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.
~*~
Havre de Grace, Maryland. A nice little town. Too bad the boys couldn�t walk around the area since their pictures were now on TV everywhere. People asking where these children went and sightings that the guys know are wrong. Chris took a big risk and withdrew some money from his mom�s account. Only twenty bucks. He�d pay her back later. Lance and Justin stayed away since there was a security camera. After Chris finished, they left the area and headed down a freeway. Since it was busy, Lance put on sunglasses, a hat, and a baggy sweatshirt. Justin did the same and Chris carried them both.
They arrived at a forestry area and decided to look around before heading up again. They went up the deserted road and saw a park ranger at a tollbooth. There was a reward picture with Justin and Lance�s pictures.
�You guys go into the trees and don�t let anybody see you.�
Justin and Lance nodded and held hands as they ran into the woods. Chris bit his lip and went up to the booth.
�I�m just here to look around.�
�Three dollars.�
He handed her the twenty and she gave change back. He walked off and went down the road a little bit before looking to his right. Justin jumped out with Lance following, panting heavily. Chris smiled and took their hands.
�Come on.�
They wandered down the road before Justin looked over.
�Look Chris! An open cabin!�
Chris turned and saw that there was a cabin with no doors but a few windows. There looked to be some picnic tables inside. No cars were in the parking lot next to it.
�Okay, let�s check it out. We can probably stay here.�
�What about the park ranger?� Lance asked.
�You�ve never broken rules before this adventure, have you, kid?�
Lance smiled widely.
Chris rolled his eyes and they went inside. There was a fireplace there. Justin walked around and didn�t notice anything before he suddenly tripped over feet.
�Ah! Chris, someone�s here!� He yelled.
Chris and Lance ran over and sure enough, there was an older boy, not much older than Lance, lying there, asleep. Lance gulped and touched his arm. The guy moved a bit and Lance stepped back with a gasp. Chris gulped.
�Hey. Dude, wake up, hey.� He shook the guy.
The guy opened his eyes sharply and stood up. �Whoa!�
�Ah!� Justin and Lance jumped back further.
�Hey, you�re the missing kids.�
�You noticed too?� Lance said dryly.
Chris sighed. �What are you doing here?�
�I�m running away. What are they doing here?�
�We�re all running away.�
�You didn�t kidnap these-�
�No, I�m helping them!�
The guy sighed. �Great, I thought I was safe.�
�Who are you?� Justin asked, peaking out from behind Lance.
�Joey. My name�s Joey. You must be Justin and Lance.�
They nodded.
�I�m Chris. Nice to meet you Joey.�
They shook hands. When Lance and Justin saw this, they moved away from Chris and shook Joey�s hand.
�So, what are you running from?� Joey asked. �I can guess them.�
Justin made a face.
Chris rolled his eyes. �I�m flat out broke. I have nothing left at home. My sisters were taken by social services.� Lance squealed and Chris put a hand on his head. �Anyway, my mom is so distraught, I had to care for her and then I lost all my money. I ran so she wouldn�t have to deal with me.�
�That is such a bad way to run.�
�Why are you running?� Justin asked.
�My parents fight all the time. It�s all they ever do. They blame us, my sister and brother, for everything! I just got sick of it and ran away. I don�t know if they�ve noticed yet. How long have you been on the run?�
�What day is it?� Lance asked.
�Monday.�
�My mommy, daddy, and sister died on a Monday. So about a week.�
�Um�since the 4th!� Justin said.
�You�ve been gone for two weeks.� Joey said.
�Oh.�
�One month.� Chris said.
�Five days.� Joey grumbled.
Justin giggled. Joey looked at him and smiled. �What are you laughing at kid?� He ruffled the kid�s hair and he flinched back, still laughing.
�Wow. You made him laugh.� Lance said in shock.
Chris looked at Joey. �We�ve never been able to do that.�
Joey shrugged. �Just have to know how to do it. Right, Justin?�
Justin nodded. �Where did you come from?�
�Nebraska.�
�That far? And you�ve only been gone for five days?� Chris asked.
