Everything I Own

"Everything I Own"

By Chris christopher_bass@teleport.com

Disclaimer: If you are not of consenting age of wherever you live, then please do not read this story, even though there is no sex.... yet. If you don't approve of same-sex relationships, then why are you even here?

Before I continue my story, I want to thank a few people who I REALLY appreciate. The first is Dave (aka "Mortis"). He has been SO supportive of my work since the beginning and someone I am so grateful for. The next person is Clive, who sent me a wonderful e-mail about my last part. The other person is David of the Nifty Archives. Even if I said thank you forever, it would not be enough.

Last time on "Everything I Own":

Mark then asked, "Why can't you forgive yourself then?"

Chris shyly replied, "It's about what we talked about earlier."

Mark knew what Chris was talking about. "You made a decision about that?"

"Yes I did. The answer is yes to both of the questions I know you are asking inside your head."

The rest of the people in the room were clueless. "Do you want me to come with you for support while you ask?" Mark asked Chris.

Chris was grateful to Mark. "Please. I owe you so much!"

Mark smiled at Chris. "What are friends for? Joey, Chris needs to ask you something in private. Will you come with us?"

Joey thought for a second and had a guess on what Mark was talking about. Once he had a guess, he replied a little too eagerly. "YES!"

Chris, Mark, and Joey went into the next room, which was empty. Both Chris and Joey were nervous at what was about to happen. _______________________________________________________________________

And now, part 7 of "Everything I Own":

Mark, Chris, and Joey were in an empty room, right next to Justin's room. Mark was sitting in a chair, only there for support should Chris need it.

Joey was sitting on the bed. Actually, if truth were told, he was on the bed, but he definitely was not sitting on it. He was bouncing on it, like a very excited child would. He had a feeling he knew what Chris wanted to say.

Chris was pacing around the floor, too nervous to utter even one word. Every time he opened his mouth, more butterflies went into his stomach.

Mark broke the silence. "Chris, you can tell him. I'm here for you. Believe me, Joe will like what you have to ask."

Chris decided to just go ahead and ask. However, he was so nervous that he stuttered a lot and missed some words. "Uh...Joey...uh...we...that is I...no, I should say we've known each other for quite.... quite...time. We know...I mean... that is...we're best friends, brothers in fact. " Chris felt like he was acting like a complete idiot, so he calmed down, took a breath, and continued. "Joe, I don't want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship. It means too much to me. However, seeing everyone else in the group is either gay or bi has made me think. I'm starting to have feelings for you that I don't understand at all. Mark has helped me some, but I'm still confused."

Joey was ecstatic when he heard those words. If it was possible, he was bouncing even harder on the bed. He was also very shocked that what he had been dreaming about might come true. "Are you saying what I think you are trying to say?"

Chris smiled warmly at Joey. "Yes, I think I am attracted to you. But what if something goes wrong? I don't want anything bad to happen to our friendship."

Mark wanted to voice his opinion, but didn't want to butt in. "Can I say something here?"

"Of course you can." Joey replied.

Chris added, "I definitely need your advice. I've never dated another man before. Even though we just met today, you've already been a great friend to me."

Mark thought for a minute about what Chris just said then said, "I appreciate that so much, Chris. I care about people. Even before we met, I think I liked you as people much more than any other celeb I've ever liked. I told myself that while I know I'd probably never get to meet you, but if I did, I'd do anything for you."

Chris and Joey hugged Mark. "So, what's your advice, bro?"

Mark had to stop again when he heard that from Joey. He knew that he was probably overdramatizing things like he often does, but then decided to just believe that Joey and Chris thinks of him as a brother. "Just think carefully and completely. You have to be sure you want to try dating. You don't want to go through the hell that Lance and Josh went through when they broke up."

Joey nervously asked Chris, "Chris, do you really want to go out with me? Do you want to pursue some kind of romantic relationship with me? I know I'm sure I want to date you, but..."

Chris interrupted Joey's insecurities by saying, "Yes. Of course I do. You are one of the sexiest men I have ever seen! I really like you a lot. I think I might be bi."

Mark added, Now seal this with a kiss."

Chris and Joey kissed each other lightly. They backed away from each other briefly and stared at each other. Both were also very nervous. Chris was going to embark on his first same sex relationship. It would take a good amount of time until he didn't fear the possibilities of what could happen if their relationship ended badly.

