...With You

Chapter 7


One Month Later

Madison sat in her office pecking hard on the keys of her computer. She glanced at the clock on the wall, 5:00. JC was supposed to be picking her up right about now. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. The last week seemed like a dream. JC had called to make sure she’d be available for a little ‘together time’ earlier in the month. The guys were back in town for the release of No Strings Attached. Like every fan, Madison anticipated its release, though she was different from the average fan. Her and JC had been spending every possible moment together. She’d been to Saturday Night Live the previous weekend, an Nsync special on MTV this past weekend and tomorrow were the official release ceremonies. All the parties didn’t matter though. He wanted to spend time with her. She thought back to yesterday when they spent the day together, just them, and security of course.
::Knock, Knock::
Madison turned and faced the door and saw Sam standing in the doorway.
“Someone’s here for you,” she said.
“Send ‘em in.” Madison standing up, smiling.
Sam turned around to the figure behind her, motioning to come in.
JC walked into her office as Sam left.
“Hey beautiful” he said smiling as he walked toward her, “you ready?”
“Yep. Just gotta lock up.” She said.
JC and Madison walked out of the office and through the rest of the floor to the elevator. Once the doors closed, JC pulled Madison close and grazed her lips with his. First gently and progressively more passionate with each second with passed. He only released his hold when the doors opened and they arrived at the ground floor.
“Sorry, I had to.” He whispered to her.
“Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do” she laughed.
They walked out of the building and into the awaiting car, with security in tow.
“So, where are we going?” Madison asked.
“It’s a surprise” JC answered.
“Oh, is it?” Madison said smiling.
“Will you let me just do something for you?” JC laughed. “I don’t get to spoil you enough!”
“Really? You don’t? What about the rest of this week?” she laughed back to him.
“Ah, that’s boring, you just watched me work!” he said.
Madison smiled. If he only knew how much just that excited her.
“JC, I love seeing you, whatever your doing…” she told him.
“Really? Well, we’ll see about that later.” He whispered softly into her ear.
Just then the car stopped and JC got out, holding out a hand out to Madison.
“What the –?” Madison said.
They were standing in front of her apartment building. She looked puzzled at JC. “I wanted to relive our first day together. So, ok….I believe I was right about here…and you, my dear, were coming from that direction” he said pointing up the road. “Now, as I remember correctly, I was being mobbed, which now won’t happened cuz this time I have you and Lonnie. Anyway, fast forward about an hour and we’d be…”
“At Joe’s” she finished for him.
He shook his head. “Yes. So, table for two in the back?” he asked extending his hand.
Madison smiled. “Of course.” She said taking his hand in hers.
As they walked to Joe’s she thought back to the day the meet over a month ago. It was amazing how things changed since then. They were closer than one might have thought, with him being away and all. He had called everyday that he was away, always giving Madison something to look forward to. They arrived at Joe’s and took their booth in the back. Joe walked out of the kitchen when he saw them come in.
“Ahh. My Madison is back!” Joe said affectionately.
“Hey Joe” she said smiling. “You remember JC, don’t you?” she said motioning to him.
“Of course, of course. I never forget a face.” He laughed.
“So, what’ll it be for you two tonight?” he said. “Or should I assume you want your usual?”
JC smiled. “Two of the usual!” he said.
“Alright!” Joe said. “Two of ‘My Madisons’ coming right up!”
He walked back into the kitchen to prepare dinners for two of his favorite customers. “So, you still his Madison, huh?” JC smiled into her eyes.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’ll ever change” she said. “He’s like my surrogate father, well, except for Carson” she laughed.
“He still on your case?” JC asked, turning serious.
“Carson’s Carson. He’s not gonna stop trying to protect me. He doesn’t mean anything by it, he just worries about…”
“About me and you.” JC interrupted her.
Madison’s smile fell from her face. “JC, he likes you. You know that.” She said.
“Yeah, maybe. But he doesn’t like me with you.” He said.
“That’s not true and you know that” she said seriously.
“Alright. Alright. I don’t want to fight about this.” He said.
“Fine, then let’s change the subject.” She smiled.
“Ok, so I have a question for you.” He said.
“Yeah. And what’s that?” she smiled.
“Do I have to create a meal and name after you for you to be ‘My Madison’, or what?” he asked.
Madison smiled back at him. “No, I don’t think that’ll be necessary. Do you want me to be ‘yours’?” she said softly.
He took her hand and smiled. “More than anything.”
At that moment Joe brought out their food and set it on the table.
“Enjoy you two!” he said, turning away and heading to the kitchen to work on other orders.
JC and Madison dug into the food leaving them speechless while they ate their way to the bottom. As they finished up, Joe came back out.
“Well, guys? Anything else?” he said.
“No. I think that’ll be it.” JC answered.
“Well, then you to go get out of here. Meals’ on the house.” He said
“Joe, we can’t do that!” Madison said.
“Sweetie, you can do anything I tell ya.” He said. “Now you two get outta here and have fun. Use the back door, a crowd started to form out front.” He said, looking from JC and then back to Madison.
“Alright man, thanks” JC said.
JC and Madison headed towards the back door, Lonnie not far behind.

