There is a place in Minneapolis where two great rivers meet. Lance and Mercedes were sitting in the lounge area of the tour bus as Chris gave them, as he called it, "the nickel tour".
"Oh and how many times have we seen The Mall Of America?" Joey asked. "I felt like a friggin’ New Kid on the Block! How cheezy was THAT playing the Mall?"
"Hey, I’m the tour guide and nobody says ‘cheezy’ during my spiel ok?"
Dani looked over at Chris and smiled. All morning she had mainly been keeping an eye on the newlyweds. For some reason Lance seemed extraordinarily attentive today. Mercedes obviously wasn’t feeling well on this trip from Kansas City to the Target Arena in Minneapolis, MN. And Dani had noticed that when a group of them went out the night before, Mercedes ordered an O’Doul’s. Non-alcoholic beer. Their intense attraction to one another was so noticeable, that everyone on the tour already knew their relationship was intimate. How could they NOT? With rare exception whenever both of them were in the same room or within a 50 yard radius of one another, the vibes were earth shattering. Dani smiled, Lance really had a hard time keeping his hands off Mercedes’ butt. Chris had a little more restraint, and maybe he ought to talk to Lance. At the moment, Lance was bringing over a liner of saltine crackers to Mercedes. At ten in the morning? If Dani didn’t know any better...Naw!
As was Lance’s habit whenever Mercedes was in the audience, during his intro to "God Must Have Spent" he would touch the fingers of his right hand to his heart, as a signal to Mercedes. She would do the same in reply. Dani enjoyed watching them. Being stable in her own relationship it didn’t threaten her or make her jealous as it did for some people in the entourage. It made Dani happy to see them so utterly head over feet for one another. This was a prime example of how good the world really could be. And it was contagious. While Lance and Mercedes were exploring their new relationship and their time alone was all too precious, they wouldn’t socialize out with the others. Lance quit going to clubs, except to show his face if it had a promotional tie-in for NSync or if was some sort of fund raiser for Challenge for Children, when Mercedes wasn’t with him. And they would steal away to have time to themselves if she was with him. Now, he was able to relax. Their presence out last night had a positive effect on everyone’s behavior. Sometimes a little love can be mighty contagious!
"I hear the weather is really suppose to suck this weekend in Chicago." Joey offered as the guys settled into a game of cards on the bus leaving Minneapolis.
Mercedes brought Lance over a glass of sweetened tea. "Does anyone else want any?" she asked.
No takers. "If it rains, it’ll be miserable for all those fans." Justin said. "Hit me." he told Chris.
"How many?"
"One...er...two...TWO." Justin got a sly smile on his face when Chris dealt him two cards. "Thank-you...you’ll never know how much I love you right now."
"I don’t think I want to know, Junior."
Lance had his arm around Mercedes’ waist as she shared his spot on the couch. "I’m set." he said as Chris offered him some cards.
Mercedes took a sip of Lance’s tea. As she did, Lance kissed her neck and she giggled.
"OK. Lance, we’re playing cards right now." Joey said. "You are really interfering with my concentration."
"You couldn’t win this hand no matter how hard you concentrated." Justin laughed at him.
Chris folded.
"What?" Justin yelled.
"Junior, you’ve got to learn not to let your confidence show so much. I know better than to stay in this game. Besides Lance gave me an idea. Ohhh Dani!!"
Chris left the table.
Joey pulls his baseball cap over his eyes, "You have no idea how much I hate you both right now."
"Me? You’re a sore loser." Justin says.
"You AND him!" Joey points at Lance as Lance follows Mercedes down the hallway in the tour bus to their berth with his hands on her hips.
"Mercedes? Are you awake?" Lance whispered. "Darlin’?"
"Umm umm?"
"We’ve got two days off after tomorrow night. Do you want to go back home to Mississippi or visit your house on the Vineyard?"
Mercedes rolled back over to face Lance. She put the palm of her hand on his face, "Whatever you want is fine. I kind of figured we’d go back to Mississippi. That is your home."
"OUR home." He corrected her. "The Vineyard is special to us, too. It’d probably be cooler there at this time of year."
