The group came out of the restaurant, all holding their stomachs and smiling. "For once, Joey, you did something right", Justin said laughing. "That was really good."

Joey smiled. "What can I say? I'm the master when it comes to picking Italian". He put on a New York accent. "Its in mah blood!"

Chris patted his stomach. "We'll have to check that place out again when we come back here." Then he smiled at Rose and Ali, who were leaning up against the shoulders of their men. "I don't know about your women though. If they would've eaten any more we would've been mopping them off the floor".

JC laughed and kissed Ali on the forehead. "She may be little but her appetite is anything but". Ali looked at Rose and they grinned at each other. "So is it safe to say you enjoyed yourself?"

"Oh yeah. I'd be coming back here just for the food. It's a shame that I have to leave tomorrow night because I just found another reason to stay here". She snuggled up to JC. "Besides the obvious…"

"Oh give me a break." Rose groaned. Ali responded by punching her in the shoulder. "Alright now woman, don't make me bust out with my can of whoop ass!"

"Behave you two", Chris replied.

"What did you say?" Rose and Ali said in unison. Chris got quiet and Lance and JC laughed as the girls put their heads back on the guys' shoulders.

"Watch yourself, man. It's two against one here." Lance replied with a laugh.

As they walked, Lance went over to JC's side, nudging him with his elbow. "Did you tell her?" he whispered.

"Huh?"

Lance rolled his eyes. "What did we talk about at the shoot?"

JC's eyes lit up when he thought back to his conversation about the guys and he nodded. He thought of how he felt last night, when he finally let his feelings about Ali be known. It was like a wave of relief washed over him. He cried like a baby, something he had never done before. But his emotions took over. Now he wasn't going back. "Yeah. It took me a while though. I got up to the room and I just lost it. But once I calmed down and I actually looked Ali in the eye, everything got so much easier".

"I know what you mean", Lance replied.

"You told Rose you loved her? Really?"

Lance felt himself blushing. "After much thought…yeah." He smiled and looked down at Rose leaning on his shoulder. "It took every ounce of my willpower, but I'm glad I did." Lance had never been one to let his feelings out, but with Rose it was different. All of a sudden, everything came out in a rush. He had no regrets. Right then he knew it was real.

"What you do?" Justin cut in.

JC and Lance waved their hands at him. "Don't worry about it, man."

"You got some, didn't you?" Joey replied with a laugh.

Chris smacked Joey in the back of his head. "Man, I swear. If you ask about getting some one more time, the only thing you're going to get is the tip of my shoe off your ass".

Everyone cracked up. The commotion stirred Ali, even though she had been half listening the whole time. "In other words, you're wrong".

The guys made it to the Grand Royale and they said their good byes. Ali was dozing off and found herself falling into JC. "I got to get her to bed before she knocks me over". The guys laughed. "Ok, we'll see you bright and early tomorrow. What do you want to do to wish the girls off?"

"I'm sure I can think of something", JC said with a laugh. "Depends what our schedule is like." He turned to Lance. "Hey Scoop, give us the lowdown".

"I know we have another shoot tomorrow, but it's in the morning around 7, like this one, but its not supposed to be as long as the other one." Justin rolled his eyes. "Man, I hope we don't get the same ass wipe that we got with this one. I'm going to have some words if we do".

"No, you're going to behave like the rest of us." Lance said sternly.

"You tell 'em baby!" Rose said in a groggy yell. She hadn't slept well and she had eaten too much. Now she was feeling so worn out it was like she was drunk.

The group laughed and Lance patted her on the head. "Go back to sleep, sweetheart. I'll get you to bed soon". He went back to the guys. "But anyway, we should be getting out of this one sometime around 11 or 12, so we can get together and do something like we did today."

JC and the rest of the group nodded. "Sounds like a plan". He leaned over to Ali. "What time is your plane supposed to leave?"

"I think the plane leaves at 7:15," Ali murmured.

"Ok, so that gives you an idea on time. Lance, you and I can help the girls finish packing. That way they don't have to worry about any last minute stuff before we take them to the airport."

