The next day, JC's brother Tyler arrived - not quite as in style as his brother.  A friend picked him up at Baltimore International and dropped him off at the Chasez home just before lunchtime. 

"I'm on a budget," he'd admitted.

After just a couple hours spent with him, Caroline discovered she liked Tyler quite a bit.  He had a simple, quiet sense of humor, and an honest and likeable way about him.  In some ways, he seemed even more introverted than JC, but he was much more approachable as a whole.  Caroline figured it had something to do with not growing up quite as much in the public eye as his brother - he was more trusting and open, anyway. 

Though it was difficult with much of the chaos that dominated the house through the day, Caroline managed to secure the kitchen table on Wednesday morning to get some work done on her laptop.  She spoke with Kevin to get the 411 on the benefit dinner JC was scheduled to attend on Friday, and apparently, it was kind of a big deal.  Caroline wasn't entirely sure how her boss had gotten on the guest list in the first place, but she guessed it had something to do with Rob and his finagling. 

"It's black tie," Kevin told her over the phone, "and very formal.  Supposedly the Obama family is slated to appear, but it's only a rumor at this point.  Either way, security will be tight.  Make sure that JC has-"

"Sorry, Kevin," Caroline interrupted, flipping through a couple papers on the table in front of her.  "Did you say it was black tie?"

"I did.  Is that alright?"

"Yes, it's just..." Caroline thought mentally about her frantically packed suitcase upstairs.  She hadn't brought anything even close to black tie worthy.  "I don't think I'm quite...prepared for that."

"Not a problem," Kevin replied.  "JC already has an appointment with a stylist in Baltimore tomorrow for a tux fitting, we can tack you onto that.  Don't you have it on your schedule?"

Caroline quickly scribbled in the appointment with a sigh.  "I do now.  Time?"

"11 am."  Kevin paused.  "Is everything okay, Caroline?"

She rubbed her temples.  The last thing she wanted to do was admit to Kevin that she'd been more or less slacking on her job because of a stupid broken heart.  "No.  I mean, yeah...yeah, everything's fine.  I just, uh, got some stuff mixed up with this trip because JC did most of the booking on his own.  It threw me off a little bit."

"I understand."  Kevin didn't dwell on the issue, and quickly moved onto the next area of business.  He informed her that, since Rob was unable to attend the event, she would be acting as JC's interim publicist.

"Try to field any interviews as best as you can," Kevin instructed.  "There shouldn't be any issue with that inside the event itself, you'll mostly have to handle what happens outside.  Make sure JC doesn't get caught up with any one reporter for an extended amount of time, try to limit his interactions to forty-five seconds or less - two questions max."

Kevin rattled on a few more tips for her, and Caroline scribbled them all down as he spoke, feeling more and more overwhelmed by the minute.  Though he never expressly said so, Kevin's undertone clearly implied that this was an important event for JC.  The guest list was off the charts with celebrities, politicians and the like.  This was not a function that JC could afford to get drunk at and start telling the world to screw off because he was bitter about his career.

Caroline managed to get a bit more work done before JC and Tyler appeared in the kitchen, apparently on a break from their video game binge in the family room.

"Seriously?"  Tyler jabbed his thumb at Caroline on the way to the fridge.  "You're making her work?"

"I'm not making her do anything, clearly."  JC slipped onto a barstool at the kitchen island as he tapped at something on his phone and waited for Tyler to get out a gallon of milk and a couple of glasses.

"Well, stop being a dick and tell her to stop," Tyler suggested, taking the lid off of a cow-shaped cookie jar and pulling out a handful of yesterday's oatmeal raisin batch.

"Caroline, stop working," JC deadpanned after downing half of his milk.  Caroline ignored him as she finished off an email.

"Ew, gross."  She glanced up in time to see Tyler spit out the bite of cookie he had just taken.  "What are these?"

JC snickered.  "Mom made them vegan for Caroline."

Tyler gave Caroline a sympathetic expression.  "I'm sorry for you."

"I liked them," Caroline admitted, sending her email and beginning to get her stuff in order.  Apparently, her work was done for the day.

"Well, pull up a stool.  I'll make you a plate."  Tyler plunked two cookies down on a napkin and set it at the spot next to JC.  "I'd offer to pour you some milk, but my guess is that you wouldn't drink it."

"No, but I'll take some lemonade if there's any left."  Caroline stretched before crossing the kitchen and sitting down next to JC, still busy texting as he ate.

Tyler poured her a tall glass of lemonade and passed it across the island.  "Who are you texting?" he asked JC, who didn't answer right away.  Tyler caught Caroline's gaze and rolled his eyes exaggeratedly.

"Tony," JC replied finally.  "He's playing a show in Baltimore tonight."

Caroline didn't know who Tony was, but Tyler seemed intrigued by this news.  "Sweet.  Should we go?"

"Probably."  JC crammed a cookie in his mouth and mercifully finished chewing before turning to Caroline for the first time.  "You interested?"

"I don't even know what you're talking about," she said, taking a careful bite of her cookie.  In all truth, they were actually really good - Caroline had never quite perfected the art of baking, especially vegan baking.  It took real skill to make something that tasted good without the addition of eggs and butter.  A fleeting memory of her first foray with a vegan cake came flooding to the forefront of her mind, striking her like a painful arrow to the heart.  Brandon had been a good sport about it, eating almost a third of the terribly dry and crumbly cake all on his own and telling her how much he liked it in spite of how atrocious it actually was.

