Jon entered their bedroom as Ellie was reading her book. She looked up as Jon had closed the door and was taking off his shirt and walking to the walk-in closet. Ellie sat there watching him intently as he stripped down as he put on his sweatpants. He looked at her and he wasn’t going to risk her life just to please himself or her for that matter. “Babe I was wondering where my…” and as he turned around, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at her like a deer caught in the headlights.
Jon looked at his wife with a sly smile on his face. “Hey Babe, what are you looking at?” he said as he sauntered over to her and climbed into bed and cuddled up to her as she giggled. “You know I’ve always loved when you giggled.” as he took her hand and kissed it gently.
“I always thought I was a little girl when I did that?” she told him as he leaned into her and kissed her gently on her lips. Parting she looked at him and had tears in her eyes.
“What’s the matter Sweetie? Did I do something wrong?” he asked her.
Shaking her head, no she told him, “Of course not. It’s just when that well, when you would strip like that and I would look at you that way, we would end up making love and well now all we can do is what? Kiss my freaking hand.” she said to him unhappily.
He looked at her and he wasn’t going to risk her life just to please himself or her for that matter. “Babe, I understand I really do. Don’t you think I want too? But I’m not going to risk your life for a few minutes of pleasure.” He told her as he wrapped her in his arms.
She turned in his arms so she could look up at him and said to him, “But Sweetheart, it wasn’t a few minutes for me. I had multiple orgasms remember so it was a LOT longer for me” she told him as she tried her best to hold in the giggle that was rising from her and the smile that was coming on her face.
“You little Brat!” he told her but before he started to tickle her, he remembered what happened the last time and just let go of her. She looked at him and sat up confused.
“Ok what’s the matter, do I smell or something?” she asked but she kind of knew.
“I’m sorry Baby I...I just can’t ok.” he told her and moved to his side of the bed. She looked at him and sighed. She just turned to the lamp on her side of the bed and turned it off.
“Yeah sure Good Nite.” and she just tried to go to sleep.
Jon knew he blew it. But he didn’t know what to do in that moment. He was all worked up and if he didn’t let her go then he knew something good wasn’t going to happen and also tried to sleep. So he turned off his light and it was a rough night for both of them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ellie was still sleeping when Jon made his way downstairs. He put the coffee on and just sat at the kitchen table and thought about what happened last night. He could have kicked himself that he let it get that far knowing that it would hurt her when he pulled away from her. He knew he had to make this right. He just didn’t know how. Most of the kids had gone back home now and the only ones that were here were Stef as her husband and the kids had to leave yesterday when Ava went into labor. Ellie loved having her kids around, so she was sad to see them leave. Maybe he could talk to Stef, Oh God no they hate to talk to them about their love lives. He was back to square one. He was staring into space, so he didn’t hear someone walk into the kitchen.
“Hey penny for your thoughts” Richie said as he walked over to the coffee machine to pour himself a cup. Still Jon didn’t respond to him. Wow Richie thought as he made his coffee. It wasn’t like Jon not to notice someone walking into a room. Especially walking up behind him. So taking his coffee and setting it on the table he tapped Jon on the shoulder which made Jon jump.
‘ “Hey Man what the hell!” Jon exclaimed. Turning around in almost a panic.
“Well excuse me Kidd but you were way off in dreamland. I said something when I walked in but you didn’t even hear me. “ Richie told him as he walked back to take a slug of his coffee.
“Oh really? Sorry. I was just thinking.” he told him as he sat back down still a little shook up.
“I could see that. So what’s up?” he wanted to know.
“I pulled a real boner last night.” he told him as he took a sip of his coffee and finished it.
“Ok so what’s new?” Richie chuckled.
“That’s not funny, Rich.” getting up and pouring himself another cup. "I mean I really blew it with Ellie.” he said shaking his head.
“I highly doubt that but ok explain to me what you did.” as he sat as he put his hands up to his ears.
“RICHIE! This isn’t funny I said. I really fucked up.” Jon was really getting annoyed now.
“I’m sorry ok. What happened.” he tried to keep a smile from showing.
“I went upstairs like I always do and when I did I stripped out of my clothes to put on my sweats.” he started telling Richie.
“Oh My God she tackled you and you said no?” as he gave a surprised face.
“Ok Fuck you.” Jon said and started out of the kitchen.
Jumping up to catch him, “Ok, ok, ok I’m sorry but come on we’re talking about YOUR love life Kidd. You got turned down Please!.” Richie said smiling.
