176 - Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi

Talk about a whirlwind couple of days. Friday night’s show proved to be fun, even though Jon didn’t hold up his end of her actual setlist bargain. She forgave him rather quickly when he did, in fact, hold up his promise to pay up in the private show. And oh what a show it was. It came and so did she, as a matter of fact with a few choruses of deep inside complete with his very own, very naked rendition of Naked.  

 

With David and Jeanie on their way to the Tony’s, Ari declared Saturday’s off day as ‘not an ounce of work day’ for Jon. The kids would arrive Monday with his parents, followed by his ex-wife a week later, and she needed him to find his inner calm before the storm hit.  

 

Sunday brought a few difficulties. While out enjoying a leisurely breakfast with Cara, she received an urgent call from her agent requesting she come home as soon as possible. It appeared that some local indie artist had replicated a few of Cara’s sculptures and was trying to pass them off to a dealer as her own. Even though she was sad to say goodbye to her friend, Ari was sure she would see her as soon as she pushed this kid out of her.  

 

As for the ups, with David gone, Jon’s good friend Jeff Kazee came to town to play with them. It was the first time in twenty-seven years that David had to miss a show. She couldn’t think of a better reason for him to. He was an extremely talented man and deserved to win. With Jeff came the one and only Southside, Jon’s long-time trusted friend and mentor. Only having met the man casually over the years, Ari was more than surprised to find he knew more about her than she did him.  

 

Watching the two of them rag on each other constantly was anything but boring, that’s for sure, and when you add in Bobby and Jeff, let’s just say she was lucky she didn’t pee herself.

 

Okay, maybe she did, just a little, once.  

 

As much as she wanted to stay up and kibitz with them after the show, she couldn’t last too long. It was close to three a.m. when she finally said her goodnights and left the lot of them sitting in the suite’s living room, still laughing and drinking… and man, could they drink.  

 

When she woke Monday morning, it did not surprise her when she found Jon’s note asking her to let him sleep in later than usual. Normally it wouldn’t be a big thing, but the kids were arriving and now she needed a plan to keep them, well, more the younger ones and a dog extra quiet.  

 

Deciding it was best if she headed them off before they made it to the hotel, she called Matt. Explaining what she had planned, Cliff joined them and Meatball, climbing into one of the two SUVs and headed towards Heathrow. David and Jeanie were the first off the plane, each holding two of the four Tonys for his play, Memphis had earned the night before. They were both laughing about something when they approached the waiting trio.

 

“What’s so funny?” Matt asked.

 

“Ahh, nothing, you had to be there to understand.” Jeanie replied, giving David a suspicious grin.

 

A shrill cry from Romeo, followed by a round of barks, had them all turning their attention to the plane’s steps. The little boy had jumped down the last few and was now making a beeline for the overly excited dog. 

“Hey there, buddy. I missed you.” Romeo hugged and rubbed his furry friend as the puppy licked his face.

 

When the rest joined them, Ariana explained what she had planned for the afternoon, while Matt and Cliff helped put the luggage in the waiting cars.

 

“Do I have to go?” Jacob looked at his grandmother for an answer.

 

“No. But you can’t make a racket, your father is sleeping. Understand?” Carol spoke directly to her grandson.

 

“Fine.”

 

“S’alright, who’s going where?” Trying to figure out logistics, Matt asked the open question.

 

“Your father and I will take Jacob and Jesse back to the hotel.”

 

“And the dog.” Ariana added.  

 

“But…”

 

“Romeo, we can’t take him. He’s won’t be allowed.” Ari tousled the little tike’s hair.

 

“Okay.” Looking up from his kneeling position, he looked at Ariana. “Can we get ice cream?”

 

“Is that all you think about?” Stephanie rolled her eyes and climbed into the first SUV.

 

“Cliff, you okay with all this?” Matt nodded to the car his niece just entered. “It has all the potential of being as fun as girl’s night out minus the alcohol.”  

 

Laughing, Cliff helped Ariana and Romeo into the truck with his sister, while Matt waited for his parents, nephews, David and Jeanie to get into their waiting car. “Call if you need me.” He shouted to Cliff as he got in himself.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

She was paying for their ice cream when she felt the vibration coming from her back pocket. Telling the young boy to keep the change, she pulled out her phone. It was then that she realized how long they had actually been out. Swiping the screen, she retrieved the text that had just come through.

 

[6:42] Jon: Help! Save me!

 

“That’s Dad, isn’t it?” Stephanie asked.

 

“How do you know?”

 

“You were grinning weird.”