Caroline was shocked to find her eyes getting misty as the shock of loneliness and missing Brandon hit her hard.  JC had said something and both he and Tyler were waiting for her response.  In a panic, she dropped her cookie and faked a loud cough. 

"You okay?" Tyler asked as she took a gulp of her lemonade.  A single tear managed to escape as she blinked but Caroline brushed it away quickly.

"Yeah, sorry.  I choked," she said, staring down at the granite countertop.  "What did you say?"

JC was watching her curiously, but he didn't call her out.  "Tony's an old friend, he's a musician.  I actually think you would like his stuff."

Caroline smirked at that.  "Hmm."

"He's actually really good," Tyler interjected.  "Way better than JC."

JC shot a glance at his brother.  "Thanks, man."

Caroline looked at her watch, even though she clearly had no pressing appointments coming up.  "I don't know, I still have some stuff to get done," she fibbed.  JC frowned.

"I highly doubt that, but even if it's true, the show isn't until nine tonight."

Caroline really would have rather wallowed in her own inner turmoil than go out with JC and his brother, but she was fresh out of excuses.  "I guess so.  If you're sure this guy doesn't suck."

As it turned out, this guy Tony didn't suck at all.  And he had good taste in venue - the low-key gig was at a little bar in downtown Baltimore, which was actually surprisingly happening, even for a weekday.  The place was full but not packed, and Caroline sat down at a small table near the back with JC and Tyler while a girl played the fiddle onstage.  A few people glanced in their direction, but if anyone recognized JC, no one approached.  Caroline figured the crowd was too cool, even if they wanted to.

A waitress appeared to take their order, and Caroline could hear her inner smart girl voice telling her not to order any alcohol given her state of mind, but she suppressed it easily.

"Scotch on the rocks, please," she said when the girl turned to her.  "Double."

JC raised his eyebrows but didn't comment.  "Same," he told the waitress, and she left with a nod.  Caroline glanced at him. 

"If you're thinking about trying to match me, I wouldn't recommend it," she warned, low enough so that Tyler couldn't hear.  "Not tonight."

JC's expression remained impassive.  "Didn't even cross my mind."

Caroline rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat. 

The girl with the fiddle finished to polite applause, and by the time the waitress returned with their drinks, JC's friend had taken the stage.

He was a normal looking guy with a beard and some scattered tattoos on his arms.  He introduced himself to the audience after taking a seat at a baby grand piano onstage.  After a bit of idle chat, he started to play, and Caroline was impressed instantly.  Lucky for her, Tony's playing was enough to distract her from not downing her entire drink in one go - she managed to space it out over two songs before getting up for a refill. 

Tony picked up a guitar for his third song, and another guy joined him to play hi-hat for a slightly jazzy number that Caroline really enjoyed.  She stayed at the bar to finish her second drink and ordered a third to take back to the table, not realizing until she stood up that she'd already started to feel a slight haze descend over her.

JC glanced pointedly at her glass as she sat down but still didn't say anything.  Tony finished off another song before breaking for a short intermission, and it wasn't long before he found himself at their table. 

"You made it," he exclaimed with a laugh, giving JC a warm hug.  "Good to finally see you, man."

"It's been way too long," JC acknowledged.  Tony greeted Tyler much the same way before pulling up a chair to join them.  "Tony, this is my assistant, Caroline."

"Hey, nice to meet you."  Tony shook her hand across the table and gave her a kind smile.  "What happened to, uh...Jenny?" he asked JC, who waved his hand.

"She's so last year.  I fired her at Christmas."

Tony's laugh was filled with disbelief while Tyler shook his head.  "God, you're an asshole.  How can you work for him?"

Caroline shrugged at Tony's question.  "The pay makes it bearable."

Tony pointed at her.  "Alright!  I like your honesty."  He beamed around the table at them.  "I'm glad you guys are here.  How about a round of beers on me?"

His offer was taken up whole-heartedly, and the waitress delivered several Heinekens promptly.  Caroline sipped hers and listened while JC and Tony caught up; she learned that they'd met on the Disney show back when they were kids, and while JC had taken the pop route, Tony had gone a little more underground.  He'd released a couple albums on his own and taken a fairly grassroots approach to music, which Caroline could appreciate.  He'd been met with some success, however, thanks to his famous friends - even opening for NSYNC a couple of times and managing to develop a cult following among the group's more devoted fans.

A stage manager approached Tony before he could get too in detail, and told him it was time to get back onstage. 

"Why don't you come up and do a song with me?" Tony asked JC, giving him a little punch on the shoulder.  JC brushed him off.

"Nah.  I'm just a fan tonight."

Tyler reached across the table to join in the punching.  "Do it.  Give the people what they want."

JC rolled his eyes.  "No one here wants that."

Tony and Tyler looked to Caroline for the appeal.  She fingered the label on her beer bottle idly.

"I want it," she said, glancing at JC.  He met her gaze, still looking unconvinced, and Caroline leaned forward.  "Come on," she urged, knowing that she was too drunk to be this close to JC but way past the point of stopping herself.  "You'll have fun."

"I doubt that," JC replied, pushing his own beer aside.  Caroline found herself reaching under the table to squeeze his knee and JC looked at her, startled. 

"Please," she murmured, resting her chin on her free hand as she smiled lazily at him. 

"Can't say no to that," Tony said over Tyler's uncomfortable chuckle.  JC cleared his throat and tore his gaze away from Caroline's before standing up. 

"Fine.  But just one."

Tony grinned.  "The power of a woman."

