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.
~*~
Over in Orlando, Lance was really tired so he decided to take a nap while JC took a shower. Chris and Joey were playing basketball outside. Justin was down in the dance room, practicing dances.
The phone rang and Lance groaned. He went downstairs and growled, before picking up the phone.
�Hello?�
�Is Justin there?� A woman asked.
�Yeah, hold on.� Lance walked over to the dance room. �Justin, phone!�
Justin turned off the music and walked over to him. �I got it, Lance. Go rest.� When Lance was gone, Justin put the cordless phone to his ear. �Hello?�
He heard some breathing. �Justin?�
�Yeah, who�s this?�
�This is your mom.�
Justin stood there for a moment before sitting on a chair. �H�hi.�
�How are you?�
�I�m fine. I�m just reviewing dance steps. How are you?�
�I�m wonderful. Justin, I am so sorry.�
�For what?�
�Letting you go. Taking you to the orphanage. Everything.�
�Mom�mom, it�s okay. I�m all right, I had a good life.�
�I saw you on TV. You look wonderful.�
�Thanks. Do I look like you or�my dad?�
She sighed. �Mostly like me.�
�Who is my dad? I mean, I know his name but�who is he?�
�Well, when I was a teenager, I loved to go see movies. They were the big part of my life. Well, your father worked there and I saw him a few times. One day, he followed me home.� She didn�t continue.
�It�s okay, you can tell me.�
�No, baby, it�s too horrible. I don�t want you to deal with it.�
�I�I want to see you.�
�I�ll fly over. I�ll come as soon as you want me to.�
�This weekend. Please. I want to know you. I want that kind of love I never had.�
�Okay. I�ll get a flight out.�
�Great. I�ll meet you there with Chris. JC has to teach Lance and me how to drive.�
�You don�t know yet?�
�JC doesn�t trust us very much. I mean, we tend to go off into space at random times.�
Lynn laughed. �I�ll let you know when I am due to be there.�
�Okay. Bye mom. Thank you.�
�Bye Justin.�
Justin hung up and dropped the phone. He started crying. He was crying for almost twenty minutes before strong arms wrapped around him. He leaned into the embrace and sniffed.
�My mom called. She�s going to visit. Oh my God, I�m going to meet my mom.�
The hand stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. �That�s awesome, J. I�m so happy for you.�
Justin squeezed Joey tightly. �I heard her voice. She sounds beautiful.�
Joey smiled and rocked Justin back and forth.
Four days later, Justin tapped his foot while Chris stood next to him.
�When is this plane supposed to land?�
�In two minutes.�
Justin groaned and paced.
�Justin, if you don�t stop doing that, I am locking you in a broom closet.�
Justin paused mid-step and took his stance next to Chris.
�So um, do you know where your sisters were taken to?�
Chris raised his eyebrow. �Um�I�m not sure about Emily but I know Kate was supposed to be taken to Michigan.�
�Oh.� Justin rocked on his heels. Finally, an announcement came the plane was now unloading. Justin stopped. �Oh God, I am so scared.�
�It�s okay, Justin, you�ll be okay.�
Justin sighed softly. �She�s going to stay for my birthday. It�s in two months.�
�That�s awesome. Your eighteenth birthday.�
Justin smiled then frowned, looking over the sea of people for his mom. Chris looked also. Finally, a woman with curly hair stepped out and took off her glasses. She looked around before setting her eyes on Justin. Justin looked at her.
Chris smiled. �That�s her.�
�Yeah. It�s my mom.�
Lynn walked over to them and kept her eyes on Justin.
�Justin.�
�Mom.�
�My baby.�
Justin hugged her tightly, tears filling his eyes. �I missed you so much.�
�I missed you too, darling. I missed you more than you could ever know.�
Justin buried his face in her neck.
Lynn looked at Chris through tears. �Thank you. Thank you so much.�
Chris smiled. �He�s a great, kid, ma�am. He was so brave out on the streets.�
Justin sniffled and pulled away. �Come on. Let�s get your stuff then we can have you meet the rest of the crew. Oh, where�s your husband?�
�Oh, he had to go on a business trip and besides, he wanted me to have this moment myself.�
Justin smiled and they went to the luggage pick up. They got Lynn�s things and went to Chris�s car. They got in and Chris drove towards the house.
�Should I tell her about JC and Lance?� Justin whispered.
�Yeah.�
�What about JC and Lance?� she asked.
�Oh um�mom, JC and Lance are gay. They are also a couple.�
�Oh, that�s nice.�
�You don�t care?�
�No. As long as you love who you love, I am comfortable with it.�
Justin smiled, sighing in relief inside. �They�ll be happy about that.�
They arrived home and got out. When they walked in, Justin and Chris smirked. JC and Lance were making out on the couch. JC had his hand underneath Lance�s shirt and was heading lower.
�Wow, you two are the most obnoxious people I have ever met!� Chris joked.
The guys pulled apart, looked over and blushed in embarrassment.
