This I Promise You - II

*This I Promise You* - A fan fiction story by Tammy "Tammtamm" Frederick © Sept. 2000, thetamm@yahoo.com (inspired by the song THIS I PROMISE YOU written by Richard Marx and sung by NSYNC - from their album NO STRINGS ATTACHED, released in 2000)

"Joey! Tara’s on the phone." JC yelled up the stairs. Joey was working on memorizing a new song.

"Hi Tara… you home?" he asked. She was due in from her trip overseas to promote her upcoming spring line. She was a designer.

"Not quite." Tara sighed. She was actually in Joey’s home in the den. He just didn’t know it yet.

"What’s the hold up?" Joey asked. 

"Waiting on someone." She stated and tried not to laugh. "What are you working on?" she asked.

"Memorizing a possible new song." Joey said. He turned the sheet music over to focus on his conversation with Tara.

"No rest for the weary. Hey, I sent you some email today. Did you read it yet?" Tara was thinking of how to get him to go to the den. She saw his laptop on his desk.

"I haven’t been on yet today. Is it important?" he asked.

"Yeah, are you at a point where you can take a break?" she asked.

"For you? Always." Joey got up off the bed, "By the way, the guys say thank you for the new designs for our costumes." Joey went downstairs. JC and Lance were watching a video in the family room.

"Great. I’m glad. Means more work for me down the line. Yeah!" she laughed.

"As if you’re not swamped enough already." Joey joined in on the laughter. He opened the door to the den.

"Surprise!" she yelled.

"Oh god! What are you doing here? When did you get here?" Joey asked. Totally surprised.

"Easy, I caught a different flight to come to Florida out of Philly, for a little vacation to visit a friend. Lance helped me plan this." Tara explained as they hugged. They hung up their phones.

"It is so good to see you." Joey admitted out loud. He picked her up and swung her around.

"You don’t know how much I’ve missed you too." She also admitted.

"Sit… sit. How was Milan?" Joey couldn’t believe she was right there next to him. He wanted to just grab hold of her and never let go. Their friendship had grown very close since they met at Andrew’s gravesite. Joey had helped her move back into the house and start her life again. She had helped Joey release the pain and anger he had towards Kim and what caused their breakup.

"Milan was fantastic. The spring line and summer lines were a hit. JC’s composition for the models was perfect. It really went well with the clothing and the flow of the models." Tara explained. She really didn’t want to discuss work, she just wanted to spend time with Joey.

"That’s great." Joey said. He found himself no longer looking at Tara as Andy’s girl but as a potential girlfriend, he wanted to kiss her so bad.

"And what’s been happening around here?" Tara’s voice brought him out of his little dream of kissing her.

"Not a lot. We’ve been working on the next album. Making appearances here and there. Hanging out, getting ready to go into rehearsals for our next tour." He said. `Good lord! Joey looks better than ever!’ Tara thought to herself.

"Hey, JC and Lance said you were here." Justin said from the doorway. Chris was standing right next to him. Tara went over to them to give them each a hug.

"Juju… what are you doing to your hair?" she asked. He had it back in cornrows again. She didn’t think it flattered him very much. "Are you growing it out again?" she asked.

"Nah… just haven’t gotten it cut yet." He shrugged and laughed along with her. He knew she’d comment on it. She told him before that she thought he was handsome without the cornrows.

"We didn’t mean to interrupt." Chris explained. "We just wanted to say hi."

"Chris, how are the kids?" referring to Chris’s pugs.

"Demanding, feisty, and so darn cute and loveable." Chris laughed. The alarm on Tara’s watch went off.

"I’m sorry… I need to call the office." She explained.

"We’ll give you some privacy. I’m glad you’re here." Joey said and shooed Chris and Justin out of the den with him.

"Did you tell her yet?" Justin cornered Joey and the end of the hall.

"Tell her what?" Joey wondered.

"That you’re in love with her." Lance said as Joey, Justin, and Chris walked into the family room.

"You really should tell her." JC said.

"She and I can never be. I won’t betray Andy’s memory." Joey flatly stated.

"It’s been a year Joe. A year! Andy would want you both to be happy. And face it Joe, this past month, you’ve been miserable not being able to fly up to see her. Thus making us all miserable." Chris told him.

"Guys, please don’t force this. Tara sees me as a friend. That’s all." Joey said before going to the kitchen for a soda and to get away from their inquisition.

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

"Oh my god Trish! What do I do?" Tara asked her best friend.

"If you don’t tell him how you feel, you’ll regret it." Trish said.

"But I don’t want to betray Andy." Tara admitted.

"Andy would want you both to be happy. Why not with each other?" Trish was trying to drill it in to Tara for the millionth time that it wouldn’t hurt to try.

"What if Joey doesn’t feel the same way?" Tara questioned.

"You won’t know unless you talk to him. He is the one reason you flew to Orlando instead of coming home. Him and him alone." Trish said.

"I could use you down here." Tara said. She was so nervous. She wasn’t sure what Joey would say when she talked to him about taking their relationship to a new level.

