A Return to the Throne
SS by Chris

~Early June~

            A few weeks following their reconciliation, Britney and Justin began to work on the duet for an upcoming movie.  Justin had a sound studio built in the basement of their house, so that they didn’t have to leave Chloe all day.  She was only four and they didn’t want to hire a nanny.  So, they would work from morning to lunch and then from lunch to dinner, taking only a few breaks to check on Chloe.  Chloe wasn’t allowed downstairs, but she would pop in from time to time.  Britney and Justin couldn’t get mad at her, because she would start to pout and they would both soften instantly.  This went on for a couple of weeks, while Britney and Justin completed the song.

            “Brit, you home babe?”  Justin yelled from the front door.  “I have some wonderful news to tell you baby.  Where are you?”  “I’m upstairs,” she yelled back.  He bounced up the stairs taking three at a time.  When he reached her, he picked her up and swung her around holding onto her tightly.  “Hi there,” she said when he put her back down.  He said, “Hi,” then kissed her.  “So what’s this wonderful news that you just had to tell me,” she said.  “Well, Jive changed their mind.  My tour is back on, and I have a new choreographer.  It should start in about two months.”  Britney was less than thrilled at this news.  They had been having so much fun being around each other almost all the time and she didn’t want that to end so quickly.  “That’s great J.  I’m so proud of you,” she said hoping that he would by her answer.  “Ok, what’s wrong?”  He didn’t by it.  “Nothing, I’m just really happy.  That’s all,” she said.  “Brit, come on.  I know you better than that.  Tell me what’s the matter,” he said getting worried that something was wrong with her.  “It’s nothing really.”  Justin just sighed.  He knew that is was a losing battle so he decided to cut his loses.  “Ok.  Well when you’re ready to talk about it, I’ll be here for you,” he said kissing her forehead and then going to look for Chloe.

            “So Chloe, what did you do today,” Justin ask at dinner when there was no conversation at all.  “Pwayed,” she said and continued eating.   Justin continued to watch Britney just stare at her food and poke at it with the fork, but never really try to eat it.  “Brit, you know that food isn’t going to just vanish from your plate and appear in your stomach,” Justin said trying to lighten the mood at the table.  Britney just smiled and went back to staring at her food.  “Brit, talk to me.  Please.  I know something is bothering you.  Please, talk to me,” Justin was pleading with her to open up and talk to him, but she still refused.  “Damnit Justin, it’s nothing.  Now would you please quit asking me that,” she yelled and then got up and left him and Chloe sitting there.  “I guess I said something I shouldn’t have.  Huh, Chloes.”  She just looked at him and nodded.  “Ok, you can go play,” he said.  She wasted no time at all and was gone and upstairs.  Justin cleared the table and put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and then he went to find Britney.  She was in the studio playing on the piano, her favorite spot to go when she is sad. 

            Justin saw her, and his heart melted.  She was sitting at the piano crying.  She wasn’t even playing anything.  She was just sitting there crying.  He quietly entered the room, as to not let her know that he was there.  “Brit?”  She jumped at his voice.  “Hey, look I’m not trying to push you, but please tell me what is wrong.  Don’t tell me nothing either, because I can see that something is bothering you,” he said sitting down in front of her.  He brought her eyes to his and just stared into them.  “I don’t want you to go on tour,” she said between sobs.  “Why,” he asked softly.  She had started to stop crying, “Because, then we won’t get to be the happy family anymore.  You’ll be gone.  It will be just Chloe and me again.  I don’t think I can handle you not being here anymore.”  She started crying again.  “Hey, I’m not going anywhere for a couple of months at the earliest.  We still have plenty of time to be a happy family.  And just because I go on tour doesn’t mean that we still can’t be a happy family.  You and Chloe can come on tour with me.  I’m sure Chloe would love it again.  She always seemed to enjoy going on tour with me before,” he said trying to lift her spirits.  “Justin, you can’t take Chloe on tour with you.  She’s was very young when you were on tour last time.  She has changed.  She has friends and that.  Do you really want to take that all away from her right now,” she continued to cry.  “Hey, we’ll work on something.  I’m not leaving for a while.”  She finally stopped crying.  “There, now that’s better,” he said kissing her forehead that rested on his chest.  They just sat there for about fifteen minutes before Britney’s stomach growled.  “I guess that someone’s hungry after all,” Justin said laughing.  She slapped his shoulder.  “Come on, let’s get me a new shirt and you some dinner,” he said holding his hand out to her.  She took it and asked, “Why do you need a new shirt?”  “Because the most beautiful woman in the world has been crying on this one for the last half hour,” he said with a big smile on his face.  Britney lowered her head and stared at the floor, until he placed his hand under her chin and lifted her eyes to his.  “But I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said kissing her in the hallway.

            The next few weeks, Justin split his time between the studio working on the routine for the tour, and at home with Brit and Chloe.  Britney was starting to warm over to the idea of taking Chloe along on the tour for the first couple of weeks and then coming back home to LA.  “Good morning,” Justin said kissing his wife when she walked into the kitchen.  “Morning.  What are you still doing here?”  “Oh, we had to make some adjustments to the bus.  So I decided that I would come and take you and Chloe to see the new stuff on the bus and make sure that it was perfect for my angels,” he said pulling her close to him.  “I love you,” she said leaning up on her toes to kiss him passionately.  “Yuck,” Chloe said making her presence known.  Britney and Justin just laughed.  “Good morning squirt,” Justin said picking up Chloe.  “How’s my little girl doing this morning?”  “Hungwy,” she said with her head leaning on Justin’s shoulder.  “Hungry, huh.  Well, I think that I can fix that,” he handing Chloe over to Britney and said.  “Here you go with mommy and get ready for the breakfast of a lifetime,” he said kissing her cheek.

