Careless Mistake
by Kelli
Part 23
Mid August 2004...
"And here's my pager number and cell number," Britney said as she highlighted each number on the index card. "And this is Justin's. We won't have it on ringer but they'll both be on vibrate," she explained.
Lauren looked up at her sister-in-law and smiled. "Brit, we'll be fine. You're only going to be gone a few hours."
"I know, but I want to make sure you can get a hold of us for any reason at any time..."
Justin walked up behind Britney and put his arm around her waist. "She's watched Mackenzie before," he said, winking at Lauren.
"I know but it's different now...." Britney said softly.
Lauren patted her on the hand. "You go and enjoy your night tonight. Mackenzie, Bryan and I will be fine."
"Thank you," Justin smiled at her.
"By the way, you're looking good, Justin," Lauren added.
Justin laughed. "Well, thanks."
Britney turned around and smiled at him. "He always looks good. But, I have to agree....that color is good on you."
He leaned down and quickly kissed her. "Thanks. Now hurry up and get in your outfit so we can leave."
"Okay."
She ran upstairs and returned within fifteen minutes.
Justin was making peek-a-boo faces with Mackenzie, who was sitting on Lauren's lap when Britney rejoined them.
"Okay, I guess I'm ready," she said.
Justin looked up and his eyes got bigger for a second. "Wow....Ms. Spears you look amazing," he said standing up and walking over to her.
She put her lipstick in her bag and smiled up at him. "You think?"
"Uh huh," Justin said leaning down.
Britney turned her head so that he kissed her cheek.
"Just put my lipstick on, sorry," she said when he pulled away and gave her a strange look.
"Damn," he kidded under his breath.
"So you have everything?" she asked her brother and sister-in-law.
"Brit....go. Enjoy your night," Bryan said as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Justin, go make her enjoy a night out."
"Don't worry, I'll try," he said taking Britney's hand. "Bye guys."
"Bye...we'll be rooting for you," Lauren said, waving.
"Wait," Britney said, pulling away from Justin and walking over to Mackenzie who was still sitting on Lauren's lap. "Mommy loves you and I'll be home before you know it. You'll be okay," she said to the little girl.
"Brit....come on," Justin sighed.
As soon as Britney walked away Mackenzie held out her arms and started to cry. Britney turned around and was going to pick Mackenzie up but Justin gently grabbed her arm and pulled her out the door....with resistance.
"Why did you do that? She needed me?" she yelled at him once they were in the elevator.
"You should have just left her alone and she would have been fine when we left. Now Lauren and Bryan have to calm her down," he said in an annoyed tone.
She stood there and watched the numbers light up as the elevator descended to the lobby.
"Shut up, Justin," she mumbled.
He shook his head and let her walk off first when the elevator door opened. Their bodyguards met them at the door and walked them to their limo.
"So are we going to fight tonight?" Justin asked once they were settled in the limo.
"No," she sighed.
"It feels like it."
She glanced over at him. "We fight over Mackenzie more than we should...."
"I just think you need to ease up a bit, Britney. I love our baby with all my heart but you have to loosen the strings once in awhile. Give her room to breathe and be around other people. One day we should actually have her interact with other children her age. Shocking I know."
She glared at him. "Quit acting like I'm a complete idiot."
He gave her a soft smile. "I'm not....I think you're acting like an overprotective mother who loves her daughter so much she's going to smother her."
Her shoulders slumped a little.
"I try not to be that way," she said softly.
He rested his arm against the back of the seat, hoping that she'd take the hint and slide closer to him. It took her a few minutes but eventually she did. He leaned down and kissed the side of her head.
"You know I love you, right?" he asked, keeping his face close to hers.
She kept staring straight ahead and nodded.
"I've said this before....I don't like fighting over how to raise our daughter."
He could tell her eyes were getting watery.
"I don't either. I want us to agree on it..."
"Well we need to start by compromising....."
"I'll try," she sighed.
She glanced up at him and smiled.
"Do you know what we need to do?" he asked.
"What's that?"
"When my tour is over, we need to go on a vacation....somewhere tropical....just you and me."
She was smiling up until the point he said just the two of them.
"Who would watch Mackenzie?" she asked.
"Either your mom or mine. They'd love to....."
She looked down at her hands that were on her lap.
"Why do you think we need to do that Justin?"
He pulled his arm from around her. "Why? Because I think we need it. As a couple we need it."
She continued to stare at her hands.
"I think we're fine the way we are."
He didn't say anything so she looked up at him and he had his head turned the other way and was staring out the window.
"You don't?" she questioned.
"I feel that we're a couple because of Mackenzie," he said, looking at her.
"Well...."
She wasn't sure she'd disagree with that. "What's wrong with that?"
He turned in the seat so his body was facing her more and he took her hands in his.
"Remember what we used to be like? That's what I want. I want that fairy tale back."
"Things are different now, Justin," she said, shaking her head.
"But they don't have to be.....don't you see that?"
He ran his thumbs across the back of her hand.
She stared deeply into his eyes. She wanted the fairy tale too.
"I guess they don't have to be....."
He smiled, which made her smile.
"So, will you go away with me? Just for a few days. It doesn't have to be a week or anything. Maybe four days or something. We'll ease into being away from Mac."