Joey was a different matter entirely. He knew of his attraction to both men and women at an early age. He was very closeted, however. Growing up where he did, he felt that he could never disclose he was attracted to both sexes. He did have his share of boyfriends, however. Women loved him and wanted to be with him. He was more aggressive in his pursuits of women than he did with men.

Getting out of high school was a blessing of sorts for him. He was able to be a little freer when it came to dating men. Unfortunately, that changed when he joined 'N Sync. He stayed very closeted until this day, when he unknowingly outed himself. Now that the rest of the guys knew, he felt like a huge burden was lifted off of him.

Mark was very happy for his two friends. "Do you guys want to be alone or do you want to go back to Justin's room with me? I want to see if Lance wanted me to come with him to see his mom."

"We'll go with you, Mark." Joey replied. "I think we need to tell the guys as soon as possible about the two of us. Do you agree, Chris?"

Chris agreed with Joey, so they went back into Justin's room. When they entered, Mark saw that AJ and Kevin had left. He wanted to thank them for their help. He was a little sad.

Lance noticed Mark's change of mood. "Love, what's wrong?"

Mark replied, "AJ and Kevin left before I had a chance to thank them for everything they did for me."

JC was trying to cheer Mark up. "Mark, you will see them again. They are friends of ours and they are friends of yours now. When you guys were wherever you were, they couldn't stop talking about you and they just met you. Anyway, you are dating Lance, so you will see them so much you will get sick of them."

Mark thought about how he would have to go back home in a few days. He didn't want to be away from Lance for even a second. He didn't know whether he would see him again after he left. Would their relationship be a long distance one? Would they rely on the phone, e-mail, and instant messages? What would he be feeling when he sets foot on that plane?

"Lance, we're going to have to talk about what happens when we go our separate ways in a few days." Mark was trying hard not to cry yet again and was winning that battle so far.

Lance's smile turned into a frown. "I know, Mark."

Justin tried to break the somber mood in the room. "So, what happened when you guys left the room?" He asked Mark.

Mark wanted to play a joke on Lance and maybe confuse JC and Justin along the way. "Let's just say that Lance is an even better kisser than he thought."

Lance asked, "What are you talking about, Mark?"

Chris continued Mark's joke. "Lance, you say before you kissed me that you were trying to get me to switch playing fields. Well, you did it. I'm now bisexual."

Joey added, "Scoop, Chris and I are going to start dating." Lance's eyes grew wide. "Word better not get out that all of 'N Sync are gay or bi. We just might lose a great deal of our audience. The girls wouldn't like it if we were unattainable. Lance, you better hope that doesn't happen."

Lance believed what Chris, Joey, and Mark was saying. Could he have possibly made someone as fiercely heterosexual as Chris want to date another man? He was worried that he could possibly be the reason that 'N Sync would lose their fans so fast then would have to break up.

"Fuck! I can't believe that my kiss was that great! Chris, come on! You're not really bi, are you?"

Chris replied, "Afraid so, lance. I might even be gay and just dated all of those women because I couldn't face being gay. You made me realize I did want to be with another man. Thanks!"

Lance was freaking out now. "Oh god! What have I done? NOW I am really sorry I kissed you!"

Mark thought that being around the guys for only a day had changed him already. He never liked practical jokes, but was not involved in one against the man he loved. He angrily said to Lance, "NOW you're sorry you kissed Chris? Are you saying you weren't sorry before? You're not sorry you hurt me?"

Lance started to figure out that Mark, Joey, and Chris were playing a joke on him. He decided to play one back on them. "Mark, of course I was sorry I hurt you! Don't you believe me?" He acted desperate.

Mark replied, "I don't know, Lance. It looks like you don't care..."

Lance interrupted Mark by crying. "Great! Now you're gonna break up with me, right? I just can't keep a boyfriend! Guys, I need to leave the group for awhile, if not for good." He winked at JC, brief enough that only JC saw it.

JC did see the wink and he knew what was going on. "Lansten, we will miss you, but do what you have to do."

Lance cried harder. "Guys...Mark...don't take my leaving the group as it was your fault. It's all my fault. I just don't want to live all alone anymore!" He ran out of the room.

"Fuck!" Mark, Chris, and Joey said in unison. "It was supposed to be just a joke!" Mark said.

"A joke? What the fuck are you talking about?" fumed JC.

Justin was looking at JC, Chris, and Joey and wondered if aliens abducted them and whom he was seeing in front of him was just bad clones. He couldn't believe they all were acting like this.