JC disappeared backstage with Tony, leaving Caroline at the table with Tyler.  She finished off her beer and motioned the waitress over, knowing that she probably wouldn't make it to the bar on wobbly legs. 

"Maybe you should cut it off," Tyler suggested, taking another sip of his own beer.  "You are totally drunk."

"I can hold my liquor just fine, thanks," Caroline replied, instantly feeling bad about how snippy her remark came across.  Tyler just shrugged.

"Alright, whatever."

Caroline pursed her lips and ordered a gin and tonic when the waitress came over, raising her eyebrows at Tyler as if the addition of a non-alcoholic portion to her drink was a smart choice.  He just shook his head and looked up towards the stage as Tony came back on.

"Hey y'all," he greeted, taking a seat at the piano bench once again.  "This is a cover, hope you enjoy it."

The waitress delivered Caroline's drink a minute later, but she ignored it, too busy listening to Tony's melancholy rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me".  Caroline felt the crushing sadness she'd experienced in JC's kitchen earlier return slowly, heavily.  This time, her resolve weakened by too much alcohol, Caroline was powerless to stop it from taking over. 

She leaned her chin in her hand and listened to Tony sing, keeping her eyes wide open as if that would stop the tears from falling.  It didn't, of course, and by the time the song was over, they were pouring down her face in fat, warm drops.  Caroline wrapped her arms around her midsection and, for what felt like the first time since Brandon had walked out on her, didn't try to squelch the loneliness she felt within.

JC came up onstage with Tony for the next song, but Caroline had a hard time focusing her vision on them.  Tyler glanced back at her, noticed her tears, and almost spilled his beer.

"Are you...okay?" he asked tentatively.  Caroline started to say yes but found herself shaking her head instead.

"No," she admitted, her voice wavering.  "No, I'm not."

Tyler glanced back and forth between the stage and Caroline, as if weighing his options.  Finally, he scooted his chair closer to hers.  "Do you...want to talk about it?"

Even though Tyler didn't sound entirely convinced  that he wanted to talk to her about anything, Caroline's tipsy mind was overwhelmed with the thought that he even cared to ask, and more tears began to fall.

"It's nothing, really," she lied.  "I just, uh...I just got out of a serious relationship."

That sounded a little less pathetic than "my boyfriend left me", but Tyler's brow still furrowed in concern.  "Really?  Brandon?"

Caroline nodded, even as hearing his name made her heart squeeze painfully within her chest. 

"JC said you guys were together for a long time," Tyler continued. 

"Four and a half years," Caroline replied, half-hearing JC and Tony sing a cover of Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home to Me" in the background.  She took a moment to take a breath and keep herself from sobbing.  "It would have been five in December."

Tyler nodded slowly.  "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Caroline said automatically, then shook her head.  "No.  No, it's not okay."

Her sadness started to transform indignant as she picked up her gin and tonic to take a hefty sip.  Tyler waited, watching her carefully and looking nervous. 

"It's not okay because...I didn't do anything wrong," Caroline continued, shaking her head and jabbing her thumb up at JC onstage.  "Brandon was jealous from the beginning, for no reason."

Tyler followed the trajectory of her gesture, watching his brother for a second before turning back to her. 

"Wait...are you saying you broke up because of JC?"

"Because of Brandon's insecurity, maybe," Caroline said, feeling the tirade begin to rise up from within her, and she was powerless to stop it.  "He made assumptions, he...he overreacted."

"Um."  Tyler peeled off the label on his beer bottle and crumpled it in his hands before smoothing it out again.  "What, uh, happened?"

"We just...we went to a movie.  As friends," Caroline emphasized, maybe overly so.  "I mean, obviously.  And Brandon totally flipped.  For no reason!"

"Where was he?"

"Out of town."

Tyler started to tear the beer label into pieces.  "Oh."

But Caroline wasn't done.  "It's really ridiculous.  It's ridiculous because I don't...I mean, it's JC.  Come on.  He's my boss."  She leaned back in her seat to watch the man in question finish up his song onstage with Tony.  "I guess we're friends, but...that's it.  That's it!"

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Caroline was aware that she was starting to slur her words a little, but she ignored it.  "I don't even...I've never even looked at him in that way."

The words sounded stilted to Caroline's ears, and she realized slightly that it was because the statement was a lie.  Suddenly depressed, she leaned her chin in her hand again as the tears made their reappearance.

Tyler cleared his throat and didn't say anything.

JC and Tony finished their song to rousing applause, and Tony gave JC a hug onstage before he headed off.  Caroline shook her head slowly, wiping the hot tears off of her face in revolt.

"I don't...I didn't mean for this to happen," she whispered, looking at Tyler with wide eyes, desperate for him to believe her.  "I really didn't."

Tyler just nodded slowly.  Caroline looked to the front of the room again, watching as JC stopped to talk at a table near the stage.  She stared at him for a few minutes, studying his mannerisms, his smile.

So she hadn't meant for it to happen - but that didn't change the fact that it had.  The realization made Caroline feel warm all over (or maybe it was the gin), and she wiped the rest of the tears away.

"You know what I'm going to do?" she said suddenly, and Tyler looked startled, as if he hadn't expected her to make so quick of a recovery.  "I'm gonna do it.  I'm just gonna do it."

Tyler's eyes widened in fear.  "Do what?"

Caroline laid her palms down on the tabletop, convincing herself they weren't trembling.  "I'm going to make out with your brother."

Tyler gulped.  "Uh.  That's...I really don't think that's a great idea."

