© July 30, 2001
by Tammtamm for IWuvJoey.com
**Disclaimer: I do not know NSYNC or their bodyguards or Johnny Wright or any other "famous names" that may be used in this story. However, I do own the characters. This story is a supplement to THIS I PROMISE YOU. The first fan fiction story I ever wrote. To muh gals... S.A., Dragon, Ang... thanks for the encouragement, the many nagging sessions, and the constant pick-me-ups! wuv ya!**
"Shawn? Are you sure you don’t mind me coming to Atlanta and wanting to get to know you better?" JC asked as they were waiting for the plane to take off. They had just left Joey Fatone, Jr, Tara Marshall, Chris Kirkpatrick, Danielle Raab, Lance Bass, and Betsy in a guarded room as everyone was going their separate ways for a few days after the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. JC was going back to Atlanta with Shawn so that they could get to know each other away from distractions like the group and the paparazzi.
"I think it’s a good idea, Josh. I’m glad you’re coming home with me." Shawn admitted. She looked really pale. Josh noticed she was grasping the arms of the chair tightly.
"Shawn, try to relax… I know you hate to fly, but it’s all right." Josh tried to calm her nerves by taking her hands in his.
Shawn looked into his face and noticed his smile and his blue eyes… she could look forever into his eyes. There was something about them that just drew her to him. She couldn’t understand it, nor did she want to. She just wanted to get to know him better and she hoped that he felt the same way.
"I’m trying… it’s just not easy." Shawn told him.
"Well, tell me what your favorite song is… I’ll sing it to you." JC suggested, "And it doesn’t have to be NSYNC." He laughed. Shawn smiled.
"Well then… if that’s the case… what about Touch Of Heaven by Richard Marx?" Shawn asked as her face turned red.
"One of my favorites." JC admitted. He was perplexed that she would have him sing her that song when they barely knew each other. Shawn wanted to hear JC’s voice and to see his expression as he sang the song to her. JC looked into her eyes. "Sit back and relax, Shawn. Pretend were sitting in a cozy living room somewhere and there’s a fire lit in the fireplace. Close your eyes." JC softly instructed. Shawn just stared at him.
"You’ll be fine… you trust me right?" JC asked. Shawn relaxed a little and sat back fully in her seat and closed her eyes.
Just a touch of heaven
Your eyes burn through me
Oh like a raging fire
I fall blissfully
Every time you say just one little word
You know it makes me crazy
You ask way too much
Oh when you say that I can look but do not touch
I have never wanted any other girl
The way I want you, baby
I surrender to what I can’t control
Drunk with desire, I’ve opened up my soul
You know I would go around the world,
I’d take you anywhere
Oh, baby, anywhere
For a touch of heaven
Tell me what you want
I’ll give you anything
Oh, baby, everything
For a touch of heaven
I have dreamed of this
Your body next to mine
Drowning in every kiss
How I’ve longed to find my one and only girl
And I found her in you, baby
All I ever wanted is everything that you are
Don’t leave me longing
Be tender with my heart
You know I would go around the world,
I’d take you anywhere
Oh, baby, anywhere
For a touch of heaven
Tell me what you want
I’ll give you anything
Oh, baby, everything
For a touch of heaven
Everyone says you’ve been leading me on
Too late for warnings, I’m already gone
Ooh, I surrender to what I can’t control
Drunk with desire
I’m giving you my soul
You know I would go around the world, I’d take you anywhere
Oh, baby, anywhere
For a touch of heaven, (just a touch of heaven)
Tell me what you want
I’ll give you anything (I’ll give you anything)
Oh, baby, everything
For a touch of heaven
Say yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Say yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Just a touch… Just a touch of heavenBy the time JC was finished singing the song, they were in the air. Shawn hadn’t noticed they took off.
"Shawn… you all right?" JC asked after a few minutes.
"Yeah… I’m great… I just had the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard in my life sing Touch Of Heaven to me. I’m great…" Shawn smiled for him. She noticed a cloud go by. "Are we in the air?" she asked. JC nodded. "Thank you for making me forget I was on a plane." Shawn told him.
"Anytime, so tell me about Georgia." JC suggested. Shawn proceeded to tell him all that she knew about the state and how she and her family had come to move there. Before they knew it. The plane was taxing to the gate. They had arrived back on land in Atlanta, Georgia.
"See that wasn’t so bad." JC smiled at Shawn.
"I felt the touchdown… that was scary enough." She replied, "But thank you for keeping my mind elsewhere." Shawn turned it into a positive experience.
