Since the previous chapter in this story, many things have changed/happened. AJ decided to use the number Michelle gave him and now him and Krista are currently together. Michelle has forgiven Brian for what he did and they are back to being friends. The song Chris and Michelle wrote the night the cable went out has been recorded and is now #20 on the billboard charts. Oh and Michelle and Chris seem to be closer than ever....

'Ring Ring'

"Hello?"

"Hi Michelle? It's Krista."

"Hey Kris, how are ya?"

"Can't complain."

"How are things with you and AJ?"

"Couldn't be better. It's hard when he has to leave all the time but hey, what can you do about it?"

"Yeah. I guess I don't realize how hard it could be for me."

"You've got it made Michelle, with that voice of yours, you can travel with your boyfriend."

"Yeah, I'm lucky. But I don't know what I'd do if Chris and I were forced to be apart for that long..."

"Michelle, come on, you have an interview and you're going to be late." Mike was rushing Michelle out the door so she wouldn't be late.

"Where are the guys?" Michelle asked as they left the hotel room.

"They have a meeting with a producer, and then they have a choreography session later. You probably won't see them until later tonight."

Michelle sighed. It seemed that her and Chris were spending less and less time together lately. Ever since their duet hit Billboard, Michelle has seemed to be getting her own career.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Hello?" Michelle called as she entered the hotel. It was 9:30 at night, and Michelle had just gotten back from a photo shoot.

"Anyone here?" Michelle called again. After realizing that no one was there, Michelle sighed again.

"Hello? Michelle are you here?" Chris called. The guys were back from their choreography.

"Yeah I'm in here." Michelle called to him from the other room.

Chris dropped his stuff at the door and went to go find Mish.

"Hey babe." Chris said when he found Michelle lying on their bed.

"Hey sweetie, how was your day?" she asked as Chris sat down next to her.

"Tiring. How was yours?"

"Ok." Michelle paused. "Chris have you noticed that lately, we haven't been spending much time together? I mean, we see eachother in the morning and at night, and maybe a couple times during the day if we're lucky, but it isn't a lot."

"I know, I've noticed that too." Michelle turned around so she could lean against Chris' chest. "It's just that we're both busy with careers now."

"I realize that honey, but that still doesn't help bring us closer together."

"I know, we're just going to have to learn the meaning of the phrase 'value every minute we're together.' "

"Yeah I guess you're right."

"Are you ok?" Chris asked Michelle.

"Yeah just tired."

"You want to go to bed?"

"Yeah."

Michelle and Chris got ready for bed, and turned out the light.

"Ok, it looks like we're more or less on the same track for today." JC said. "We have a photo shoot and you have a vocal lesson this morning, but after that, we all have sound check and then a concert."

"Finally, a day with you guys."

JC laughed. "We're leaving now, and someone will be picking you up in a few minutes. We'll see you this afternoon."

"Ok bye guys."

The guys left and as JC had said, a rep from the Management Company came to pick her up about 15 minutes later.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Hi guys!" Michelle had finished with her vocal lesson and had to go meet the guys at a venue for a sound check.

"Hi Michelle, Mike's looking for you."

"He is? Ok, I'll go call him."

Michelle dialed Mike's number. The phone rang a couple times before a machine picked up.

"Hi Mike, its Michelle. I'm just returning your call. Call me on my cell." She hung up the phone and went to go rehearse for this evening's concert.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Mish, your phone is ringing."

They were backstage after their concert and Michelle's cell was ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hi Michelle, its Mike."

"Hi Mike." The rest of the conversation was pretty much one sided. Mike was explaining to Michelle what he wanted her to do and she was listening, responded with little words.

"Uh huh, ok, yeah, ok." The last words that Michelle said were "I'll think about it."

Michelle hung up the phone and became suddenly silent. The guys didn't notice this at first, because they were bust getting ready to leave the venue. It wasn't until they were back at the hotel, that Chris noticed Michelle was distant.

"Mish, is something wrong? You seem upset."

"No, I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"Mike wants to do a tour of Europe."

"A tour of Europe? But we're touring the states right now." Chris said, puzzled.

"No, he wants me to do a tour of Europe."

"What?"

"Yeah, it would start in a month and a half. Apparently, people want to hear my music there."

"Michelle, that's great."

"I'm not doing it." She said abruptly.

"What? Why not?"

"I couldn't do it. I'd miss you too much."

"Oh Mish, don't not do this because of me."

"Well you'd miss me right?" She asked him.

