AN: Okay, this chapter did NOT want to be finished. I'm not sure if I'm really happy with it or not so let me know what ya'll think. Thank you all SO much for your support and emails. They all mean the world to me! Standard disclaimers apply. **************** Crossing Enemy Lines: Chapter Twelve **************** “Laina, sweetie, baby girl, do we REALLY have to watch this AGAIN?” Laina glanced at Justin as JC laughed. “JuJu, the puppy dog face doesn’t work on Laina. We’ve granted her powers, remember? She can resist our sexy charm… even Chris’s now…” Justin made a face. “Chris has NO sex appeal Jayce. Me definitely, you, duh, Lance has the whole voice thing and Joey, well millions of girls can’t be THAT wrong but Chris?! He’s old, and short and…” “And so capable of kicking the youngin’s ass if he doesn’t stop talking right about NOW.” Laina giggled as Chris jumped onto the couch and into Justin’s lap. He looked at the screen and groaned. “Jesus Laina, do we REALLY need to watch Lance’s space special for the millionth freaking time?” She raised one brow and stared at the disgruntled men. “When YOU make history then we can watch YOUR documentary a hundred million billion times. Until then, shut up. Besides, Lance is cuter than both of you.” Howie cleared his throat behind her and Laina looked up sweetly. “Yes honey?” He sighed but smiled indulgently. “Margarita?” he asked. Laina laughed and took it with an easy but heated kiss. “I will so never get used to that…” Justin muttered as he watched. JC just shook his head as Chris chuckled. “I think its cute.” “You would.” Chris pinched Justin who smacked him back. It might have developed into a hissy fight if Joey, Lance and Trace hadn’t chosen that moment to enter. “Lips off my sister!” Trace barked. Howie jumped sheepishly and Laina patted him on a cheek absently while glaring at her brother. “Trace…” Trace glared right back. “Don’t you Trace me young lady. You guys are dating, that’s cool. I can handle that, sorta, but no sucking face in front of me all right? I have enough trouble with dealing with it in theory without having you shove it down my throat.” Laina rolled her eyes but relented. He really had been well behaved, considering. She could cut him a little bit of slack. An itsy bitsy bit. Miniscule. “Okay, turn Lance off, I want to celebrate the New Year by watching the ball drop, not Lansten’s sperm count…” Lance threw a pillow at Chris who ducked. It smacked Justin in the face. Chris laughed manically as JC shook his head and flipped the VCR off and New York Times on. Joey crammed onto the couch with Trace and Justin while Chris climbed into JC’s lap. JC sighed again but didn’t object. Sometimes it just wasn’t worth it. Lance sprawled on the floor and Howie joined Laina on the loveseat- bad pun. She let out a contented breath of bliss as the man she loved cradled her against his chest and in his strong arms. How amazing was it to think that this time last year she had never met Howie, let alone cared for him as a friend. As a lover. As someone she could see herself becoming serious with. Thanksgiving had been spent apart with their respective family and friends. Christmas Laina had spent in “enemy camp”, mostly with Howie’s family but also with the rest of the guys, a real Backstreet outing. It had been a learning experience. She would never look at AJ the same way again, Kevin’s twisted sense of humor had been revealed, she and Leighanne had gotten into a bitch fight that ended with Brian on the couch for three nights, and Nick had dragged her dancing nearly every single night until dawn. When he could drag her out of Howie’s bed. So New Year’s was quality *NSYNC time. Quiet *NSYNC time. The boys had been apart for months, between Justin’s solo album which was selling like hot cakes, despite critical derision, and Lance’s space flight. They were neck deep in working on the new album, and exhausted already. They would party soon enough, but tonight was about being a part of a group. Being guys, friends, and trying to welcome a man that Laina had staked as hers, despite any potential objections by said guys. Howie wasn’t going anywhere. None of them liked it too much, but no one was about to get into THAT argument again. Justin and Trace especially. They watched and cheered as the ball fell on screen, officially heralding in the new year. Laina closed her eyes and grinned when, on cue, the five began to harmonize and sing the traditional New Year’s song. Trace’s voice joined, softly, a heart beat later as one of their oldest traditions continued. Laina started to finish the harmony and they all jumped when Howie’s gentle voice blended and melded with hers. The eight held the last note, hesitant to break the moment, before letting it die away. Laina smiled at Howie who gave her a quick grin and mischievous wink. Before she could question him though he slipped out from under her and dumped her gently back on the love seat. Laina watched with a curious gaze as her boyfriend of three months got down on his knees before her. He took her hands and held them tightly, looking earnestly into her eyes, warm brown against her hazel. There was no timid ness on his sculptured face, no hint of hesitation or difficulty. “Laina, Angel, I’ve been wanting to do this a long time…” “Holy shit in a bucket, he’s proposing…” JC blurted out as the six other men watched with wide disbelieving eyes. Laina blushed. “No he’s not you idiot. Or he had better not be!” Howie shook his head fiercely and turned crimson. “No way! I mean… shit this isn’t coming out right. This isn’t a proposal, not yet anyway, but I wanted to ask you something. Laina Marie Ayala you’ve stood by my side longer than almost any other woman I’ve ever dated. “And in that time you’ve become such an essential part for my life. I’m not ready to promise you forever Angel but I want to give you as much of me as I can. So, here before all your closest friends and family, I ask you this, Laina- will you date me and only me? Can we be exclusive because I can’t stand the thought of having other people intrude on something that’s become so dear and necessary to me…” She was crying by then, and couldn’t find her voice. In desperation Laina launched herself at the surprised but exulted Howie who caught her with a laugh. “You mean it?” she demanded when she found her breath, hardly daring to believe that her wildest dreams were coming true. “I mean it Laina Marie. I’ve never meant anything more.” And to prove his point he pulled out his ever nearby “little black book” and set it on a nearby ash tray before pulling out a lighter. Laina watched in awe as Howard Dorough burned a lifetime of girlfriends before her. For her. Because he loved her enough to want her and only her. She was one lucky girl. And no one deserved it more. The six men stared and groaned as one as Laina and Howie started to kiss over the ashes of a now burned address book. “Dude, I will so NEVER get used to that!” And for once, JuJu got the last word.