Forever Young: Winter Wonderland
by Karen and LB
© 2002
Number 24 in the series.
Five groans. In perfect harmony, of course.
Lou Pearlman waits, an exaggerated expression of long-suffering patience on his face. When the boys are quiet again, he resumes. "It makes perfect sense. Christmas albums are very popular. But we need to get it recorded NOW."
"In August?" Joey protests. "We have to think about Christmas in August?"
Lance watches the exchange, silent, until finally he smiles. "I think it'll be fun. Who doesn't love Christmas?" He turns to Joey. "Even in August."
"Ho, ho, ho," grumbles Joey.
"Aw, you'll make a great Santa."
Joey perks up. "I will, won't I?"
"I want you boys in the studio and working tomorrow morning."
The boys exchange glances but say nothing more, filing out of the office with the usual feeling that they've done something wrong and have been called on the carpet for it.
"I like it. Christmas is too far away as it is," declares Lance over lunch.
"You just want presents," JC says teasingly.
"That too. C'mon, Christmas is all about singing carols, and drinking eggnog and decorating the tree . . . "
"And smooching under the mistletoe," adds Joey, between bites of his burger.
"I like the sound of that," JC declares. "All of it," he says defensively when Chris starts to laugh.
Lance's face reddens when JC speaks, and Justin, Chris, and Joey break into a chorus of "Under My Tree." Lance sinks lower in his seat, his legs knocking against JC's. "Fine, see if I invite you to my house for Christmas."
"And I'm gonna tell Santa you've been BAD."
"Like he'll believe you."
"Joey, Santa's already got a file on you an inch thick."
"It's all lies, I tell you."
"There are witnesses, dude." JC pushes his empty tray away. "We should start working through some of this new music."
Hours later, after they'd left McDonald's and gone to Justin's house, they're sitting out by the pool finalizing the arrangements they're going to try the next day in the studio. Lance and Joey are joking around, tossing a ball back and forth and making up their own words to the songs while JC, Justin, and Chris are huddled around a table jotting down notes on the songs. Suddenly, Lance loses his footing and falls backward into the pool. JC runs over, waiting to make sure Lance surfaces safely. When Lance comes up for air, he swears but is laughing nonetheless. Joey, doubled over, just shakes his head. "You look like a drowned rat, dude."
"I feel like one. Wanna give me a hand?"
Joey is still clearly too weak from laughter to help, so JC reaches out his hand. "Hey, you're gonna catch cold, swimming this close to Christmas."
"Then so are you," replies Lance, as he tugs JC's hand and yanks him into the pool.
"You are in so much trouble," JC shouts as soon as he surfaces. He immediately starts swimming in pursuit of Lance.
"Get him!" yells Chris, cannonballing into the water.
Soon, all five boys are in the pool, very nearly fully clothed. Lynn stands over the pool, tapping one foot. "What am I going to do with you boys?"
The boys stop splashing--almost all the boys. Joey gets in one last wave over Lance's head before he, too, ceases. Lynn shakes her head and groans, "Come on, let's get those wet clothes off and in the dryer. Justin'll give you some clothes to wear while I get dinner going."
"It's getting kinda easy to think about Christmas now," says Chris.
"Why?" Justin says. "Because you're gonna look so fly in my clothes?"
"No, stupid, because we just made merry in your swimming pool. And I call dibs on the FuBu jersey."
"MA! Chris called me stupid!"
"You're both stupid," intones Joey.
"This is definitely not Christmas," says Lance.
"Don't worry, baby," JC says, slinging a wet arm around Lance's wet shoulder. "We'll make it Christmas."
"That's not a bad idea . . . "
"We've never had Christmas together."
"We could crank up the air-conditioner."
"And make hot chocolate."
"What's this about hot chocolate?" asks Joey, creeping up behind them.
"Nothing," mumbles Lance.
"Why does everyone put out Christmas albums?" grouses Chris. "Why doesn't anyone ever do a Halloween album?"
"Name one Halloween song," Joey challenges.
"Maybe that will be your contribution to society, Chris," JC adds.
"Yeah, just wait, I'm gonna write a hit Halloween song. It'll be the first."
It's not even Labor Day and already they're talking about Halloween and Christmas. But the gears are already turning for Lance. The boys get into dry clothes and manage not to annoy Lynn too much more that evening.
By the time JC and Lance arrive back at Lance's house that night, Lance already has a mental list of things he needs to do to pull this off within the week. While JC is getting ready for bed, Lance calls his mother and arranges to have the necessary items shipped to Orlando. Everything else, well, he'll just have to find time between recording sessions. "Everything set?" JC asks as Lance crawls into bed.