"Of course I would."

"I'm not doing it." Michelle refused again.

"Yes you are. I'm not letting you give this up."

"I don't care what you're going to let me do, I've decided for myself that I'm not doing it." And with that, Michelle got up and stormed out of the room.

"Michelle, what's wrong?" Lance asked, as he saw her stomp out of the room and slam the door.

"Nothing." Michelle cried and left the hotel room all together.

"Michelle went down to the lobby and sat in a lone chair. As she sat, she cried. People walked by and looked at her as they passed, but she didn't care. Michelle continued to cry until the elevator opened and Lance came out. It didn't take him long to find her.

"Michelle, what's wrong?" He asked her as he squatted down beside the chair. "I saw you storm out."

"Nothing is wrong." Michelle said through her tears.

"Mish, I know something's wrong. Did you and Chris have a fight?"

"I guess we kind of did."

"Let's talk about it."

After giving Michelle a minute to compose herself, Lance asked to hear the story.

Michelle took a deep breath. "Mike wants me to do a solo tour of Europe."

"Oh." Lance realized the problem right away. "And Chris wants you to go?"

"Yeah."

"But you don't want to?"

"Exactly." After a minute, Michelle reconsidered. "No, Its not like I don't want to, but I don't think I could be away for that long.

"Have you talked to Chris?" Lance asked.

"Yeah, that's what led to me being down here."

"I think your actual problem is that you're both stubborn."

Michelle smiled.

"Are you mad at him?" Lance asked.

"Yeah. I mean why can't he just respect my decision?"

"Mish, he loves you and as hard as it is for him, he has to encourage you. What kind of boyfriend would he be if he told you to stay here?"

Michelle thought about that. "I don't know." She said at last.

"Come on, let's go back up to the room." Lance got up and held his hand out to Michelle.

"No, I don't want to talk to him."

"Fine, you can spend the night in my room tonight, but the lobby isn't a place for us to be hanging around.

"Ok." Michelle said at last. She got up and together, her and Lance got into the elevator.

"Did Chris ask you to come and get me?" Michelle asked.

"No. I figured you were upset about something, so I came to find out what was wrong. I think JC went to go see if Chris was ok.

"Oh."

When the elevator reached the floor they were staying on, the two of them went back to the room. Just as they were coming into the main room, JC was coming out of Chris' room. JC came over to see Mish, and Lance went into see Chris.

"You ok Mish?" JC asked.

"I've been better. I take it you heard what happened?"

"Yeah, Chris told me. Why don't you want to go to Europe?"

"I do, but I don't think I could be away from Chris and the rest of you for that long."

"I figured that was why. Face it Michelle, you have fans now. The people over in Europe want to hear your music."

"I realize that but I don't want to go." Michelle paused. "Is Chris mad?"

"Yeah. He doesn't know why you'd give up an opportunity like this."

"He knows that I would do anything for him."

"Michelle, this is a great opportunity to get your career going."

"Yeah but he said so himself, there are sacrifices to make when you really something. I want him, obviously, there are sacrifices."

Just then, Lance came out from Chris' room.

"Michelle, you're spending the night in my room" Lance said as he walked over. "Joey's gonna move in with Chris for tonight."

"Ok, I'm tired now, I'm going to bed." Michelle started towards Lance' room.

"Michelle are you ok?" JC called after her.

"I'll be fine." Michelle got ready for bed and hopped under the covers. After the lights were out, she realized what all had happened that night and cried herself to sleep.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

When Michelle woke up the next morning, everything seemed normal. She opened her eyes and sat up. As she looked around the room, Michelle saw Lance sleeping in the bed next to hers. The night before came flooding back to her and she flopped back into bed and stuffed the pillow over her head.

After about 15 minutes of lying there, Lance woke up.

"Michelle, are you awake?" He asked.

"Mmmmm." Michelle mumbled from under the pillow.

"Good now get up."

"I don't want to." She complained as she removed the pillow from her face.

"Come on Michelle, you're gonna have to face him eventually."

Michelle groaned again, but she knew Lance was right so she got up and got ready for the day.

When she was dressed, Michelle went out into the main room. She wasn't sure what to expect. Weather her and Chris would be talking or not was her biggest worry.

"Morning everyone." Michelle said as she walked into the main room. She looked around the room and saw Lance, JC, Joey and Justin. No Chris.

"Morning Michelle."