            Two hours later, after breakfast, they left to go and see the bus.  “Justin, it’s beautiful,” Britney, said when she stepped on board and saw all the changes that he had made it to.  He had taken everything that was special to them as a family and put it on the bus.  He had a place for Chloe to play, Britney to sit and read or work on music, and their bedroom was full of things from their bedrooms all over the country.  He took pictures and little nick-knacks that would hopefully make Britney feel more at home on the bus.  “I love it,” she said turning around and kissing him.  “Chloe, look over there,” Justin said pointing to where some of her stuffed animals and toys were.  “Yea!” she said running over there to start playing.  “There, that should keep her occupied for a little while,” Justin said with a sly grin across his face. “Justin Timberlake, what are you doing,” she said while he kissed down her neck and pulled her towards their bedroom in the back of the bus.  That night at dinner, they both explained to Chloe what was going to be going on.  She was excited, but she really didn’t know what was going on.  She just liked the fact that she was going to get to spend time with her mommy and daddy more.

            “Britney, you about ready to go?  The bus is ready to go.  We’re just waiting on you,” Justin said walking through the house to the bedroom where she was supposed to be packing.  When he walked in the room she was sitting on the bed with all her stuff packed just looking at everything that was in the room.  “You know, this stuff isn’t going anywhere,” he said putting his chin on her shoulder.  “I know, but it seems like we just got everything they way we liked it and now you’re going on tour.  And we have to change all that again.”  “Babe, there is nothing that is going to change anything between us.  We’re a family.  And whether you like it or not, you and Chloes are stuck with me,” he said kissing her neck.  “I love you Britney.  I don’t care where we are.  I will always love you.  We can be in the middle of the desert and I will love you with all my heart.”  He turned her around so that she was looking directly into his eyes.  “Now come on. We’ve got to get going.  We don’t want to be late for the first tour date, now do we.”  He moved over toward the bed, picked up her suitcase, and started towards the door, but Britney stayed in the room.  “Brit, what’s the matter?  You have never been this way before a tour.   It’s only a couple of weeks, then you’ll be right back here,” he said walking back to her.  “I know, but I don’t know if I’m ready to be on the road again.  I don’t know if that is what I want to do anymore.  I mean when I did it, I loved it, but now.  Now there are more important things to me than music,” she said continuing to look at the ground.  “Hey, no tears. Ok, Brit, I’m going to ask this question and please don’t get mad at me, but who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?” Britney just looked at him.  “Now come on.  We’ve got to get going,” he said grabbing her hand and walking out the door.

Britney didn’t put up an argument with Justin over what he said, but she didn’t say anything to say that she wasn’t upset either. They had been on the bus a couple of hours by now and Britney hadn’t said anything to anybody. She sat on the bus and watched Justin and Chloe play with her toys.  She was constantly running what he said through her head.  And to a point, he was right, but to another he was completely wrong.  She was trying to convince herself that she wouldn’t miss singing, but she had a good reason to want to not go back.  She just sat and stared out the bus window until Justin said, “Brit.  Earth calling Britney.  We’re here,” he said pointing to the hotel they were staying at.  She just nodded at him and started towards the bus, but he grabbed her arm and stopped her.  He waited until everybody else was off the bus before he started.  “Okay, tell me what’s wrong.  Please don’t tell me nothing, because you haven’t said two words to me since this morning.  I was only stating what I thought was the matter.  I’m sorry if I made you mad.  But something is troubling you.  So please, talk to me.”  She just looked at him, then turned away and said “Later.”  Then she got off the bus and went into the hotel leaving Justin on the bus wondering what he did wrong.

“I don’t know Jayce.  That’s what I’m saying.  She won’t talk to me.  She just told me later and then she left.  She hasn’t said more than three words to me all day long and I don’t know what’s wrong,” Justin said talking to JC over the phone.  He knew that she would open up to JC if anything was really wrong with her.  “I don’t know, Justin.   She hasn’t talked to me in almost two months.  It was right after you guys started your family only routine,” JC said sounding kind of hurt that she hadn’t called him.  “Look, Jayce I don’t think she meant anything by it.  You know that we love you like a brother.  You’re a part of our family.  Don’t ever tell yourself that you’re not,” Justin said trying to relieve some of Jayce pain of being shut out.  “Hey, I know that.  And you know that I’ll do just about anything to help you and Brit.”  “Thanks Jayce.  I really appreciate that.”  “Anytime, you know that.”  With that, the two brothers hung up.  But JC didn’t know what he was in for.

“Hello,” Britney said answering the phone that wouldn’t stop ringing.  “Well, you do know how to answer the phone,” JC said.  “Oh hi, I thought it was somebody else,” she said back.  “Now that somebody wouldn’t be anybody that I know would it?” JC inquired.  “Well, yeah, you might know him.  He just won’t leave well enough alone though, and I don’t want to talk to him right now,” Britney said getting angry just thinking about him.  They hadn’t talked in nearly a day and she was still mad at him.  “Brit, do you want to tell me what this is all about over the phone, or am I going to have to fly out there and make you tell me in person,” JC said.  “I can’t Jayce.  I just can’t,” she said starting to cry.  “Why not.  Brit, I don’t care what it is you can tell me.”  “I don’t want you to hate me.”  “Brit, I would never hate you.  I love you like a little sister.  I would never hate you for anything you told me.  Now talk to me Britters.  What is the matter between you and Justin?”  “Jayce, you know I love him right?” she said starting off.  “Yeah, what happened Brit?”  “Nothing and everything.  I can’t stand to look at him right now Jayce.  How horrible is that?  I can’t even stand to look at my own husband.  What kind of horrible person am I?”  “Britney, what are you talking about.  You’re the most beautiful, caring person that I know.  You’re far from being a horrible person.  What makes you think that you’re this horrible person?”  JC got nothing but the sobs of Britney crying in the background.  “Britney?”  He tried again.  “Come on Brit, talk to me.  I’m not going to say anything to make you think that you’re this horrible person.”  “I’m jealous Jayce,” Britney finally answered.  JC was shocked to hear that.  “What do you mean you’re jealous?  Jealous of what?”  “He gets to do what he loves to do.  I don’t.  I get to watch him and that’s all.  I know that he said that I could go back anytime he wants, but I can’t do that to Chloe.  She already doesn’t see Justin enough and it would take too much of my time with her.  I can’t do that, but he wants me to be with him while he does what I love to do, and I can’t do it.  That makes me such a horrible person.  I’m jealous of my own husband,” Britney was no crying uncontrollably.  “Brit, if you feel that way.  Tell Justin, I’m sure that he would understand.”  “NO, he isn’t to know.  I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have said anything,” Britney quickly backtracked what she said and hung up.  JC didn’t know what to do.  His friend needed to know, but should he break the trust of another friend to do so.

