The silence that followed was heartbreaking. The excitement and anticipation that had decorated his face from the moment he opened his lips was gone. Vanished. Torn apart by her lack of enthusiasm. Ana could feel her heart shatter and her hands tremble when she notice the void in his eyes. 

“Josh…” she began but his raised hand silenced her. 

“Ana, don’t…” he muttered, lowering his eyes to the floor and shaking his head. His jaw twitched, and Ana’s body flinched. She reached a timid hand to his forearm, and she prepared to have it ripped off. Instead, he hesitated before placing a warm hand atop hers. 

“What does ‘oh’ mean?” he asked after several moments of tense and suspenseful silence. His voice was low and controlled, but she could hear it break. 

“Josh, it doesn’t mean anything, I swear. You caught me off guard. I really wasn’t expecting this. It threw me completely off. I swear, Josh, you have to believe me. It’s not that I don’t want to live with you, but I don’t know if we are ready, no, if I am ready. I mean, are you ready for that again? Will you get tired of me? What will happen if my bad habits annoy you?” her hands left his arm and her legs curled up to her chest. JC turned his head, and the fear radiated in her eyes. 

“Ana, if I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t have asked you. I’ll understand if you aren’t ready, just don’t scare me like that mama,” his soft voice spoke as his fingers caressed her cheek. Ana leaned into his hand, and simply stared into his eyes. The turmoil in her head was overpowering her heart’s desire to scream ‘yes’. If there was ever a time where she hated being rational, this would be the moment. Usually, she was the first to jump without looking. But, today, fear stopped her. 

“Can I think about it? I mean, I really do want to. I just don’t want to ruin what we could have because we moved too fast,” she requested. A small and tender smile tugged at his lips before he licked them and leaned towards her. 

“Of course,” he smiled against her lips and pecked them soundly. He pulled back, and pulled her off the couch. “Come on, let’s get to bed,” he announced as he pulled them towards the staircase. Shutting each light as they passed by, Ana felt sillier and sillier about her lack of reply. The hurt resonated in his eyes flashed before her eyes. The disappointment in his voice tore at her heart. 

---- 

Orlando, Fl 

“Ana!...Ana!...Tiger!” the pounding from Justin’s feet were muffled by the plush carpet of the WEG compound hallway some days later. Hearing her name being called, Ana turned around. 

“Hey J, what’s up?” she asked as she finished securing her hair into a ponytail. She then proceeded to loop it through a baseball cap and pull it low on her face. 

“Where are you off to?” he asked as he looked down at her. She was by no means short, but his height towered over her. She leaned up to kiss his cheek and he returned the gesture. 

“I just finished some dance rehearsal, and I’m meeting Josh for lunch. Want to join us?” she asked.  

“Yeah, sure, let me just grab my jacket,” Justin replied before turning back towards one of the lounges. He quickly grabbed his shades, a cap, and wallet. Stepping back out into the hallway, he wrapped a secure arm around Ana’s shoulders and led her to the front door. 

“What were you rehearsing for?” Justin asked as he settled into the passenger seat of JC’s Jeep, which Ana had borrowed. 

“I got a couple of shows to do next month, and Johnny just signed me up for the Blockbuster Awards,” Ana replied as she pulled out of the compound. 

“Wait, are we performing there too?” Justin questioned. He could remember something being mentioned about them being there, but he wondered if they were performing. 

“I don’t think so. I think because of Baby Briahna, Joey is getting a break,” Ana replied. 

“Where are we headed?” 

“Rossi’s Pizza, best pizza in town,” her stomach growled at precisely that moment. Laughter erupted inside the car. 

“Hungry, huh?” Justin asked in between chuckles. 

“You have NO clue. I gotta head back to rehearsals after this, so I will be grubbing good,” Ana smirked rubbing her stomach. They continued joking and laughing all the way to the pizza place. Once they arrived, they parked down the street and walked together. 

“You know, huh?” she quietly asked as they walked down the street. His arm had wrapped around her shoulders, and she just felt a comfort that she longed for. Justin had heard all about Ana’s lack of reply and enthusiasm when he asked her to move in with him. 

“Yeah, he told me about it before and after. What’s holding you back, Tiger?” Justin answered. He already knew what she meant. Her arm wrapped around his waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. 

