke.
JC shook his head as he stood up. "I'm going down there."
"JC, are you nuts," Justin said as he stood up as well. "You can't, it could be dangerous."
"I have to find her, J," JC said as he ran out the door.
Justin was right on his heels. "Jayce, Jayce, wait, DAMMIT STOP."
JC spun around towards him. "I just can't sit in there and watch that without doing something. I have to find her, J..."
"I know, I know," Justin said and then cupped the back of his neck and looked sternly in his eyes. "Go find her....don't come back without her, you hear me?"
JC nodded. "I...I won't. I promise."
Justin nodded. "We'll be waiting at the hotel."
JC sniffed. "I'll be....I mean, we'll be there."
"Good, be safe."
JC gave him a quick hug. "I will," he said and then ran towards the exit of the studio.
JC ran through the crowded frantic street, dodging people left and right. Most of them were running as far away from the building as they could, but JC was anxious to get closer. He could smell the smoke and knew he was getting closer. He quickly turned the corner, nearly running into someone, but quickly moved out of the persons way. There it was. The only tower left standing. It was a good five blocks away from him, but he could see it so clearly. The fire and smoke blazing from its peak put him almost in a trance, but when he slowly began realizing the tower falling he shook out of his daze. "No," he whispered when he saw the tower start to fall. "NO!"
He quickly ran down the street as fast as his feet could carry him. The Tower was a few blocks over so he turned another corner, heading for the right street. When he turned the corner, he stopped short. "Holy shit," he cursed when he saw rubble and smoke headed his way. He ran back behind the corner and crouched down against the wall, where other people were as well. He looked up to see smoke pass him, waiting patiently before he knew it was safe for him to go on. When he noticed policemen and residentials running back out to the street, he figured it was safe and continued on towards the tower.
The closer he got, the more thick the smoke and dust was. He kept coughing and waving it away from his mouth, because every time he breathed it in, it irritated his throat. "Dammit, Atty, where are you," he said out loud. "I know you are alive. You have to be."
He saw a firemen standing near the collapsed building talking on a walkie-talkie, so he ran up to him, figuring he could help. "Sir, sir," he said frantically. "Where are the survivors?"
He sighed. "Kid, I can't help you right now. People are running everywhere, I'm sorry."
"But how can I know if she...."
"Try the local stores and shops around here, that�s where a lot of people are," he said. "That's the best I can do."
Before JC could say anything else, the firemen ran off when he saw one of his men being pulled out of the rubble. JC felt the tears start to form as he looked frantically around his surroundings. He saw so many people just like him. Looking; searching for their loved one. He pulled out his cell phone to try to call her again, but just like last time he got a busy signal.
"Hey, hey....I know you."
JC turned to the voice and groaned when he saw a man with a microphone and a camera tagging along with him. "No you don't," he mumbled as he turned around.
"You're the kid from that group," he said and then shoved the microphone in his face.
JC looked at the microphone and then at him, silently telling him what the hell he wanted him to say. "Are you looking for someone? Who? Family? A loved one?" the guy said.
"Look, I really don't need this right now," he said, his voice cracked with emotions.
"Is it one of your bandmates? That Justin kid maybe? Or how bout..."
"My girlfriend!" he finally shouted. "I'm looking for my damn girlfriend!"
"Do you mind if we follow you around?"
"Would it matter if I said no anyway?!" JC snapped as he turned around. When the reporter stood there silent JC sighed. "Didn't think so." He then turned away from them, to continued his search for Atty. He cursed silently when the camera stayed with him. Word obviously got around, because one camera turned to two, and two turned to three. He didn't need this shit, all he wanted was to find Atty.
JC looked at his watch to see it had been forty-five minutes since he left the studio. He sat down on the curb and put his hands in his head. "She didn't make it," he heard one of the reporters say softly. "Let's back off a little."
JC started to cry softly as he felt the cameras and the press back away. 'She didn't make it'. The man's voice echoed over and over in his head. 'She didn't make it'. And what made him cry even harder was the fact that he was starting to believe it. 'She didn't make it'.
