It was amazing how much he missed trees.  He saw them all the time, but not like this, in a cabin in a remote part of Tennessee surrounded by tall timber. The woods were quiet and peaceful, and Justin stood on the deck and rested his forearms on the railing.  The smell of the woods filled him; he took a deep breath and released it slowly. 

"Glad the tour's over, honey?" his mother asked from behind him. 

Justin ran a hand over his buzzed scalp and nodded, not turning.  "Yeah.  It was fun, but I'm really tired; the last few dates at the end just about killed me.  Can you believe that I miss it already?"  The tour was over, but they had to gear up for the VMAs and the Michael Jackson tribute; sometimes he thought they worked harder when they weren't on tour.  "God, I'm weird. We'll be back at it soon enough, though, for the mini-tour next year."  He glanced over his shoulder where his mother stood in the kitchen doorway looking past Justin, out into the woods. 

"I'm glad you bought this place," she said, a smile on her face.  "It's one of the prettiest parts of the state." 

He nodded, and turned back to the trees.  "Yeah, it is." 

He'd gone to the cabin right after the last show, aware that they all had only a few days to themselves before a spate of appearances began.  His mother had stopped by the cabin in on her way back home; too surprised to say no, he'd invited her to stay the night.

"I hardly see you anymore," she said, flipping off the overhead light in the kitchen, leaving the small light burning over the sink.  "It's all so crazy these days. And," she continued as she opened the door and stepped out, "you're practically a man now.  Sometimes I can hardly believe it."  She came over to stand beside him at the railing.  "So," she said, and something about her tone caused the hair to stand up on Justin's neck, and when she patted his arm, he was sure something was up.  "Are you and Brit getting more serious?" 

Justin glanced at her.  "Where'd that come from?" 

"She's been around a lot lately, it seems," his mother said carefully.  "You're talking about each other more in interviews and things." 

"Reporters bring it up, not me," Justin said with more heat than he'd intended. 

"Calm down, sweetie.  I'm your mother, I'm entitled to know."  She kissed his cheek.  "Will I be a grandmother in the next few years?"  She looked out into the trees. 

"What's wrong, Mom," Justin sighed.  "Something's up. You call at the last minute to spend time with me - not that this isn't great, but...I know you.  What's going on?"  He tried not to sound weary, though he was. 

"I've got something for you," she said, and opened the door and stepped inside.  In a moment she returned, holding a pair of neatly folded black track pants. 

"Hey!" Justin smiled and reached for the pants.  "I wondered where these got to.  I kinda thought they'd show up on Ebay or something," he laughed.  "Thanks." He gave her a hug. 

"Good thing they weren't on eBay," his mother answered, and held out a folded slip of yellow paper.  Justin's mouth went dry.  His mother opened the note. 

"'J, just a note to say I love you. I love you. Ha ha ha. Love, me.'  It fell out of your pants pocket when I picked them up."  She refolded the paper and handed it to Justin.  "That's not Britney's writing," she said quietly. 

"No," Justin said, unfolding the note.  "No, it's not."  He glanced over the words though he'd re-read the short message several times before he'd slipped it into his pocket. 

"Justin, honey, please tell me you're not cheating on her.  I thought I raised you better than that." 

"Mom, you raised me just fine," Justin said, making an effort not to roll his eyes.  "And no, I'm not cheating on Brit.  She knows." 

"You're dating another girl and Britney's OK with that?"  His mother's eyes widened.  "Justin.  Does this other girl do things that Britney won't?"  It was hard to mistake her meaning, and Justin had to laugh. 

"God, Mom, no.  Mom, I'm sorry."  He squeezed her arm.  "I didn't want to talk about this just yet; I'm kinda figuring things out myself.  But please don't worry, OK?" 

"Just tell me, sweetie, whatever it is.  We've both seen a lot of things since you've been in the business.  You'll still be my baby."  She kissed his cheek. 

"Oh, God," Justin sighed.  He took a deep breath. "Britney pretends to be my girlfriend.  I mean, when we first started going together I loved her like crazy, but I don't anymore."  He looked down at his hands.  "There's someone else, but the publicity is good for Brit, so we go with it." 

His mother looked confused.  "So this other girl is content to stay in the shadows while you and Britney pretend to be in love?  For publicity?"  She shook her head slowly.  "Justin, I'm really disappointed in you  To play with someone's feelings like that - it's not right." 

"No, it's not like that," Justin sighed.  "God, this is so hard."  He looked at his hands again.  "Us being together gives Britney lots of publicity and it gives me someone acceptable for the fans.  Because," he swallowed, "I'm gay." 

His mother blinked.  "Ah.  OK.  I'll, uhm, be back.  Just getting...something." 

"I've got wine," Justin offered.  "And harder stuff too, if you need it." 

"Maybe just a beer.  I'll bring you one, too."  She disappeared inside. 

