109 - Dust In The Wind

Wearily, Jon pinched the bridge of his nose.  He was just plain exhausted. Not just from back-to-back shows, but from all the traveling back and forth from Ari’s house and keeping up with his kids. And sleeping alone, sucked. 

 

He had gotten so used to having Ariana in his bed, when she wasn’t there, he found it harder to sleep. Mind you, for the most part, she wasn’t a cuddler. She was just the opposite. How could he put it, she was a bed hog.  

 

Though since she’s become pregnant, she had gotten a little better. Now that her belly had popped, she was finding it uncomfortable sleeping completely on it. Nowadays, she sorta slept half on her belly, half on her side, arms tucked under her pillows, her right leg bent which would push her ass right smack in the middle of the bed. Which is why his hotel bed from the last two nights was lonely as fuck.

 

The captain's voice came over the speaker welcoming them back to Half-Moon Bay and hoped they enjoyed their flight. Not bothering to wait for the seatbelt sign to dim, Jon flicked the metal clasps. Running his hands over his denim clad thighs, he reached for his overnight bag and headed towards the front of the plane.

 

“Take care, Vicky. Enjoy your time off. We’ll have a full house next time.”  

 

Waving goodbye, he continued his way down the stairs and to the waiting car. He inhaled the crisp bay air before he slid into the leather seat. The ride to Ari’s house wouldn’t take long. He would soon be cuddled up next to her whether she wanted to.  

 

Three days away seemed like three years. After the Phoenix show, Ari was feeling under the weather and decided not to accompany him to Anaheim. His mother being, well, his mother, decided none of them would make the trip so that she could take care of her. Which meant he’d be doing this trip by himself.

 

Thanking the driver, Jon let himself in through the front door. The house was dark sans the light from above the stove in the kitchen. Dropping his bag on the floor next to the stool, he opened the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of water and made his way down the darkened hallway to their bedroom.

 

He could barely see her when he stepped into the room. All he could tell was that she was wrapped around and buried under a mountain of pillows and blankets. When he inched closer, he found Romeo curled up on his side of the bed, his head resting on Jon’s pillow. His small hand wrapped around Ariana’s wrist and they were both snoring lightly.

 

There went his plans for cuddling.

 

His heart warmed as he slipped off his shirt and pulled on a pair of sleep shorts before slipping into bed, adjusting Romeo towards the middle of the bed. He brushed his forehead with a kiss, caressed her shoulder before closing his own eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

The digital display on the cable box read eight thirty-six, and as much as he wanted to sleep in, the kids would be up soon. Actually, he was surprised that his littlest wasn’t up already. Jon smiled, looking at the sleeping child, who somehow in the middle of the night, made himself comfortable. Stretched out horizontally now, with his head resting on Ari’s hip, and his feet pressed against his father’s chest.

 

“Ew Daaaad.” Romeo pressed his foot into Jon’s chest. “That’s disgusting.”

 

“What?” Jon mumbled.

 

“You farted.” Romeo grumbled as he flipped himself around and scooted closer to Ariana. 

 

“Did not.” Jon said, flipping himself over and pressed his rear end into his son's back. The loud flatulence vibrated under the covers “but, I did now.”

 

Ariana and Romeo both shot up. Maneuvering some pillows against the headboard, she pulled her knees up and leaned back.

 

“Jon! Tell me you did not just fart on him?”  

 

“Oh, but I did.” Jon pointed his index finger above the back of his head headed into the bathroom.

 

The throaty growl and huffed out breath had the little tike jumping off the bed, “Yeah.” he yelled, “Well, I’m telling nana.”

 

“Hurry...” Ari shouted, as Romeo made a quick dash for the door.

 

Luckily for him, he was quicker than his father. He had the door open and was halfway gone before Jon made it out of the bathroom.

 

Realizing he was beat out by a five-year-old Jon’s attention diverted back to Ari, who was now standing by his side of the bed and laughing. Looking back and forth between the door to Jon, she was trying to determine if she could make her escape as well.

 

“Hmm, I wouldn’t.” he shook his head trying to discourage her from running.

 

“Don’t think I could make it, old man?” Ari transferred her weight from one foot to the other.

 

“Are you prepared to pay the piper if you don’t?” He wrinkled his eyebrows.

 

“What? You gonna fart on me too?” She stuck her tongue at him and sprinted towards the open door, just barely escaping his grasp.

 

Stumbling over someone’s shoe, Jon caught her by her shirt and cornered her up against the island. Looking around to see if they were alone, he leaned in and sank his teeth into her bottom lip. Applying just enough bite not to break skin, he gave it a lingering suck before scraping his teeth and releasing it. 

 

“I had other plans for you.” He whispered.

 

“John Francis!” Carol’s voiced careened from the top of the steps.

 

“Saved by the bell.” Ariana pushed her fingers into his chest. “Looks like mommy’s mad at you.”

 

“Mornin’ Ma!”  

 

Rolling his eyes he stepped aside and let Ari by. He walked over to the other side of the kitchen, removed a mug from the hook under the counter and poured the freshly brewed coffee.

 

“Tell me you did not pass wind on my grandson. Did I not teach you any manners?”

 

Carol appeared at the kitchen's entrance way her hands perched firmly on her hips. Romeo was tucked closely behind for protection. What his grandmother couldn’t see was the devilish grin he was giving his father. The child knew that by telling his grandmother, she would yell at his father and any further retribution Jon was planning to give would be halted. At least for the time being.

 

“Yes mom, you did.” Jon sighed, and handed her the filled mug. “But aren’t you also the one telling me ‘boys will be boys? Well...” he shrugged, “Ain’t I a boy?”

 

“No! You are a grown man who should know better.” Carol playfully swatted her son on his arm and winked. That little gesture was for the sake of her grandson. 

 

“Fine.” Jon huffed. “It won’t happen again.”

 

“Good. Now what is in the agenda for today?” Carol asked.

 

“Beach.”

 

“Shopping.”

 

Three sleepy eyed children appeared.

 

“Good morning, Dad. How are you, Dad? We missed you Dad.” Jon mimicked as he took his coffee over to the couch.

 

“Yeah, whatevs.” Jesse replied.

 

Stephanie chose to placate her father and joined him on the couch with a kiss. She smiled sweetly at him and asked him how he was. And how the shows in Anaheim went. Then told him how much she missed him. Jon knew she was being a wiseass, but he played along. He knew his kids loved him as much as he loved them. He just enjoyed teasing them.

 

They spent the rest of the morning making and eating breakfast. They talked about what was happening over the next few days. The kids were sad that they would be leaving the beach, but Ari promised they could come back when the weather was warmer, and they could enjoy it more. Jon sent them off to pack up their stuff for their departure in the morning. They were all off to Sacramento, no matter what.