�Oh yeah, give my mom a heart attack. Lucky for you, I told her!�
JC coughed and stood. �Hello Mrs. Harless, I�m JC.�
�Hello JC.� She hugged him. �How are you doing?�
�I�m fine. Thank you.�
�Hello Mrs. Harless, it�s nice to meet you. How was your flight?�
�Too long.� She hugged Lance. �You doing all right?�
Lance nodded. �It�s hard for me sometimes but I�m all right.�
�That�s good. Where�s Joey?�
�He�s in the kitchen. Joe! They�re back!�
�All right. Um�Lance, remind me why I wasn�t allowed to cook when we were on the run.�
Lance sighed. Lynn chuckled.
Justin rolled his eyes. �Joey! If I told you once, I�ll tell you again. You do NOT put the timer to one hundred minutes.� He took his mom�s hand and pulled her into the kitchen.
�And I thought he was Italian.�
�Shut up!� Lance giggled at JC and JC shut him up by kissing him. Chris sighed dramatically.
Pretty soon, dinner was finally made, and everyone sat around the table eating mashed potatoes, steak, and corn on the cob.
While he ate, Lance watched how Justin interacted with his mom. Secretly, he wished his mom could be with him right now. Loving him and loving who he was. Lance had dreams about his mother all the time. He wished she could be here. He really did. Lance started to feel a sob coming on.
�I um�I�ll be right back.� He struggled not to croak. He got up and ran upstairs. He fell face down on his bed and sobbed. �Mama. Mama, come back to me.�
Downstairs, Justin looked at the guys. JC stood up.
�Excuse me.� He put down his napkin and went upstairs.
JC opened the door and saw Lance crying. His heart broke at the sight. He walked over to Lance and sat down. He pulled Lance into his arms and held him, not saying a word. He just listened to Lance talk about his family.
�I want my mama back, JC. I want my sister back. I want my dad.� His tears started all over again.
�I know, Lance. I know.� He kissed Lance�s forehead. All the years of holding it in finally got to Lance. �Let it all out, Lance. Let the pain out. I�ll be right here.�
Lance did just that. For five hours, the sobs kept coming but JC never said anything or let go. When Lance finally cried himself to sleep, JC tucked him in and got in next to him.
~*~*~*
Lance opened his eyes and saw that he was standing in a white room. He stood up and walked in a circle. He felt a presence and turned around. He gasped. His sister was smiling at him, wearing a flowing white gown.
�Stacy.� He held out his hand. When he touched her cheek, it was ice cold. That reality caused tears in his eyes. But when she touched his cheek, it felt ok.
�Don�t cry for us, Lance. We�re okay. We�re just so glad you�re all right. You had mama and dad so worried.�
�Where are they?�
�They are on their way. They are sending a message to JC.�
�Are they upset with me?�
�No, baby, we�re not.�
He turned and saw his mother and father. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He walked to them and hugged them. �Mama. Daddy. I miss you.�
�We miss you too, darling. Oh sweetie, you�ve grown so much. I�m so glad you�re all right.� Diane wiped away his tears.
�Are you disappointed in me?�
�No, son.� His father spoke. �We�re happy for you and JC. He�s been through so much and so have you. Just be with each other. Don�t worry about us.�
�I�m not mad you guys left. But I am mad I survived.�
�Don�t be, honey. You were meant to live. You were meant to bring joy to people�s lives. We�re with you, always.�
�I love you, mama. I love you, daddy. I love you, Stacy.�
�And I love you.� Stacy said before fading away.
�Wait, Stacy don�t go!�
�It�s time, baby. We�ll see you.�
�No, mama, I�m not ready!�
�You are ready. Bye baby.�
�Mama. Daddy.�
�I love you, Lance.�
�I love you too.� Lance whispered, watching his father become wind.
~*~*~*
Lance opened his eyes and sat up. He felt cold. He rubbed his arms and smiled. He looked down at JC. JC had a confused look on his face. Lance kissed his forehead. JC opened his eyes and looked at Lance.
�I just had a dream. About your parents and sister. They, they told me to take care of you.�
�I had a dream like that too. I told Stacy I loved her. I let her know.�
JC smiled and hugged Lance close.
They went downstairs and made breakfast. Justin walked down and stumbled a bit before sitting down.
�Have you told him yet?� Lance asked suddenly.
Justin glared. JC crinkled his eyebrow.
�He�s in love with Joey.� Lance explained.
�And he doesn�t know?�
�Apparently Lance thinks it�s time. I�m not ready and besides, he may not love me back.�
�You never know, Justin.� JC said.
Lance looked at him then shook his head. �Justin, just tell him! You�ve been pining away for four years now.�
�Four years?� JC turned sharply.
�Oh, shut up and get my breakfast.�
�Okay, crabby pants.� JC gave him his cereal.
For the next two months, Lynn and Justin got to know each other as mother and son. Justin admitted to her he was gay and she accepted him with open arms. Lance was now feeling better about his family and was moving on and he and JC were happy together. Chris kept in contact with his mother and ran up their phone bill.