Glaring at him , he said, “No, I turned her down.” there he said it. Finally he heard himself say it out loud.
“What? You turned her down? Why…” then all of a sudden it hit him. “Ohhh ok I get why. It may take me a while, but I get it. So I take it she didn’t take it very well?” he said to him as he had to sit down for this one.
“You think? Of course not. But it was my fault too. I kind of started to kiss her hand then leaned into her and kissed her gently on her lips but then I pulled away before anything could, you know happen. She then got upset with me because she knew why I did that because the last time we did she went into cardiac arrest and we nearly lost her. But she turned around on me and wouldn’t look at me the rest of the night.” he said solemnly.
“Oh man yeah you’re really in a pickle.” he told him not knowing what advice to give him.
“A pickle? What the hell is that? That doesn’t help me Rich.” he told him, running his hands thru his hair.
“Well I’m sorry but I don’t know what to tell you Kidd. She’ll forgive you. She has forgiven you for everything and I mean everything! But right now I have my Psycho ex-wife I have to worry about Kidd remember and she doesn’t forgive anyone Especially your wife.” Richie told him sitting down fiddling with his coffee cup.
Looking at his friend, Jon said. “I’m sorry Rich. I’m all wrapped up in my problem and Heather is out there and God only knows what she is up to.” he said as he went up to him and patted his shoulder.
“Yeah that’s what I’m afraid of. I’m terrified of what she’ll do to the baby and Ava. She is so freaking mad that they came here and not to her. What’s even worse is that it was Ellie’s birthday and all Heather got was a card from her. She just doesn’t get it. The last time Ava went over there Heather was out of her mind. Frank couldn't control her either. We couldn't figure out what she was even pissed at. I think she was turned down for a role or something but she took it out on everyone that was there and Ava called me so when I got there she went off on her for calling me. She started screaming at me that it was all my fault, it was just really bad Jon.” he told him.
Jon listened intently and really felt bad for him. He knew all the crap Heather put him thru all those years. He also knew what she put his wife thru also. “So what are you going to do today?” he asked him.
“Well I was going to go to the hospital and make sure Heather doesn’t bother my kids first off. Then I have no idea. You?” he smiled and lifted one of his eyebrows at him.
“Oh funny. Well I have an apology to make. Hopefully she’ll accept it.” he said solemnly.
“What did I say about that? Just give her that you know ‘I want you sexy look” (he tried to give Jon) and she’ll be putty in your hands.” He smiled.
“If I give her THAT look she’ll go running screaming out of the room.,” Jon laughed.
“Oh really well if I remember it worked on you a couple of times.” he sneered at him.
Pointing at him annoyed, ”Hey what did I tell you about that? “ and snapped.
“What! No one is around. Oh come on Jon that was a lifetime ago. Don’t tell me you’re still skittish about that? I thought you said at the time you were ok with it. We even talked to Ellie about it because she figured it out. We didn’t do anything wrong?” Richie was now getting a little upset over Jon’s reaction.
“No...I’m fine ok. I just don’t need the kids over hearing it, that's all. What happened a lifetime ago is our business no one else’s.” he said to him turning a little pink.
“Are you sure because you’re turning a few shades redder than you usually do.” he told Jon and feeling a little bad about bringing it up.
“No it’s ok I shouldn’t be so squeamish about it Rich, I ‘m sorry. The road is lonely and we made the best out of it. We were more than just partners in the band but we were friends and we were writing partners and…” but Richie cut in.
“It’s ok I know and that’s why we were so close and yeah the guys were a little jealous of us being so close so when I did pull that bonehead of an idea leaving the band I not only hurt you mostly but I hurt everyone involved. Tico and David really gave it to me and told me what happened after that tour and what you were going thru not to mention Ellie. I think if anyone could get a real licking through the phone well I don’t think I could walk for a week.” he explained to Jon.
Jon laughed at that. “Yeah she was really pissed at you for leaving. I had to sit on her or otherwise she was going to hunt you down and kick your ass from where you were to Tokyo. You really did hurt a lot of people, Sambora. Especially our kids. They didn’t know what to do, especially with Ellie screaming screw him.” Jon chuckled.
Making a face, “Ewe really, I knew it was bad but…” Richie shook his head.
“You really didn’t know the half of it.” Jon said as he poured himself another cup.
Richie saw this and asked him, “I thought you were going to go talk to Ellie?” he smiled.
Turning around, “I am, I just need some more encouragement, that's all.” Jon grinned a little wary.
Just then they heard a voice coming from the hallway into the kitchen. “Talk to me about what?” Ellie asked them.
