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~ Later that night ~
"Where have you been?" Rori asked Justin when he walked in the door.
"We went a few places, I got you somethin." Justin smiled.
"What is it?"
"I can't tell ya yet. I have a few questions first."
"Ask away."
Justin sat down on the bed beside Rori.
"Are you okay?"
"Am I okay?"
"Yeah, is everything alright?" Is there anything concerning you? Anything you wanna talk about?"
"Everything's fine."
"Even touring and traveling and being away from home?"
"Justin as long as I'm with you I'm happy."
"Are you lying to me Rori?"
"Justin!"
"I'm worried about you. You've been kinda, well, moody lately."
"Is this about me and Joey?"
"No. But you've been like that to everyone. You seem happy for a minute and then --"
"Didn't you already give me this speech? Please don't lecture me."
"See what I mean Rori? You're snappy. I was gonna have Ali talk to you, but I don't know, I wanted to do it myself. I love you and I want to know, honestly, if there's something wrong. Maybe I can help fix it."
Rori seemed to think for a moment before smiling at Justin.
"Don't worry about me. If there was something wrong you could fix I'd tell you."
"And if there's something I can't fix? Would you still tell me?"
"Justin..."
"Would you?"
"Yeah."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now what'd you get me?"
Justin sighed inwardly as he reached for the bag he had brought with him. She always found a way to change the subject, and he knew there was something she was hiding.
The next morning Rori stood in the bathroom staring in the mirror. If anyone cared to, they would be able to tell she was pregnant. It really wasn't too noticeable; no one had questioned her yet.
"Rori? You ready to go?" Justin called.
"Yeah, just a sec!"
She pulled her shirt down and ran her fingers through her hair before leaving the bathroom.
"What were you doing in there?" Justin asked.
"Nothin, did you double check the room?"
"Yep." Justin handed Rori a bag and they left, taking the elevator to meet the others in the lobby.
"Took you guys long enough!" Ali said
"It wasn't me this time." Justin said, almost as if he was proud he wasn't the one who had held up the whole group this time. "Rori was in the bathroom."
"Aw...tryin to make yourself all purty?" Chris asked
"Mission Impossible." Joey mumbled.
"What was that Joseph?"
"Nothing Aurora."
"You said something."
"Not to you."
"But it was about me."
"Okay Rori, just drop it." JC mumbled from the pile of stuff he was sleeping on.
"The bus is ready." Lance walked up to the group. "And Lonnie says if we're not out there in two seconds he's going to beat us to death."
"Won't that look good on the cover of Bop." Rori laughed. "'NSYNC beat to death by body guard, exclusive pin-ups!'"
"Very funny Rori."
"Is JC afraid of the truth?"
"Bop wouldn't have pin-ups of that and Lonnie wouldn't beat us to death anyway."
"Don't test me." The bodyguard warned, ushering the group on to the bus.
"What time is it?" Ali asked
"6:15" Lonnie answered.
"I knew it was too early to be active."
"Active?" Chris questioned, raising an eyebrow at Ali.
"That's not what I meant."
"So its not to early to --"
"Chris, don't even finish that sentence!"
"I was just wondering."
"Why on Earth are you wondering about their sex life?" Rori asked.
"Because the only sex life JC has is with his right hand." Justin laughed.
"What about me?" Ali yelled.
"Is yours with your right hand too?"
"No! I meant that I'm involved in his sex life!"
"Why are we talking about this?" Joey asked.
"Yeah, why?" JC spoke up.
"Chris started it." Rori said.
"And he should have said anything. When was the last time you got some Chris?"
"Yeah, you haven't had a girlfriend in..... When was the last time you had a girlfriend?"
"Just because I haven't had a girlfriend doesn't mean I haven't got any. I'm going to go play Play Station. I don't need the abuse I get from you people."
"I'll play." Joey followed Chris to the back room.
"Well, I'd like to thank all of you for wasting my valuable sleep time." Ali said, "Now I'm gonna go sleep. Leave me alone or your life will pay the consequence."
"Yeah, sleep is a good idea." Rori said, quickly walking after Ali. Justin grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap before she got too far away.
"Since when do you sleep past 6:30?" He asked.
"There's a first time for everything Justin and I'm feeling more tired than usual."
"Rough night?" JC smirked.
The smile on Justin's face answered his question.
"If I don't sleep now then I'll have to sleep tonight." Rori whispered, running her finger over his lips. He stuck his tongue out and twirled it around her finger. She smiled.
"Okay. Sleep well baby." He said.
"I will." She kissed him before getting up.
She made sure to close the door behind her so that the bunks were sealed off and if she were quite no one would hear her. Ali had the curtain pulled closed around her bunk. Rori pulled it open.
"I thought I said -- Aurora Michelle!"
"Shh! The guys think we're goin to sleep." She whispered.
"I am!"
"Al! Quiet! You can't sleep, I need to talk to you."
"It can wait." Ali lay back down and pulled her blanket over her head.
"No Ali, it can't. This is important." Rori pulled the blanket back.
Ali sighed, climbing out of her bunk.
"What?"
"Well...um...I...Ali
I'm gonna be really straight forward with you, okay?"
"You do that." She replied sarcastically.
"Okay, I'm pregnant."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard what I said."
"Is it
Justin's?"
"No dumb ass it's JC's! Yes its Justin's."
"Oh my God." Ali said, leaning back against the bunks. "How far along are you?"
"Almost 4 months. I was gonna tell you sooner but I knew you'd make me tell Justin and I just couldn't."
"He doesn't know yet?"
Rori shook her head.
"I can't believe I didn't notice." Ali lifted the bottom of Rori's shirt up. Her stomach was definitely a little swollen. "I can't believe Justin hasn't noticed, as often as you guys..."
"He doesn't really pay attention to my stomach then, if you know what I mean."
"God Rori... When are you going to tell him?"
"After the concert tonight."
"Do you want me there?"
"We should be alone."
"You're right...."
"Al I'm scared."
Ali smiled at her younger friend and pulled her into a hug.
"You don't have anything to be scared about. Justin will understand."
"I hope you're right."