To Forgive is to Forget
Story by Diane

Justin's POV

It was about a week and a half after the American Music Awards and I have not heard from her since then. I've talked to J.C. and he said she's visited so I know she's still in town.

I'm going to the kitchen when I hear my cell ringing. It's a little early for Cameron to call and a little early for my manager to give me any news.

I grab my phone and look at the caller I.D. I picked it up after staring at it for a few seconds.

"Hello?"

"Hi.. Justin?"

"Hey Brit, how are you?" I said trying not to sound surprised.

"I'm fine, thanks.." She paused for a moment. "Um, are you busy right now?"

"No, why?"

"We need to talk."

I had no idea what was needed to be talked about. I thought she made it clear that she didn't want anything to do with me.

"Is everything okay?" I asked her a little worried because I sensed some hesitation in her voice.

"I hope it will be."

I lean against the kitchen counter confused. "Where do you want to meet?"

"I was thinking if I could just drive over there right now?"

"To my house?"

"If that's fine with you.."

"Yeah, it's no problem."

"Oh but wait.."

"What?"

"Is um.. Cameron there?"

"No, it's a little early."

Silence.

"We don't live together.."

"Oh, okay. I just want to talk to you in private that's all."

"Yeah, i'm here by myself. Come over whenever you're ready."

"Okay, i'll be there soon."

"K."

"Bye."

After I clicked off the phone, I continued to stare at it for a few seconds. What's this about?

About 20 minutes later, I decide to go pick up the mail I forgot to get yesterday. In it was a large envelope.

I went inside to open it. Searching in and out the whole package, I found no address or who it was from.

It was a magazine.

U.S. Weekly magazine.

My eyes widened when I saw what was on the cover.

Britney's Secret! Timberlake the real father of baby Mason?

WHAT THE HELL?

These tabloids have really gotten out of hand. They can't just say shit like this and expect to get away with it.

What will Britney think when they see this? I know how protective she is of her children and for them to be fabricating them like this..

I have to do something. I think I'll call my lawyer and make sure this doesn't hit the stands. Where the hell do they come up with this?

Out of curiosity, I turn to the page to see who they say their "source" is. But all I read was: A very, very reliable source (who has asked not to be named) has revealed this story to us.

Before I could get any further, I hear the doorbell.

I run to the door from the living room where I had forgotten to put away the magazine so it was rolled up in my hand.

"Hey, come on in." I smiled at her.

She smiled back, "Thanks." Her eyes caught my hand with the magazine so I quickly put my hands behind my back.

She didn't think anything of it. Good, I sighed a relief in my head.

She walked in nervously and I could tell by the way she avoided looking me in the eyes and her hands were held tightly together in front of her.

"Do you want anything to drink?" I ask her.

"I'm okay, thanks."

"Okay, let's sit down."

I lead her to the couch. But before I could get to the opposite couch, she cleared her throat.

"What's that?"

Shit.

"What's what?" I said trying to sneakily put the magazine behind the pillow on my side.

"That magazine you're about to put away."

"Oh this? It's nothing. So, how's the recording going?" I ask trying to change the subject.

She looked at me suspiciously. "It's going pretty well. The songs I did with J.C. are actually finalized."

"That's great, I'd love to hear it."

"Yeah," She smiled softly. I could tell her struggling with her mind about something she wanted to say.

"Brit?"

"Yeah?"

"Is there something on your mind?"

She looked at me briefly before turning her head away again.

"You have a beautiful home. I love those paintings." She said, her eyes looking around the living room.

"Thanks," I said looking around as well. "I've been really into decorating this place since I got it."

"It's lovely."

I nodded. She was still avoiding my question.

"Brit.. You came here to talk about something."

She stayed silent for a moment and I continued to watch her.

Her body was tensing up. I was still clueless as to what she needed to say.

Maybe she decided to want to be friends again.

But, why would it make her this tense?

"I.."

"You what?" I ask softly.

"Please don't hate me."

"Brit, look at me."

She shifted her eyes from the floor to mine slowly.

"I don't know what's going on, but I do know that whatever it is, I can never hate you. No matter how much I have shown it in the past, I never had once ounce of hate for you. Now, tell me what's on your mind."

She nodded her head slightly.

"There's something you should know.. I'm really sorry it's something I kept to myself.."

I sat up a little straighter waiting for her to continue.

But right before she could mumble out another word, her cell phone started to ring.

She turned abruptly to search for the phone in her purse.

When she clicked it on, she mouthed, "Sorry," and I nodded her to get the call.

"Mama? What's wrong?" I heard her say.