Jon nearly dropped his coffee mug.
“Hey Darling Good Morning. How are you feeling?” Richie asked her as he walked up to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Feeling Fine Richie. So what were you and my handsome husband talking about?” she asked them as she headed towards Jon to start her tea.
“Just shooting the shit that’s all Darling, Right Kidd?” he said as he put it in Jon’s court.
“Um Yeah, just talking about the old days and stuff. How did you sleep Baby, ok?” he asked her as he put his arms around her and kissed her.
Parting, she smiled at him and said, “Yeah like a baby. Excuse me Honey I’d like to make my tea. Richie, are you going to visit Ava and the baby today?” she asked as she filled the tea pot.
“Yeah I am as a matter of fact. Want to make sure everything is ok, you know.” he told her.
“Yes I do. Never know if Heather will pop back up. Well you know that Ava and Dylan can come back here when they are ready until they are set to go home.” she told Richie as she put the teapot on the stove.
“Thanks Ellie I’m sure they are very grateful for everything you and Jon are doing. Look I’ll leave you alone and I can’t wait to see my Grandson. God my Grandson. I can say that over and over.” Richie smiled like he just ate the canary.
“I know right. We were the same way with our first one too. Even thou it was Jimmy’s, I think his was a little special to me and Ellie after everything we went thru with him. Now I know why Ellie’s parents were so crazy about him. It’s just I guess the first Grandchild everyone goes crazy for.” Jon told him.
“Yeah I guess. We don’t mean too but the first one is just special and you can't help it. But then you love them all. Jon and I are just so blessed we have all of them and they go above everything to make sure I’m taken care of. Now I know what Daddy felt like when the kids were watching him and he came to me and said that if I could tell these little ones to stop watching him because he wanted to go for a walk and go home.” Ellie laughed.
Richie looked at her confused, “Wait wasn’t he home to begin with?” he asked her.
“Oh he was home but I told them to look after him because he had a bad habit of wandering off. Because of his Alzheimer’s remember? I mean it would have been kind of funny to see Mom running down the street in her walker running after him. Wouldn’t it?” Ellie smiled. “Besides when we would go over in his last years I had the kids look after him. It was sad but he wouldn’t run away with them there. He knew somehow he couldn't go far with them. At least he knew even thou he didn’t know who we were.” The guys saw the sadness in her eyes when she was speaking of this. She still felt bad about that time and then how her Mom got so sick after her Dad’s death. It killed Jon because she slipped into a depression and her siblings were of no help and were nasty in fact to her during this time.
“Oh Darling, so sorry about that. I forgot about that time. My Dad had cancer and what we were going thru, and you kept calling to see how we were. I don’t know how you do it I really don’t. Taking care of your family then with your parents and then checking up on me and mine. You do know Jon doesn’t deserve you right?” he told her and went in for a huge hug.
Jon just smiled but had to get a dig in. “Hey! I’m the best thing that ever happened to her.” he said trying to give him a pouty face. They both looked at each other, smiled and turned facing Jon and went in and gave him a huge hug as well. “OK! Ok! I’m fine now. Thanks…. You’re crushing me!!” he yelled as both of them laughed.
“Well that’s what you get Kidd for trying to be a Brat!” Richie laughed as Ellie pinched his cheek.
“Ok I get that thanks.” Jon smiled as he took another sip of his coffee shaking his head.
“Ok I’m off I’ll see you guys later.” and Richie headed out.
It was quiet for a few minutes as Ellie had sat down to finish her tea when Jon sat down next to her, Finally gathering the courage to say something to her, “Babe I guess I have an apology to give you huh?” he told her looking at her and hoping she would look back at him.
Putting her cup back on the table she finally turned to look him in the eye. “Whatever do you mean Jon?” she said coldly.
Oh God she is now talking in her monotone voice. “Still mad at me huh? Ok I am sorry for last night. But I wasn’t going to do something that we were going to regret later. You damn well know that if we started to fool around you would have started to get heart pains like last time and we don’t know what would have happened. This time you could have died and I wasn’t going to take that chance. Sorry but I wasn’t.” He told her strongly.
She looked at him not knowing what to say. One part of her wanted to scream at him and the other part just wanted to take him in her arms and cry. “I know. I know what you were trying to do. But at the time I felt useless ok? You have to understand Jon, you still have women throwing themselves at you. To be honest I didn’t like it then and I still don’t like it now. But now that we can't, well you know it’s just really hard for me to feel like an attractive woman. Can you understand that?” She asked him as she was trying very hard not to cry.
