Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 20:25:00 EST
From: Kevsstory@aol.com
Subject: D and Scoop

Hello Good Reader. It's me. (You know......me!) In my story, Kevin Behind
The Scenes, (<---- shameless plug...go read it!) I asked if you'd like to
have an offshoot story about Howie and Lance. Since I received a ton of
emails saying 'yes', I decided to actually sit down and write one.

I am assuming that you're old enough to be reading this. If not, get out
of here =) However, even with that warning, it's not like I can actually
stop you. I mean, I'm not gonna come into your house and turn your
computer off or anything. And, I suppose that I should say that, as far
as I know, no one mentioned in my story is gay (in real life that is) so
you shouldn't take this as truth. Geez, it's a story people. =) But, I do
wonder.......

I'm going to start the story back before Howie and Lance met in KBTS. So,
that way you'll get a little background info before I link into my other
story. There will be things and events in each story that aren't in the
other. That way, if you're reading both, you won't get bored rereading.
But, eventually, they'll probably tie in together. But, then again, who
knows.

Ok....I'm done rambling.....oops...I lied. Afterthought---> The story is
going to flip between present and past time. It'll make sense when the
story starts to progress more. If it starts to get confusing, let me know
and I'll try to clear it up.

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'Lance, honey. What are you doing?' Howie questioned from the other room.

'I'm making a wedding present.' Lance replied.

'Ooh. Can I see? Can I see?' Howie said as he rushed into the study.

'No. Now scoot. You can't see it until the wedding night. I'm
superstitious.' Lance said, pushing his book into the desk to hide it
from Howie.

'Awww. Please?' Howie said, putting the look on his face that always made
Lance cave in.

'The face isn't going to work this time. And that was mean of you to use
it.' Lance said, locking the drawer to his rolltop desk.

'I know. That was the point.' Howie said, slightly frowning that his face
trick didn't work.

'I was just finishing to go take a shower anyway. Wanna scrub my back?'
He said, getting up and wrapping his arms around Howie's waist.

'Mmmm. I just got done but suddenly, I feel the need to take another
one.' He said with a huge smile on his face.

'Ok. Let's go and then we have that appointment with the caterers and
then off to get fitted for our tuxedoes.'

'I never thought that this was going to be so much work. Geez. It's only
one day and it takes months and months to plan.' Howie said as they
walked to their bedroom.

'I know. But, I wouldn't stop it for anything in the world. I love you D,
with all my heart and then some.'

'Neither would I. I love you too Scoopy.' Howie said, making Lance start
to giggle.

Lance always laughed when Howie called him Scoopy. He got the nickname
'Scoop' from the Nsync guys so long ago when they all first started
singing together. Somewhere along the way, Howie added the 'y'. It was
cute and made him feel loved.

They showered and cuddled up in their robes for about an hour, just
enjoying the other's company.

'Did you ever think that we'd be doing this?' Howie asked as they started
driving to the caterers.

'I always knew that I'd be having a wedding. But, when I was younger, I
figured that it would be a woman that I was marrying. But, then, that's
just the way that we're taught to think, I suppose.' Lance replied,
keeping his eyes on the road.

'You're not having second thoughts about this are you?' Lance turned his
head and looked into Howie's eyes.

'No. Never. You're my life. My love. I was just thinking about what Mom
and Mom said.' Howie explained.

Soon after Howie and Lance told each of their parents about their
relationship, each started calling the other's parents not by their
names, but Mom and Dad.

'They just wanted to be sure that we were taking this seriously is all.
They didn't tell us not to do it. They just wanted us to understand that
even though it's not a legal marriage, we're still standing before God
and everyone and telling them how much we love each other.' Lance said,
pulling into a parking spot and shutting the car off.

'Well, I, for one, am scared to death. I only plan on doing this once in
my life. So, I knew that I had to make sure that you were the one for me
and I was the one for you. I mean, we've been dating for 5 years now.'

'I know what you mean. I'm scared too. It's just that. I dunno. I'm being
goofy. Don't worry. Let's go in and order some food for this shindig.'
Howie said, kissing Lance on the cheek.

5 hours later they were back home.

'The food was almost as complicated as the seating arrangements. Geez. I
figured we'd go in and say, we want this, this and this. Instead, it was
this big tasting production. Although, I suppose that was a good thing. I
didn't care for the chicken dish much after tasting it.' Lance said,
collapsing onto the couch with Howie.

'I know. And the tux place. Could that man have had his hand on your
inseam any longer? I was starting to get a little miffed.' Howie said,
laying his head on Lance's lap.

