The arena shook with the stopping of Backstreet fans that were chanting the bands name over and over again. Jocelynn stood in the backstage area feeling pure bile rise in her throat. Alex stood next to her, with his arm wrapped around her waist.

          “Hey, did you hear anything about who is replacing opening act?” Alex asked.

            “All I know is that they are hotter then hell!” Kara’s voice rang out from behind them.

            Alex let go of Joce when Kara hugged them both, “Hey, what the hell are you doing here?” He couldn’t help but ask as he looked her up and down, “And why are you dressed like you are about ready to perform.

            Kara glanced at Joce and smirked, then turned her attention back to Alex, “I know the band and am here to support them.” Was all she said.

          “Really? Well who are they?”

          “Oops, sorry, I see Kolas, I’m gonna say hi.” Kara then rushed past them both to where Kolas was waving.

          “Did she purposely evade that question?”

          “It’s Kara, don’t ask.”

            His voice whispered in her ear as his hand traced up her side to cup the underneath of her breast. “Good God, woman. How am I going to focus on performing on stage tonight when all I can think about is what I want to perform in bed with you dressed like that.” The hand traced back down to her waist and held tightly.

          Joce couldn’t help but smile at Alex’s discomfort, the outfit she wore tonight was a bit less then what she normally wore but it gave the feel she needed. Her auburn hair was loose, hanging down past her shoulders in waves resting above barely cover chest. She wore a black sash top that had a low neckline, the fabric tied together on her left hip showing off her large cup size, narrow waist and round hips. Hips that wore her favorite pair of boot cut jeans that hugged well enough but let her enough room to move and stretch. The only jewelry she wore was a necklace with a blackened chain that held an onyx stone that rested at the top of her cleavage. With her black leather ankle boots on, she had the whole rock star look going on with a small country flair, being her black belt that had a decent sized buckle that had the Wyoming Emblem on it.

          Gently shrugging her shouldered she answered his initial question, “Not much, other then it is going to be one hell of a surprise.” Then she added teasingly, “And keep your hands to yourself McLean.” As she pulled away slightly, crossing her arms in front of her.

          Alex’s liquid brown eyes swept from her face to her chest that was even more in view with her arms crossed on them, the sort of rose to his eyes, he thought to himself, impishly.

          Joce followed his gaze to her chest and instantly felt heat rise to her face in embarrassment. Damn Eva for dressing her so... so… well, provocative. Like she really needed Alex the hound dog to be eye humping her through out her entire set once she finally went on. Throwing her arms back to her side she let out a disgruntled noise.

          “Down boy.” Was all she could say with out getting explicit.

          Pouting, Alex tried to take a step towards her, forcing her to take one back, right into the wall, “Now what is the fun in that. Come on, I still have over a half an hour before we go on. We can go find a secluded-“

          “For Christ’s Sake, AJ, can’t you leave her alone for one God Damned minute!” Nick snapped as he walked in between them, shoving Alex out of his way and sending him to the ground.

          “What the fuck, Nick. That was fuckin’ uncalled for!” Alex quickly pulling himself to his feet, rubbing his sore bottom, “Concrete is not comfortable, ya know.”

          “Yea, Nick. And I seriously doubt that God or Christ want to be dragged into whatever little tantrum you feel like kickin’ up right now.” Joce drawled out slowly.

          But Nick wasn’t listening, he was too busy laying into Jocelynn. “You knew she was leaving and you didn’t even stop her?!” He shouted, throwing the letter he found in his hotel room when he went looking for China. All the people in the backstage area turned in their direction, “Where the fuck did she go? Why the fuck did she leave me, she only said she to go away. That was all. Where did she go? By God Joce, I swear-“

          “Enough of this. I think God will consider this a favor.”

          Joce quickly grabbed Nick by the arm dragged him after her while he still grumbled on trying to pull from her grasp, but she only tightened it making her nails dig into his skin through his shirt.

          Making their way into an empty room, Joce quickly shut the door behind them and released her grip on Nick’s arm, “What part of, you need to learn to control that damn temper of yours didn’t you understand?” She snapped at him, her eyes jade green with the anger rising within her.

          “Someone needs to fuckin’ teach you some fuckin’ manners you oversized jack-ass. You wanna know why she left you? Well you need to talk to her about that, IF you can find her. And if that happens and I find out you even act half the way you are right now I will personally see to it that you will never again be able to fuck breath without the help of machines.”