"Set for what?"
"Christmas."
"What are you talking about? It's only August."
"Uh huh," JC gathers Lance into his arms. "I must be confused."
"Very," says Lance, facing away and smiling secretly. "You've been working too much. You're delusional."
"Yeah. I'm so far gone I actually think you wanna kiss me."
"You're REALLY delusional!"
"I know. Cause you couldn't possibly . . . could you?"
"Are you asking me to?"
"Nope," JC says, leaning in to steal a kiss. "Not asking."
Lance turns so he's facing JC, his arms coming up to touch JC's arms.
JC kisses Lance again, more lingeringly. "Oops. Forgot to ask for that, too."
"That'll cost you. Taking advantage of me, and all."
"I'm such a cad. I'll leave you alone, now."
"Okay. You take up too much space, anyway."
"I do. I'm this big, fat bed hog. I'll just go sleep on the couch." JC rolls away and pushes back the sheet.
"Hold it right there, cowboy," Lance calls out, grabbing the elastic of JC's shorts.
"You let that snap and you're dead."
"Oops." The band smacking hard against JC's waist is a lot louder than Lance thought it would be.
"Ouch! That HURT, Lance."
"Aw, don't be such a baby." He rubs the slightly red spot.
"I think you should kiss it, make it better."
Lance swings around so he's on all fours, then dips down with his mouth and places a tender kiss on JC's lower back. Then he rests his chin on JC's shoulder and asks, "Better?"
"Much better. I won't have to tell Santa you've been a bad boy."
"I haven't been bad!"
"Only a little."
"I could be badder."
"How bad?"
Lance slides two fingers inside the waistband of JC's shorts and pulls back.
"You DON'T want to do that."
"What will happen to me if I do?" Lance asks, pulling the band out farther.
"Coal in your stocking."
"You'll have to do better than that. What will happen to me if I DON'T do it?"
"Anything. You. Want."
"Will you give me a . . . ?"
Lance's words are cut off when JC's mouth covers his.
When they finally part, Lance, nearly breathless, says, "That too."
"That TOO? So what did you REALLY want?"
"Something a little . . . lower?"
"Dude, you cause me pain and I'm supposed to blow you?"
"Uh . . . yeah?"
"Spoiled much?"
"Me? I never get what I want."
"Never?"
"I'm not getting it right now."
"I can't go anywhere till you let go of my waistband."
Lance makes as though to snap the band again, but instead releases it gently and removes his fingers.
"That's better," JC says, kissing Lance again.
The kisses turn into touches and soon they're making love playfully until sleep overcomes them.
The next day they hit the studio bright and early. While JC is working on his solos, Lance slips away to get more of the things he'll need for his little project. JC finally gets a break while Justin records some parts, and he looks around for Lance.
This is harder than Lance had thought it would be. Sure, it's August, but he figured he'd be able to find some of the things he'd need. But he's not ready to give up. Not just yet.
JC shrugs when he's told Lance isn't around and curls up on an uncomfortable sofa and falls asleep.
Lance manages to make it back with minutes to spare before he's called into the booth again to record some more tracks. He spots JC on the way, curled up on the sofa and manages to throw his jacket on top and stick a stuffed animal under to keep JC company.
When JC wakes up, he feels the stuffed toy pressing against him and smiles, knowing who must have left it.
"Good nap?" Chris inquires. "I used to nap in KINDERGARTEN."
JC fires the toy at Chris's head.
"Someone's crabby."
"Someone's annoying."
"You're wanted back in the booth, Grumpy."
"Who are you calling Grumpy, Dopey?" JC saunters into the recording booth. "What are we working on?"
"It's Christmas Time," Lance answers. "Get in the mood, dude."
"I am in the mood. Why does everyone think I'm cranky?"
"Who's everyone?"
"Chris . . . and Chris."
"I don't think you're cranky. Well, I didn't until you started acting cranky."
"I'm not cranky. I'm a freaking ray of sunshine. Now, get out of here so I can sing."
"It's a group track."
"Then how come we're the only ones in here?"
"Joey went to get Justin and Chris . . . I thought he went to get you."
"Chris was out there with me--he's the one who told me to come in. I never saw Joey."
The boys finally enter and begin singing, but in the back of Lance's mind he wonders what set JC off. "You want to tell me what pissed you off today?" he asks as they are finally set free in the wee hours of the next morning.
"Nothing. I woke up and I was fine, but everyone was on my case."
"No one was on your case. You just started snapping at everyone. Now tell me what's going on."
"What? I woke up, Chris gave me a hard time about napping and told me to get into the booth. I walked in and asked what we were working on, and you told me to get in the mood. No snapping. Till everyone started picking on me."