“I don’t know, J. I love him, I really do. I would love to take that next step, but will I become another Bobbie? Or Nikki?” Ana’s usual steady and strong voice broke. The absurdity of her words caused Justin to pull away from her. 

“Hey, look at me, Ana, LOOK at me,” he commanded. She lifted her golden eyes to his, and she saw a sternness that he’d never displayed. “You are no Bobbie and you are no Nikki. Josh never ASKED them to move in with him, they simply moved right on in. He knows that you don’t want anything from him other than his heart and time. What does your heart tell you to do?”  

“My heart screamed ‘yes’ when he told me, but my stupid head answer. I should move in with him, right? He’s great, and he loves me. I love him and I want to be with him. I should, definitely, right?” she spoke and looked up from under the cap’s bill to meet his eyes. 

“You should do what your heart tells you to do. It’ll never fail you,” Justin replied with a smile. He hugged her tightly against his side and placed a brotherly kiss on her temple. After a few minutes of silence, Ana giggled and hugged him tighter to her side. 

“Tomorrow’s headline: Singer two-timing NSYNC’s Heartthrobs,” Ana announced before pointing out the group of photographers across the street, following their every move. 

“Wait til they see the three of us eating lunch, then it’ll be ‘Heartthrobs Tag-Team Singer’,” Justin retorted and Ana’s laughter filled the air. 

“That just sounds dirty, and Joey’s gonna get jealous,” Ana managed to say in between giggles before turning into the restaurant. 

---- 

After lunch… 

“When are you guys flying out?” Ana sat cross-legged in the center of the bed, watching JC collect his clothes. Her nimble finger meticulously folded his clothes before setting them aside for him to put up later. 

“Next Friday morning, we want to keep Joey away from the baby as little as possible,” he replied bent over at the waist, looking for something under the bed. 

“You’re heading to LA, right?” 

“Yeah, we have the movie, the dinner thing, and the awards that way,” he absently replied. Ana bit her bottom lip nervously as she fiddled with a pair of his socks. 

“Think you can head over there on Wednesday instead?” 

“Wednesday? Where to?” 

“LA.” JC’s head popped around the wall that separated the bathroom and the bedroom. 

“LA, huh? What’s going on there?” he questioned with a cocked eyebrow. 

“I fly in and I don’t have a key or gate code,” she replied keeping her eyes on the sock that she’d folded and re-folded a couple of times now. Silence ensued. She was pretty sure that she could’ve heard a pin drop, if the room hadn’t been carpeted. 

“Anita, look at me,” his soft voice begged after several minutes of silence. Drawing in a deep breath, she raised cautious eyes. Finally, their eyes met and a small smile tugged at the corner of JC’s full lips. 

“What do you need a key or gate code for?” he asked bringing his body around the corner. 

“Your house, er, well…our house, you know, if you still, you know, want me to, you know…” came her nervous reply. Her hands trembled in her lap, and she forced her eyes to remain on his face. 

“The offer still stands Ana…” his reply was so soft. Ana wondered if he’d even moved his lips to speak. She held his gaze for another moment or so before finding the courage to speak. 

“I’d love to move in with you, Josh,” her lips trembled as a timid smile graced her face. It was a cautious smile; she didn’t know what his reaction would be. He maintained a stone face, expressionless and unreadable. 

“Its about damn time” he chuckled before flinging himself atop the bed. His body landed on Ana, and his laughter tickled her neck. She couldn’t control her giggles as they mixed with her tears. 

“I’m so sorry about not answering. I just…well, I just…I was scared…but I…stupid…then…big idiot…and…I’m sorry…” came her hurried words through tears and laughter. JC could only laugh harder before covering her mouth with his, hushing her ramblings. 

His hand buried itself deep in her curls. His lips gently, yet passionately massaging her own. His other arm wrapped around her waist before rolling them. She was sure that he’d rolled on top of the newly folded clothes, but she could care less from her current position. Her shapely and lithe legs straddled him, and she pushed her body into a sitting position. 

“I really am sorry…I was a fool,” she spoke truthfully, running a finger across his abs. 

“Its all said and done now, mama. I just want to know one thing,” he soothed, running his hands over her thighs. 

“Anything.” 

“Are you sure about this? I rather hurt by you telling me ‘no’ now, then to hurt knowing later,” he asked. 

