Joey could feel the coldness hit him as he entered the room. He
watched as Josh and Justin got changed for bed. Usually he was the
one in the middle but not tonight. JC climbed on one side as Justin
took the middle. He wanted to cry. He knew his husbands were mad at
him.

"Josh" Joey said softly.

"We'll talk in the morning. Turn off the lights and then get into
bed. You need your rest" Josh said as he kissed Justin. "Night hon."

Justin kissed Josh back. "Night love. Don't forget to shut the door
okay."

Joey sighed as he shut the door and turned off the lights. He watched
his husbands turn their backs on him and pulled the covers to their
shoulders. He felt his heart break in a million of pieces. There were
times he hated having a godfather as a father and this is one of
them. He rubbed his belly and climbed into bed and turned his back
away from Justin and JC. he didn't want to show them the tears that
were slowly falling from his tearful eyes.

He clutched his pillow as sleep overcame him. He wondered if his past
will ruin their marriage.

*****

Joey awoke from a nightmare. He was breathing and was sweating. He
couldn't remember the dream but it was bad. Really, really bad. He
turned to make sure he didn't wake the two and with the help of the
headboard got up. He placed a robe around him and existed the room.
He needed to think.

 He went to the mini fridge and grabbed a half-gallon of double-
chocolate fudge ice cream, a half-gallon of chocolate milk, and some
pringles. He grabbed a spoon and went to the couch and sat. He sat
there thinking on what to do.

"No" Joey said as he ate the stuff in front of him. "MY fathers won't
have a say in what my children become. I have to stand up to him."

"But I'm so scared" Joey admitted to himself. "What if he insists?
What do I do?"

"I don't want to lose my babies. I don't want to lose my fathers.
Most importantly I don't want to lose my husbands" Joey sniffled as
he crushed the pringles and placed them in the ice cream. As he ate
he got further depressed. He was going to have to chose. He didn't'
want to chose about his children's futures but between his mates and
his father. It seems he don't have a choice.

"I do have a choice" Joey whispered as he finished the ice cream and
chocolate milk. "I hope dad can help me convince daddy."

Joey yawned as it was nearly approaching daylight. He curled up in a
corner of a couch and rubbed his belly. "Daddy will make it up to you
two. You'll see."

 Slowly Joey fell into a restless slumber.

When Justin woke up, he immediately sensed that Joey wasn't next to
him in the bed. He didn't know how he was so sure, without even
opening his eyes, but he just knew.

"Joey?" he asked, sitting up. Next to him, JC was sleeping. As Justin
didn't get an answer he looked around the room. It was still dark,
and his eyes wasn't fully adjusted to the lack of light yet.

 Climbing out of bed, Justin tiptoed over to the curled up figure he
had spotted on the couch across the room. Coming closer he found Joey
asleep, curled into a ball in the couch corner.

"Oh angel" Justin sighed as he saw remnants of tears on Joey's
cheeks. "I'm sorry, I am not really mad at you, I know you can't
choose your family."

He bent down to gently wake Joey. "Come on love," he told the sleepy
man, "let's get you back in bed, you're getting cold over here." Too
tired to protest Joey did what Justin told him too and let himself be
tucked into the warm bedcovers again.

 Still sleeping JC turned around as he sensed a presence next to him,
reaching out he embraced Joey, pulling him in close. Knowing that
there problems wasn't over just by that, Joey decided to let the
trouble wait for a bit and snuggled up to JC and closed his eyes
again.

Watching his two husbands sleep, Justin sat down on the edge of the
bed. JC had been mad, he had seen it too last night. But if the older
man didn't snap out of it and if he let it become an issue between
the three of them... Then Justin was ready to forget all about the
alpha and beta male thing and just beat some sense into JC's stubborn
mind.

Fortunately it looked like JC was getting there, in the way he nearly
crushed Joey in what had to be a suffocating grasp. Leaving them to
it, Justin got up again, wandered around their room for a bit,
folding some items of clothing, cleaning up some litter. The room was
still dark, but he didn't want to turn the lights on. It was still
very early.

 When the room was tidy again, he snuck into the bathroom. Taking a
quick shower, shaved and brushed his teeth, Justin decided to order
breakfast for all of them.

He would to it from Lance and Chris' room, leaving JC and Joey to
talk a little. The other couple should be up by now, hopefully...a
smile crossed Justin's face...they weren't up to something naughty.

After getting dressed quietly, he leaned over the bed, and kissed his
two sleeping husbands. "You two make up," he whispered. Ten he left
the room, walking down the corridor to Lance and Chris's room.

So early in the morning the corridor was empty. Humming to himself,
Justin thought about their new house. He hoped Joey would like it,
and that it wouldn't remind him of what happened to him while the
other four was out looking at it.

Lance certainly would have a positive influence there. He was as
perky as Joey had been moody lately. The pregnancy and hormones made
him chipper like some overeager morning bird and he was destined to
make everybody else just as happy as he was.

Starting with Chris. Every so often, lance would take Chris' hand,
drag him off somewhere, and fifteen minutes later they would return.
Lance perkier than ever and Chris with a dazed, satisfied look on his
face.

Lance and Chris' room was in the end of the corridor. The light from
a window fell in over it, making the corner appear shadowy.

 Approaching the door, Justin caught a movement in the shadows out of
the corner of his eye.

 Somebody was standing there, he couldn't see who it was. But the
figure saw him and bolted for the stairs. It was over in a couple of
seconds and Justin found himself standing still on the middle of the
floor.

 Whoever it was didn't have anything good in mind. He shuddered as he
thought of what might have had happened if he hadn't surprised the
man.

 The people out to hurt them knew where they were. That was obvious.
But the question was who knew? Justin was shocked to find that he
could actually name several parties out to harm them.