Caroline glanced at him.  "Why not?  Brandon probably thinks I've done it anyway.  So...so I'll just prove him right.  I'll just do it."

Pushing away the mess he'd made with the beer label, Tyler leaned across the table towards Caroline.  "First of all, you're wasted.  Second of all, it wouldn't even be a good idea if you were sober."

"Why not?" Caroline demanded again.

"Do you still love this guy?" Tyler asked.  "Brandon?"

Caroline bit down hard on her bottom lip, keeping her gaze on JC across the room.  She chose not to answer Tyler's question verbally, but he read the response on her face.

"Hooking up with JC isn't exactly going to bode well with your chances of getting back together with him," he pointed out.  "Right?"

Caroline didn't want to consider it, so she pushed the thought out of her mind.  "I don't care."

"You don't care right now because you're drunk," Tyler pointed out.  "Later you'll care."

Caroline tried to roll her eyes but couldn't quite coordinate the movement, so she reached for her drink instead.  Tyler quickly moved it out of reach.  "I'm cutting you off."

"What the hell?"  Caroline wanted to get angrier but couldn't quite muster up the energy.  "It's none of your business."

"Newsflash," Tyler replied, looking as serious and mature as Caroline had ever seen him .  "He's my brother.  It's completely my business."

Caroline tried to match Tyler's stare but she was too intoxicated.  JC appeared at the table before she could think up something to say.

Seeming to sense the intensity of the atmosphere, JC crossed his arms over his chest.  "What's up?"

"Caroline's drunk," Tyler replied, finally breaking their mini-staring contest.  "We better go."

JC heaved a sigh.  "Well, that didn't take long.  It's barely 11."

"I'm not..." Caroline trailed off, already forgetting what she was about to argue.

"Yeah, you are."  JC rounded the table and picked up her purse for her.  "Come on.

Caroline was aware of Tyler's stare as JC helped her out of the chair with a gentle hand on her elbow.  She leaned into his touch in revolt, managing to raise her eyebrows in challenge at the younger man. 

"Whoa."  She leaned a little too far and nearly lost her balance, so JC caught her against his chest, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Try looking at your feet while you walk."

"Okay."  Caroline looked away from Tyler to smile up at JC.  "Don't let me fall, okay?"

JC chuckled.  "Alright, I gotcha."

Tyler said nothing as the three left the bar, Caroline doing her best to lean against JC as much as possible.  Thankfully, she was drunk enough that she didn't have to fake it too much - she even tripped over a crack in the sidewalk somehow, and JC used his other arm to steady her.

"You okay?" he asked, looking down at her, clearly amused.  Caroline blinked slowly, giving her best attempt at looking sexy. 

"I'm fine."

Tyler appeared on JC's other side, interrupting the moment.  "Car's right here.  I'll drive, I only had the one beer."

JC helped Caroline into the backseat, and she couldn't resist the temptation to lie down, even as he tried his best to buckle her seatbelt. 

"Just don't puke back there," JC said, turning back to look at her once he was in the passenger seat.  "I didn't buy the rental insurance."

Caroline nodded and closed her eyes to settle in for the half-hour drive.

What felt like seconds later, JC was unbuckling her seatbelt.  "We're home," he said, sounding far away.  "Can you get up?"

Caroline mumbled a reply and allowed him to pull her out of the car and help her to the front door.  Heading up the walk and into the house passed in a blur for Caroline.  She was somewhat aware of JC having to half-carry her up the stairs.  He helped her into her room and onto the bed, but Caroline could see Tyler in the background, standing watch in the doorway. 

"Do you need a bucket in here or something?" JC asked, glancing around the room.  Caroline shook her head, sinking into the pillow with a sigh.

"No.  I'm fine."

"Alright then.  See you in the morning."  JC reached out to push a piece of hair out of her face, and Caroline grabbed his hand, holding it tightly in hers.  "What?"

Tyler cleared his throat in the doorway.  "You better let her get some sleep, Josh."

JC nodded and pulled his hand out of Caroline's grip.  "I just want to make sure she's okay."

"She's drunk," Tyler replied.  "Just let her sleep it off and get her some aspirin in the morning."

"Fine.  What's your problem?" JC asked.  Caroline only half-realized that they were having a conversation about her as she began to drift off into sleep.  Tyler's response was unintelligible.

What couldn't have been more than two minutes later, someone was shaking her awake.

"Stop," she mumbled, rolling over onto her stomach and burying her face in the pillow.  She had just fallen asleep, who the hell was shaking her?

"Caroline, it's 10 am," JC announced, his voice just barely breaking through the haze of sleep that still surrounded her.  He sounded so far away.  "Caroline."

Caroline opened her eyes and lifted her head slightly.  A shock of pain shot up her spinal cord and into her head like a blinding light, and she groaned, rolling over onto her back and covering her eyes.

"Sit up and take some aspirin," JC was instructing, and before she could even think about complying, he was lifting her into a sitting position, propping her up on pillows.  "Here."

He pulled her hand away from her face and pressed two pills into her palm. 

Caroline opened her eyes cautiously, realizing that the blinding light was actually filling the entire room.  A glance at the clock told her that it was, indeed, 10 am.  She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept in so late. 

She tossed the pills in her mouth and swallowed as JC handed her a glass of water to wash them down.  As Caroline drank, she realized that she was parched...and JC was fully dressed and ready for the day.

"Don't drink too much," he warned, but it was too late.  Caroline set down the half-empty glass and sat up a little straighter as her stomach rolled. 

"Oh, God."  She threw back the blankets and stumbled out of bed, nearly pushing JC over in the process. 

