Slippery When Wet

The guys arrived at Polygram early two days later to see the mock up but what Jon didn’t realize this was going to be the cover of the album no matter what.

“What do you mean that this will be it? I don’t even get to sign it off?” Jon asked peeved.

“No they told me to give them the picture and the negatives so they could put it all together Jon.” Mark told him as he stood a good couple of feet away from him.

“You got to be Fucking Me! What if they mess this one up too then what?” Jon asked him.

“Well then you have your choice of which album cover you want to go out. They’re not destroying the others until you make up your mind in which cover you want to use. So you need to make a choice today or they’ll make it for you.” Mark explained to him.

The guys were talking amongst themselves as Jon was pacing around the room. Finally they looked over to Jon and they decided to let him come to them. They all sat down at the conference table and waited for the runner to come in with the new cover. Finally about a half hour later, which felt like hours to Jon, the door opened with a package for them. Richie brought it over to Jon so he could open it.

“Ok Kidd here you go. You do the honors.”

Jon took the package and unwrapped the brown paper and then opened the Polygram box. He then slid out the album cover and they all just stood there and smiled as they looked at what was the new Bon Jovi album cover called Slippery When Wet.   

“Well guys what do you think?” Jon asked them. They all started to talk all at once all complementing on it as it was simple but saying what they wanted it too. And in the album slip cover had the photos of the car wash with the girls all wet with the tee-shirts advertising with the Slippery When Wet logos on them right across the girls chests.

As all this was going on Mark was looking on and had to let the big shots know if this was a go or not. “You know I would love just to hang around here but Jon I need an answer so we can get these pressed or not.”

“Oh yeah right. Go ahead we’ll take this one.” he told him a lot more happy.

“Ok then I’ll let them know and they’ll get going on this one. They should be happy about this and it should shut them up. So why don’t you guys go home for the next couple of weeks while they print these up and get them all ready to ship alright. Because you guys are going to be so busy it’s going to make your heads spin. This is it guys this is the one we all can feel it you watch. I just hope you’re all ready for this.” Mark told them as he left them.

**********************************************************************

It was already the afternoon and Ellie was exhausted. Janice had the morning off for personal reasons and just came in and had gotten settled as Jimmy came running in.

“Mommy! Janice is here!” he yelled.

As she was walking in the foyer, “Thank You Jimmy I heard you from a mile away.” She told him with a stern face.

“Oh sorry Mommy.” He told her with his big blue eyes just like his Dads.

“Oh you are So much like your Father it’s not funny.” She said smiling. “Hi Janice I hope everything is fine.” She asked her.

“Oh yes everything is I just needed to have a follow up on a few things that my doctor needed to check nothing to serious.” Janice told her.

“Yeah my parents go about every two months themselves to have their vitals checked too. They both have high blood pressure and he just needs to keep an eye on that. If Jon had it his way he wouldn’t tell me because it would be like pulling teeth for him to tell me anything. In fact I think the guys in the band would know before I would.” She told Janice as her eyes rolled in the back of her head.

“Well that’s not right. You’re supposed to have trust in a relationship, so he doesn’t trust you?” she asked her curious.

“No he trusts me but he’s a man he just doesn’t think Janice. Maybe your generation talked to each other but it’s hard for him to. His parents aren’t the greatest role models so he grew up not knowing how to communicate properly.” She explained to her.

“Well that’s too bad because he seems like such a nice young man from what I seen on television.” She told Ellie.   

“Oh he is wait til you meet him. He’s supposed to be home in a few days for a couple of weeks at least that’s what he said.” She was telling Janice as Jimmy was shaking her. “What is it Honey?”

“Buddy has to go out.” He told her pointing towards the kitchen.

“Didn’t we just take him out?” she asked him mystified.

“No that was this morning Mom now it’s later. Come on before he has an accident.” Jimmy told her as he was jumping around.

Ellie took his hand and they all went into the kitchen. They took Buddy out as Janice started to ask the cook what was for dinner and for her to start it. In the meantime a car drove up and Jon got out of the car as the driver helped him out with his luggage and went up to the door so he could open it. Entering the foyer the driver put the luggage down and Jon thanked him for everything. Looking around he didn’t see anyone around but he knew someone had to be home because he could smell food coming from the kitchen. So he thought he would go in there to surprise her seeing that he didn’t tell her that he was coming home early. Walking in to see the love of his life he was surprised himself when he saw two other women, older women, working in the kitchen but Ellie was nowhere to be found.

“Um excuse me but I’m looking for my fiance Ellie and my son?” Jon asked then confused.

Janice turned around and saw Jon standing there looking like a larger version of Jimmy except with long hair. “You must be Jon. Hello I’m Janice Black I’m your son’s Nanny.” She told him as she held out her hand.

“Hi you don’t know where Ellie is by any chance do you?” he asked her as he was still looking around.

“Yes I do they took the dog outside to do his business.” She told him.

“Thank you I’ll just go out there and surprise them then.” he told her as he went out the kitchen door. He was still a little uncomfortable with the fact the Ellie had hired Janice without him but he was also proud of her at the same time. That she could do things without him made him feel comfort in the fact that she could take care of them both when he wasn’t around. He walked a ways out when in the distance he saw them at the edge of the wooded area. When all of a sudden he heard a cry.

“DADDY!” Jimmy screamed as he saw him standing in their distance by the big maple tree watching them. He took off like a rocket and Buddy followed as both raced to reach Jon first. Squatting Buddy won as Jimmy was catching up as Ellie was yelling to becareful. She was smiling from ear to ear but she was walking only to give them some Father and Son time even thou she couldn’t wait to grab him herself. She needed to touch him badly, to kiss him and a few other things that would have to wait til later.

“Hey little man how are you?” Jon asked him as he picked him up and gave him a big hug. Buddy upped up on the two of them as to say ‘Hey I’m here too.’ “Hey I know you’re here too Buddy just give me a chance will ya.” Jon told him as he gave him a rub on the head. He looked up as Ellie was making her way towards them as he smiled. To him she couldn’t have looked more beautiful to him.

“Hey there handsome you weren’t supposed to come home for a few more days what did we do to deserve this?” she asked him as she reached him and was able to give him a kiss as he laid one on her.

“Well they we got the album cover finally agreed upon after the fiasco that it caused so they let us go a few days early anything wrong with that?” he asked her playing with her hair.

“No but now I’m going to have to tell my boyfriend not to come over seeing that you came home earlier than expected.” She giggled.

“Oh really?” Jon asked as he slapped her on her ass.

“Owe! You know I was kidding Jon!” She squealed as she jumped about five feet.

“Well that’s what you get for being a brat.” He told her while laughing. “Oh and I hope you bought lots of lotion because you’re going to need it Babe.” As he winked at her. She just gave him the stink eye back at him and shooked her head.

“Come on let’s go back in before I show you a thing or two Pal.” She told him as she grabbed his arm.

“Oh about that I met Janice inside she seemed…nice.” He said.

Ellie looked up at him with a curious look. “Ok? And that’s supposed to mean what Jon?” she wanted to know.

“Nothing really all it means is she seems nice. I’ll know more later ok? Babe please I really don’t need any shit right now.” He said as she cut in.

“Whoa I’m not giving you any shit why do you think that?” she asked him already getting on the defensive.

“Ok time out. I didn’t mean anything by it, I’m just tired that’s all and by the way you look I can see you don’t feel so hot do you?” he asked her.

“Well no but I think I can manage a few things when a certain little boy goes to bed and if another little boy wants to say give a certain person say a back massage that may lead to something else. And may want to do most of the work if that person still needs some help but still be a little horny because the really sucks to not feel good but feel horny at the same time you know?’ she told him.

Putting his arms around her, “Well we wouldn’t want that person to feel horny and not feel good at the same time now would we? So I guess I’m just going to have to fix this right?” as he was smiling like a loon.

“Ok then just don’t say it.” She told him smiling.