Lifting his hand to knock and Chris and lance's door, Justin thought
that the sooner they got out of the hotel and into their new house,
the better.

Justin knocked on the door. "Hey, you guys decent."

"Yes" a voice yawned as he opened the door. "What is it Justin?"

"I left the room. JC and Joey need to talk" Justin whispered.

"What happened?" Chris said showing his friend in.

"Remember Joey telling us about last night" Justin asked.

"Yeah" Lance said. "Chris a little help here."

"Sorry hon" Chris chuckled and helped Lance sit up.

"Funny, you try being four months pregnant" Lance pouted.

"I rather not" Chris smiled as he kissed Lance's forehead.

"Sorry go on Just" Lance encouraged his young friend.

We all know JC didn't take it well. Neither did I at first but when
we went to bed. I'm ashamed of my actions but we gave Joey the cold
shoulder." Justin said looking at the carpet.

"Justin!" Chris said sternly. "Joey couldn't help what kind of life
he had."

"I know that and JC knows that. But for Mr. Fatone to have a say in
our kids lives. That Josh's firstborn son takes over the 'family'
business after Jeff. What kind of bull shit is that? What kind of
right does Mr. Fatone have a say in our children or Joey's life.
None." Justin said in frustration.

"We can understand your viewpoint" Lance said. "Talk with Phil. It
might do some good."

"I don't want Joe Fatone to take Joey away from us. I'm afraid he'll
have our marriage annulled and then take Joey and the twins away from
us." Justin said.

"Just cause he's a powerful mob boss doesn't give him the right.
We'll fight for you" Chris said. "I'm sure Phil will have Joe Sr.'s
head on a platter."

"True. I'm getting off topic. Well Usually Joey's in the middle and
Chris if you say one word I'll beat you senseless" Justin said.

"WHAT! I wasn't going to say it!" Chris protested.

"You were thinking it" Lance giggled.

"Oh fine! My own husband is picking on me" Chris pouted.

 "You're just an easy target to pick on Chris" Justin grinned.

 "Oh joy" Chris said in a sarcastic voice.

"Anyway Josh and I were being the asshole males that Dominants
usually are"

 "Ass kisser"

"Christopher shut up"

"Well he is"

"And he has the right to so hush"

"Fine"

"We turned our backs on Joey Last night. Josh was on one side, I was
in the middle. Our backs were not facing him. We were mad and we
shouldn't have been. Joey was so hurt" Justin trailed off as the
image of his baby on the couch with tears on his cheeks just hurt him
deeply.

 "We really fucked up. We hurt him so badly. He woke up in the middle
of the night and went to the living room. He must have gorged himself
on ice cream and chocolate milk. Both are empty. I woke up knowing
Joey was gone. I felt bad and found him curled on the couch. I helped
him back in bed" Justin sighed.

 "Oh man. Josh will get his hand out of his ass. You two are his
husbands and mates. No other doms can tell you how to raise your
children. Mr. Fatone knows that. Talk to Phil. I'm sure when you
three tell him Joe Sr. will be sleeping on the couch for a long time"
Lance said.

"Thanks" Justin smiled. "Let's order breakfast before we have two
very pregnant males stuffing our dead bodies out the window."

"Yeah they can be brutal during feeding time" Chris smirked.

"HEY!" Lance protested. "For that Mr. Kirkpatrick you're not getting
no loving tonight."

"Ouch" Chris said.

"It looks like you and the hand are gonna keep each other company"
Justin giggled.

"Watch it Junior"

"I wouldn't speak Justin. Wait till Joey finds out. You can keep
Chris company" Lance chuckled as he picked up the phone.

"EWE!"

 "I'm not that bad"

"Hairy but he really isn't bad" Lance laughed.

"I'm not that hairy"

"Yes he is"

Justin laughed at the two newlywed's antics. "Lance can ya order."

"No cause we're all gonna be sick to our stomachs" Chris said as he
took the phone from his husband. "With what he eats. We be safer
dead."

"Hey" Lance pouted.

"I love ya Scoop" Chris said.

"Yeah just order the damn food" Lance pouted.

*****
 Joey's eyes fluttered open as the sun's rays filled the room. He
winced and wanted to go back to sleep. He had a bad night last night
and just wanted to sleep.

His eyes opened and he sighed. He wouldn't go to sleep for a while.
Or until the babies tell him to rest. But for now he had to be
content with being awake. He felt eyes watching his every movement.
He turned to see JC watching him. He bit his lip. "Hey."

"Hey," JC answered, his expression unreadable to Joey. "How are you
feeling?" "Ok," Joey replied, still whispering.

"Come here," JC said and held out his arms. Joey snuggled up to him
and felt JC's arms lock around him in a strong embrace.

"I'm sorry, love," JC then said. "how about we make a rule that says
that we can't go to bed angry? And I promise to follow it."

"I like that," Joey said. "And I'm sorry too...it's just that my
family comes with a long and sordid past."

"I know, sweetie," JC answered. "And I think I can handle your dad.
As long as I've got you, and Justin, I really don't care much about
anything else."

Smiling Joey curled up a little closer to JC. "Good. Now we don't
have to get up right away. do we?" "No, not really," JC answered,
kissing the top of Joey's hair. "not at all."

*****

"I wonder what's taking them so long," Justin wondered. Then he
smiled and shrugged. "JC's probably on his knees, begging for
forgiveness by now...Chris, don't say a word."

"Hey!" Chris protested. "Why do you all think my mind's in the
gutter?" Munching on one of his beloved carrots dipped in dark
chocolate syrup, Lance lovingly patted his head.

"Because that is where it is most of the time, darling. And I like
it." Looking up at him, Chris said: "I ain't kissing you as long as
you're eating those things."

"What? The carrots? It's healthy food." "It is, but not with half a
gallon of choice sauce on top. That's just icky." Before Chris could
say anything else, Lance kissed him.