"Besides", Chris said. "Judging by their looks they might not even be awake enough to pack."

Ali laughed before losing her balance and falling back into JC's shoulder. "Nah, I'll be fine. I just need to get some major sleep. I didn't sleep good at all last night and, on top of that, I'm stuffed." She looked up at Joey and grinned slightly. "You sure one of you didn't put something in my food?"

Joey put on an angel face and laughed. "I didn't do anything, I swear."

Justin muffled a laugh. "Joey, your nose is growing." He stifled a yawn. "Alright, I'm starting to feel like the ladies. I think we better call it a night." The guys waved off and JC helped Ali up to their room.

Ali fell off JC's shoulder and into the bed. "Hon, you have to finish packing."

"Screw packing." Ali moaned, turning over. "The only thing I want to pack is a couple of Z's".

"You must really be out of it." JC laughed and lay next to her. "Well, at least we got a chance to get out finally." He kissed her hand. "And I enjoyed every minute of it."

Ali smiled as she turned over and stroked his face. "So did I, babe. Now could you do me a favor please?"

"What's that?"

"Just lay here with me while I fall asleep." JC wrapped his arms around her as she dozed off.

**Hours later**

Ali woke up to the sound of water running. She opened her eyes. Six fifteen. She jerked her head up and saw JC combing his hair. "Baby, is it morning?" Ali asked, startled.

"Yeah. You were sound asleep so I didn't want to wake you."

Ali lifted herself out of bed and scratched her head. "Man, I must've have been dead tired. I can't believe I passed out like that."

"You were pretty out of it. But you had a decent meal in ya, so you were fine." He came over and kissed her gently on the lips. "So what do you want to do today after I get done with my shoot?"

Ali grinned. "Oh I don't know, she replied, kissing him back. "I could think of a few things." She smiled ear-to-ear as she looked at JC's smiling face. She pulled away. "But unfortunately I have to finish packing. I wonder how far along Rose got."

JC shook his head. "Well, judging by the fact that she looked about as tired as you, my guess is not very far." He wrapped his arms around her and started massaging her shoulders. "I can think of a way to wake you up."

Ali spun herself around and put her arms around JC's neck. "Jeez, I can tell you're male. Is 'that' all you think about?"

JC smirked. "No…I'm thinking of something else".

"Uh huh. Sure".

JC stroked her face. "Ali, I'm serious". He sat her down and took her face in his hands. "Remember what we talked about yesterday?"

Ali smiled as she thought back. They had finally professed the love that they had held in for so long. Though it may not have been dramatic, the memory was lasting. "I'll never forget it."

JC pulled her to him. "Ali, I've been thinking about this for a while now. I haven't been able to stop thinking about us." He kissed her gently. "I've come to the conclusion that you are the only one I want to be with. I can't see myself with anyone else".

"Nor can I, JC." Ali stroked his face. She had finally come to accept that her dream had finally come true, and JC wasn't going anywhere. Now she had made peace with herself that nothing was going to go wrong, that they were going to stay together.

"I love you so much. I want to make love to you, Ali. I want to make it real."

Ali was awestruck, but she wasn't surprised. It's been the same way all through her and JC's relationship. Their minds were always in the same place. JC was the love of her life. Now she wanted to make it known. She went and started smoothing his hair. She looked him right in the eyes. "Baby, before we do, I want the world to know how much I love you. I don't care what the fans think. I love you and you love me and I don't care if Lou or Johnny or anyone makes a fuss."

JC looked at her. He knew she was for real. He wanted to tell the world that he was the happiest man alive because of Ali, and he didn't care if the fans got mad. Well, in a way he did. His fans made him who he was, but at the same time, he was human. He deserved happiness just as much as the next guy, regardless of fame. Sure his fans meant everything to him, but what was more important in the end? He held her to him and stroked her face. "Baby, I'm ready to tell the world I'm in love". He embraced her in a long kiss before squeezing her tight and heading out the door.