"That’s a definite." Mercedes closed her eyes and nuzzled close to him. "You SMELL so good." Mercedes and Lance laughed.
"There are a few things I’ve been curious about concerning the farm on the Vineyard."
"Like?"
Lance grinned, "Like, how much louder the bed in the guest room will creak when we’re making love in it."
Mercedes face burst into a huge smile. "Anything else, Sir?"
"Ummm. How much longer we will both be able to fit into that antique bath tub in the guest bathroom before our baby comes."
Lance gently touched her stomach, and his beautiful eyes gazed upon her.
"You do have this ‘thing’ for antiques, don’t you?" Mercedes blushed.
The soft tickle of his breath on her ear never ceased to excite her, as he whispered, "I never thought we’d be able to make love so quietly."
Mercedes clung tightly to her husband, "I think I bit the inside of my mouth."
She was laying on top of Lance with his hands on her lower back. Mercedes trapped his thigh between her legs.
"Poor Baby." He said.
They giggled. Sometime later, sleep descended upon them like a gentle kiss.
Warm and comforting.
"I Will" Lennon/McCartney
Who knows how long I’ve loved you?
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime?
If you want me to I will
Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we’re together
Love you when we’re apart
And when at last I find you
Our song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you,
Make it easy to be near you,
For the things you do endear you to me
Ah! You know I will
I will.
Around Noon, as Lance, Mercedes, Wes, Tom Miller, a Security Guard assigned to Mercedes named Lonnie, and Mike were returning from Mass, the news announcer on the radio said that the *N SYNC stage at the Joliet Raceway had been damaged from a tornado.
When they arrived back at the hotel, everyone was relieved to learn that no one had been hurt.
They were going to reschedule the concert, which meant...Lance and the guys got an extra day off for some R & R.
Lance and Mercedes had just missed an American Airlines flight at 11:45...but they caught a United flight out at 1:30pm. It connected in Boston to a Cape Air Ways flight which got them to the Vineyard by 6:35.
Mr. Serke met them at the airport.
And the Mag-ster met them in the drive way!
"Look how BIG she’s gotten!" Lance commented. "Hey, girl!"
They took a stroll around the farm to reintroduce themselves to the property. And Lance threw sticks to Maggie, enjoying the relaxing atmosphere that being
here gave him.
This is the place he had started his journey into Mercedes’ heart. This is where he had hoped their relationship would be planted. Now, she was carrying
their child. They were solid. His dreams began here. Ironically, it had also been a place Lance associated with his nightmare. But, the nightmare had gone away. It hadn’t reared it’s ugly head since the wedding. Maybe Chris had been right about that curse! ‘Ha!’
With her white cotton camisole top and skirt, swan ankle bracelet and little else on, Mercedes laid in the hammock in the yard with her head on Lance’s
chest. It was a lovely, lazy, summer night. Although, Mrs. Serke had told them it was her job, Mercedes insisted that she would make dinner. And when they decided they might actually be hungry, they made their way into the large kitchen.
The couple prepared dinner together, some penna pasta and dried tomatoes. Mozzarella cheese. Fresh oregano and basil from the herb garden. They ate out
on the back porch overlooking the pasture. At this time, the sun was just beginning to dip over the horizon. It was a beautiful sight. "God provided some entertainment for us tonight, I see." Lance commented. He reached out for Mercedes’ hand and encouraged her to come over and sit on his lap during the show.
Lance made a rather terrific salad. And Mercedes had decided to feed her groom, one lettuce leaf or tomato wedge at a time. The oil and vinegar dripped over his chin and down his neck until it started to make quite a lovely mess of things. Lance did his part when he attempted to spoon feed some homemade ice cream to his bride. Mercedes had mentioned to Mrs. Serke how much Lance had loved her Butter Pecan recipe, and sure enough there was some in her freezer. Lance whooped and hollered!! Now, he wasn’t being very
careful when he fed Mercedes. Lance had Mercedes straddle him as he licked the melting ice cream off her lips, her chin, her collarbone... Even though
Maggie did help to clean up whatever fell on the porch floor. The couple themselves were disheveled.