Mish sighed and sat down for breakfast. By then, Michelle was sure Justin and Joey knew about the previous night, and if they didn't, seeing her coming out of Lance's room should have prevented a problem. Nothing was mentioned about the previous night's sleeping arrangement.

"So Michelle," JC prompted, "Have you reached a decision about Europe yet?"

Ordinarily, that kind of question would have upset her, and at first it did, but Mish knew JC was trying to be nice.

"Yes, it hasn't changed from last night. I'm still not going."

After breakfast, everyone cleaned up. Much to Michelle's benefit, she had a completely different schedule from 'N SYNC, so after breakfast, Michelle went to a photo shoot. Chris still hadn't come out of his room by the time she left.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Michelle, do you want me to take you back to the hotel?" Mike asked her.

It was after her photo shoot and Mish had a couple hours to herself. Ordinarily, she would go hang with the guys, but today, Michelle thought that probably wouldn't be the best idea.

"Yes please Mike."

When Michelle got back to the hotel, she decided she needed to talk to someone so she picked up the phone and dialed Krista's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Krista, its Mish."

"Hey Mish, how are you?" Krista asked.

"Not to great." Was Michelle's reply.

"Oh no, what's wrong?"

"Everything." Michelle went on to tell Krista about how her and Chris had been spending less and less time together lately. They talked about that for a while and then Michelle brought up the subject of Europe.

"So what are you going to do?" Krista asked when Michelle had finished telling the story.

"Oh I don't know, I think Chris really wants me to go."

"Do you want to go?"

"Not without him."

"Then tell him that."

"I did! That's what led to our fight. Now we're not even talking to each other. Oh Krista, what should I do?"

"Talk to him. Explain to him calmly about your feelings."

"I don't see how I can. We have separate schedules all day and we have a concert tonight."

"You're gonna have to find time Mish."

"I know."

"You're luck hasn't exactly been great lately has it?" Krista added after a long silence.

"Not exactly." Michelle replied.

"You ok?"

"I will be." Michelle looked up at the clock. "Kris I gotta go, I have a meeting in 20 minutes."

"Ok Michelle, good luck. Call me after you talk to Chris."

"Ok, I will. Thanks Krista. Bye." Michelle hung the phone up and got ready to leave. 'After the concert, I'll talk to him.' Michelle thought to herself before running out the door.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Hey, how are you doing?" JC asked as he walked over to see Chris.

"I'm ok."

"I know you're lying Chris."

"So what if I am?" Chris snapped.

"Talk to her Chris."

"I tried!" Chris exclaimed. "That's what started this thing."

"Chris, did you actually talk to her, or did you just tell her to go?"

"Well I- " Chris lowered his head.

"Chris do you really want her to go to Europe?"

Chris sighed. He had been asked that question a million times that day. Of course, he said he wanted her to go, but the truth was, he wanted her to stay.

Chris took a deep breath. "No, I don't."

JC didn't seem surprised. "Then tell her that."

"I can't."

"Why not?" JC asked.

"Because, I'm supposed to be supportive of her."

Chris, there is a difference between being supportive and telling her what to do."

"Does she want to go?" Chris asked, "Or is she just staying because of me?"

"I'm not the one you should be asking." JC looked at his friend one more time, before walking away.

Chris knew he would have to sort this out with Michelle. He felt like it was his fault, even though he knew it took two to fight. 'After the concert, I'll talk to her.'

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Ok guys, show time." Michelle had just finished her segment on stage and was just coming off as the guys were going on from the other side. Michelle started back to her dressing room, but something told her to go back. Chris was introducing the first song. That usually didn't happen.

"Our first song, is for everyone out there who have messed something up, and want to apologize. Its called I want you back."

The crowd erupted into cheers as "N SYNC broke into the song.

After a few stunned moments, Michelle went back to her dressing room and sat down. A million questions ran through her mind. 'Does this mean he wants to make up? And if so, is he still gonna make me do this?'

After the concert, they went straight back to the hotel. Everyone seemed to be really tired. Or in Chris and Michelle's case the needed to talk.

Michelle went to go knock on Chris' door, but before she could, the door abruptly opened, and she found herself face to face with Chris.

"I was just coming to see you." Chris said.

Michelle gave a half smile, but it quickly disappeared.

"We need to talk." She said firmly.

Chris nodded and held the door open. Michelle came in and sat down on the bed. Chris pulled a chair over and sat down so he was facing her.

"Ok, so about this Europe tour." Chris prompted. "I know I've been a jerk and haven't listened to you or your reasons why you don't want to do this, so now I'm listening."

