Chapter Six

“Ok so who’s going to start?” Richie asked them as he was curious to what was going on with them.

Both of them started in on each other speaking or trying to talk over each other stating that it was the other’s fault as they both were very animated in their movements as Richie watched both of them. He found this very entertaining. He tried very hard not to laugh at either of them as they went at each other but he couldn’t help it. Neither of them were making much sense at this point. So he started to laugh and he really laugh out loud. One of those belly laughs that if you were enjoying a movie you would laugh right along. But instead Jon and Ellie finally heard him as they were going at it when they realized he wasn’t listening but laughing at them. Ellie’s eyes went wide as she stopped dead in her tracks and Jon just stopped dead as he turned his head as his mouth was open. For a moment he was speechless. For a moment.

Getting himself together Jon finally and loudly yelled, “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK IS SO FUNNY SAMBORA?”

Ellie was still just sitting there trying to figure out herself what was so funny but the look on Richie’s face was priceless. But she knew Jon long enough not to laugh or but in right this minute.

Trying to catch his breath he inhaled and finally was able to speak as he caught his breath. “You…you two are. Oh God. You should have seen the two of you when I asked you guys that question. You two went at each other like two feral cats. Oh my God my sides hurt.”

Looking at him pissed Jon said, “You’re an ass Sambora you do know that right?”

Shaking his head yes, “Yeah I now but so are you. Look I asked you to explain to me what the hell was going on and before I even finished the two of you just jumped on each other. What the hell was that? Look you two are crazy about each other so I’m going to remind you two of this.” He told them smiling evilly. 

“Look you don’t have to do that. I know how lucky I am that Jon came back into my life and that he accepted me and wasn’t pissed about Jimmy. I know what I have but sometimes I think that you’re sorry you got yourself into this. And you know our deal you can tell me anything and if you don’t want this anymore I’ll understand.” She told him trying really hard to hold back the tears. Jon just sat there listening, not knowing what to say.

“If you want we could try a trial separation or whatever you need I’ll understand Jon. I know you’re going through something and I want you to be able to fix what you have too. I’ll do anything for you.” She told him as a few tears ran down her cheeks. Richie wanted to get up and comfort her but knew Jon would kill him. But it would only be as a friend nothing more. But Jon beat him to it and Richie was relieved.

Pushing himself over to her he took her hand, “Ellie, my Ellie, I fell in love with you when we were sixteen and it sure as hell wasn’t puppy love. I thought I was going to die when I saw your parents drive away with you that day. You looking at me from the backseat crying like that. I just wanted to run after you. But I couldn’t move. My legs, I couldn’t move my legs and I just stood in the right side of the road til your Aunt came and got me to go home. I guess I was hoping that they were going to change their minds. Then years later Rich, Spanky and I were looking for some accessories and stuff in this store far away from home and Boom there you were just as if not more beautiful than when I first met you. I thought I was seeing things but there you were. Funny I had to run after you again. I always seem to do the chasing huh?” he asked her grinning.

“Excuse me?” she hits him with a pillow.

“Hey!” he yelps laughing.

“Don’t even go there pal you know I tried to find you.” She told him as she tried to push him off the bed with her feet but he grabbed them as she was kicking.

Letting go, “Yes I know, I know you did and that’s the past ok? No I don’t want a trial separation or anything like that. I’m just off of the longest tour with you here with our son. It was bad enough that I only saw you when we could steal some time together. So no we are not living apart again for a while you got that?” he told her taking her face in his hand.

Richie was smiling happily as Ellie asked, “So can I now have this bedroom cleaned top to bottom so I can move back in here Sweetie? Because I’m not as it still smells a little.” She told him wrinkling her nose. Again Richie started laughing.

Jon turning to him, “You know you can leave now asshat.”

“Who me?” Richie asked as he pointed to himself.

“Yeah you.” Jon said grinning.

“Ok you boys now play nice.” She chuckled to them. But she still had that question in the back of her head and she wondered now that Richie was with them to ask them together. The guys started in on each other playfully as she sat there watching them. She decided to keep her mouth shut as she saw her husband’s mood change for the better. She got up and headed for the bedroom door.