He started to think of all the moments he had spent with her. He thought of the first moment he laid eyes on her. He was trying to get away from a group of fans here in New York and he ran into a cafe and plopped down at her table. He didn't look at her right away. Just mumbled a quick sorry to her and kept his head down while the fans ran past him. He had finally looked up at the confused woman and his heart had leapt in his throat.
He had never believed in love at first site until that moment. He truly was in a trance. He had bought her a cup of coffee and they had began talking. She had shyly admitted she was a small fan, and that made him smile. The girl he loved couldn't possibly hate his music. She could tell he was still nervous, because fans would pass every once in awhile, still looking for him, so she invited him up to his loft. It was right next door to the cafe. He happily excepted and reached out for her hand. She had smiled and gripped it lightly and he knew right then that his life would never be the same.
He remembered the time he first kissed her. It was the following night. He had asked her out as he was leaving her loft, since him and the guys were going to be in NY all week. She happily excepted and he took her out to dinner and then for a walk in Central Park. They had stopped on the middle of the bridge to give themselves a rest and enjoy the view. He remembered looking down at her. She had a smile on her face and the moon was shining down on her. She looked too inviting to pull away, so he had bent down and gently touched his lips with hers. God, they were so soft, so addicting. He knew he wanted her to work out the moment he pulled her in his arms. He wanted HER.
He remembered the first time they made love. A month later when she came to visit him on tour. He was her first. The fact that she chose him...loved him....TRUSTED him to take her virginity made him love her even more. She was so shy and so innocent, but so willing to open up for him. He remembered everything about that night. And knew it was only going to get better. He remembered how she whispered his name while he made love to her.
"JC..."
He shut his eyes tight. He could almost hear her now, but he knew it was impossible. She didn't make it.
"JC.."
There it was again. God, stop torturing me like this, he thought as he buried his fingers in her hair and slightly looked up, his vision blurred from his eyes. He squinted when he saw someone moving through the crowds.
"JC!!"
"What the," he croaked as he wiped away the tears to clear his vision.
"JC!!"
He wiped the tears away again, not believing what he saw. He blinked. His heart went up to his throat and he let out a gasp. "Atty?" he whispered.
He saw her emerge from the crowd, limping towards him. Her face and clothes were covered in dust and tearful eyes slammed into his. "Atty!" he cried as he jumped up from the curb and ran to her. "Please...move, excuse me," he said as he tried to make his way through the people.
"JC!" she cried when she saw him getting closer to him.
"Oh god," he cried when he finally got to her. He wrapped his arms around her and yanked her up against him. "God, Atty, you're okay. Thank God you're okay."
"I'm fine," she cried as her feet dangled from the ground. She clinched tighter to him and buried her face in his neck. "I was so scared."
"I was too, baby," he cried as he put her down, but didn't pull away from her. "God, I thought I lost you."
"Never," she mumbled into his chest. "Never."
"I love you, Atlanta," he said as he leaned back to cup his face softly. "I was so scared I would never get to tell you how much I love you."
"I know, baby," she said with a smile. "I heard you over the phone." She reached up and hugged him tight. "I love you too, JC. So much. Me hearing you say those words to me is what got me out. I knew I could not leave this world without telling you I love you."
He pulled away and looked down at her. "Don't ever scare me like that again, you hear me?"
She managed to cry out a laugh as she wiped away her tears. "I won't."
"Good," he said and then leaned down and kissed her like he never kissed her before. He didn't care about all the people and press around them, all he could focus on was Atty and her being in his arms.
"Look, he found her!" a reporter yelled and was about to run after them but a hand stopped him.
The man looked over at another reporter. "What are you...."
"Leave them."
"Are you kidding, this is a great story?"
"It's not a damn story, idiot. It's life. Let them be."
