When You Were Mine: Joe and Katherine's Love Story (A Joey McIntyre Fanfiction)

24

"We're getting married." Jordan announces once everyone's at the table.

Katherine can't believe he just did that. He was supposed to let her talk to Joe first. When she looks at Joe he's smiling at her, he even gives her a little wink.

"We also bought a house." Jordan says.

"You bought a house, together, in California? Does that mean you're moving to California, Jordan?" Joe asks him.

"Yep, in California. I never thought I'd leave Boston, but for my Katie girl, I'd move anywhere."

"I'm happy for you guys. I guess you were right all those years ago. You two were meant to be together after all." Joe tells Jordan as he sits his drink down and walks out to the back porch. While Jordan is talking to his family Katherine takes this opportunity to talk to Joe alone.

"Hey Joey. Can I talk to you for a second?"

He turns to look at her. "Hey Kate. Of course you can. But first I need to get my arms around you. Come here." He wraps his arms tightly around her. It's comforting to him. When he finally let's her go he says, "So you and Jordan huh? Finally. I'm a little surprised. But at the same time I'm not. I'm just happy you're happy sweetheart."

"I'm really sorry I didn't tell you first. He was supposed to wait to tell everyone, until I talked to you." Joe assumes this was why she asked to speak to him alone before dinner.

"Kate, it's okay. I'm okay and I'm honestly really happy for you both. I used to think it would have been you and I. But we weren't meant to be babe. We gave our relationship our very best. And now I'm just glad we're still able to be such good friends. I'll always love you girl. I might not attend the wedding, but I'll always wish you the very best." She reaches over and takes his hand. He squeezes her fingers in his. Then his thumb runs over her ring. For just a second he thinks he might cry, he feels tears, but pushes his true feelings back down. Luckily the tears are gone before she can make any comment. Unfortunately she isn't as quick to hide her tears. Joe feels terrible that she's crying because of him. He hates seeing her sad. He only ever wants to see her happy. Nothing looks as good as happiness on this beautiful woman. Except maybe desire, but he doesn't think that's a look he'll ever get to see on her face again.

Joe reaches over and wipes a tear off her cheek. "Don't cry Kate. I'm happy for you. I truly am. This doesn't change what we had or have. Nothing, not even Jordan Knight, can take that away. So come over here and give me another hug before I go." He stands up and still has her hand. He pulls her up into his arms. "And Kate, don't ever change. Jordan has a very strong personality. Don't change yourself to match him. Let your differences become your strengths. And always be honest about how you feel. You're one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life.  I think if you would have been more honest with me we'd have made the long haul. But you never wanted to tell me how you felt about me being gone for so long, or why you refused to come with me on tour or even visit me on tour. Just be perfectly and even brutally honest with him. If you don't like something, stand by your feelings. Okay Kate?"

She wipes her tears and smiles up at him. "Okay Joey. I'll be sure and do all that. And I hate that you won't come to my wedding. I was going to ask you to sing." She giggles and he begins to laugh, playfully tickling her ribs before hugging her one more time and kissing the top of her head. If he'd known he wouldn't be seeing her face to face again for twelve years, he might have given her a bigger hug, or maybe a real kiss. He might have said something more memorable in response to her saying, "I love you Joey. Always."

But all he can say is, "I love you too Kate. Forever."

Joe goes back in the house and says his goodbyes. Jordan sees he's leaving and feels a little bad. He honestly hadn't really thought about how this announcement might effect Joe. "You leaving Joe? You should stay, when will we all be together again?"

"I can't Jordan, I've got to get back to mom's. I promised her I'd be back early.  Congratulations bro. I'm happy for you both. Take care of her. She's one of a kind. Love you man." Joe hugs Jordan and then he's gone.

Joe's heart is crushed. He wants so badly to really be happy for them, two of his closest, dearest friends. But his heart just won't let him.

When Joe gets back to his mom's he heads straight up to his room. Joe opens his old trunk, it's the one that he had taken on every tour he'd been on. He digs through it until he finds his old notebook that contains all the songs he'd written over the years.

He opens it to a new page and began writing a new song, he titled it "I Cried". That night he cried like he hadn't cried before over his Kate. He cried for what they'd had, for what they'd lost and for what they'd never have again. When he finished the song, he decided it was time to get back to work. New Kids were over, so it was time to try it solo for real, no more fucking around.

He had a notebook full of songs he'd written over the years. He was sure he could put an album together with what he had here. Or if not, he had a good start.