A word from Scoop: I'm Back, with a vengeance!! Special thanks to Lucas for a kickass idea!

Scoop
AIM: The Skoop
ICQ: 27497085

"Jared, it's here!"

"Oh goodie," replied Jared sarcastically as he was walking out of the kitchen, "I don't really know if I want to see this."

"Why not? This is your first big step into the entertainment world. You should be excited."

"I am, I just don't know if I want to see those pictures of me standing there in my boxers, realizing that there could be a lot more people looking at them as well."

Jon chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Personally I can't wait to see those pictures of you in your boxers."

Jon and Jared sat together on the sofa and read through the article. Jared had told Jon all about the interview the same day he gave it. He also told him about the extra pictures, as well as Ryan's behavior. Jon's reaction was simply to kiss Jared on the forehead and tell him he was proud of how he handled the situation. Two days later Ryan had called to apologize for his actions and asked Jared to write a column every month on his experiences as he got into the celebrity scene. Even though Jared didn't consider himself to be a celebrity by any definition, he agreed to do the column. He found it strange though that when he told Jon about it he wasn't surprised. What was also strange was that Jon still refused to answer where he had been that morning, although Jared kinda pieced it all together fairly easily.

"You gave some amazingly honest answers Jared. I don't know if I would have been able to answer some of those questions as easily and openly as you did."

"Openly yes, easily, not by a long shot."

"Well either way I'm very proud of you babe." Jon wrapped his arms around Jared and pulled him down across his lap. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I ask myself that every morning," answered Jared with a huge smile across his face. "And can you imagine that it's almost been a year."

"Yeah I know! Time has gone by so fast. But it has been the best year of my life. I wish I had found you so much earlier."

"Dito."

Jon leaned down and placed his lips to Jared's. They kissed with the purest of love and intimacy. It lasted for less than a minute, but for Jon and Jared time stood still. The house, the city, and everything around them ceased to exist, except for themselves and the love that they had, glowing in the darkness like a million suns going nova. After the kiss had ended, the couple sat in silence, simply enjoying the presence of the other.

"What do you want to do for our anniversary?"

"I dunno. What did you have in mind?"

Jon smiled. "Kid Rock concert?"

"HA! HA! No. Not what I would call a romantic setting."

"I guess not."

"How about we go see *N Sync again?"

"They're on the other side of the country."

"Shitty."

Another moment of silence passed as both tried to think of the perfect way to spend the anniversary of their first year together. All of a sudden, the perfect idea struck Jared.

"Why don't we just stay home. Invite some friends in and have a quiet little party. No muss, no fuss, no cameras."

Jon smiled and kissed Jared on the lips again. "Babe, you are amazing."

"Yes, yes I know. But you can keep telling me."

"Ugh!" Jon laughed and pushed Jared from his lap. Jared was unprepared for the quick relocation and ended up tumbling to the floor. He sat up and looked at Jon who was trying extremely hard to control his laughter. He failed miserably and starting to laugh hysterically. Jared started laughing as well as he got up off the floor and walked across the living room. Once he was behind Jon he leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"Since you found that funny, you'll find this hilarious: You're not gettin' any tonight."

Jon's smiled vanished. His mind raced to come up with a response to save himself.

"Those shots of you in your boxers were amazing you know. You looked real hot, as always." Oh yeah, that'll do it.

Jared walked back to the sofa again and placed his right hand against Jon's left cheek. He leaned down and pulled Jon in to meet him. Their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss, Jared's tongue quickly entering into Jon's mouth to wrestle with its counterpart. After a minute, Jared pulled back and broke the liplock.

"Wow."

"Damn right wow," replied Jared. "But you still ain't gettin' any."

It was June 8, the day before the first anniversary of Jon and Jared's first official date. The house was ready to receive guests, the guests had been invited, and Jon and Jared were upstairs getting dressed, barely an hour before people were supposed to start showing up.

"What do you think of this shirt?"

"Jon you know I like that shirt, I was the one who picked it out."

"Oh, yeah."

Jared looked at Jon hard for a few seconds. "Are you nervous about tonight?"