After Caroline had made it into the bathroom to completely empty out the contents of her stomach, she sat down cross-legged on the tile floor, her head in her hands.  What kind of idiot was she?  She hadn't been this hung over since college.

JC knocked on the door.  "You alive?"

Caroline stood up and washed her hands before opening the door.  "Barely."

JC had the bottle of Tylenol in hand.  "You better take a couple more.  Drink less this time."

Caroline scowled.  "You think?"  She snatched the bottle from him, but before she could close the door, JC held out his wrist, displaying his watch.

"Remember the stylist appointment is for 11.  We need to leave here in a half-hour at the latest."

Caroline groaned and leaned against the doorjamb.  "Shit.  I forgot all about it."

"Just do your best to clean up," JC replied over his shoulder, already heading for the stairs.

Since she didn't have time for a shower, Caroline couldn't wash any of the bar grime off of her from the night before.  She did her best with a washcloth and a hefty coating of mascara, but she still looked like trash and felt even worse.

"Caroline!" JC shouted from downstairs.  "Come on!"

He was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, keys to the rental in hand. 

"You drive," he suggested.  "I've got some emails to send."

Caroline thought about protesting, but figured she didn't have the spirit.

Thankfully, the rental car had a GPS, so Caroline plugged in the address to the stylist in Baltimore and let the soothing British voice tell her where to go.  JC settled in the passenger seat with his Blackberry, only looking up to change the radio station every few minutes.

The car was idling at a stoplight a few miles away from their destination when JC finally spoke.

"So you and Brandon broke up."

It was a statement rather than a question, and it took Caroline almost a full minute to respond.  How had he found out?

"Um...yeah."

"Tyler told me," JC clarified, not looking up from his phone.

The previous night's events came rushing back to Caroline, and she heaved a sigh.  Had she really told Tyler that she wanted to make out with JC?  Closing her eyes in embarrassment, Caroline rubbed her forehead. 

"Green light."

Caroline opened her eyes again at JC's words, right when the car behind her began beeping its horn obnoxiously.  She didn't say anything more as they continued their drive to the stylist's studio, not too far from the bar they'd visited the previous night.  Caroline found parking in a nearby structure and shut the car off, groping for her purse in the back. 

She'd righted herself in the driver's seat before she realized that JC was watching her.

"What?" she demanded, feeling her cheeks color.

JC continued to stare at her.  "Is that why you've been acting weird lately?" he asked, and Caroline shrugged, trying to play it off.

"Weird how?"

JC unbuckled his seatbelt.  "I don't know.  You don't argue with me as much.  You're not as witty as you used to be."

"Thanks," Caroline muttered, rolling her eyes. 

"I'm assuming that's why you got so wasted last night, too," JC continued.  Caroline opened the car door.

"I don't really want to talk about it."

She got out and slammed the door behind her without waiting for JC's response. 

Caroline was halfway to the elevator before JC caught up with her.

"Do you want kids?" he asked, and Caroline almost tripped over her own feet.

"What?"

"Do you want kids?" he repeated, shrugging when she stared at him.  "Just asking."

"Like...now?" Caroline asked, and JC chuckled.

"In general."

Apparently JC was having one of his hyper-brain days.  They reached the elevator and Caroline waited until they were inside to answer.  "I don't know.  It's not really something I'm thinking about right now."

JC hit the button for the ground floor and leaned against the side of the elevator, facing Caroline.  "But you've thought about it before?"

Caroline crossed her arms over her waist and tucked herself into the corner.  She still felt like shit and the last place she wanted to be was discussing life plans in an elevator with Dr. Phil.  Regardless, JC's question turned itself over in her mind.  Of course she'd thought about it, of course she and Brandon had discussed it, especially as things got more serious.  Caroline didn't have a very high opinion of marriage, and she certainly didn't want to even consider the prospect of making things legal until she was at least 30 and had a well-established career.  She did know, however, that she wanted to be married before even thinking about having kids.  She would be lying if she didn't admit to herself that she wanted to somehow provide the perfect family life she'd missed out on to kids of her own someday.

Brandon's only strong opinion on the subject was wanting to name a kid after Joe Strummer of The Clash.  "It could be a boy or a girl, really," he'd always say.

"Of course I...want them," Caroline said finally.  "But things have to be...different.  I have to be ready."

JC glanced at her as they started up the street towards the building the stylist was located in, clearly wanting her to elaborate. 

"It's just..." Caroline sighed.  "My parents had kids in an attempt to save their already crumbling marriage.  And in the end it collapsed anyway, and just made life shitty for us.  I don't ever want to do that.  I want to have kids when I know it's right for me and...whoever.  And right for our family."

JC didn't say anything for a few moments, and when they stopped at a crosswalk, Caroline looked at him expectantly.  "Well?  Do you want kids?"

She meant the question to be facetious, but it came out more serious than she'd hoped.  What if JC didn't want any children?  After all, he was in his mid-30's and didn't appear to be anywhere near settling down.  Maybe he hated kids.  Caroline shook her head to push the thoughts out - who cared?  Certainly not her.

"Yep," he answered easily, hands in the pockets of his chinos as if he didn't have a care in the world.  "I only want boys, though."

Caroline cocked her head.  "Why?"

"Girls are too much work," he replied.  "Plus, I'm not the most intimidating guy, I can't really see myself chasing off boyfriends with baseball bats.  I've never even played baseball, come to think of it."

It was a ridiculous statement, but Caroline laughed out loud.  JC grinned, as if that had been his intention all along.