 

“No. I wasn’t.”

 

“Yeah, you were. Please tell me he wasn’t sexting you?” Stephanie's facial features bunched in a grossed look.

 

“You did not just say that to me?”

 

“Yeah, I did, and don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

 

“I know what you mean, but hearing it come from you is just...”

 

“As weird as me seeing your face while reading a text from my dad.”

 

The two women laughed. “No. It wasn’t a…” Ari waved her hand. “It was more like an S.O.S. See.” Ariana handed her stepdaughter her phone.

 

“Nana.”

 

Nodding, Ariana took back the phone and shot off a quick response.

 

[6:50] Ari: Sorry. On our way.

 

[6:51] Jon: U owe me!!!!!!

 

His quick reply told her they had better be heading back. “Let’s go, Rom. We can eat this in the car.” She helped him up with his sundae and pushed in his chair.

 

[6:53] Ari: Ice cream?

 

[6:54] Jon: No. Yours.

 

Reading his reply, she quickly shut her phone and shoved it in her pocket. Once they were all settled in their seats, Cliff slid into his spot up front and gave the driver the go ahead.

 

Romeo pushed out the door to the suite and barreled across the room, yelling for his father.

 

“Whoa there, buddy. You will wake the dead with that yelling.” Jon stepped around the bar with a glass of wine in his hand and kissed his wife.

 

“Mm. Bottle number two?” she whispered into his ear.

 

Raising his glass up to her, he smiled. “Just opened number three.”

 

“Ewww, gross. Stop kissin’ you two.” Romeo jumped up and down on the couch.

 

“Down!” Jon’s firm command was followed by a single finger pointed downward. “So, where did you go today?”

 

Taking one last bounce, Romeo plopped down on the cushion next to his father. “The gigantic Ferris wheel and a boat on the river.”

 

“Did you have fun?”

 

“Yup. Then Ari took us for ice cream.”

 

“I can tell. How much did you eat?”

 

“Just a sundae. Where is everyone, anyway?”  

 

“Nana and Pop pop are down the hall in their own room. Your brothers are around here somewhere.”

 

“Where’s Meatball?” He stood and curiously looked around the room for his dog.

 

“Probably on my side of the bed licking his….”

“Ooooookay,” Ari joined them on the couch. “Why don’t you go look for him to make sure?” Romeo took off through the suite, calling for Meatball, and when she was sure he couldn’t hear her, she turns and looked at Jon.

 

“Whaaa?”

 

Wrapping her fingers around the glass stemware, she removed it from his grasp and set it down. “I think maybe you’ve had enough to drink.” 

 

“You’re no fun.”

 

“Did you eat?”

 

“With my mother here? Of course, we ate. You?"

“Yes.”

 

“More than ice cream?” His fingers slipped under her shirt and along her belly. “My lil bambina needs to eat too.”

 

“Did you forget which one of your other children I was with? All we did was eat.”

 

“Pizza and ice cream. Nice. Did you at least have a veggie pie?”

 

“I did. Steph and I shared one.”  

 

Glossy wine eyes smiled up at her as he tugged up her shirt, exposing her stretched skin. Silently they sat as the palms of his hands slid over her roundness, stopping only when he felt a kick or two.

 

“Hey Dad, I forgot to ask if I….,” Romeo froze just short of the arm of the couch, his eyes transfixed on Ariana’s very round belly. “Woooowzer.”

 

“Pretty huge, right?”

 

“Kinda looks like you swallowed a ginormous basketball.”

 

“Rom..” Jon reprimanded him.

 

“I know right.” Ari interrupted him.

 

“Does it hurt?” She wasn’t the first pregnant woman he had seen. In fact, one of his teachers at school was pregnant. But this was the first time he’d actually seen one this close and without a shirt covering it.

 

“No, not really. If she kicks, it feels like she is poking me.”

 

“Gimme your hand.” Jon asked as Romeo sat down next to her.   

 

Placing his hand over his son’s, he rested them on Ariana’s stomach, just above her navel. Slipping his fingers between Romeo’s smaller ones, he started moving their joined hands. Small figure eights at first, then wider ones. 

 

“You paying attention?” Jon asked when he knew his son was comfortable. Unsure what was going to happen next, Romeo acknowledged with a nod.

 

Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques

Dormez-vous, Dormez-vous

Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines,

Ding, ding, dong, ding, ding, dong

 

As if on cue, Lily kicked just as Jon finished singing the last note, startling her soon to be older brother. “Cool. How d'you do that?” Romeo’s eyes widened with surprise.