"Nervous? Why would I be nervous?"

"That's what I want to know. Not like you haven't been to a party before. Or hosted one for that matter." Jared walked over to the bed and sat down. He picked his watch up from the bedside table and started to put it on.

"True enough. But this is the first party we've hosted. This the first party we've had at this house. And I'm half expecting there to be a reporter looming in the bushes watching to see who enters and who leaves."

Jon turned towards Jared at the sound of something hitting the floor. Jared had dropped his watch and was sitting motionless, staring across the room.

"Jared?"

"Yeah?" Vocal response, but no actual acknowledgment.

"Are you all right?"

"No, now I'm getting nervous."

Jon walked over and sat on the bed. He wrapped his arms around Jared and placed his chin on his shoulder. "There's no need to be nervous babe. You've had to deal with bigger things than a party. You're on the cover of the first issue of an international teen magazine. You're in a movie that will be in theaters in less than a year. This is just a party: no big thing."

Jared sighed. "The last time I was at a party, it didn't end all that well."

"Yeah but Jared that was not exactly your everyday situation."

"True I guess. But what about the press?"

"What about them?"

"Well I've had this dislike for the media ever since the whole *N Sync concert scandal. I get nervous whenever they're around."

"Then we won't let them in."

Jared gave Jon a dirty look and Jon laughed in return. "Jared calm down, no one is going to bother us. This is going to be a great party and you know it!"

Jared smiled. "Yeah. Yeah it is!" He wrapped his arms around Jon and pulled him down on top of himself on the bed. Jared grabbed Jon's butt and started to squeeze.

"I love these pants. They make your butt look so perky." Jared tried to look up over Jon's shoulder to see the object that his hands were caressing.

"Thanks." Jon quickly kissed Jared on the lips. "I just like your butt. Period."

"Is that so?" They kissed again.

"Yeah, it is." Another quick kiss.

"Well, since this is our anniversary I guess I should be extra nice and let you play with it."

"That sounds fair," replied Jon with an ever widening grin and eyes ablaze with passion.

They kissed again, deeply and passionately, letting their tongues explore and feel at their leisure. Jon began to unbutton Jared's shirt, careful not to tear it off like he so wanted to do. When he had the first few buttons undone he opened the shirt enough be able to lick at Jared's nipples, causing them to become almost instantly erect.

Jared moaned as Jon sucked at his left nipple, licking circles around it and gently nipping at it with his teeth. After a minute or so, he switched to the right one and repeated his actions, getting the same response from his beloved. Jared reached for the button of Jon's pants, and Jon lifted himself a little to help him with the task.

Soon, Jon's pants were around his ankles and his shirt was down across his back, being kept on only by his arms which were caressing Jared's now bare upper body. Jared squeezed and massaged Jon's tight butt, every so often sliding a finger all the way up between the two fleshy mounds, stopping to tease the warm opening. Every time Jared made contact with Jon's tight hole, Jon would moan and suck harder, making Jared moan more.

"Oh god Jon. Get these pants off me!"

"I thought... you'd never ask... babe."

"Actually, I think you should pull yours back up instead."

Jon jumped up off Jared and spun around quickly to see where the new voice had come from. Jared sat up on the bed, keeping himself ready to pounce if the need arose. They locked eyes on the unexpected visitor at the same time, and at the same time yelled the person's name at the top of their lungs.

This is just a break in the action with no point other than to delay you finding out who walked in on our happy couple. Hope I pissed you off a little, heheheh. Now back to your irregularly scheduled story...

"You could have knocked you know!" Jared was yelling as he fastened the buttons of his shirt and tucked the tails back inside his pants.

"You guys always told me I never needed to knock, just come on in."

"Yeah," replied Jon as he put his shirt back on, "but we meant the front door, not the door to our bedroom!"

"The door to your bedroom was already open, I didn't need to knock on it."

"Why didn't you just stay back and call out to us? You must have heard us."

"Oh relax Jared. All I saw was you without your shirt - and you have a body that should be shared so don't complain - and as for Jon, I snuck up on him once before. I've seen all that, it's no big deal anymore."