Chris pouted.

Justin laughed

Chris gave up pouting and kissed Lance again, in spite of his
declaration of not kissing him as long as Lance was having chocolate
sauce carrots.

"You two are just disturbingly cute," Justin commented.

"And I wonder what's keeping those two husbands of mine..." Lance put
his hand over Chris' mouth. "Just in case, sweetie," he teased as
Chris raised a questioning eyebrow.

When Lance removed his hand, Chris sighed. Then he said: "Since all
of you thinks I have such a dirty mind..." He leaned over to lance
and whispered something in his ear that almost made Lance choke on
his carrot, then blush crimson red.

"I'm going to leave you two to it," Justin said, "Whatever Chris said
he anted to do to you now... I'll be back when I track down my second
halves....or should that be third halves?"

 Lance had managed to swallow the carrot and smiled at him. "Uhm,
take your time?"

"I will, trust me," Justin said, "walking in on you and shorty over
there going at it, is not on my list of fun things to do. Have fun,
see you in fifteen minutes."

He left the room and starting walking back to their own room, hoping
that JC and Joey had sorted things out now.

****

 Joey smiled as Justin had his eyes closed. "Okay..I don't want to
fall now. You sure having me blindfolded is a good idea."

"Yes and next time we're having hot, freaky sex remind me to bring
the blindfold" Justin said.

"And you say I'm dirty minded all the time" Chris mocked pouted.

I'm young. I'm suppose to have dirty thoughts. You on the other hand
are old and not supposed to" Justin grinned.

"Why you little!"

"Chris, he's helping Joey walk to the door. If you attack him now
Joey's gonna fall" JC warned.

"Ha ha"

"You Mr. Chasez behave" JC warned.

"Junior's in trouble"

 "Will you two stop" both Lance and Joey replied.

"Uh oh"

"Double mood swing"

"Run"

"That's it! JC and Justin are never going to touch me again. I don't
want to be pregnant anymore" Joey replied.

 "My back's killing me. My ankles are swollen, Walking is hell, and
I'm hungry!" Lance replied grumpily.

"The same for me!" Joey answered.

"And No you three won't be having sex" Lance agreed.

"Oh fuck'

"Don't curse"

"They're nagging us"

Is it too late to back out now"

"You should have thought of that before thinking with your dicks"
Joey growled.

"It's hot!" lance whined.

"Let's get them in the house" Chris whispered. "Before they decide to
be Lenny Bobbit"

"Gotcha" Justin replied. "Okay my beautiful grumpy husband. Take a
step up"

Joey did so as JC opened the door. He was helped in. "Open your eyes
Joe."

Joey opened his eyes and smiled. "OH man it's beautiful."

"Do you like it" Lance asked. "Isn't it gorgeous. Newly built house.
Plenty of room."

"I love it. When can you move in?" Joey asked.

"US?"

"What do you expect us to lift furniture. How stone aged are you?"
Joey asked as he waddled inside.

"Yeah" Lance replied.

"Someone save us" Justin whimpered.

"Oh Lance come here. There's a couch!" Joey exclaimed happily as he
carefully sat down.

"Ooh Couch. Couch is good" Lance smiled as he joined his friend. "You
know Joe, it's getting harder to get up and sit down."

"I know. I think a couple weeks from now I won't be able to walk out
the door" Joey chuckled.

"How did the couch get in here?" Justin asked as he shut the door.

"Congratulations on a new house" a voice replied.

"Daddy!!!" Joey exclaimed happily at the sight of his father. He
tried to get up, then resigned and smiled up at his father. "I think
I'm stuck in this couch forever, daddy."

"I'm sure those two husbands of yours will find away to get you up,"
Phil teased and winked at his son. "Daddy!" Joey scolded him and
blushed. Justin and JC were doubling over in laughter. Lance was
smiling and Chris said: "See? I'm not the only one!"

 Lance shook his head. "Hush you. You're my dirty mouth. I'm not
gonna share."

Realizing that this was a conversation that was rapidly getting out
of hand, and that he really didn't need his daddy hearing it, Joey
said: "enough about that. We gotta decide what to do to this house."

"If I can get myself out of this couch, I want to decorate," lance
said. "Chris, Justin and JC will carry the furniture in and move them
around."

"Are we going to let them to this to us?" Justin said, turning to JC
and Chris. "I think so," Chris replied. "But we could always hire
help for them to boss around."

"I like the sound of that," Chris nodded. "Then they'll be too tired
to be moody when we're there. I say we hire people for them to bitch
at."

 "I agree," JC said. "Joey gets mean when he's moody. And lance looks
like a little puppy left out in the rain."

"He does, doesn't he?" Chris said, "I get a guilty conscience over
that look even when I haven't done anything. I swear he uses it on
purpose."

"Knowing the two of them they're all bonding now," Justin
added. "Pondering on new ways to get us to follow their every little
whim."

"They are," JC sighed. "And what's worse, we're still going to do
anything they want us to. Because we can't help ourselves."

"That's true," Chris said. "We're whipped, guys, let's just face it."

"Whipped like you wouldn't believe it," Justin agreed. "Oh yes," JC
added. "We've got it BAD!"

 They look at each other and then nodded. "Bad!"

From the couch Lance looked suspiciously at their husbands. "You
think they're plotting on something, Joe?" "Nah, their cute, little
minds wouldn't know how to do that."

Joey looked over the trio.

"But it wouldn't hurt to watch out either."

"*cause we wouldn't want them to get any *ideas*," Lance giggled.

 "Absolutely not!" Joey answered. "Because we need them. We'll never
get out of this freaking couch if they're not helping."

"This couch's gotta go," Lance said.

"I'm going to go call your dad, Joey," Phil said. "He's still
downtown. The police commissioner wanted a word with him."

