Chapter 2 - Cake!

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear JC! Happy birthday to you!" The staff gleefully sang out as JC blushed miles on. One minute, it had been a photoshoot, the next, it turned into a birthday party. The room was aglow with the light of the birthday candles as they had covered the window to further impersonate the 'night' they planned to emulate in these pictures.

"Ah guys!" JC said bashfully to the rest of the guys. "You shouldn't have!"

"Haha, JC!" yelled out Justin. "We didn't!"

"Huh?" asked JC. "Then who did?"

"Ms. Lin!" someone screamed out. Halle didn't know who, but she felt her blush burn her cheeks. There she was, standing in the corner of the room trying to be inconspicuous when everyone parted the way in front to reveal her small figure standing by one of the few uncovered windows.

"Halle?" he questioned, using the name she had requested he use. He held an arm out to her, smiling his smile at her. Suddenly, she felt it disarming her.

But instead of feeling awkward, she smile brightly. "Happy twenty-third, JC." She walked and took his hand. As she held it, she shivered against him as he took her hand into his own. Just his touch...

"Cake cutting time!" someone yelled. She was barely able to relate the gratefulness she felt at that moment.

Laughingly, she lead him over to the table. The cake she had picked out herself was a chocolate and vanilla cake. In doing her research, she had learned orange was his favorite color. It was only appropriate that she had had his cake decorated in orange. At the bakery she had ordered the cake at she had blanched when Halle said orange. Hopefully she looked at her. "Orange blossoms?" she asked hopefully, wondering what in the heck she would need orange for and she was scared to ask.

Halle just shook her head. "Basketballs," she had emphasized. She laughed as she watched the cook sigh, but go to task. So here she was now. She watched the lights flicker across his face in the dim lights. He was laughing out loud now. She had never seemed to notice his voice before, but she did now. It was so beautiful, rumbling in her ears. He was close to her, she could hear him laugh.

She tried to back away, get out of the limelight, but he held her hand tighter and drew her up once again. "Hey, where you going?" he asked her, still smiling.

"Oh, just letting you have your space. It's not my party. You have your fun." She started to back away again, but he pulled her back.

"I'm the birthday boy. What I say goes. You're having fun with me." He gave her a innocent sad look, his blue eyes turning her to mush. "Besides, you threw it for me, didn't you? Come on. I insist you cut cake with me!" He held the cake knife in his hands.

She sighed. "Only if there's nothing more you want..."

"Nope. That's all I'm asking! So come on!" They were about to take pictures. He squashed the cake knife in her hands and looked up as they stood poised over the cake. "Say cheese!" he bit out through his teeth. She smiled, a few dozen flashed went off. It left her dazed. As she looked down to clear her head, he took some of the orange icing off the cake, and dabbed it on her nose.

"Hey!" she exclaimed. "You did not just put icing on my nose!"

"I did!" he answered. "You looked lost. Had to get your attention somehow!"

"JC, I have a name. You called me it a few minutes ago. Maybe you should try using it. Can you say 'Hal-le'?" Halle pronounced it as if she was talking to Josh.

He caught on and stuck his thumb in his mouth. "No, Mommy," he said in a little voice.

She swatted his out of his mouth and as she laughed at him. "But Mommy!" he exclaimed. "This was so much more fun!"

"Oh yeah?" she challenged.

"Oh yeah."

"We'll see about that." Quickly, before he could react, Halle grabbed a piece of cake and icing and threw it at him.

"Wha?!" he called out as it hit him just by the mouth. "Oh this is war!" he cried and took another piece of cake, slinging it at her.

"Cake fight!" Chris yelled and grabbed a large chunk of cake, flinging it at JC, hitting him squarely on the nose.

"No fair!" called out JC.

"All's fair in love and war, JC," reminded Chris and threw another piece at him.

Before she knew it, the whole room had erupted in a chaotic battle of cake. There was literally no cake left, save a few crumbs, on the platter. In fact, this fight had even turned the plastic plates into weapons, or well, 'Frisbees'. Thank God they had not brought out the utensils yet. It could poke someone's eyes out.

Meanwhile, Halle's stomach was heaving, she had laughed so hard. Her dress was ruined, cake everywhere. As soon as Chris announced it was a cake fight, cake had been pitted at JC as he was the birthday boy. "Halle, save me!" he screamed as the cake rolled off him.

She laughed. "Nuh uh, JC! You put icing on my nose." She had wiped it off, but traces still remained.

"Yeah, well who's going to save you?" He pulled her over with him and use her as a shield for a minute until he caught a piece that was flung at him.

"Ahh, help!" she screamed, but was still laughing, amused by this.

He ducked a flying piece, pulling her down with him to a bunch of cardboard boxes and piles of white sheets. He took the piece of cake he had caught and smashed it in her jet black hair as she tried to get up. She wasn't successful as she was laughing too hard. But the crowd soon forgot about JC and were pelting each other now. Afterwards, Halle and JC sat together on the pile of sheets.