JC finally leaned back from the kiss he never thought he'd be able to do again and looked down at her. He cupped her face and smiled. "Come on, let�s get you out of here."
"Okay," she said with a smile.
"The caravan for Orlando is leaving in ten minutes, but let�s get you home so you can grab your stuff and take a shower."
"A shower sounds heavenly."
He smiled as he grabbed her hand. "Lets go."
11:20 a.m
"Justin, we need to get going," Lonnie said frantically. "Is everyone packed up?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I even loaded JC's stuff," he said sadly. "We just need him and he's bringing Atty back."
Lonnie shook his head. "J, let�s think rationally here. JC would have found her by now."
"Well, we can't just leave JC here, can we?!" he snapped at him and then stalked over to Joey who was in charge of getting a hold of JC. "How's it going Joe?"
"Still busy," he mumbled. "But I'll keep trying."
Justin felt a hand and turned to see Britney giving him a sad look. "It doesn't look good, baby."
Justin wanted to cry for his friend as he pulled his girlfriend in his arm. "Don't you ever die on me, you hear me?" he asked as he tightened his arms around me.
"I won't, sweetie," she said as she comforted him, knowing he was hurting for JC. It broke her heart to see him like this. She knew how close he was to JC. If JC only knew how much Justin looked up to him.
"Justin?"
He pulled away from Britney and looked at Lonnie. "Yeah?"
"You guys need to go ahead and hit the road," he told him. "I'll stay behind and wait for JC."
Justin shook his head. "I'm not leaving him," he said firmly. "The rest of you guys can go, but I'm staying."
"Yeah, right," Lance said as he looked at Justin as if he were smoking crack. "I'm not moving an inch with out C."
"Here, here," Chris said as packed the kennel that Busta was in at the back of the van. "I mean, what do you take us for, Lon? Idiots?"
"Yes," Lonnie said with a sigh. "And stubborn."
Joey managed a smile. "Good, for a second there I thought you forgot who you were talking to."
"We need to be there for him," Justin said as he pulled Britney at his side. "Especially if he comes back alone. He's going to need all of us."
"I can't believe this," Lance mumbled. "They were perfect. I thought they would last forever."
"I'm gonna miss her," Chris said as he sniffed. "She always put us in a good mood."
"Yeah, I'm gonna miss her too," Joey said. "I mean, who else is going to tease me and flirt with me the way, Atty does?"
"You can't get rid of me that easily, sexy."
Everyone gasped and turned around to see JC and Atty beaming at them.
"ATTY!!"
"Whoa," she laughed as they all swarmed around her, arms and all.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it!" Justin said as he hugged her. "You gave us a heart attack."
She managed a laugh. "You guys, did you honestly think I would leave you? I mean, who would want to leave such a great group of friends."
"Attsy-Wattsy, I love you!" Chris joked as he picked her up and twirled her around.
She laughed. "I love you, too, you weirdo."
"Okay, guys, lets get in the suburban now, okay?" Lonnie said with a smile on his face. "We got a long drive ahead of us.�
They all separated into two suburban, Justin, Britney, JC and Atty were in one, and the rest of the guys were in the other. JC was still lingering outside the suburban, packing up last minute things. "Hey, C?"
"Yeah?" he said as he turned to Justin.
"I'm glad you found her," he said and then smiled at him before bringing his brother in a manly hug.
JC patted his back. "Me too, man. I thought I lost her." He leaned back and shoved his hands in his pockets. "I was sitting there on the curb, after searching what seemed like forever, thinking about her. And then all of the sudden there she was. It was a miracle."
He smiled. "Well, now you get to sit next to your miracle for 16 hours in a suburban."
JC smiled. "That sounds like 16 hours of bliss."
10:30 p.m
"JC, JC," Justin said as he leaned over the back of his seat and nudged him awake.
"Hmm?" he murmured as he slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head off the back of his seat.
"We're here."
JC squinted up at him. "What time is it?"
"10:30."
JC blinked. "Are you kidding? We got here in ten hours??"