"Everything ok?" Joey asked. "Dad's not in trouble?"

 "No, he's not, honey," Phil answered. "It's about hat happened
yesterday. They didn't find Ricky. The police thinks he might have
left the state by now."

"I hope he has," Joey sighed. "OR he's at least far away from
here." "You know that your dad isn't going to rest before he finds
him," Phil said.

"I know, dad," Joey answered. He smiled. "Tell dad I love him,
ok?" "Will do," Phil said and left to make the call.

"Now," Joey then said. "I want to see the rest of the house. I just
gotta get up first." "I haven't seen all myself, lance said. "Let's
go. Chris!" he called. "Get me out of this thing!"

 "I don't know, honey," Chris replied. "I kinda like you there, I
know where I got you."

 Lance sent him a disbelieving look. "Christopher Alan, you didn't
just say that you're going to abandon me here?"

"I haven't decided yet," Chris answered.

Lance looked at him. "you get your pretty little behind over here
right now, or you'll be sleeping on the couch until the kid starts
college!!!"

"Hmmm," Chris said. "Baby, you're already taking up the
couch." "Chris, you better come over here," Joey said. "I think he's
seconds away from blowing steam out his ears, and I'm scared."

"We'll save you, sweetheart,2 JC said and pulled Joey out of the
couch. "Thank you!" Joey said. "that thing's not staying. I want anew
couch."

Lance was still staring at Chris. Chris looked back. "I love you,
blondie, he then said. "Even with steam coming out your ears."

"Oh you're SO NOT getting any!" Lance growled.

"Come on I was joking"

"You still not getting any!" Lance replied. "you're sleeping on the
couch tonight."

"But no fair" Chris pouted as he helped Lance off the couch.

"Couch is so uncomfortable" Joey smirked. "Have a nice night Chris."

"This totally sucks"

They walked through the house as Joey complained about the
steps. "Are we almost done here?"

"Who's getting the master bedroom?" Justin asked.

"There's two" Chris said. "We each can take one."

"Cool. And the nursery?" Joey asked.

"Not to far from the master bedrooms. The Walls are soundproof so we
do have to have the baby monitors on"  Lance smiled.

"How soon can we move in?" Joey asked.

"As soon as possible?"

"Great"

"Why?" Justin asked.

"The sooner we move in the sooner we can christen every room" Joey
winked.

"I love a horny Joey" JC chuckled.

"You would" Joey said. "MY back hurts.."

"Okay it's back to the couch for you two" Chris said.

 "HEY No. can't get out."

"That's the point"

"You three are SO not getting any" Joey pouted.

"Oh fuck"

"Justin don't curse"

"Sorry"

"Come on we better get use to sleeping on the couch" JC said as he
dragged Joey to the couch.

****

Three weeks later Joey was looking at some wall paper for the
nursery. He and Lance decided to have one huge nursery so here he was
deciding on wallpaper.

"Hmmm Blue is nice. Then again so is yellow" Joey sighed as he
flipped through the pages.

 He smiled to himself as Lance became Satan as he decorated the
house. Poor Chris, JC, and Justin were so exhausted.

It took Lance five times having the couch moved before deciding it
was best by the fireplace. He was a slave driver.

 Joey just sat on the love seat laughing at the three men who were
cursing up a storm.

 "Well, well, well, what do we have here" a raspy voice whispered in
Joey's ear.

Joey dropped the book. "Ricky."

"Remember me sweetie. My you have gotten fat big time" Ricky smiled
as he ran his hands all over Joey's body.

"How the hell did you get in here?" Joey said, backing out of his
former boyfriend's grip. Moving towards the door, Ricky was faster
than him and blocked the entrance.

"can't have you leave just yet," he smiled. "And you oughta know, I
have a way of getting into places...you don't remember, Joey? Those
night I snick past all those security guards of your father?"

 Finding himself back to wall, Joey looked straight at the darker
man. "What do you want, Ricky?" "Well, you, of course," Ricky
smiled. "did you really think I'd let you get away?"

"We are *so* over, Ricky," Joey replied. "I'm married now. Even if I
wasn't married, I still wouldn't want you."

As Ricky's eyes narrowed and the smile died on his face, Joey knew he
was in trouble. Then Ricky left the doorway and started walking
towards him.

****

Justin looked around the living room. "We finally did it!" he said,
sounding a little surprised. "The first floor is done."

 Lance and Chris was cuddling on the offensive couch, as had been
allowed to stay after Chris had gone out of his way to apologize to
lance after teasing him earlier. After chasing the three other out of
the room, the two of them made up.

After that lance had developed quite a fondness for the couch and it
became Chris and his regular seat.

 JC was sprawled out an a big armchair. "We still got two floors to
go."

"Thank you for bringing that up right now," Justin said and stuck his
tongue out at him.

 "You just enjoy your rest before Chris and Lance gets back. I swear
something has possessed lance about this decorating issue. He's like
a blonde, pregnant interior decorating demon."

"That he is," Justin nodded,

 As an answer to Justin's words, the door opened and the two on
question came through. Chris was carrying several shopping bags and
lance all but fell into the chair next to JC. "That's it. I'm not
getting up until next Monday. My feet are killing me."

Putting the bags away Chris sat down on the armrest of Lance's
chair. "It's your own fault, honey, you were the one that had to
visit all those shops."

 Lance looked up at him. "Never mind," Chris replied.

"So where have you hidden Joey?" Lance asked. "He is up in the
nursery," JC said.

"I should get up there too," Lance decided. "I want to show him what
I bought. Chris, help me get out of this evil creation, will you,
love?"

"Of course, sweetie," Chris said, hauling Lance to his feet.

"Christ, I'm not even five months pregnant yet," lance sighed. "I'm
going to need a tow truck to get up when I reach third trimester."

