"I was old enough to cause him, I'm old enough to take responsibility for it," Justin shrugged.
"Can we say un-happy management?" Chris asked.
"Screw 'em," Justin shrugged.
"Ok, well, can we say unhappy fans?" Lance asked.
"If we lose fans over my having a son and no girlfriend, then they're shallow, dillusional brats we don't need as fans anyway," Justin reasoned.
"Justin-" Joey began.
"Guys, get off him," JC stood. "You always said he was never responsible enough and wasn't mature enough to handle things and what-not. Well, now he's being mature in the way he's handling this and taking responsibility. And you're still ridin' his bum about it. He's growing up and you're nit-picking him to death." JC made little gestures as he said nit-picking.
Joey grinned and immitated those gestures. "Just like that, huh? Just like that?"
JC gave him an evil look and pounced on him, taking him down.
"He's right, you know," Lance said to Chris.
Chris nodded. "I hate it when he's right."
"He's always right, though," Justin said.
Chris shrugged. "So?"
Just then Mandi walked in, surprising them all, even JC.
"Mandi!" Chris jumped on her, taking her down.
Mandi laughed. Justin noted she didn't give a fake giggle, like so many other girls, but actually laughed at Chris.
Joey ran over. "Get off her, I wanna give her a hug, too!" He yelled, pulling at Chris's arm.
Chris rolled off of Mandi and Joey picked Mandi up, hugging her tight.
When Joey finally set her down, Lance stepped foward and gave her a hug.
"If y'all are done?" JC grinned.
"Sorry, Sweetie," Mandi grinned.
"I know you still love me," JC said as he wrapped his arms around Mandi's waist. He grinned and picked her up, swinging her around.
"JC!" Mandi squeaked out.
Dylan laughed and clapped.
JC stopped swinging her around and simply hugged her very tightly, making it hard for her to breath.
"JC! I can't breathe!" Mandi grunted.
"Oopsy-doopsy," JC grinned evilly as he set her down on the ground.
"Ha ha ha, you're so funny!" Mandi said in a fake voice, slapping him on the arm.
"I know," JC shrugged.
"Muma!" Dylan held his arms out towards his mother.
"How's my baby?" Mandi cooed, reaching over to take Dylan out of Justin's arms. As she grabbed Dylan, her hand brushed against Justin's chest and she felt the familiar spark run through her body.
Outwardly, Justin appeared normal, the same as always. But inside, his body felt as if it had electricity running through it.
Mandi looked up into Justin's eyes to see if the spark had gone through him, too. The other guys simply saw Mandi looking at Justin, seemingly confused. Mandi saw Justin's quick wink and felt his fingertips brush her back as he walked behind her to the snack table to get a drink of water.
He's not gonna try and play this game, is he? Mandi wondered to herself. He knew as well as she did that it really got to her.
"So, Mandi, you're gonna take over our picture book, right?" Chris wondered.
Mandi looked down at Dylan and bit her lip.
"I'll take the kid, you take the book?" Chris was nearly begging.
"Yo, I dunno how much I want you watching my kid!" Justin grinned.
Chris rolled his eyes. "I'm good with kids!" He smiled at Dylan and Dylan let out a wail, burying his face in his mother's shoulder.
"Or not," Joey said, holding his arms out to Dylan. Dylan shyly accepted, but held himself up stiffly while Joey held him until Joey swung him upside-down.
"God, Joe, be careful with him, he's my son!" Justin begged.
"He's fine," Joey grinned at the baby.
"Come on, guys, you have to get ready for the show!" JC called from where he stood by their wardrobe racks in his boxers.
Justin shrugged. "You know, you're beginning to sound like a broken record."
"Jus' doin' my job," JC grinned and looked through for his clothes.
"Do you want a cookie?" Justin put emphasis on the word 'cookie'.
Mandi laughed as Joey, Chris, and Lance all stripped down to their boxers. She was as close as you could get with those five, and they were completely comfortable with stripping down in front of her. She sat on the floor with Dylan crawling around and looked up at the guys, who were teasing each other mercilessly.
Justin just watched. Finally, he shook his head and tugged his long-sleeved t-shirt over his head, revealing a wifebeater.
"Lordy," Mandi murmured under her breath.
When she looked up again, Justin was laughing with the other guys and joking comparing their muscles. She nearly went into shock when she realized that he was wearing a pair of boxers she'd given him.
"Mandi's judge," Chris called out like he always had.
Mandi nearly froze up. Justin obviously had the most/best muscles.
Mandi sent a pleading look to JC.
"Guys, we gotta get ready," JC said.
Mandi grinned at JC. "Thanks!" She mouthed at him.