"Can’t fly right now. Talk to Lance or JC. They’re like big brothers to you. They are so protective of you." Trish suggested. Tara laughed.

"You mean like younger brothers." She said. She was older than both of them.

"Gotta run, don’t forget you’re on vacation. I can run things while you’re gone. Have fun and tell Joey how you feel." Trish said before hanging up the phone.

"Easy for you to say." Tara said while looking at the phone.

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

"Joey, we’re only on you like this because we care." JC said as he followed Joey into the kitchen. Joey had moved to stand in front of the doors to the deck and was looking out over the pond in his backyard.

"What if she doesn’t feel the same way?" Joey was afraid.

"Then you’ll know that you two can just be friends and you can move on." JC said as gently as he could. The doorbell rang in the background. Joey and JC thought it was one of the guys’ girlfriends.

"Uh, Joey… Kim’s here." Justin said a minute later. Joey shook his head in disbelief. He hadn’t seen her in a year and didn’t want to see her now.

"Josh…" Joey heard Kim greet JC. Just hearing her voice made him angry and sad and brought back a lot of pain.

"Kim… Joe, I’ll be in with the guys." JC said and left them alone. Joey didn’t turn to greet Kim, and he truly didn’t want to see her again.

"What are you doing here Kim?" he asked. His eyes closed.

"We need to talk." She said and walked over next to him.

"No, we don’t. You ended our relationship a year ago. I’m over it and I’m over you. I want nothing to do with you." Joey stated.

"What about your son." She said coldly. Joey looked at her and laughed.

"You are so lame." Joey walked past her into the living room. He knew this could get ugly so he wanted to get one of the guys to go stay with Tara so that she didn’t have to see this act Kim was putting on. "Lance, could you go make sure I turned the video game off in the den please?" he asked. It was then that he noticed the guys standing around a baby carriage and Chris holding a baby.

"You bitch! How dare you try to pawn someone else’s child off as mine!" he spat.

"I’m positive he’s yours Joe." She insisted.

"Prove it." Joey stammered.

"Vincent is 5 months old. He was conceived the night before you left for Japan." Kim said. Chris, Justin, and JC took the baby and went to another room.

"Bull!. I was with my parents that night. How convenient for you to forget that you canceled because you said you weren’t feeling well. When truth be told, you were sleeping with someone else. I was devastated that night. I wanted to see you and be with you that night before I left for Japan and you said you weren’t feeling well. I should have realized then that you were cheating on me." Joey walked over to the fireplace and looked at the picture of he and the guys with Tara on the mantle.

"He’s yours Joe." Kim continued on. "I know he is and I’m willing to take you to court to prove it." She stated and handed him some papers.

"Chris!" Joey yelled. He rolled the baby carriage to the front door. Chris came out with the baby. "Kim and Vincent are leaving." Joey said. Chris handed the baby to Kim. "My lawyers will be in touch. Do not try to contact me and don’t come back here. As for taking me to court, be prepared little girl, because I’m about to prove just how much of a money-grubbing, gold digging liar you truly are." Joey stated before turning and walking down the hall towards the den. He collapsed halfway down in disbelief that Kim would stoop so low. He was so hurt. Just when he thought his heart was on the mend, Kim pulls a stunt like this. Luckily, Chris was right behind his friend and caught him. Lance and Tara heard the commotion and ran out to see what was wrong.

"Joey!" Tara yelled.

"I’m all right…" he insisted, "Thanks, Chris." Lance helped both men up to their feet.

"What happened?" JC had heard the commotion and came running.

"Kim was stomped on my heart for the last time. I need to make some calls. Tara? Can we have dinner later?" he asked.

"Sure."

"Great, where are you staying?" Joey asked. He fished around in his pocket for a pen.

"Here. You need me." Tara said. She didn’t know what exactly happened, but she was determined to help him through it. All Joey could do was give her a hug and tell her thanks.

"We’ll show her the guest room." JC stated.

"Where’s your luggage?" Chris asked. He was happy she’d be there for a little while. Joey always perked up when she was around or after he had talked to her.

"It’s in my car." Lance said. Everyone scattered to give Joey the privacy he needed.

"So, JC… how’s your writing coming along? Have you and RM gotten together lately?" Tara asked JC as they went upstairs to the guest room.

"The writing is good. Glad you’re here. Would like to demo some of it for you if that’s alright?" He asked.

"Sure, I’d love that." Tara admitted.

"And Richard is amazing. We’re performing with him again in a few weeks up at Westbury Music Fair." JC admitted.

"Really! Surprise guests again?" Tara asked.

"Yeah, if it got out, it would be a mob scene. This is Richard’s gig. We just want to see him and have a great time." JC commented.

"Sounds like fun." Tara said. JC showed her the guest room.

"Will you be there?" he asked.

"Already have my ticket. Westbury was the first venue I saw RM perform live at in a concert setting." Tara flashed back to that night for a moment and smiled, remembering Andrew.