Jon looked up and asked her, “Hey El where are you going?”

“Oh I still have some things to do in the kitchen. I’ll be back in a bit.” She said to them as she headed out. They just sat there staring at each other in bewilderment.

Jon looked at Richie and asked him, “Were we just set up?” he asked confused.

“I don’t know but if we were then we were by an expert.” He told him shaking his head in amusement. “She good.” He also added.

“Yeah she is. “Jon agreed. “Hey um God I don’t even know how to bring this up.” Jon said to Rich as he got up and started to pace.

Richie just looked at him puzzled. “Well the best way is just to say it.” He told him.

Jon hemmed and hawed about it not sure that he wanted to broach the subject that was long dead between them. But the way Ellie was talking to him about it, it didn’t seem she was going to let it go anytime soon.

“God! Ellie brought up something that I thought was long dead.” He told him wringing his hands thru his hair. 

Richie just looked at him confused at first when all of a sudden it hit him like a ton of bricks. “OH SHIT! How the hell did she find out Jon?” he wanted to know nervously.

“Well she said it didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure it out. The way we look at each other for one. Oh and the way we act on stage with each other is another dead giveaway. I didn’t even realize we did that. I think I’m going to be sick.” He told his best friend and best friend he thought as he sat down as he put his head between his legs.

Looking at Jon, “You know you really are the dramatic one in this relationship you know.” He told him as he tried to figure a way to explain this to Ellie.

“You know you really are an Asshole you know?” Jon told him turning green.

“Well it’s better than trying to forget that it ever happened Jon. So we fooled around big deal just deal with it. We were just kids. Plus we were high or drunk at the time and lonely. And we found each other attractive big deal. You’re pretty when your all dressed up in make-up.” Richie told him batting his eyes smiling.

Looking at him pissed Jon said to him angrily, “I’m going to punch you! I’m sick to my stomach and you want to joke about this?”

“Oh come on do you think she’s going to love you any less? You just told me she knows. Did she say she wanted a divorce?” he asked him curious.

Looking up at him now. “No.”

“Then what the hell is wrong then?” Richie wanted to know.

“How can you be calm with this?” Jon wanted to know because he was a wreck about this.

Just then Ellie walked back into the bedroom and saw Jon with his head down between his legs and Richie talking to him smirking.

“What’s going on in here? And why does Jon look like he’s about to faint? Honey are you ok?” she asked concerned for her husband.

“Oh he’s fine but I see he’s still a Diva thou.” Richie replied to her chuckling.

Jon finally sat up and responded to him. “You know you are a Fucker Rich.”

Ellie just kept looking between the two of them as they kept hurling insults at each other. When finally she had enough. “Ok knock it off! What the hell is going on here?” she demanded to know.

“Well apparently you talked to your husband about…” but Jon gave him the stink eye to shut up but of course Richie never listen to him anyway. “Sorry Kidd but you know that never works with me. Ellie you said you heard a rumor about me and Jon well yeah that was true.” He told her as she sat there and didn’t know what to say when the truth finally came out. Jon on the other hand flipped out.

“RICHIE! Why? Why did you have to verify the truth to her huh? I need to run into the bathroom…” and he just made it as they could hear him heave.

Finally Ellie came out of it and asked Richie, “Sh…Should I go I in there and help him?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t he really needs his space right now.” Rich told her. “Look Ellie what happened between me and Jon, um that was in the past I hope you know that right? We were just kids when that happened and our girlfriends had just dumped us for the first round when we first all got together and we just really did dumb stuff when you’re on stuff you know.” Richie tried to tell her.

She looked at him and had to ask this question. “I hate to ask this Rich and I know it was after me but, you guys were on something I take it right?”

Shaking his head yes, “Yeah we were stupid then Darling. Drugs and booze don’t go together. And you do know how pretty your husband can be especially when your high, drunk or both. Plus we use to do a glam thing for a while (looking around to make sure Jon wasn’t visible) and with make-up on Jon is really gorgeous.” He chuckled.