The stylist's office was on the fourteenth floor of a high-rise overlooking the city, and the lobby was filled with oversized modern furniture in shades of burgundy and green.  The model-like woman at the front desk instructed them to take a seat until their respective stylists were ready.

"You mean you're getting styled too?" JC asked Caroline, clearly making fun of himself even as he teased her.  Caroline shrugged one shoulder.

"I didn't pack anything black tie acceptable.  Kevin's making me."

JC flicked through the pages of some fashion magazine.  "Maybe you'll have fun."

Caroline doubted that, but she had a bit too long to think it over.  JC's scheduled stylist, a rail-thin woman in an ankle-length leather skirt, appeared within minutes and whisked him away to some back room.  Caroline sat on the uncomfortable velvet couch for what felt like forever until the glass double doors of the lobby flew open and a slightly bedraggled looking young man rushed in.

"You're late," the woman at the desk muttered, not looking up at him. 

"Sorry.  Yeesh," the man whispered, snatching a slip of paper that she held out to him.  "Caroline?"

He turned and spotted her sitting alone on the couch.  "That's me," she said awkwardly.

"Of course it is, you're the only one here."  The man smiled, not unkindly, and held his hand out for her to take.  Caroline wasn't big on judging books on their covers, but something about the way he spoke, shook her hand, and the fact that he was a stylist for a living all seemed to indicate that he was probably completely flaming.  Then again, she'd thought the same about JC when they'd first met, so maybe her gaydar was just off.

As it turned out, her stylist (who introduced himself as Timothy) showed his true colors almost instantly.

"I heard one of the NSYNC guys is here today," he stage whispered as Caroline followed him down a hallway.  "I hope I can sneak a peek...maybe it's Lance, I need a date something fierce."

Caroline couldn't help but smile.  "Actually, it's JC."

Timothy gasped, ushering Caroline into an office door.  "Shut. Up.  How do you know?  What did you see?"

The room was small and sparsely decorated with a plush leather couch and a matching armchair.  A small bookcase crammed full of fashion magazines was in the corner, and a narrow desk was situated beneath a window that looked out onto the neighboring building.  Some amateur abstract art was framed on the crimson painted walls.

"Have a seat," Timothy suggested, shrugging out of his khaki trench coat.  "Tell me everything."

Caroline wondered if it was safe to admit who she was, then figured that he'd probably find out anyway.

"Actually, I'm JC's assistant."

Timothy's eyes nearly popped out of his head.  "Oh, no you are not.  Are you?"

"I am."

Timothy slid into the armchair, his intense gaze still pinning her.  "Girl.  Hook me up.  Is he gay?"

Caroline laughed out loud.  "No, definitely not.  Sorry."

Timothy wasn't deterred.  "Maybe he can get me Lance's number?"

Caroline shrugged.  "Maybe."

After Timothy talked a little bit longer about how hot JC was (and Lance and Joey and Justin, for that matter, but "not the other one, too old for me"), he finally paused to glance at his watch.

"Damn, we better get down to business."  He pulled a notepad and pen out of his messenger bag.  "Okay.  Tell me about this event."

Caroline gave Timothy all of the details that she knew (mostly via Kevin), while he took notes furiously.

"Now tell me how you want to look," he said when she was finished, looking up at her with a sparkle in his eye.  Caroline blanched.

"Um.  I don't...really know," she admitted.  "I don't get dressed up very often."

"Oh, girl."  Timothy flipped his notepad shut.  "Don't worry.  We'll take care of you."

Caroline realized quickly that she was fairly in over her head.  Timothy was using words like a-line, sheath, maxi - terms that she had never heard in relation to fashion before.  He took her measurements, gushed about her figure ("curves in all the right places, and look at those legs!"), and asked about how she planned on wearing her hair.

"Probably...like this," Caroline said, lifting the length of it over one shoulder and shrugging.  Timothy chewed on his bottom lip.

"Okay.  That's your prerogative, sweetheart."  He scribbled down her measurements in his notepad and slipped it in his pocket.  "Now for the fun part."

Timothy led her down the hall into another room, this one larger and filled with racks upon racks of dresses.  Caroline had never seen so much expensive clothing in one place in her life, and she couldn't help but stare.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Timothy caught her admiring a black dress made almost completely out of feathers.  "It's Garavani.  Not even released to the public yet."

"Wow."  Caroline didn't know who Garavani was, but she had to admit that the dress was spectacular.  Although she hoped Timothy didn't try to put her in it - it was a little too flashy for her.

Thankfully, Timothy waved the dress away.  "I'm thinking more along these lines for you."

He showed her to a rack of much more conservative gowns, all floor-length.  "Black tie is always floor length, no matter what anyone tries to tell you," he informed her.  "I dare anyone to show up wearing a cocktail dress to a presidential ball and see if they don't throw you out on your tacky ass."

Caroline decided to take his word for it. 

"Any of these stand out to you?" he asked.

To Caroline, they all looked black and expensive, and that was about it.  But she didn't want to offend the obviously excited Timothy.  "I...love them all."

Timothy clasped his hands together over his heart.  "Me too!  Let's start with Stella.  McCartney, that is."

As it turned out, Timothy only made her try on about three dresses from the rack before he found "the one".

"This is it," he exclaimed, pulling up the zipper as Caroline turned towards the full-length mirror propped against the wall.  "Oh, this is most definitely it."