“Who me? Nah. I won’t say that a man’s gotta do what man’s gotta do. Or it’s a dirty job but someone’s gotta go it.” As he was chuckling.

“Oh Lordy you are bad you do know that right?” she giggled

“Yeah but you love me anyway.” He told her grinning.

Just then Jimmy yelled, “Come On! Stop Kissing and let’s go back in!”

They laughed and followed him and Buddy into the house where Janice had a snack for him ready. Janice took his coat and waited for theirs when Ellie told her that they would bring the coats to the foyer only because they had to get Jon’s luggage and bring it upstairs anyway and if she could stay with Jimmy and the dog. As they left Jon noticed that Jimmy was eating carrot sticks and drinking his milk as they were leaving the kitchen. Putting away the coats and grabbing his luggage they headed to their bedroom.   

Inside as Jon putting his bag on the chair he looked at Ellie and smiled. He really forgot how beautiful she was. Walking over to her he wrapped his arms around her again and this time he wasn’t going to let her go.

“Hey whatcha doing there handsome?” she asked him.

“Well if you have to ask then I’m doing it wrong.” He told her as he leaned down and kissed her like her life depends on it.

Parting she thought she was floating on air. “Oh my what brought that on?” she asked him as she was still a little light headed.

“What I can’t kiss my girl that I haven’t seen in like a million years.” He said as he groped her.

“Oh please I’m not complaining but we do have people here and we really can’t get anything going right now even thou I would love to throw you down and rip off your clothes right now.” She told him as she was just about writhing on him.

Smiling widely, “Yeah I can see that so get rid of them so there’s just the three of us then I can tire out our son so we can have our adult time what do you say?” he asked her as he went in the nibble her neck.

“Oh God I forgot how convincing you can be. But you weren’t supposed to be here for another few days Jon. You just want me to tell the staff they’re off early?” she asked him.

“Yeah why not they’re going to get paid so what’s the big deal?” he asked her confused.

Ellie thought about it and she knew he was right. “Huh I guess you’re right. You see what you do to me you get me all fluster you big hunk.” She giggled.

Jon lunged at her but she tried to dodge him but it didn’t work as he grabbed her and she got into a fit of giggles. “Jon stop it! That tickles!” she yelled.

“Well it’s your fault for calling me a hunk.” He laughed back. As he was tickling her they didn’t see a little head peak in and was watching them and he was also laughing so he ran in to get in on it too.

“Daddy tickle me too!” Jimmy yelled.

Both Jon and Ellie saw him jumping up and down yelling so Jon stopped and looked at Ellie who nodded her head yes and Jon grabbed him and started to tickle the crap out of his son. Well Jimmy started to scream with joy and laughing hysterically as his Dad was tickling him as Ellie was watching and laughing and couldn’t have been more happier in her life to watch this interaction with both loves of her life.  

Jon had taken his shower and had failed miserably to convince Ellie to join him. But he had cleaned up nicely for dinner. After dinner Jon asked Ellie to bring the staff together so they could speak to them. Once everything was done and before everyone was to leave they had gotten together and told them that since Jon had come home early they wouldn’t need them the extra days but thank you and well see you in two weeks. But you will get paid for the entire time. Jon just wanted family time alone that’s all with no one around so he could just be himself and relax without any eyes on him or his family. Maybe when this was all over with and the tour then that would be fine but right now they could handle it together, alone and that’s just the way he wanted it for now.

After everyone left he and Jimmy took Buddy out a walk while Ellie made herself a cup of tea. She was sitting in the kitchen sipping on her tea when her boys came in laughing.

“So what’s so funny?” she asked them.

“Mommy Buddy ran after a squirrel it was so funny.” Jimmy told her.

“Really? So why is that?” she them.

“Mommy because he chased him to the tree and ran all around it chasing him in circles that’s why.” He told her not understanding why she wasn’t getting it.

“Oh silly me.” She said as she looked at Jon who was laughing now at her.

“Yeah Mom get with it will yeah.” Jon said chuckling. Ellie stuck out her tongue at him. “You keep doing that and I’ll show you what I’ll do with that.” He winked at her.

Shaking her head then looking at Jimmy, “Ok young man time for your bath.”

“Oh Mom come on Dad’s home can’t I stay up a little while longer pleaseee.” He begged her.

“No. Look Daddy’s home for the next two weeks so you’ll have plenty of time with him ok? Now march yourself up those stairs and I’ll be right there.” She told him.

He begrudgingly started for the stairs when Jon spoke up. “Hey there little man wait up. I think it’s time you started to take showers what do you think?” Jon asked him.

“Really? Yeah can I? Mommy please? I’m a big boy now I’m seven and can Daddy come with me?” he asked her.

Ellie just looked at Jon, “Well I guess it would be ok you are getting older now so go with Daddy.” She told him with a heavy heart.

They went back upstairs so Jon could show his son how to shower properly as a boy should. Once they were out of ear shot Ellie just sat there and tears started to roll down her face as she wiped them away. She didn’t think it would hit her like this but she knew that one day Jimmy wouldn’t want her for certain aspects of his life. She took a deep breath but kept on wiping the tears from her face when she started to chuckle. When she had Jimmy she thought that her Dad or her brothers would be the ones teaching him the things that boys should know. She never dreamt that Jon would be around to do this. She knew she had to get out of this frame of mind and fast before she scared the two of them. She knew how blessed she was and thanked her lucky stars that he walked into Zayre’s that day.

“Mommy! Mommy! Look at me.” He yelled to her as he came running up to her.

“Well look at you all nice and clean. And I see Daddy even combed your hair nice.” She said looking at Jon.

“Yep but can I grow my hair long like Daddy’s?” he asked her innocently.

“What?” she said not knowing what the hell to say back.

“I want to grow my hair long like Daddy’s” Jimmy told her as Jon just stood there even with his mouth open shaking his head and putting up his arms and hands.   

“Oh sure why not and how about we get you some tattoos too that should just about give your Grandfather a…” but Jon didn’t want her to finish that sentence.

“Ok Babe let’s not go there ok? Jimmy when you’re old enough like I was in my teens then we’ll talk about you growing your hair long like me ok but until then your hair is fine the way it is. I wore it like that at your age so you can alright. Now give Mommy a kiss and I’ll read you a story you still do that right?” he asked him. Jimmy shooked his head yes and Jimmy gave his Mom a kiss so they could go upstairs together. Ellie just shooked her head and went upstairs herself and swore to herself that she was never going to tell her parents that he said that to them. Even thou her Father grew to love Jon he wasn’t a fan at the time of the long hair, earrings and tattoos. He just never understood why boys wanted to look like girls and why girls were attracted to them. But of course his little Princess was nuts about Elvis and he started this whole thing but he was all man so and she was crazy for him since day one. Woman even then he never understood them. He just hoped someday that Jimmy had a sister to put those two thru the same thing she had put them thru he had told his daughter. She shivered at the thought.

Jon had finished reading to Jimmy and tucked him in. He really missed these times with him so much. He was growing like a weed and he was missing it even thou Ellie was sending pictures and film of him when she could. He kissed his son on the cheek and turned off the light and as he was walking down the hall he saw a light on in their room. So he went to see what she was doing and as he went in she had her tea and was reading a book.

“Hey Babe whatcha doing?” he asked her looking at her in such a way that it should have given her shivers but she really wasn’t paying attention.

“Just reading why?” she answered all innocently.

Jon just shooked his head and sauntered into the room and walked over to the bed and sat next to her.  Taking her book and putting it on the side table, “Well I just put Jimmy down and now we have the rest of the night for the two of us so what do you think I want?” he said looking at her as he started to fiddled with her t-shirt.

Looking back at him, “Well Jon how would I know we haven’t been together in how long? I think you’re going to have to remind me.” She told him as she ran her fingers up and down his chest.

