Riley shifted her body under the weight of something warm. Slowly opening her eyes, she yawned, finding herself covered by a thick blanket. 

“Justin?,” she looked around. The last thing she remembered was them watching FRIENDS re-runs quietly after dinner. The tv was still on, Rachel flying around the kitchen, being terrorized by a bird. She giggled sleepily and looked around, finding Justin looking at her.

“You fell asleep…” he whispered. He had been cleared for light vocal use, and he couldn’t be happier about it. He was still not  saying much, per doctor’s orders, but it felt like a weight had been lifted.

Riley yawned. “Sorry…” she smiled.

Justin shook his head “You looked cold,” he softly answered.

Riley blushed “Thank you…” Staring at the time on the cable box, she laughed at herself “Oh my God it’s only 9 o clock…”

Justin chuckled silently.

“Well..I’m awake now. Movie?”

Justin smiled, moving closer to her on the couch. Lifting the blanket, he sat next to her and draped it over both of them. 

Riley looked toward him and shifted to get comfortable. They hadn’t talked about the kiss three days ago. They couldn’t, really, but she could feel a change in the way he looked at her...and in the way she looked at him. She wanted to ask, but at the same time, she didn’t want to know. She still had a job to do. A job she had come to really love. A job she turned out to be good at. 

Still, she couldn’t ignore that being here, with him, was the most relaxed she had been in years.

Justin stared at the tv as she scrolled to find something to watch. His mind was racing. This felt right. REALLY right. He knew he had crossed a line with Riley, but got the sense that she didn’t mind. Little by little, he had seen more of a spark in her. Longer laughs, bigger smiles, more meaningful conversations. He was nervous around her now, but at the same time totally at ease. He didn’t know exactly where this was all headed, but he was happy to take it one moment at a time. 

Settling on a movie both of them had seen a hundred times, they sat in silence again, laughing at familiar jokes. 

Justin tugged the blanket slightly, attempting to cover his larger frame a bit more. 

Noticing the slight draft on her legs as he did so, Riley slowly pulled back, attempting to divide the warmth evenly. Back and forth without a word for a few minutes, Riley spoke up…

“Stop it…” she laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to be warm-blooded…”

Justin grinned, tugging the blanket harder toward his side now. 

“Oh HELL no…” Riley giggled, tugging back with all her strength. 

Losing his grip, he fell forward as she pulled. Catching his shoulder to steady him, Riley looked in his eyes. Licking her lips nervously, she pulled herself up slightly to press them against his. 

His arms wrapped around her, cradling at her lower back as she turned to grab his waist. The kiss got deeper as they fell back against the couch cushions. 

Riley felt movement on the couch as she got lost in the moment, unsure of where it was coming from. Suddenly, their arms were forced away from each other as four furry feet broke their embrace. 

Benji’s tail wagged happily as he settled halfway between both of their laps. Looking to each of them briefly, he huffed and laid his head on Justin’s legs. 

Looking at each other, they laughed until tears formed in the corners of their eyes. 

“Damn it, Benji…” Justin whispered.

**

Riley made her way around to the back. She had enjoyed her time off for Christmas, having checked in a few times with Justin while he also spent time with his family. 

Having made a full recovery, he had restarted the tour at the beginning of the month, but she had avoided watching any footage, despite how many times Katie and Emi had tried to send her stuff. Having no real reason to call him for any appearances or arrangements, she had stuck to text messages.

Tonight was one of the more anticipated nights of the reschedule, it being not only at Madison Square Garden, but also his birthday. 

Truthfully, she was nervous. How would she feel when she saw him again. How would he sound? There were not any side effects expected from the surgery, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it had altered his pitch, even a little.  

And then there was the kiss...Well, several kisses. And a lot of hands. Surgery recovery had stopped them from going very far, but they had not discussed what it all meant.

She knew one thing. She didn’t hate him anymore. She hadn’t in awhile. In fact, if she was being honest with herself, she had smiled more in the last year than she could remember ever having done before. He still got on her nerves, and there were times she wanted to throw him out a window, but somehow, she could never stay annoyed at him. 

She walked down a hall, having texted him that she was there,  as he rounded the corner.

Wrapping his arms around her in a hug, he was silent. She hugged him back and then pulled away. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Riley stared at him, waiting. She had no idea what the surgery may have done to his voice.. She knew what singing meant to him, and he had texted her that the tour was going well, but what about his speaking voice?

“Relax, Marin...I’m fine…” he teased with a grin.