Look at her lovingly. “You're a dummy, you know that? (her eyes and face looked shocked) Don’t look at me like that. After all these years you still don’t know how much I love you. You are the only woman that I want to be with. Baby, from the time I saw you at sixteen I fell head over heels in love with you. The time that we were apart drove me crazy. All I did was tell the guys that I had met this beautiful girl and she was taken from me and all I want to do is find her again. They thought I was crazy. When we saw each other again Richie said to me Is that the girl? Is that your Ellie? He knew from the moment we saw each other again that it was you from the moment I saw you. I know over the years I had screwed up with our vows and I have paid for that. Not a day goes by that I don’t kick myself for it. I know I don’t deserve you. But if I can make sure that you can be here with me a day longer that you can. And believe me it’s not because I don’t find you unattractive. Ok? I love you more than the day I met you.” he saw the tears flowing down her cheeks as she was smiling so he leaned he and kissed her with everything he had. Putting his hand behind her head he knelt on the floor to get better traction. She put her arms around him. When Stef entered the kitchen and saw them making out. She stood there frozen but her heart full of love to see her parents loving each other still after all these years. So, she stepped out, took a deep breath and made some noise so they could hear her coming down the hall. Startled, they parted to see who was coming into the kitchen.
Walking in she said to them, “Hi Mom, Hi Dad how did you guys' sleep?” she asked, knowing all too well.
“Oh, Hi Honey, we slept fine and you?” Ellie asked her daughter as Jon got up to make another pot.
“Not bad. Did Uncle Mookie go to the Hospital?” she asked them.
“Yeah, he did, he couldn’t wait to see Ava and that beautiful little boy of his.” Ellie told her.
“Oh, that’s great. Ava was so excited to tell him the name of the baby. She was about to blab to him if her water didn’t break when it did.” Stef laughed.
“Well, I’m just glad he has something else to keep his mind on other than Heather. He’s going to be a wonderful Grandpa. Maybe he’ll even stop teasing you. “Ellie said, smiling at her husband.
“Well Richie’s thrilled he has seen me and everything that I have had over the years and has kept telling me that I have a golden horseshoe up my ass. It’s not my fault that I just happened to pick the best girl to be able to handle me.” Jon told them, smiling.
“Jon? Be nice. Don’t you think that’s why he was, oh my how can I put this?” she was trying very hard to try and put into words how Richie used to go around horn dogging it with women.
“Screwing Groupies?” Jon blurted out
“JON!” Ellie scolded.
“Oh Mom. It's ok. You do know that when we were a certain age, we kinda figured it out right?” Stef laughed.
Ellie just gave her the stink eye. “I know you kids weren’t dumb and you could figure out by hearing people talk and some of the girls asking you guys to see if you could do this or that to get to the band or your Dad, I’m not stupid. But I couldn’t keep you guys from going to either, concerts and things. Oh hell you knew I got knocked up by your Dad when we were sixteen for crying out loud. Some role models we were.” for the first time she didn’t feel good about what happened between the two of them.
Stef and Jon looked at Ellie and didn’t know what to say. So Stef spoke up. “Mom, it was ok. You are the best Mother anyone could have. You always spoke about Grandma and how wonderful she was, even Grandpa. Well guess what, they raised you to be a perfect Mom and that mistake was made out of love. You and Daddy loved each other so much and then things went wrong but then you two found each other again and we were able to live the lives you were supposed to. Most people don’t get that chance. How lucky have you been that you have been together as long as you have been. I saw you earlier kissing and I loved that. I want my marriage to be like yours. We all do. We love you two so much.” she told them as tears flowed down her cheeks now.
They both got up and went to hug her tight. They both felt so lucky to have the family they did and for as long as they did. So they were going to cherish what time they had left together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richie arrived at the hospital and went up to his daughter's rooms. When he walked in he saw the most beautiful site in the world. “Hey Baby Girl you look so beautiful feeding my Grandson.” he told her beaming with joy.
“Oh Daddy you’re going to make me blush.” She told him so proud that Little Richie took to her so fast.
“So where is Dylan?” he asked her as he sat down.
“Oh he went to grab a bite to eat. He didn’t want to go until you got here but I made him.” She laughed.
“So you knew I was coming early huh?” He smiled looking at that beautiful baby she was holding.
“Of course I did. I knew the only thing that would get you up this early is either an interview that was scheduled or your Grandson. I told Dylan also to bring up some coffee for the two of you and to bring me up some juice. The nurses are really nice here but there is some kind of baby boom going on and I don’t want to keep asking them for things.” she told her Dad.”