 "I'm going to buy you a tow truck then, sweetheart," Chris assured
him. "Now run along up to Joey and show him what you got for the
nursery." Lance sent him a slightly amused look. "Run. Yeah, right."

"Then waddle along, o pregnant one," Chris smiled. "Sometimes you're
nearly too corny even for you, honey," Lance smiled back.

 Chris blew him a kiss. Then he came rushing over. "You honestly
didn't think I'd let you go up the stairs alone?"

"You better not,2 Lance replied. "Because if you did, and I fell down
and broke my neck, I'd have to come back to haunt you.2

"But if you fell down,2 Chris said, wide-eyed, "I'd have to fall down
after you. We could both be ghosts."

"What on earth are the two of you discussing?" Justin wanted to
know. "Ghosts," Chris answered, "eternal love."

 "Eternal love with my Christopher," Lance added. "We are going to be
ghosts if we fall down the stairs."

"You two are weird," Justin said. Then he nodded seriously. "Weird, I
say."

"Let's go, honey," Chris said. "We are misunderstood here." "Never
mind them," Lance replied. "They don't understand how our divine
minds work."
>
 They started walking up the stairs. Lance holding on tightly to
Chris' arm, letting him support him.

Halfway up the stairs, the heard a loud crash. It came from the
nursery.

Downstairs JC sat up. "What the hell was that?" "I don't know,"
Justin said, already heading for the stairs. "But it came from the
nursery."

*****

Joey backed away from Ricky. His body sore from  the beating. "Stay
away."

"I told you once Joseph and I'm not going to tell you again. you're
mine" Ricky snarled as he ripped the ring off of Joey's finger
causing him to yelp.

Ricky smiled. "I should enjoy you right now. I never had the chance
to stick my dick in your ass."

"And you won't either" Joey growled trying to get up.

"No one's going to help you. Imagine raped in the nursery. Can you
imagine what it's like for your babies to cry at night and you having
to get up and walk right in the very room that  you were raped in"
Ricky smiled.

"My husbands they're going to help me" Joey whispered.

"Not with the door locked" Ricky smiled as he ripped off his
shirt. "Now Joey I'm going to have fun with you."

"NO! JC, JUSTIN HE" Joey started to scream but was slapped in the
face by Ricky.

Ricky chuckled as he climbed on top of Joey.

****

 JC and Justin heard their mate cry for help. They were at the door
pounding. "JOEY! OPEN UP!"

"Please help!"

"Damnit it's locked" JC growled as he tried pounding on it.

"I have a screwdriver" Lance said. "It should help"

Justin took it and began to work the lock.

JC looked as he most of all were going to claw his way through the
door with his own hands. "Would you hurry up, Justin?"

"I'm getting there," Justin mumbled, "almost there...just give me a
minute more..." "We don't have a fucking minute!" JC nearly
screamed. "Just get that damn door open."

Inside the room, Joey was very much agreeing with JC. Open. The.
Door. Now. Desperately fighting Ricky's hands, he managed to lash
out, hitting the older man squarely in the nose.

"Fuck!" the darker man cried and fell back as he clutched his
nose. "You broke my nose, you little..." Seeing a chance to get away
now, Joey kicked out, making the other loose his balance.

 Then he scrambled to his feet and made a break for the door. Outside
he could her JC and Justin's voices, something scraping against the
lock.

 "Who the hell would put a lock on the door to a nursery?" he
absentmindedly thought.

 Almost there.

 Then out of nowhere a pair of hands violently connected with his
back, pushing him forward.

 The floor slipped out from under him, Joey stumbled forward. Then
the hands were there again, forcing him to step forward. Then he lost
his balance and fell.

Something sharp bit into the side of his body, he felt his head slam
into something that was rough and edgy. Then the world ran away from
him in a rush of sparkles.

Slowly the other man in the room got backed away a little. The brown-
hair man in front of him was laying on his back in front of the
fireplace. His head was bleeding from where he had hit the metal
edge. "Well, little Joseph," Ricky mused. "Looks like I won't be
having any fun with you after all tonight." He shook his head.

 Looking back to the door, he sighed. "I have to talk to Johnny about
us getting another place. I won't be able to enjoy myself, with those
people making all that noise. And I'm sure Johnny wouldn't mind
trying out what JC and Justin finds so irresistible about you
either..."

 He paused. "Johnny would probably want that little, blonde angel face
too. I'll admit, he isn't that bad...maybe I'll give him a try." Blowing
the unconscious figure on the floor a kiss, Ricky quickly climbed back out
the window.

 *****

 "Got it!" Justin sighed as the lock finally came off in his hands. It was
getting suspiciously quiet in there now, but Justin didn't want to think
about that. JC pushed the door wide open almost before Justin got out of
the way.

 Chris held Lance back at bit. He was torn between his worry for his friend
and the desire to keep his husband away from the trouble. Neither did he
want to leave him to himself either, after what happened at their old
house.

"Oh my God!" they could hear JC's scared voice from inside the
nursery. "Justin, call an ambulance!"

"What?" Justin weakly said. Then he charged through the door. Inside he
found JC, kneeling next to Joey, whom was lying completely still, bleeding
from the head

 Fumbling though the pockets of the light jacket he wore, Justin managed to
get out his cell phone. Too upset too speak, he just looked at it for a
second, before JC gently took it out of his hands.

 Efficiently placing the call, he kept holding Joey's hand, hoping that his
husband was going to be ok.

****

Joey moaned. His head was aching and the twins were demanding him to
relax. His whole body hurt.

 He opened his eyes to find his fathers standing over him with his husbands
on the other side. "Hey, where's the party."

"Oh baby" Phil said. "you're okay."

"I hurt. My head hurts" Joey complained. "MY body hurts but otherwise I'm
fine."