“OH my God…” She swatted at him. “Don’t scare me like that!”

Dodging her hit, he  laughed lightly “Were you afraid I’d sound different?”

“I mean...maybe.” she laughed. 

“No such luck...Stuck with the same old me.”

“Eh. I’m used to it..It’s fine…”

“Now...since I CAN talk again...I have some stuff I have been WAITING to say…”

Riley looked at him nervously “Um...Ok?”

Taking a deep breath, he started “OKAY. First of all, I was not THAT big of a pain in the ass. Not talking was REALLY hard for me, let alone not being able to sing, and then getting sick on top of it? You saved my ass and are probably the one thing that kept me from going completely insane...So THANK YOU. “

“You’re welcome, Justin. Part of my J-”

“Shhh shh shh..I’m not done….”

Riley closed her mouth, trying not to laugh. His momentum was almost comical.

“SECONDLY, Derek...is an ASSHOLE, and he never deserved you. I hate that  he got to you, but Riley...You have NOTHING to be ashamed of. HE is the dick, NOT you. You are SO much better off without him. You deserve SO much better...and LASTLY...Your eggs are AMAZING…”

Riley cracked a smile. “Are you done?

“For now…” Justin smiled. 

“Good to have you back, Timberlake” Riley managed. 

“Glad YOU’RE back…” he answered. 

There was a brief silence and he reached out to squeeze her hand. 

She smiled. “Happy Birthday, Justin...You’re gonna make all those people wait?...Go get dressed…”

*******

Riley busied herself backstage by keeping everything in order. Making sure the extra friends and family were taken care of, getting Justin in and out of brief conversations with press who had shown up, and making sure his anxiety wouldn’t make an appearance. 

Since it was a special occasion, there was also a little more alcohol flowing than usual, and she was on guard to make sure no one overdid it.

What seemed like no time later, Riley stood just under the ramp next to Justin. Showtime. 

The crowd was already screaming, and the lights had just gone down. 

She couldn’t help but be taken back to her *NSync days. She wondered what 11-year-old Riley would have worn to this show.

Probably something with entirely too much glitter, she thought to herself.

The giant MOTW logo slowly lowered and she turned to him to see his eyes closed. 

“You got this…” she smiled. 

He took a deep breath and winked at her. 

She stifled a laugh “Justin...Are you already tipsy…?”

He chuckled and touched her shoulder…. “See ya later, Riley,” and jogged up the ramp onto the stage. 

She shook her head to herself.

Well, it IS his birthday, she giggled.

Smiling to herself, she headed backstage to relax for a minute.

Walking down a hall, she was stopped by wardrobe.

“Girl...What are you wearing..?!”

“Uh...Clothes?” Riley looked down at her outfit. Sure, she wasn’t dressed up, but she was there to work, and Justin’s party had been billed as “casual.”

“You’re not wearing that later, are you?”

“I mean...I was going to, yeah…” 

Riley was met with a sneaky smile. It had not been lost on most of the crew the way she and Riley acted around each other. 

“Well...Not now...Come on….,” she grabbed Riley’s hand, pulling her.

“Wait...I have to work…”

“Do you know how long this show is? This won’t take long...Trust me…”

--

Riley looked at herself in a dressing room mirror. She had been hesitant, but had to admit she looked good. She rarely got that dressed up anymore, but it had been fun to be pampered. It was freezing outside, but for now she was going to ignore that and have fun with this look. 

She touched her hair one last time, noticing how smooth it felt, and smiled. 

Throwing her credentials back around her neck, she made her way to the entrance to the venue, making her way to section 102. She had something up her sleeve that was going to earn her major points. 

Ducking low, she found Katie and Emi...

“Hey!” she shouted over the music.

“Ry!” Katie shouted back “What are you doing? Aren’t you working?...WOW. LOOK AT YOU!”

Riley smiled “Yep. I’m working...Here!” she beamed as she handed Katie two wristbands.

Katie’s eyes went huge.

“What are those…” Emi asked, having an idea exactly what they were.

“You know what they are...COME ON!”

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” Katie squealed. 

“Shhhh… YES” Riley laughed. “Put them on and let’s go…” She nodded her head toward the stairs.

“RILEY I LOVE YOU” Emi shouted. They followed her excitedly down to the floor and into VIP. 

Riley giggled. “Ok be cool though...He’s still my boss…”

Katie and Emi , as expected, were losing their minds, singing every word, as they danced along to the show. Riley laughed and danced along with them. 

