"Britney…Britney," the reporters shout.

"Just let me know when you want to stop," Larry says into her ear.

She nods and keeps walking.

She sees a group of photographers ahead and they ask her to stop for pictures, so she does. She feels beautiful tonight. She's wearing a black, off the shoulder dress. She smiles and turns for them…making her typical funny faces for the camera.

As she continues her venture down the carpet people yell out…"Who's your date?"

She smiles and laughs. "My mom."

Within fifteen minutes of her arrival another limo pulls up. This time three young men and their entourage climb out. Justin stretches his legs and smiles and waves to the fans yelling his name. He's nervous, though he wouldn't admit that to anyone…except his mom. Tonight he's going to perform his first single as a solo artist. Thank God he has the guys here to support him. Even though the last few days he had really been thinking about someone else's support.

"How is your little sister doing on the set of "All That"?" a reporter from Entertainment Tonight asks.

"Oh my gosh…she's such a little diva," she laughs. "No, really, she's having so much fun and she's doing a great job."

They asked her a few more questions and she said thank you and made her way toward the venue.

"It's hot out here," she says to her mother. "I feel like I'm melting…is my makeup okay?"

Her mother looks her over and takes out her handkerchief and starts blotting Britney's face.

"Justin…Justin…" she hears faintly, coming from down the carpet. She closes her eyes as her mother continues to blot. She takes a deep breath before opening them back up again.

"Thanks," she says.

Her mom gives her a sympathetic smile. "Keep that chin up."

Britney gives a nod and continues to walk.

"It's just that this show is hard for me because…"

Before she starts to get choked up, her mother nods. "I know."

Because this is where she and Justin first went public with their relationship, two years ago.

Justin, JC and Chris are talking to Billy from Access Hollywood.

"Have you guys heard his new song yet?"

"I have," Chris says as JC nods and says, "Yes."

"What do you think?"

Justin's shuffling his feet a little bit, kicking at something imaginary.

"I think it's great. It's so different than anything out there. People will be surprised…in a good way," JC says.

Chris nods. "Yeah, what he said."

They all laugh.

"Awww, thanks guys," Justin says.

"Rumors are that you're performing by yourself tonight…you nervous, excited?" Billy asks.

"I am? Gee, no one informed me," Justin kids.

"That's the rumor going around. You're a surprise guest."

"Hmmm, very interesting," Chris says in a funny accent.

When Billy asks about Lance, Justin hears Britney's name being shouted from the other end of the carpet, which diverts his attention. He strains his neck to see if he can see her anywhere.

"Yeah, we're all going to be there. I think we've all cleared our schedules," Chris says.

"What about Joey…you seen him in Rent yet?"

"We're going tomorrow night," JC says.

Justin's attention is brought back to the interview and he nods.

"I heard he's doing a great job."

"Of course," Justin says.

Britney stops at the spot where MTV is doing their live coverage.

She smiles at John Norris. He motions for her to come forward.

"We're not on live yet," he says. He leans over and kisses her cheek…she squeezes his hand as he does. "How have you been?" he asks.

"I'm good. Enjoying the time off," she nods.

"Good…you deserve it."

They make small talk until he's cued to go on live in a few seconds.

"Yes, thank you Dave, I'm here with the very lovely Britney Spears…how are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"It's been awhile since we've seen you at the MTV studios…you've had a busy year with the movie and the tour."

She nods. "Yeah, it was pretty busy."

"So now you get to take a break…what does Britney Spears do to take a break? Do you go on vacation?"

"Uh actually I really want to just spend time with my family and my friends. You know, I've been hanging out with them a lot. My mom is spending a lot of time with my aunt who is sick so I've been staying with my little sister in LA a lot too."

"Just chilling out?"

"Yep, just chillin….yeah."

"Once your time off is up, what's next…movies, music?"

"Actually there's a movie in the works for the early part of next year. I'm not sure when I'll record again. I'm always writing stuff but I don't have any plans to record right now. Maybe sometime next year."

"Great…we look forward to that, of course. You've got a few nominations tonight, you excited about that?"

"Of course. These award shows are fun because they're more laid back. So it's cool to be nominated."

"Great, and you're presenting tonight. Any idea on how that's going to go…any surprises?"

She laughs. "Not that I know of."

"Well good luck with everything and enjoy your time off…you definitely deserve it."

"Thank you."

"I think we're going back to Quddus. Hey man, who do you have with you?"

She says good bye to John and hands the microphone back to him.

Suddenly there's a swarm of people around her, moving her out of the area.

"What's going on?" she asks Rob.

He looks over and sees Nsync's bodyguards very close by.

Justin catches Rob's eye and he nods and smiles. Rob nods back.

"Justin and the guys are right there," Rob informs Britney.

"What, do they think we're going to claw each other's eyes out? I want to say hi," she says trying to push her way back through.