�I went on a train and just didn�t get off. Then I ended up here with the money I took from mom and dad, and then I came here yesterday. Now here you guys are.�
�We�re going to New York!� Lance said, grinning.
�Really? That�s cool, so am I!�
�You can come with us! Chris can he please come with us?� Justin pouted, the same pout that would melt hearts in the years to come.
Chris laughed. �It�s up to Joey.�
Justin turned to him with the pout. �Pretty please with the cherry on top.�
�Oh, I can�t resist! All right. How are you guys traveling?�
�Walking and jumping trains.� Lance said nonchalantly.
Joey raised an eyebrow.
~*~
Justin couldn�t sleep. It was too cold and he was hungry. He shoved himself against Lance, who groaned.
�Justin, go to sleep buddy.�
Justin sighed. �I can�t. I�m hungry and it�s cold.�
Lance sighed and turned. He saw the small boy shivering. �Oh Justin. I don�t want you getting sick.� He sat up and pulled off his sweatshirt. He put it over Justin�s head and helped him. He tugged Justin over so he could lay next to Joey. Lance pulled on the blanket so it was over them. He made sure Justin was sleeping comfortably before falling asleep himself.
Joey opened his eyes and saw Justin shivering with no blankets, even through the baggy sweatshirt he was wearing. He sat up and pulled his duffel bag to him and pulled out his favorite blue and yellow blanket. He put it over Justin and Lance, whom was shivering also.
�There we go. Don�t want you getting pneumonia.� He went back to sleep and turned towards Chris, who was snoring peacefully. He closed his eyes and smiled feeling both boys trying to get into his warm back in their sleep. He shook his head and fell back to sleep.
The next morning, Joey was the first one awake. He groaned and saw that Justin had somehow spread across his stomach to Chris. Joey slapped a hand to his forehead.
�Chris. Hey, Chris, wake up.� He muttered.
Chris opened his eyes. �What?� The sunlight hit their faces.
�There�s a ten-year-old on us.�
Chris turned his head and smirked. �How did he get there?�
Joey shrugged. They turned to Lance and saw that he was crying in his sleep.
�He must be dreaming of his parents.� Chris said, a bit alarmed. He gently pulled Justin off of Joey and to his side.
Joey sat up and shook Lance gently. �Lance.�
Lance opened his eyes. �I want my mama.� He said crying softly.
�I know. Come here.� Joey opened his arms and Lance moved into them. Joey rocked him back and forth as Lance muffled his crying so Justin wouldn�t wake up.
Chris stroked his hair. Joey shook his head and Chris nodded. He wouldn�t say anything for now.
�He�s been holding it in for a week. I think the cold got to him.� Chris said.
Joey nodded. �We better get going. We�ll have to sneak out though.�
Chris nodded. �We�ll go get something to eat then take off. I�ll carry Justin.�
Joey nodded while Chris got everything together. Lance whimpered and Joey shushed him gently.
When everything was put away, Chris pulled Justin up and put him on his shoulder. Justin wrapped his arms around Chris, opened his eyes, and then closed them. Chris rubbed his back and grabbed his things carefully. Lance stood up and smiled at Joey.
�Thank you.�
�No problem.�
Joey got up and they got their things. When they were ready, the four guys took off. They walked through the forest and made it out of the park without anyone noticing.
�Chris, how will we get something to eat? Someone may see them.� Joey said.
�Oh I didn�t think of that. Okay, when we see a McDonald�s, take your money and get us something. Then come back out and we�ll eat somewhere secluded.�
Joey nodded and they began. When they got to a McDonald�s, Joey went inside while Chris, Lance and Justin hid. Justin was awake now and standing so Chris didn�t need to carry him. Joey finally walked out and went to them. The boys took their food and ate while Joey carried the drinks in the tray and Chris had their bag of food. They all began on the rest of their journey.
A/N: I actually went to Havre de Grace for a gathering with fans of the defunct TV show YOUNG AMERICANS and yes there is an actual open cabin there. I should know I went there;) It was fun and there are picnic tables and a fireplace covered by a board for some reason! So everything up to what I described is there!