Justin, secretly, was plotting something of his own. He decided to use the little break they had to go off to Michigan. He begged his mom and Johnny. They finally relented, as long as Lynn went with him and a bodyguard. The other guys didn�t know anything about it. So Justin went to Michigan in search of Chris�s sister. He�d do Emily as soon as he found out more about where she could be.
Justin checked all of his information and made sure that he didn�t screw any of his steps up. One day, Justin and his mom were out when Justin saw a girl working behind the counter at a convenience store. He stopped his mom and looked at the old picture.
�Yes, it does look like her.�
Justin nodded and sighed. �I�m going to go talk to her. Wish me luck.�
Lynn smiled. �I�ll wait here.�
Justin nodded and walked over to the girl. She was now just reading a magazine. When Justin got closer, he saw that she was reading an article about them. He cleared his throat. When she looked up, she nodded.
�I had a feeling one of you would try and find me.�
�Kate?�
�Yep. How�s my brother? I want to hear it from you.�
�He�s fine. He�s happy. I don�t think he feels complete though.�
�I couldn�t believe it when they took me and Emily. I didn�t want to believe they could do it. But they did.�
�Do you know where your sister is?�
She sighed. �We went to five foster homes together. Then she was adopted. I think the family moved to Wisconsin.�
�How long ago was that?�
�Six years ago.�
Justin nodded. �Are you happy?�
�At first, no. I heard about Chris leaving and I cried. Everyday. Now, I�m happy. But I want to see my mom. I want to see Chris.�
�You have a little sister named Taylor.�
Kate smiled. �I heard about her. It would be so wonderful to see them.�
�Why don�t you?�
�I�m afraid of what they�ll think of me.�
�They�ll love you.�
�I love them too.�
�Here�s a picture of them.� He pulled it out and gave it to her.
�Oh gosh. Taylor�s beautiful. Mama. I miss her so much. I want to go home, Justin. I want to go home.�
�Then we�ll let you.�
�I hope so. It�s not that my adoptive family is bad they�re wonderful. I just need my real family.�
Justin smiled.
A week later, Johnny walked out of the house with Kate and smiled at Justin.
�Well, Justin, everything is set.�
�My adoptive family agreed to let me stay with mom and my sisters, as long as I keep in touch.�
Justin smiled. �Awesome. Chris is going to be so happy when he sees you.�
�Justin, are you going to stop here? I mean, you have one more to go.�
�I�m not stopping here. It�s only the beginning.�
Kate grinned at Justin and his mom.
~*~*~*
Justin walked into the house a few days later and was relieved to see that no one was around.
�Okay, come in.� He ushered Lynn and Kate in and then shut the door quietly. He went into the kitchen and looked out. Everyone was sitting at the pool. He ran back to them. �Okay, they are in the pool. I�ll go get Chris, Molly, Taylor, and then Beverly. Mom, go get your swimming suit on.�
�Okay.� She kissed him and rushed upstairs.
�Okay. Kate, just stand right here while I get Chris. You ready?�
�I�ve been ready for this for eight years.�
Justin smiled. He ran out. �Hey!�
�Hey! Justin�s back!� Taylor cheered.
�Hey dude, welcome back.� Joey hugged him tightly followed by Lance and JC then Chris.
�Oh Chris, I need some help in the living room. Come with me?�
�Sure. What is it?�
�Come on!� Justin pulled him inside. �You see, some girl followed me home and she seems to be lost. Maybe you can help her.� He took Chris into the living room.
When Chris saw who it was, his jaw dropped.
�Chris.�
�Kate. Oh God, Kate!�
Kate grinned widely and ran into Chris�s arms, hugging him tightly. �I missed you so much.�
�I missed you too. I missed you so much.� He cried softly.
�Oh, Chris, don�t, don�t cry.�
Justin smiled and backed away before running outside. He grabbed Molly�s hand. �Come on, I want to show you something. You too.� He picked Taylor up and they went inside. �Hey, Molly, do you know that girl?�
Chris pulled away from Kate so Molly could see her. Her heart stopped.
�Kate! Oh gosh, Kate!� She ran over and hugged her sister. Chris hugged them. Justin smiled, watching the reunion. Soon, he walked over with Taylor.
�Hey, Kate, this is your sister, Taylor. Taylor, this is Kate.�
�Hi Kate. Mommy talks about you a lot.�
She smiled. �Hi. Can I have a hug?�
She nodded and Justin handed Taylor to Kate. Chris backed up and went outside.
�Mom, come inside. Quick!�
�Is something wrong?�
�No, just come inside.�
She followed Chris and JC, Lance and Joey followed. Once inside, they saw Beverly holding on to a girl and both were crying. Chris, Molly, and Taylor were next to Justin.
�Guys?�
�It�s Kate, Lance, I found Kate for them.�
Lance smiled. �Wow, Justin, that�s amazing!�
Chris turned to Justin and smiled. �Thanks Justin, thank you so much!�
Justin smiled and held out his arms. Chris hugged him tightly.
�I still have one more to find.� Justin said quietly.
�Then find her, please, find her.�
Justin smiled and rubbed Chris�s back.