"Thanks to Doug," Justin laughed as he tilted his head towards the driver.
"Damn," he mumbled and then looked down at Atty who was still sound asleep. "She's zonked."
"Yeah, Brit's still asleep, too."
He pulled back a strand of her hair. "I've never felt so lucky."
Justin just gave him a sympathetic smile. "I know, man." He then cleared his throat. "Listen, Johnny called while you were asleep. He made an announcement on the site about our safely. He decided the best thing to do was to lie and say none of us were in New York. That way, the fans won't flip."
He yawned. "Good idea. Good thing no one knew we were there." He looked down at Atty. "I'm going to get this miracle to bed now. Would you mind helping me with our stuff?"
"Not at all."
JC had to wake up Atty as they made their way out of the suburban, but as soon as he had her cradled in his arms, she fell fast asleep again. Justin dropped their things just inside JC's door and told him a quick good bye before heading off. JC headed straight for his bedroom, anxious to get her safe in his warm bed. Nothing could happen to her now. She was with him. She was safe.
He undressed her careful not to wake her up, until she was just in her sweatshirt and underwear. He pulled the covers down and tucked her long legs in before pulling the down comforter over her. She let out a tired moan as she shifted until she got comfortable. His heart tugged at the site of her and he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I love you, baby."
He decided a quick shower would do him some good, since he didn't have time for one this morning when he took Atty back home. He still felt dirty from the dust and rubble that surrounded him. After the shower he quickly dried off, before pulling on a pair of pajama pants and a plain white shirt. He stood at the foot of his bed and stared at her sleeping form. She was still in the same position from when he left her.
He felt his breathing start to quicken when he thought of how close he had come to losing her. His chest was falling rapidly and he had to get some air. He walked to his balcony and stepped out, gripping the rails until his knuckles turned white. His head swooped down, causing strands of hair to fall forward from his brow. He closed his eyes tight and he felt his shoulders start to shake. He loved her more than he ever thought possible. And he had almost lost it. The only thing that made sense to him was Atlanta. She was his rock. She was the reason he got out of bed every day. It use to be Music, but now she was the reason he wanted to go on living. If she had died today, he didn't think he could have. He was afraid of what he might have done if she didn't make it.
He flinched and spun around when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. "Atty," he croaked as he wiped his tears away. "I thought you were asleep."
She looked up at him with sorrow in her eyes. "Oh sweetie, don't cry," she said as reached up and cupped his face, wiping the tears with the pads of her thumb. "I'm fine. I'm right here."
He reached up and grabbed her wrists and rested his forehead against hers. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
"You don't have to wonder," she whispered and then took him in her arms. "I'm here with you now. That's all that matters."
He leaned down and buried his face against her neck, as he continued to sob quietly. She rubbed her hands up and down his back as he shook against her. "It's okay," she whispered as she rocked him. "It's okay." She held him like that and continued to rock him as he let the tears he had been holding back all day. The tears that needed to be released. She noticed him trying hard to control himself, but his breathing was still shaky.
She leaned back and kissed his rough cheek, wiping away a tear with her lips. He placed his hands on her hips as he slowly began to compose himself. She kissed the corner of his mouth and then he leaned down and nuzzled her lips with his. He felt her circle his arms around his neck, so he deepened the kiss, prying his tongue into her mouth. He pulled her tight against him as he backed away until he sat down on one of the balcony chairs. She straddled his lap as they continued to kiss, both enjoying the feel of being in each others arms.
"JC," she sighed as he started to run her mouth down her neck. "Make love to me."
JC shut his eyes and bit his lip as he concentrated on the feel of her mouth and tongue branding his neck. "Anything you say, baby," he whispered when he felt her hands began to pull up his shirt. He leaned up a little so his shirt could be rid of him. He looked up at her and cupped the sides of her face with his hands. "I love you, Atlanta."
She smiled. "I love you, too, Josh," she said.
They then both leaned in for a kiss they would share for many more years to come.