"Anything I can do. It’s my pleasure." JC laughed.
"Time to put on your disguise… we’re about to get off this thing." Shawn said to JC.
"You got it, darlin’." JC said and put on the shades to go with the blonde, curly wig he was wearing.
After they retrieved their luggage and obtained a rental, they headed for the hotel, the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. They had managed to get a suite with two bedrooms and a connecting main room.
"So now that we’re here, how about we relax by going to dinner and have a nice meal?" JC said after they unpacked and such.
"Dinner sounds great." Shawn agreed, "Could I shower and freshen up first?" she asked.
"Of course… let’s be ready around sevenish?" JC wondered as he looked at his watch. Shawn looked at hers and agreed.
Shawn found one of the outfits that she had bought out in Las Vegas with the girls and decided to wear it. She had found a light pink button down shirt and a pair of stone-washed jeans. She had a white spaghetti strapped tshirt on underneath the shirt and braided her hair back. JC wore a white button down shirt and black jeans and cowboy boots.
"You look snazzy." Shawn said when she saw JC.
"Wow, you look great!" JC said. Shawn had put on a little eye-liner, mascara and lip gloss. `Thank goodness she doesn’t wear make-up, takes away from how beautiful she is.’ JC thought to himself. "I made reservations for us at an Italian Bistro a couple blocks away. Shall we?" JC asked.
"Italian, how do you know me so well all ready?" Shawn asked in amazement.
"I knew because it was one of the first things Tara asked us to say at the same time. Remember?" JC asked. Shawn laughed. They shouted several things at the same time that day.
Dinner was magnificent. They spent the next three hours eating and talking and enjoying each other’s company. They talked about the various antics of the guys and their women, the internet, JC’s writing and producing, Shawn’s web page designing, and their families. They learned a lot about each other and from each other.
"JC… do you believe that it doesn’t take long to fall in love?" Shawn asked as they walked to JC’s rental car after dinner. Shawn had decided that she didn’t want to return to her parents home just yet and opted to stay at the hotel with JC for another day or so.
"I’m a believer all right. But I won’t lie to you. I don’t think I’m completely over Amanda. But I do know that I want you in my life more and more every day and that I really care about you." JC stopped walking to look at Shawn.
"Then let’s make a promise to take this slow and see where it leads. I don’t want either of us to get hurt." Shawn explained as she looked into his eyes.
"I like the way you think Shawn." JC told her as he leaned down to kiss her. He stopped himself before kissing her.
"What? What’s wrong?" she asked. She was so ready for him to kiss her in that moment.
"When I mentioned that I don’t think I’m over Amanda, did that hurt you?" JC asked.
"A little, but I understand and I’m grateful that you’re honest with me." Shawn shivered from the cool breeze.
"Thanks Shawn. Thank you for being willing to take a chance on me… on us… and what could be." JC kissed her hand, making her melt inside. "Let’s get to the car. It’s chilly out here and neither of us thought to wear a sweater or a jacket." They jogged to the car. JC’s cell phone rang as he unlocked the door for Shawn. They were waiting to hear from Tara about Justin.
"Tara?" JC answered the phone.
"Yeah, it’s me. You better not be corrupting my bridesmaid." She laughed. JC blushed, which, in turn, got Shawn to laugh even though she didn’t know why he was blushing but she did know that he was looking awfully cute wearing that shade of red on his face.
"But it’s soooooo much fun." JC teased back causing Tara to laugh even harder and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Figures… listen, Justin’s okay. I’ve talked to him twice today. He wanted me to tell you to be a gentleman with Shawn and to have some fun away from Orlando." Tara explained.
"Thanks and that’s the plan along with some writing and such. How about you? Everything okay?" JC asked.
"Everything’s fine. Just take care of yourself and Shawn and we’ll see you back here in a few weeks for the wedding. Huggsss…" Tara said before hanging up the phone.
"Everything okay with Justin?" Shawn asked.
"So it seems." JC replied as he looked at his watch… it was only ten thirty. "Shawn, would you like to go dancing?" he asked.
"Um, I’m not very good." She admitted, "but I’d love to try it with you." She was up for a new experience. She had never been dancing before except for when she was in high school and back then she had two left feet.
"My feet don’t know that. Let’s go have some fun." JC said as he started the car. They danced until a little after midnight. When they got back to the hotel room, they ended up sitting in the common room talking. They fell asleep next to each other on the couch.