Justin listened to her moving around the kitchen.  "Mom, are you OK?" 

"I'm fine, Justin," she said, her voice drifting out to him.  "I just need to think about this for a little bit. I'll be fine." 

Justin leaned down and rested his forehead on his arms. He looked up when the door opened and his mother pressed an icy bottle against his fingers.  "Thanks." He took the bottle and twisted the cap; his mother did the same with hers. 

"So, this person you're really with, is a...is a guy?"  She stared at her bottle. 

"Yeah, it's a guy. The guy."  Justin tipped his bottle to his lips. 

"Have you known him long?  Is he nice?  Is he good to you?" 

"He's a sweetheart, and Jesus, this is embarassing." He closed his eyes before he continued.  "I've known him a long time," he said softly.  "But this thing we have now is new."  He couldn't stop a small smile. 

"Ah."  She leaned over the railing, matching his pose. "I don't think it's Trace," she said after a moment. 

Justin snorted.  "No." 

"Didn't think so."  She tipped up her bottle and took a small sip.  "It's one of the boys, isn't it?" 

Justin blushed.  "Can we not talk about this now? Please?  Can we please, please, not talk about this right now?  I swear I'll tell you everything before you leave.  But, man, this is just incredibly weird." 

His mother nodded and they lapsed into silence...for about five minutes. 

"You know," she began, and Justin cringed, "Lance has just blossomed this past year.  I was commenting to Diane the other day that he's become quite a handsome young man.  Very, very attractive." 

"Well, to make a weird moment weirder, yeah, Lance is looking good these days."  Justin cleared his throat.  "What makes you think we're together?" 

She smiled and looked very pleased with herself. "You've got a case of that hard lemonade that he likes." 

Justin laughed, and a bit of his drink escaped his mouth; he wiped the dribble from his chin, still laughing.  "Mom, you kill me.  I have everyone's favorites stocked.  You gotta do better than that, old woman."  He ducked when she flapped a hand at his shoulder.  "I wondered why you brought me one of these," he added, gesturing with the bottle.  

She laughed and looked down at her own drink.  "Here I thought I was being subtle." 

"Yeah, nice try, but sorry."  He scratched nervously at the label on the bottle.  "Uh, it's not Lance." 

"Hmm, you'd be cute together, the way you two look."  She scrutinized him until he turned away.  "You know."
  
"Interesting."  He took another sip. 

"Joey's sweet," she continued, "but I don't think it's him.  I mean, he could certainly be bisexual--" Justin choked a bit, "--but I don't know."  Before he could speak, his mother added, "You know, come to think of it, he and Lance are awfully close."  She blinked. "Goodness." 

Justin held his hand up, palm outward.  "I don't know, so don't ask." 

"You know, you just won't tell." 

"I don't hear you."  He cupped his hand around his ear.  "Did you say something?" 

She raised an eyebrow at him, but let it drop.  "You know," she paused. "This is nice. Having a son--" 

Justin howled.  "Oh God, please don't compare this to talking about hot guys with a daughter.  Please don't." 

Her smirk was priceless.  "Moving on." 

"Mom.  Let's not.  OK?  Please, I'm begging you.  I don't want to talk about this yet." 

"Would you be embarrassed if it were a girl?" 

He took a moment to consider.  "Possibly.  Probably. Maybe.  I don't know."  He shifted.  "As long as we're talking... I lied, you know.  I'm--" he stopped. "Fuck, this is hard.  Sorry, Mom, sorry."  He blushed hot and pink.  "I'm not a virgin." 

His mother sighed. 

"We're safe, so don't worry about that," he said quickly.  "We're safe, and we're both clean.  And he was my first.  Only, actually." 

"Thanks, baby."  She pulled him close and leaned her head on his shoulder.  "I know that was hard to say." 

"I figured you'd feel better knowing." 

"Not Lance, not Joey," she said softly.  "That leaves two to choose from." 

In the stillness of the deep woods, sound traveled, and they looked at each other when they heard a car approaching the cabin. 

"Were you expecting someone?" his mother asked. 

"Not 'til tomorrow," Justin confessed.  He didn't know whether to smile or pull his hair out.  

"Looks like someone couldn't wait to see you."  She was smiling. "I assume I'm about to meet your mystery man?"  She shook her head and said, "Now there's something I never thought I'd be saying." 

"Oh God," Justin dropped his head to his arms. He closed his eyes when he heard the sound of a key in the front door lock. 

"Dude!" 

Justin looked down at the deck, afraid to meet his mother's eyes. 

"Back here, sweetie," his mother called out.  She reached over and gave Justin's hand a squeeze.  "You're right," she whispered, "he's a sweetheart, and I love him already.  He's the one I'd have picked for you." 

"Lynn?  That your car?"  JC appeared in the doorway. "Hi!" he opened the door, smiling, and stepped out to hug her.  "Hey," he said to Justin, smiling. 

