Careless Mistake
by Kelli
Part 21
Mid August 2004...
Britney entered the Anaheim hotel room with a sleeping Mackenzie in her carrier.
Rob helped her into her room with her luggage and the baby's stuff.
"Thanks, Rob...good night," Britney whispered before closing the door behind her. She leaned against the door and sighed. Mackenzie was sound asleep in her carrier.
She pushed herself off of the door and setup the portable crib. Mackenzie was already dressed for bed so all she had to do was lay her down without waking her.
She started to run hot water in the large tub and checked on Mackenzie again. When she was satisfied that she was still sound asleep she stripped off her clothes and went into the bathroom. She poured the bubble bath into the water and slowly got in.
This was heaven. She leaned back and closed her eyes. She wasn't sure how long she had been like this when she heard the hotel room door unlock and open.
Justin slowly walked into the room. He noticed the light from the bathroom was on and the rest of the room was dark. He smiled when he saw Mackenzie's crib on the other side of the room so he set his bag down next to the dresser and walked over to the crib to look at his daughter.
Yep, she still looked like his angel when she was sleeping. He kissed his fingertips and placed them on her cheek. Then he turned around and started to walk toward the bathroom. He started to remove his shoes along the way and unbuttoned his shirt. He stood in the doorway for a minute, watching her relax.
"Hey," he said softly.
She smiled but didn't open her eyes.
"Hi."
He walked over to the tub and sat down on the edge, dipping his hand in the water to test the temperature. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
"How was your show?" she asked.
"Good....how was yours?"
She smiled but he could see the sadness in her eyes. "It went well.....considering. I hate goodbyes."
He nodded. "I know. The last show always has mixed emotions."
"Yeah...." A slow smile spread across her face. "But I'm happy I'm here now."
He dipped his fingers in the water and lightly spritzed her face. "Me too. You, me and Mackenzie from now on, huh?"
Her eyes got kind of big. "Yeah. No more rearranging schedules around each others."
"No more flying across the country just to see each other for a day."
"No more three to four phone calls a day...."
He kept lowering his head down toward hers. Finally he reached her lips. She brought a hand out of the water to cup the back of his head and he started to laugh against her lips when he felt the water trickling down his neck.
"Just take your clothes off and get in here," she said in a husky voice.
"Yes ma'am," he said, standing up and quickly shedding his clothes.
He slowly eased himself into the warm water and she immediately scooted over to him and straddled his lap.
"What's Mackenzie's schedule like now," he asked as he kissed a path up her neck.
"She sleeps from eight pm until about six am. Once in awhile she wakes up in the middle of the night...."
She lifted her head up so he had better access to her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.
"This is heaven," she sighed.
"What....the bath or this?" he asked before lightly nibbling at her skin and letting his hands gently massage her back.
She leaned forward and draped herself over his shoulder as much as she could.
"Both," she mumbled.
Justin chuckled.
"Don't fall asleep on me," he said, nudging her side.
"It's been a long day," she yawned. She sat up straight.
He couldn't help but watch as the water dripped from her skin.
"I know....come on, let's go to bed," he said before quickly kissing her on the mouth.
"How late do we get to sleep tomorrow?" she asked as she stood up and grabbed a towel.
"Late," he chuckled.
"I like that word."
A couple of weeks later...
"It's going to feel so good staying at our apartment for a few days," Britney said, propping her feet up on the limo seat across from her.
"Our apartment, huh?" Justin asked, gently rubbing her hand.
She smiled. "I did say that, didn't I?"
He nodded. "I like the sound of it," he said, leaning closer to her and giving her a kiss.
"Me too," she whispered.
Mackenzie was playing with her blocks on the floor and started to babble a little bit.
"The VMA stuff is today, isn't it?" Britney asked.
"Yeah. Rehearsals and interviews, I believe. You and Mac are coming, right?" he asked, looking at her.
"Yeah....I still don't get why I have to go there. I'm just presenting."
"That's not the point though. You have to promote your concert special....all the media will be there. It's a great opportunity and we can do it together," he smiled.
"Why do you always make sense?" she asked before giving him another kiss.
"Oh hey.....this way Mackenzie can see her daddy perform since she can't be there tomorrow night."
"The music will still be loud...."
"We'll get her earplugs."
"Okay," she sighed.
"Good," he said before quickly kissing her.
"We have the guys from *Nsync here," Damien, the VJ said. "Welcome back to the VMA's guys."
"Thank you," they each said in some way shape or form.
"It was a good rehearsal. What kind of teaser can you give the TRL viewers about your performance?"
"Nothing," Chris said dryly.
JC laughed.
"We don't want to give anything away," Justin said, waving his hands in front of him.
Britney walked up to where they were taping at Radio City Music Hall and stood off to the side. After watching the guys rehearse she did a couple of quick interviews with some of the press. She had Mackenzie in her arms and was trying to distract her so she wouldn't start making a fuss. This was the first time she had seen her daddy up on stage and it frustrated her that she could see him but couldn't get near him. So, she had sat there and pouted the whole time. Now she was so close to her and Britney still wouldn't let her go to her daddy.
She tried squirming out of her arms, but Britney held tight. Justin caught this movement out of the corner of his eye during the interview. He smiled at Mackenzie and gave a little wave and then tried to divert his attention back to Damien.
"What happens when the tour is over?" Damien asked. He sticks the microphone in front of Justin.
"Uhhh well....I don't know if we've thought that far ahead yet," he chuckled. "I think we're possibly looking at a few dates in Europe?"
Lance nodded.