 

“Magic touch.” Jon proudly professed.

 

“Really, Dad? How d'you do it?”

 

“It’s true. Any time your dad sings or even talks to her, she responds.”

 

“That’s wicked cool. Can I try?”

 

“Give it a shot.” Jon rolled back on his elbow. “Now don’t be upset if nothing happens, just means you're not as good as your dad.”

 

Romeo paid his father no mind as he held his little hand ever so closely and exhaled a small breath before gently resting it down on her hardened belly.

 

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy….

 

His chocolate eyes beamed. Not only had Lily kicked, but she simultaneously stretched, giving Romeo more than his father. “I did it.” Romeo squealed. “And I didn’t even have to sing the whole song.”

 

“She likes that song, that’s why.”

 

“She does?”

 

“I sing it to her all the time. My Mamie used to sing it to me when I was a little girl.”

 

“THAT was awesome. I’m gonna go tell Jake and Jess.” Romeo made it halfway across the room before stopping. “Ari, don’t forget to ask?” He shouted before he took off to find his brothers.

 

“What does he want now that he has suckered you into doing his dirty work again?”

 

“He wants to go to Paris. And for the record, I’m not a suu… never mind.” Ariana righted her shirt and stood. “Go say goodnight to your kids. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

Trapped at twenty-some odd thousand feet in the air and nowhere to go, gives a person plenty of time to reflect or sleep. Today Jon choose neither, instead he decided to just observe. His tired eyes were hidden behind his aviators, giving him plenty of opportunity. Richie, Hugh and Bobby were discussing guitars, while Teek sat quietly reading his golfing magazine. Ariana was curled up next to him, with Romey curled right up next to her. They were playing some sort of i-spy game. But what really piqued his interest was his assistant and keyboard player.  

 

Since they came back from their brief trip to New York, they had been acting a little too strange for him. He had mentioned it to Ari, since it was her idea that Jeanie accompany David, but she told him he was just overreacting. But now, as he sat here watching, unbeknownst to anyone, something definitely was going on. They were sitting too close for comfort if you asked him. Her body slightly turned inwards to him, their shoulders touching. Her eyes had to look up every time he talked. He was probably telling her some cockamamie story, of course. Even the way she would laugh was different.  

 

Oh yeah, something was definitely going on with these two.  

 

The way her hand just accidentally grazed his lap as she reached across him to lift her soda. Her damn cheeks flushed. Nope! He was not liking the looks of this. He must have grumbled something out loud because Ari had paused her game and asked if he was alright. Instead of answering, he just pushed his chin in the direction of the peep show going on across the aisle. Leaning over him so she could see what he was mumbling about, she just shook her head.

 

“Forget it. It’s nothing.” Ariana adjusted the weight she had against him when he brought his seat back into the upright position.

 

“It’s something alright.” Jon stood. “I’m hitting the head. Need anything.” 

 

“Nope, I’m good.”

 

“Bring me back a soda, please?” Romeo called out after his father, who was halfway through the plane already.

 

Jon must have gotten distracted because by the time he returned, empty-handed no less, they were preparing to land. Tapping his son on the head to get into his own seat, he plopped down. “Any special request?” he asked as he buckled up.

 

“Nope, you know the drill. Just sing.” And like always, as the plane descended, Jon sang. This time he went with a little more modern song and picked Train’s Hey Soul Sister. He had just heard it playing back in the galley and couldn’t get it out of his head. A catchy tune and by the time he hit the first chorus, Romeo had joined, along with a silly face and head movements.

 

Landing at Charles de Gaulle could be a blessing or a curse. Sometimes, today, it was a blessing. Customs met them at the plane, and Jeanie had all their paperwork ready for the handler as he boarded. While they waited for him to look them over, Jon explained to Matt that he and the band were headed for the hotel, while he would take Cliff with him, Ari and Romeo. They had a little adventurous detour to take care of first. Once they were sitting in their rightful vehicles, he gave a quick call to his mother to check on the other kids who had stayed back in London.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

Once the purpose of this trip came into view, Romeo took off running. “Hold up buddy, your step mama is a bit slow these days and we still need to buy tickets.”

 

“Watch it.” Ariana slapped him.

 

“Want me to go after him?” Cliff asked.

 

“Nah, he’s not that far ahead. Besides, he stopped.”  

 

When they were all together again, Ari and Romey waited as Cliff escorted Jon over to the window to check in. “Can we take the stairs?” Romeo inquired.

