Title: As Long As It Takes Author:Jules Part:1/1 Feedback: Yes please. - mailto:slash_me_baby@yahoo.com Rating:PG 13 Pairing:TimberNick Disclaimer:This is just for entertainment purposes only. I am not making any assumptions on the sexual preferences of either of these fine young men! As Long As It Takes by Jules It wasn't something he'd been expecting. Hell, it wasn't even something he'd been looking for. But he'd found it and now that he had it, he wasn't so sure he wanted to let it go. It seemed that whenever he wasn't looking to find someone, they always found him, like they werean angel, or at least someone who really knew he needed someone. Even if he himself hadn't known it. Nick ran his fingers through his hair slowly, playing the previous week over in his mind. He'd been planning on going to Sweden again. Get away from the hype of everything. The hype that Justin's CD was going to be out before his. That his single was already getting more air time than his own was, and Justin's video was premiering on MTV decades before his own, thus putting the younger man ahead of him. And they hadn't even really begun yet. As he looked over at the lounge chair beside him to the figure snoring lightly on it he smiled. Smiled and extended his arm to run his fingers down their arm lovingly. Lovingly? Is that what this was? Love? He sure as hell hadn't counted on that when he'd allowed himself to be whisked to somewhere that was definitely not Sweden. The vast beaches of Puerto Viarta could attest to that. So he had been in the airport, just about to buy his ticket to get him away from the media, the hype and the disappointment. With credit card in hand, Nick moved to hand it to the attendant when a voice broke into his thoughts. "Sweden?"He turned to find himself looking into the eyes of the person he was trying hard to get away from. The reason for his escape. "It's not here."Was all he said, a little sharper than he'd intended. "Mexico's not here either."When Nick looked down, he saw two tickets in the other person's hand and raised his eyes. He was confused, the expression on his face proof. "Saw you standing over in the corner, looking at flights leaving soon, picking one. Was buying one ticket so I thought I'd take a chance and buy two. Look, it even has your name on it and everything." Nick cautiously took the ticket and looked it over. True enough, it had his name on it, the paper still warm from the printer. He sighed and looked the person in the eye. "What's the catch?" "No catch. I just know what it feels like to need to escape. Get away from everything and everyone." He wasn't sure he believed him. Nick had learned early on that anyone could be a wolf in sheep's clothing, and not all 'gifts' weren't without a price. "Just because you're on THAT side of the competition Nick, doesn't mean that things on my side are any better." With that, Nick watched Justin walk towards the gate for his flight to Mexico. THEIR flight to Mexico. He still had the ticket in his hand, issued for a Mr. Nickolas Carter. He'd even spelled his name correctly. That had to mean something. Right? Now, 8 days later Nick was still sitting on the beach in Mexico, wondering when they would have to go back to their real lives. He'd taken a chance by getting on that plane, but a lesson he'd learned early as well was that life got you nowhere without taking chances. When fate comes knocking, sometimes it's better to answer the door and see what she has to offer rather than hide under the covers hoping that you didn't miss the biggest opportunity of your life. He opened the door. "That tickles."Justin mumbled sleepily, goose bumps covering his arms. Nick jerked his hand back and giggled nervously, his cheeks reddening.