"How’s your family?" Tara asked when she came back to the real world.

"Everyone’s fine. Always wanting me to visit more." JC laughed.

"I know the feeling." Tara smiled. She made a mental note to call her Auntie later.

"How long will you be here for?" JC was curious.

"Two weeks, but I’m thinking of moving down here. My Auntie lives in Englewood and I really miss her. And you guys are all based down here as well as some close friends of mine who live in Georgia and some that live near Clearwater." Tara admitted. She had been thinking about it for the past few months, but wasn’t sure still about it.

"That would be awesome." JC said, thinking of Joey.

"I’m beginning to think so." She said, also thinking of Joey.

"Have you told Joey?" he asked.

"Not yet. Still looking into it." She explained. She looked around the room. "This room is so homey, who decorated it?" Tara asked. She walked over to one of the windows to check out the drapery.

"Joey’s mom, I believe. You’re probably in need of wanting a nap or something. The flight must have worn you out." JC was trying to be a good host, "Here’s your bathroom. Let us know if you need anything." He stated.

"Do you all live here?" she asked.

"Justin still lives at home and Chris and Lance share a house. I’m in between places so I crash here all the time." JC said. He turned to leave.

"JC… there is one thing." She decided to talk to him about Joey she said as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Sure, what is it?" JC sat down in a chair, prepared to listen.

"Lately, I’ve been thinking of Joey and missing him as if he were something more than just a friend. I was…" she broke off.

"Wondering how he feels about you and if you think Andy would approve if you pursued a possible relationship with him?" JC finished for her.

"Is it that obvious?" she sighed.

"Well, Joey’s thinking the same thing you are. This past month while you were away in Paris and Milan, he was miserable. The only time he was happy was when he was talking with you. What I think is that Andy would want you to be happy and if it means a new beginning with Joey, I think Andy would approve. What I do know right now is that you and Joey need to tell each other your true feelings, because if you don’t, you both may end up hurt." JC was giving her some brotherly advice.

"What about the woman and child that were here earlier?" Tara had to ask. She thought it may have something to do with why Joey nearly collapsed earlier.

"Kim and her baby? Not Joey’s. I believe him. Kim’s just trying to scam him." JC stuck up for Joey. Tara laid on her side on the bed and yawned.

"Wow, I think you’re right, JC. The traveling has caught up with me. Do you mind if I rest for awhile?" she asked. Lance and Chris came into the room with her luggage.

"This is all you brought for two weeks?" Chris said in amazement, "girl, will you marry me?" they all laughed. Tara had only brought one suitcase and a garment bag with her.

"See, I’m not as high-maintenance as some people may think I am. However, I confess… the rest of my luggage was sent home. Trish’s husband is picking it up for me."

"Get some rest Tara. We’re glad you’re here." Lance gave her a hug. Chris and JC followed his lead and they all left the room. Tara closed the curtains and set up her laptop. She then took out her sketch pad and positioned herself on the bed. She fell asleep sketching an outfit for the guys.

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

"So, what did you two talk about?" Chris asked JC when they all went downstairs.

"Joey." JC replied.

"And?" Lance wanted to know what else.

"That’s all I’m saying. Where’s Justin?" JC asked.

"He’ll be back. He had to pick something – er, someone up." Chris replied.

"Oh great, Britney’s back in town." Lance rolled his eyes.

"No, this is a different girl. Justin met her when we were doing that last shoot for Teen People." Chris replied.

"So we’ll have quite a crowd here for this weekend then?" JC asked.

"Seems that way." Lance agreed. All three guys looked at each other.

"Bar-b-que!" They all whispered in excitement. Joey came out from the den. He looked peeved.

"What’s wrong?" JC asked.

"Kim. She’s been harrassing my parents for the past month. She is sticking with her story that I’m the father." Joey scratched his head.

"Could you be?" JC asked, he was playing devil’s advocate. They all walked out to the deck.

"No and I’m positive about that. She and I were not together that way the last month before we left for Japan. I talked with the lawyers and told them I wanted to take a paternity test."

"You think Kim’s doing this for the money or because she may want you back?" Lance asked.

"She doesn’t love me. She never did. Where’s Tara?" Joey just wanted to focus on Tara and her visit.

"Probably sleeping by now. The trip wore her out." JC explained.

"You guys want to join us for dinner?" Joey asked. JC was quick to answer.

"We’ve got plans." JC said.

"We do?" Chris asked. Puzzled… he didn’t know they had plans. JC kicked him. "OW" Chris replied and then understood.

"Yeah, we’re meeting with Terry regarding the music for Chances." Lance followed JC’s lead. Joey laughed.

"I get the hint guys." He chuckled.

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

Joey ended up making reservations for he and Tara for later that evening for dinner before returning up to his room to continue to memorize a song.

Home Part I Part III Part IV Part V Part VI

Part VII Part VIII Part IX The Real Impression - fan fiction by J. Shape Of My Heart - Backstreet Boy Fan Fiction