by Jaycela

JC ran into the living room of the Harless home, his eyes wide, shaking a manila envelope. "Babyface wants us to record a song!" he exclaimed, bouncing from one foot to the other.

"We've recorded a lot of songs, C," Joey replied, propping his feet up on a coffee table. "What are you talking about?"

JC rolled his eyes while everyone else chuckled. "Babyface wants us to record a song he wrote for a movie soundtrack," he told them, waiting for the excited reactions he knew had to be coming.

"Cool. When do we record?"

"Is there a demo to listen to?"

"Are we flying to L.A. or is he coming here?"

Joey had to hide his smile as JC fought to refrain from stomping his foot out of frustration. They all glanced at each other before bursting into laughter, and JC finally chuckled sheepishly himself when he realized they were messing with him.

"We have to fly out to L.A. next week to record, but he sent us the lead sheets and the demo so we could break it down and arrange our vocals," JC said, effectively answering all their questions in one breath. He passed out the lead sheets and Joey sat up, skimming the lyrics while JC put the CD in the player.

Joey's eyes automatically drifted to JC as he heard the opening lines. JC had been in his life for so long that it was hard for Joey to imagine a time when he hadn't been able to turn to JC when something was going on. Even back when they were in high school and he spent his days hanging out on the MMC set, Joey trusted JC with his deepest secrets and dreams. There was just something about him.

The song continued, and Joey found himself lost in the memories. In the beginning, when they were practicing countless hours in abandoned warehouses until their bodies literally couldn't go any further, JC was the one who was always there, putting a clean towel around Joey's neck and pressing a bottle of water into his hand. The other guys had teased JC, calling him a mother hen, but Joey just smiled as he drank the water, grateful that JC cared.

Then came the record deal, and they were on cloud nine, dreaming about the sold out concerts, the fame - the fact that their hard work was finally paying off. If there was one thing Lou taught them, it was a strong work ethic. Unfortunately, it was also laced with harsh words, mainly directed at Joey and Lance, the 'uncoordinated' and 'sloppy' ones of the group.

Everyone thought Joey was going to be the one who would crack first, tell Lou to fuck off or something. It was a shock when it turned out to be JC, getting in Lou's face and telling him to leave them the hell alone, they were working their asses off and deserved to be praised for their progress, not berated because it wasn't absolutely perfect. Lou had to have been as surprised as everyone else, because he backed off immediately, making a quick exit from the dance studio.

I don't think I ever thanked him for that, Joey thought with a grimace. I'll have to do that later.

Lance's illness and subsequent hospitalization was a slap in the face by reality for all of them. Everyone was worried, but none more than Joey. They had spent many hours together, perfecting their harmonies and practicing their dance routines, sometimes hours after normal rehearsals, and even after shows. The very idea that pushing themselves so hard may have caused Lance's collapse scared the hell out of Joey, and also made him question whether their growing fame was worth everything they were going through to get there.

JC was the one who held him when he finally broke down, stroking his hair and telling him that everything was going to be alright. Joey felt like a total tool when he pulled away, pressing the heels of his palms to his eyes and praying his nose wasn't about to start running. JC had pulled his hands away, smiling his JC smile, and Joey couldn't help but smile back, before hugging JC again in thanks.

JC made him want to be a better person. That realization slammed Joey suddenly, and he looked around the room, wondering how everyone could be staring so intently at the lead sheets, humming along to the melody emanating from the speakers. Didn't they realize what Joey had just figured out?

He was in love with JC.

Joey knew that the timing couldn't be worse for this kind of epiphany. They had just discovered all the problems with the contract they signed with Lou, and they were hurt that someone they had trusted with their careers had taken such blatant advantage of their trust and inexperience in the industry. Emotions were high, and Joey didn't want to do anything that could cause any more problems right then.

JC began to sing the second verse and Joey laid his head back against the sofa cushion, his fingers tapping against his leg. He was glad the long sleeves of his shirt hid the goosebumps that raised on his arms, and he couldn't help but wonder why he had never really noticed just how clear JC's voice was before then. He turned his head to the side, just watching JC sing, and his face warmed when JC met his gaze, blue eyes looking at him curiously.