“Hello,” Justin said answering his cell phone.  “Hey, J. You got a minute to talk,” JC said.  “Sure, what’s up.”  “It’s about Britney.  I talked to her.  So can you go somewhere private.”  “Yeah, give a couple of minutes and I’ll call you back,” Justin said hanging up the phone.  “Johnny, I’ll be back later.  I’ve got some issues to deal with right now,” he said finding Johnny in the arena and then heading back towards the bus.  He figured that this would be the quietest place in the area, but it wasn’t.  The only sound coming from the bus was Britney crying.  “Baby, what’s wrong,” he said when he found her.  She immediately wiped away the tears and started to walk off the bus, but he grabbed her arm and sat her down on the couch.  “Baby, please tell me what’s wrong.  You haven’t been happy since we left.   You haven’t said hardly three sentences to me since we left, you don’t play with Chloe anymore, you just sit on the bus.  Why?”  Justin was pleading for her to talk to him, but all she could do was start crying again.  “Come here,” Justin, said pulling her into his chest and letting her cry.  “Let’s go. I’m sending you home.”  She started to object, but he said, “No, Brit, no arguments.  You’re not happy here, and I only want you to be happy.  If that means that, you have to go home, then so be it.  I love you and I can’t stand to watch you be unhappy,” he said pulling her suitcase out of the bus and then kissing her.  “Look, I really need to call JC back.  He called me and said I needed to talk to him about something, but then I got side tracked by the most beautiful woman in the world.  And she needed me more.  So, I’m gonna call him back.  You pack your stuff cause you and Chloe are going home,” he said kissing her on the lips then walking back into the arena.

“Justin, you have sound check in ten minutes.  We’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been,” Johnny said running towards him.  “Brit needed me.  I was with her.  I’m going to get ready now,” Justin, said knowing that it was postponing his call to JC even later.

“Brit, you ready to go babe,” Justin said walking back on the bus. It was around 3 in the afternoon.  The concert wasn’t until 7, which means that Justin wouldn’t go on until at least 8:30 or 9.  “I don’t want to leave before your concert,” she said trying to stall.  “Okay, you can leave right after,” he said grabbing her in a hug and kissing her.  “I’m sure squirt over there won’t mind to much either.  She likes watching daddy perform,” he said walking to Chloe.  “Don’t ya squirt?” She just nodded.  She was too busy watching TV to notice anything that was going on around her.

It was around 6 before Justin finally had some time alone to call JC back.  “Hey man you said only a couple of minutes.  Not hours,” JC said.  “I know man.  I’m sorry about that, but I went to call you from the bus and Brit was in there crying.  She still won’t tell me what’s wrong.  Then I had sound check and you know how it goes.  This is the first free minute that I’ve had.  So, what’s up with Brit?  Did you talk to her?”  Justin asked.  “Yeah, she seems to think that she is this horrible person, because she is jealous of her husband,” JC said and then he waited for a response from Justin.   Only Justin didn’t answer back.  He was shocked to hear the Britney was jealous of him.  “Why?” was all he could muster.  “She said that you get to perform, but she can’t because she has to watch Chloe” Justin interrupted.  “She knows that I would watch Chloe if it meant that she would go back to music.  I can see she misses it Jayce, but she won’t go back.  I’ve tried.  It took everything I had to get her to sing the duet with me.”  Justin was very confused as to why Britney would be jealous of something that he has tried to give her.  “J, you’re not looking at it from her side.  You’re never around for Chloe.  You’re always recording at the studio or you’re at the dance studio, on tour for another example.  You’re never home.  She doesn’t want to do that to Chloe.  And sacrificing her music is the price that she is paying to be mom.  That is why she is jealous.  You can still be dad and have you’re music.  She can’t do that to Chloe.  She won’t do that to Chloe.”  Justin sat at took in what JC said for a couple of minutes.  “Justin, you okay,” JC finally asked after a couple of minutes of silence.  “More than you know.  Jayce thank you so much.  I owe you big time for this, but I gotta go,” Justin said hanging up the phone.  He finally realized what was bothering her and he had an idea on how to fix it.

After the show was over, Justin made sure that the stage was set up for his little surprise for Britney.  There was nobody left in the arena, but the stage crew waiting to take the stage down and him and his family.  That is the way he wanted it.  “Brit, you awake baby,” he said getting on the bus.  “Yeah, we’re back here,” she said.  “Hi baby,” he said when he walked in.  “Hi yourself,” she said when he walked in the bedroom. “Oh I was talking to Chloe,” he said which made her pout.  “I wanted to do this to you instead,” he said walking over and kissing her passionately.  “I love you,” he said after he pulled away.  “Chloes come on, you’re riding with Uncle Johnny tonight.  Your mom and I have some things to talk about,” he said picking up Chloe and walking her over to Johnny’s bus.  “Come on squirt.  We’ll have loads of fun tonight,” Johnny said taking Chloe when Justin showed up.  He knew what Justin had planned for Britney tonight.  Then Justin returned to the bus.