"Chris, don't blame this all on yourself, I was just as stubborn as you were. But it is my decision and I have decided not to do it."

Chris sighed. "Michelle, its just that I don't want to be the one holding you back, I want to be the one encouraging you to move forward."

"Encourage me by supporting my decisions."

"But Michelle, this is a really big opportunity for you, and I want you to make it big and forfill your dreams."

"That's just it Chris, this wasn't my dream. For as long as I can remember, you have always been the one that wanted to make it big with your voice, not me. Why do you think I moved back home? There is less hype on being big back there. You were the one that convinced me to do this."

"But you love to sing Michelle."

"I know I do, but I love you more. My dream has always been to be successful, but not in the public eye. Now all of a sudden I'm both, and it's hard to deal with."

"I just don't want you to have any regrets."

"Chris, I promise you, I won't have any regrets."

Chris sighed. "Are you sure you don't want to do this?"

Michelle paused. "I really don't. At least, not yet." She added.

"Ok, I respect your decision." Chris paused. "Does this mean we're ok?"

"Yeah we're good."

Chris placed his hands on Michelle's shoulders and planted a perfect kiss on her lips.

"Good, I didn't want to have to spend another night with Joey."

Michelle laughed. "Come on, let's go tell the guys everything's better."

"Ok." They got up and opened the door. When they did, they found 4 heads placed against the door. After the door was opened all the way, they tried to get away and look as busy as possible, but it was no use.

"Ahem." Michelle said, stepping through the doorway. She looked around at the 4 red faces. "What were you doing?"

They looked around at each other.

"That's what I thought." She smiled. "Then I guess you heard everything?"

Joey spoke up. "Not really, the doors are really thick, "we couldn't hear a thing."

"Gee, I'm so sorry." Chris said.

"So..... Are you two ok?" Justin couldn't help asking.

"Yep, everything's fine." Chris took Michelle's hand, and led her over to the couch.

"Are you going to Europe Mish?"

"Nope. I'm staying here with you."

Everyone started to go to bed, but Michelle could tell Chris wasn't tired. She looked at him, and he looked back at her.

"Are you tired sweetheart?" He asked.

"Not really." Chris looked out the window. It was pitch black outside except for the city lights.

"Do you want to go for a drive, just the two of us?"

"Sure." So they got their jackets on, and got into the car.

For a while, they drove around in a comfortable silence. Eventually, they found a place to park. Chris stopped the car.

"Are you ok Chris?" Michelle asked. "You seem quiet."

She could tell he was trying to work up the courage to tell her something, so she sat and waited for him to speak.

"Michelle, I'm really glad you're not going to Europe."

"I know. The look in your eyes when you were trying to convince me to go, told me you wanted me to stay."

Even in the dark, Michelle could see Chris smiling. He took her hand and they sat there together in the silent darkness.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Hey you two." Joey greeted them the next morning. "Where did you guys go last night?"

"We went for a drive around the city."

"No wonder you look so tired." Lance said as he poured them each a glass of orange juice. "What time were you out till last night?"

"About 1:00."

Joey laughed. "I'm just glad everything's ok."

"Oh no!" Michelle cried.

"What?" Chris asked, alarmed.

"I have to call Krista, I promised her I would after we solved our fight."

"Oh Michelle, don't do that, I thought it was a real emergency."

"Sorry," Michelle apologized, "but I really have to call her."

"Go then." Chris kissed Michelle's forehead before letting her go.

"Love you." She said before fleeing to her phone to call Kris.

'Ring, Ring'

"Hello?"

"Krista? Hi!"

"Hey Mish, how are you?"

"I'm great!"

"So you and Chris are ok?"

"Yep we sorted everything out."

"That's good, are you going to Europe?' Krista asked.

"Nope."

The two girls talked a little bit more before hanging up the phone. At long last, Mish hung up and went back into the main room. By that time, everyone was dressed and out of their room and breakfast was being served. JC was looking at Michelle.

"What?" She asked him. Michelle knew why JC was glaring at her.

"What time did you two finally get in last night?"

"Umm, I don't know, bout 1:00."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

"JC, lighten up." Chris said.

"I'm just kidding. I'm glad you two had fun last night."

"Awww, thanks JC." Michelle got up and kissed JC on the cheek. His face went bright red.

"JC," Joey said, "you're blushing."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Guys, I have a problem." Mike announced later that day.

"What is it Mike?" JC asked. Everyone was gathered in Mike's office.