"What you did or did not see is not the point here. It's about privacy and respect Tatyanna (Admit it, you had already figured it out by this point, right?). And you didn't give us either."

:OK, OK. I'm sorry you guys. I didn't mean to just barge in on you like that. I just wanted to catch the two of you off guard and I didn't honestly think you were that far into things. I'm really sorry."

"You're forgiven. Just please, next time, knock." They shared a quick chuckle and headed downstairs to make final preparations for the party.

"Oh by the way. I got this for you." Tatyanna handed Jon a small box wrapped in plain white paper.

"Tatyanna, you know we specifically asked people not to give us anything."

"I know, and I didn't. It's not from me. It's from a few people that were instrumental in tonight actually happening."

"Oh?" Jared became instantly interested.

"Go ahead and open it."

Jon tore the paper off the box to reveal a VHS Cassette case. Both Jon and Jared looked at Tatyanna with puzzled expressions on their faces.

"Well don't look at me, just play the tape."

Jon popped the tape into the VCR and turned on the television. The tape started with a black screen, but the song "I Need You Tonight" by the Backstreet Boys could be heard playing softly. Then, as if on cue, Brian and Kevin appeared on screen.

"Hi Jon and Jared," said Brian Cheerfully. "Happy anniversary. Congratulations on making it a full year with only one break up. You beat me and Leigh on that one."

"And to think," said Kevin, "all the fuss started because you went to an *N Sync concert. Makes ya think doesn't it?"

Jon and Jared laughed at Kevin's joke.

"Anyway," continued Kevin, "we were happy to be part of your re-coupling, and on behalf of the rest of the guys Brian and I would like to wish you a very happy anniversary."

"And we hope you have a lot more just like it," finished Brian. "And consider this an invitation to my wedding as well."

"As long as you invite us to yours," said Kevin. Brian and Kevin were finishing each other's thoughts now.

The screen faded to black again, but the song didn't change. When it faded back in, Jay Leno was sitting at his desk on the stage of his talk show.

"Hey guys, how goes the big party? Hope you two are having a great anniversary and I hope things have gone smoothly since your big scene stealing appearance on my show. Just kidding guys. It was a pleasure to help the two of you get back together. You were made for each other and I hope you live happily together for many years to come. And don't be afraid to drop by the studio some time. Later guys." And with that, Jay faded from the screen.

The next person on the tape was Ronan Keating. The song he played on Leno was playing in the background and with Ronan was his bandmate Stephen Gately. They gave them their best wishes and such before fading out.

Next to appear, with no music, was -

"Smiley!" Jon's faced brightened with a huge smile.

"Yeah it's me Jon."

"Hey! How did he know - "

"You're asking how did I know what you had said. Jon, please, I should know you by now, don't ya think? Anyway, congratulations guys. I'm glad that you made it this far and I hope that you continue to be together for many years to come."

As Smiley faded away Jon wrapped his arms around Jared and just held him. Tatyanna smiled at them from her position of leaning against the back of the sofa. As an added surprise each of the guys of *N Sync came on and gave Jon and Jared congratulations and best wishes for the future. When Lance's face came on screen Jared growled, causing Jon to squeeze him harder as if to see you're with me, not him.

The tape faded to black and after 10 seconds with no change Jon decided to turn it off.

"Not so fast. It's not over yet," snapped Tatyanna. Jon sat back and Jared leaned on his shoulder.

After a few more seconds of blackness, what sounded like a siren could be heard coming from the TV speaker. It slowly got louder until it disappeared only to be replaced by heavy metal guitars playing the opening to Metallica's 'Unforgiven.'

"No way. It's not!" Jared sat up and leaned towards the TV.