“Put your robe on, we’re going back inside for a minute I forgot something, and I want my beautiful wife to be with me,” Justin said handing her robe to her.  “Justin Timberlake, what are you doing,” she said as she placed her robe on and followed him off the bus and back into the arena.  “It’s a surprise,” he said picking her up and carrying her into the arena.  He walked her to the stage and put her down.  “Here is your surprise.”  Then he flipped a switch on turning on the lights to the stage.  The only thing there was piano and her dancing shoes.  She just looked at the stage and didn’t move.  “Look, I talked to JC.”  She turned and looked at him.  “He told me everything.  Baby, I don’t want you to give up your dream.  I know how much you love to make music.  I know how much you love to perform on that stage and how much you miss it.  I can see it in your eyes.  Tonight…tonight baby the stage is yours and yours alone,” he said kissing her and then taking her up on the stage.  She sat down at the piano and finally she felt at home.

The next day, when Britney got up.  She didn’t feel like she had the past mornings.  She finally felt alive again.  She also woke up to a box lying beside her rather than her husband.  She opened the box to find a notebook and letter from Justin.

To my gorgeous wife,

            Good morning, baby.  I know that it’s not a comfortable as I, but I had an early morning.  I had to get somebody from Johnny’s.  She missed you last night.  Anyway, this notebook is for you.  And I know that you’re wondering why in the hell would he get me a notebook.  But this notebook is for you to write your songs in.  This notebook is to be your outlet for all the feelings that you have had over the past few years that you haven’t been recording.  This is to be the fifth Britney Spears album.  Yes, I said it.  I love you Britney Spears Timberlake. 

Love,

J

She picked up the notebook and immediately started writing. 

            “Thank you so much,” she said when she found Justin playing with Chloe in his dressing room before his next concert.  She hugged him tightly when he got up off the floor from playing.  “I love you and only want you to be happy,” he said.  Then he kissed her and Chloe right on cue, said “YUCK!”  “Aw, come here sweetie,” Britney said with her arms open for Chloe to run to.  “I missed you last night,” she said.  “I missed you too mommy,” Chloe said with her head on Brit’s shoulder.  Justin just stood and watched his wife and daughter with pride.  “My girls.  What would I do without my girls,” he said embracing both of them.  “What would we do without daddy,” Britney said to Chloe and she just shook her head no.  They all laughed.

            Britney and Chloe finished the two weeks that they were going to stay with Justin on tour.  Chloe wanted to stay with daddy, but Britney knew that if she could just get her home that she would calm down.  So, they left, and went back to LA.  When Britney got back, she made some minor changes to the house.  She moved the piano from the studio in the basement to the nook that overlooked the LA skyline.  She had been writing lyrics in her notebook, but now she had to put some music to them. One day while she was sitting at the piano playing, Chloe came up and watched her.  “Hey squirt, what are you doing?” Brit said when she noticed Chloe underneath her just watching her play.  “Come here,” she said patting the bench next to her.  She picked her up, put her next to her on the bench, and just kept playing.  She continued playing until she felt Chloe sleeping on her arm next to her.  She laughed quietly at the sight and stopped playing.  “Come on sweetie, let’s put you to bed,” she said picking up Chloe and taking her to her room.

            “Hewwo.” Chloe said answering the phone.  “Hey, sweetie.  I miss you,” Justin said.  “I miss you too daddy.”  “Where is your mom?”  “She’s pwaying the pano.  I get her,” Chloe said dropping the phone.  ‘You don’t have to drop the phone Chloe’ Justin thought to himself when her heard the phone hit the floor.  “Hello,” Britney said picking up the phone.  “Hi baby.  I miss you,” Justin said.  “I miss you too.  You’ll be home in a couple of weeks though.  You’re almost done,” she said trying to motivate him.  She could tell that he wasn’t himself just by his voice.  “I know, but I miss you both so much.”  The strain in his voice was evident.  “I know baby, but you only have a little bit more, then you’ll be home for a while.  You can do it, Justin.  I know you can.  I do have something important to tell you though,” she said trying to get his attention elsewhere.  “What’s that?”  “I’m supposed to go to the studio in a couple of weeks to start recording my new album.”  There was a pause on the other end of the phone.  “J, I thought you would be happy that I’m going back to the studio,” Britney said concerned when he didn’t answer.  “I am so proud of you,” he said.  She could tell that he was crying by his voice.  “I just wish I could be there to celebrate with you,” he said.  “Well, I’ve got to get ready for sound check.  So, I’ll call you later.  I love you baby,” he said.  “I love you too.”