"It appears I'm in over my head. Between you guys, and all my other acts, it's hard to keep up, so I have a solution."

"What?"

"I have hired two assistants. One will stay in Orlando with my other acts, and the other one will travel with us. He'll mostly be taking Michelle to interviews and stuff."

"He?" Chris asked.

"Yep. His name is Cliff, and he'll be starting tomorrow."

"Great." Chris said

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"Michelle, guys, I'd like you to meet Cliff. Cliff, these are the guys and Michelle."

Everyone exchanged pleasant hellos before Mike took 'N SYNC to a radio show and Cliff took Michelle to an interview.

"So Cliff, tell me a little bit about yourself." Michelle said while they were driving to the interview.

"Ok, I'm 25, I'm originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, I'm not married, and no family." He said. "What about you?"

"I'm 22, I'm from Alberta, Canada, I have no immediate family, but lots of distant relatives."

"Wow, we have a lot in common." Cliff noticed. "Too bad you and Chris have a thing going." He joked, then paused in thought. "

"You and Chris do have a thing going, right?"

Michelle laughed. "Yeah, me and Chris are together."

"So, Mike tells me that you were supposed to go to Europe."

"I was supposed to." Michelle confirmed.

"If you don't mind my asking, why didn't you go?"

"I wasn't ready, for obvious reasons, and I didn't really want to."

"Oh, well that sums it up pretty much."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Hi sweetie, how was your interview?" Chris asked, later that day.

"It was fine." She replied.

"How's working with Cliff?"

"Its really fun. He's a really nice guy."

"That's good." Chris said with a bitter- sweet tone in his voice. He didn't want Mish to know he was worried about Michelle working with Cliff.

"Chris, is something wrong?" Michelle asked him.

Trust Michelle to detect his every thought. Since he didn't want her to know, he lied. "No, nothing's wrong. Why?'

"Nevermind."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Chris, what's wrong?" JC asked him the next day.

"I'm worried about Michelle."

"Worried? Why?"

"Because of Cliff."

"What's wrong with Cliff?"

"He's alone with Michelle."

"Oh," said JC, catching on, "worried he's going to try and move in?"

"Yeah, he seems to be too perfect. But hey, I could just be paranoid from the entire Brian thing."

"Hey Chris, I don't blame you for worrying about Cliff, but don't worry about Michelle, she's loyal and she loves you."

"I know, but what can I do?" Chris shrugged.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

"Cliff, what are you doing?" Michelle walked into a studio room where Cliff and three other people were dancing to really obnoxious music. "You look like a chicken."

"Well I'm not trying to." Cliff replied, then added in a sarcastic voice, "some people aren't lucky enough to be a natural born dancer like you."

"Oh stop it. I never said you couldn't dance, I just said you look like a chicken when you do."

"No I don't, it's this music." Cliff was desperately trying to stick up for himself."

"Ok so whenever you dance to really obnoxious music, you turn into half- man, half- chicken?"

"Exactly." He paused. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yep." She had just finished with a choreography session and now she was ready to go back to the hotel.

"Ok, let's go."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

"Hey Michelle, are you ready?" Cliff was there to pick her up.

"Where are you going?" Chris asked, "You don't have any appointments today."

"Cliff is taking me out for lunch."

"Oh great." Chris was a little mad. They had one full day to be together and Michelle was going out for lunch with Cliff.

"I'll be back in about an hour and a half. Bye hon." She kissed him and went out the door.

"Where did Mish go?" JC asked, coming into the room.

"Out for lunch with Cliff." Chris replied flatly.

"What? But we have today off, shouldn't you and Mish spend the day together?"

"I guess not."

After lunch, when Cliff dropped Michelle off at the hotel, Michelle invited him up to see everyone.

"Well, ok."

"Hi guys, we're back." Michelle called as she and Cliff came into the hotel room.

"Mish, hey." Chris walked into the room to meet her but slowed his pace when he saw Cliff standing there. "Hi Cliff."

"Hi Chris. Mish, I can't stay long, I have a meeting with Mike."

"What are you guys doing?" Michelle asked Chris, hearing loud music coming from the next room.

"We're hanging in Justin and JC's room and listening to music. Do you want to come in?" Chris asked, trying to be hospitable towards Cliff.

"Yeah great." Michelle dropped her stuff and went into Justin and JC's room. Cliff reluctantly followed.

After listening to a few songs and talking for a bit, a song came on the radio that made a smile appear on Michelle's face.

"Cliff this is the chicken song."