"What are we going to do with you Joey" Phil Edwards smiled.

"Love me" Joey smiled.

"We do love you honey" JC said as he kissed his husbands forehead.

"Yes we do"

"Okay Joseph you're going on complete bed rest for a month" Phil said.

"A MONTH!" Joey whined.

"Dear god help us now" Justin said.

"One month. You're little ones aren't really happy with you at the
moment. One month. Besides it should be time for your sonogram and check
up" Phil said.

"A month" Joey whined. "I wanna help lance with the nursery. You said I
could do the nursery."

"You can still help with the nursery honey. you're four months
pregnant. You have plenty of time. Besides You can sit and let your
husbands do the work" Phil smiled.

"No" Both JC and Justin whimpered. "Lance is Satan himself when it comes to
decorating. Please anything but that!"

"Baby furniture isn't that heavy" Joe chuckled.

Joey looked at his huge stomach. "I'm fat."

"Justin say one word and I swear I'll hurt you" JC said looking at Justin.

"I wasn't gonna say it" Justin protested.

"I know but just don't say anything." JC said.

"fine"

"Hon, you're having two babies grow inside you. It's natural to grow big"
Phil said softly.

"really"

"really" Joe smiled.

"Okay"

"How?"

 "I'm his father. I went through the same thing" Phil chuckled.

"Did they catch him?" Joey asked.

"Who?" JC asked.

"Ricky. He was in the nursery. He climbed up. He can get in" Joey started
to panic.

 "Easy" Philip Edwards said.

Joey took deep calming breaths to calm himself down. He smiled and relax.

"Actually" JC smiled. "They caught the son of a bitch as he escaped the
gate. One of the neighbors saw him go in and called the police. By the time
he left the police was already there."

 Joey smiled. "Good."

"Okay Joe. It's time for you and Lance to start taking Lamaze. You only
have five months of pregnancy left. You don't want to go in labor
unprepared and screaming bloody murder at your husbands." Phil said.

"Yes sir"

 "We like to stay in one piece" Justin added.

 Joey smiled. "Can I go home now?"

"In a few days. we just want to make sure nothing goes wrong" Philip
replied.

 "Bummer" Joey sighed.

As Joey were being examined by the doctor, Chris and Lance were waiting for
them in the waiting room.

"I can't understand why Joey never told any of us about Ricky," Lance said,
leaning into Chris' comforting embrace. "He must have gone through hell
with that psycho."

"I don't know either, sweetie," Chris said. "I was so surprised when he
told us the other night, if he hadn't said anything, I guess I never would
have thought that something like that had ever happened to him."

Lance snuggled closer to Chris. "I'm just glad that they caught the
guy. Hopefully they'll lock him away somewhere icky, and throw the key
away."

Chris had to laugh. "Showing off your evil side again, honey? For what it's
worth I think they ougtha lock him in a cage with a dozen hungry 'gators
and then let us watch them eat him up."

"I think," Lance replied. "I think that my evil side has got nothing on
your evil side. And I'm gonna bring the 'gators if you get the cage."

 Hugging Lance tightly, Chris said: "That's a deal, sweetheart."

***** The doctor straightened his back. "All right, young man. You can go
home. But remember that you just took a bad blow to the head and your
pregnancy is already a difficult one. You are to rest and stay completely
away from stress of any kind. You got me?"

 "I got you," Joey said, struggling to get up. "A little help her, guys?"
JC took his hand and placed his other hand on Joey's back to help him up.

"I want to go home now," Joey muttered. A strange feeling passed through
him. The thought of going back into that nursery scared him. Even if they
had gotten Ricky, Joey still felt like his shadow was looming over his
life.

Getting to his feet, he walked out to where Chris and Lance waited. Justin
and JC at his sides. After saying goodbye to his father and getting told to
stay in bed, take care of himself and let JC and Justin take care of him,
Phil left.

"Hmmm," Joey said to himself. "I can take the Justin and JC-doing
everything I want part, but other wise I am going to be soooo bored!"

 **** It was dark before they came back. "You're going straight to bed,
young man," JC said sternly. Joey batted his eyelashes at him. "Will you
come with me?" JC smiled. "Of course, love."

 An hour later they were all in their beds. Joey in the middle with JC and
Justin competing in who could hug him the hardest.

"I like the whole cuddling thing, you two," Joey said in the end. "But you
have to let me breath! You're suffocating me here!"

They both giggled. "Sorry, angel," Justin said, "it's just that your so
damn squeezable!" JC snuggled up to him and hid his face in Joey's hair. "I
love you, honeybear," he sighed.

"That's it," Joey said. "I'm cutting you two of sugar right now."

As he had expected that earned him to half snorts, half giggles, and he was
back to being cuddled breathless again.

In the end they both fell asleep, leaving Joey to his own thoughts. They
had talked about this at this hospital, but he still didn't feel
comfortable sharing this. He had a hard enough time telling his parents.

Quietly sneaking out of bed, he left the room and walked down the hall
towards the nursery.

A faint moonlight iced the hall in a silvery light, making everything
appear the weakest color of blue. Stopping in front of the door Joey raised
his hand to turn the doorknob.

The door opened without a sound, and he looked into the nursery.

 The window was closed now and he could see the room was empty. Still he
couldn't make himself enter the room. Silently studying the room, his eyes
fell on the floor in front of the fireplace.

In front of the white marble fireplace there was a lot of large dark
stains. Feeling a chill creep up his spine, Joey realized that it had to be
his own blood. Slamming the door shut he rushed back to their bedroom and
climbed back into bed.

Almost immediately two pair of warm strong arms surrounded him, and he
closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.

****

"Honey, we could move the nursery" JC said over breakfast.

Joey looked up from the little table. "You know about last night?"