 

“Sorry dude, fatty here.” Ari pointed double thumbs at her belly.

 

“Oops. Forgot about that.”

 

“If you wanna walk down when we're done, maybe your dad will do it with you?”

 

“What do you two have me doing now?” Jon asked as he approached, along with their tour guide for the afternoon.

 

“Romey wants to walk down.”

 

Slowly tilting his head back, Jon looked up. “Are you trying to kill me?”

 

“Excuse me, Sir, if you like, you can walk from just one level and not all?” The young woman suggested.

 

“I could do that, how bout you, buddy? Sound good?"

 

“Yup. Now can we get going?”

 

For the next two hours, the group of four walked and learned just about everything there was to know about The Eiffel Tower. Their visit started from the tippy top, because Romeo wanted to walk down and worked their way down. Though the view itself was beautiful as the sun had started to set, Ari was less than impressed. France had not been one of her favorite places to visit. And she had visited many a place. She could never quite put her finger on why it wasn’t, it just wasn’t. She remembered dreading having to spend more than one night’s time when she would pass by with whomever she was working for. But this was for Romeo and he seemed to enjoy himself, and that was all that mattered. Even Cliff and Jon seemed to be having fun. They even had a few questions for their guide.  

 

When they finished with the top floor, they made their way down to the second floor; Ari asked to use the restroom and take a little break. They also used the time to get a few drinks and made plans that they would use the elevator to the first floor. Once they were done observing that level and the three men would then walk the approximately three hundred and forty-seven steps or nineteen flights, depending how you wanted to look at it, the rest of the way and she would just meet them at the bottom.

 

Knowing that it would take a while for them to reach the bottom, Ariana lingered back a bit longer. She was sitting at a table, sipping on her ice tea when she heard the whispers coming from behind her. Not wanting to blatantly turn around, she unclipped her tresses and casually looked over her shoulder as they fell. Three middle-aged women sat two tables away. 
She could tell they were fans by their choice of t-shirts, and that they obviously knew who she was. What she couldn’t tell was what side of the fandom they were on. Not wanting to find out, she pushed back her seat and headed straight for the elevator. Once in the glass enclosed box, she sent a text making him aware of what was going on. He told her to head straight for the car and they would meet her there.

 

After their Eiffel Tower experience, they had a quick bite to eat, then headed back to the hotel. The day had been long for them all and there was still a show to do tomorrow night. Matt met them in the lobby to help navigate through the crowd of anxious fans. It had been some time since they played here, so their excitement was understandable.

 

Carrying a sleeping Romeo into the suite, Cliff looked at Jon. “Where do you want him?” he asked.

 

“Daddy’s bed.” the sleepy-eyed boy whispered.

 

Jon shrugged and nodded Cliff to follow Ariana into their master suite. There he laid the boy on the bed and said his goodnights. When she was sure he cleared the door, Ari began talking of his shoes and socks, then nudged him up and under the covers. Pulling the door partially closed, she joined Jon, who was already on the couch with a glass of wine.

 

“That was fun.”

 

“Yay. He had a great time.” He drew a sip. “Listen, I don’t want you going anywhere without someone, okay?”

 

“Jon.”

 

“Ari. I’m serious.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it would make me happy. Just until we are back in Jersey.”

 

Too tired to fight him on this, she simply kissed the tip of his nose. “Okay. Now, I’m going to bed, I’m beat.”

 

“Okay. I’ll be in after I finish this.”

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

Paris, Fr: Paris Bercy: To avoid any unnecessary incidents, Ari decided to not sit in actual seats tonight, but instead she would sit with Obie and Sooner. Romey would be with her, and this would at least keep him somewhat occupied. It also meant Mt. Cliff could be close by without blocking anyone’s view.

 

“Behave.” Jon reminded Romeo as they walked down the corridor towards the stage. “and listen to whatever Ari or Cliff tell you to do. Got it.”

 

“Yeah, yeah.”

 

“He’ll be fine.” Ari reassured him as they approached the end of the hall and his waiting band. “Have a great show and shake that ass, baby,” she whispered.

 

“Any special requests?”

 

“Let.” kiss. “Lema.” kiss. “Sing.” kiss.

 

“Eww, you two have got to stop doin’ that!” Romeo tugged Ariana’s hand, pulling her away from Jon and toward where they would be sitting.  

 

Obie and Sooner were ready for them when they arrived. Romeo had his very own apprentice chair equipped with a pair of headsets. They even had one set up for her. You could feel the energy and enthusiasm exuding from the crowd as the Intro cued and by the time the enormous screens separated and Jon bounded on the stage, you could tell it was going to be one for the record book. With each song they grew louder and louder, feeding Jon with every decibel. Of course, his playing off of them helped.  

