Careless Mistake
by Kelli
Epilogue
August 2010.......
Britney finished her song with her hand up in the air. Some of her hair fell over her face, but she smiled through it, while trying to control her breathing.
"Thank you, I love you all," she said before taking a bow, waving to the crowd and acting like her show was over. She had one more costume change and she'd be back to finish the show......and her tour.
"Can we go back now, daddy?" Mackenzie asked.
"She's got one more song to do and then we're going to wait until the crowd leaves, angel," he said before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "There's a party backstage for mommy since it's her last show, so we're not leaving on the bus right away like we normally do."
She scooted up on his lap a little higher and rested the back of her head against his chest. Chase was sitting next to him and Justin looked down when he felt Chase's head touch his arm.
"You okay, buddy?" Justin asked him.
He nodded and stifled a yawn.
"Good thing this is the last show, I don't think this costume is going to fit you another day," Britney's tour stylist told her as she zipped up the jacket.
"I'm getting bigger sooner this time," Britney said as she rubbed her slightly protruding stomach.
"Well you're older and it's your third....your body just isn't the same," her stylist teased her.
"Gee, thanks," Britney said, rolling her eyes.
They both laughed and Britney took her place under the stage for her next entrance.
When she came jumping out of the stage with the explosions, Chase's face lit up.
"Wow," he said, which made Justin chuckle. Chase suddenly felt awake again and sat up so he could clap along with the music. "I want her to do it again," he said, looking up at Justin.
"I think it's a little too late, sorry," Justin said, ruffling Chase's hair.
Chase didn't care, this was his favorite song and he had never seen this performed before.
By the end of the song, both kids were standing up singing and dancing to the music.
"They like this one, huh?" Lynne asked, leaning down over Justin's shoulder.
"Apparently," he laughed. "Now I'm sorry we were always on the bus every night when this song came on."
"Do it again, do it again," Chase said, jumping up and down when the song was over and Britney disappeared from the stage.
Justin, along with the rest of their family and friends who were in the box with them were now giving her a standing ovation for the amazing performance she put on tonight.
"Awww, I'm afraid we can't. Her crew wants to go home so I don't think they're going to set everything up again just so she can do it again," Justin said, scooping his son up into his arms.
Mackenzie reached up and took Justin's hand.
"Now can we go see her?" she asked.
"Few more minutes, okay?" he asked her.
She smiled and nodded.
"Some of us are going to go ahead and head on down. You going to wait a little before security brings you down?" Lynn asked.
"Yeah, mom, we're going to wait," he nodded.
"You want me to take one of them?" she asked, looking at the kids.
Chase's head started to get closer to Justin's shoulder and Mackenzie held tightly onto his hand.
"Nah, I think we're okay. We'll just sit up in this area while we wait," he said, climbing the few stairs to the enclosed area of the suite.
"I'm thirsty," Mackenzie whined.
"Let's see what's left," he said, setting Chase down on the couch and then looking through the refrigerator.
Britney took a quick shower and changed so she could join her crew, dancers and band before they joined their family and friends.
"I just wanted to thank you guys for a wonderful tour. It had been quite a few years since I had been on the road and you made it so much easier for me to adjust to. And speaking of adjusting," she chuckled as she smoothed her oversized shirt over her stomach, "I have to thank everyone who had to make adjustments because of my newest addition. I know there weren't many changes but it meant a lot that a few routines and numbers had to be changed and you guys didn't gripe about it."
"How could we.....you're going to have a baby, we're nothing but happy for you and Justin," one of her dancers said.
"Aww, thanks. I'm gonna miss you all," she said, choking back tears.
Everyone started to hug each other and started to make their way into the room where the catering was set up for their party.
Britney was greeted by her mom and family.
"You were so good," she said, giving her daughter a hug. "How do you feel?" she asked, touching Britney's stomach.
"Mama, I'm fine. I've been pregnant the whole tour," she chuckled, touching her mom's hands.
"I just didn't want you overdoing it."
"Exercise is good when you're pregnant and I didn't overdo it," she said, cupping her mom's cheeks.
The golf cart with Justin and the kids pulled up to the door of the hallway that led to the catering room.
"Thanks," he told the security guard who drove them down. "You okay?" he asked Mackenzie who was stepping off by herself.
"Yep," she said as she hopped down to the floor.
"Down daddy," Chase said as he wiggled in Justin's arms.
"Okay, give me a second so I don't drop you," he replied as he bent down to set Chase on the floor. "Both of you give me your hand."
He held out his hands and both kids took one as they started to walk down the hall. Justin kept his eye on Chase to make sure he wasn't going too fast for him. Even though his recovery from the accident was remarkable, he still walked with a slight limp because his muscles would never get 100% strong but he held his own. He could run, jump and dance as much as he wanted to, he just did it at a little slower pace than other four-year-olds.