"Hey guys!" James Hetfield's face appeared on the screen in front of a black background. "Been a while since me and the guys were on Leno with the two of you. Guess I should explain all of this, since I figure Tatyanna hasn't. Myself and Jason were sitting around the other day going over a few of the things we've done over the last year. Jason reminded me of the whole Leno deal and we got to wondering if the two of you had stayed together. So, I got in touch with our management and they got in touch with Tatyanna's management who in turn contacted Tatyanna and told her to contact me. So, to make a long story not quite as long, she told me you were still together and had an anniversary coming up. We decided to put together this little memento for the two of you, and, well, here it is. Hope you enjoyed it, hope you enjoy each other, heh heh, and hope you have a long life together, from me, and the guys.

"Oh and if either of you want to be in one of our videos someday, just let me know."

"Awesome," yelled Jared.

"Later guys. Oh and Jared, I know you're a fan, so I've had our concert with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra added to this tape."

"Really fucking awesome!" Jon started to laugh at Jared's excitement.

James faded out and Jon tried to reach the remote to turn off the video but Jared used his position and weight to hold him in place.

"Jared, shift a little will ya?"

"And miss the concert? I don't think so."

"But babe we have to get this place ready. People will start to show up soon."

"Can't we at least watch some of it, until someone else shows up?"

"I'm sorry babe. We have things to do."

Jared frowned, taking on the puppy dog look. Jon had never been able to resist that face and was ready to cave yet again when Tatyanna jumped in and saved him.

"Jared, I know that look! Don't you use that on him or we'll never get ready. You should know better."

Jared looked at Tatyanna apologetically. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry. Come on babe, let's get things done."

Jon kissed his love firmly on the lips and then whispered "We'll watch it when everyone leaves," into his ear. Jared produced a big toothy grin and jumped up off the sofa. He offered his hand to Jon and pulled him to his feet once he accepted. The three of them then began to prepare the house for a big party: breakables were removed, snacks were set out, the CD player was programmed...

Roughly 2 hours later...

The party was big, and I mean BIG! There were at least 100 people there, all standing around talking and laughing and having a great time. Freddie Prinze Jr. was there, as was Sarah Michelle Gellar. The entire cast of Dawson's Creek showed up (which was weird because neither of them were invited), as were Pamela Anderson and Madonna. A big surprise for Jared was when Melanie and Tim showed up at the door. Jon had flown them down to surprise his beloved.

"Jon, you little rascal! How did you manage to arrange this without me knowing?"

"Hey, I can keep a secret you know. Although it was very hard what with that damned cute face of yours looking at me all the time." Everyone laughed as Jared started to blush.

Rob was also there. Jared had told him that if he didn't show up, he would send an armed security detail to go and get him and drag him to the party. Rob assured him that wasn't necessary. And Rob being Rob, he just couldn't make a normal entrance like everyone else. Oh no, Rob came into the house, walked over to where Jon and Jared were talking to Ron (the producer of Jon's latest movie) and made a rather large scene.

"Everyone, I'd like to have your attention please!" When everyone turned to look in his direction, Rob continued, desperately trying to control his grin. "I'd like to wish these two guys a very happy anniversary, yet, I can't. I have a confession to make: I love Jared."

Rob wrapped his arms around Jared's neck and kissed him firmly on the lips. The entire assembled crowd was stunned into silence, including Jon who forgot to breath. As Rob released Jared and looked around, his eyes met with those of Tatyanna, and he gave her a look to make her realize what he was doing. She nodded and slowly started to work her way up to where he was standing with Jon and Jared.

"Hmmm, I don't know," continued Rob. "Jon looks pretty good himself." He then moved over to Jon and repeated his earlier actions. By this time most people had caught on and were starting to giggle a little.

Jon had also caught on, and, seeing as how turnabout is fair play, made Rob the butt of his own joke. Jon wrapped his arms around Rob and started to return the kiss. He moved a little to the left so that they were giving everyone a side profile. Then, tilting his head just enough, he pushed his tongue into Rob's mouth so that everyone could see. Rob was completely caught off guard and immediately released Jon and pushed him away.

Jon started to laugh and was soon joined by Jared and their assembled guests. Rob kept wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his face red and his gaze falling on the floor. Tatyanna came up behind him and turned him around to face her.

