//Epilogue// The flashy BMW pulled up. Britney stood at the open door, an expectant smile on her face. Justin jumped out and ran up the stairs. He hugged her tightly until she laughed and pulled away. "Hey, I need to breathe. Welcome home, babe." "Thanks," he said. He looked back at the car for a moment until he heard delighted squeals issuing from somewhere in the house. "Uh-oh. They realized you're here." The love was shining on her beautiful face. Motherhood hadn't changed it at all. Two blond heads peeked around the corner. Peanut butter and jelly were smeared on their faces. Another piercing scream and they toddled as fast as their chubby little legs would carry them, huge smiles directed at Justin who had knelt and held out his arms. They nearly bowled him over. Sticky kisses were planted on each cheek and Justin laughed with joy. He put one hand under each butt and stood. "Time for a face washing?" "Time for a bath," Britney said. "Give Uncle Justin a kiss and let's go. He needs to find Daddy." "Where's Daddy, guys?" Justin asked. "In dere," they said in unison, pointing to the den. "Go find him, Ju. He's so excited about the song. I'll get Lance to help me give them a bath." She turned her smile on Lance, who had just entered the kitchen. He rolled his eyes in mock horror. "All right. Fine. You owe me, girl." He transferred the boys to his arms and smiled at Justin's departing back. He followed her into the bathroom and undressed the two wriggling bodies while she prepared the bath.  When they were both splashing away happily, he sat down on the toilet and said, "So, what's new?" She smiled at him. "Not much. Motherhood is a hell of a lot harder than performing. Same amount of work and a hundred times more responsibility. But then I guess I've been saying that for two years now, right?" "You're a great mom. Do you miss performing?" "Sometimes but recording gives me a lot of satisfaction, too. So how was the tour?" "Fine. We're getting too old for this shit. We were all  talking about stopping.  Write music, take care of the businesses." "Take care of what's important," Britney said softly. For a moment she looked incredibly sad and Lance caught his breath. "Talk to me, girl." "Do you ever …wonder…." "…what would have happened if Justin had married you?" he asked. She simply nodded. "All the time. What about you?" Lance asked. "Not all the time. But today—when he came up the steps. I thought about it then." "And?" "It's weird. I love Wade. He's my world—great husband, wonderful dad, best friend. But sometimes I get a twinge of jealousy that Justin picked you. Crazy, huh?" "Why? You've loved him forever." She sighed, "The day he told me that he needed you, that he loved you enough to give everything up for you if he had to, my heart broke. I never thought it would heal. But Wade healed it. It took time and sometimes it still hurts." "I'm sorry, Brit." He watched as the tears slipped down her face and he wanted to make them go away. "Mommy got a booboo?" one of the twins asked. "I kiss it and make it better, Mommy," the other added. She wiped the tears and smiled, a genuine smile of gratitude at the simplicity of children. "It's okay. Mommy will get Daddy to kiss it later." They nodded solemnly and returned to their bath, the moment forgotten. Lance's eyes were shiny. "Thank you, Brit. Thanks for loving him enough to be his friend—his best friend." Later that night, he and Justin spooned into one another. Justin spoke softly, "It was great seeing them. That song is fantastic. Perfect for her voice." Lance hesitated. "Babe? Do you ever regret your choice?" "What?" "Do you ever wish you had married Britney?" Justin turned in Lance's arms and stared at him. "Are you serious?" "It's just that you looked so at home in her arms, so happy playing with the kids." "And I'm here. I'm here because I want to be here. This * is * home. Noel told me to choose my happiness. I choose you." The End ( menu ) Note: This is my patented sappy, unrealistic ending but I can't help it. Originally I was going to have Justin unable to acknowledge his sexual orientation and enter a marriage that would torture him. But, in the end, I just couldn't do it. Sorry if the realism just went down the drain. Goddamn those lambs! Joan