"I gotta go potty," Chase said as they got closer to the room where the party was.
"I knew it," Justin said. "I guess you didn't have to go a few minutes ago when I asked while we were up in the suite, huh?"
Chase shook his head.
"Daddy, I want to go see mommy," Mackenzie said as she stuck out her lower lip.
Chase crossed his legs and started to bounce up and down a little.
"Okay, hurry up and go to that room right there, mommy's in there," Justin said, pointing to the door a few feet away. "I'll watch."
Mackenzie hurried up and ran to the door. She could hear a lot of people talking and laughing.
When Justin made sure she was in the room he scooped up Chase and headed toward the nearest men's room.
Mackenzie slowly walked around the room for a little while, looking for Britney. When she saw someone she recognized she tugged on their shirt.
"Oh hey, Mackenzie," the woman said.
"Do you know where my mommy is?" she asked.
"Yeah, you want me to take you to her?"
Mackenzie nodded.
"Okay, come on," she said, holding her hand out for the little girl.
Mackenzie took it and walked through the crowd of people and smiled when she recognized her grandma who was standing in front of Britney.
"Grandmaaaaa," Mackenzie said, letting go of the woman's hand.
Lynne turned when she heard her name being called and she looked down to see her granddaughter behind her.
"Well hey there," she looked up and waved to the woman who brought her over.
"I'm looking for mommy," Mackenzie pouted.
"I'm right here," Britney said, sticking her head to the side so she could see her.
"Mommy," Mackenzie giggled as she threw herself at Britney.
"Whoa there. Now where is your daddy?" she asked as she knelt down so they were eye to eye.
"Chase had to go potty," she said as she played with the tassels on Britney's top.
"Ohhh okay. Did you have fun at the show?"
"Did they ever. If I would have known the kind of reaction that last song would get out of them, I would have had you change your set around," Justin said before leaning down to kiss Britney's cheek.
"Mommmy," Chase said, excitedly.
"Here sweetie," she said, holding her arms out to hold him. "Really? You guys liked that last song?"
Both kids nodded.
"We never saw that before, mommy," Mackenzie said.
"Yeah you guys are usually on the bus by then," Britney said, running her fingers through Mackenzie's hair.
After a little while, the grandparents were entertaining the kids and Britney started to yawn.
"We can go if you want," Justin said, putting his arm around her and pulling her to his side.
"No, this is the last time I'm going to see a lot of these people and I want to make it last," she said, leaning her head against his chest.
He moved his hand down a little and rubbed her stomach.
"I haven't gotten to do that at all today," he said.
She giggled and closed her hand over his.
"I'm sure she missed her daddy's hand and voice."
Justin cocked his head to the side. "She? Something you're not telling me?"
She laughed. "You know me, I go through phases....it's just a hunch."
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.
"So....you glad the tour is over?" he asked.
"Yes and no," she replied. "I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I did this album but I forgot how exhausting it all can be."
"Not to mention that you're four months pregnant right now. I'm sure that has a little something to do with it."
"Maybe," she smiled at him.
"But you amaze me....going out there night after night performing the way you do," he said, shaking his head as he studied her face.
"I paced myself and had wonderful choreographers who changed my routines for me."
"Just let me give you compliments, okay?" he asked before leaning down to kiss the side of her neck.
"Oh okay," she sighed as she dug her fingers into his hair.
"Hey, you two want to get a room? I'm sure the grandma's would watch the kids," one of the crew members said to them.
Justin pulled his head back and they both laughed.
"This is tame PDA for us," Britney winked at him.
Suddenly Britney's eyes got big and she looked at Justin, who's eyes were doing the same thing.
"You feel that?" she asked.
Justin nodded.
"Yeah I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something you ate," he chuckled as he stepped back and put both of his hands on her stomach. "Maybe she'll move again."
Britney laughed. "See, I have you brainwashed."
They looked at each other again when the baby moved again.
"Mackenzie....Chase, come here," Britney said, holding her arm out.
Both children walked over to their mom and dad and Justin took each of their hands and placed it on Britney's stomach.
"What are we doing, daddy?" Mackenzie asked.
"The baby moved in mommy's tummy. There, did you feel that?" Justin asked.
Mackenzie smiled and nodded.
"That was cool. Do it again, mommy," Chase said, looking up at Britney.
She laughed. "It's not up to me."
Lynn and Lynne stood close by and watched the family as they enjoyed the glow of new life that would be with them soon.
"Doesn't it just get you right here?" Lynn asked as she wrapped her arm around her good friend's shoulder and touched her heart with her other hand.
"Yes, it most certainly does," Lynne agreed.