          Nick stood there, rubbing his arm where her nails had dug in. Damn that small little shit was stronger then she looked, “Oh, fuck off, Jocelynn. You damn well know you helped her leave me!” He retorted, “Now where the hell did she go?”

          “The hell if I know, Carter! But right now I am glad she did leave your dumbass! If you would fuckin’ use that head of yours once in a fuckin’ blue moon you would have realized that she was unhappy with somethin’. For cryin’ out loud, you think she didn’t want to go out and party? You think she doesn’t want to have fun with you and your cronies? But she can’t. She has a little boy who one hundred percent depends on her. She doesn’t have a damn person to help her, her family threw her out and refuses to acknowledge her and Brennen. The only people she has are me and the rest of our group back home because all of us are outcasts.

          But that is neither here or there. The point is Carter, you two need to seriously sit your asses down and fuckin’ talk. No yellin’, no accusing, nothin’. Just act like fuckin’ grown ups.”

          “Well with her fuckin’ running off I guess that’s not going to happen, huh. She nothin’ but a bitch, like you.”

          Joce had enough, she let her fist shoot out and hit Nick square in the gut, knocking the wind right out of him as he doubled over.

          “Now cool off. You have a show in 45 minutes and I still have to get ready.” She replied coldly as she headed for the door, pausing for a moment in the doorway, she looked back and Nick who was still bent over trying to catch his breathe. “Think about what I said, Carter. I love you like family, but you seriously need to grow the hell up if you want to be with China. And don’t worry, she still have some growing up to do as well. You two are more suited then you think.”

          And with that she left him in the room alone, closing the door behind her. Walking back down the hall she saw Alex heading towards her, his face showing his worry.

          “Baby,” He said as he got to her, pulling her in his arms, “Are you okay? What the hell was that all about?”

          Joce rested her head against his chest, trying to calm down, her heart still beat in her chest so strongly she figured it was going to burst. It took a lot of guts to stand up to Nick when he was mad like that, she knew she could handle him, in fact she had handle worse before but that still didn’t mean she wasn’t unshaken by it.

          Finally calmed enough to speak, she raised her head back, “China left him and tried to take it out on me.”

          “What?! China left Nick? What? When? Why?”

          “That’s what they need to figure out. I think both of them had different ideas of how their relationship was going to work. It’s one thing for it to be just the two of them, but-“

          “Adding a child is different.” Alex finished for her. “So what now?”

          Joce shrugged indifferently, “No offence to your boy or anything, because I love him too, but I hope he is smart enough to leave her alone for a while, till he stops acting like a child.”

          “Ah, so you’re waiting for hell to freeze over,” Kevin’s voice intervened as he walked up next to them. “Joce? You ready?”

          Alex looked confused from Kevin to Jocelynn as Kevin took her hand and dragged her away from him, “Hey man, what the hell. Why are you guys always taking my girl.” He called after them, but they kept going.

          Starting after them, Alex saw Kevin take Joce to the side entrance of the stage hand her a blue electric guitar.

          What the hell? He thought to himself as he saw Kara and Tara rush pass them and head on stage along with Kolas, with a bass in hand as he pulled her on stage with him. Finally making his way to the left entrance of the stage, Alex tried to go after her to find out what was going on. However the moment he made one step past Kevin, the older man stopped him and held onto his forearm tightly.

          “Hold up there, Alex.” Kevin said, “Just watch.”

          Alex looked out on stage at Jocelynn who took her place at the center microphone on the dark stage, and suddenly it registered to him. Jocelynn was performing as their opening act. He was so blow over that he didn’t notice Kevin raise a microphone and introduce her.

          “Ladies and Gentleman, on behalf of the Backstreet family, I would like to introduce you to the hottest new recording artist. Please put your hands together for JOCELYNN ________ .”

          Instantly the lights flashed on the stage as Kara started playing the intro to ‘Tabloid News’ on her electric guitar as Jocelynn’s voice followed. Alex listened inventively to the song, realizing it was her retaliation against the rumors of her and Kevin. He was dumbfounded, she was incredible as she wove her magic with the crowd, pulling them into her world. The crowd roared with approval as the song ended, but without missing a beat, Joce to lead guitar and took off right into another song. She controlled the show, fully, he could see the excitement on her face and knew she was in an element beyond normal feeling.