Trying not to chuckle herself, “I bet he is. To tell you the truth I wouldn’t mind seeing him in that myself. I don’t think he realizes just how much I love him and wouldn’t care if he was bald. He’s changed Richie. He’s not the Jon I used to know when I first met him or the Jon when we met for the second time either. It’s like I don’t know him at all anymore. Like he doesn’t want me or Jimmy anymore. But he just says the words I want to hear.” She said when they heard the bathroom door open and Jon walk out.

They both looked at him as he walked over to her. “You really think that? That you don’t think you know me anymore? That I don’t want you or Jimmy?” he asked her shocked. She stood as Richie got up to leave them alone. Jon quickly said, “No Rich don’t leave please.” Richie went over to the love seat that they had in their room and sat as Jon took Ellie’s hand and asked her, “Don’t you ever think that I don’t want you or Jimmy I told you this. Get that out of your thick skull right now. You two are the best things that have ever happened to me and I don’t regret one day ok? And I promise I’ll do what the doctor wants me to do. I want to get better I really do. I love you guys. Now how about I grab a few things and I stay with you in the guest room and we get a decorator to redo this room, what do you say?”

Smiling from ear to ear, “Oh Jon I would love that!” as she grabbed him and kissed him hard.

“Well with that said I’m going to bed.” Richie told them as he got up. 

“Not quite. We still have the matter on what we all were taking about. Look what happened in the early eighties Babe between me and Richie, well that’s between him and I ok? It doesn’t have anything to do with you or our relationship. Except he’s my best friend and that’s it.  Do you understand that?” he wanted to know.

“Of course I do Honey and I’m sorry I brought it up. But like I said it really doesn’t bother me because I get it I really do. It had to do with the circumstances and your relationship with each other. I just wish I had a friend like Richie when I needed one. Ok I’ll go turn down the bed and meet you there when you’re ready. Night Rich.” She said as she turned and left the room. 

After she left the room Richie looked at Jon and said to him, “You lucky Bastard!”

Looking shocked and a little pleased with himself he asked him, “What?”

“You know damn well. She knows the whole deal with us and she still doesn’t care. Dotty freaked the hell out and gave you an ultimatum when she found out and told you to stay the hell away from me. No partying, no being alone together which kinda makes it hard to write songs together Kidd, no nothing. Then along comes Ellie and Boom! She says, “Oh I’m fine with it.” Yeah you do have that horseshoe nice and tight up that ass don’t you?” he said giving him the Jersey salute.

“Shut the fuck up will ya. Can I help it if she loves me?” He said opening his arms wide and taking a bow.

“Yeah I’m the ass.” Rich said shaking his head chuckling. “Look I’ll see you in the morning try not to blow it will ya.” He told him as he left him as Jon put on some clean sweats to join Ellie.

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Ellie was a little nervous about Jon joining her seeing that it had been a while since they had slept together, one way or the other. She put on one of her long t-shirts and took her hair out of her ponytail and let it loose. Jon liked her hair loose and flowing. She turned down the bed and got in on her side and picked up her book and waited for him to come in.

It was about a half hour when he walked in with nothing but his sweatpants on as he knocked on the door before he entered. He wasn’t sure if he should just walk in or not. Funny how they were walking on eggshells with one another.

She looked up from her book, “Jon?”

“Hi, I was afraid you’d be sleep.” He said as he walked in and shut the door. Then he strutted over to his side of the bed. “I see you still like the right side.” He smiled.

Looking at him a little confused, “Yeah I guess. Just because I’m sleeping in here alone doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep on a different side of the bed.”

“Yeah I guess. I slept in the middle or all over.” He told her not really knowing what he was saying now.

Giggling, “Yeah I know I would look in on you just to make sure you were alright. But don’t think you’re going to do that tonight because I’ll roll you right off of the bed got it?” she told him still giggling.

Sitting now on his side still smiling, “Yeah I got it. I don’t remember it being this hard for us to make conversation.” He told her.

Shaking her head no, “No it wasn’t but it will get easier we just need to ease into it.”

