Only three hours and twenty-six minutes left.

Everyone sat around the living room making small talk, none really knowing what to say to the other. This was the last time they would see him for three months, after that, the next visit would be unknown.

A mother sat in a rocking chair that held so many memories, sobbing. She was in a state of shock. She could not believe this was happening to her family, to her son, to her baby.

"Lynn, sweetheart, why don't you go rest for a few minutes," Randy suggested patting his ex-wife on the back. Lynn just shook her head. This was her last three hours with her son. She was not in the mood for resting.

A silent gloomy mood loomed over the Timberlake-Harless household, while upstairs Justin lay holding his childhood sweetheart closely as she wept.

"It's gonna be okay baby. I'm gonna be just fine," he spoke confidently into her ear.

"I don't want you to go though," she cried. "I love you."

Justin lifted her chin so he could gaze into her emerald eyes. Slowly he brought his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.

"I love you too," he said breathlessly when they parted.

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a wad of tissue and handed them to his girlfriend. She smiled lightly as she wiped her eyes but the tissue was covering something hard and brought pain instead of comfort to her swollen eyes. Without questioning, she unrolled the lump of white Kleenex to reveal a small but beautiful diamond ring. Justin placed a shaking hand over hers, taking the ring and holding it, he smiled.

"Jessica Renee Parker, will you marry me?" he decided at last minute that the old fashion way was the best way. The young woman grabbed his face with both hands and pulled his lips to hers. Justin always found a way to make the worst of situations out to be one of the best.

Justin tugged at his gray sweatshirt that engulfed Jessica's body. Within seconds, the shirt was a pile of gray wrinkles on Justin's hardwood floor. He left small kisses along every inch of her exposed skin on the way to making this the most memorable day for the both of them. Two hours later the young couple was interrupted when Justin's mother knocked on the door.

"Justin, baby, you Granny is here," Mrs. Harless informed. She spoke softly trying to cover up the shaking tears that laced her voice. You could tell she was still crying.

Justin kissed Jessica once more before they assembled their wardrobe and made their way downstairs into the living room hand in hand. Saying goodbye to his Granny was among the hardest things to do. She had made him Peach Cobbler, one of his all time favorite foods, and she even made Jessica a gift too. It was a quilt made of some of Justin's old shirts and still had a lingering scent of him. Needless to say, after the exchange of that gift, everyone was crying again.

Time seemed to fly by and before they knew it Paul and Randy were loading Justin's belongings into a hunter green Hummer. Justin said goodbye to all his aunts and uncles one last time. As he passed his Granny, he gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you Granny," he said, his tears masked by his need to be a strong man. If he broke down he knew there would be no hope for his mother. His Grandmother smiled, nodded, and patted him on the back. Moving down the line was his two kid brothers, his father, and stepmother. Jon and Steven held onto him tightly. They had cried until their little faces were swollen.

"You're gonna be home for Christmas, right?" Jon questioned in his little shaky voice.

"I'll try my best buddy but you make sure to ask Santa to bring me that new basketball challenge 2003. Okay." Jon smiled hugging Justin's neck tightly. Justin pried his brothers away and took a few more steps to come face to face with Paul, the man he loved just as much, if not more than his real father. The two embraced in a tight hug.

"Be strong for momma," he whispered, then backed away.

Next were the two women he loved most. He did not know which tear stained face to kiss first, which pained face to try to ease, so he pulled them both to him. The sobs were uncontrollable. Lynn split she could not withstand the pain any longer. Jessica slipped out of Justin's hold.

"Take care of your mother," she choked kissing Justin's lips fully.

"I love you," Justin declared as Jessica backed away.

"I love you too."

Lynn pulled Justin tighter. He could not be leaving. They could not take her baby away from the people he loved.

"I have to go momma."

"Please God," Lynn prayed," take care of my baby." Justin cracked. Tears slowly slid down his face as he backed away from his mother and everyone he loved.

"I love you and I'll call you soon," he stated opening the door to the Hummer.

"And momma take care of your new daughter in law," Justin gave a wink before closing the door.

The Hummer drove off into the distant morning sun carrying Justin Timberlake into a world of unknown. He was drafted into the Army and was on his way to becoming an American Soldier.