“I’m positive about it. Completely sure. Absolutely, positively, entirely, whole-heartedly…” he pulled her down to him and kissed her teasing lips. She laughed quietly against his lips before giving into his ministrations. 

“I got about an hour,” Ana mumbled against his lips. Her luggage was pack and sitting by the front door. She was flying out to do some promo work for her Spanish album. 

“Plenty of time, now hush,” he commanded. His hands tugged at the hem of her tank, and her arms raised obediently. His hands smoothed down her sides, teasing her breasts, tickling her ribs, and squeezing her hips. Her own hands pushed up his shirt, and her lips lowered to bathe his chest and abs with soft, wet kisses. Nibbles were soothed with a flick of her tongue, and chill bumps raised on his skin as her nails gently scraped him. 

“You’re getting too good at this…” his soft moan filled the darkening room. Daytime was quickly falling to the hands of nighttime. 

“I’ve had a wonderful teacher…” her breath fanned over his bellybutton, as her fingers worked the button and fly on his jeans. 

“You ought to give him an apple…” 

“Or maybe a cherry…” he raised his head to look down at her, and he was met with a smirk and a challenging eyebrow. 

“You’re dangerous, mama,” he chuckled. His chuckles became deep groans as her hands, lips, and body worked his every sense. Relaxing into the pillows and mattress beneath him, he gave into every sensation rushing through his veins. He let her be in control – the way he loved her to be. 

---- 

End of MarchHollywood, CA

“Is that seriously all that you have?” JC asked as they stood in the foyer of his L.A. home looking at only about a handful of boxes that had been delivered. 

“You do realize you already have a furnished house, right? It’s just clothes and my music stuff,” Ana replied from her spot on the staircase. The look of boredom on her face was comical. She really didn’t understand JC’s bewilderment. 

“Your music stuff?” he cocked an eyebrow in her direction. 

“I’m not gonna take over your studio, Josh,” she rolled her eyes and sighed. A look of relief washed over his face, and she couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he playfully glared at her. 

“Right, of course you didn’t. If you don’t mind, and if you’re not using it, I may need your studio occasionally. But, for the most part, I’ll find a little corner in this monster house to write and work,” she replied. 

“Are you sure? Because, I mean, I could find a way to make you some space down there,” JC squatted in front of her and held himself steady on her knees. Ana laughed lightly and reassured him that she didn’t need to invade his studio space. 

“Well, what about furniture? I want this house to feel like it’s yours too,” he asked. Ana looked around into the living room and the den, and she couldn’t definitely do without certain pieces but she also didn’t want to come in and redo his entire house. 

“Give me some time, and then we’ll talk furniture. Yeah?” she settled on testing out the house first. 

“That’s fine, but first of all, you and I have an errand to run,” he stood and held out a hand to her. 

“We do? Where are we going?” Ana questioned as she allowed him to pull her up to stand next to him. 

“You and I are going shopping. So, hurry, go get your shoes, sunglasses, purse, kitchen sink, whatever you need. Go, go…” he hurried her upstairs, patting her butt as she jogged up the steps. She giggled in confusion, but did as she was told. She quickly changed out of her yoga pants and tank top into the first thing she found in her carry-on. She changed into a simple blue and white handkerchief-patterned sundress, her jean jacket from earlier, a pair of sandals, and her cognac-colored purse. 

“I’ll never understand why all women can’t get ready as quick as you and look as radiant as you,” JC shook his head as he walked her out the front door and out to his convertible. Ana blushed slightly, and followed him out quietly. 

“So, what exactly are we going shopping for?” Ana asked as they stopped at a red light on Sunset. She looked over at him from behind her Jackie-O style sunglasses and smiled at him. He looked so comfortable and at ease with his elbow resting on the window, and his fingers massaging his jaw. 

She could see his eyes look at her from behind his dark shades, and a mischievous smirk tugged at his lips. 

“You know you look like a bumblebee with those shades,” he playfully said. Her jaw dropped, and she smacked his arm. 

“It’s the latest in Milan fashion,” she playfully replied in a horrible Britist accent. A boisterous laugh escaped him, and she couldn’t help but join him. 

“A sexy bumblebee, though,” he smiled tenderly at her and rested a warm and firm hand on her knee. 

“I’ll show you my sting later,” she smirked in his direction, causing him to chuckle quietly.