            A week later, Britney was at home playing the piano, as she had been doing a lot lately, when the phone rang.  ‘Damn, I was in a groove’ she thought as she got up to answer the phone.  “Hello,” she said.  “Mrs. Timberlake, this is Nancy Peters.  I’m in charge of the children’s group that Chloe is in.”  “Is there a problem?  Is Chloe okay?”  Britney’s mind started running three hundred miles an hour about why she would be calling.  “Yes, Chloe is okay, but she has been causing a great deal of trouble over the past few weeks.”  “What kind of trouble?”  “Well, she has been pushing some of the other girls down and pulling their hair.  She doesn’t do as she is asked.  She is really being mean to the other kids.  We have tried to get her to stop, but she hasn’t.  So now, we’re asking that she not come back.  It is in the best interest of the other children if she is not here anymore.”  “Yes, I understand.  Where is she now?”  Britney asked.  “She is sitting in timeout right now.  She pushed another girl into the mud.  You can come get her now if you want or she can stay until the end of the day.”  “No that’s okay.  I’ll come get her now,” Britney said then hung up.  All the way to the center, she couldn’t believe that Chloe was causing so many problems.  She didn’t know what got into her.  She didn’t act like that at home.  Then again, Britney hadn’t been paying to much attention to Chloe since they got back from Justin’s tour.  When Britney arrived, Chloe was sitting in the corner coloring in her coloring book.  She walked up to her and just stood there watching her until Chloe looked up.  “Mommy,” she said and she stood up and ran to her, but Britney just stood there.  She didn’t lean down to pick her up or anything.  She just stood there and gave her a stern look. “Un oh…I in twoube,” Chloe said when Britney just stood there looking at her.  “Yeah, missy.  You’re in big trouble,” Britney said picking up her bag.  “Now, get you’re coloring book and let’s go.”  Chloe did as she was told, but she did it crying the whole time.  Britney put Chloe in the car, and then she went back in to apologize to Mrs. Peters.

            “I’m really sorry about her.  I don’t know what has gotten into her.  She doesn’t act like this at home,” Britney said as she started to write the check for their services.  “She might just want some attention.  I know that it is none of my business, but she is getting some attention at home,” Mrs. Peters asked.  Britney stopped writing.  “Never mind, it’s none of my business,” she said quickly noticing that she had struck a cord with Britney.  “No, you’re right.  It never even occurred to me.  Justin’s on tour right now and I’m always working on music.  Granted I’m at home all the time, but I’m not doing anything with her.  Thank you so much,” she said as she finished the check and left to go to Chloe.  “Okay, young lady.  You’re in big trouble,” she said when she got into the car, but Chloe was asleep in the back seat.  She lost all of the anger she had when she saw Chloe laying in the back seat all curled up in a ball with the tears still on her face.  “Aw, baby.  I’m sorry,” she said and then drove them home.

            The next couple of days Britney didn’t work on her music at all.  She spent most of the day with Chloe.  They went out to the movies and shopping.  They did a lot of mother daughter stuff and they had a lot of fun doing it.  “Hello,” Britney said answering the phone.  “Hi baby.  I miss you so much.  How’s my little girl doing?” Justin asked.  “Well, she is sleeping right now, but I have some things to talk to you about when you get home.  You’re little girl got herself kicked out of the children’s group,” Britney said.  They hadn’t gotten to talk to one another since Chloe’s little episode.  “What happened?  I thought she was enjoying the group.”  “I guess that she started causing trouble.  So the ask me not to bring her back. I had to go and get her a couple of days ago.  I didn’t want to bother you with this so that is why I didn’t call you to tell you.  You only have a couple more days and then you’re home.”  “I know.  They’re calling for me again.  I love you so much Britney Jean.  Tell Chloe I love her too and give her a kiss for me.”  They hung up.  Britney missed him so much, but she would never tell him how much because she knew that he would come home instantly for her.  So, she stayed strong for him.

            “Britney,” Justin yelled from the foyer of their house.   “Daddy,” Chloe yelled back when she heard Justin.  “Hi squirt.  I missed you so much,” he said picking her up and swinging her around.  She just laughed at him.  “I missed you too daddy,” she replied.  “Hey, I got you something,” he said setting her down and digging into the bag that was behind him.  He pulled out a stuffed elephant and handed it to her.  “Ewefent,” she said when Justin handed it to her.  “Yep, that is an elephant.”  “Do I get a present,” Britney said letting it be known that she was in the room.  “Hi,” he said pulling her close enough to him to hug and kiss her.  “Yuck,” Chloe said and she left the room.  They both just laughed at their daughter.  “So…do I have a present,” she said again.  “Let me see here.  I think I got you something.  I’m not sure though.  I might have forgotten it amongst everything else that was going on yesterday.  Oh yep, I did,” he said turning around with nothing in his hands.  “Well, let me have it,” she said impatiently.  “Oh and I’m the one who is always impatient,” he teased her.  She pouted and he gave in.  “Oh all right, I guess if you’re going to pout I can give it to you.”  He turned around and pulled an oblong black box out of the bag.  The word ‘Tiffany’s’ was written on the front.  Britney opened the box to reveal a 24 K Platinum bracelet lying in the box.  “Oh Justin, it’s so beautiful,” she said trying to keep from crying.  “Not as half as beautiful as you,” he said watching her face and pulling her close to him.   She leaned up and kissed him.  “I missed you so much,” he said pulling away.  “I missed you too,” she said still holding on to him.  They felt so complete together.  “Daddy come lookie,” Chloe yelled from the living room.  Justin let go of Britney, but she kept hold of his hand and they walked to Chloe together.  “What is it Chloes?” Justin asked and then he saw something that brought a tear to his eye.  Chloe had finger-painted a picture for Justin.  It wasn’t much, but it was just what Justin needed.  “It’s beautiful Chloe.  Is it for me?” She shook her head yes and gave him the picture.  “I know just where to put this,” he said walking into the kitchen, where he placed the picture on the refrigerator with a magnet.  “There, that is perfect,” he said picking up Chloe.  “You guys hungry.” Britney asked.  “Yeah, I am.  What about you princess?”  “I hungwy too,” she said leaning her head against Justin’s chest.  “Ok, what do we want to eat,” Britney asked.  “Food,” Justin and Chloe said in unison.  Britney just looked at them and said “Oh very funny, what do you really want?”  Chloe and Justin just laughed.  “What ever you want to cook sweetheart,” he said walking over and kissing her. “Yuck,” Chloe said from over Justin’s shoulder.  They laughed and Justin took Chloe into the family room to play while Britney cooked dinner.  They spent the rest of the night together as a family.