"Yes! It was just a joke!" Joey replied.

"I cannot fucking believe you guys!" JC was really going full strength, even using words he doesn't like to hear or say. "Go after him! We can't have him leave the group! We need him!"

Mark, Chris, and Joey ran to the door, opened it, and saw Lance, cracking up so hard that he had tears falling down his face. He stopped laughing long enough to say, "Got you!" before starting another round of laughing.

Joey was amazed. "You knew we were joking?"

After a few minutes, Lance finally regained his composure. "Not at first. I did when Mark started to yell. I knew he'd never yell at me like that."

Justin had been quiet during the whole joke, but had to speak now. He was scared for his friend. "Boy, guys! You really fooled me! I thought Mark was really pissed off!! I was almost questioning whether you were good for Lance."

Mark was reminded about the conversation he had with God not too long ago. "J? Can I call you that?" he meekly asked Justin.

"Of course you can. You are a friend, after all."

Mark breathed a sigh of relief. "J, I am good for Lance. I know it now, although it took a lot of thinking to get that through my thick skull. When AJ and Kevin found me in the chapel, I was asking God whether I was good for Lance or not. AJ told me to follow my heart and not my mind. My heart says we are meant to be together. There was a reason I won that trip to L.A. and see Rosie's show. It was fate. We were destined to meet and get together, just like I was destined to met the rest of you and vice versa. I hope you all can believe me when I say I would never do anything to hurt him. I love him so much that it scares me. I guess I am just waiting for the time when he realizes that he doesn't love me and never did."

"I knew you'd never hurt me, baby. You make me so happy. I am so happy, I just might burst. I never thought I could ever be happy again, let alone this happy. I never thought I'd be able to love anyone ever again. My last boyfriend really hurt me. I know Chris told you about him."

Chris felt guilty that he had told Mark about Lance's last boyfriend. "Lance?"

Lance interrupted Chris. "It's OK, Chris. I don't mind you telling him."

"I know it must have been hard for you when you and JC broke up. But if you hadn't fallen in love with me and me with you, there would have been someone else. You are the most talented, sexiest, sweetest, kindest, most beautiful person that God has ever created or ever will create. Millions of people, both male and female, love you and would be insanely jealous of me. There are an incredible amount of fanfic on the net, both same sex and opposite sex, that are romantic and often times very erotic." Mark said.

Joey cocked an eyebrow when he heard the word 'erotic'. "Erotic? Really?"

Lance blushed very deeply at the thought of an erotic story about himself. "Wait a minute..." he said to himself. "They're probably all about the rest of the guys and not me."

Mark said to Chris, "Are you sure you want to go out with Joe? I think he just might wear you out!"

Mark, Joey, and Chris cracked up laughing hard. Joey laughed so hard that he was almost hyperventilating. Lance, JC, and Justin looked at each other in shock. "Mark, that wasn't part of the joke?"

"Excuse me?" Mark was confused.

"Are the two of them really dating?"

"I think Joey and Chris should answer that question."

Joey looked at Chris, then at everyone else and was glowing. "Yes. We are officially a couple."

Chris added, "I just realized that I had feelings for Joe that were past friendship or brothers."

Justin inquired of Chris, "But, dude, I thought you were straight. You were the biggest woman chaser I have ever seen!"

Chris explained his feelings. "Believe me, J, it's still really weird for me I never thought I could be attracted to another guy. It's just Joey. You, JC, and Lance seemed to go off in your own direction when we had time off so that left Joey and I to spend time together. I guess my attraction to him started because of that time I spent with him. I wasn't sure until today of what I felt for him."

Lance asked Chris, "What made you realize you liked him?"

"It was Mark. After you kissed me, I ran after him, trying to calm him down and convince him we were brothers, never could be lovers. He asked me whether the kiss got me to realize I could be bi. I said it might have."

"I was floored." Mark said. "I knew Lance was the best kisser ever, but to make Chris realize that he could be bi was just not possible to me." Everyone laughed at that comment.

Chris continued his explanation. "I told him I might be attracted to Joey. He helped me understand what it felt like being attracted to another man, then said Joey was in love with me."

Joey looked at Mark in shock. He was unable to believe that the rest of the guys, who he had known for a few years, didn't know he loved Chris from afar, but Mark, someone he just met today, knew it. "Mark, how did you know?"

"Yeah! We didn't see it even!" Justin said.