“Oh really? Well I think your better at this than you think. What do you say you let me take off my boots then I start taking a few things off of you?” he said as he leaned in and started to kiss her neck as she started to let out little moans.

“That sounds nice.” As she was in another world. He instead started to kick his boots off not wanting to move as they went flying on the floor. He then needed to get her shirt off and started to pull it over her head and was surprised she didn’t have her bra on.

“No bra Babe?” he asked her happily. “Were you like this all day?” he wanted to know.

“Um yeah why it’s my house.” She told him.

“Yeah I know but you didn’t know I was coming home.” He told her surprised.

“Jon I don’t wear one a lot so? I don’t like them I only wear it if I go out. What’s the matter with you I didn’t think you cared?” She said to him.

“No I don’t and believe me it’s a nice surprise I just didn’t realize it I guess. Never mind I have other ideas right now and it goes something like this.” as he latched on to one of her nipples as she cooed. It didn’t take him that much longer for him to take the rest of her clothes off or his.

He went slow with his kisses as he held her tight. They were just rediscovering each other touching, feeling, and kissing everywhere they could. Jon wanted to make this last as long as he could and wanted to listen to her purr as he caressed her where he knew she loved it the most.

He whispered to her, “Are you ok?”

“I couldn’t be any better how about you?” she asked him.

“I couldn’t be any happier Baby. Can I ask you a question thou without you biting off my head?” he asked as he was caressing her up and down.

“Yeah sure what?” she told him smiling.

“Are you losing any weight? Because you feel smaller.” He asked her concerned.

“Just a few pounds no big deal. Yeah Sweetie I need you really really bad so do you want to talk about this or would you rather make love to me? Because right now I’m about to jump out of my skin.” She told him as she started to lick his nipple. He took a breath and rolled her on her back and slowly entered her. He was going to take this just as slow as everything else until she screamed for more. And once they were thru he would do it to her again and again until they couldn’t see straight. Finally she passed out in his arms as he smiled and as he drifted off he knew he was going to try and stretch the next two weeks out for as long as he could.  

Pink?

About a week later Jon was in the record company freaking out because they had sent over the workup of the cover version of the new album Slippery When Wet cover.

“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!!!!” Jon screamed when he saw the album cover.

“Jon you need to calm down. They can fix it right?” Richie asked him just as upset as he was. The others were sitting there in shock when the record executive was making calls to see if he could get in touch with headquarters as the lead singer was freaking out due to the album cover wasn’t what he had approved earlier.

“Rich they already sent out about over I don’t know several thousand copies to Japan already with the God Damn Pink Border! We can’t let this out anywhere else this will kill us! Who was the moron who did this? I never approved this!” Jon was still very upset and couldn’t calm down.

Some idiot in the art department thought that matching the pink lip stick and nail polish on the model would be a great idea and put the border around the album also in hot pink and apparently the back of the album. Jon knew if this got out it would ruin everything that he had worked for. Finally the President of PolyGram told them that they could do up a new cover for the album but only had a deadline of six hours to come up with something new and told Jon to get going on something fast as he had to destroy about half a million covers before they shipped them out to the US or they were going to use what they had. The guys were shooting ideas back and forth between each other even to the point of suggesting shooting a white cover to even a black cover. Jon got so frustrated that he needed to take a break.

“Alright guys we have been going at this for what three and a half hours now? Why don’t we take a break and be back here say in twenty minutes ok?” he suggested to them. They all agreed and went to stretch their legs. Taking a bathroom break and then walking back into the room Jon picked up the phone and dialed home.

“Hello?” as she sounded winded.

“Ellie are you ok?” Jon asked concerned.

“Oh Hi Sweetie. Yeah I’m fine I just ran in here that’s all. I was chasing Buddy that’s all. He’s in his chewing stage right now.” She told him. “JIMMY! Come And Get Buddy Right Now!” she yelled for him.

“I see your having the same kind of day that I’m having.” He told her smiling.

“Why is someone chewing your stuff too?” she giggled at him.

“Sort of hey wait a minute Buddy didn’t chew anything of mine did he?” he just realized.

“No of course not. All of your stuff is put away. Not like mine. He already has put a hole in one of my favorite sweaters and my jeans. Oh and he was working on my jacket just now that’s why I was chasing him. I had put it on the chair as he pulled it to the floor as I was getting Jimmy so we could take him out to do his business. Which by the way it looks as we’re too late now.” She told him as Jimmy ran into the room.

“I’m here Mommy. Oops is Buddy in trouble?” Jimmy asked his Mom.

Turning to face her son, “What do you think young man?” Jon could hear the exchange going on and really was glad he wasn’t there. He could hear Jimmy trying to make every excuse in the book for Buddy and was laughing as Ellie could hear him thru the phone. “Ok just take Buddy to the kitchen and get him some food and his water ok? And bring me some paper towels so I can get started to clean this up ok?” she told her son as he grab Buddy and they went quickly.

“Ok trouble maker I can hear you laughing.” She told him in her Mom voice.

“I’m sorry Baby I really am but I so needed that you don’t know. Look I don’t have much longer to talk the guys will be back shortly but go easy on them ok it was my fault that Buddy did what he did because I distracted you from taking him out.” He told her.

“Oh I know but I still have to give them both something to think about. Don't worry I won’t punish them have you seen either of them look at you when they’re in trouble? Yeah you try it. I do it but it’s real hard. If I was a real meany that dog would be dead by now. But those damn brown eyes of his God I thought between yours and Jimmy’s blue ones were bad but he looks like he’s about to cry if you yell at him.” She told him.

“Yeah well I would love to find out but right now I have my own problems.” He said as he inhaled.

“Jon are you smoking?” she asked him curiously.

“Um who me?” he said to her knowing that he was going to get a lecture.

“Oh Honey, ok you really must be stressed out if you lit up. What’s going on?” she asked him concerned now.

“You’re not going to yell at me? Wow ok well let’s just say they fucking screwed up the cover to the new album we wanted so now we have less than four hours left to come up with something else for it. I mean they had a pink border with a pink back to it Babe. That would destroy us as a Rock Group! I mean PINK!” he told her freaking out.

“Jon you need to calm down.” She told him concerned.

“I’m so fucking tired of people telling me to calm the hell down!” he exclaimed into the phone.

Ellie knew that wasn’t really meant for her. She knew he was upset at what was going on. “Ok I’m going to let that go because you’re upset. Sweetie but you do need to calm down so take a deep breath and let it out and if you can’t use this cover I want you to try a visualize what the new cover of the album could look like. I know you can do it. You just need to sit with the guys and talk it out and figure out what you guys want it to say that’s all. If you can’t use the first one then what can the second one say that the first one couldn’t. Maybe something simple and you just can’t see it yet because you are so upset. So have your smoke and try and shake it off. And if you want to yell at me some more go ahead if you think it will help.” She told him.

He couldn’t believe what he just heard. “Ellie no I don’t want to yell at you anymore but thank you for offering. You know nobody has ever offer to let me yell at them but I am sorry that I did.” He told her.

“It’s ok I know it wasn’t directed at me Jon.” she told him happily.

“No it wasn’t it’s just that I’m so damn frustrated but hearing your voice and encouraging words well…I never got that before with you know who so thank you again.” He told her as the guys started to pile back into the room. “Hey Babe the guys are coming back in now so I have to go I love you so much I’ll be seeing soon so…I gotta go give Jimmy a kiss for me, Bye.” As he hung up.

Richie walked over to him, “Do I have to guess who you were talking to?”

“No.” he said as he dragged out his cigarette and put it out in the ash tray.

“So have you calmed down any since we left or are you more wound up than ever since you’ve talked to her?” Richie asked him as he winked at him.

“Oh shut the hell up shit head. I’m fine just fine. She actually helped me out, so come on let’s sit down and see what we can put together.” He told him encouragingly.