**~*~*~*~**

They walked up the steps to Madison’s door. JC watched her unlock the door. A lock of hair kept falling into her face and over her eyes and it made her look even more beautiful than she already was. The long hair mirrored the color of his, and her green eyes sparkled like blades of freshly cut grass. How he just wanted to hold her and never let her away from him.
“Where did Lonnie go?” Madison asked, popping JC from his trance.
“He went back to the hotel, I told him I’d call him if anything happened.” He said.
“Oh. So, ya staying the night?” she asked bluntly.
JC looked shocked at first, but then again he should be used to her straight forwardness by now.
“Do you want me to?” he asked.
“Of course I do.” She answered.
JC and Madison found a movie on the tube and started to watch it, cuddling closely on the couch. He looked at her head lying on his chest. With the album due out tomorrow, and his budding relationship with Madison his life seemed to be on the right track. He hoped things would work out, professionally and personally. Being with Madison were some of the happiest times that he’d had lately. Every minute that he spent with her he fell more in love with her. ‘In love Chasez, get real. It’s only been a month!’ he thought to himself. He sighed. If only he knew what she was thinking, feeling, anything! Madison started to get up from JC’s warm body.
“Going somewhere?” JC asked.
Madison looked into his hazel eyes.
“Not a chance” she said.
She sat up to look him in the eye. He stared back at her with the intensity rising. His mouth found hers in a soft, passionate kiss. They parted only for a second, looking into the others’ eyes and knowing that their relationship was changing. His lips found hers one again and with more intensity than before. He pulled her closer to him, not wanting to let her go. His arms wrapped around her, his hands finding their way up her back. Her fingers stroked the back of his neck, pulling him closer yet. Madison climbed on top of him as she straddled his lap. They kissed for a few more minutes, then JC stood up, carrying Madison into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed, kissing every inch of her body. He stopped, almost as suddenly as this all started.
“What’s wrong?” Madison asked.
JC smiled. “Nothing. Nothing is wrong, Madd.”
“So why’d you stop?” she asked.
“Madison” he started, looking deeply into her eyes “ I want to be with you more than anything. But if you don’t want to or aren’t ready for this, we don’t have to rush anything.”
Madison pulled herself up to make her eyes level with his. She touched his face lightly with her finger tips.
“JC, I want to be with you more than anything. I want to wake up with you next to me tomorrow, and I want tonight to be….special” she said.
“And it will be” he promised. “Oh Madison, it will be.”
At that he pulled her close and their lips meet with the energy of before. He slowly removed his own shirt and then started to undo hers, never taking his lips away from hers. Madison smiled with anticipation. This night would be one she would always remember, for the rest of her life, always.