Mark thought about that for a minute. "I don't know how I knew. I just did. I have a good sense about these sorts of things. Well, except for about Lance being straight. " He laughed. "God, I cannot believe I thought Lance was het!"

Lance joined Mark in laughing. His laughing stopped suddenly when he looked at his watch. "Damn! I told my mom that I'd be there in an hour and that was over a half hour ago!"

"Let's go then, Scoopy." Mark said.

Lance was ecstatic that Mark wanted to go with him to see his mother. "You don't have to go, you know. Thanks for suggesting it." He kisses Mark lightly.

"Lance, of course I have to go. You are coming out to your mom. You've got to be scared about doing that. I have to be there to support you. There is no way you are doing this alone." Mark said with such intense love and passion that it shocked even him.

Lance was so happy now that his energy level was off the charts. "I love you so much, Mark! I don't know how I can ever thank you!"

Lance and Mark started to walk outside when they were stopped by JC. "Scoop, I hope things go well. I'm praying for you."

"Thanks, Josh! That means a lot to me." He hugs JC tightly then he and Mark go to Lance's car. "Thank you again, Mark."

"You don't need to thank me, Lance. Your loving me is so incredible! I should be thanking you. Let's go. Do you want me to drive?" he asked.

Lance was grateful that Mark was going with him and also had asked him to drive. He was so petrified about what his mom's reaction would be that he didn't think he would be able to drive. He had considered calling for a limo or even a cab to take him there.

"Thanks, Mark. I didn't know whether I could drive at all. Thank you for being there for me."

"I'm always going to be there for you. You said you never thought you'd be happy again. I'm the same way. Before all that shit with John, I barely went out. I was shocked that any guy would want to go out with me. I shut myself off to other people. If it wasn't for someone like Joel, I don't think I would be capable of or even wanting to love anyone in any capacity ever again."

"I will always be in debt to him for helping you so much."

They kept talking about their lives on their way to Diane Bass' hotel. Mark was doing all he could to get Lance's mind off of his coming out to his mom. He was also frightened. While he was scared that she would hate him or maybe felt that Mark had somehow made her son gay, he was more scared that she would not be able to accept having a gay son and maybe even kicking him out of the family. His heart would break if she couldn't accept it. He didn't want to think about that possibility, but he had to. How would he act? Would he cry? Would he yell at her for being a bad mother, using every bad word he knew? He realized he had to stop thinking negatively. He had to be positive, for Lance's sake.

They finally got to Diane's hotel. One the way up to her room in the elevator, Lance spoke for the first time in awhile. "Mark, thanks for talking about anything and everything to get my mind off what is about to happen. I feel a little calmer."

"Anything I can do to help you I will. Even if we weren't together, I'd still do anything for you."

Mark starts to sing one of his favorite Backstreet Boys songs.

Oh yeah I'd go anywhere for you Anywhere you ask me to I'd do anything for you -Anything- Anything you want me to

Oooooh, hey baby.... I'd walk halfway around the world For just one kiss from you Far beyond the call of love The sun, the stars, the moon... As long as your love's there to lead me I won't lose my way (ooh ooh ooh ooh) believe me Even through the darkest night, you know

I'd go anywhere for you Anywhere you ask me to I'd do anything for you Anything you want me to Your love as far as I can see Is all I'm ever gonna need There's one thing for sure I know it's true -I know it's true- Baby, I'd go anywhere for you...for you

I used to think that dreams were just for sentimental fools And I'd never find someone who'd give their love so true But I knew the very minute Couldn't live my life without you in it And now I want the whole wide world to know...

I'd go anywhere for you Anywhere you want me to I'd do anything for you Anything you want me to Your love as far as I can see, yeah Is all I'm ever gonna need There's one thing for sure I know it's true -I know it's true- Baby, I'd go anywhere for you

Hey baby...-hey, hey-...hey baby....hey baby...na ooh ooh ooh... Hey baby -Hey baby, yeah!- Hey baby...

I'd go anywhere for you Anywhere you ask me to...oh yeah I'd do anything for you Anything you want me to Your love as far as I can see -I can see- Is all I'm ever gonna need, yeah There's one thing for sure I know it's true -I know it's true, I know it's true-

Baby, I'd go anywhere for you....ooh, anywhere Anywhere you ask me to -I'll do anything- I'd do anything for you -Oh, whatever you want me to- Anything you want me to -Oh yeah...oh baby, yeah- Your love as far as I can see Is all I'm ever gonna need There's one thing for sure I know it's true...ooh ooh Baby, I'd go anywhere....for you For you

Mark didn't want to admit that's what he did, so he acted confused. "Excuse me?"