          But damn did she look hot doing it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

          Joce couldn’t believe the rush she was getting from performing. Song after song she didn’t lose her high. They did 2 fast songs, a med tempo, and a slow then two more party songs. She loved the way the music sounded, it was a mixture of rock and country, making everyone jump on their feet. Right before the last song, she took a moment to introduce Onyx Rayne, her band, letting each of them show off their talent for the crowd. She couldn’t stop smiling as the crowd cheered as Kolas and Kara battled between each other, only to be completely blown off by Tara’s skill on the drums.

          Finally she and Kara sat on two of the stools that were brought out on stage along with their acoustic guitars. Kolas sat next to Joce, having set his bass aside and switched to Kara’s electric. Tara switched her drum sticks since she broke one during the battle.

          Shifting one knee up higher on the stool spokes, Joce addressed the crowd, “You know I am so happy I did this in Vegas! Because there is nothing like the City of Sin and I can’t wait to come back again.” The crowd cheered loudly, “For this final song,” The crowd moaned in chorus, “Now, now, remember the reason ya’ll came here, for the Backstreet Boys. Just don’t let them know you love me more.” She teased as she readjusted the guitar on her lap.

          Kara laughed to the crowd, “That just means they have good taste. And Kolas be nice to my baby.” She warned him.

          “What you mean no doing this?” He asked as he pretended to drop it.

          Tara sat back at the drums behind them, “Now children play nice.”

          “Good Evening, LAS VEGAS! My aren’t you looking lush and appealing this evening.” Kolas called to the crowd.

            “Shut up, Kolas!” Kara said annoyingly.

          “I think God has doth spoken to me…” He ignored Kara’s demand, “and rather rudely.” The crowed laughed.

          “Any way, this last song is called, ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ originally preformed one of my favorite bands of all time, Bon Jovi. So enjoy.” Joce offered, laughing at her friend.

          Kolas started to play the opening of the song on the electric, and amazed the crowd as he took the first vocals in the song when Tara set a slow pace on the drums. Joce beamed with pride and tried her best not to laugh at Kara’s shocked expression. She nearly missed her own intro for the second half of the verse. She notice Kara noticing and picking up in the guitar blend, as Joce and Kolas sand together in the chorus making the song a slow duet. Closing her eyes, she sang with him, blending their voices together. As Kolas sang the last line, the crowd jumped up and down shaking the arena.

          “THANK YOU VEGAS, GOOD NIGHT!” She shouted out as the lights dimmed on the stage. Quickly she was rushed off the stage and was pulled into Alex’s arms.

          “You were fucking awesome, love!” He told her before he kissed her deeply in front of everyone.

          Jocelynn returned it, holding his face in her hands, still peaking in her high from performing. Finally they came up for air, “It was the most incredible fucking thing in my life!”

          “MAMA! MAMA!” Drogyn shouted as he ran up to her and threw himself into her arms the moment she pulled from Alex. “Mama you were AWESOME!” He praised her as he hugged her tightly, “Thank you for singing to me!” He added.

          Jocelynn kissed him on the nose, remembering how Drogyn bolted out on the stage after the second song. She let him stay out on stage for the 3rd song which she had written for him, called ‘Fierce Angel’. Drogyn sapped up all the attention as Joce held him on her hip during the song.

          “Anytime baby love.” She told him as she hugged him tighter.

          All the guys took turns congratulating Joce for her performance and Onyx Rayne.

          Howie slapped Kolas on the back, “How the hell did you pull this off without us knowing?”

          Kolas shrugged, “Pure dumb luck.”

          Alex looked over at Kolas as he held Joce to him with Drogyn, “Hey I didn’t know you could sing like that. You have girls throwing our panties on stage for you.”

          Kolas smiled sheepishly as he ran a hand threw his hair, catching a dark look coming from Kara, “Yeah, well it was Joce’s idea.”

          With his arms crossed over his chest, Kevin nodded, “Well I think you two were great. We should record that for the album, as a bonus track.”

          Joce looked up at him with a confused face, noticing the agitation radiating off of Kevin, “Um, yea. We could do that.”

          Brian slapped Kevin on the back, “Well come on. Let’s get below stage, we’re up next.”

          Alex kissed Joce once again on the forehead before heading out.

          “Good luck.” She offered as he followed the rest of the guys.

          Nick stopped as he walked passed her and looked at her, his face fallen, “I’m really sorry Joce, about before. I was just to mad at her letter and leaving me. I didn’t mean-“

          Adjusting Drogyn on her hip, Joce cut him off, “It’s okay Nick. Just remember what I said.”