"JC, I didn't know I'd see you here," Justin's mother said, returning JC's hug.  Justin shot his mother a warning look, but she continued to smile at JC.  "I'm glad you'll be here to keep Justin company," she said, and Justin blushed.   

JC sounded pleased. "Well, I wasn't supposed to come until tomorrow, but I thought I'd surprise J--" he drifted off and he looked a little nervous, suddenly, and glanced quickly at Justin, then Lynn, then back to Justin.  "I'm going to get some wine, and unpack, maybe.  Be right back."  He shot Justin a quizzical look, then went inside. 

"My god, he is the cutest thing," Lynn said, smiling. "I've always had a soft spot for him." 

"I can't believe how cool you are with this," Justin said, eyeing the door. 

"Justin, honey, like I said, I've seen a lot of things since you've been in the business."  She shrugged.  "I don't know; maybe deep down I always knew you were, 'special' but it never came up.  You're my son, sweetie, and I love you.  I love all the guys, you know that, and I adore JC, I aways have.  So yeah, you're gay and you're with someone that I'm already crazy about."  She gave him a mischievous look and leaned close to whisper, "By the way, your boyfriend's really hot." 

Justin closed his eyes and groaned, blushing profusely in embarrassment, even as he silently agreed. "You're my mother." 

"What, because I'm a mom I can't look? I still have eyes, Justin, and JC is a beautiful man." 

Justin held up his hand. "My mom's mackin' on my hot boyfriend."  He gave her a quick hug and kiss. "Things are getting freaky; gotta go." 

He found JC unpacking in the second guest bedroom. "Jace," Justin said softly, and pulled JC to him. 

JC smiled, his eyes crinkling.  "Hi."  They shared a long kiss that left them both breathless.  "Your mom," JC whispered, pulling away slightly.  "I'm sorry I came early, I just wanted to surprise you."  He kissed Justin's neck. 

"I'm glad you did," Justin said, smiling, and kissed him again.  He pressed his hips against JC's, and JC gave a little moan. 

"J, I'm not going back out there with a hard-on," JC whispered. 

Justin brushed his fingers against JC's crotch.  "Too late." 

"Your mom!" JC squeaked. 

"She knows," Justin said, brushing his fingers over JC's jeans again, seeking the warm hardness there.  "She said she's glad it's you." 

JC's eyes grew round. "When'd you tell her?" he asked.

"About two minutes ago.  I was careless with your note," Justin confessed.  "I left my pants behind, Mom found them, and the note fell out.  She knew it wasn't Brit's handwriting." 

"She's really cool with it? She's glad it's me?" His look was disbelieving but hopeful. 

"I quote: 'Oh god, he's the cutest thing.' You're working that spazz magic, babe."  Justin brushed JC's cheek with his thumb.  "She said that you're who she would've picked for me."  He loved watching JC's face unfold into that beautiful smile. 

"She said that?  Wow." 

"She adores you, babe, you knew that." 

"That's before she knew I was puttin' the moves on her baby boy. My baby boy."  He dipped his head to Justin's neck.  "We'll have to be very, very quiet tonight," he murmured, and licked under Justin's ear. 

"The virgin thing came up," Justin said, and turned his head as JC nibbled his skin gently.  "She kinda knows about how I'm not," he said.  "Oh God," he whispered when JC did a slow body roll, bringing their erections together. 

"Then she'll understand when we don't go back down right away," JC said, his fingers busy at Justin's belt. 

"Justin?"  Lynn's voice drifted up the stairs.  "I'm going to put some music on, you don't mind, do you? It'll be a little loud, so I hope that doesn't bother you." 

JC was shaking, trying to keep from laughing.  "I love your mom," he managed to gasp between giggles, as he started work on Justin's jeans. 

"Yeah, that's cool," Justin called, tugging at the hem of JC's t-shirt. 

"Because you don't have to worry about me, I'm fine," his mother said. 

"OK, we'll be down soon," Justin said, and kissed JC's jaw, nimble fingers undoing JC's belt. 

"The music will be loud," Lynn repeated. 

"We get it, Mom, thanks," Justin said.  JC had collapsed against Justin, laughing hard, with his mouth pressed against Justin's shoulder to muffle the sound.  "I'm sure this will be very weird when we come down for dinner, but thanks." 

"Sure, baby," his mother answered, and a moment later one of their own CD's began to play.  As "The Two of Us" played in the background, JC gave up trying to be quiet and fell on the bed, rolling from side to side with laughter. 

"Your mom kills me!" he laughed, and squealed when Justin dropped on top of him.  They looked at each other, and Justin kissed JC's forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. 

"In a room full of people, you're the only one around," Justin murmured in JC's ear. 

JC gave Justin another beautiful smile, and sang in response, "It's just the two of us."