Justin Timberlake and NSync
Justin Timberlake and *NSync appear at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards show Sunday night. Reuters

While 1990s boy band fans were thrilled to see the quintet of NSync get together during Justin Timberlake’s performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sunday night, many fans were wondering why their reunion was so brief.

They weren’t the only ones. Apparently the boys of NSync were hoping to share the stage with their ex-bandmate and Video of the Year winner Timberlake a bit longer, Us Magazine reported Monday.

"The guys wished it could have been more songs," an insider told the celebrity magazine. "[Timberlake] told them to trust him, he was going to make it great."

Clearly, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and J.C. Chasez would be riding Timberlake’s coattails if the band reunited for another album or tour, considering they were only on stage for a short time and Timberlake went on to perform “Mirrors” in its entirety by himself.

"They were pushing for more," the source continued. "While he was thrilled they could come for him, he didn't want the reunion to be the whole thing. They originally were told that it was going to be more of their old hits, not just 'Bye, Bye,Bye' --- but then Justin reworked it."

During the nearly 17-minute segment, Timberlake sang parts of his solo hits "Take Back the Night," "Sexy Back," "My Love," "Cry Me a River," "Señorita," "What Goes Around Comes Around" and "Rock Your Body" before NSync joined him for bits of "Gone” and "Girlfriend" before rocking out to "Bye, Bye, Bye." The four others left after being on stage with JT for just two minutes.

But the insider told Us Weekly the guys had a great time, regardless of how long they performed with Timberlake. "They loved being all back together," the source added. "It felt like the old days!"

Timberlake wound up winning four Moonmen on Sunday, including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, which he thanked NSync for his solo success. "Half of the Moonmen I ever won, I won with [NSync]," the singer said. "I'm going to share this with them."