"You know what you did. You tried to get my mind off the fact that I have to face my mom in a few minutes."

"Honey, I don't know what you mean!"

"I get it. I am grateful, though."

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Mark looked around for Lance's mom, even though he didn't know what she looked like. Not seeing anyone in the hall, he took Lance's hand in his and squeezed lightly.

"Are you OK, Scoopy?" Mark asked.

"I've never been so scared in my life, but I'm OK because you're with me."

"I'll always be here for you. Like JC told me before, you're stuck with me forever."

"Just when I think I can't love you any more than I do, you say something like that and I love you even more."

"I should prepare you for something that probably will happen. I will be freaking out and crying a lot because I still cannot believe how lucky I am."

"I guess I'm gonna have to keep reminding you that James Lance Bass loves Mark Christopher Johnson with all of his heart and always will. He will always be grateful to God for giving him the sweetest, kindest, sexiest person ever!"

"OK... now I guarantee that I will break down. I will try my hardest not to do it in front of your mom." Mark paused for a second as they got to Diane's door. "Are you ready, baby?"

"As ready as I ever will be." Lance knocked on the door. To both Lance and Mark, it looked as if the door opened very slowly, but in fact didn't.

Diane took one look at her son and hugged him tight. "Hi, honey!"

"Hi, mom!"

"And who is this?" Diane asked Lance.

"Mom, this is my... friend Mark Johnson. Mark, this is my beautiful mom Diane Bass."

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Bass." Mark held his right hand out, waiting for Diane to shake it.

"Mark, please call me Diane."

Lance laughed and said to his mother, "He called me Mr. Bass at first then called me Mr. Lance. It was by accident, but he still said it." Diane joined Lance in heavy laughter.

Mark was a little hurt and angry. He felt that Lance was making fun of him. He turned around to walk away. Before he left, he coolly said, "Excuse me."

Mark tried to leave, but Lance stopped him. "Please stay, Mark. I'm sorry! I really need you to stay." He begged at Mark.

Diane was confused. "Honey, is there something wrong? That sounded pretty desperate."

Lance took two deep breaths. "Mom, nothing is wrong, but I do need to tell you something. You should sit down."

Diane sat down, nervous about what Lance needed to tell her. As she sat down, Mark returned to Lance's side and squeezed his shoulder.

"Mom, I've wanted to tell you this for a very long time, but I was too scared to tell you, too scared that you'd hate me." Lance said, starting to cower away a little bit.

"Baby, nothing you could ever say could ever make me hate you." Diane replied, in a love filled tone that only a mother could use.

"This might. Mom, I'm..." he paused for a second, gathering all the courage he had and looking at Mark at the same time. "Mom, I'm gay. I've known ever since I was 15. I'm sorry I ever kept it from you." He started to cry hard. Mark turned him around and hugged him very tight.

As they were hugging, both Lance and Mark heard what sounded like a snicker. When they looked at Diane, she was cracking up.

Despite being nervous about meeting Lance's mom and telling her he and her son were going to start dating, he was angry that she was laughing. He wanted to yell at her, but decided to be calm instead.

"What's so funny? Are you having a hard time accepting the fact that your son is gay?" Mark said to Diane.

"Lance, do I seem that way to you?" Diane asked Lance.

Lance looked down on the floor and quietly said, "Well..." As scared as he was before, he was even more so now.

Diane hugged Lance tightly. "Baby, I am so sorry! I didn't mean it like that! I knew you were gay years ago!"

Lance was dumbfounded. "You knew? Why didn't you ever come to me and just ask?"

"I just thought you weren't ready to tell me. I know how hard it must be to come out to your family."

"How do you feel about my being gay?"

"I'm fine with it. I really am. I did have a hard time at first when I realized it, but you are my son and I will always love you."

Mark's eyes were tearing as Lance sighed heavily then said, "I love you, too, mom!"

"So, how long have you and Joshua dated?"

Lance was confused. "What?"

Diane smiled. "It's OK, James. I know you and JC are dating. I always thought that you and he would make a great couple."

"Mom, he and I did date a couple of years ago, but not now. We broke up because I couldn't be open about our relationship."

"Are you dating someone right now?"