**~*~*~*~**

JC’s eyes fluttered open and he laid them upon the site before him. Madison still lay sleeping close by, still wrapped up in the sheet from last night. He was most entranced by her breathing pattern. He watched her chest as she inhaled and exhaled the air. If only every minute of the day could be like this one. Peaceful, serene and beautiful. Madison had made it that way for him, every minute of every day he was with her seemed better and brighter. He hated to wake her, but he knew he had to get back to the hotel soon, this was a busy day. Madison started to stir, and JC smiled as she squinted up at him.
“Morning…” he said.
“Good morning to you” she answered.
She ran her hand down his bare chest, loving every inch of him. He lowered his face and kissed her tenderly on her lips.
“There’s the official good morning” he said softly.
“Perfect. Just perfect.” She smiled.
They laid still for minutes, just enjoying the others’ company. ‘Perfect.’ JC thought to himself. ‘This moment could not be any more perfect.’
“Josh?” she whispered.
“Yeah, babe?” he said back to her.
“Last night, well, last night was wonderful, thank you.” She said softly.
“Yes, it was Madison. Last night was special to me, and I thank you for making it be that way.” He said back to her.
She propped herself up on one elbow and leaned in to kiss him. As their lips met, electricity started to heat up once more.
::Knock, Knock::
“Why does that always happen?” JC asked. “I swear people know when is the worst time to come and then they come anyway.”
“I know, I know.” Madison said getting out of the bed and slipping into her robe.
JC climbed onto his knees, still on the bed, making him eye to eye with Madison standing next to him. He kissed her lightly.
::Knock, Knock::
“I’m coming” she yelled.
“Boy, who ever this is, they sure know how to ruin a moment!” she said dryly.
“Yeah. Tell me about it” he said. He kissed her again as she walked out to the main hall to answer the door.
“What is so important this early?” she said while opening the door.
“It’s nice to see you too Madison!” Justin said walking to the apartment, followed by the other three.
“Well, hi guys, it’s nice to see you.” She said running her fingers through her un-brushed hair.
“Ah. You’re lying!” Chris said, smiling.
“Nah. It really is nice to see you, just a little early to be seeing you.” She said.
“Sorry about that. We just came to pick up our fifth part. He ready?” Lance said.
“Um…lemme check.” She said
Madison walked back into the room they shared the night before but saw no JC. She heard the shower running in her bathroom and walked back out to the guys.
“He’s in the shower. He shouldn’t be too much longer. You guys want coffee while you wait?” she asked.
“That would be great, if you have any.” Justin said.
“I always have coffee. Let me go see if it’s ready.” She said.
Madison walked into the kitchen, thankful for the timed coffee machine that made her coffee each morning. Almost done. She watched the coffee drip it’s last drops. “Ya know they say a watched pot never boils” he said.
Madison turned around startled to see Justin in the kitchen behind her.
“Yeah, I guess they were thinking of me when they created that one. I’m too impatient to wait for anything.” She laughed.
“Well, all good things come to those who wait, right?” he said.
She smiled, thinking back to the previous night with JC. “That’s very true, Justin. Very true.”
She poured six cups of coffee hearing that JC had emerged from the room.
“Ahh…coffee!” JC smiled at Madison. “Thanks babe” he said kissing her lips.
“Yeah, thanks Madison” Joey piped up. “Coffee should help in our day today!”
“You guys won’t need coffee, the day’s exciting enough.” She smiled.
“Speaking of, we should get going. It’s a long day ahead of us.” Lance said.
“Yeah, I know.” JC said. “Can I meet in guys in the car? I want a few minutes with my girl.”
The guys thanked Madison again and left, promising to see her later that day.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay longer” JC said, looking in her eyes.
“That’s ok. I’ll see you later at the studio for TRL, ok?” she said.
“Absolutely. And you’re coming tonight right?” he asked.
“The party? Wouldn’t miss it!” she smiled.
“Good, I’ll see you later then” he said kissing her tenderly on the lips.
She walked him to the door and watched him walk down the steps and out the main doors. She walked back into her apartment and leaned back against the door. 6:00. Way too early for her to think about getting ready for work. She walked back into her bedroom and laid back onto the bed. A place her and JC had been together just a few moments before. It was amazing how close she felt to him, even once he was gone. She smiled in spite of herself. This day would prove to be interesting. If this morning served to be a preview, it would definitely be one to remember.

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