"We didn't mean to. You know we only kid around. You seem really stressed." They've pulled up in front of the house and Lance goes to the trunk. "I know what you need."
"Food? Sleep? Chocolate?"
Lance holds up two shopping bags. "Christmas."
"Really? We're really doing it?"
"Of course we're doing it. Would I make something like that up?"
"Now who's being cranky?"
"I'm not cranky. I love Christmas."
"Then let's go inside and see what you got."
"Aren't you tired? Maybe we should sleep first and do this later."
"We'll only play for a little while."
"All right, but only for a while. We have to be back at the studio this afternoon." Lance puts the bags on the floor and kicks off his shoes. "Do you know how hard it is to find Christmas stuff this time of year?"
"Give it another month and it will be everywhere."
"I went to three different stores and ended up in CostCo. At the very back, I found these."
JC examines the package. "They're um, well. Lance, these are the tackiest ornaments I ever saw."
"I know. I guess there's a reason we celebrate Christmas in December."
"Every tree's gotta have at least ONE tacky ornament."
"Josh, our tree's gonna have, like, 20."
"Yeah, but its gonna be OURS."
"Our Charlie Brown tree."
"All it needed was a little love."
"This tree's gonna need a LOT of love."
"We could make it some construction paper chains. And popcorn garlands." Lance reaches into the bag and pulls out a package of construction paper and a box of microwave popcorn.
"Aw, baby. You thought of everything."
"Now can we go to bed?"
"Yeah," JC says, opening his arms wide and wrapping Lance in them. "We can do that."
They sleep for several hours until the doorbell awakens Lance. He trudges sleepy-eyed to the door and signs for the package he'd been expecting, then carries the large box to the living room and finds a pair of scissors to open it.
When JC wakes up an hour later, he discovers Lance still sitting on the floor, sifting through the contents of the box. JC stands silently in the doorway, watching Lance for several minutes, enjoying the attention Lance gives to what he's doing.
Oblivious to JC's presence, Lance is completely engrossed in the instructions for the fake tree his mother sent.
JC finally clears his throat and speaks. "Can I help?"
"Grab a branch."
JC picks up a branch and fits it into the center pole of the tree. The two work together quietly, not even needing to ask for parts to be passed to one another, but each intuiting what the other needs.
Not long after Lance opened the box the tree is fully assembled and stands tall. And bald. "We have to go."
"What? Wow. I didn't even notice the time. This was fun."
"Starting to feel Christmas?"
"Yeah. C'mon, let's go sing." JC glances down at his boxer-briefs and T-shirt. "I guess I should, like, get dressed first."
"I wouldn't mind if you didn't."
"Everyone else might."
"Everyone else would jump you."
"Would you defend my honor?"
Lance steps up to JC and wraps his arms around the slender waist. "Your honor and everything else attached to it."
"You keep looking at me like that, and we're never going to get out of here."
Lance releases JC just as quickly as he held him. "You're right. Let's go."
JC grins. "Tonight. Rain check."
"If we get home tonight."
"Whenever." JC heads into the bedroom to retrieve his clothes.
Lance isn't sure when exactly it happened, but sometime between The Only Gift and O Holy Night he felt it. That feeling he gets as the holiday nears and he knows he'll be with his family and all the stores have their windows decorated and every house he passes is lit up.
JC watches the smile spreading over Lance's face, and the sweet expression that comes with it. He wishes he could just go over and kiss that shining face.
As Lance sings, he remembers all the Christmases past--the ones he shared with friends and families, and it hits him--really hits him-- that he's never shared one with his boyfriend. And that's when he decides that he's going to do whatever it takes to make it real.
In spite of the later start, it's relatively early when they're finished for the night. "C'mon, guys. Let's go out for a while," Joey urges.
JC hesitates. "No, I'm, um, you know . . . "
"What?"
"We have a lot to do again tomorrow. I think I should, you know, not go out."
"I have a headache," announces Lance.
"Take an aspirin."
"I just want to go home and go to sleep."
"So we'll, like, see you guys tomorrow." JC leads Lance out, looking concerned over his 'headache.' "I got sugar cookies," he whispers. "We can put red and green sprinkles on them."
At home, Lance spreads out their decorations on the floor while JC busies himself in the kitchen. Along with the tree, Diane had sent a couple of undecorated stockings and some extra lights for the tree. Lance begins cutting up the construction paper into strips for the "tinsel."
JC brings out a tray with hot chocolate and brightly decorated cookies and they grin at each other across their cups, then start making paper chains.
Lance puts on some Christmas music and they work for a while until at last they're ready to hang the ornaments.