          Nick’s face relaxed and he smiled a bit, “Thanks,” Then turned away to head after the others. Looking back over his shoulders he added, “And by the way you looked madd-ass hot out there.” Only to run off before she could kick him in the butt.

          Drogyn snuggled into her neck, “Mama?”

          “Yes, baby?”

          “Can I be a rock star like you and Alex?”

          “You can be what ever you want.”

          The little boy hugged her tightly, “Good, because I want to be a rock star just like you.”  

          Joce stood on the side of the stage and watched the guys perform in front of their thousands of fans. Much to her dismay about half way through the set, Nick halted everything to gain full attention.

          “Hold up, hold up.” He said waving his hands to cut the music off as the band started ‘Beautiful Woman’.

          Alex laughed, shaking his head, “Oh hell. She’s gonna kill you man.”

          “Yeah, well if I am gonna die it might as well be worth it.” Nick retorted.

          Howie stood in the middle of the stage next to Kevin and Brian, “You don’t think-?” He started.

          Brian nodded, “Oh yeah.” Knowing what Howie was referring to.

          Suddenly Kolas handed her a mic as he took Drogyn from her arms, nodding toward the stage, “I think you might have some snipping to do.”

          “Oh hell.” She groaned and headed on the stage as Nick started speaking again.

          “I think that we should have a little contest. You see me and Bone here..,” Nick wrapped an arm over Alex’s shoulder, who was just shaking his head.

            “Not me.” Alex interrupted.

            Continuing, Nick spoke to the arena “… were having an intellectual conversation about who could jump past the security barriers in order to surf the crowd.”

          “Intellectual conversation? Holy shit, Nick can say big boy words.” Joce said as she snuck up behind Nick. Alex upon seeing her ran for the other side of the stage.

          “Screw this, Nick. I value my life. You’re on your own.” He cried out as he hid behind Kevin.

          Joce, ignoring Alex’s antics, asked, “Nick, do you even know what that means much less how to spell intellectual or conversation for that matter?”

            Nick brushed her off, and turned to the crowd, “That doesn’t mean squat. I still say I can do it. Do you want me to try?” He asked the crowd, receiving screams of yes. “See the Backstreet Fans out vote you, Joce.”

            Joce shrugged, “By all means, please do. Just keep in mind these are Backstreet Soldiers, they are determined to cease and capture any one of you so IF you make it over, they will not pass you among the crowd, they are likely to jus swallow you whole and tear you limb from limb in order for one of them just to keep you.”

Nick laughed, “You’re right. I probably shouldn’t, but then again-” And with that Nick charged across the stage, jumping off into the crowd who caught him and began pass him around as he cheered. Alex couldn’t help but glance at Joce and gave her a shrug right before he jumped as well.

            Joce rolled her eyes as Nick and Alex was brought back onto the stage. Nick pants were falling off his hips and Alex’s shirt was ripped. Pulling them back up and re buckling the belt Nick tried to look serious as he scolded the fans.

          “Hey! Who tried to de-pants me?” He demanded, and smirked when 5 girls hands shot up, “Well ya gave me a wedgie!” He laughed as he pretended to adjust his boxers.

          Alex gripped his tank and gave a roar as he tore the top in half down the middle. Throwing it to the ground he looked down at his feet, “Hey who too my shoe?”

          No sooner did he ask then it came flying back to him. Picking it off the ground, he read the writing on it, “Well thank you… Lily.”

          Nick moved to stand next to him to read what was written on it, “Hey who’s Lily? Is that a 5 or a 7?” He asked.

          “Oh really?” Joce asked with a raised eyebrow, grabbing Nick and Alex’s attention.

          “Uh, oh.” Nick said, “We’re in trouble.” Running to her, Nick immediately fell to his knees, “Forgive us our Queen.” He started chanting as he bowed.

          Alex joined Nick on his knees but instead wrapped his arms around her legs, “We beseech thee.”

          The whole crowd erupted in laughter as Joce nearly feel over laughing, “You two are idiots.”

          Kevin grabbed a towel off to the side of the stage and ran behind Alex and Nick and started flicking it at them, “Get off, you dogs.” He laughed.

          Brian and Howie came over and held drag Nick and Alex off of Jocelynn, who promptly gained composer, “You are forgiven.” She said trying to stay in character, then walked off to backstage.

          Brian rolled his eyes with a smirk, “If dumb and dumber are done being morons, can we get back to the show?”

          The crowd answered them with a united, “Yeah!” as the music started up once again.