"Yes we woke up after you left. Baby, we don't want you to go back if you
don't want to." Justin said.

"But the room is bigger than the rest of them. It can fit three cribs in
there. Besides it's closer to the master bedrooms" Joey said softly.

"We want you to feel safe and secure" Lance added. "We don't have to have
the babies together?"

"But I liked the idea. Besides it would prevent a lot of bumping into each
other at three o'clock in the morning for feedings or changing" Joey
suggested.

"Joe, take your time okay" Chris smiled at his friend.

"Yeah we still have at least two months before the nursery has to be
finished" Lance smiled. "We can go over some patterns."

"Oh lord" Chris replied as he rolled his eyes.

"Oh shut up" Lance suggested.

"Can we do that?" Joey asked.

"Of course" Lance giggled. "After Breakfast. I have lots of patterns."

"I've heard there's a BSB nursery pattern" Joey chuckled. "Let's go with
that."

 "In an NSYNC house I think not!" Justin, JC, and Chris replied.

"How bout this. We invite the boys over for a barbecue today. Josh and
Justin can move Joey into the living room. Fold the couch out into a bed
and you and Lance can look at patterns for our little ones" Chris smiled.

"You know Lance. For once Chris has a great idea" Joey chuckled.

"You're right."

 "HEY what do you mean for Once!"

"Oh WE Don't want to go there Chris" Joey replied. "I have so many I can
get you with."

"Joey's right hon" Lance giggled. "Same here."

"I'm being ganged up on and one of them is my own husband!" Chris replied
in a dramatic way.

"Let's do it" JC said. "It'll be a Boys and NSYNC day"

"I love it" Justin replied.

"Oh sure let's do something fun when Joey has to be off his feet for a
month" Joey said in a mock hurt tone.

"We love you" JC smiled as he picked up Joey. "Oh god..you're heavy."

"Oops"

"He...heavy" Joey sniffled. "I'm heavy...did he say I'm heavy."

Lance lips started to tremble. "Yes..he did."

"Oh no" Chris replied.

"Honey I didn't mean it like that" JC said.

"How did you mean it" Joey pouted.

"Um.."

"He's implying we're fat" Lance started to wail.

"We can't help it" Joey started to sob. "We know we're fat and ugly but you
don't have to remind us."

 Justin and Chris stared at Josh. "Thank you Data."

 Baby, I didn't mean it!" JC tried. "you're not fat, either one of you!"

"Then why did you say it?" Joey sniffled. "I didn't technically say it..."
The looks he received from Chris and Justin made him shut his mouth in a
hurry.

 "OK, I am an idiot." Lance and Joey looked at each other. Then Joey looked
at JC. "Go on."

"I'm an Inconsiderate, insensitive jerk."

"Yes," Joey said.

"I am totally worthless of having such a wonderful husband and such a great
friend."

"You're getting there," Joey said, Lance hid his face in Chris sweater to
keep the other from seeing his smile.

"I am a total ass, and I should beg for forgiveness on my knees."

"You said it, not me," Joey said, a familiar twinkle in his eyes. "You are
not going to make me beg on my knees, are you, Joey?"

 Looking thoughtfully at him, Joey paused. "I might."

"You're really going to make me beg on my knees." "I haven't decided yet,"
Joey said.

Dropping to his knees, JC sighed. "I might as well beat you to it. Will you
ever forgive me??"

 Then he couldn't stop the giggling. "You should have seen your face right
now, Joey..." Trying to keep a straight face, Joey answered: "I'd much more
be looking at yours..."

"does that mean that I'm forgiven?" JC asked with a sweet smile. "Oh all
right!" Joey answered. "Otherwise you're going to be crawling after me on
your knees all day and that would just look stupid."

"Meanie," JC muttered and got to his feet. "Oh no, honey, I didn't say
that, I didn't mean that!!!" he frantically said as he saw Joey's large
brown eyes start to tear up again.

Then Joey fell over in his chair laughing. Then Justin and Chris joined in.

"Aww," JC said. "You tease!" "Hey," Joey said. "I am not a tease!" Sitting
back down JC sent Joey a loving look. "I'm never ever going to figure you
out, you know that?"

"That's the way I want it," Joey answered. "It keeps the excitement in the
relationship."

JC gave up.

"So, are we going to invite all the 'boys over lather?" Chris
asked. "Yeah," Justin asked, "just not AJ...I still can't believe he did
what he did..."

 "We don't know why he did it yet," Joey said softly. "We should at least
give him a chance to explain himself." Lance looked curiously at Joey.

"Joey, he was in on nearly ruining Justin, JC and your wedding. And you
want to give him a chance to explain?"

 Joey shrugged. "Come on, we all knew him before that. And he never did
anything like this before. I just want to hear him tell me why he did
it..."

 "Tell you what," Justin said. "I'll call them after and hear if they have
heard anything from AJ. And I'll ask if they wanna come over too."

The others agreed, JC a little surprised over that Justin not going against
it all together and mumbling something about strangling the darker man all
together.

 They finished up breakfast and JC ignored all of Joey's protests over
being sent back into bed. Putting his hand on Lance's shoulder, he guided
the blonde towards Joey. "Here, take Lance with you. He'll keep you
company."

 "where are you going with my husband?" Chris wanted to know. "Just
borrowing him," JC smiled. "He can keep Joey entertained. That way Joey
won't whine and Lance doesn't make us redecorate the whole house."

 "You know that you're living dangerously now, right? Justin looked at JC.

 JC planted a kiss on Joey's cheek and patted Lance on the head. "Off you
go, get some rest." Before either of them could answer they were ushered
away into Joey, JC and Justin's bedroom and tucked into bed.

 As JC rushed out again, Joey looked at Lance. "What just happened?" "He's
your husband," Lance replied, "So you oughta know. And I really don't have
a clue."