The guys sat there trying to come up with different things to put on the cover before the deadline so Mark could photograph it within the two hours that were left. Jon was getting wound up all over again when he remembered what Ellie told him so he sat down and closed his eyes and pictured the cover as the guys were still arguing over the colors of the album. David wanted it White as Richie kept saying that’s what the Beatles did so they couldn’t do a white album. So he suggested a black album and Alec asked them with the black album what would they put on it? Should they still use the girl? And again they started to argue when Richie noticed that Jon was sitting in the chair with his eyes closed. But just before Richie had a chance to go over to him and ask what the hell he was doing, Jon jumped and yelled.

“I got it!” he screamed.

“Again! Do you want me to get Bozzett and the Rid X because last time you were covered man.” Alec yelled back at him thinking the worst.  

“Nooo! Fuck You Such! I got the album cover. Tico get Mark in here now!” he asked as he was about jumping up and down.

“Ok then I’m out of here!” Alec said and left.

“Jon let him go and what the hell man you want to fill us in or what?” Richie asked him.

“In a minute but right now...(he said as in was looking around the room for something that he could use)hey Dave could you see if you could find me a spray bottle of some kind I need it so I can fill it with water.” he asked him.

“Yeah sure no problem, I’ll be right back.” Dave told him as he went to find one.

“Jon what are you thinking of?” Richie asked him.

“It’s all for the cover but right now I need something black and that will hold water.” He told Richie.

“Ok like a plate? Or something plastic?” he suggested.

“Yeah but it needs to be black.” He told him. They both were looking around the room as Dave came back in with what was a Windex bottle.

“Hey Jon will this do because this is all I could find on short notice.” He told him.

“Yeah that will do. Could you clean it out and make sure there are no bubbles or soap suds in it I need just plain water in it ok?” he asked him.

“No problem.” Dave told him and off he went.

Just then Richie yelled over to him, “Hey Jon would a garage bag do?”

“What do you mean?” he wanted to know.

“You know a Hefty garage bag. They come in white and black.” Richie told him.

Jon walked over to him and the janitors must have left extra bags lying around in case anyone needed to refill the waste paper baskets.

“Yeah the black will do just fine. Now all we need is Mark. Where the hell is he?” Jon wanted to know.

“He’ll be here in a minute.” Tico said as he walked in.

“Where the hell is he?” Jon asked him.

“He stopped off in the office to make a phone call, so what are you guys doing?” Tico asked them.

“Jon is putting some stuff together for…what are you doing again Jon?” David asked him.

“I have an idea for the cover of the album but it won’t ever get done if Mark doesn’t get in here.” Jon said as he was bouncing now so Tico walked up to him to try and calm him down.

“Jon sit down please or you’re going to put a hole in the ceiling.” He told him.

“Sorry Tic but I can’t stay still we have less than a couple of hours and we need to get going on this.” he said as Mark finally walked in with his camera in his hand.

“So what’s up guys? Have we finally figured out what we’re going to do?” he asked them.

“Yes we have so get your camera ready because this is going to be the shot.” Jon told him. As Jon spread the black hefty bag on the table and sprayed it with the water bottle he wetted it down really good. Then he had Richie and Dave hold the bag as tight as they could and with his fingers wrote Slippery When Wet on it.

“Ok Mark take the picture before it distorts because this is going to be the cover.” They all looked at him like he had two heads. “Just take the damn picture will you!” Jon said loudly. So Mark got on a chair and took the picture to what was become the bestselling album of nineteen eighty-six and beyond. No one knew that this album would sell twelve times Platinum in the years to come.

Mark took the film so he could get it developed as soon as possible so he headed over to Mercury to get this done. He wanted to be able to hand them the negative’s so they could work on it. Jon and the guy’s headed back to Number Five Orange to have a drink and to try and relax after the day they had and they really needed it. While they were watching the girls strip and soap themselves up Jon saw this one watching him and was getting a really bad feeling about it. Right about the third round he saw her talking with a few others and she was now pointing to him and they were smiling and giggling.

“Richie, Richie! I need to ask you a question can you take your damn eyes off of her for a second and answer a question for me please?” Jon asked him annoyed.

Turning around against his will, “What Kidd can’t you see I’m busy man?” He said back just as annoyed with him.

“Too bad, why is that girl looking and pointing at me like that?” he asked him concerned.

Richie looked over to see what the hell he was talking about when he nearly spit out his drink. ‘Oh crap’ he said to himself.

“Which one are you talking about Jon?” he asked him nervously.

“The one over there in the red outfit. He told him.

“Oh that one. Yeah well you remember her don’t you? She was the one you well you know one of the ones you were fooling around with.” Richie told him carefully.

“What? Oh crap really? I was pretty drunk then you know? I don’t really remember much then oh shit. But why is she looking at me like that and laughing?” he wanted to know. “Did I do something stupid?”

“I doubt it it’s probably what Tico told her.” He told him ready to run from him.

“Huh? What do you mean what Tico told her.  What the hell did he say to her Rich?” Jon wanted to know now.

“No you really don’t want to know what he told her believe me you’ll just get really pissed.” He told him getting off his stool.

“Richie what did he say!” he demanded now.

As he gulped and mapped out his escape route, “He told her that we were a couple and that Ellie was just a ruse for the Paps so they would stay off of our trail. Ok gotta go.” As he tried to get past him but Jon got in his way.

“He what?” Jon demanded.

“You know for a little guy you really know how to get in the way don’t you? Look go ask Tico he’s the one who told her. She was going to tell Ellie everything about you two and he put a stopped to it. And to be truthful I’m surprised she didn’t go to the press with it.” He told him smiling a little now.

Jon stood there and couldn’t believe they told her that he was gay. “Wh…what, why? I mean just why didn’t you guys threaten her or something to keep her quiet? Why did you have to tell her we were gay? And I’m not little!” he shot back.

“Ok homophobic much?” he asked him.

“RICHIE!” Jon shouted.

“Sorry but chill ok? Look we’re not going to be here that much longer and things will pass ok? Besides I don’t see that other one here that you were fooling around with and if she comes back she’ll straighten everything out, right?” he asked Jon.

“Look she won’t be back I sent her somewhere else where she can’t talk but the pay is a lot better and she doesn’t have to strip down like this. So no she won’t talk. But all that one wanted was a raise and I got that for her so she shouldn’t have been threatening me at all. I should have a talk with her.” Jon said pissed.

“Jon no like I said Tico took care of it and she probably knows the deal anyways. So just leave it ok.” Richie told him.

“Fine but if she starts anything so help me Rich.” He told him finishing his drink.

The guys just tried to finish their drinks despite what Jon had learned but he just couldn’t relax now. Finally he excused himself and told them he was going back to the hotel to try and relax there where he wouldn’t be gawked at. Once Jon returned to the hotel he was too tired to call Ellie so he just went to bed. He would call her sometime tomorrow when he got the chance. Plus he had to see the mockup of the album cover. He just hoped it came out the way he wanted it too. 

Getting Closer to the FInish

A few months had gone by and Ellie had brought Jimmy back home weeks after her Mother’s attack and she needed to get him back to some semblance of a normal life. Her Mother was home and she had gotten her settled before she had left but was still uneasy when she left. But she knew she had to as she was getting her life settled in New Jersey. The only thing missing was her guy. But she knew New Jersey was the place he wanted to be settled in and her parents always told her that you go with the man that you loved. Why did they always have to be right? She was lonely there but she didn’t want to bitch to him about it and make her “one of those women” who always bitch to their men about every single thing that bothers them. It was bad enough that she didn’t see enough of him as it was. So she just went along with him as if nothing was wrong when he called.

In the meantime Carol had been driving Jon crazy about seeing her Grandson again and he had to tell her that he wasn’t going to be home for a while and she didn’t understand why they couldn’t go over there as long as John Sr. was with her. Jon had told her no that he had to be there or Ellie would have a fit. She just wasn’t ready yet to have them over without him not being there yet and she would have to understand or things would go back to the way they were. He also told her that he wanted to be there because he wasn’t sure either as she would have to stop calling him or he would make the decision not to let her see him. Carol finally gave in but didn’t like it.

