For hammerhead22: "Chris/Joey post-sync, ocean, happy ending."

"I swear, you're younger than she is." Joey leaned over and took the plastic shovel out of Chris's hand. "She at least has some sort of respect for her own dignity."

"She's nine years old. Everyone has dignity at nine. Hell, when you're nine, it's all about the dignity. You get to be my age, you can throw dignity out the window." Chris handed Briahna the bucket. "Go and pick up some more water, will you, honey? We need to wet down the ramparts."

Briahna took the bucket, gave Chris a happy grin, and ran down to the edge of the water to catch one of the waves. Joey gave Chris a look that was fondness tinged with exasperation. "I'm pretty sure that building sand castles is supposed to be limited to those who are not yet old enough to vote."

"Yeah," Chris said. "But you have to admit that it's nice to finally be able to sit on the beach building sand castles without having to worry about security or crazy fans."

"Yeah," Joey echoed. "But not as nice as being able to do this." He leaned over. Chris had managed to get sand in his goatee somehow, God only knew how, and the grains were rough under Joey's lips. Chris smiled and poured a handful of sand over Joey's knee. Joey thought again how nice it was to not have to look around for the flash of a camera's bulb and rested his head on Chris's shoulder.

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