"Yes it is." Cliff agreed.

"The chicken song?" Justin asked.

"Yeah. Two days ago, I found Cliff dancing like a chicken to this song."

"I was not dancing like a chicken." Cliff argued.

"Yes you were."

"What is the chicken dance exactly?" Joey asked.

"Cliff, get up and show them." Michelle coaxed.

"Well, ok." Cliff got up and started to dance with the music. After about 10 seconds, the room erupted into laughter. Everyone was laughing. Everyone but Chris.

Eventually, Cliff left and everything resumed to normality. Michelle and Lance volunteered to cook supper and went to go do that, leaving Chris, JC, Justin and Joey remaining in the room.

"That's it, I'm sick of Cliff." Chris declared.

"Chris, don't tell me you're jealous." Joey said.

"No, I'm not jealous, I know he likes her."

"Chris, don't you think you're just still paranoid from the entire Brian thing?" Justin asked.

"As much as I hate to judge people, I agree with Chris." JC said, "I think he really does like her."

"I'm going to tell Mike to get rid of him." Chris said, monotone.

"Really Chris? You're actually going to do that?" Justin said in dismay.

"Yes. Tomorrow morning when I see Mike, I'm going to tell him."

"Wow, I'm impressed Chris."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

"Mike, we need to talk." Chris said, walking into Mike's office.

"Sure Chris, what's up?"

"Get Cliff out of here."

"What? Why?"

"Because, I don't like him around Michelle."

"What's the problem? I thought things were going great."

"They are going great. Too great. He's trying to move in on Michelle."

"Chris, are you sure? Or is this just a flashback from the Brian episode?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Chris demanded. "Look, I know he's doing this, ask J.C., he agrees with me."

"Really?" Mike paused. "It's just that Chris, I really hate to keep doing position changes to Michelle all the time. It's got to be hard on Michelle."

"Michelle's strong, she'll cope. I want a female to replace Cliff."

"Well I could bring in my Orlando assistant out to be with Michelle and Cliff could take her position."

"Her?"

"Yes, her name is Anita."

"Ok, that's great. It means Cliff is out."

"Yes it does. But Chris, if I'm doing this for you, you have to do something for me."

"What?"

"You have to tell Michelle the news and you have to tell her why."

Chris sighed. He knew that was coming. "Ok, I'll tell her." And with that, he turned and left the office.

Later that night after supper, Chris and Michelle sat down to talk.

"Look Michelle," Chris said, taking her hand. "There's something I have to tell you, and it's not going to be easy."

"What is it?" Michelle asked cautiously.

Chris took a deep breath and told her everything. Everything that he had noticed, everything that had bothered him, and everything that had gone on in Mike's office that morning.

When he was finished, Michelle was quiet at first. A mixture of emotions crossed over her face. When she finally spoke, one word came out of her mouth. "Why?"

"Is it only you who thinks this?" Michelle asked him.

"No, J.C. agrees with me."

Michelle and Chris talked about Cliff and Mike and everything that had happened for a couple of hours. By the end of

their conversation, they decided it would be the best idea for Cliff to go back to Orlando and the new assistant to come help out with Michelle.

After the lights were out, and Michelle was lying next to Chris, she decided it was sweet that he was jealous. She was flattered and so all was forgotten.

Michelle could tell it was going to be nice working with Anita. She seemed like a pleasent person to be around, but a complete oppisite of JC. She wasn't a serious person, she was a person who obviously liked to have fun and that was something Michelle liked in people she worked with.

As the first day of the new mangement match up, with Michelle and Anita went on, Mishi learned a lot about Anita. Above and beyond all, she learned that Anita had a crush on jc.

'Hmmm, looks like I have some match making to do.' Michelle thought to herself, smiling.

"What's so funny?" Anita asked.

"Nothing."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"So, Chris are you happy now?" JC asked him.

"Yes, now that Cliff is gone, i'm ecstatic."

"Finally, Chris is happy!" JC exclaimed.

"Hey I resent that." Chris replied.

Later that day, a thought crossed Chris' mind.

"JC, do you think it's possible for jelousy to be more than jelousy?" Chris asked.

"What do you mean? Are you asking if it's possible to have more feelings than jelousy in jelousy?"

"I think so."

"I'm not sure Chris. I think it could be entirely possible, it just depends on the angle you look at it from. Why?"

"Oh I don't know. I have a feeling that my jelousy jelousy of Cliff was something other than what it appeared to be."