Jon wanted to scream as he hung up the phone from his Mom. He thought they had explained everything to her when he left there for Vancouver but apparently again she only heard what she wanted too. He got up from his chair to grab a drink from behind the bar and poured him himself one when there was a knock at the door. He went over to answer it and when he opened it it was Richie.

“Hey Kidd what’s up?” he said as he walked in.

“Nothing much just same old shit with my Mom. What’s up with you?” he asked Rich.

Richie turning around, “Your Mom what’s up now?”

“Oh she’s bitching that I won’t let her go over to the house without me and see Jimmy. I really don’t need Ellie bitching at me that I told Mom that she could go and see him without me there you know?” he said taking a slug of the golden liquor coating his throat on the way down.

“You’re shitting me? Yeah Ellie would have a bird all right. You got anymore of that stuff?” he asked Jon.

“Yeah behind the bar.” He told him. ”Help yourself.”

Pouring himself one too, “So you’re not going to tell her are you?” Rich asked.

“Who Ellie? Hell no do you think I’m stupid!” Jon looked at him.

“Hey just asking Kidd. Oh by the way did you get the call from Mark? They want to start taking pictures for the cover of the album. He said he has some ideas that he wants to run by us.” Rich said.

“Yeah I did, he told me a couple of them and I’m not too sure about them but Mark said to keep an open mind about them. That’s why I’m drinking now maybe if I have a hangover I’ll have more of an open mind.” Jon told Richie in a sarcastic way.

“Why were they that bad?” Richie wanted to know.

“No I guess not but one of them he wants to shoot a girl with big tits and wear one of the Slippery When Wet t-shirts for the cover of the album. That’s going to set off red flags with the PMRC but I’ll see how it looks when they show us the finished product.” He said taking his last gulp and getting up to get another glass full.

“Really? Yeah that’s going to be sketchy to say the least. Depending on how much skin we’re willing to show on it and cleavage we may be pushing it.” Richie said sneering.

Looking at his best friend and chuckling, “Get your mind out of the gutter will you? This may be what makes us or breaks us dumbass. So we need to play this just right.” He told him taking a sip of his drink this time.

“Oh this coming from our Captain who didn’t want to put Living on the album.” Richie whined to him.

“Yeah exactly. I’m still not sure about that.” He told him giving him the stink eye.

“Well those kids thought it was a good idea didn’t they?” he gloated.

“Yeah, yeah well we’ll see now won’t we?” Jon moaned.

“You still have something stuck up your ass what it is?” Richie wanted to know.

Looking at him defeated. “We’re not going to have much time at home before we’re off on the tour you know? And I might have not told Ellie about it yet?” he told him.

“You haven’t told her yet? How the hell couldn’t you tell her? She’s going to be pissed Jon! It’s bad enough she’s trying to get adjusted to this life style but you’re not helping by not telling her stuff like your schedule man. She’s stuck in that house with your son all by themselves, what the hell were you thinking?” Richie asked him all upset.

“I know ok? She’s going to be pissed at me I get it. I just didn’t know how to tell her and well the days just kind of crept up on me and with all this shit going on with Doc and doing the new album well you know I just didn’t want to deal with it that’s all.” He told him as he ran his hand thru his hair.

“Oh that’s just great Kidd she’s going to love that. So what songs do you want us to sing at your funeral? Because she’s going to kill you.” Richie told him wincing.

“Oh gee thanks for the support.” Jon told him as he gave him the Jersey salute.

“Hey you’re the one that got yourself into this mess. It’s not my fault that you can’t be honest with your woman.” Rich said to him as he took a sip of his drink.

“Oh don’t even go there Rich.” Jon said to him pissed now.

“Hey after all the shit that you have put us thru trying not to tell her don’t even say that Jon.” Rich thru back at him. “Have you even told her that Dorothea is here as one of the damn models with Mark? That’s not going to go over with her.” Richie pointed out.

“No I haven’t told her yet because I haven’t spoken to her yet. Plus I have no way of telling her that she’s here. How the hell am I supposed to tell her that anyway? ‘Oh Baby guess what my ex is here as a model in a little bikini flirting with me.’ Yeah that’s going to go over real big.” Jon said sarcastically.

“Look Kidd just tell her because if you don’t and she hears it from someone else you’re dead. Look what happened the last time she found out.” he told him.

“Look I’ve been good since my last indiscretion haven’t I? You know how much I love Ellie and there’s no fucking way I’m going to lose my family because of it. But I also worked to damn hard to get where I am now and I’m not going to stop now and she’s just going to have to realize that.” He told him as he paced the floor.

“Well does she realize it, that is?” Richie wanted to know.

“We’ve talked about it. So yeah she does and she says she understands it. I’m here aren’t I?” he told him.

“Yeah but your guilty about it. I’ve never seen you guilty about it before. We’ve always come first and your relationships always came last. In fact all of our relationships have come last. The question is what is so special about this one Jon? Because you’ve heard everyone talking just like I have and they’re saying that this album may be the one. Everyone loves the songs on it and think we might have a couple on number ones on it. That this one just might put us on the map. So if it does then what are you going to tell her when we’re out on the road for let’s say two years. Because that’s what we’re looking at you know that. And your throat is going to get a work out so are you going to be able to handle that as well?” Richie wanted to know.  

Jon just looked at him and sighed. “You don’t think that all of those questions haven’t gone thru my mind like a thousand times Rich? You don’t think that I’m scared of each and every single one of them. My voice of maybe losing it? I guess maybe we can work something out and if you guys help me when it gets horse and maybe trying not to talk when we’re off and stuff. And as for Ellie just try and be honest with her as much as possible. I can’t lose her Rich I just can’t. I know what it’s like not having her in my life and I can’t go thru that again and I won’t fuck that up I love her too much.” He told him as he sat down in the chair and just stared at the floor.

Getting up and walking over to him and sitting on the arm rest, “Look Jon you won’t fuck this up as long as you tell her the truth ok? She loves you just as much as you love her. I see the way she looks at you. Believe it’s not how the groupies look at us. I would kill for someone to look and feel that way about me.” he told him as he patted him on the back.’

“You will man she may not be as special as my Ellie but you will.” Jon told him.

“And hey look as for the other stuff we’ll work everything out don’t worry about it ok? We’ll take care of it when and if it happens. We’ll always be there for you right? You do know that?” Richie asked him

“Yeah I do and Thanks.” Jon said to him.

**********************************************************************

Jon had gotten back from a day of shooting photos of him and the guys outside in a parking lot with a bunch of barely there women glad in nothing but bikini’s in the Slippery in Wet t-shirts washing cars in soap and water like a car wash with the guys also soaked and Jon in nothing but his shorts. Mark Weiss was doing the photography and knew what he wanted as he had done other photos the previous week in the studio. So Jon let him do this shoot also. He needed a shower badly when he got in because he was hot and smelling badly of sweat and whatever it was that they used to wash those damn cars with. Oh and whatever those girls used as perfume because they were all over them especially Dotty who was trying to get his attention and the others who were giggling as they thought splashing and throwing the buckets of water at each other were just so funny. It may have if Ellie was with them but it just was another dig that she wasn’t. He really needed her and not over the phone that was getting old.

After taking his shower and eating he was looking at the phone and he really needed to hear her voice. What he really needed was to feel her but he would take what he could right now. So he picked up the phone and called her. As it rang he was getting antsy and he really didn’t understand why. It’s not like he’s never talked to her before so why was he getting this feeling he thought? Just then the phone picked up.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Hey Babe how are you doing tonight?” he asked her nervously for some reason.

“Hey I’m doing good but I miss you.” She told him sighing.

“Yeah I miss you too. So how’s Jimmy doing? When is he getting out of school?” he asked her.