 

Romeo seemed to be having fun, too. Following the directions of his teachers, he pushed the buttons and dimmed switches. She even caught him bouncing in time with the music a few times. Though he would never admit he was. When she tried to get him to take part along with the crowd during Raise Your Hands, he just laughed her off and when Jon blew her a kiss during Baby, he just shook his head. The confetti started early for Captain Crash and she was able to get some from a fan, so that he could throw it, which he did, right in Obie’s face.

 

He lasted nine songs before he said he was getting bored and wanted something to eat, so they headed back to the craft services where they ran into Jeanie, who was feverishly tapping away at her keyboard.

 

“Would you stop working?” Ari jibbed.

 

“Oh, I’m not. I’m playing a game.” Romeo’s ears perked up at the word game. Quickly grabbing a few bags of chips and a can of soda, he ran over and sat down next to Jeanie.

 

“Can I stay?” he asked.

 

“It’s okay with me, if it’s okay with Ari.”

 

“I’m cool with it.” She cracked the cap of her water bottle and took a sip. “If he gets too much, radio for me. I think I’ll go sit with Tony some.”

 

“Gotcha.”

 

Ari enjoyed sitting with Tony. For starters, the view from her chair wasn’t that bad. Beat front row seats any day if you asked her. Second, he didn’t mind if she dabbled a little into his workspace. Tony was always good for a couple of stories about the good old days, and before she knew it, she caught Jon’s image heading for the stairs on one of the monitors. She needed a bladder release and would try to catch Jon and give him a little reminder of the promise he made to her. She came upon the steps, just as his foot took the last step.

 

“Having fun?” he asked, tugging his shirt over his head.

 

“Great show. But I know what would make it better.” With a quick wink and a peck on his sweaty shoulder, Ari made her way over to the nearest restroom.

 

Jon was pushing his head through his t-shirt when Dawn pulled back the curtain of the quick-change room and there stood Jeanie and a very bored-looking Romeo, “Hey, dude, having fun?” he asked while combing his fingers through his partially damp hair.

 

“Not really.”

 

“He was getting bored. Do you know where Ari went?” Jeanie asked.

 

“She was just here a minute ago. Dawn…”

 

“On it, Boss.” Dawn pressed the button on the little black box attached to her shirt. "Elvis would like a location on Priscilla."

 

"I got her." Cliff's voice came over the radio. “We are standing stage left under the catwalk. That would be Elvis's left."

 

Mouthing, thank you, Jeanie placed her hand on top of the little boy’s shoulders and started steering a very reluctant little boy around the stage to their ultimate destination. Romeo’s frustrated grunt didn’t go unnoticed when they were greeted by Paul along the way. He had a few questions for her and wanted to remind them they would be leaving once the band’s final bows were done. Stopping just short of where they were supposed to be, she bent down, so she was eye to eye with him. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll let you have the last Three Musketeers I swiped from craft services, if you promise to stand there and watch for the last few songs.”

 

“Deal!” Romeo snatched the candy bar right as the crowd roared in unison with the stunning sounds coming from David’s keyboard. At the same time, Ari’s well-attuned ear caught the intro starting, but that wasn’t right. Wait. Is that David’s Pink Flamingo? Damn… Jonny is letting him outta his cage tonight. Now, where the hell is Jeanie?

 

Just as David’s playing ended and Jon stepped up to the mic, Ari caught sight of Jeanie heading towards them with Romeo. Once the two groups had merged as one, Jeanie allowed herself to resume her subtle admiration of the man behind the keys. Feeling a nudge, she glanced over towards Ari, who was fighting back a smirk. 

 

“You are absolutely mesmerized and no, you’re not hiding it very well.” Ari leaned in and told her.

 

“Shut up.” Jeanie shot back with a smirk. She knew it, Ari knew it. Hopefully Cliff wouldn't figure it out.

 

“Maybe tonight’s your lucky night. I made Jon promise me he would let him sing, too.”

 

“You did not.”

 

“Oh, but I did.” As they had been talking, they almost missed the transition into In These Arms, until Jeanie placed her hand over Ari's mouth.

 

“Sssh. It's my man's time to shine.” She said with a smirk.

 

At that exact moment, Jon smirked and nodded at Ari and Jeanie, causing Jeanie to shoot a glare at Ari.

 

“Dammit. I’ll never live this down.”