"No I think this is what you want Robbie darling." She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed her lips to his. He quickly returned her kiss and their assembled 'audience' started "whoo hooing" and whistling.

"And this is what I want," said Jon. He wrapped his arms around Jared and moved in for a kiss.

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about," replied Jared as he quickly pressed his lips to Jon's. The entire room went crazy with sharp whistles, applause, and a few perverse phrases.

"Uh, excuse me? Jared?"

"Yeah?"

"Hi, my name is Geoff Forsythe. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Uh, likewise." Jared gave the new arrival the quick once over. He was about 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, dark brown hair and brown eyes. Not overly attractive, yet not unattractive either.

"Well the reason I've come here, oth - other than to wish you and Jon a happy anniversary, is to um, well - "

"Calm down guy, I'm not going to bite."

Geoff giggled nervously. "Sorry. I'm not used to this yet. I'm a casting director for a new production company that has started in Hollywood. We've recently acquired the rights to produce a movie based on the Seaquest television series."

Seaquest? Jared instantly recognized the series as his first big exposure to the man of his dreams. But, he thought, if they're doing a Seaquest movie, shouldn't this guy be talking to Jon? "Shouldn't you be talking to Jon about this instead of me?"

"Well, actually no. The producer has decided to go with someone else for the role that Mr. Brandis had on the series."

"Someone else?" You can't replace Jon on the role that was so perfect for him.

"That's why I was sent here. The producer wanted me to approach you and offer you the - "

"Whoa, hold on a sec! You are not about to offer me the role of Lucas in the new movie."

"I was afraid you'd feel this way."

"You mean you were about to - ? Damn it, why me? That is my boyfriend's role! You can't just offer it to me!"

"I knew this would happen, I told everyone this would happen." Geoff was getting extremely nervous. Jared could even see a little sweat on his brow.

"Why me?"

"Well... they wanted someone who was 'hot' and right now that's you. You're in a new movie, you're in the first issue of an extremely high selling magazine - "

"It was Jon's movie, and he was in the magazine."

"Yes, I - we know. But you're the one that people are talking about."

Jared was shocked at what he had just been told. He started to blush with embarrassment at the thought of being in the spotlight that he knew was supposed to be shining on his beloved. He felt a little guilty about it to be honest.

"Oh boy," were the only words he could manage.

"The producer isn't expecting you to answer today. He wanted me to give you this." Geoff handed Jared a business card. "It's the producer's number. He wants you to call him personally when you decide to take the role. If you decide I mean."

"No, you meant when," said Jared with a little trace of anger.

"Uh, well. If, uh, if you do decide to take the part, you need to let him know by next Thursday at the latest. He wants to get started on this as soon as possible. Right now only one role has been filled. The producer wants to fill the others to work around that one and the one you've been offered."

Great, thought Jared. A team that will be narrowed down to a couple of central characters and supporting parts.

"I guess I should be going. Happy anniversary." With that, Geoff turned and left.

"Hey babe."

"Hi Jon." Jared turned around to see Jon smiling widely at him.

"Who was that?"

"No one important. Just someone off the street who wanted to wish us an happy anniversary."

"That was sweet of him."

"Yeah."

"What's that you're holding? A business card?'

Jared's breath froze in his lungs. He couldn't tell Jon what had just happened, it would crush him.

"Well?'

"Hey, Jonny boy! Come 'ere."

"Hold that thought babe." Jon kissed Jared on the cheek and walked passed him, but not before whispering "I love you" into his ear.

Great, thought Jared. This is just fucking great!

I am Scoop, hear me type. The hardest part of writing this chapter was coming up with the quotes for the end. Again, special thanks to Lucas for a great story idea. Seaquest and related characters are copyright NBC, or whatever studio or person it was that came up with the idea (I know, I should know that. I am so ashamed of myself.).

"Fuck y'all,
all o' y'all,
if you don't like me: blow me.
y'all are goin' keep fuckin' around with me
and turn me back into the old me."

"Give a man a fish, he eats for a day;
teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.
But teach a man to be a fish, and he can eat himself;
teach a man to eat himself, and fish no longer matter."