“Oh um Hon he got out last week I told you that don’t you remember?” she asked him worried.

“Oh you did? I must have forgotten. I’m sorry Babe I’ve just been under so much stress you know with the album and shit.” He told her.

“Hon it’s ok I understand you can’t keep track of everything.” She told him in an understanding voice.

“Well I should. You guys are just as important to me as the band and I should know what’s going on in your lives too. Some provider I am.” He said sadly.

“Hey are you looking for sympathy? Because I can’t give it you properly you know over the phone Sweetie. Plus you’re not one for not asking for it either so what’s up?” she asked him wondering.

“Can’t I just once miss you and be a little whinny about it?” he asked her a little put out about it.

“Yes but it’s really not you so did something happen today? Because I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me Jon?” she explained to him.

“No it’s just everything I guess. Just being away from the two of you this time it’s been how long?” he asked her.

“Two and half months and I know how you feel but something isn’t right so what’s going on? Is Doc making trouble again?” she asked him.

“No more than usual. I just miss you and Jimmy. You with me and waking up with me and going to bed with me. Look we had this photo shoot today and well we had to shoot with these girls in bikini’s as we were washing these cars and throwing the water around and acting like we were having fun. Ok so the guys were but I would have if you were there you know. I would have had more fun getting you all wet if you get my drift.” He growled at her.

“Yeah I get your drift you big faker. Like you didn’t have any fun. Girls in bikinis yeah like you didn’t have any fun. Jon in cases like that it’s ok to have a little fun as long as you don’t take it to the bedroom or anywhere else where you’re going to fuck one of the girls then it’s ok to have some fun. Do you understand that Honey?” she asked him.

“Yeah I think so. So if and when you see these pictures then you’re not going to freak out then?” he asked her.

“As long as you tell me first that I’m going to see them and not be surprised by them then yeah I’ll be fined and my imagination won’t run away from me yeah sure. I know you want me to get use to this life style and all the crap that goes along with it and I’m trying I really am. I’m seeing in the rags what’s going on in Vancouver and it looks like you guys are having a grand time there. It says Jon Bon Jovi this and Jon Bon Jovi that. And it’s killing me not to call you on all of it. So I’m trusting you on everything ok?” she told him.

“Have I told you yet how much I love you?” he asked her.

“Nope not yet.” She told him with a hint of a giggling.

“Ok then Elinore I love you so much and miss you I can’t wait to get you in my arms.” He told her as he choked up.

“Well what are you going to do with me once you get me in your arms Sweetie?” she asked him cooing back at him.

“Oh, oh, oh I think you have a pretty good idea what I’m going to do to you when I get ahold of you young lady. So you better have a lot of lotion on hand Baby because between your ass and wrists you’re going to need it.” He told her as he kept growling into the phone.

As she continued to giggle, “Well then it’s a good thing I hired that Nanny then or do you want to send Jimmy to the Sambora’s for the first couple of nights when you get back?” she asked him.

“Oh crap I totally forgot. Wait a minute you hired a Nanny without me?” he asked her surprised.

“Yeah why? I had too because you didn’t want Jared to keep taking him to school when I couldn’t did you? So I asked Joan to help me look for one and we went thru this agency that she recommended and with her help we got this great lady named Janice Black. Her credentials checked out. I did have Jared check them out too and they came back clean so I hired her. She’s in her late fifty’s and is grandmother oh and is divorced so it works out great.” She told him.

“Well what if we want to be alone?’ he asked her.

“Well we can always drop him of at the Sambora’s I told you that weren’t you listening to me?” she asked him.

“Um no I don’t think I heard you after you said you hired a nanny.” He told her honestly.

“Jon it’s ok she’s working out great and Jimmy loves her. And it’s good for me when I don’t feel good and for when I need to lay down and take a nap and she also over sees the staff for me. So what’s the problem? You aren’t here all the time and I needed to get this done and how were you going to help me hire someone when your miles away? Are you trying to tell me you don’t trust my judgment?” she asked him trying not to jump down his throat.

Thinking real quick so he wouldn’t get his balls chopped off, “No of course not Babe but you never did this before and there are a lot of well how can I put this…Whacko’s out there that’s all.” He told her trying to keep his calm.

And trying to keep her calm she said back to him, “I told you we went over her credentials and credit checks. I know what I’m doing Jon he is my son too especially after what I’ve been thru with these Whacko’s and don’t you think I would take the necessary measures to make sure that our son would be safe with some stranger?” she empathized to him.  

Jon knew he put his foot in his mouth. Now he had to figure out how he was going to get it out.

“Sorry it’s just that I’m not there and it’s driving me crazy especially that I’m not making all the arrangements like I should.” He explained to her.

Shaking her head to herself, “Jon why do you need to make all the arrangements yourself when I’m perfectly able to do it myself? I’m not an idiot you know?” she told him upset.

“I know you’re not and I don’t mean to make you feel that you are. It’s just that I’m the man and I’m supposed to take care of my family that’s all and right now I’m not doing such a great job of it.” He told her upset at himself.

“Jon how many times do I have to tell you that you do not have to take this on all by yourself? Being a family and at least with me is a team effort. So get use to it got it? Maybe in your family it might go that way but in my family my parents share the responsibility so in ours it will be the same ok?” she told him matter of fact.

“Well I guess you told me huh?” he said smiling but was glad she couldn’t see him.

“Yeah I did so what are you going to do about it Kidd?” she giggled.

“Kidd? Did you just call me Kidd? Oh, oh you are so going to be punished when I get home you do know that Elinore!” he told her in his deep whiskey voice.

“Oh you can try Bongiovi you can try.” She told him as she giggled more. They talked some more for about another half hour when Jon started to yawn and she told him that he should get some sleep.

“Yeah I really should but I need to tell you something before we hang up Babe.” He said.

“Ok what we’ve been talking for ages so what could you have left out?” she asked him.

“Look it wasn’t my idea ok? But our photographer Mark Weiss who is out of Jersey well he brought the models with him so he could photograph them for the album and promo pictures. Baby Dorothea is one of the damn models and I swear I didn’t interact with her at all. She tried but I just ignored her the whole time I swear.” He told her and waited to hear her reaction.

There was quiet on the other end of the phone that you could hear a pin drop. At first Jon thought she hung up the phone but then he remembered that he would hear a dial tone if she did. Calling her name a couple of times she finally said something to him.

“Yeah I’m still here. So she got to you thru your photographer huh?  And you waited to tell me at the end of our conversation to tell me? Well I’ll give you credit for telling me and that you seem upset that she was there. But it’s up to you Jon to do what you feel is right and what you want. Do you want a free life as a Rock and Roll life style or still have the Rock and Roll but as a committed man? So let me know what you decide ok because if you choose the first one I need time to pack us up so we can be out of here before you get home.” She told him direct.

“Oh God you are so dumb sometimes aren’t you! What have we been doing for the past hour and a half? And I told you how much I love you haven’t I? I want you dummy and only you. And yes I told you til the last minute because I’ve been going thru this in my head because I wanted to know how I was going to tell you and see I still didn’t say it right. You know she doesn’t mean anything to me so stop.” He said getting annoyed.

“Well then you should have led with this first so we could have gotten this out of the way first. Oh I have so much to teach you.” She told him snickering.

“Yeah get the lotion Babe you’re going to need it.” He said in his most demanding voice.

Heartache

  They were a happy little family until it came time for Jon to leave back for Vancouver. Jared had taken Jimmy to school this morning so Ellie and Jon could be alone until his ride came in a few hours. Ellie was loading the dishwasher when Jon walked up to her.

“Hey stop that for a minute will you?” he asked her as he turned her around. “I’m not too thrilled about this either and I don’t think Jimmy realized it so you’re going to have your hands full when he gets home Babe.” He told her worried about both of them.

Sighing, “I know so don’t worry about it I’ll take care of him. But you know I do have the right to feel bad I was just getting use to you again in the bed seeing that you hog it.” She said smiling.