"I didn't date for several months. I had a relationship that ended badly. You know... when I was going through the really bad times. I am starting to date someone now. We're both in love. Momma, he's my first love."

"I am so happy for you!" Diane was just glowing, she was thrilled for her son. "I would love to meet him!"

"Mom, this is Mark Johnson. Mark, this is my mom, Diane Bass." Lance said.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Bass." Mark added.

"James, you already introduced me to your friend."

"Mom, Mark is more than a friend."

Diane finally realized what Lance was saying. Her mood immediately changed. While she was happy to initially meet Mark, she now turned hostile towards him.

"WHAT? James Lance Bass, how could you do something so irresponsible? You are twenty years old, for God sakes!"

"I know how old I am!" Lance was getting increasingly upset at his mother. He couldn't understand why she was so rude to the man he loved.

"Then act like the adult that you are supposed to be!"

"Why are you acting like this? You were all in favor of me and JC being a couple but not Mark and me. Why?" He wanted to cry, but told himself that he had to be strong. Maybe it would show his mother that they really did love each other.

"James, is this or is this not the man you just met today at Rosie's show?"

"Yes, he is. You know that! What are you getting at?"

"You cannot be in love with someone you've known less than a day!"

Lance was really angry by now. "That is bullshit! We both know people who fell in love at first sight and got married within a month! All of those couples are still together!"

Because Lance and his mother were in the middle of their fight, Mark had the time to think. "Baby, I know what she is trying to say."

"What?" Lance asked, desperate to understand.

"What's the difference between us and all of those other couples?"

Lance was confused. "Is it because we're both guys?"

"That's not it. You know she has no problem with your being gay."

"Is it our age difference?"

Mark had never thought about their age difference. He also knew that Diane didn't know how old he was. "Gee, thanks, Scoopy. I do look younger than I am. She probably didn't think I was 12 years older than you. That's not the big reason, however."

"What is it then?"

"It's money and fame. She thinks that I will use you, that I'm just dating you because you have money and I don't."

"Is that true, mom?"

Diane started to yell again. "Yes! That's the reason! He's going to hurt you and take your money!"

All of a sudden, they hear someone yell, "No! He would never do that, Diane! He loves Lance for the person he is, not because he's famous!"

Lance, Mark, and Diane turned around and saw JC, Joey, Chris, and Justin in the doorway.

"Josh, I don't think this matter concerns any of you. This is between my son and myself." Diane said sternly.

"I'm sorry, Diane, but this does concern the four of us, too. We all have seen Mark around Lance. They really do love each other. If you even try to break them up, the only think you will accomplish is hurting Lance deeply." Josh said, with concern for his two friends.

"Diane," Joey continued where JC left off, "this is his first love. He has dated before, but he is finally in love." Joey started to get more emotional with every word, eventually his eyes started to tear up. "Love is supposed to be a beautiful thing. You should be happy that your son is in love with such a wonderful person." He starts to softly cry. "Don't you remember your first love? I sure remember mine! I only wish mine was as special as Lance's is."

Mark was very touched by what Joey said. "Oh, Joey!" He hugs Joey hard. "I love you, Joe!" He looked at Diane. "I'm in love with Lance, but I do love you like a brother!"

Joey tearfully replied, "I love Chris like you love Lance, but I do love you like a brother also."

Both Chris and Diane shouted "What?" at the same time, but for completely different reasons. Diane didn't know that both Joey and Chris were attracted to other men.

Chris was completely floored. He knew that Joey was attracted to him, but he never thought he could be in love with him. "Joey, are you in love with me?"

Joey looked deep into Chris' eyes and replied, "I'm not sure. I think I am. I probably will have to do a lot of serious thinking tonight. I think I might have loved you for a long time."

"We can go out tonight and get our feelings for each other out in the open and understood if you'd like." Chris said. Joey shook his head eagerly.

"Nothing personal, " Diane said very rudely, "but that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is getting this guy away from my son!"

"MOM!" Lance said, starting to cry again.

"Look, Diane..." JC started to say, getting intensely angry.

Mark interrupted JC. "Josh, please let me. She hates me as it is already. I don't want her to hate any of you, too." Mark looked at Diane with an intense fury in his eyes. "Look what you are doing to your son! You say you love him and yet you are hurting him deeply! I would never hurt him like you are! I don't give a fuck about his fame or money. I am in love with James Lance Bass, the person, not Lance from 'N Sync. I would protect him in any way I can! I would gladly give my life for him!"