“I think he won you over!” Emi smiled at Riley.

“Occupational Hazard…” Riley teased “I never said he couldn’t perform…”

The opening to Rock Your Body started and Riley grinned, knowing just how close her friends were about to get. 

“SHIT...OH MY GOD…” Katie screamed as Emi grabbed her arm and turned them around the face the brightly tiled dance floor.

Justin made his way to the floor and Katie and Emi’s phones went up.

“HE’S RIGHT FREAKING THERE!” Emi squealed.

As the music pulsed, Justin spun around and caught Riley’s eyes. His smile got bigger and she knew he was plotting. Making his way through the dancers, he did a quick step over to where the three of them were standing, and grabbed Katie’s hand, leading her in a quick two-step before winking at her, then pointing  as he walked away. 

Katie froze as Emi’s jaw hit the floor and Riley laughed.

If she faints, he’s paying the medical bill, she thought as she giggled.

“AHHHHHHHHH!!! FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!” Katie hugged Emi and then Riley. She had tears in her eyes, and Riley held her for a second. She had never seen Katie this excited before, and that was saying something. 

“DID EITHER OF YOU GET THAT ON CAMERA?” She shouted.

Emi and Riley both laughed “Yes!” They said in unison.

Onstage, Justin was making his way through “Supplies,” and looked down to see Riley, stuck in a laugh. A full, unashamed, letting loose laugh. Her entire face lit up in a glow as she watched her friends’ excitement. He caught himself staring, and pulled back into the moment. Her turn to be surprised was quickly approaching. 

As Supplies winded down, so did Riley, Katie, and Emi, with Emi pouting. 

“It’s almost over…” she whined, having looked up the setlist beforehand.

Approaching the center of the stage near the VIP bar, the music stopped and Justin grabbed a guitar.

“Wait what’s this?’ Katie asked, looking at Riley.

“Uh..I don’t know…” Riley answered honestly.

Justin paused for the screams and approached the mic stand “New York! DAMN!”  The screams got louder and he grinned. “You know how to show a guy a good time…Mind if I sneak one in?” The crowd roared and he continued “I haven’t done this one in awhile...but...I’m feeling inspired tonight...You with me…?” Shouts of support flooded the venue, and as the opening chords of the song started, the crowd swelled with excitement. 

“Oh my GOD!!! “ Katie screamed. 

The song sounded familiar to Riley but she couldn’t place it exactly. 

Justin took a breath and smiled as he started “...Said all I want from you is to see you tomorrow...and every tomorrow, maybe you’ll let me borrow your heart…”

Katie and Emi were swaying and singing along. Riley smiled and nodded along. He started swaying and dancing in time, then turned to focus his attention on where they were standing.

“That’s right..” he winked. 

Katie and Emi shoved Riley excitedly, as Justin turned his gaze directly on Riley ...

“I know people make promises all the time..then they turn right around and break them..When someone cuts your heart open with a knife…then you’re bleeding...Oh, but I can be that guy to heal it over time...and I won’t stop until you believe it...cuz baby you’re worth it...”

Riley felt her heart pound faster as she stared back at him. Was he…?

“Omg Ry…” Emi whispered. 

Riley opened her mouth to say something, but couldn’t find words. Katie noticed the gaze in her eyes and playfully hit her arm “RILEY! ….YOU...YOU LIKE HIM…”

“Shutup,” she whispered, eyes on the stage…

Justin played to the crowd, then glanced back over 

“Don’t act like it’s a bad thing...to fall in love with me…”

Riley blushed as he smiled and continued to sing, making his rounds in the crowd. 

Emi and Katie giggled and stared at Riley. “You have something to tell us?” Emi smirked.

Riley shook her head “No…” she smiled.

Crouching down a little, he sang in their direction, continuing into the bridge, and Katie and Emi swooned as they hugged Riley. 

“No I ..won’t fill your mind...with broken promises...and wasted time...and if you fall ...You’ll always land..right in these arms...these arms of mine…”

Riley’s face betrayed her as she turned to her friends. 

“I have to go get ready for the party and show end…”

“You’re leaving NOW...AFTER THAT?” Katie asked.

“Duty calls” Riley shrugged. 

Emi shook her head “This was AMAZING, Ry...Thank you…” 

Katie grabbed her arm “We’re TALKING ABOUT THIS LATER…” she winked. 

Riley rolled her eyes and smiled “Fine...I’ll call you guys tomorrow.”