****************
When Shawn began to wake up the next morning, she felt as if someone was watching her and then she felt a hand brush away some of the hair from the side of her face. Then she remembered she was with JC.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Watching you sleep." He admitted. Shawn opened her eyes.
"Good morning." She smiled and looked at him.
"Good morning."
"Been up long?" she asked.
"Just a few minutes." He admitted. "I got this idea for a song and need to go…" JC began.
"Go ahead. I’ll just go take a shower and then order breakfast and such." She suggested.
"Thank you."
"Hey… just remember… you’re on vacation." Shawn smiled. JC kissed her on the cheek and headed for his laptop.
JC wrote the lyrics in twenty minutes and then sent them off to one of his writing buddies while Shawn was still in the shower. He then went back and wrote more lyrics. He didn’t hear Shawn come out of the bathroom when she was done, nor did he hear her order breakfast. The next time he looked up from his laptop, breakfast had arrived and Shawn was walking towards him.
"I hope you’re finished. Breakfast has arrived and then I thought we’d go for a drive around the better parts of the city." Shawn said. JC saved what he was working on and closed his laptop.
"I can be finished for the day to spend it with you." JC smiled for Shawn.
"Good… come and tell me what you were working on." Shawn said as she poured some orange juice for them.
JC wanted the day to be a great day. He wanted Shawn to be comfortable around him as she had made him feel around her. He wanted her to be able to trust him as well. True, they had only known each other a few days, but she made him feel special and unique, yet as normal as any other guy. She saw past the celebrity and fame that had enveloped his life as of late.
"What do you think of Hockey?" JC asked as they ate their breakfast.
"I don’t know. I’ve never been to a hockey game before." Shawn admitted.
"I happen to know that the Atlanta Thrashers are playing the Calgary Flames tonight. Would you like to go?" JC asked. Shawn thought about it for a moment. Anywhere with JC would be fun for her, she believed.
"Sure, I’d love to." She commented.
"Great, I’ll get tickets for us." JC was pleased that she wanted to go to the game. JC was excited. It had been a long time since he got to see a hockey game live and with someone other than one of the guys. "Ya know… on second thought, I think a nice, enjoyable dinner and possibly dancing afterwards would be great instead." JC changed his mind. He wanted Shawn to enjoy the evening as well.
"Well, I’m not really good at dancing, but I’d love a nice evening out with you." She admitted.
When they returned from walking in the park and talking about themselves with each other, they both felt that they had gotten to know the other fairly well. JC even managed to steal a quick kiss from Shawn while they were at the park. And on the way back to the car, he got a little more bold by reaching for her hand.
"Okay, we’ve got reservations at the Hard Rock for eight-thirty. That gives us plenty of time to get ready. Know what you’re wearing?" JC asked as they plopped down in the main room. Shawn looked at her watch. It was a little after five.
"Yeah, but I could use a nap. How about you?" she replied.
"Yeah, I agree. Set the alarms for what? Sixish?" JC suggested.
"Sixish would be good." She admitted. They were both ready for dinner by quarter of eight. Shawn was wearing a nice button down baby blue shirt with blue jeans and boots with her hair in a soft braid down her back. JC was wearing a pair of tight white jeans with a tight blue t-shirt and a sports jacket.
"Dinner was great, JC. The chicken was spicy yet, tasty." Shawn said.
""Yeah it was. Are you still up for some dancing or should we go back to the hotel?" JC asked.
"Hotel. I like just having you to myself." Shawn said. Realizing what she had just said, she blushed. JC noticed but waited until they got to the car to say anything.
"It’s okay, I like having you all to myself as well." He replied as he opened her car door for her. It was then that he was noticed by several female fans.
"JC! JC!" the girls screamed. He looked at Shawn.
"What should I do?" he asked.
"It’s only a few of them, and they don’t look too fanatical." Shawn agreed.
"Oh my gosh! I can’t believe this. What brings you to Atlanta." One of the girls was crying as he helped Shawn out of the car.
"Hi ladies. How are you tonight?" he greeted the girls. Shawn put on a small smile for the girls.
The girls were all giddy and laughing and crying.
"Can we get your picture?" one of the girls asked. JC looked at Shawn.
"Only if they include my girlfriend. Tonight is her night. That’s why I’m here. What about you ladies?" he asked.
"Vacation. We always wanted to come to Atlanta… the Braves play here and the short stop, Mark DeRosa, is hot!" the youngest girl replied.
"Isn’t he though." Shawn agreed as JC shot her a look and chuckled.
"Is he someone I should be worried about?" JC asked her. They both laughed.