Diane was not listening to anything Mark was saying. "Let's get to the bottom line here. What would it take for you to stay away from my son? My checkbook is open to any figure."

Everyone else in the room was quickly approaching their boiling points. Mark turned to his friends and said, "I hope you can all forgive me for what I am about to say and the tone I will be using. Lance, I can't take this anymore! She's just not listening to me!"

"Go ahead, Mark. I understand." Lance said, still bawling.

"OK. I warned you guys. Remember that I do have a fierce temper." He looked back at Diane. "Look, you stupid fucking bitch! Are you fucking deaf or something? I don't care about his money or fame! Yes, I met him because of what he is, but I still would fucking love him if he were dirt poor and he wasn't part of this group."

"I have had it! James, you have to make a choice! It's either him or me!" Diane yelled, loud enough to wake the dead.

"That's an easy choice to make, mom!" Lance said, trembling with every word he spoke. Diane gave Mark an evil look. "I pick Mark. He would never make me choose like that!"

"How do you know he wouldn't?"

"He was worried that he wasn't good enough for me. He was praying to God in the hospital chapel."

"Were you there with him?"

"No. I was with Justin."

"Then he could have been lying."

"AJ and Kevin came to see how I was doing." Justin said. He had been quiet up until now. "They were passing the chapel when AJ stopped all of a sudden and had this feeling that they should go in. They did go in and heard the last part of Mark's prayer."

Diane was still being stubborn. There was nothing anyone could say that would get her to change her opinion. "Last part only? Aha!"

Lance had enough of what his mother was saying and doing. He gathered all of his courage up and yelled louder than he had ever yelled in his life. "Shut up, mom! Just shut the fuck up!"

Diane was incensed that her son would use words like that. "If you choose this loser instead of me, then you are no longer my son and will no longer be welcome in this house!"

Lance couldn't believe that his own mother would kick him out of his family. However hurt he was, he knew he could not stand being around her anymore. "No longer your son? That's a deal I will be glad to agree to! Goodbye, Mrs. Bass!"

Lance stormed out of his moth... Diane's hotel room. Before Mark left, he took one last look at Diane and said, "You will be sorry you hurt him! You will one day be sorry for all that you did and said today! When that time comes, you will not be allowed to ever see him or make any kind of contact with him again! I will do anything and everything to protect him from the likes of you!" Mark ran out of the room to go after the love of his life. JC, Joey, Chris, and Justin followed out, each floored by what they had witnessed. Each made a silent vow to not have anything to do with Diane ever again.

On the elevator down to the lobby, Mark felt bad for losing his temper. "I really am sorry, guys. I should never have lost it like that!"

JC replied, "No, Mark. You were right to act like that. I can't believe she made him choose like that!"

Joey added, "I know. You definitely would never have done that."

Mark said, "I wouldn't. I would have just given him up."

The rest of the ride in the elevator was quiet, each person thinking about what just happened. Once the elevator stopped at the lobby, everyone got out. Things could not have gone any worse. Everyone felt so bad for Lance. Mark felt guilty. He believed that he was totally to blame. He was having second thoughts again about this new relationship with Lance. He didn't want to be responsible for the breakup of a family. "I have to break it off with him. I don't want to, but I have to. God, I cannot believe I am about to give up the best thing to ever happen in my life!" he said to himself.

Mark went outside quickly and saw Lance walking in a zombie-like state. Once he saw him, he realized that he was an idiot for even thinking of breaking up with him. "Why was I so stupid for even thinking that? I love that man with all of my heart!"

He saw Lance walking towards the street. He got worried. "Lance?" There was no response. He grew more and more worried and began to yell. "LANCE?? LANCE!!!" Lance didn't listen to him and walked right into the middle of traffic. Mark started to freak out. "SCOOPY!!"

Mark ran after Lance. JC, Joey, Chris, and Justin saw Mark running into traffic. "NO!!!" JC yelled as a car hit someone.

TO BE CONTINUED

Yep! My first cliffhanger. There are two ways I could go with this. I didn't write the cliffhanger as a means of getting even more people to e-mail me, but I would like peoples' opinions on what they think or hope happens. Did Lance get hit by the car or did Mark push him out of the way, only to get hit by the car himself. Will Lance's mother continue to be a bitch once she finds out about the accident?

Please e-mail me with your opinions, suggestions, etc. to christopher_bass@yahoo.com.