'Was someone getting jealous?' Lance said, kissing Howie's nose.

'I just don't like other men fondling you. Call me silly.' Howie replied.

'Silly'

'Very funny.' Howie started to yawn.

'Honey, why don't you go take a nap. I'll wake you up for dinner. We're
going over to Kevin's.' Lance said. He looked down at a sleeping Howie.

'I want to know how he does that. He falls asleep in no time flat. It
takes me forever sometimes.' Lance thought to himself.

'Well, I'll just go and work on my present while he's sleeping.' Lance
said out loud and laughed quietly, realizing he was talking to himself.

He carefully lifted up Howie's head and placed it on a pillow.

'Now, where was I?' Lance said, opening up the journal that he was
writing and rereading the last part of what he wrote.

'I'm up to right before we all went on tour.'

Lance started writing carefully and smiling to himself.

Flashback.....

'Ladies and Gentlemen. We're here to announce the upcoming tour for
Nsync. If you'll all open up your packet and turn to page 5. As it says,
Nsync is going to be touring with the Backstreet Boys as well as kicking
off their own solo tour later in the year. These are preliminary dates as
Nsync's new album is still in production. ' the man in the grey suit
started.

Lance wasn't paying much attention, he was too busy reading over things
and wondering why they had to be touring with the BSB. It was a
publicity, ticket-selling thing he guessed. He hoped things would go
better this time. The last time wasn't so good. They all never seemed to
click. Some of the guys saw each other as competition, not one big happy
recording family. He didn't really have any big problems with the BSB
guys. In fact, he always enjoyed hanging out with them. Especially Howie.
Lance had always thought that Howie was cute.

Joey leaned over and whispered to him, 'Psst. Scoop. You with us?'

Lance looked up from his papers and realized that everyone was staring at
him.

'Um. Did I miss something?' he asked.

'We were just asking all you guys if there's any questions you may have.'

'Oh, sorry. Uh, not right now. But, you know me, I'll come up with some
later I'm sure.' Lance responded quickly.

The man in the suit continued and Lance made sure that he listened more
carefully. He was sure that he was going to have to explain things to the
guys again later. They always seemed to come to him.

The meeting ended some hours later and as everyone was shuffling out,
Lance was told to wait behind for a few minutes.

'Yes. What did you need to talk to me about? If it's about me zoning out
earlier, I apologize.' Lance started.

'No. No. It's not that. And that happens from time to time. Not a
problem.'

'We also know that last time you 5 and the BSB guys got together, things
were sometimes strained. Management has asked me to give you Howie
Dorough's email address and he's been given yours. We'd like you guys to
email and chat and stuff before the tour starts. Just to get to know each
other. You two were picked because you seem to be the calming force in
the groups should anything happen.' the man continued.

'You've got a couple of months to try and get to know him. I'd like to
ask you to be diligent about this. We really want this tour to be
successful.'

'I'll do my best. I'll even email him when I get home. You can count on
me.' Lance said, putting Howie's address in his planner.

'Ok. That's all I really wanted. Thanks a lot Lance.'

'No problem. I'll call you tomorrow with some questions. I'm going to
read over all the paperwork that we received today and wrote some notes.
'

'I knew you would. Have a good day Lance.'

They shook hands and Lance walked out to meet his mother and they went
home.

Back to the present......

'Yikes. It's been 2 hours. I need to go get Howie up.' Lance said to
himself out loud, putting his journal away.

He walked into the living room and knelt beside Howie sleeping on the
couch.

Lance lightly kissed Howie on the cheek. Howie started to smile a little
in his sleep. Lance then nibbled on his earlobe.

'MMMMMM' was all he got from Howie.

'Howie. Sweety. It's time to get up. We have to get ready to go to
Kevin's.' Lance whispered in Howie's ear.

Howie opened his eyes slowly and smiled.

'I was having the best dream. You were naked' Howie giggled.

'You don't have to dream to see me naked, you know that.' Lance laughed.

'Now. Up mister. We need to go. You know how I hate being late.' Lance
said, getting up.

Howie grabbed Lance's hand as he started to walk away, and pulled him
down on top of him.

'I love you, you know. Always and forever.' Howie said, starting into
Lance's eyes, into his soul.

'I know. But, I love to hear you say that. It gets me all goosebumpy. I
love you too.' Lance replied.

They started to kiss. Lance was amazed that kissing Howie still took his
breath away. He figured that he would get used to it eventually. But,
each time was like the first time.

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Ok....there's the first chapter. Let me know what you think of it. You
can write to me at kevsstory@aol.com

I'm working on the next chapter of KBTS too. That should be out shortly.