“Well I’ll thank him when he gets back.” he told her as they talked for a while. It didn’t take long for Dylan to get back with the drinks but he didn’t look happy.
“Hey Dylan what’s the matter?” Richie asked him, but something had upset him.
“You won’t believe me but the press is downstairs because Heather is there telling everyone that she is a Grandmother and that her daughter and Grandson are in this hospital.” he said angrily.
“You gotta be kidding me. Daddy what are we going to do. It’s been so nice with the quiet. What are we going to do?” she asked him as she was visibly upset.
“Well you’ll have to call Uncle Jon for one because I’m about to be arrested for assault!” He told them as he got up and bounded out of the door.
Ava and Dylan were shocked when Richie just got up and shouted that out and basically ran out the door. Ava just looked at her husband and worriedly ask her husband to go after him to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. “Baby there isn’t anything I could do to stop him. Didn’t you see his face? I’ll go and try to see what I can do but you better call Jon and do it now ok?” Dylan said and went to see if he could so anything to stop a murder.
Meanwhile Richie reached the lobby and all he saw was this mass of people around his ex-wife. Just then one of the Paps saw him and ran to him.
“Mr. Sambora! Mr. Sambora! How does it feel being a Grandfather!” then another one started then another and another one. Richie just raised his hands as they kept yelling and Heather was standing there with only a few as she was getting angrier by the minute. Finally everyone quieted down. Dylan was watching from the back as he didn’t want to get in the middle of their battle ground.
“Yes Thank You. Our daughter Ava and her husband Dylan had a Son. That’s all I’m going to say at this time. It’s up to them to let out any more information. We’ll have a Statement when they are ready. Now if you will allow our privacy, Heather and I will be with our kids. Thank You.” Richie stated and grabbed Heather by the arm and started for the elevators. Dylan also headed towards them and met them there.
Heather followed but Richie stopped her. “What do you think you’re doing? I thought you said we were going to see OUR daughter?” she said in a not so nice tone. .
“I did but Dylan is going to have to ask Ava if it’s alright for you to come up with me. She still may not want to see you or not, and if she doesn’t I don’t want you to flip out on her. Is that understood?” He replied very calmly and very definitive.
She thought about it for a minute then replied. “Fine. But Richie, I really want to see my daughter and Grandson. What do I have to do to make that happen?” she really wanted to know.
Smiling, Richie turned to Dylan and said, “Look we’ll be in the cafe ok? You tell Ava what we talked about and we’ll see you in there.” as he winked at him good luck. Dylan just smiled back and got into the elevator. Taking Heather’s hand they walked to the cafeteria and sat down.
“Do you want some coffee or a soda? He asked her as he got up.
“I’ll have a coffee Thanks.” She told him.
Richie went to get the coffee while Dylan was pleading her case with Ava which wasn’t going so good. It seemed like forever that they were waiting and Heather was getting restless.
“Do you think Ava will let me see them?” she asked her ex.
“Well you’ll be lucky if you ever see them with that stunt you just pulled.” he told her, setting down the coffees and sitting across from her with fire in his eyes.
Heather looked at him none too happy. “Well I wasn’t getting anywhere with you. So I decided to set this up figuring that just maybe this would get me an audience with them” she told him, staring daggers at him.
“Oh my God Heather. I was working on her letting you go see the baby. But now? You pull this shit? I’ll be lucky if you’ll be able to see them when Little Richie graduates college!” Richie arguably tells her.
“Well you were supposed to get back to me Richard and you didn’t.” she told him annoyed and playing with her coffee.
Richie is seeing red now. “Look! I just talked to her last night. She was thinking it over so how the hell was I supposed to call you with an answer when I didn't have one. You need to have patience and control or you are going to lose her forever. Is that what you want?” he asked her livid.
"I just want to see my kids. Is that alright with you?” she told him, angry.
“You really aren’t getting it are you, Heather? I can’t help you till you understand this. I think it’s time for you to get help. I can help with that.” he told her in a more calming voice. Well that didn’t go over very well. She stood up and threw her hot coffee at him.
Meanwhile Dylan had called Jon and told him what Heather had done and that there was going to be a statement on the news and That Richie told him that they need to make a more formal statement soon. Jon told him that would be fine and they hung up. Ellie wanted to know what was going on but just then the phone rang.
Picking up the phone, Jon said “Hello?”
“Jon? It’s Rich. We have a problem.” he said, holding an ice pack to his arm.
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