"Sorry for the mess we caused, Halle."

She chuckled. "Not like I'd care, but what am I going to tell my boss? I can just see the headlines now, 'Publicist fired because of food fight.'"

He laughed. "No..."

"Oh wait," she stopped him. "That wouldn't make the papers. Here, this would, 'Publicists fired because of food fight...with 'N Sync.' Now that's a winning headline if I ever heard one! I'm in the wrong field, I tell you."

But suddenly JC got quiet. Halle looked at him. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

He shook his head, "No, I'm fine." He gave her a smile, but that didn't dismiss her worries. Was it something she said? "You still have cake in your hair." he said, getting up. He reached down and dislodged some of the cake that stuck in between the strands, then pulling her up along with him. He felt good when he had her in his arms. Her face was down and she was glad he couldn't see her blush. Touching her hair... "Where's my little man?" he asked, breaking the barrier of silence that had fallen onto them.

"Your little man?" she asked, knowing full well who he was talking about. "As I recall, he's my son. I don't remember JC Chasez being part of the other half that created him."

"Yeah, but he's my namesake! Josh, my man!" She giggled at his immaturity. "By the way, why don't you call me Josh anymore?"

She thought for a moment, why didn't she? But she just smiled, blurting out the quick answer. "Cause I'd confuse you with my son!" It was the simplest thing she could think of to say while sounding coherent. She only wished it was true.

He smiled warmly at her before letting his eyes wander. His eyes dimming, he surveyed the mess reluctantly. "Oh, man," he groaned. "Look a this place."

Halle kept her eyes focused in front of her. "Nope, not looking," she answered. "I know who will have to clean it up." She grimaced as she tried to explain to her boss why she needed the emergency cleaning crew.

"Naw, Hal, don't worry, we'll clean it up." He had called her Hal.

"Who's 'we'?" she eyed him warily.

"Me and my fleet of Arabian belly dancers," He paused, looking at her ominously. "No, silly, me and 'N Sync."

She laughed now. "Well, actually, I thought you were referring to me."

"Ohh!" he exclaimed knowingly. "No, you can go home. It's ok, we'll take care of it."

"No, I'll stay. Someone needs to baby-sit."

He laughed. "No, no, no. I insist you go home. Isn't Josh waiting for you?"

Her face softened. He knew her weak spot. "He surely is."

"Well you go home and give him all my love."

Halle smiled now, a wide, beautiful grin. "Ok," she answered, giving in. Everyday she missed Josh, no matter if it was for the five minutes she left her apartment, or the nine hours it took her to get off work. She missed Josh, and JC knew it.

"Then that's that." He leaned into hug her, saying good-bye. His arms enveloped her. A pang of pleasure ran through her, electricity running through her body. She couldn't understand it, and neither did he because he was feeling the same thing. Even as he slowly pulled away, neither had forgotten what was there. But neither of them said anything. His cologne, mixed in with his soap, was stuck in her nose. Her own scent, one of tingly raspberries and sweet kiwi, still clung to him too. She sighed.

She hadn't wanted to walk away, but she'd forced herself to and she found her step not so light. She could target these feelings and it left her feeling lost, a feeling she didn't like much. "Hey," JC called softly after her. "Do you need a ride home?"

Halle shook her head. "I live just down the street. I can walk."

He kissed his teeth. "Pretty lady like you shouldn't be walking alone in New York. Things could happen."

She blushed. "Now, now JC. I can get my hou-."

"Oh, that's right!" he exclaimed, looking suitably embarrassed. "You've never told me about your husband."

She froze. He had mistaken her word for 'husband' when she had meant 'house guest'. Why did he feel she needed one? She hated the way everyone just 'assumed' that she had one. She imagined it was because she didn't fit the stereotype of the 'unwed mother'. Husband had always been a shaky topic for her. Those who knew her well knew not to bring it up. Too bad for him.

Halle looked straight at him, her stare revealing nothing of the turmoil that churned below. She was calm on the outside. "I don't have a husband. I don't need one. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and Joshua alone. Good-bye JC. Happy birthday." She turned on her heel and walked straight to the door. She never looked back or she would have seen the fallen expression on JC's face. What did I say?

-*-*-*-

"Man, look at me," Justin whined. "I'm covered in cake."

"Shut up, pretty boy," Lance teased. "If you hurry up and help us clean, you can go back to the hotel and get a shower."

"JC, why did you have to start with her?" Justin whined.

"Aw, I was just playing," JC shrugged. "It's not my fault goof-ball over there decided to make it a cake war."

"I was just trying to have a little fun," Chris protested.

"Aren't you always?" Joey chuckled, shaking his head.

"Let's just hurry up so I can get a shower, huh?" Justin interrupted once again. With that, everyone else got quiet and went back to work.