"Britney, don't hurt yourself…come on, let's go this way," he says guiding her back towards the entrance again.

Justin stands on his toes to see if he can see Britney in the chaos of people surrounding her.

"Tell him I said hi," she says tugging on Rob's jacket.

"Britney…"

She glares at him. "Please…"

"Okay."

He looks back over Justin's way and mouths, 'she says hi'.

Justin smiles and nods and mouths, 'tell her I said hi…I'll talk to her in there', he says pointing towards the venue.

Rob nods.

"He says hi and he'll talk to you inside."

She smiles. "Thanks."

"You know, rumor has it that Justin will be performing tonight," Lynne tells her.

"I know."

Lynne's not sure how to read Britney's tone. "You going to be okay with that?"

"I've heard the song mama…I like it."

"But seeing him up on stage…performing."

"I'll be okay," she says squeezing her mom's hand.

"Is there a restroom?" Britney asks once they've reached Radio City Music Hall.

Rob motions toward the right and they start walking that way. Lynne runs into someone she knows so she stops to chat while Britney heads into the restroom. She stops at the mirror above the sink and stares at herself. She takes a paper towel and blots a couple of spots where she's sweating. She takes the lipstick out of her purse and reapplies it. She hears a toilet flush and one of the doors to the stalls opens and Michelle Branch walks out, carrying a small bag. She stops when she sees Britney looking at her in the mirror. Britney smiles.

"Hi," she says and continues to apply her lipstick.

"Oh hi…" she says before she washes her hands.

Britney blots the lipstick with a paper towel and then washes her hands.

Michelle keeps glancing over at her.

"Um…you look great," she says.

"Oh…well thank you," Britney says. "You look good too. I like that dress."

"Thanks. Well, excuse me I'm going to head to my seat."

"Good luck tonight," Britney says.

Michelle stops and turns around to look at her. "Thanks…you too."

They smile at each other before Michelle leaves. Britney takes one last look in the mirror and practices her fake smile. When she's satisfied with it she opens the door and drops her lipstick. When she bends over to pick it up she hears, "Oh, let me get that for you."

She reaches down for it at the same time another hand does. She'd recognize that hand anywhere. She lets him grab the lipstick and stands up.

"Hi Justin," she says. She's suddenly nervous.

He smiles at her. "Hi."

He hands her the lipstick.

"Oh, thanks." She puts it back in her purse.

"I hear you're performing tonight?"

He looks around and then nods. "Yeah, it's supposed to be a surprise but," he shrugs.

"Good luck. I love the song, by the way."

"Really? Thanks."

"Where are the guys? I'd like to say hi."

"They might be at their seats now. You want to walk down with me and see them?"

She looks over at Rob and then at Larry.

"Why not. Rob, I'm going to say hi to Chris and JC?" she asks, looking at Justin to make sure that's who's there with him.

"Yeah, just those two."

Larry looks over at her.

"Britney, I don't think…"

"Yes, Larry, I want to."

He stops and nods. "Okay. I'll see you at the seats."

"So, I haven't talked to you in a couple of weeks…how's your aunt doing?" Justin asks as they walk down the aisle.

"She's doing better. My mama's taking a break from helping her and she's here with me."

He smiles. "Good. My mom's here too. She'll be happy to see you."

All eyes were on them as they made their way down to the front section of seats. Britney caught a group of people staring and pointing and then suddenly realized what was going on.

"Oh no…"

"What?" he asked.

"People are going to think we're back together," she giggles.

He looks around and realizes what she's talking about. "Oh well," he shrugs.

"Hi JC," Britney says as she stands over him.

"Hey Brit," he says looking up at her. He stands up and pulls her into a hug and kisses her cheek. "You look great."

"Thanks, you too. I'm liking the scruff," she says tickling his beard.

He runs his hand across his chin and laughs. "Something different," he shrugs.

"Where's Chris?" Justin asks looking around.

"Right behind you," he says in Britney's ear, which makes her jump.

"Nice…thank you," she says. She turns around and gives him a hug.

"What's all the commotion down here?"

Britney turns and smiles when she hears the soothing voice of Justin's mother.

JC and Chris find their seats and Lynn holds out her arms for Britney to walk into. The two women embrace and Justin's heart does a little flip flop. He knows that his mother has missed Britney…and vice versa.

"You look so beautiful," Lynn says playing with Britney's hair.

"Thanks, so do you. I really like your hair like that."

The two women talk for a few minutes before Rob interrupts.

"Britney, we have to get to our seats."

"Okay. It was good seeing you guys," she says leaning over their row.

"Bye Brit," Chris says. JC squeezes her hand. She says bye to Lynn and then she turns to Justin.

"Good luck," she whispers.

"Thanks," he says as he gently squeezes her elbow and watches her as she makes her way to her seat.

He sits down and sighs.

"She looks good," Lynn says.

"Yeah."