Author: Elizabeth
Category: JC/Lance, Joey/Justin but totally later in the story.
Summary: This is AU but they become a band later. Lance�s home caught on fire when he was 12 and his family died. He packed up what little he had left and ran away before social services could get him. On the streets, he meets 10 year old Justin, then 20 year old Chris, 14 year old Joey and 15 year old JC. Soon, these five guys depend on each other and later discover love and a bond that will last forever.
AN: For the person who askedJ Yes, Lance and Justin are Preteens. Justin is 10 and Lance is 12. Joey and JC are teens and Chris is an adult. And it�ll be slash when Lance is 19 and Justin is 17 because they�ll be wondering about their sexuality.
~*~
�Do you have any relation to the patient?� The doctor asked Johnnie and Chris.
�I�m his God father. He�s his brother.�
Chris looked at him then at the doctor.
�He has severe stomach ulcers. We need to do surgery on him right away. We just need you to sign here.�
When the doctor had everything he needed, the boys said good-bye to Joey as he went to surgery.
�It�ll be okay, Joe, you�ll be okay.� Justin said holding his hand tightly and finally letting go. Lance wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
Chris bit his lip and walked over to Johnnie. �Thank you. Thank you for what you did. He was dying and I didn�t even know it. I went to college, I knew what was wrong but I didn�t see it.�
�Hey now. It�s all right. He�s going to be fine.�
Chris nodded. �Why did you walk up to us?�
�Why don�t I tell you when he�s out of surgery?�
Chris gulped and nodded, scared for his friend.
Two hours later, the doctor walked out and smiled.
�The operation was a success. He�ll be just fine.�
�Can we see him?� JC asked in fear.
�Sure. You may all go.�
�Is he awake?�
�He�s responding, but he isn�t awake just yet.�
They all sighed and went to Joey�s room. Justin and JC rushed to his left side and Chris and Lance on the other. Justin took Joey�s hand and held it tightly. Joey opened his eyes and smiled.
�Hey.�
�Don�t you ever scare us like that again!� Lance said hugging him tightly.
�I�m sorry. I didn�t know, honestly.�
�It�s okay, as long as you�re okay.� Justin said softly.
Joey smiled at him then noticed Johnnie. �Hey, who�s he?�
�Johnnie Wright.� JC said.
Joey�s eyes widened. �The Johnny Wright?�
Johnnie chuckled. �Yes, that is me.�
�Huh?� Justin asked.
�Guys, he�s a manager for a record company. He manages the Backstreet Boys.�
�Really? Wow.� Lance nodded. �Nice to meet you, Mr. Wright.�
�Please, please, call me Johnny.�
�Okay, Johnny.� Lance smiled.
�Okay, boys, I was thinking. You guys have great voices. I haven�t heard the whole thing but I like how it sounds. How would you like to make a record? You guys could be huge.�
All the guys� jaws dropped and their eyes lit up.
�Oh my gosh, that would be incredible!� Justin said happily.
�Wow, I�d�wow, I�d love that!� Chris said in shock.
�Wow. Johnny, we�ve written our own songs and we�ve always wanted music to them! I�d�that sounds great.� JC said.
�I�I�yeah, what he said.� Lance said pointing at Justin.
�I�I�I don�t know what to say.� Joey said sitting up.
Johnny smiled then he looked into their eyes. His eyes widened. Justin frowned then realized what was up.
�You recognize us, don�t you?� Joey asked catching on.
Johnny looked into their faces then when he caught JC�s face, he looked scared. His heart seemed to be breaking.
�Justin Timberlake?�
Justin nodded.
�James Bass?�
�It�s Lance.�
�Josh Chasez.�
�JC.� JC said softly.
�Chris Kirkpatrick.�
Chris nodded numbly.
�Joseph Fatone Jr.�
Joey nodded. �I guess our dream�s been shattered.�
Johnny put a hand to his chin and paced. �No. Maybe not.�
The guys looked at him expectantly.
Johnny looked at Justin and sighed. �I am going to get my ass kicked for this. Look, you guys are good kids. Somehow, you guys came together from different places and got to here. You guys are together for a reason. I can�t take that away. And I can�t let my new sensation be taken away.�
Lance�s eyes became round and hopeful. JC held his breath and Joey tightened his hold on Justin�s hand. Chris closed his eyes and prayed.
Johnny smiled. �If I get arrested, don�t bail me out. Okay guys, you�re in. But, we have to go to Germany. It�s to risky and a lot of people have made it there.�
�Yeah, like Jimi Hendrix.�
�Who?� Justin asked.
�Chris!� Lance and JC sighed.
�I did tell him!� Chris defended himself.
They all laughed and Johnny chuckled, before praying.