"Okay....I'd love to go somewhere with you," she said and then bit her lower lip.
He leaned down and at the last minute remembered her lipstick so he kissed her cheek and then her neck.
"I wish I could kiss you back," she whispered in his ear as her fingers ran through his curls.
"You can always reapply," he said as he made his way across her neck to the other side.
Just as soon as he said that the limo stopped. He lifted his head and looked out the window. They were in the line to reach the red carpet.
"Bad timing," Britney giggled.
The limo inched forward and finally they reached the red carpet. Their security was in the car in front of them so they were waiting for them to get out. Justin and Britney walked down the red carpet, their fingers entwined with each other's as they smiled for the cameras. Of course they'd stop at the usual entertainment reporters and answer a few questions. Most of them were about their daughter, of course.
"She's watching mommy and daddy at home," Britney laughed as she waved at the camera.
"Is it hard leaving her? Are you going through that stage?" the female reporter asked.
Justin rolled his eyes. "Is she ever."
Britney teasingly glared at him. "Yeah, I have to admit I'm kind of going through that stage. But I'm getting better."
"So Justin, you're on tour right now and Britney, you and Mackenzie are traveling with him, right?"
Britney nodded. "Yeah."
"How is that working so far? Do you just want to go back home and stay in one place for a few days? I mean is it harder to travel like that with a baby?"
Britney shook her head. "No, actually it's just something you get used to. Just like traveling solo, you get a schedule and adjust to it. So I've done the same with with Mackenzie...it's just different but we have a schedule."
"So is this the end of your swinging single days? Are the two of you pretty much attached?" the reporter asked.
Britney jerked her head a little as Justin rubbed his chin.
"I guess you could say we're attached. I don't know, we haven't really talked about it. We're committed to our relationship and to our daughter so...." he shrugged.
Britney nodded. She liked that answer.
"Well thanks guys. Good luck with your nominations and the performance tonight."
"Thank you," they both said and continued their journey down the red carpet.
When they made it inside they took their seats next to the rest of the guys from *Nsync.
"You nervous?" Britney asked Justin.
He took her hand in his. "No...I'm excited. I don't get nervous at this stuff anymore," he chuckled.
"Sure you don't," she winked at him.
"I don't....see," he said holding out his free hand and making it visibly shake.
She grabbed his hand and said, "Ha ha."
The show began and *Nsync won for best group video. When they accepted their award they each thanked the usual people but before they were led off the stage Justin stood in front of the microphone and said. "I can't forget my two angels....Britney and Mackenzie. I love you both."
Britney smiled as the camera panned to her in the audience.
A few minutes later Justin and the rest of the guys sat back down.
"Congratulations," Britney said, leaning over and kissing his cheek and then rubbing the lipstick mark from his cheek.
"Thanks," he said, smiling. "You're going to be next," he said, nodding toward the stage.
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
The next category was for best pop video.....
"And the winner is.....Britney Spears," the presenters announced.
Britney was genuinely shocked. Her hand came up and covered her mouth while her eyes got big. Justin leaned over and touched her shoulders. He pulled her to him and kissed her cheek and then stood up, while applauding. She stood up and then looked back at him. All she thought about was his smile as she walked up to the stage to accept her award.
"Wow," she said when she reached the podium. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you so much. I really had a lot of fun making that video....probably the most fun I've ever had making a video. Of course I want to thank Rob Rich for directing it and all the crew and my dancers....you guys did a great job on it. To my family...thank you for all of your support throughout my life and my career. I love you. Also, I have to thank God for blessing my life. When I made this video I had a little inspiration and her name is Mackenzie. She's the one I thought of every waking moment while I was doing this video....I love you baby," she said, blowing a kiss to the camera. "And the other inspiration in my life....Mackenzie's daddy. I love you, Justin."
She winked at him, waved to the audience and walked off the stage.
She was ushered backstage to the press room. After taking a few photos and answering a few questions she started to make her way back to the audience when her manager stopped her.
"You have a phone call, Brit," he said.
"I do?" she asked, taking the cell phone from Larry. "Okay. Hello?" she said into the phone, holding one finger over her other ear.
"Hey congratulations...."
"Thanks Bryan. Is everything okay?" she asked, trying not to get worried.
"Yeah....Mackenzie heard your voice on the TV and she started to babble so we were trying to explain to her that you weren't there, but I don't think she understood," he chuckled.
"No, I would think not," she smiled.
"So anyway....tell your baby you love her again," he said.
"What? Oh....hey baby, mommy loves you. So does daddy but he's not here right this second. I'll see you in a little bit."
She waited until Bryan talked again.
"See, that calmed her down," he said.
"Yeah right....she's probably off screaming somewhere," Britney teased.
"No really....that's all she needed to hear."
"Okay Bry....hey, I've got to get going. Justin and the guys are going to be on next and I want to be in the audience."
"Okay. We'll see you soon."
"Okay. Love ya, bye."
She hung up the phone and handed it back to Larry.
"Gee thanks," she laughed as Rob escorted her back to her seat.
Almost as soon as she sat down, they came back from a commercial break and the next announcers came on stage to introduce *Nsync. Britney sat back and already had a smile on her face.