Chris thought about his theory all afternoon and into the evening. It was after supper that Chris and Michelle finally got some time alone together. They were curled up on the couch together when the subject of Anita came up.

"So how's the new assistant?" Chris asked. He was holding Michelle's hand, gently rubbing the inside of her palm.

"She's really nice. And, she likes JC."

"Uh oh, Mishi's gonna play natch maker again, isn't she?"

"Well I don't see why not." Michelle reasoned, "It worked before."

"But the seem so different."

"Well, they say opposites attract."

Chris laughed. "Good luck hon."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

"So Chris, have you reached a conclusion on your theory yet?" JC asked him.

"Nope." The truth was, Chris had decided what his jelousy ahd meant, and he knew what he was going to do about it, but he didn't want JC to know. It was private.

"Well good luck." JC said.

"Thanks."

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

"Hey Michelle, we need a special date, just the two of us."

Chris and Michelle were in bed and just getting ready to turn out the lights when Chris made this suggestion.

"Ok sweetie, I think that's a great idea. We have tomorrow night off."

"Then that's when we'll do it. Prepare yourself for a fancy dinner, acompanied by yours truely."

"Oh I can't wait." After a very passionate kiss, the light went out, and they went to sleep.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

"Anita, I need your help." Michelle said the next day. "I have a fancy date with Chris tonight and I don't have a clue on what to wear."

"Ok, well where are you going?" Her assistant asked her.

"We're going out for dinner, then after that, i'm not sure, but where ever we end up, I want to knock Chris' socks off."

"I think we're in need of a shopping trip then."

After an afternoon of shopping, the girls found the perfect dress for Michelle to wear. A long, black dress, with a slit upto Michelle's upper thigh. The perfect dress to knock anyones socks off.

Anita dropped Michelle off at the hotel and Michelle ran upstairs to get ready.

"Mishi, are you ready to go?" Chris called from the other room.

"Just a second." She called back. Quickly, she applied her lipstick, took one more glance in the mirror, and went out to meet Chris.

"Wow." Chris said as Michelle entered the room.

Michelle had gotten the reaction she was going for, but Chris looked good himself. He was wearing black pants, a red silk shirt, and a black suit jacket over top.

"You look really beautiful Michelle. Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah I think so, let's go." Chris opened the door and escorted Michelle downstaris to the limo waiting to take them to the resaurant.

Michelle thought Chris seemed a bit nervous on the ride to the restaurant, but thought nothing of it, considering the occasion. It was rare when they got the chance to go out like this.

Once they were inside the restaurant and had ordered their meals, Chris and Michelle started a conversation.

"So have you talked to Krista lately?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, her and AJ are fighting."

"Oh really? Can you tell me why or is it a girl thing?"

"AJ forgot their six month anniversary."

"Ouch. Doghouse for AJ."

"Yep, that's where he seems to be right now."

After they were finished eating and the plates were removed from the table, Chris put his hand in his pocket and retrieved what he was looking for. He took a deep breath for courage before he began to speak. "Michelle-" He stopped and took another breath, but put the object back into his pocket.

"Yeah baby?" She asked.

"Earlier this week, I was thinking that maybe my jelousy was something more. After a lot of thought, I realized it was more. It was love." chris Mishi's hands in his and looked into her eyes.

"Can I get you two anything else this evening?" They were intreupted by the waiter.

"No, just our check." Chri said.

He looked at Michelle. "This isn't the place to be talking. After we pay our bill, let's go for a walk."

"Ok."

After the bill was payed, they left the resaurant. Chris took Michelle's hand, and togetherthey walked all over town. They eventually came to the beach.. For a little while, they took off their shoes and along the shore of the beach, stopping frequently for kisses and long smiles.

Eventually, they came to a deserted part of the beach and sat down to talk. Chri sexplained the things that that he had been thinking about whenCliff came into their lives and how jelous he had been. Michelle told him she had never suspected that he was jelous of Cliff. If she had, she probably would have gone to Mike like Chris did earlier.

"Chris, this is the first time you've held your feelings from me. Why?"

"I don't take well to jelousy , and I guess telling you I was jelous would be admitting to myself that I was jelous, and I didn't want to do that."

They talked for a while, then got up and continued walking, hand in hand.

Suddenly, Chris stopped and faced Michelle. He looked deep into her eyes.

"Michelle, I love you." Thus began one of the most passionate kisses either of them had ever experienced. chris and Michelle returned Chris' words.

"I love you too." She gently kissed him again.

"Michelle, I have a suprise for you, close your eyes."