I was watching her. And I saw her face go from questioning to panic in a blink of a second.

"Oh my god... My baby.. I'm on my way." She frowned stricken with worry.

I stood up as quickly as she did. "Brit.. Is everything okay?" I was worried as well.

"It's Mason," She said in a soft voice filled with worry. "Mama's taking him to the hospital right now. I have to go."

"Britney, let me drive you. You're in no condition to drive."

"I'm fine," She said rushing to the door.

But I quickly out run her to the front door.

"Give me your keys."

She hesitated for a moment but knew that this was the better idea. So she rapidly grabbed the keys from her purse and handed them to me.

"Let's go," I said leading us to her car.

The whole car ride was silent.

When we got to the hospital, I asked her.

"What happen?"

"I don't know.. Mama just said he wouldn't stop crying at first. But then, his temperature rose really high after a little while. And he was still screaming his lungs out even after giving him some baby tylenol."

We got the room and direction from the nurse at the front desk.

Quickly on our feet, we reached the room level where we saw Britney's bodyguard.

"Where are they?" She said running to his direction.

"In there," the bodyguard pointed to a room on the left as we rushed our way in it.

The doctor was talking to Lynne by the time we rushed through the door.

"Where's my baby? How is he?" Britney said in panic mode.

"Miss. Spears, Mason is a healthy little trooper. He'll be fine.. We just found that he acquired an ear infection which caused the fever. But I gave him some ear drops and a little medicine to keep the fever down. And i'll be back with the prescription." He smiled reassuringly.

"Thank you doctor," Britney said finally composing her breath.

I could tell Lynne was a little surprised to see me. So I didn't wait for her to ask.

"Britney came over this morning to talk. She was at my house when you called and I thought that I should drive her over here since I knew she probably wouldn't be safe driving herself."

"Well, that was very thoughtful of you, Justin. Thank you for looking out for my daughter." Lynne smiled at me.

I smiled back softly, "Anytime."

I walked slowly to where Britney had picked picked up Mason from the baby bed.

"Hey little man," I brushed my hand softly over his head where he lay blinking and tears still evident in his big, brown eyes.

"You're so brave aren't you," Britney cooed to the infant.

Sean was asleep on the couch next to where Lynne was sitting.

I suddenly remembered that I had an important phone call to make.

"Brit, i'm just going to make a phone call. I'll be back."

She looked at me softly and nodded, "Thanks for being here, Justin."

"You don't have to thank for that. I'm more than happy to be of help."

She smiled knowingly as I smiled back and then headed to the hallway with my cellphone.

I speed dialed my manager.

We got all the details down for making sure that U.S. Weekly doesn't go through with having that issue hit the stands.

I wanted to make sure Britney didn't see this or know of this at all.. She doesn't need that added stress right now.

Even though I know we both laugh off certain things said about us in tabloids, I had a feeling this would hit a soft spot for her..

Because it did for me.

Right after I hung up with my manager, my mom rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetie. Just checking up on you."

"Mom.. You act like i'm still 15." I chuckled.

"You still are and you know it," She kidded. "You home?"

"Actually, no.. I'm at the hospital. With Brit."

"Oh my God, is everything okay?"

"Oh no it's nothing like that. Well, it was just a scare. Her baby, Mason, had this sudden high fever and her mom rushed to the hospital."

"Wait.. I don't see how you ended up there?"

"Britney came over to talk this morning. So, I drove her to the hospital when her mom called."

"Oh, I see. Is Mason okay?"

"Yeah, he's a brave little one. He just has this ear infection and I guess it was hurting him so much that he kept crying."

"Tell Britney I said hello and that not to worry.. I know exactly what she's going through."

"Oh? How so?"

"I went through the same thing with you. When you were a baby, you kept having these ear infections and it kept causing these high fevers. So I became a lot more overprotective and careful. Any sign of fever, I freaked." Lynn chuckled.

"Oh, I remember you telling me something about that. Well, i'll be sure to let her know. It might make her feel better to know that she's not the only one to go through it."

"You do that. Okay then, i'll let you go. Send my love to everyone."

"I will, mom. Love you."

"Love you too, bye."

Walking back to the room, I suddenly remembered our broken conversation from earlier today.

She was trying to say something.. And I more than anything want to know what it was.

But now's not the right time to bring it up.

Walking back into the room, I smile around at everyone.

"Hey," Britney said looking up.

"Hey," I walked over to her. "How's the little one?"

"He's doing fine now," She looked down at the infant in her arms. "The doctor gave me the prescription, so we're going to go. I'll take you home."

"Okay," I said remembering driving her car here.

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