~*~*~*
Soon, all the arrangements were made. Joey grabbed his video camera and taped everything from Lance and Justin fighting over whom�s suitcase could hold more clothes to them on the plane, not believing this was happening. Johnny walked over to each of the guys, handed them CD players and CDs.
�Here are your CDs. Go ahead and listen.�
Lance and JC admired the cover. The guys had gotten their own clothes and Chris surprised them by getting dreadlocks. When Justin saw them, he screamed and ran behind Joey.
He�d get used to them, Joey had thought to himself while Justin thought of Chris before dreadlocks.
They were happy. When they arrived in Germany, they didn�t want to sleep in a hotel but they realized they probably should. They even got a bodyguard.
Joey grumbled. �I could make a good body guard.�
�Where were you when poor Lance nearly got caught?�
Joey growled at JC. JC backed away.
Over in Germany, nobody had any idea who the guys really were. The guys decided to tell them very few things. They finally decided to get the pictures developed. When they did, they got a scrapbook and put all of the pictures in. The guys were having so much fun in Germany, getting big and making music, they didn�t notice that two years had passed.
One night, Justin was brushing his teeth when he looked at the calendar. He stared at it and smiled. He spit, gargled then ran into the room.
�Guys, tomorrow�s Lance�s eighteenth birthday!�
Lance smiled. �And the anniversary of when you ran away.�
�Yeah. Wow, it�s been seven years.�
�Seven LONG years.� JC grinned.
Justin smiled. �Wow. Let�s celebrate! Lance will be safe. Hey, I wonder if the newspapers are going to be talking about it.�
�Let�s get online!� Joey grinned and got out his laptop Johnny had bought him.
The guys loved this new technology but they still were a bit independent and liked to go outside for long hours. Joey typed in the New York Times. Sure enough, there was an article about Lance turning eighteen. �Seven years since his parents died in the fatal fire, Lance Bass is still missing. It is unclear whether he is still in the states. He will be eighteen tomorrow, May fourth. Happy Birthday, James. Come home soon.�
Lance smiled. �Later! I�ll be home later! Whoo hoo!� Lance hopped on the bed, followed by Justin, Chris, JC, and Joey. They engaged themselves in a pillow fight.
That night, Lance went to visit Johnny in his room.
�Hey.�
�Hello Lance. How are you?�
�Fine. Hey um, I heard you talking about a new singer. What did you say her name was?�
�Oh, Britney Spears. She�ll be a big star. Why?�
�Just wondering.� Lance bit his lip, wondering if Britney was the one Justin talked about as a kid.
He walked back into the hotel room. �Justin? What did you say Britney�s whole name was?�
�Um�her birth name was Arnold but I think it got changed to Spears when she was adopted. Why?�
�Just wondering.� Lance left the room on a mission.
Lance got the phone number from Johnny�s room and sneaked out. He went inside a payphone and dialed the number.
�Hello?�
�Is Britney there?�
�Yeah, hold on. Britney! Someone�s calling for you.�
�Thanks mom, I got it. Hello?�
�Hello, is this Britney?�
�Yes, it is.�
�I was wondering, were you in an orphanage as a kid?�
�Yes, I was, why?�
�What was the name of it?�
�Mr. And Mrs. Johnson�s Orphanage for Boys and Girls. Why are you asking me this?�
Lance gulped. �Did you befriend a Justin Timberlake?�
Britney was quiet. �Is he all right?�
�He�s fine. My name is James Lance Bass.�
�Oh. My. God.� He heard rustling and a door close. �Where are you?�
�Germany.�
�There?�
�We�re part of a group. With Joseph Fatone, Josh Chasez, and Chris Kirkpatrick.�
�I knew it. I KNEW it! You�ve been taking care Justin?�
�Yes, we�ve been caring for him.�
�How are you Lance?�
�I�m fine. Listen Britney, Justin has thought about you a lot over the years. You really turned his life around.�
He could hear her smile. �I think I did. Oh, I miss him so much! When I found out he ran away, I cried. I couldn�t stop.�
�Listen, we�re due to go home after Justin�s seventeen. Would you meet us at the airport.�
�Yes, yes I would. Oh, Justin, I can�t believe it.�
Lance smiled. �I�ll send you pictures. And to prove to you I know Justin, he has a scar on his right hip from a kid trying to cut him in the playyard.�
�Yes, yes, that happened. No one knows.�
Lance smiled. �I have some pictures of Justin. I�ll make copies and send them.�
Britney cried a bit and gave her address. �I won�t tell anyone, I promise. With all my heart.�
�Thank you. I gotta go before Justin decides to look for me and finds me. I�ll contact you again.�
�Okay. Thank you!�
�Your welcome. And this is a surprise.�
Britney smiled and they hung up. Lance breathed a huge sigh of relief before going back to the hotel room.