Caroline took a look at her reflection and tried to decide if she felt the same.  The dress was long and black, of course, but it was also form-fitting and hugged just about every curve she owned.  The neckline plunged about three inches further than what she was comfortable with.  But even Caroline had to admit that she looked...

"Gorgeous," Timothy stage-whispered.  "What do you think?"  Caroline smoothed her hands over the silk clinging to her hips. 

"I like it," she admitted.  "A lot."

"Damn straight you do."  Timothy stepped up behind her to pull and smooth the dress in various places.  "I don't even think we'll have to alter anything.  It's like this dress was made for you...Alexander McQueen does it again."

He began to suggest different ways that she could wear her hair, and the longer Caroline looked at herself in the mirror, the more she believed that she could pull this off.  She'd never been to a black tie event in her life, but it was possible that she was actually starting to get excited

Someone knocked on the door and swung it open almost immediately.  Timothy groaned in frustration.

"Maya, I'm with a client," he hissed at the woman who appeared in the doorway.  Caroline recognized her in the mirror as the stylist JC had disappeared with earlier.

"Well my client is waiting on your client," Maya shot back, crossing her long arms over her waist.  "How much longer?"

Caroline stepped off the small pedestal and turned around.  She'd almost forgotten completely about JC, and she opened her mouth to assure the annoyed-looking Maya that they were finished, when the man himself appeared in the doorway next to the stylist.

Three things happened at once.  Timothy gasped, startled by the sudden appearance of JC.  Maya shot him a warning glare and held her finger to her lips in attempt to shut him up.  And JC ignored both of them, his gaze locked on Caroline.  She swallowed dryly as JC looked her up and down, not lewdly, but in a way that suggested that he was floored by the way that she looked. 

And for about seven seconds, they were the only two people in the room.

Suddenly embarrassed by his stare, Caroline clutched the long skirt of the dress in her hands.  "I just...need to get changed," she said, breaking the tense silence.  Her words seemed to snap Timothy into action, and he fumbled for the doorknob. 

"Be out in a minute," he sang, shutting the door in JC's still-staring face.  He crossed the room towards Caroline, his eyes wide.

"Holy shit, he looks about fifteen times better than I remember," he gushed, turning Caroline around and pulling at the zipper of the dress.  "What a beautiful man.  Lucky you."

Caroline felt the heat in her cheeks intensify.  "Why?  He's just my boss."

"He's got it bad," Timothy insisted.  "Did you see the way he was looking at you?"

Caroline cleared her throat and tried not to stutter as she spoke.  "He...he was probably just surprised to see me looking so dressed up.  I'm not...I don't..."

"Mm," Timothy murmured, helping her step out of the dress carefully.  "Sweetie, I know a man who's smitten when I see it.  He's into you."

Shaking her head, Caroline tried to sound assertive as she said, "No...definitely not."

Timothy didn't say anything more, but he had a knowing little smirk on his face as he put the dress into a garment bag. 

Once Caroline was changed back into her own clothes (which felt disappointingly basic against her skin compared to the luxury of the dress she'd just worn), she thanked Timothy and allowed him to walk her back out to the lobby.  JC sat on the couch again, drumming his fingers on his knee and staring off into space.  Timothy made a show of checking him out again before ushering Caroline in his direction.

"Hey," she said, holding the garment bag close to her body.  JC looked up at her, startled. 

"Oh.  Hey.  All done?"

"Yep."

The walk back to the car was silent, almost uncomfortably so.

Caroline went automatically to the driver's seat, and JC didn't argue, but instead slouched in the passenger seat with his chin in his hand as he stared out the window.  Feeling awkward about their semi-moment (she couldn't quite convince herself that it qualified as a "moment", or maybe she didn't want to), Caroline didn't try to coerce him into conversation.  Though it was past lunchtime and she was starving, she didn't try to suggest they stop for food, either.

When they arrived back at the Chasez house, Caroline had barely managed to shut the car off before JC got out and headed up the driveway for the front door.  She sighed and retrieved both her dress and JC's tux from the backseat and lugged them inside.  Tyler was sitting at the bottom of the stairs when she entered, tying a pair of running shoes onto his feet.  A soccer ball at on the step next to him.

"Hey Caroline," he greeted.  "You ever play soccer?"

Caroline shut the door behind her and frowned.  "Um, maybe in like...elementary school.  Why?"

"I was just about to head outside and kick the ball around for a bit," Tyler replied.  "More fun with two, you wanna join?"

Caroline's full morning had already gotten to her, and she was still more than a little hungover. 

"No, thanks."

"Come on."  Tyler stood up, blocking her way up the stairs.  "It'll be fun."

"I don't feel very good, Tyler," Caroline admitted, trying to edge around him with her garment bags in tow.  "Maybe later."

"Exercise makes everyone feel better," Tyler reminded, tossing the ball from hand to hand.  "Go change and meet me out back."

He was gone before Caroline could argue further. Rolling her eyes, she stomped up the stairs.  JC's bedroom door was closed, so she hung his tux on the doorknob without knocking before retreating into her own room.  All she really wanted was a shower, something to eat, and maybe some strong black coffee, but Tyler apparently wasn't taking no for an answer.  Certain that he would track her down if she didn't show, Caroline hung up her dress and changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before heading back downstairs.

The backyard was just about as big in person as it seemed from afar, lined with tall trees for privacy.  It sloped down slightly from the house to end in a nice plateau, perfect for playing soccer or volleyball or virtually any other kind of organized sport.  Tyler had set up two foldable goal nets on either side of the yard, and he was practicing his dribbling in the center of the grass.

