All the blood, sweat and tears it took for them to get here today watching Ari hour after hour fighting not to show anyone just how scared she really was, even though he could see it, to holding his little baby girl for the first time sent his emotions crashing like a temperamental wave through to his heart. Not prepared what-so-ever, he was grateful he held it together long enough to leave the room.
She did it. They did it. Their beautiful baby girl was finally here.
Blowing out a breath, he didn’t hear Cliff and Jake approaching. “Dad.” Jake whispered, "You okay?"
“Yeah.” he cleared his throat. “Just a little tired.”
“Everything okay with Ari and the baby? You haven’t come out of the room in a while. "
Smiling, he pulled his son in for a hug. “They are just perfect.”
“They? Wait! Lily is here? No way! Why didn’t you say something sooner? Can I go in and see her, them? Can I please?” Jake rattled off in jumble.
“Whoa! Slow down a sec. There are some things the doctor still needs to do, so not just yet. I just came out to tell you you have a new sister and have Cliff take you home.”
“No!”
“Jakey, it’s late. You can visit with them tomorrow.” Jon glanced at his watch, realizing it was already tomorrow. “Go home and get some sleep.”
“No, Dad.” he stated firmly. “I made Ari a promise I wouldn’t leave her, and I’m not.”
“And you haven’t, but now that Lily has entered the world, I’m sure she’ll understand, Bud.”
“I’m not leav...!”
The opening of the door caused the young boy to stop mid-sentence. A nurse pushing the small bassinet with his sister gave pause. “Mr. Bongiovi, we are heading to the nursery now to freshen up. You are welcome to join us if you like.”
“Can I come too?” the young boy's question was directed at her and not his father.
“Sorry, no children allowed. I know, silly right, kids not allowed in a nursery.” She winked. “If you want to wait inside, we won’t be long.”
“How’s Ari?” Jon asked.
“Doing well. She’s sleeping, actually. Dr. Cummings is just finishing up on her notes.”
Jake pressed his hands together and pleaded. “Please, Dad. Can I?”
Knowing this was a losing battle, Jon nodded towards the door. “Ga’head. But quiet. Got it?”
Faster than Flash Gordon, he saluted his father and disappeared behind the door.
Taking his post on the opposite side of the door, Cliff nodded. “I’ll be right here. And congrats, boss. She’s beautiful.”
“She is, isn’t she?”
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
August 2010
Welcome, Home.….
Setting his bag down by the door, Jon kicked off his boots and quietly tip-toed through the house. Stopping first in the family room. The illuminating light from the television told him someone had fallen asleep in there. Peeking in, he counted at least eight someones. Summer usually guaranteed a slew of extra kids running around the beach house. Stepping over Jake, he reached for the remote to click off the power.
Next, he made his way to the nursery. Forty-eight hours away was way too long for him, but it was the last two shows on this leg of the tour, and then he was done for a while. Who cares that he drove Tony crazy every waking and some not waking moments. Or that he may have broken the Guinness World Record for video chatting. It was his only option to being with his family without actually being there, and he missed them — a lot! And every chance he had to see and talk with them, he took.
Wrapping his hand gently around the doorknob, he squeezed tight and turned it ever so slowly as not to wake anyone and opened the door. Instantly, his heart tugged. Two of his favorite girls were cuddled together in the middle of their bed. Eager to join them, he traded out his jeans for the pair of sweats he’d left hanging over the back of the chair the day he left and padded across the room to his side of the bed.
Ari groggily opened her eyes at the dip of the bed and Lily stirring, who quickly settled when her mother placed a gently hand upon her back.
“Hey.” she whispered over their sleeping child.
“Hey.” he mouthed as he climbed in. His need to be closer to them both was too much for him to bear any longer, so he gently slipped his hand under his sleeping daughter and lifted her to his chest, then slid closer to his wife. Her eyes fluttered open once more before she sleepily draped her arm across his waist.
This was where he wanted to be and how he planned on spending the next month.
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
Labor Day Weekend 2010
Ari couldn’t believe their time at the beach was ending. They had filled the last five weeks with round-the-clock feedings, diapers and teenagers. Sure, Jon helped. That was when he wasn’t being a kid himself. Another thing that came with her newfound motherhood, Jake. The boy had done a complete 180 and had not left her or his new sister’s side since her water broke. She was lucky enough to shower without him asking her where she was going or how long she’d be. Oh, she wasn’t complaining. She actually found it comforting.
What she was getting was antsy. Never in her life has she been so sedentary for such an extended period of time. So, when Stephanie offered to watch Lily so she and Jon can go out on a date, she did not hesitate to take her up on her offer. A little research on the whole pump and dump thing, a list of all the important numbers, and she was ready for her night out.
Well, not completely ready.
“Steph, are you sure about this?” Ari called out from the closet.
She didn’t know why what she wore mattered. They weren’t going anywhere fancy, just to a local venue in town, the Stephen Talkhouse, to see Johnny perform his annual show.
“Yes! For the thousandth time. You and Dad deserve a night out. Now, get out here and show me what you picked.”
Checking herself in the full-length mirror once more, she walked out into the master bedroom. “So?”
“Damn, you look hot. Dad is gonna lose his shit.”
“Please stop.” Ari rolled her eyes. Yes, she was back down to her pre-pregnancy weight, but things were not as tight as they had been. “Hot is not exactly what I’m going for.”
“Well, whatever you’re going for, you got it, plus more.”
Jumping off the bed, Steph pulled the blue bandana from her hair.
“Turn around.” She twirled a finger at Ari. Tying it around her neck first, she then walked around her and pushed it up into her step-mother’s hair. Pulling free a few front tendrils. “There, perfect. Now, GO!” she pointed towards the door.
It was another hour before they actually left the house, thanks to Jon and the boys not returning from their impromptu rainy day beach football game when they were supposed to. Not wanting them to be any later than they were, she sent him to change, and now she wished she had made him shower. For most of the show, he had her pulled flush against his body with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Sand, ocean, and rain infiltrated her senses. The few drinks she had imbibed backstage before the show and the couple she's had since the show started weren’t helping either. He was driving her insane.
“Show time Crash.” he whispered against her ear before releasing his hold on her.
“Behave up there.”
“As if.”
He planted one on her lips and hopped up on stage. She couldn’t make out what the two were saying to each other, and maybe she didn’t want to know. All she knew was they were both laughing hysterically as the opening intro to Talk to Me began. A few notes into the song, Southside was still laughing as he crossed the stage to where she was standing. Whatever he was about to do, Jon didn't want him to. He even tried pulling him away by his shirt, all this while the song continued. It was quite hilarious from where she stood. Finally, Southside gave in and made his way back to the center of the stage.
The stage banter was very much like their real-life banter. No filters. Mid song, they both paused to tease each other some more, and the crowd loved it. At the end of the song, she could read Jon's lips, saying he wasn’t sure if he’d do more, and that made her happy. She was ready to leave, just not go home. She was hoping to convince him to go park somewhere. That is, if she made it to the actual car before attacking him.
Jumping from the stage, Jon stepped into her space and slipped the long neck bottle from her fingers. “Did you enjoy that?” he asked before tipping his head back to drain the bottle.
“Uh-huh, but we’re leaving.” Grabbing his free hand, she dragged him behind the stage, weaving between the few bystanders until they reached the door they had come in. Kicking it open with her foot, she wasted no time pushing him up, against the brick wall, threading her hands in his hair, and glaring into those big blue eyes for a split second before her lips came crashing down on his.
Awwww love the chapter.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad Jake Finally came
Around, love he didn’t want
To leave Ariana side at the hospital!
Awww Jon and his girls.