~*~*~*
Lance and Britney stayed in contact secretively for over a year. Lance told her all about their adventures and she couldn�t stop crying. Lance had to make her laugh to get her to stop. When Britney got their pictures, she couldn�t stop smiling. She made sure to hide them so no one could find them.
�So Lance, how does it feel to be running away and still be in the news?�
�Oh geez, weird. I feel like people are watching me all over. But we�re pretty far away so I am not too worried.�
�Well be worried when you come back, it�ll get out.�
�Yep. Wow, one more month. You know, Justin slept in the alleyway yesterday.�
�Oh, is he okay?�
�He just couldn�t sleep in a bed. He�s all right though. Chris got him to come back to bed when he realized Justin was gone.�
�Aw. Hey, I gotta go. I�ll see you in a month.�
�Bye Britney.� He hung up and smiled.
~*~*~*
Justin opened his eyes and smiled. �Hey.�
�Hey, we�re here.� JC said standing.
�All ready?�
�You fell asleep. You slept good.� Lance said stretching and getting his carry-on.
�Yeah. I think it was the plane.�
�Maybe.�
Lance had a secret smile. �Justin, why don�t you go first?�
�Why?�
�Because.�
Justin gave him a look before going. JC, Joey and Chris gave him quizzical looks.
�You�ll see.� He smirked and they all walked out.
Justin walked out of the terminal and he sighed, looking around. His eyes landed on a girl�s and he froze. He stared at her for a few minutes.
�B�Britney?�
�Justin.�
�Oh my gosh, Brit!�
Justin dropped his bags and the two friends ran to each other and hugged tightly.
�Oh my gosh, look at you! You�re so big.� Britney said pulling away.
�You too. How did you know?�
�Um�� Lance coughed and smiled. �Hey Britney, nice to finally meet you.�
�You too.� She hugged him.
�So that�s where you were every time I went to sleep! Thank you Lance, thank you!� Justin hugged him tightly.
Lance laughed. �Britney, I would like you to meet Joey Fatone.�
�Hello Joey, thank you.� Britney hugged him.
�I feel like I know you through Justin�s stories.�
Britney laughed. �Maybe.�
�Oh, this is JC.�
�Hi JC.� Britney hugged him. �I am so sorry for what you went through.�
�It�s okay. I�ll be all right.�
She smiled and looked at Chris. �So you�re the nice person who fed Justin.�
�Hey, who could turn down the cutest kid in America?� Britney laughed and hugged him.
�Justin, meet my new mom and dad and my sister. My brother couldn�t make it.�
�Okay.� They walked over to them and they talked.
Lance smiled and looked at his friends.
�Lance, that was the coolest thing you could do for him.�
�I just didn�t want him to regret anything.� Lance gulped. �I have so many.�
�They know. They know, Lance.� Chris hugged him.
�Come on boys, you�ve been dealing with food you had to take. Let�s have a home cooked meal.�
�I�ve never had one of those.� Justin admitted.
�Wait till you taste her cooking. You�ll be a happy person!�
They laughed and all went to the car after getting luggage.
~*~*~*
�They won�t call the orphanage right?�
�You�re seventeen now, Justin, you�re pretty safe.� Britney said as she ate salad. �Besides, didn�t you hear?�
�No, what?�
�A mother who left her child there, remember Tracy Kilroy?� Justin nodded. �Well when she decided to take Tracy back, Tracy had no clue what anything was. She didn�t know about music, like us, or anything. Their being sued right now for not giving kids a chance to learn new things.�
�Wow. And thanks to Lance, I love music now!� Justin mock glared at him.
Lance gave him an innocent look.
Britney smiled. �Anyway, they think that�s why you ran away.�
�Kind of. I couldn�t handle not having my partner in crime there!�
�Right.� Britney laughed. �Anyway, after I was adopted, I heard so much about music, it wasn�t funny. I loved it so much! I�m thinking about setting up an organization but I�m still too young.�
�Maybe we will when we�re older. Britney, I�ll make you a deal.�
�All right.�
�When we�re both twenty one and really successful, hopefully, we�ll set up an organization for kids all over who don�t have the privilege of learning about music.�
�Okay.�
�I like it. I like my life. I wish I was never put in the orphanage.�
�Yeah but, you wouldn�t have met me, or them.� She pointed over the room at all four guys. JC and Joey were fighting over which station to watch on the TV. Justin smiled.
�Maybe your right.�
�I am right!�
Justin smiled and ate.
Lance coughed. �Guys?�
�Hmm.�
�I want to see my parents� graves.�
Chris turned to him.
�Please.� He teared up.
�Sure, bud. We can.�
Lance nodded. Britney stood up and hugged him.