            Over the next month, Britney started going to the studio to record the music that she had written.  She spent most of the day there and really didn’t have much time for Chloe and Justin.  Chloe would be asleep by the time she got home, and Justin would be getting ready for bed.  Justin and Chloe had fun while Britney was at work, but it was hard for Justin to explain to Chloe that Mommy would be coming back in the early stages when Britney would leave for a work and would be gone all day.  Chloe didn’t really understand what Mommy was doing and there were a few days where she cried all day long.  But as time went on, she got used to mommy not being there, but daddy was instead.  Justin had taken time off and was spending all his time with Chloe.  He felt it was his turn to play Mr. Mom, because Britney had done it for so long.  It was her time to do what she loved.

            **Early January**

            “Justin, are you home baby,” Britney yelled as she walked in the house.  “We’re outside sweetheart,” he yelled back.  “Hi baby,” he said pulling her onto his lap.  “I have some great news.  I’m done.  We finished the album today.  I’m finished with it and I love it.  It is my best work yet, I think.”  “That is great baby.  When do I get to hear it?”  “Well, there is a copy for you on the table,” she said laying her head on his shoulder.   “Thank you,” he said and he just watched her.  He watched her for a couple of minutes.  She had closed her eyes and was just relaxing for the first time in at least six weeks.  She had been so busy with recording the album that she hadn’t the time for her family.  Now she got to be with them and she wasn’t going anywhere.  “I love you,” Justin said breaking the silence between them.  “I love you too.  Where is Chloe?” she replied.  “She is playing on the swing set in the yard,” he said back and she started to get up.  “Hey, if I would have known that you were going to get up, I wouldn’t have told you,” he said with a smile.  “I’ll be back later.  I want to see my baby girl too,” she said walking away.

            Later that evening, Justin listened to the CD and loved it.  Not that he wouldn’t, but it really made him feel good.   Britney had poured her heart and soul into the album, it showed, and he was so proud.  “Baby, I love your album.  It is so good,” he said walking into their bedroom that night.  “You’re not just saying that are you, because if you don’t like it I can redo it.  You’re the…”  “Whoa, I said that I loved it didn’t I.  Baby that is some of the best stuff that I have ever heard.  You did a wonderful job and I love it.  I really do.  I’m not just saying that.  I love you,” he said kissing her forehead.  “Okay, well the first single is supposed to come out in the next couple of weeks,” she said moving her head up so that she could kiss his lips.

            The next day, Britney went for the last time to the studio to review the album one more time and make sure it was the way she wanted it before they sent it to Jive for their approval.  When she got home, there was a letter in the mail.  The letterhead said it was from the Grammy Academy. 

            Dear, Justin and Britney Timberlake

            We are honored to inform you that your duet has been nominated for song of the year.  Congratulations. 

            Britney didn’t even bother to finish reading the letter.  She just started jumping up and down and screaming.  “What is the matter with you,” Justin asked as he walked in the living room and saw his wife bouncing up and down like a teenager.  “Read,” she said handing him the letter.  He read the letter and then grabbed his wife and kissed her.  “We did it baby,” he said pulling back from her.  They spent the rest of the evening celebrating with each other.  They had Joey come and get Chloe and they spent the evening together, just the two of them.

            The Grammies came and went without a hitch.  While they didn’t win the award, they weren’t upset about not winning.  Britney’s first single had come out and taken off.  It was number one on the Billboard charts within two weeks of it being released.  Her album was highly anticipated and was expected to do really well.  Britney and Justin were both on cloud nine.  Britney couldn’t believe all the success that she was having after not having recorded anything for almost five years, and Justin couldn’t have been any prouder of his wife than he was then.  Britney was also supposed to start touring after the album had been released.  They expected her to begin touring around the beginning of the summer, so they were beginning to set up for that.

            “Justin you home, I need to talk to you,” Britney said coming in the house after her meeting with Jive.  “Baby, where are you I really need to talk to you,” she said again.  She walked throughout the house looking for him and found him in his office on the phone.  “Yeah mom everything is going fine.  Britney is getting ready to begin practicing for her upcoming tour and she should be leaving for New York in a couple of days to promote.”  Lynn started asking questions and Justin continued to answer them not knowing that Britney was standing behind his desk.  “No, Chloe is staying here,” Justin, said.  “Well have you told Britney yet?” Lynn asked.  “I haven’t told Brit yet, but I’m going too.  How do I tell her mama?”  Lynn continued to talk, but Justin was listening to something else that had caught his attention, Britney storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her.  “Mama, I’m sorry, but Brit overheard me talking about not letting Chloe go to New York and she is mad, so I’m gonna let you go,” he said and hung up the phone before she even had time to answer.  “Britney, come here.  Let me explain please,” Justin said chasing after her.  He caught her just as she was about to get in her car.  “Brit, wait please let me explain.”  She stopped the car, but left it running.  “Please come inside so that I can talk to you in private,” he said motioning to the street that was only a couple of yards away.  She turned the car off and walked back inside, but didn’t put anything away.  “Okay, here are the reasons why I don’t want Chloe going to New York.  One, she is just getting over the flu she had, and she doesn’t really need to be traveling.  Second, you’re only going to be gone a couple of days.  Third, I can’t go.”  This made Britney cringe. “What I thought you were going too,” she said very hurt.  “I was until Johnny said that he needed me to come in and produce this song for some new artist that he is working on,” he said knowing that she would be hurt even more, because he was putting work before her.  “I know I promised that I wouldn’t put work before you anymore, but baby, this is not my doing.  I swear, I don’t want to do it, but Johnny wants me to do it really bad and you know how he gets if he doesn’t get what he wants.” She nodded.  She understood how Johnny got and why Justin couldn’t go with her.  “Anyway, back to Chloe.  With me not being there that means that there is nobody to watch her during the day.”  She interrupted, “Well, it isn’t going to be any better here, with you in the studio all day long,” she said sharply.  “The recording is going to be here.  We’re doing it in the basement.  That is the only way that I told Johnny I would do it.  So I’ll be here with Chloe all day if she needs me.”  She was breaking down and understood that it would be better for Chloe to stay with Justin in LA while she went to New York.  She didn’t like it but it was for the better.  “Okay, since we’re getting the all bad news for the day out in the air, I guess I should tell you something that I know you’re not going to like,” she said and watched Justin expression change.  “Please don’t get mad at me.  There wasn’t anything I could do about it, okay.”  He nodded in approval.  “Okay, well the choreographer for my tour is Wade.”  She no more than got his name out of her mouth and Justin snapped.  “No way in hell is he working with you.  I won’t have it.  No, I refuse to allow my wife to work with that piece of shit,” Justin yelled.  “Justin, you said you wouldn’t get mad,” she said trying to calm him down.  “No, I said I wouldn’t get mad at you.  I’m not mad at you.  I can’t believe they had the balls to put him as your choreographer.  Well, we’ll just see about that,” he yelled back, stormed off to his study, and slammed the door.  Britney sat down in the chair behind her and cried. 