 As JC came back into the kitchen, Chris sent him a questioning
look. "Wanna tell me why you practically ran off with my husband there,
Joshua?"

 "I just wanted them both out of the way," JC explained. "Seeing as there's
been so much bad stuff going on lately, I want to do something nice for
them. Something to surprise them with."

 "I like the idea of that," Chris smiled. "So, what did you have in mind?"
Gathering his two friends around the table, JC leaned in. "This, is what I
have planned..."

*****

"What do you think of this one?" Lance asked Joey.

"it's cute but I dunno" Joey said.

"We'll come back to that later. I'll put it in the maybe pile" Lance said.

The door opened and both turned to the door. "How are our husbands?" Chris
and Justin asked.

"Happy" Joey said.

"You still looking at patterns for the nursery?" Chris asked.

"Yep"

 "Bored?"

"Nope"

"That was over two hours ago. Come up with anything" Justin asked.

"Well we have a possibility pile, a god what the hell where they thinking
pile, and a maybe pile" Lance grinned.

"We have lots of other patterns to look at to" Joey said as he wrinkled his
nose.

"I would die of boredom" Justin said.

"That's why you're a dominant male. You have no patience" Joey chuckled.

"So what brings our sneaky men to our room. And now we're not having group
sex" Lance replied.

"Well hell that's why we were here" Chris pouted.

 "Men" Joey replied as he rolled his eyes.

"Seriously we've brought you some lunch" Justin smiled as he and Chris set
some trays in front of them.

"Oooh goodie" Lance replied. "Food"

"I'm starving" Joey smiled as he lift the cover. "Ooh it looks
good. Everything covered in Chocolate sauce."

"Oh yummy" Lance replied.

"I'm going to be sick" Justin whispered.

"me too. I don't like their chocolate covered craving."

"On me it's not that bad but on hamburgers and French fries. Gross" Justin
said as he made a face.

"So what are you three doing downstairs. Not having wild sex with
prostitutes are ya?" Joey asked as he munched on a French fry.

"No we're not selling our bodies" Chris replied.

"I bet you they are" Lance grinned.

"Seriously what are you doing downstairs?" Joey asked.

"It's a surprise?" Chris smiled. "We'll leave you two to think evil
thoughts of us."

"Hey!" both protested.

"In a couple of hours" Justin said as he shut the door.

"I hate them" Joey frowned. "You know I'm gonna be all over the place dying
to know."

"Same here" Lance said.

"What do you think about looney tunes" Joey asked. "It seems to fit this
place perfectly."

"Hey I like that idea" Lance said as they looked at the Loony tunes
pattern. "It's cute and all the looney tunes as babies are really
adorable."

 "We can do the room in a baby blue and have boarders of the characters
around the room." Joey smiled.

"I've read somewhere if you have the room with scenes and such that it
stimulates the child's brain" Lance said. "maybe we can have clouds on the
wall with birds flying in the air."

"Ooh how about a ocean scenery?" Joey asked.

"Maybe when their older" Lance asked.

"So we agree on Looney Tunes?" Joey asked.

"What about Disney?" Lance asked.

"Ooh that's cute to" Joey pouted.

"There's also the Muppet Babies" Lance suggested.

"Looney tunes" both smiled.  <
 "We've finally after hours of researching decided on a theme for the
nursery" Lance chuckled.

 "I can't wait for our babies to come" Joey said as he patted his stomach.

 "Me either. I can't wait to see the ultrasound to see how big our babies
are getting" Lance smiled.

 "Me either. I wonder what the hell our husbands are doing" Joey asked.

 "Probably sell us" Lance laughed as he grabbed a book.

"That's mean true but mean." Joey smiled.

****

"Everything ready?" JC asked.

 "Yep the boys are on the way" Chris said.

"They've really spent two hours?"

"Yep" Justin answered.

"So what was the word about AJ?" Chris asked.

"AJ was being blackmailed by Johnny. He had to say it or the press would
find out about his whores." JC said.

 "Oh shit that sucks" Justin replied. "SO what do we do?"

"Do we forgive and forget?" Chris asked.

 They both turned to JC. "I'm not sure," the blue-eyed man said slowly. "I
have to be honest with you, I'm still majorly pissed of at him. After what
Johnny tried to do to Brian and Nick...and then AJ goes and helps him?"

"I know, Chris said. "But if Joey can give him another chance, then maybe
we should too..."

"Well, he is coming today," JC said, "he was off to see his family or
something? So I have some time to thin-k."

 "Off to happier thoughts," Justin said. "Is everything ready outside?"

"Almost," Chris said. "I'm just gonna set out the flowers and put the
switch to the lights in...then we should be ready for a go."

 *****

"I'm bored," Joey sighed. "And I want to know what those three are up too!"
Putting the book he had aimlessly flipped through aside, Lance nodded. "I
don't like it when Chris gets all sneaky and secretive like that...he pick
it up from your two, mind you."

"My airheads are not sneaky," Joey protested. "Oh ok, maybe just a
little...remind me to remove that little nasty habit from them."

 "Will do," Lance giggled. They both could hear noises coming from
downstairs. "What are they doing?" Lance said, "They're planning something,
I just know it."

 Joey leaned back in the bed, wincing a little as the soft pressure of the
pillow hit the cut in his head. It had been closed with five stitches, and
now it itched so much that he thought he was going crazy.

Lance who was getting restless, sat up, hugging his knees.

"You feeling sleepy?" he asked Joey. "A little," Joey had to admit.

"But I don't want to go to sleep, then JC and Justin are just going to let
me sleep and I'll have to spend the whole day in here. And I don't want
that."

Twenty minutes later, in spite of his own words, Joey was fast
asleep. Lance was somewhat amused and still bored.

================
End
Chapter 12
================