"Hey," he greeted when she appeared.  "Ready to get your butt kicked?"

Caroline rubbed her forehead.  "Not really, but apparently I don't have a choice."

Tyler just grinned and pointed towards the goal behind her.  "You."  He gestured towards the opposite side.  "Me.  Cool?"

Caroline sighed.  "Yeah."

Tyler positioned the ball in the center of the field and backed up a few steps.  "I'll give you the first run."

Placing her hands on her hips, Caroline surveyed the field for a few moments.  She really, honestly hadn't kicked a soccer ball in over a decade, but she didn't really care either.  She took the remaining steps towards the ball, and gave it a hefty kick towards the goal.  Tyler blocked it easily, and promptly flipped the play, dribbling past Caroline and kicking the ball right into her goal.

"Hey," Caroline complained.  "You went past me."

"You have to man your goal," Tyler pointed out.  "This is two-on-two.  You're the forward and the goalie."  He retrieved the ball and kicked it back towards Caroline.  She stopped it with her foot, crossing her arms over her waist.

"I know that."

"Alright then."  Tyler repositioned himself in front of his goal, bent forward slightly, anticipating her offense.  "Let's call that a practice scrimmage.  Now, we play for points."

An odd welling up of competition surprised Caroline, and this time, she adapted a different tactic, attempting to fake Tyler out with a quick jab to the left.  He was too fast for her, and blocked the trick shot easily, starting to move around her.  Caroline quickly retreated to her goal, but Tyler was two steps ahead.  He scored easily once more, and now Caroline was really pissed.

"Okay.  Okay, let's go," she muttered, shuffling the ball out of the net.  "It's on."

Eighteen points later, twelve of them belonged to Tyler, and only six were Caroline's.  But she'd worked hard for those six points, and her shorts were covered in grass and mud stains from the many times she'd tripped and slid across the lawn.  She'd just jumped to block a high shot and landed hard on her butt, and Tyler suggested a time-out.

"You okay?" he asked, crouching down next to her when she didn't get up right away.  Caroline's tailbone ached, but she was pleased to see that Tyler had finally broken a sweat.

"I'm fine."  She remained sitting, however, and leaned back on her hands to take a breather. 

"Water?" he suggested, motioning towards a small cooler on the far side of the yard that Caroline hadn't noticed before.  She nodded, and Tyler returned with two cold bottles of water in his hands.  He handed her one and sat down on the grass next to her. 

"So how was the stylist this morning?" he asked after drinking half of his water.  Caroline shrugged.

She pictured the way JC had looked at her, the way his gaze had made her feel.  Tyler was watching her, however, and it was almost like he could read her thoughts.  Caroline shook her head to clear the memory.

"Fine."

Tyler picked up the soccer ball, resting nearby, and rolled it on the grass between his hands.  "You didn't make out with JC, did you?"

Caroline gasped, startled.  "No!"

"Because last night you said-"

"I know what I said," Caroline interrupted.  "I was drunk, Tyler."

"Right, but you know what they say about getting drunk," Tyler said.  When Caroline stared at him blankly, he continued.  "It lowers your inhibitions.  Your true desires surface.  Maybe things that you've tried to smother or resist."

Caroline tried to roll her eyes, but nerves had her hands shaking.  She tucked them underneath her so Tyler wouldn't see.  "Whatever."

"I'm serious," Tyler said.  "Josh is my brother, Caroline, he's one of my best friends.  I can read him pretty clearly."

"So?"

"He likes you."

Caroline felt a hot flush cover her face and neck for what felt like the fifteenth time that day.  "He does not.  What is this, high school?"

"He wants more from you, and he feels guilty because you broke up with your boyfriend," Tyler continued, as if he hadn't even heard her.  "He thinks it's his fault, but he can't deny that he's attracted to you, either."

Hearing all of this, though she'd suspected it within her subconscious for long enough, was too much for Caroline to take.  She'd been avoiding these thoughts for a reason, and now JC's little brother was sitting her down for a heart to heart?  To make her face her feelings?

No.  No way.

"I can't hear this right now."  Caroline stood up, brushing off the seat of her shorts.  "I'm starving, and I'm hungover, and I'm just...I'm not..."

"Not ready?" Tyler finished softly.  Caroline glared down at him.

"No, just..."  She shook her head.  "Forget it."

Caroline stormed back up the slope of the lawn, seething.  She didn't look to see if Tyler was following, she didn't care.  Why the hell was she here, in the middle of nowhere Maryland, at JC's parents house?  What the hell was she doing?  She belonged back in LA, with Brandon.  No job was worth this.

Thankfully, she didn't run into JC on her return upstairs, and the bathroom was mercifully unoccupied.  She stripped off her dirty, sweaty clothes and did her best to wash away the events of the day under the hot spray of the shower.  She lost track of how long she stayed in there, but once the water began to run cool, Caroline reluctantly got out. 

Her stomach was still painfully empty, but the last thing she wanted to do was go downstairs and face the prospect of running into JC or any member of his family.  She locked herself in the guest room, drew the curtains until the room was as dark as it would be, and climbed onto the bed.  Her initial intention was to fall fast asleep and tune out the world completely, but the blinking blue light of her laptop caught her eye, and she pulled it off the nightstand.  She disregarded her work email, going straight for her personal account.

The inbox was frustratingly blank, and Caroline refreshed the page three times, her throat growing tighter with each click.  Finally giving up, she closed the computer and shoved it aside, pulling the quilt at the foot of the bed up to cover her face as tears began to fall.