“I guess. Look I don’t expect anything tonight, you know sex wise. But if I could I would love to at least hold you if I could.” He tried to get out as he looked down at the bed.

“Hey I’m right here you know.” She told him as she reached out for his hand.

Taking her hand in his, “I know and thank you.”

“For what?” she asked him.

“For not taking Jimmy and leaving me when I knew you should have.” He told her with tears in his eyes.

“Hey we said vows to each other Babe. I happen to take them very seriously you know that. I love you so very, very much and I’d die for you. Let’s just get some sleep ok? And yes I would love you hold me tonight.” She told him lovingly.

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The next few weeks everything seemed to go fine and Jon was doing what he was supposed to do. Richie was helping out with Jimmy, taking him to and from school so Ellie could dote on Jon. Even Carol seemed happy with the arrangement as long as she could see her son when she wanted. But Jon was just going thru the motions to appease everyone but himself. He was really trying to make everyone happy but only making himself more miserable. Ellie had taken him to his weekly checkup and his doctor recommended that he see someone to talk to. He had notice that Jon was still withdrawn and maybe seeing a psychiatrist would help him immensely. Of course Jon didn’t like that idea but he was going to keep that to himself for now so he just listened and smiled at the doc and told him that he would have to think about it and would give him his answer on his next visit.

On the way home Ellie knew he was quiet so she took a chance at being snapped at and asked him if there was anything wrong.

“Jon, Honey are you ok? You’ve been awfully quiet since we left the doctor’s office.” She asked him as she tried looking at him but he was looking out of the window as they were driving along. “Jon you with me?”

“Yeah I hear you Babe.” He said still staring out of the window.

“Did everything go ok with Dr. Hathaway?” she wanted to know.

Hesitating he said, “Yeah everything was fine. He just suggested that I see a shrink that’s all.” He replied without emotion.

Well that wasn’t good she thought. She knew what he thought about shrinks. “Oh well um did you happen to give him an answer?” she asked carefully.

Still staring out the window, “No I told him I’d probably give him one next time I’d see him.”

“Ok.” She really didn’t know what else to say to that or the way he was acting for that matter. She knew he didn’t like the idea or the conversation only because he wasn’t looking at her. Boy the rest of the day is going to be really great she could see. She was about a mile from their exit when all of a sudden before she could get in the first lane Jon opened his door and looked like he was going to jump out. Luckily Ellie had fast reflexes and grabbed him by his shoulder and yanked hard! And all the while swerved the car into the slow lane and then into the breakdown lane and came to a dead stop. She was shaking like a leaf but before she could yell at him Jon turned to her and started in.

“What the HELL do you think you were doing!” Jon screamed at her.

Turning to her husband in shock she just looked at him and laid back into him smacking him on his arms and chest. “What the Hell Jon! What the fuck do you think you were doing! Trying to jump the fuck out of the fucking car!” she was screaming and all the while Jon was trying to duck and cover and trying to grab her hands all at the same time.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking ok. Baby I wasn’t thinking. I don’t know why I opened it I’m sorry.” He was pleading with her when he finally had a good grip on her.

Crying now she broke down completely in his arms just before she laid into him. “You Son-of-a-Bitch! Do you know what you would have put me thru if you had gone thru with it? Do you! Do you even know how much I even love you? How much Jimmy loves you? Or what we are going thru right now tip toeing around you to make sure we don’t do anything wrong so you won’t get mad at us? Then you go and do something stupid like this? Did I do something so wrong to make you want to leave us Jon? Did I?” she asked him crying her heart to him.

Jon sat there with her in his arms as his heart was breaking now. “No Baby you didn’t. It’s just I told you I wasn’t thinking I was looking at the road and got mesmerized by it I guess and decided I wanted to see more of it but I didn’t really want to jump I don’t think. I don’t know anymore.” He told her confused now.

Finally sitting up and trying to calm herself now. “Ok well let’s just get home and we’ll talk more when we’re there. But this isn’t over Jon, because we could have gotten into an accident and Jimmy could have lost both parents.” She scolded him. She really wasn’t happy but also wasn’t going to push him right there either. All she wanted to was get home and see her son.