Mercedes told him, that they had behaved like livestock, and as such needed to stay in the barn until they could act like civilized humans again. She
didn’t realize that Lance had remembered the outdoor shower was on the other side of the barn. The chase was on! As the couple ran past the barn doors, Mercedes yelled, "Hey we’ve got to say ‘hi’ to Pre!!"
"Oh, no...not until I’ve had you woman!" Lance soon swept her into his arms and they leaned gasping for air against the side of the barn. Lance began to kiss her lips and gently prod her into the outdoor shower stall. "Come on, baby." Once inside, Lance began to lather up the soap and work it all over Mercedes’ camisole. Touching her breasts through the cotton material.
Mercedes unfastened Lance’s wet jeans and pulled them down over his hips. Lance soon started to unbutton the camisole to put his lips to her sweet breasts. He placed his hands on her tush, lifting up the skirt to touch her clitoris.
"Baby you are so sweet. No man could ask for more than what God has blessed me with. My lover, my best friend, my wife." Lance held onto her as they melted into one. Two bodies became one. It was a magical night.
"Lance?" Mercedes said as they lay on a blanket on the lawn looking up at the stars and the fireflies. Maggie asleep at their feet.
"What Darlin’?" He answered pressing his cheek closer to hers.
"This doctor’s appt in Orlando on the 30th. Should I have Dr. Westfall send my records to someone in Mississippi?"
"It’d be great if we could reschedule that appointment and then I could go with you. On the 30th we’re in Cleveland."
"It took over a month to get this appt. I might as well keep it. But, where do we want our baby to be born?"
"Well, it’ll be February, we think, correct?"
"Um um." Mercedes said turning on her side and cuddling up to him. They laid face-to-face.
Lance gave a chuckle, "Do you realize that I have NO idea where I might be or what I might be doing in February?"
"Working on a CD?" She gave him an Eskimo kiss which made him smile and kiss her lips.
"Or filming an *N SYNC movie." he offered. Then he added, "No matter, wherever I am or whatever I’m doing, at least I know that we are going to be
together." Then Lance patted her tummy. "Especially when our baby is born.
So, Orlando’s fine if you like Dr. Westfall. Although, Mississippi would be more private, I think."
"So, do I." Mercedes said. "When I see him the 30th, I’ll ask him to send my records to Mississippi."
Lance took a deep breath. "Life is good, Darlin’."
"No, NO!" Lance awoke to the sound of Mercedes whimpering.
"Mercedes, Mercedes. Wake up Baby." Lance told her. He reached for her hand.
Maggie made a pitiful noise. "It’s alright, Mags." Lance said to the dog.
As the moonlight streamed in from the window, Mercedes opened her eyes.
"Lance?" She clung to him, "Lance. Lance, the baby!"
"Mercedes, it’s okay. It was only a bad dream." Lance ‘shushed’ her and held her.
"No, Be. It was so real." Mercedes said holding onto him.
"This stuff I read online about pregnancy said that it’s very common to have extremely vivid dreams and they seem very real and sometimes they might even
be a little frightening. But, it’s okay. I promise. I’m right here."
"Lance, you left us all alone." Mercedes wept. "You didn’t love me any more." Lance held her tighter, "Well, now you’re being down right irrational. Look at me...Mercedes McKenzie Bass...Look in my eyes."
Lance gently took Mercedes’ face in his hands and gave her a stare down. "I am the man who loves you as much as life itself. I could NEVER leave you. And I will ALWAYS love you. You and the Baby are my first priority. " Lance kissed her. "Now, tell me about your dream and I’ll tell you how silly it all was so we can have a good laugh."
"I don’t know..." Mercedes hesitated.
"You don’t remember it?" Lance asked cuddling her close and kissing her forehead.
"No, I do...it’s just very weird and I don’t want you to be upset by it."
Lance tried not to chuckle, but he couldn’t help it. He puts his hands around her face and kisses it briskly. "You ARE being silly now. You’re worried
about MY reaction to your dream? Mercedes, I KNOW it was just a bad dream, baby."
"Be, Liam was in my dream. He killed our baby."
That knocked the air right out of Lance’s lungs.