A smile came to his face as JC thought about the day's events. The rest of the photo shoot had gone very well, and it was nice of Halle to give him the birthday party,

JC thought. In fact, it was more than nice. Had she purposely gone out of her way for him? No, he shook his head. It couldn't be. She just wanted everything to run nice and smooth that day.

Then the smile fell off his lips. Halle had become very angry when JC mentioned her husband, or lack of one. He knew that she was independent, which was probably why she had gotten upset.

I hope she's not mad at me, he thought. God, I hope she's not mad at me. Then JC laughed to himself. He should've been glad Halle didn't have a husband. That left room for him.

Whoa Chasez! Get a grip on yourself, he physically shook himself as soon as the thought crossed his mind. You don't have time for a girlfriend. Are you crazy?

JC forced himself to remember that it wouldn't be good for his career. Most of all, Halle said she didn't need a husband, and that implied any guy at all. By the looks of it, Halle was right. Coming to this grim realization, JC vowed that he wouldn't get too close.

-*-*-*-

JC walked into the hotel lobby, ambling aimlessly along. There was nothing for him to do in his room; movies had been watched, cards had been played, and, frankly, JC wanted to be alone. He needed to think, to sort things out.

No matter how hard he tried to deny it, Halle Lin was occupying his thoughts. Not her looks or her laugh, although he enjoyed those as well, but her personality, her strength and on-going battle for the independence he felt she had. There was something about her, in the way she moved and carried herself, that appealed to him. But why had she gotten angry at him?

"Stop it, JC," he scolded himself as his hands came crashing down on the piano keys. A sharp discord filled the air, as if the piano had been struck and was moaning in pain. Several people who milled about the lobby turned to see what the commotion was about.

JC didn't notice their stares, nor did he even realize he was at a piano. Instead, he looked long and hard at the black and white ivory keys that laid in front of him. Music had always been his passion, and he could remember back to the days when he started dancing with his buddies. He loved writing, playing, performing, anything that had to do with music at all, he loved. Automatically, and almost even magically, he began playing, forming a new tune.

But as he played, the music became part of the background. Once again, his thoughts turned to Halle and her son Josh. He was a cute kid, green eyes and dark hair. When JC asked about Halle's husband, she had snapped at him, saying that she didn't need a man in her life.

"That's cool, man," Lance said, coming up from behind JC a few minutes later. Startled, JC jumped up. Lance grinned at his discombobulated friend.

"Huh? Oh thanks," JC muttered, wiping his now-sweaty palms on his khakis.

"You okay, Daddy? You seem detached today."

"Why would I be?" JC replied.

Because you're thinking of Ms. Halle Lin, that's why, he answered his own question. "You know I wanna be alone sometimes," JC went on.

Lance shrugged. "I dunno. You seemed pre-occupied. You didn't even want to watch Star Wars with us."

"Like I said, just wanted to be alone."

"Alright, man, I get the picture," Lance strolled back towards the elevators.

Alone with his thoughts of Halle once again, JC say back down at the piano. This time, though, he was more aware of what he was doing. Jumping up, he ran to the front desk to borrow paper and a pencil.

"JC, you comin' to the interview?" Justin asked as he and the other guys ambled through the lobby an hour later.

JC looked up, realizing where he was. "Oh," he blinked. Then he looked down at his clothes, which were the same ones he had on earlier. They were fine, just slightly rumpled, and not the type of clothes that an 'N Syncer would be seen in.

"You don't have time to change, Daddy," Justin rushed. "We gotta go."

"Well, I guess it'll do," JC tried to justify. He followed the other four members to where a van would be waiting to take them to their interview.

"Are you sure you're okay, JC?" Justin prodded as they loaded up the van.

"Yeah," he insisted. "I wish everyone would stop asking me that." His voice held a slight gruffness to it.

"Sorry," Justin muttered, backing down.

"I was writing a song," JC sighed, feeling bad for snapping at his friend. He looked down at his hands where he was tightly clutching the music. He treasured his music, and maybe if it was good enough, they'd record it and use it on the next album.

"Really?" Lance's eyebrows shot up. "What kind?"

"A ballad, I guess," he answered. "Haven't really written any lyrics yet."

"Must be pretty special," Chris commented. "You don't usually sit down and play anything for more than five minutes."

"I dunno. I was just inspired."

"By Ms. Lin?" a smirk came to Justin's face.

"Halle," JC replied automatically, trying to keep his cheeks from turning red. "And, no, I was just inspired."

"Oooh, looks like you pushed a button, Justin!" Chris hooted.

"Aw, leave him alone," Lance, the ever-nice one, cut in sympathetically.

JC just stared out the window. There were too many factors, reasons why he couldn't be with Halle. The biggest one? She "didn't need a man." Get over it, Chasez, he told himself. She's probably right. She got that far without a guy, she can get even further. With that, JC focused all his energy in getting Halle out of his mind. Unfortunately, he wasn't having much success.

-*-*-*-