"But nothing's definite yet. We had a lot of fun with this album and a lot of fun with this tour so who knows," he shrugged.
They cut so that when this airs a commercial will be shown so Justin took the opportunity to get Mackenzie.
"Hey there angel," he said, taking her from Britney and giving her a big kiss on the cheek.
"She was getting pissed," Britney laughed. "She was quiet, though," she said, running her hand down the back of Mackenzie's hair to try to keep it from frizzing.
Damien walked over and gave Britney a quick hug. "Good to see you," he said.
"You too."
"And this must be Mackenzie....hey there sweetie," he said, gently pinching Mackenzie's arm.
She looked at him and smiled and then buried her face in Justin's shoulder.
"That means that she thinks you're cute....don'tcha baby?" Justin asked her, trying to tickle her. She let out a loud laugh, which made everyone standing in the near vicinity laugh.
"Oh God....what a ham," Britney said shaking her head. "Just like her daddy," she said pinching Justin's cheek.
Justin stuck his tongue out at her.
"Okay, we're ready to roll," the producer said.
"Can you keep holding her?" Damien asked.
Justin glanced at Britney and she shrugged. "Why not?" he said, and stood next to Joey again.
"We are back on TRL with the guys from *Nsync and one new member of the group....say hello to Mackenzie Spears-Timberlake," Damien said.
The camera panned to Justin and he held Mackenzie's arm up and had her wave.
"How old is she now?"
Lance was holding a mic so he held it in front of Justin's mouth so he could answer.
"She's five months old."
Mackenzie looked down at the microphone and tried to grab it. She got a hold of the spongy part and tried to grab it. Justin had to reach up with his free hand and make her let go of it. She gave him a dirty look and then threw her head down on his shoulder and pouted.
"And as you can see, she has the pouting thing down pat," Justin chuckled.
"Is it strange touring with a baby?" Damien asked.
"It's different. I don't know if I'd call it strange. I mean we were touring when Brianna was a baby so we saw how Joey had to handle it. You just have to change your priorities."
Damien asked Joey and few questions about touring with a toddler. Mackenzie still had her head on Justin's shoulder but she was looking at her mom. She held an arm out so Britney would come over, but Britney just stood there and watched her. This didn't sit well with Mackenzie so she started to babble. Justin tried to make her stop talking but this only made her get louder. Just as they were about to finish the interview, Damien glanced over Britney's way.
"Well, people may have figured out by now that Mackenzie's mommy is standing over there....Britney, come over and get your little girl," he said.
Britney was hesitant but she walked over and stood next to Justin. She pinched Mackenzie's toe and Mackenzie leaned down to let Britney know she wanted her to hold her now. Britney took her from him and then he put his arm around her back.
"See, she just wanted mommy," Damien said. "Britney, how are you?"
"I'm good, thanks."
"And you're presenting tomorrow night, correct?"
"Yeah...the pressure's off this year," she smiled.
Mackenzie still held onto Justin's shirt as Chris came up behind her and tried to scare her, but it only made her giggle.
"Guys is it fun having a little one on tour?" Damien asked the rest of the guys.
"What do you think?" Lance asked, motioning toward Chris and then laughing.
Mackenzie reached out and grabbed Chris's nose.
"Ow.....ow," he kept playing.
Justin shook his head and laughed as did Britney.
"We keep him just to entertain her," Justin said.
"I see....he's doing a good job. Well guys, that's it for now. Good luck on your performance and for the nominations and Britney....on your three nominations," he said nodding toward her.
"Thank you."
"And Mackenzie, you're going to be a heartbreaker when you get older....back to you in the studio."
They cut and Chris gave Mackenzie a big kiss on the cheek before walking away.
"Was that okay?" Britney asked to no one in particular.
"Was what okay?" JC asked.
"Me invading your interview like that?" she asked, bouncing Mackenzie on her hip a little.
"It didn't bother me. This little one was about to blow if she didn't get her mommy anyway," he said, tugging at Mackenzie's leg.
Mackenzie yawned and rested her head on Britney's shoulder.
"Justin....can you take her? She's getting heavy."
"Sure," he said, taking her from Britney.
As soon as he did Mackenzie reached around his neck with one arm and laid her head on his shoulder. She kept an eye on her mom though.
"Thanks guys," Damien said as he shook the hand of each member as they left the area.
"Good job Mackenzie...your first TV interview," Justin said as he pat her back.
Britney chuckled. "Oh and she didn't have her best color on either," she said tugging the hem of her dress down.
"It's okay....she was still the most beautiful thing ever.....next to her mommy of course," he finished by leaning down and giving Britney a quick kiss.
"Awwwwww don't make me gag," Chris said as he pushed between the couple and walked ahead of them.
The whole group laughed.
"He's just jealous," Justin said loud enough for him to hear.
"How many more of these do we have to do?" Joey asked.
"I think we've got Access Hollywood, E! and Entertainment Tonight," Lance said.
They all groan.
They meet up with Pat O'Brien from Access Hollywood and stand in a group again. Justin's still holding a now sleeping Mackenzie.
"You have a new member there," Pat said, pointing to Mackenzie.
"Yeah, she has better lung power than us," Chris said.
"See....I like showing her when she's asleep because she looks like the quiet little angel," Justin said as he turned a little so that the camera could get her face.
Once that interview was done, Pat joined Britney who was sitting off to the side. The rest of the guys took a break and Justin sat down next to Britney. He was still holding Mackenzie.
"Is this your first interview together as a family?" Pat asked.
"Officially yes...." Justin chuckled. "We just did one with the group a few minutes ago."
"Well then....let's get this show on the road," he began.