		"Sorry. I just...." "I didn't say stop, I just said it tickled."Justin clarified, opening his eyes slowly, smiling. They spent a few minutes staring at one another, neither sure of what to say. It hadn't been an awkward week, just different. They had so much in common, but nothing at all at the same time. They'd spent their entire lives wary of the other, wondering if the civilities were just for show or they were sincere. But now, now they had been given a week to get to know each other. Really get to know each other. No band mates hassling them. No fear of media or reporters there to blow anything out of proportion. Nothing but each other, and there was one thing that Nick realized when he actually sat down to think about it. He liked Justin Timberlake. Like really liked Justin Timberlake. And if he was reading his signals right, Justin Timberlake liked him too. A lot. They'd spent the first few days talking about their groups. Their solo cds and the pressures put on them. How afraid they were and how they wished for once it was about the music and not who put it out. How they would like to take everything away and start over and change so many of the decisions they'd made in the past. But Nick wondered if he'd just change the parts that had to do with Justin. Maybe not waste so much time being jealous of him and begin to understand that the entire time, Justin was as jealous of him. Maybe talk to him about everything and realize that he wasn't as alone as he'd always thought he was and have done this much sooner. But then he thought about the past week. And decided that he wouldn't change it for the world, because laying on this beach sipping margaritas with Justin next to him was better than anything he'd experienced in a longer time than he'd really like to admit. "What are you thinking about?"Justin's voice was still thick with sleep and Nick had to refrain from leaning over and kissing him like he wanted to so badly. The younger man stretched, yawning and Nick stifled a sigh. "When we have to go back..." Nick admitted, averting his gaze from Justin's. Those eyes were too blue, too easy to get lost in and he was already falling harder than he should be at this point. "I mean, it's inevitable... We've both got jobs to do. Music to make, a competition ..." "It's not a competition Nick. It never was. They might think so but there is no competition. Even if there was, you won it long ago."Justin's voice was hard, his head turned facing the other direction and Nick couldn't see his eyes. Wasn't sure what he meant by that. "Excuse me."Nick was fidgeting with the hem of his shorts, his stomach a ball of nerves. Justin's response was a shake of his head. "You just don't get it." "No I guess I don't." "It's why we're here."Justin was cryptic, his voice revealing nothing. "What's why we're here?"He was getting more confused by the moment, Justin throwing him completely off. "To make you see. To show you that no matter how many cds I sell, more or less than you. How many awards are won ...how many anything .... It doesn't matter. THAT'S not what is important." "What's important?"Nick's heart was beating rapidly, his pulse racing. Justin had sat up and was facing him, watching him intently. Studying him. A wave of discomfort washed over him at the expression on Justin's face. "You knowing how beautiful you are. How loved you are." Nick was stunned. Speechless. In love. He didn't know how someone could look so indifferent, so 'there' and real in front of him, his face locked in a blank stare but say something so breathtaking. So moving. He knew he should say something, but the words wouldn't come to him. He had no clue where to start. So he smiled and blushed, blinking back the tears that had formed in the corner of his eyes. Justin smiled back and grabbed his hand, squeezing it lightly before resuming his original position on the chair. Nick noted that as he moved to recline on the lounger, Justin never let go of his hand. In fact, he held it tighter, lacing their fingers together. "So. How long are we going to stay."? Nick repeated, feeling a calm cover him. His hand felt natural with Justin's, the rough yet soft skin against his, their fingers tangled together, playing every so often. "As long as it takes."Their eyes locked, smiles covering their faces. Justin brought their joined hands to his mouth and softly kissed the back of Nick's without breaking their gaze. There was no explaining the sudden urge that filled him, and Nick figured that the reasons weren't really

		something he wanted to dwell on. He sat up suddenly and pulled his hand back, making sure to grip Justin's tighter, so he couldn't pull away. They were both sitting now, facing one another, knees touching between their lounge chairs. He smiled at the younger man, and saw how absolutely beautiful he was. The confusion was clear in Justin's expression, his eyes sparkling and chest heaving from his laboured breathing. "If I say I think I understand, does that mean we have to go back?"Nick leaned in closer, resting his forehead on Justin's. He could feel Justin's breath on his lips and Nick shivered at the sensation. "As long as it takes."Justin repeated. Nick saw his eyes flutter shut and his tongue dart out to lick his lips nervously. Justin was trembling and for some reason that put him at ease. "Good."He'd wasted too much time already. 8 years. A whole week. Precious seconds. With every moment he thought about kissing Justin, he could be actually doing it and that was enough to break Nick from the daze he was in. Sweetly, he pressed his lips against Justin's and kissed him. It was soft and sweet. Everything he never let himself believe it would be. It was beautiful. Their mouths opened at the same time, tongues reaching out ever so lightly and then just as slow as it started, it was over, leaving them both breathless. Before Nick could move, Justin leaned in and kissed him again. It was exactly like the first, but this time his hand moved to cup Nick's cheek, fingers stroking his jaw tenderly while their other hands were still joined. A tiny moan escaped Nick's lips and they backed away. "It might take a while."Nick said after a while when he could find his voice again. His cheeks were flushed and his heart rate had accelerated considerably. Justin smiled and leaned back into his chaise, refusing to let go of Nick's hand. It was only when Nick had relaxed into his own chair and they were facing one another, blue eyes locked did he speak. "Good." Finis.