            About an hour later, Justin emerged from his study much calmer than when he had entered.  Britney was still on the chair, but she had quit crying, but her face told the story.  “Baby, I’m sorry,” he said walking over to her.  “I shouldn’t have yelled at you.  I’m not mad at you.  This wasn’t your fault,” he said pulling her to him.  “I’m sorry,” he kept saying.  They spent the next few minutes wrapped in each other.  It wasn’t until Chloe came down and wanted dinner, did they finally part.

            The next day, Justin left before Britney.  He said that he needed to talk to someone, before he started producing the album and she left for New York.  Justin was going to talk to someone, but he wasn’t sure if it was only going to be talking that happened.

            Justin walked into the dance studio ignoring the fact that there had been dance rehearsals going on.  “Wade, can I talk to you a minute,” he said walking past the on looking dancers.  “Well, I’m kinda busy right now.  Make an appointment,” Wade said turning back to the dancers.  “Fine, I’ll tell you right here.  You harm her in any way shape or form and I’ll make sure that you’ll wish you had never been born.  You think what I did to you before was bad, I’m make it ten times worse.  You got me.  You leave her alone.  Teach her the dance and stay the fuck away from her.  Got me,” Justin yelled at his face and then he walked out.  Justin had made his point though.  Wade remembered the last time he pissed off Justin.  It cost him working on the best tour of the summer, Justin’s.  He wasn’t going to lose Britney’s comeback tour because he didn’t like Justin. 

            Justin got back, just before Britney was ready to leave.  “Hey, baby.  I didn’t want to miss you before you left,” Justin said as Britney was putting her suitcase in front of the door.  “Baby, I don’t leave for another couple of hours,” she said moving her eyebrows up and down.  “Where is Chloe?” he asked after attacking her neck with kisses.  “She over at Joey’s for the rest of the afternoon.  I wasn’t sure that you would be back before I needed to head to the airport, so I called Joey. He said that he’d bring her back sometime this afternoon,” she said pulling at Justin’s shirt.  They spent the time remaining before she had to leave to go to the airport in the bedroom.

            The summer went very fast.  Britney’s album shot to number one on the second week out.  It was quickly platinum and continued to be a best seller throughout the summer.  Justin meanwhile, worked as a producer for most of the summer.  He worked with up and coming artists while Britney worked rehearsed for her tour.  When the tour started, Justin and Chloe went out for a couple of weeks, but soon enough it was time for Chloe to start school.  Britney took a week off from the tour to be with Chloe to get her ready for her first day of school.  Justin and Britney took Chloe to school for the first time and it brought both of them to tears to watch their baby girl walk into school for the first time.  Britney resumed her tour following week, while Justin stayed home with Chloe.

** Early September**

            “Hello,” Justin said picking up the phone.  “Hi baby.  I have some great news.  MTV called, they want me to perform on the VMA’s baby.  The VMA’s!” She was so excited.  It had been so long since she performed on the VMA stage.  “That is great baby.  I’m so proud of you,” he said.  “I’m sorry, baby, but they’re calling me for sound check.  But I couldn’t wait to tell you.  I love you.  Give Chloe a hug and a kiss for me,” she said before hanging up.  Justin called his mom and asked her to come and stay with Chloe for the week of the VMA’s while he flew to New York to be with Britney.

            “Now you be good for grandma okay,” he said talking to Chloe before he left.  “I wanna go,” she said crying.  He picked her up and said, “I know squirt, but you can’t miss a week of school.  You need to get your education.  I’ll be home soon and I’ll come back with mommy,” he said trying to get Chloe to quit crying.  “Mama, I miss mama,” she said starting to cry harder.  “Oh Chloe, I know you do.”  He couldn’t think of anything to say to her, so he just held her as she cried herself to sleep.  After she fell asleep, he called the school and left a message for her teacher.  “Hello, this is Justin Timberlake.  I’m calling regarding my daughter Chloe Timberlake.  She won’t be coming to school for the next week.  We’re going to New York.  I was wondering if I could get any homework that, she might have.  Thanks.”  After he got off the phone with the school, he called his mother and informed her that she didn’t have to come out.  That he was going to take Chloe to New York with him. The next day, Chloe and Justin were on the plane to New York, for the VMA’s

            “Okay, now you have to be good,” he said to Chloe, as they were about to get off the plane.  She nodded and grabbed his hand.  They walked off the plane and were immediately surrounded by Justin’s bodyguards and escorted to their limo.  An hour later, they were at the hotel where Britney was.