JC cranks up the AC and they take turns hanging ornaments, mixing the old ornaments Lance's mother sent with the world's tackiest, shiniest, newest ornaments.
Finally, Lance reaches into one of the bags and pulls out a wrapped present. The wrapping paper is the farthest from Christmas wrap as you can get. "You can't have a Christmas tree without presents."
"Nope." JC reaches behind the couch and pulls out a package done in comic pages. He places it carefully under the tree. "Oh, I almost forgot . . . " JC runs for his backpack and pulls out a pine cone deodorizer and hangs it on the tree, giving the perfect fake-pine scent to the fake-pine tree.
Lance stands with his arms folded. "This has got to be the world's cheesiest tree."
JC steps up behind him, wrapping his arms around Lance's waist and leaning his chin on Lance's shoulder. "Someday we'll have a real tree together, and it will be beautiful."
"We better, because if this is our future we're in trouble."
"Who's not in the spirit now? C'mon, Lance, it's pretty. In its own, tacky way."
"It's pretty tacky," Lance says with a chuckle.
"No, come here." JC pulls Lance onto the couch. "Close your eyes part way. Like you're sleepy. Oh, and one more thing." JC jumps up, discards the pine freshener, and lights a good-smelling pine-scented candle. "There," he says, snuggling up to Lance. "Better?"
"Yeah. With the lights dimmed you can ALMOST believe it's a real tree."
"So cynical. What happened to the boy I fell in love with?"
"Here's right here. With this fake Christmas tree and tacky ornaments. Okay, so it's not so bad. It'll just make the real thing seem that much better."
"We'll have that someday."
"I was thinking this year."
"Can we do that? I mean, your parents expect you and my parents expect me . . . "
"We'll work something out. My parents can come down here."
JC's expression becomes sad. "I'm not sure my parents are ready to, you know, see us together yet."
"Oh." Lance grows quiet. "Hey, you know what you need? A present." Lance scurries off the couch and sits cross-legged on the floor in front of the tree.
"I do?" JC joins Lance by the tree.
"Yeah, you do." Lance hands JC the box wrapped in racing car paper and waits.
JC rips into the paper, uncovering the Millennium Falcon. "Wow," he breathes. "COOL!"
"It was the best I could do on such short notice. But I think it's pretty detailed."
"I LOVE it!" JC leans forward and kisses Lance in the soft light of the tree. The candle has been burning for a while and with his eyes closed, JC really feels like it's Christmas.
"Mmmm. There's one thing I guess we're gonna have to leave out: traditional Christmas dinner."
"Go look in the freezer."
Puzzled, Lance goes to the kitchen, looking back over his shoulder at JC, who remains on the floor with a sneaky smile on his face. When Lance pulls open the freezer door, he lets out a loud laugh. "Frozen turkey? You got us frozen turkey? You're a genius!" With a little dance, Lance pops the dinners in the microwave.
JC blushes. "Well, maybe not a GENIUS . . . " He follows Lance to the kitchen and turns on the oven, then retrieves from the refrigerator another item--a pecan pie. "We can heat this while we're eating. I know it won't be as good as your mom's, but it was the best I could do."
"You thought of everything." Lance wraps his arms around JC and hugs him tightly. "Thank you. I'm sure it will be fine."
"I got ice cream to put on it," JC offers hopefully.
"Vanilla?"
"Yes." JC wraps Lance even more tightly in his arms and is thinking about more kisses when the microwave pings.
"Dinner time," Lance announces into JC's shoulder, but he doesn't yet pull back.
"Mmm. Yeah. Dinner." JC decides a little appetizer is in order and nibbles on Lance's ear.
"Uh . . . it's gonna g-get cold."
"Okay," JC agrees, releasing Lance slowly, lingeringly. He turns to get utensils out of a drawer while Lance pulls the dinners out of the microwave.
They retreat with their food and drinks to the living room and talk about Christmases past, and before long Lance forgets it's August and lets his imagination take over. By the time they eat their dessert Lance is able to forget that it's 80 degrees outside. Right now, it's Christmas. "Mmm, this is isn't half bad," he remarks over a forkful of the pie.
"It's a heck of a lot better than anything I could have made, believe me."
"Have you ever even seen a pecan?"
"Sure. My mom used to put out these big dishes of nuts, you know? Like with a nutcracker?"
"Nutcracker?" Lance asks with a giggle.
JC rolls his eyes. "You're so immature."
"I'm immature? You're the one who's gonna be playing with his new Star Wars toy in about five minutes."
JC reaches under the tree and pulls out the comics-wrapped package he'd put there before.