Michelle did as she was told and closed her eyes. She could hear Chris moving, and a noise resmbling a scraping. She was extremely curious about what was going on around her but she kept her eyes closed until the noise stopped.

"Ok, you can open them."

Michelle opened her eyes and looked down. Engraved in the sand at her feet were the words; 'Michelle, will you marry me?"

At first, Michelle thought she was dreaming. The night had been so perfect and to end it like this would make it beyond perfect. She contemplated pinching herself herself, and looked up at Chris. He was holding a ring box out to her.

"Michelle, will you marry me?" Chris asked again.

Now she was sure.

"Chris, pinch me, i'm dreaming."

"You're not dreaming honey, will you be my wife?"

"Michelle kirkpatrick. It has a nice ring to it."

"Does that mean yes?" chris asked.

"I would be honoured to be your wife, Chris."

Chris took the ring and placed it on Michelle's finger. He looked up at her and they engaged in another kiss, far more pasionate than the one before.

Michelle and Chris sat down in the sand and continued to kiss. Chris embraced her and and pulled her back into the sand. Michelle took Chris' jacket off and unbuttoned his shirt. Chris unzipped the back of her dress. They rolled over so Chris was on top of Michelle as they continued kissing....

Michelle awoke the next morning in the hotel room. They had made it back to the hotel the night before, but it was early into the morning when they did.

Michelle was still smiling from the previous night's events. She held her hand and examened the ring Chris had put on her finger the night before.

"Morning my wife to be." Chris said and kissed her when he woke up later that morning.

"Morning sweetie. How was your sleep?"

"Not as good as being awake."

Michelle smiled. "What are we going to do now?" Michelle asked Chris.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are we going to do about telling the guys and everyone?"

"I think we should just tell them, there's no use in beating around the bush."

"I want to tell Krista first. A girl is always the first one to tell her friends anything that happens. If you told the guys first, you'd wreck it."

"I wouldn't want to do that." Chris said, smiling. "Ok, call Krista then."

"I can't call her with you in the room, you have to leave."

"Ok, i'll go have a shower." Chris got out of bed and left the room.

Michelle picked up the phone next to the bed and dialed Krista's number.

'Ring, ring'

"Hello?"

"Krista?"

"Nope, this is AJ. Hold on." A minute later, Krista was on the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi Kris, it's Mishi."

"Hi Michelle, how are you?"

"I am so great and boy do I have news for you."

"What?" Krista asked eagerly.

"Well, Chris and I went out for dinner and a romantic walk on the beach last night."

"How as it?"

"Well you know that song by the Spice Girls 'Two become one?'"

"Yeah."

"Well that applied to us last night."

"Oh wow."

"And guess what?"

"What?"

Michelle paused for suspence. "He preposed."

"Oh my god, you said yes didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"Oh Mishi that's great!" Krista squealed."AJ's looking at me funny, can I tell him?" Krista whispered into the phone.

"Not yet. The guys don't even know yet."

"I'm the first to know?"

"Yeah, I made sure you were. But I have a favor to ask though."

"What?"

"Would you be my maid of honour?"

"Oh my god, yes of course I will."

"Ok great." Michelle heard the shower stop in the bathroom. That meant Chri swould be out soon.

"Kris, I have to let you go."

"Ok Michelle. Bye. And congratulations."

"Bye." Michelle hung up the phone just before Chris came out of the bathroom, clothed only in a towel.

"How'd she take it?" Chris asked.

"She's so happy for us, especially sice I asked her to be my maid of honour."

"Oh yeah, that's great."

After Chris had gotten dressed, and Michelle had showered and dressed, they were ready to face the guys.

"Are you ready?" Michelle asked.

"As ready as i'll ever be. Don't worry, they'll be happy for us." The two went out into the main room where they found Justin, JC, and Lance.

"Morning everyone." Chris said as they entered the room.

"Hey you two, how was your night last night?"

Since not everyone was in the room, Chris and Michelle made an unspoken pact not to say anything.

"It was great. We had fun."

Once everyone was in the room and they had sat down for breakfast, Chris looked at Michelle. His eyes met hers and said 'let's do it.' Michelle silently agreed.

"Guys, we have to tell you something." Chris announced, "Something happened last night."

"Uh oh, what happened?" Joey asked.

"Nothing bad, don't worry." Michelle reasured him.

"What is it?" Justin asked.

"Last night, we were walking along the beach and Chris asked ne to marry him." Michelle said gently.