“I do not hog it.” He said feeling insulted, well not much as he was grinning.

“Yeah you do and the blankets.” She told him laughing.

“Oh now you’ve gone too far come here you little…” but just then the phone rang as Jon whined. “Ohhh don’t answer it Babe.”

“I have to it could be anyone and you know that.” She told him as she went to answer the phone and he rolled his eyes and crossed his legs.

“Hello? Chick? Chickie calm down ok? What’s the matter?...Yeah ok I can be home by tomorrow morning the latest. How’s Daddy?...Ok tell him we’ll be home very soon alright. Ok Love you. Bye.” She said as she hung up the phone and just stood there staring into space. Jon walked over to her concerned for her and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the back of her head.

Finally he asked her, “Babe you want to tell me what’s going on?” he asked lovingly.

“Um Mom’s been sick which I knew she had the flu but it turned into ammonia so she couldn’t breath and it got really bad last night. She fought Daddy about going to the hospital but the E.M.T.’s talked her into going and once they got there she had a heart attack mild but still a heart attack. Personally I think they’re calling it mild because she was right there and they got it right away. And Daddy went catatonic.” She told Jon as she continued to stare into space.  

Jon was getting a little nervous now because she wasn’t moving or anything. So he turned her around so he could look at her. “Babe look at me. Come on look at me. Everything will be ok she’s a strong lady. If she can take care of you five she can get thru anything right? Do I see a smile? Huh?” he asked her as tears were coming down her cheeks now. “She’s going to be fine Babe now let’s get upstairs and get you packed and Jimmy so we can get to your folk’s as soon as possible ok?” he told her as she shooked her head yes. Walking to the stairs something hit her that he just said.

Ellie stopped on the third step when she turned to him and asked him, “Jon did you say we?”

“Yeah I did why?” he asked confused.

“Because you can’t go you need to go back to Vancouver.” She told him as she wiped away her tears.

“Baby you just worry about packing ok and I’ll worry about Vancouver. Now come on you go pack your bag and I’ll go pack one for Jimmy.” He told her as they started up the stairs again. Once they got up there she still wasn’t alright with his answer.

“No Jon for one you can’t pack Jimmy’s bag because you’ll pack it like you do your own so forget it.  And second you can’t come with me. Doc and them will have a fit if you don’t show up.” She tried to tell him as he butted in.

“I don’t care this is family and I’m not going to leave you all alone. Look at you you’re a mess. You need me right now.” He told her as he gave her a small kiss.

Thinking for a second she then told him, “Yeah I know right now I am but when Jimmy gets home I’ll be fine because I have to. And when I get home I’ll be fine because my family will need me I do great in time of crisis. I only fall apart when it’s over or when I’m alone so I’ll be fine. So don’t worry about be me. Like you said I’m a lot like Mom.” She told him as the tears again started down her cheeks.

Smiling, “Yeah I can see that Baby. Ok then come on let’s get you packed first then Jimmy but for your information I can pack up Jimmy just fine and the way you want it done. Just because I like mine done a certain way…” he started to say as she started to laugh and cut in.

“I’m sorry a certain way? Oh my God Jon you only take like two pairs of pants and a couple of shirts for a whole tour the guys told me. The other guys bring luggage after luggage. What do you do borrow theirs?” she asked him still laughing.

Well he was standing there smiling at her now and that made him feel a little bit better that he at least got her to laugh. “You know you have a beautiful smile but a great laugh that I could be very content with to go to my grave hearing. I don’t want to wait when I get back be prepared because I want to make this legal. This scare with your Mom it just goes to show you life is too short.” He told her as he sauntered over to her and took her in his arms.   

Looking in his eyes which usually brought her to her knees, “You’re only saying this because of Mommy. Why don’t you wait til you get back when the album is done and see how you or we still feel ok?” she told him trying not to go on the feeling’s that were hitting them right now.

“You saying you don’t want to marry me now?” Jon asked surprised and scared.

“No I’m not you dope. It’s just that we’re both scared right now of what might happen to Mom and thinking of the future and we shouldn’t be doing that right this second that’s all. All I know is that I love you more than I have ever in my life but I can’t think that far ahead right now. Do you understand that Sweetie?” she asked him and hoped he understood.

Squeezing her tight, “Yeah I do, sorry it’s just that I love you so much too. I just don’t want to lose you.” He told her as he looked lovingly into her eyes.

“I know that and I don’t want to lose you either and you won’t. As long as we’re honest with each other Jon you got that?” she told him strongly.

“Yes Ma’am I got that and I won’t forget it either. I guess I was just so used to the girls I use to date and how hurt I was well… (he bent down and kissed her hard and passionately) …I forgot what I had when I had you. But I won’t do that again. Ok so you go get yourself packed and I’ll go make arrangements for you to go home I can at least do that.” He smiled as they headed towards the bedroom.

**********************************************************************  

 Ellie was all set for later on that night as she was able to get two first class tickets to Boston for eight p.m. that night. Jon was able to get them and have them picked up at the house and to have them picked up at the airport and driven to her parents’ house. She called there once all the arrangements were made and that seem to calm her Dad down quite a bit to have all his kids with him. Finally one p.m. came around and Jon’s car came to pick him up but he was still hesitant about leaving her and his son.

“You know I can change my plans still and come with you and Jimmy…” as he said this she put her finger on his lips.

“No I really appreciate it Sweetie but you know all hell will break loose if you do.” She told him as she put her hand down on his arm.

“But I don’t feel right about this.” he said to her rubbing her arms.

“I know but believe me I really couldn’t take the backlash right now ok?” she told him staring back at him looking defeated.

“Ok I get it and I’m not going to push you on this but if something does happen you call me right away do you understand me?” he told her strongly.

“Yes I understand you perfectly and I love you for it. Plus you need to get this album done so we can be together for a while anyway.” She told him smiling.

“Ok then well kiss me before I change my mind.” And she did as he sent her into orbit.

She waved goodbye and waited til the car was out of her vision before she let the tears flow, she needed to get it out of her system before Jared and Jimmy got home.

**********************************************************************

A few days have gone by and Jon and the guys were tired but something good was happening. Things were really starting to come together and they were pleased with some of the results they were getting finally. They had about six tracks laid down that they were very happy with. Hopefully now seeing that they were getting the hang of what they wanted maybe the other fifteen would go a lot faster.

As they were listening to the last track Richie asked Jon, “So have you heard from Ellie lately?”

“Yeah her Mom is doing better but they still want to keep her a few more days which is driving her Mom nuts. She wants to go home you know? And her Dad is doing better he was a mess when she got there. You know they have been together so long it’s funny how dependent you get on one another.” Jon told them.

“Yeah I noticed that with my folks too. Dad always says that he needs to go first because he’ll follow Mom right away.” Richie said.

“Yeah same with mine.” David said.

“Not mine. They wouldn’t care which one went first. Even thou they go everywhere together now they still do things separately and are very independent of each other. But I do know one thing if Dad went first my Mom would drive me nuts because she would want me to take care of her and that sure as hell would break up my marriage to Ellie.” Jon told them.

“Oh you think Jon.” Richie asked him.

“Don't be a smartass Rich. But can you image the two of them together living in one house and I don’t care how big the house is either. There isn’t a house big enough for the two of them.” Jon shuttered.

“Yeah World War III. I can’t believe Ellie actually let them see Jimmy thou that was really cool of her.” Richie said.

“Yeah it was that’s why I love her so much. Mom could really learn a lot from her.” Jon told them.  They all looked at him and agreed with that.

“So when are you going to let them see Jimmy again?” Tico asked him.

“I told them we’ll see when I get home from here and if Mom behaved herself by sticking to the rules. You know no stalking Jimmy mainly and not bad mouthing Ellie so we’ll see.” He said as he was pushing buttons and trying to get the right volume, blocking, syncing and etc. as he was talking.