"What about Amanda?" the fourth girl asked.
"That is sooooo over, Janey… where have you been?" the first girl stated.
"Amanda and I are still friends, but you’re right, it’s over. No bad mouthing her or any of the other girls I date or the rest of the guys and their girls, okay?" JC asked the girls. They all nodded.
He and Shawn posed for pictures with the girls for a few minutes. Afterwards, the girls all thanked them for the candid time and left them alone.
"That wasn’t too bad, was it?" JC asked as he again helped Shawn into the car.
"The price you pay for being famous." Shawn replied to him.
"That one wasn’t too bad though. C’mon… let’s get back to the hotel." JC suggested and started the car.
They got back and played cards until Shawn decided to get some sleep. JC stayed up to finish some more writing.
The next morning, Shawn called home to let them know that she’d be home a few days later, that she was staying with JC for a few days and would be home on Sunday. She let JC sleep and watched TV in her room for awhile. When he finally got up, they grabbed some lunch in the hotel before checking out some more sights in Atlanta. Every time she went to pay for something, JC made her put her money away. He said that although he understood that she wanted to pay for things herself that she was to let him do this, he may like to save every penny possible, but she was his guest until she went home. She tried to argue with him over the money and he again asked her not to.
They were walking back from the mall when his cell phone rang.
"Hello?" JC answered the phone.
"Hey JC. It’s Chris. Where’s Shawn?" he asked.
"With me, why?" JC asked. "Everything alright? Justin?" JC immediately thought something had happened to Justin.
"Justin’s fine… on his way back here. Tara was attacked today by Kim. Wanted you two to know before you heard it on the radio." Chris replied.
"Is she all right?"
"She’s under observation right now for a few more hours, but yeah. I think so. I haven’t seen her since she went to the hospital. Look, she wouldn’t want you to come home so don’t, all right?" he asked.
"Sure." JC said as Shawn’s cell phone rang. It was Danielle. They talked all the way back to the hotel.
"Well, there’s nothing we can do if we go back there, how about we just do what Tara would tell us to do? Enjoy the rest of this week with each other." Shawn said to JC. He agreed.
On Saturday, JC had managed to get them an hour of skating time at the Atlanta Thrashers’ training center. He was able to teach Shawn how to ice skate. And the music he had blaring was Richard Marx’s Greatest Hits CD.
When Sunday afternoon came around, it was time to drive Shawn home. JC didn’t want to.
"Quit your job and come to Orlando with me?" JC begged as they got closer to Shawn’s house.
"JC, it’s not that simple. Please… remember, we’re taking this slow." She said. JC pulled the car over and turned off the engine.
"I know… I just don’t like you being in Georgia and me in Orlando." JC replied, "Would it be all right if I came up here every possible chance I had?"
"It’s fine. And remember… I’ll be down the Saturday before Christmas." Shawn looked into JC’s eyes. She could see that he cared about her and she only hoped that it was as much as she found herself caring for him.
When they got to her house, he stayed for dinner. He found her family to be very nice and considerate to him. Her brother and sisters had the usual questions for him, but for the most part they left him alone.
After dinner, Shawn walked him to his car.
"I love home cooking. Thank your mom again for dinner for me?" JC asked and then kissed her. They kissed for a few minutes before JC pulled her into a tight hug.
"JC, I have to admit that I don’t want you to go. I don’t want this to end. I don’t want us to end." She told him.
"I don’t want us to end. That’s why I’m going to come up here every possible chance I can between now and when you come down for Christmas and the wedding. And we’ll have email and instant messenger." He said, "oh and the cell phone. Call me any time. I mean it. Any time." He said.
"And you’ll do the same? You have all my numbers?" they were both crying.
"Why is this so hard? What have you done to me?" JC asked.
"The same thing you’ve done to me. Would you sing to me before you get in that car and leave me here?" she asked. JC picked her up and sat her on top of the car and sang Now And Forever to her.
"You do something to me that I can’t explain right now. Thank you so much for coming into my life." JC kissed her again.
"Thank you for coming into mine." Shawn said as she kissed him back. He helped her down off the car. "Now get in that car and go away. I’ll see you soon." She replied. JC got into the car and waited until she backed away from it before he started it and drove off. As he drove off, he looked in the rear view mirror and as he saw her wiping away the tears, he said to himself "I could fall in love with you, Shawn… I truly could."
As Shawn watched him drive away, she whispered aloud "Please lord, if this is love I’m feeling, never let it end."