With a big grin and wide eyes, Lance tears open the paper and holds the two rare Beanie Babies, Libearty and Glory, in his hands. "Oh my gosh, how were you able to get these so fast?"
"Pure luck. I've been looking for Libearty for a while and it just happened to come."
"Just happened to come when we were planning Christmas? That's a Christmas miracle." Lance leans in and gives JC a kiss.
"You're my Christmas miracle," JC replies with his cheesiest smile.
Lance pushes him away. "Well, don't even think about stuffing me into your stocking."
"That's not what I'm interested in stuffing. Or where."
"What are you interested in stuffing?"
JC sweeps the gifts to one side as he pulls Lance to the floor and kisses him, hard.
Lance rolls over, pulling JC on top, hands holding JC's face as he returns the kiss.
JC licks at Lance's soft lips, seeking entry.
Lance plays with JC for a minute, letting JC's tongue tease his mouth playfully before finally opening his mouth and inviting that succulent tongue inside.
JC kisses Lance lingeringly, letting his tongue explore every surface. "You taste like pecan pah," he murmurs when at last they separate.
"Are you makin' fun of me?"
"No. You really taste like pie."
"So do you. All nice and sweet and gooey. Want some more?"
"I want YOU."
"With or without the ice cream?"
"Any way I can have you."
"Let's skip the ice cream and get right to the good stuff."
"I like how you think," JC says, kissing Lance again, even more passionately this time.
"I like how you kiss."
"I'll kiss you all night if you want." And JC proceeds to demonstrate.
"You'd fall asleep."
"There are a lot of things I'd rather sleep than do. Making love to you is not one of them."
"So what are you waiting for?" Lance captures JC's mouth before he can respond, pulling him down so their bodies are pressed tightly together.
This time, there's no conversation between kisses. Just touches, and smiles, and little sounds of pleasure. They separate only to undress one another, then press themselves together again quickly, as if they'd missed the contact.
In the cool, air-conditioned apartment, Lance is warmed by the body on top of him and the love radiating from his boyfriend. He kisses with equal warmth, soothed by the tenderness with which JC's lips join his. Warmed by the spirit of the holiday they're celebrating, even if only in their imagination.
When JC shifts to encircle Lance's erection with his hand he realizes that it's hardly necessary. There's no way Lance is going to get any harder. Or JC himself, for that matter.
"Looks like your Christmas tree is all lit up there," says Lance softly.
"I'll let you join in my reindeer games."
"Why don't you come down my chimney?"
"Ho, ho, ho," JC says as he presses gently in.
"OH!" Lance moans, lifting his legs and taking JC in as far as he can. He places both hands on JC's face, holding his gaze.
JC moves in Lance slowly, giving him time to relax. "Merry Christmas, baby."
"I love you, Josh." Lance brings JC's face close and keeps it there, so their lips are nearly touching.
JC's lips curve into a smile, so close that he's sure Lance can feel it. "Love you, too."
Lance knows he's going to explode. Right here, in this living room, if JC keeps looking at him like that. So he closes the gap, pressing his lips to JC's, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close, so close they might as well be one person.
JC sinks into the kiss as he sinks even more deeply into Lance. They move together in perfect time--even their breathing matches. JC is sure even their heartbeats are in unison.
It's at that moment that Lance raises his hips higher and moves faster, until he can't hold on any longer, and with a blinding wave of pleasure he comes against JC.
JC holds Lance tightly to him as the delicious friction of their bodies brings him to his orgasm as well. He keeps moving for as long as he can, trying to prolong the pleasure for both of them. Lance can see the Christmas tree over JC's shoulder in the soft glow of the pine-scented candle. He sighs, content that even though it's not really Christmas he feels like they just made love on Christmas Eve. He kisses the sheen of sweat on JC's face and the slightly salty taste of his lips, still coated with traces of the sweet pecan pie.
The gentle kisses in the wake of their passion make JC feel utterly loved, utterly happy. He lowers Lance's legs and moves off of him to the side so they're still touching. And they're still trading soft kisses.
"Are you cold? Do you want a blanket?"
"Mmm, no. Still warm."
"Thanks for spending Christmas with me."
"What are you doin' New Year's Eve?"
*****
The next day, they're back in the studio and it's August and they're in Orlando and Santa Claus is still months away from arriving. But Lance can't help it: They've yet to get through "Under My Tree" without him looking over at JC and breaking out into a fit of giggles. For the fifth time, they have to stop.
"What is wrong with you, man?" Justin asks exasperated. "I don't see what's so funny about this song."
And that does it. Lance laughs so hard he falls against the wall, and JC is on the floor.
Chris shakes his head. "Just full of Christmas spirit, I guess."