“So did Jimmy take to them?” Tico asked.

“Oh um he wasn’t sure at first because the only grandparents he knows is Ellie’s and basically Richie’s which pisses my Mom off to know end.” Jon said as Richie jumped in.

“Yeah I bet it does. Here are my folks helping out you and your kid calling them Grandma and Grandpa.” Rich squinted.  

“Yeah you don’t think I haven’t heard an earful of that and I know your parents have too and I’ve thanked them I think about a million times by the way.” Jon told Richie who was smiling at him.

“You know they don’t mind.” He told him.

“I know they don’t and I’m grateful for that.” He told his best friend.

It was a very long day but a very productive one the guys thought. They had laid down two more tracks that they liked and now only had to get them mixed and settled. The others were ready to hit the club but again Jon declined and gave some lame excuse like he wanted to go over some of the remaining songs and tweak them.

“Jon if you tweak them anymore we’ll be starting from the beginning again. So come on come with us you don’t have to do anything just come and have a few beers with us then you can leave.” David told him.

“I really appreciate that Dave but nah I’ll just go back to the condo and have some dinner and watch some t.v. and maybe call Ellie and see how things are going.” He told them.

“You just want to go back and have phone sex with her.” Dave said waggling his eyes at him.

“Shut the fuck up will you Joker it all depends who is around and if Jimmy is asleep.” Jon said giving Dave the finger also.

“Oh you wound me.” Dave said laughing.

“Yeah that will be the day!” Alec said laughing.

“Alright we’re leaving we’ll see you later. Is there anything we can bring you back?” Richie asked him.

“Nah I’m fine I’m just going to fiddle with this a little longer and then head back and have dinner so I’ll see you guys later.” He told them.

**********************************************************************

 When the guys were on their third round of beers a couple of the girls came to sit with them. One of them who was interested in Jon asked Richie where he was. Rich again told him that he was back at the hotel and wasn’t coming back and again told her. She wasn’t too happy with that and more or less told him that. So she told him that tomorrow he better come in with them or she was going to contact his fiance and tell her everything if he didn’t. Richie told her she better not or their will be hell to pay but she didn’t care he was the one she wanted and he was the one she was screwing with when he took off so who was he to just drop her like a bad habit. She got up and stormed off and left him sitting there thinking how the hell do they pick these broads.

Richie got Tico’s attention and asked him to move to one of the corners of the club.

“Rich what the hell is it?”

“You see that brunette over there in the gold and black two piece with the fish net’s?” he asked Tico.

“Yeah I see her why?” he wanted to know.

“Well guess what? We have another little crisis’s in what we call Jon’s life.” Rich told him.

“Oh crap now what?” Tico asked.

Richie explained what the girl told him and Tico just shooked his head. “What does he have a fucking magnet for this crap? Ok maybe we can defuse this before it gets out of control.” Tico told Richie.

“Yeah how do we do that ugly him up?” Richie suggested.

“That’s one way. No but I have an idea hang on.” Tico said as he made his way over to her.

She made a face when Tico walked up to her and it seemed she didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. But Tico wasn’t going away that easily. After about ten minutes with her alone she hugged Tico and shooked her head and then looked at Richie and blew him a kiss and with a hand to her chest nodded as she looked at him with a sympathetic look. Tico then walked back to Richie with a wicked grin.

“Tic what the hell did you say to her that made her leave? Is she going to say anything about Jon or what?” Richie was dying to know.

“Nope she’s not going to say a word.” He told Rich as he was pretty proud of himself.

“You’re kidding right? She’s not going to say a word? Did you promise to pay her off or something?” he wanted to know.

“Nope once I explained about Jon she understood that’s all.” He told him as he sipped his drink.

Richie just looked at him suspiciously and knew that there had to be more to this than what he was telling him. “Ok I’ll bite Tic what the hell did you tell her so she wouldn’t go running to Ellie.”

“Oh that. Well I just told her that you and Jon were how can I put this. That you were a thing and that the only ones that knew were us and we didn’t want the press to know and well Ellie was just a front and that she was a good friend doing you two a favor seeing she had a kid to raise so she agreed to do this. And well Jon and you had this fight when he met her so Jon was trying to make you jealous so he was flirting with her and well when Jon gets drunk anything can happen and it did. So if she could just try and understand a lover’s quarrel and not let this out so the public wouldn’t get wind of this and if she could have a heart try and keep this as quiet as possible” he explained to Richie as he had his mouth open almost the entire time.

When he was able to talk he was able to get out, “You told her that Jon and I were Gay? Are you nuts Tic! You just gave her more ammo. What if she goes to the press and tells them that were gay? Then what?” Richie asked him panicked stricken.

“She won’t Rich she wanted to tell Ellie that he was having an affair with her not that he was gay believe me she wanted to hurt Jon not start a rumor about him. She won’t say anything believe me.” Tico assured him. 

“Well I’m not telling him what just happened here are you?” Richie asked him.

 “Nobody has to tell him anything Rich trust me on this ok. Remember when we were in that bar oh say a few years ago and that big dude walked up to him at the bar and tried to hit on him because he thought he was girl. Jon looked over at you for help because the guy was really aggressive and wouldn’t let up and wouldn’t let him go no matter how much Jon told him that he was a guy. So when he was starting to feel him so to speak down you got up when Jon squealed and you picked that guy up and threw him across the bar and the two of you ran like the devil. Nobody said anything to the press then because they would have been embarrassed right well the same thing will happen if she says anything because she doesn’t want anyone to know that she got rejected by someone who likes the same sex. I mean she’s a professional right?” Tico asked him. Richie shooked his head yes. “Well there you go so don’t worry about it and if something does happen you can blame me.” He told him.

“You better believe I will” Richie said as he slapped him on his back smiling.

**********************************************************************

Jon had finished his dinner and was getting bored with what was on t.v. and he wasn’t in the mood to write. All he could do was think of his family back in Massachusetts. He knew Ellie was still upset and he couldn’t be of much help to her where he was. He knew this was part of the bargain he had to pay if he wanted to be one of the biggest rock stars of his era. (Now if he only knew what was about to happen.)  Finally he had enough and picked up the phone and called her.

It rang a few times before Sean answered it. He went and got his sister, “Hey Honey how are you doing?” she asked him.

“Lousey you?” he said almost as if he was pissed at the world.

“That good huh? Ok Sweetie what’s the matter.” She asked him.

“You’re not here.” He told her sighing.

“Yeah I feel the same way I’m having a hard time sleeping without you next to me. You really spoiled me now I know how my parents feel. Daddy is having a real hard time not having Mommy next to him right now. Just having her next to him you know her breathing, her body, just knowing that their together, God if something like that ever happens to you Jon I…I don’t know what I’d do.” She said choking up.

“Hey nothing is going to happen to me ok. I can’t even image what you’re parents are even going thru. But we really have a lot of time before something like that happens to us. Do me a favor and give them my love ok?” he asked her.

“I already did.” She told him smiling and sniffing.

“Thanks…How are you doing really?” He wanted to know.

“Better and she’s doing better. Daddy took some time off so I’m taking care of him basically but we’re going to have to figure out something when Mom comes home. Maybe bring someone in to help out or Beth will have to step up like I did when Mom had her first hip replacement. I hate to do it to her but I did it at fifteen so she can but if someone comes in too that should help and it won’t be that long either at least a couple of weeks. I need to get Jimmy back in school.” She explained to Jon.

“No I get it Babe you have a family of your own now and he comes first. You know there’s nothing wrong with that. And if you need extra money just let me know ok?” he told her.

“Thank You but the insurance will cover it. Do you know how much I love you?” she told him.

“Yeah I think I do. And if you were here I’d show you.” he growled to her.

“Oh don’t do that to me.” She whined.

“Fine but the next time I see you I’m going to fuck your brains out!”  he told her in a demanding voice.