Joey felt JC's hand close over his suddenly, stopping the incessant tapping. Joey smiled sheepishly, fighting the urge to turn his hand over and curl his fingers around JC's. JC smiled back, removing his hand, and Joey immediately missed the warmth that traveled all the way up his arm at the slight contact. He clasped his hands together in his lap, looking down at his fingers to keep from staring at JC again as he finished the verse, his eyes closed tightly, concentrating solely on the music.

The five of them came together in the chorus, their voices blending perfectly, and none of them were able to hide their smiles. Moments like this reminded Joey of why they kept going, why they were going to keep going no matter what.

The bridge wasn't as easy, and they all started to laugh. "We'll have to work on that," Chris noted. Joey nodded in agreement along with everyone else, but he was again focused solely on JC, watching the way his smile faded into a determined look. Joey knew he was going over the bridge again in his head, picking out how the pieces should fit together and he mussed JC's hair affectionately, grinning when JC batted his hand away.

A few more times over the chorus and the song ended. Justin paused the CD before it could start again, turning to face the rest of them. "This song is a keeper," he said, nodding his head. "And C, you have to sing that verse, man. You nailed it."

"JC always nails it. He's just good like that." The words came out before Joey could stop them and he was eternally grateful when no one questioned it, just looked at him for a moment before continuing.

"If JC is singing the second first, Justin should take the first," Lance said.

"Or Joey could," JC replied softly, and Joey looked at him in a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Me?" he questioned, and JC nodded.

"You seemed to really be feeling this song, and I think you'd sound great singing it." JC shrugged then, and Joey chuckled.

"Nah, let Infant do it. He's our cash cow, remember?"

Justin threw a pillow at Joey and a wrestling match quickly ensued, ending only when someone's elbow accidentally collided with JC's jaw, causing him to yelp in pain.

"Okay, game's over," Joey announced, getting himself out of the dogpile and pulling JC to his feet as well. He pulled JC with him to the kitchen, eyeing the quickly forming bruise.

"Ice. Need ice," Joey muttered, opening the freezer door with one hand while rummaging through a drawer with the other. A dishcloth and three cubes made an efficient ice pack and Joey gently pressed it against JC's cheek, holding him steady when he tried to jerk away.

After a moment JC took the ice pack away from Joey, looking at him with a mixture of confusion and amusement. "What's up with you today, Joe?" he questioned. "You're acting even weirder than usual."

"Thanks a lot," Joey replied, rolling his eyes while searching for an excuse for his behavior. Any excuse. "Just wondering what's going to happen next with us, with everything, you know?"

JC nodded, groaning slightly as he worked his jaw. "We're going to stick together and make music. No matter what happens, our bond is stronger than any corrupt contract. And that's what's important."

Joey looked away, and JC touched his shoulder. "There's something else bothering you, Joey. Since when do you hide things from me?"

There was a tinge of hurt in his voice, and Joey sighed. "Since I'm afraid that what's on my mind could ruin our friendship," he answered.

"Joey, after all we've been through, if we're still friends now, we're gonna be friends for life." JC's voice was moving from concerned to worried, and Joey leaned forward, covering JC's lips with his own.

"I love you." The words came out as a whisper, but Joey felt like he shouted them through the entire house. JC stepped back slightly, and Joey waited for the angry words that he knew had to be on the tip of JC's tongue.

His heart started beating double-time when JC's face broke into a grin. "That's what you were so afraid to tell me?"

Joey nodded, before clearing his throat. "It's not every day that you realize you're in love with one of your best friends."

"But this best friend has been loving you every day for years," JC replied, closing the space between them again. "I was wondering if you'd ever notice."

Their lips met again, and Joey smiled, pulling JC into a hug. "I see it now," he said softly. "Better late than never."

"You can say that again," JC grinned, placing a kiss behind Joey's ear as they remained in the embrace.

Joey smiled. "Better late than never."

~..~

If Only Through Heaven's Eyes