              Justin opened the door and around looking for Britney, but she wasn’t there.  “That’s right, she is most likely rehearsing.  Since he knew that Britney would be back later, he got himself and Chloe unpacked and started to play with Chloe.  Two hours later Britney got back.  She opened the door, and Chloe saw her first.  “Mama,” she yelled.  She bounced up off the floor where she was playing with Justin and ran over to her mom.  “Hi kiddo.  I didn’t know you were coming too,” she said picking her up and hugging her tightly.   “I missed you mama,” she said holding onto Britney tightly too.  “I missed you too squirt.  How has school been going?”  “Fine,” she said.  “What have you been doing in school?” Britney said trying to get her to talk about school.  “We leawnd maf and spwllin and plawing lots,” she said.  “I made you a pictuwe,” she said wiggling down.  “You did.”  Chloe went into Britney’s bedroom and came back with the picture.  “Hewe,” she said handing the picture to Britney.  “Aww, thank you baby,” Britney said looking at the picture.  “Hi sweetheart,” Justin said wrapping his arms around her and kissing the back of her neck.  “Hi yourself,” she said turning around to face him.  “I missed you,” he said kissing her on the lips this time.  “I missed you too,” she said returning the kiss.  Chloe walked back into the room in the middle of their kiss and said, “Yuck!”  Britney and Justin just laughed and then they both tackled Chloe and started tickling her.

            “So how is your performance going?” Justin asked at dinner.  “Well, the finish is done, but the beginning I need some help on,” she said looking up from her food.  “What kind of help?  Do you need some new dancers or do you need to work on the footwork, because I’ll help any way I can baby.  You know that,” he said looking at her with all honesty.  “No.  It isn’t the dance part that I need help with.  I need my husband to be on the stage with me playing the piano to our song.  Will you do it for me?”  “Baby, I’m honored that you would want me up there with you.  Of course all do it,” he said getting up and pulling her up to him and into a big hug.

            The day of the VMA’s Britney and Justin worked on their timing for their performance later in the night.  It was simple, but exactly what they both wanted.  “Brit, you ready to go babe.  The limo will be here any minute to get us,” Justin yelled from the family room.  “Yeah, we’re almost done,” she yelled back.  The hairdresser was still working with Chloe’s hair.  “Okay, we’ve got to get going,” she said and Chloe hopped off the chair and headed towards the door to go show her daddy her dress.  “Wait Chloe,” Britney said before she could get out the door.  They walked out of the bedroom together and Justin’s jaw dropped.  His wife and his daughter looked so beautiful.  “You two look amazing,” he finally said after a couple of minutes of staring at both of them.  “You look great,” he said again.  Britney could tell that he was stunned, his face told it all.  The ride to the Radio City Music Hall was pretty quite.  Britney was worried about the performance later, but she wouldn’t tell Justin.  Justin was a little scared about putting Chloe on the red carpet with them.  He knew what the media could do, and he didn’t really want to put his daughter through that.  And, Chloe…well Chloe was excited.  She was bouncing around the limo, but Britney and Justin didn’t care.  They had other things on their minds.  When they arrived, Justin took Chloe and told her not to run off and to stay right next to him.  Justin got out first and helped Chloe out of the limo.  Then he helped Britney out too.  They turned around and the flashbulbs started immediately.  Chloe was a little startled by this, and she grabbed Justin’s leg.  The photographers just ate this up.  Justin got her off his leg and held her hand as he intertwined his other arm with Britney’s and they started walking.  They answered the standard questions and even a few hard ones, but they enjoyed themselves.  Chloe was still wound up when they got to their seats in the hall.  “Now Chloe, you have got to sit still sweetie.  You can’t be running around in here okay,” Britney said and Chloe stopped what she was doing and sat down.

            The show started and seemed to be moving quickly.  Before, Britney or Justin knew it, the producers were telling them they needed to go to the back for their performance.  They brought Chloe along with them, but made her stay in the dressing room rather than letting her walk to the side of the stage with them.  Justin could start to tell that something was wrong with Britney.  She had gotten quiet as the evening progressed.  So just before they were about to take their spots he asked her, “Brit, you okay baby.  You seem awfully quiet all of the sudden.”  She looked at him and he could see something he never saw in her eyes, fear.  “I’m scared Justin.  What if I screw up?  I can’t screw up again.  I can’t do this,” she starting running at the mouth.  Justin just leaned down and kissed her.  “You’ll do just fine.  I know you can do this.  You know that you can do this.  This is nothing, and no matter what happens, I love you.  I couldn’t be more prouder of you than I am right now.”  “Okay, take your spots,” the stage producer said.  They moved out to their spots.  Britney took her seat on the piano and Justin sat down on the stool.  The performance began with Justin playing the piano in the dark, but then the spotlight came up on both of them and Britney began to sing.  As she finished her song, Justin stood up, kissed her on the cheek, and walked off the stage.  Britney finished her performance and she was perfect.  When she finished, she walked off stage to a standing ovation.  As she got back, Justin grabbed her and kissed her and said, “I knew you could do it.”  The rest of the evening was perfect.  They passed on the after parties and went home to be a family.  The next morning, Justin was sitting at the table reading the paper when Britney got up.  “Morning,” she said kissing him.  “Good morning to you too.  You should read the paper.  You got a great review,” he said laying the paper on the table.  Britney picked up and looked at the picture on the front page.  It was her and Justin from the VMA’s last night.  She smiled as she read the headline: