Chapter 36

It took two days to get the cabin all set. Lexie came down the day they were leaving with a few things for the kids. Romeo was is second heaven, he played with Snowball until they loaded up. She brought three books for Stephanie, they were from her Teen series, which really surprised Steph.

“There isn't much to do up there, the wifi is iffy at best.” She handed her the bag. “I thought you might like these.”

“Thanks, “ She took the bag.

“I should have added a cook book for your dad.” She whispered.

“Hey, I make a mean omelet and Grilled Cheese.” Jon laughed as he loaded the last case into the SUV.

“Don't forget reservations and take out orders.” Jesse added.

“Don't forget, no body delivers up there.” She reminded Jon.

“O Kay lets load up, We have a nice drive ahead of us.” Jon wrangled the younger two into the back seat, taking notices of any lumps in Romeo's jacket. “Romey, where Snow?”

“Her's in her carrier.” Romeo said

“Romey, Snow doesn't have a carrier.” Lexie looked at Jon.

“Romeo, Where is Snowball?” Jon used his daddy voice.

“Hers in her Carrier Daddy.” Romeo looked at Jon not backing down.

Jon started to unpack the back of the suv checking each suitcase until they were all out on the street.

Jake unzipped his jacket and the little white head peeked out.

“See Daddy, Jakey is hers carrier.” Romeo and Jake started to laugh.

Jon was not to happy to repack the SUV.

“Romey, why didn't you just say that Jake had Snowball in his Jacket?” Lexie asked Romeo as she took her small dog out of Jake's jacket.

“Because Lexie, you and Daddy would be mad at me if I snucked Snow in my jacket.” He told her.

Damn, he's right Jon thought as he placed the last suitcase back in the SUV he came around to where Lexie stood holding the little puff of fur.

“I'll call you when we get there,” he told her. “One week.” he whispered.

“Only if Stephanie calls me and asked me to come.” She whispered back and gave him a little kiss on the lips.

“O kay, lets hit the road.” he said as he backed up and got into the SUV.

Lexie stepped back and waved.

“Bye bye Lexie, Bye Bye Snowball.” Romeo called over the roar of V8.

“Bye Romey.” Lexie called back to him.

She stood there as the Escalade was swallowed by the traffic. Walking back to her apartment she felt sad. She would stand by her decision to wait until Stephanie could be won over.

After about a million bottles of pop on the wall and twenty stops for bathroom and snack break he finally got to the gate. Reaching for the remote he opened the gate and garage door, it felt like coming home.

Getting four kids settled and rummaging in the cupboard for dinner, he came up with soup for dinner. Mentally making a grocery list he went up to unpack in his room.

Checking on each of the kids he found Jesse reading on his Kindle and Jake with Romeo playing with hot wheels and Lego from the toy box he had to bring, the last room he got to was Stephanie. Tapping on the half closed door he waited for her to tell him to enter.

“Hey, did you get unpacked.” he leaned on the door jam. She was stretched out on the bed, her laptop on her left.

“Yeah, wifi sucks here.” She grumbled.

“Yeah, it's spotty at best.” He agreed.

“I looked in the bag, she gave me some great books.” Steph tossed him the bag. “Mom bought them for me but I left then.”

Jon caught the bag and looked in and pulled out one. “Murder at the Fashion Show” he looked at the second one “Death at the Prom” he had to chuckled.

“You love this style books.” he opened it up and read the inscription.

Stephanie, I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed writing them. Lexie

“You cracked any of these covers yet?” He asked as he sat on the edge of the bed, handing her the book.

Stephanie took the book and thumbed the book open. She stopped at the inscription.

“She wrote this book.” She looked at her dad. “She wrote all of these?”

“That's what she does, she's a writer. You know those books that your mom and I like, she wrote them too. In fact,” He picked up her laptop and stuck in a driver and pulled up what he downloaded for her to read. “You might like to read this.” he got up off the bed and headed to the door. “Dinner in an hour, we got soup.”

“Grocery shopping in the morning?” She laughed.

“Oh yeah. I haven't hit the freezer yet, I know we left some stuff in it.” He laughed as he headed back down to the kitchen.

Stephanie started to read what her dad uploaded onto the laptop. Jesse stood in the doorway watching his sister.

“What ya reading?” Jesse asked

Stephanie jumped.

“Damn it Jess, you scared the shit out of me.” Stephanie swore at her brother. “If you must know I'm reading about dads new fling,.”

“Don't let Dad or the runts hear you cuss or you'll be paying for that little out burst.” He came into the room and pulled the desk chair over. “I don't think Lexie is a fling, she just might be in for the long haul.”

“Only if I want her to be.” She said with a fake smile.

“Steph, give her a chance. She makes dad happy. Hell he's going into her chat room.” Jesse laughed

“Didn't you want mom and dad back together?” She asked as she read over the bio. “Wow, she started writing when she was Jakey's age. Published at sixteen.”

“Yeah, at one point I did was them back together, then I remember the fights and the slamming out of the house, the Uncles that came and went while daddy was on tour. Mom wasn't a saint by any means.” He picked up one of the books she had stacked on the floor,

“I remember all that, but I also remember the good times, when daddy wasn't on the road and we did things, like spend the summer at The Hamptons. or St. Barts. “ She highlighted a line, “Look at this, when asked who she used as the character reference she said a certain New Jersey rocker, she was talking about daddy. You think he knew her from the road?” She sat the laptop to the side and looked at her brother,

“Nope, they met here. He thought she was the cook.” Jesse picked out another book and placed the other one back. “Can I borrow this one. I just finished my reading list for school. I guess will be going back to good old Poly Prep.”

“Yes, thank God I only have one more year. Then I can move out and go to college.” She flopped back on the bed and looked at the ceiling.

“Better get your grades up or it's be junior college instead of a university.” Jesse laughed as he got up and headed for the door. “City College is where you'll end up if you don't.” He dodged the pillow she threw at him.

“Hey kids soups on. Dinners on the table.” Jon called from the bottom of the steps.

He was rewarded by the pounding of feet and they younger two came clomping down the steps. Jesse and Stephanie followed a little behind.

The table had been set with bowls of steaming tomato soup and a stack of slightly burnt grilled cheese sandwiches waited to be passed out. Milk for the younger Bongiovi's and pop for the older two. Jon had found the last of the wine he and Lexie had shared that last night they had stayed there still on the bar.

“What's there to do around here?” Jesse asked as he finished his sandwich.

“We got movies, and Wii, there are books and television.” He told them.

“No clubs or places that kids hang out?” Stephanie asked

“We hardly left the cabin, there was a lot of snow and Romeo isn't the club kinda kid.” Jon chuckled.

“Can Jess and I maybe go out?” Steph used her little girls voice.

“Maybe tomorrow night, don't like you guys out late in a strange place.” Jon said.

“Please Daddy, we'll be careful.” She tried again.

“Steph, I said not tonight. It's really dark and you don't know the area.” Jon was getting upset the more she pushed.

“It's not fair, you haul us up here and there is nothing to do, you think this is gonna make me want to like your girlfriend, ain't gonna happen.” She yelled as she slammed out of the room, knocking over her chair and knocking her plate and glass off the table.

Jon started to jump up and go after her, but he just sat there shocked.

“oooh Stephie is gonna be in trouble.” Romeo whispered.

Jakey seemed to curl into himself. It was like he wanted the floor to open and swallow him up.

Jon was handing out stink eyes as he looked around the table.

“I'll go talk to her dad.” Jesse started to get up.

“No Jess, this is my problem.” he got up from the table. “Can you three clean up this mess.”

“Sure daddy.” Romeo pushed back from the table and went around.

Jake just got up, not saying a word and began to pick up the plate.

Jon walked up the steps, dreading what was about to happen.

Chapter 35

It didn't take Lexie long to grab her jacket and the leash, by the time she had her spare key, Snow met her at the door.

“It's just Jon, Snow, not Romeo.” She told the little dog as she clipped the leash onto her collar.

They made it down the steps and headed down the block toward Jon's place. He was waiting on the corner.

“Damn that was the shortest two weeks.” he laughed.

“I know, my chat tonight paid the price for me being in a down mood.” she handed him the leash and they walked along,

“I know, Sam told me.” He pulled her close, “Jesse, my oldest son, told me he was okay with his dad having a girl friend.”

“One down two to go,” Lexie sighed “One's gonna be harder than the other, I don't see her coming around in two weeks.”

“I don't know, my mom always said Steph was just me only she wore a skirt.” they made it down to the coffee shop on the corner. “care for a cup?”

“Can you stay out this late?” She asked as he picked up Snowball and put her in his jacket

“Rich is watching the kids, I got time.” He opened the door, and usher her into the shop. He was lucky they had a table near the back. He helped her to the table and deposited Snow into her lap and went to the clerk and ordered two coffees, one black one light and sweet. As he waited he thought back to the cabin, how good things were. He had been happy there. He could be happy again, once he figured out how he could get Steph on board. Taking the two coffees back to the table he slipped in beside her.

“I've been thinking, what have you got coming up?” He sipped his coffee.

Lexie took a sip of her coffee and thought about what she did have coming up,

“Nothing that I could think of, without my calender that is. My re-writes are done, I just have chat that I know of. Why.” She sipped her coffee.

Jon reached over and took her free hand and laced his fingers with hers.

“I want to go back to the cabin, just us and the kids. See where this goes.” he sipped his coffee.

Lexie sipped her coffee and thought.

“I don't know Jon, it just might make things worse instead of better. Give her a chance to know me better first.”

He knew she was right but he still wanted that happy place again.

“Listen, take the kids up, spend some one on one time with them. If they agree, after a week, then we'll come up.” She said softly at his pouty face.

“O Kay” He gave her his little boy smile.

After coffee he walked her to her door and a sweet kiss before heading back to his place. He let himself into the apartment, the lights down stairs were dimmed. Dropping the keys in the bowl on the table he toed off his boots. Padding into the kitchen and took a slice out of the box in the fridge he headed back into the family room. Dropping down on the sofa he started to reach for the remote when he noticed he wasn't alone.

“Can't sleep princes?” Jon kept the lights low so they could talk.

“Where did you go?” She asked. “I came down to talk to you, Uncle Mookie said you went for a walk.”

“I did go out for a walk. I met up with Lexie,we had coffee.” He wasn't going to lie to his kids anymore, they had been lied to too much in the past.

“I thought you said two weeks.” She huffed.

“I talked it over with Jess, I was going to talk to you tomorrow.” he finished off the slice and got up “I'm going to get a bottle of water,you want one?”

“Yeah,” She curled her feet under her, He went to the kitchen, grabbed two bottles and went back in and sat down opposite her.

“I was scrapping the bottom when you mom married Graham, I took romey and headed to place Uncle Hugh got for me. I met this woman,” He sipped his water. “I thought she was the cook. By the end of those three weeks I was alive again. The music was back.”

“So you had sex and poof the music was back.” Stephanie sarcastically spoke to her father.

“No there wasn't any sex till the last night, she made me laugh. She knew when I needed quiet and when I needed to talk.” He got a far away sound in his voice. “Romeo would go to bed and we would sit there, her writing, me on the guitar. She would bounce ideas off me and when I needed a word, she helped me find it.”

“You said Mom used to help you find the words for a song” She asked. “That you wrote all the songs for her.”

“I did. But it just wasn't enough anymore. I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most. He was, oh I knew about him before you all did. She let me know what a failure I was in her eyes. I let her go, it was what she wanted, the least I could do. I let her go.”

“Do you regret letting her go?” she asked quietly.

“In the beginning, I did.” He was honest with her. “But, it was only because you kids weren't with me. That was what I hated the most.”

“We hated it too Daddy, but we kids didn't get a vote.” She sat up and leaned forward. “Are we going to get a vote on this one?”

“To a point, give her a chance Steph. That's all we, I ask.” he sat the bottle down on the table “She wants whats best for you kids. I wanted us all to go up to the cabin, but she said no, we'll go up but she won't come until you want her to come.”

“Even if I don't want her to come, she won't come with us?” Stephanie finish her water and played with the bottle.

“Then she won't come. Her idea was for me to take you guys up for one week and then if you wanted her, and only if you wanted her, she would come up for the next of the week.” He leaned forward and gave her the look. “I know none of my kids wouldn't give her a chance, that is before they got to know her.”

Stephanie thought about what her father was saying.

“I heard what Jesse and you were talking about earlier,” he laughed a little at the look on her face, “If you didn't want me to hear, you should have kept your voice down.”

Daddy, she started on me the first night we were there, you dress like a slut,” She jumped up off the sofa and paced. “What did she expect, daughter of a rock and roll singer, that is must be a druggy too.”

“So you decided to act the part?” He calmly said. “Steph, you know I always told you, people would always think the worse of you, don't give the ammo to hurt you even worse.”

“I know daddy, I just had it. But the good thing as now we, all four us, are where we want to be.” She came over and curled up next to Jon on the sofa. “We wanted to be with you.”

“I want you to be with me too. I want you to give Lexie a chance, Lexie and me.” he put his arm around Stephie and gave her a nudge.

“O kay daddy, I'll give her a chance.” She nudged him back.

Chapter 34

True to his words he was going to give her the two weeks, even if it killed him. As he and Romeo headed back to the penthouse. Romeo was dragging his feet, he wasn't stepping so lively himself.

“Are you hungry Romey?” Jon stopped at the corner so he could catch up.

“Lexie had some cookies, but I'm still hungry.” He looked up at Jon. “I only got one, cause I was a bad boy.”

“I'll make you a sandwich when we get home.” They crossed the street, one block to go. Jon looked down at the little man. It was going to be hard on him not seeing Snowball, and it was going to be hard on him knowing she was just two blocks away and not in his bed.

They had been home a few minutes before Richie and the kids walked in. Jon was in the living room with his laptop open and his glasses on. Romeo was standing in the corner.

“Daddy did you find him?” Stephanie said as she put the pizza box on the bar.

“Yep sure did.” He finished typing and lowered the site. “Thanks for the pizza bones, honey”

“Pizza bones?” Stephanie wrinkled her nose.

“Silly daddy, pizza got no bones.” Jakey spoke quietly and ran upstairs.

Jon was stunned at Jake speaking he missed Jesse asking him a question.

“Does she call left over pizza, pizza bones?” Jesse repeated what he said as he draped himself over the sofa, giving his dad a look after looking at his sister.

“She has a name and its Lexie, or Miss Madison.” Jon set up straighter. Richie went over and placed his hand on Jon's back and calmed him down. “And yes she called the left over pizza the bones.”

“Are you going to see her again?” Stephanie asked. Perching on the bar stool at the bar.

“We, or rather she, thinks you three need time to get over the experience you have been through, before you can accept that we will be dating.” Jon stood up and went over and headed into the kitchen.

Steph and Jesse looked at Richie.

“She makes him happy.” Richie told then. “While you were with you mom, he met her when he took Romeo to the Adirondacks. Three weeks later, he's back to his old self, he smiles again.” Richie followed Jon into the kitchen.

“I told you, he had a girlfriend.” Jesse said.

“Lexie is a nice lady, we made snow people and had a snowball fight and roasted marshmallows in the fireplace.” Romeo said from his corner. “Snowball is her puppy and she loves me and daddy. I can't see her for two whole weeks because of you and Stephie.”

“Hey, we didn't do anything to her,” Stephanie looked over at Jesse.

“Well, we really didn't welcome her with opened arms, you could have been a little more friendlier.” Jesse told her.

“Well you weren't smiling very much yourself.” She rolled her eyes.

Jon and Richie stood in the kitchen listening to the kids talking.

“Eavesdropping is not a good daddy quality.” Richie whispered.

“If you don't break the daddy rules sometimes with four kids you never learn anything” Jon whispered back.

“I heard him talking to her last night, he did sound like he really was back to his old self. Maybe we should give her a chance.” Jesse shrugged.

“We gave Graham a chance and look where that got us, you have a jail record.” Steph got up and walked over to the sofa,

“Well, I wouldn't have that record if you haven't tried get to Grahams momma and dressed like a slut,” Jesse spat out at her.

“I didn't ask you to play Incredible Hulk on her. Geese she's an old lady.” Stephanie got in his face.

“So I was to let the old bag smack you with that metal cane of hers. Sometimes I think you do all these to get momma and daddy's attention.” He got up and stood toe to toe.

“I think Kidd you better go out there before they draw blood.” Richie whispered.

“Damn, they always were hot headed.” Jon headed back in, “Hey you two enough.”

“She started it.” Jesse backed up.

“I started it? Oh blame me for everything.” Stephanie stormed off and ran up the stairs.

Jesse started to go up but Jon stopped him.

“Jess, lets talk,” Jon walked over and sat on the sofa. “Romey, come here, times out is over you can go up and unpack your suitcase.”

“Okay Daddy, can I call Lexie and see if Snowball can spend the night tomorrow night?” He ran over to the sofa.

“Now Romey, it hasn't even been two hours much less than two weeks,” He ruffled his hair. “We'll call her tomorrow and maybe set a play day up.”

“Yeah, you're the best daddy,” Romeo hugged him and ran up the stairs.

“He really loves that rag mop, doesn't he?” Jesse asked.

“Yeah he does, two weeks are gonna feel like two months for him.” Jon sighed

“For you too Dad,” Jesse watched his father.

“You could say that, but I can see where she's coming from.” He picked up his laptop and brought the site up again.

“You and a laptop are not two things I'm used to seeing. Hey that's the laptop I use when I'm here.” he moved over to where Jon was tapping away. “You're in a chat room? Oh my God dad welcome to the twenty first century,” He laughed

Jon Chuckled and noticed that the chat was over. “Damn” He mumbled. Sam was still there.

Kidd: Hey Sam, I missed chat.

Sam: It was short, she just didn't sound into it, ya know.

Kidd: Yeah I know what you mean.

Jesse watched him chatting with this Sam person.

“Dad, she know who you are?”

Jon looked at Jesse over the rims of his glasses.

“I don't think so, this is just my second time in here.”

Jesse looked over at the screen, watched his dad tap away at the keys.

Sam:Hey Kidd I added your name to the free book list. Lexie send out a free copy of her new book, we get advance copies of her book. Can't wait to read it.

Kidd: I can't wait either, heard it's gonna be great.

Sam: Well time to go, got school in the morning. L8ter

Jon looked at the acronym and made a face

“Dad she told you later.” Jesse chuckled.

Kidd: L8ter

Jon started to log out when SBM came in.

SBM: Hey Kidd, wondered if you were gonna make it in

Kidd: You know hows its been, Kids

SBM: LOL I copy, got a little pup here misses her buddy

“Lexie?” Jesse asked

“Yeah.” Jon answered

Jesse took the laptop from Jon

Kidd: <3 p="">

Jon looked at the symbol and the three

“Dad, it's a heart.” Jesse laughed

“I get that” He turned his head to the side and nodded his head.

“Listen Dad, I'm okay with you and Lexie dating. I don't need two weeks.”

Jon looked over at Jesse.

“Thanks. But she wants the two weeks and I'll try to give it to her.”

Jesse handed him the laptop back and got up.

“I'm headed to my room, I'll keep an eye out on the kids if you want to take a little stroll tonight. Uncle Mookie is here, if you know what I mean.”

Jon watched his oldest Son head upstairs. Looking back on the screen she was waiting. Richie walked in heading to the kitchen, his guitar in his hand.

“I'm gonna grab a slice and hit the studio and work out that rift,” He stopped at the stunned look on Jon's face, “You Okay there Kidd?”

“Yeah, my 15 year old Son just gave me permission to date Lexie.”

'Well, that's a good thing isn't it?” Richie questioned. “Then what are you doing sitting here, go to her Man.”

Jon nodded his head and picked up the laptop.

Kidd: Meet me at the corner and bring the dog.

SBM: Okay

Jon grabbed his key's out of the bowl on the table and log off the computer.

“I won't be long.”

He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

Shaking his head Richie chuckled.

“That's my boy”

Chapter 32

Jon cracked the door open and heard Lexie talking to Romeo.

"Romeo Your daddy must be worried out of his mind."  She kept his back turmed from the door so he could see jon come in.

"got sissy  and brothers,  he don't need me,"  he sniffed into snows fur.  "You and snowball need me."

Jon stopped short when he heard his youngest.

"Now Romey you know your dad would miss you very much, you're his little man."  Lexie ruffled his hair.

"He yelled at me, said I was grounded."  He smilled "Said I couldn't see snowball for a whole week."

"Romey your dad did it because you were misbehaving, you have to be a big boy, you do the crime you do the time." she told him

Jon had started to walk in but stopped , he knew he loved her for some reason.  He stopped cold, he loved her,  He hadn't loved anyone since Dorothea, granted he used women when he first divorced, but that changed when he met Lexie.  He stood there and let it sink in, slowly a smile spread over his face.  Now he just had to tell her and win her over to them being a couple.

Jon walked in behind Romeo and dropped his suitcase on the floor.

"Lexie, have you seen Romeo, Oh he's here with you." Jon stood there, he wanted to take him in his arms since he paniced when the found him missing.

Romeo turned at the sound of his fathers voice, then he noticed the suitcase.

"Daddy, you runned away too?"  he let the wiggling dog out of his arms that as soon as she hit the floor  ran to Jon and jumped to be picked up.

Jon didn't answer until he picked up the little dog.

"Well with my little man missing had had to go out looking for him, and if it was gonna take time to find him, I would need my Jammies."  he ruffled the dogs fur and tried to keep her from licking his face.  Setting the little dog down he knelt down to Romeo's level.  "What you did was very wrong.  You were  lucky that the door man at Bloomingdales watched you and made sure you got here safely."

"But daddy, I had to see snowball and Lexie."  He put his hand in his hips like his daddy did when he was talking to the band.  "I love Snowball and Lexie, I didn't want them to go home." A tear slipped down his face.

"I didn't either little man, but Lexie wants to give your borthers and sister time to get used to her being around.  We have to do what she wants, even though we don't like it." he looked up at Lexie.  "How about we give it a week to see if she is right.  She can come to dinner and maybe go out to dinner with us, until everyone loves her as much as we do,"

Lexie had been listening to what they were saying, but did she hear him right, did he just say he loved me?  She went over and knelt down between then.

"I think we can do dinner, but lets make it two weeks," She looked at Jon, he should know nothing good could come by rushing and pressureing the kids.

"Okay, two weeks, but nothing longer." Jon agreed.

"Good we're in agreement."  Lexie said.  She pulled Romeo into her arms and whispered him his ear.  "I love you and your daddy too."

Jon saw Romeo's smile get really big and wondered what she had whispered into his ear.

"Did you get your chapters done in time for your deadline."  He stood and helped her up.

"I had just gotten done when I had my visitor."  She let him help her up and they walked over to the sofa.

Jon looked around her little apartment, it was cozy and he could see her in the little touches in the room.

"Good, that's good.  Listen I left Richie with the other three, we'll get out of your hair, I know you have to talk with your editor and this is your chat group tonight."  He leaned over and gave her a little kiss and got up.

Taking his and Rome suitcases the headed to the door.  Lexie followed Jon and Romeo to the door, she bent down and took Snowball out of Romeo's hands.

"Can Snowball spend the night with me?"  Romeo looked up at Lexie.

"Not tonight Romey, maybe another night.  Remember you're in troble for running away."  She told him.

"Ok" he looked at her with his lip pouted out. He gave Snowball one last pat before he headed down to the front door.

"Thanks for texting me where he was, I was about to tear the place up looking for him."  Jon spoke softly so Romeo couldn't here.

"I figured you might be missing him, he's too special not to miss."  She said as they got down to the downstair foyer door.  She noticed Jon dipped his head, "Oh Jon"  She shook her head.

"Well, Richie and I were talking," Jon ducked his head even more.

"Well, that explains a lot."  She laughed.

Jon chuckled

"Romey, let's get home before everyone gets back from Mario's."

"Okay daddy.  Bye Lexie, Bye Snowball, see you in two weeks."  Romeo started head back down the sidewalk.

Jon followed but stopped.  Turning back he stopped her from shutting the door.

"One thing, what did you whisper to Romeo?"

She smiled and pulled him close and whispered in his ear.

"I told him that I love him and you too." She kissed his cheek and left him shocked behind the closed door.

Chapter 31

Unlocking her apartment door she put Snowball down and turned on the living room light.  The musty smell caused her to go throw open the windows and turn on the ceiling fans.

"Home sweet home Snow, it's gonna be hard after being at Jon's."  She talked to the dog who plopped down on the floor and whimpered.  "I know you miss Romey, but he'll come and visit."

She moved around the apartment and aired out the bedroom and moved into the kitchen and raided the fridge.

 Would it have hurt to go out to dinner with them?  Richie was there to be a buffer.  I could have come home after we ate.  If it hadn't been the look in Stephanie's eyes or the way Jesse had looked at me, admit it.

"Admit it, Snowball I was scared.  I was afraid they would hate me."  She sat down with a pint of half freezer burned carton of Chocolate Chunky Monkey ice cream.

She didn't know how long she sat there feeling sorry for herself.  The sun was setting when she finally hit the bottom of the ice cream carton.

"Okay, enough of this.  Get off your ass, you are a published writer, you have a deadline."  She thought back to the cabin, then to the night they christened the sunken den.  Tossing the carton in the trash she moved to her office.

Setting her alarm so she wouldn't forget to take Snow out and feed the dog, but also to remember to eat herself. After eating a whole pint of ice cream, she better skip dinner.

She had been writing for about three hours when she heard the door buzzer.  Thinking it was her editor to check on her new chapters, she walked to the intercom and answered.

"Hey, Okay whose being funny?"  She looked at the screen again and moved the control to pan the area then she panned it down.  "Romey?"

Running to the door she ran down the stairs to buzz him in.

When the door opened there stood Romeo with his little suitcase and tears streaming down his face.

"I come to visit."  He sniffed.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk she looked up the street and then down the street.  No one was out there.

"Romey, how did you get here?"  She picked up his suitcase which was actually heavy.

"I remember, walk past the man in the uniform at the Bloomers and then I got here.  I remember the numbers."  he pulled out the much creased and now tear stained letter she had written to him for Snowball.

"Does your dad or Richie know you're here?"  She followed him up the stairs to her apartment.

"They gone to eat pizza, Daddy got mad because I locked the door. I got in trouble and Daddy said I not get to come and visit for a whole week."  He opened the door and picked up a hyper Snowball who proceeded to wash the tears off his face.

"Okay but he didn't leave you at home while they went to eat,"  She started to ask.

"Oh no, we left to walk down to get pizza and I walked really slow. Daddy and Uncle Mookie was talking about that song and brothers and sissy were playing iPhone game I went back and got my suitcase. I gots to have my jammies, so I can come to visit."  She had told Romeo when they went to get her stuff that if she was going to visit with him while his dad was in Philly, she would need her jammies.  "So here I am." He looked up with a big smile on his face.

 Oh Little man, you are going to be in big trouble.  She thought.  Grabbing her cell she took a picture of Romeo and Snowball sitting on her sofa and sent it to Jon's cell.  Now all they could do was wait.

~~~~~

Jon got the table in the back and handed out money to the kids, while he was talking to Richie.

"Yeah, Once they left I got a text from Graham asking if I knew a good divorce lawyer."  he said as he placed the order with the waitress.

"So this isn't a temporary thing?"  Richie sat down at one end of the table.

"Nope, it's a done deal, or no money and we go back to court and she'll get nothing."  Jon finally sat down.

"Well, I'm glad you got your kids back."  He looked over at the three of them playing in the arcade in the pizzeria.  "Now all you have to do is get them to accept Lexie."  he sipped his soda.

"Yeah, I don't see much of a problem with the boys, but Steph's gonna be a hard sale.  She didn't like the divorce very well and then the wedding and the honeymoon was an eye opener."  He turned to look at his kids, all three of them.  Wait a second her had four kids not three.  Getting up he went to the arcade and looked around.  Steph was on a side table texting her friends, Jake and Jesse were on the Icy Patrol bikes, were was Romeo.

"Steph, you see Romey since we got here?"  He asked his oldest.

"He was behind us when we were walking down."  She went right back to texting.  "Maybe he's in the bathroom."

"Hey Jess, check the men's room for me.  See if Romey had to go."  he asked his oldest son.

Jesse got off the game bike and went to the closest men's room to the arcade.  Coming back out he went over to the table where Richie and Jon stood waiting.

"He's not in there." Jesse told them.

"Did you check all the stalls, you know how he has to go to the last one away from the door."  Jon asked.

"Checked all the stalls, he isn't in there."  Jesse told him.

Jon was just about to get into panic mode when his phone buzzed.

"Now don't panic Jon he has to be around here somewhere.  Maybe Hess's in with Mario making pizza's."  Richie suggested.

"Nope, I know where he is."  He turned the phone around so Richie could see the photo of his youngest son sitting on a sofa holding a white puff of fur.

"He's at Lexie's?"  Richie shook his head.

"I guess that grounding didn't work."  Jon tossed some money on the table.

"I'll feed the other three, you go get your runaway."  Richie chuckled.  "Good name for a song title."  Richie laughed.

Jon tossed up the Jersey salute as he headed out of the restaurant.

Getting an idea he swung by his place an picked up his suitcase and then had a shocking thought  which place is hers?  He headed down Mercer then over to Bloomingdale's where the Valet/ doorman stood.

"Did you happen to see a little boy about this high"  He held out his hand about waist height "With a suitcase?"

"Oh you mean Lexie's little friend Romeo?  Yeah he just went past here a while about crying and looking really sad.  I followed him down to her place and waited until he got in." Looking down at Jon's suitcase he tilted his head in question.  "You running away too?"

"Not really, but I thought it would help Romey."  Jon laughed.  "Ah, you wouldn't happen to know exactly which one is hers do ya?"  Jon tried not to blush in embarrassment.

"Yeah, I'll walk ya down."  he called to the other doorman and started to walk with Jon.  "I have to ask man, you are Jon Bon Jovi aren't ya?"

"Yep, Thanks for your help."  he held out his hand to the doorman.

"Your her main character reference.  Yeah I read her books, she sends me out copies when she walks by.  She's a great lady."  He told Jon.

"Yeah I know."  He walked until they stopped.

"Buzz the button under Mrs Smith.  That's her.  Sort of puts off the fans trying to find her."  he shook Jon's hand again.  "Don't be too hard on Romeo, that little dog is hard to resist.  Her owner ain't half bad either."

I'll try."  he reached up and buzzed the button under the name Mrs Smith and waited.

Chapter 30

Lexie sat watching Richie and Romeo playing around on Guitar Hero.

"Better watch it Richie, he's getting ahead."  Lexie laughed.  "Go Romey Go."

Just them her cell rang twice and stopped, then rang again.  She got up and headed out of the room.

"Hey, Are you close?"  She asked him.

"Yeah, pulling into the parking garage now.  We'll be up in a few minutes."  Jon pulled into his space and turned off the car.  "I see Richie is still here."

"Yeah, He and Romeo are playing Guitar Hero and he's losing, you sure you two aren't related to him."  she laughed,

"Hey I let Romey win."  He laughed.

"See I told you,"  Jesse whispered to his sister.

"She's taking care of Romeo, she's just a sitter."  Stephanie whispered back.

"Hey I forgot to ask, did you get any writing done while you were here?"  He got out of the SUV and helped Jake get his suitcase out of the back.  "You three haven't eaten lunch yet have you?  We can go get pizza,"  Jon looked at his other three to see if they agreed about the pizza.  "Or maybe Chinese?"  Jake looked up and smiled.

"You can ask them when you get in here."  She looked up at Richie standing in the doorway.

"That Jon?"  Richie asked.

Lexie nodded and held out the phone to Richie.

"Hey bro, I've been taking care of your little writer.  Man you were right, very inspiring."  He laughed.

Jon cleared his throat, the image that came to his mind was not what he wanted to think about.

"Yeah, listen, we haven't eaten since breakfast, we're on our way up."  He steered his kids across the street

"Yeah I heard, we had pizza last night, but you know the kid he'll eat it again."  He smiled down at Lexie.

"Gonna lose ya we're getting in the elevator, be there soon."  He closed off the call and made sure they were all in when he put his key into his lock and the doors shut.

"He's on the way up."  Richie handed her back the phone and smiled.

They walked back into the game room to find Snowball and Romeo sitting on the sofa.

"It's almost time for Snowball and I to head home Romey.  Your Dad and your brothers and sister are on the way up.  You want to help me get Snow's stuff in her carry bag?"  Lexie squatted down to eye level with him.

"I don't want you and Snowball to go home.  I like having Snowball and you here, daddy won't like it that you went home."  he popped out his bottom lip.

"We're just down the street Romey, you know you can come and visit us anytime your dad will call and I'll meet you or he can bring you down."  She reached out and tapped his lip.  "Now get a smile on your face, it won't be long now."  She heard the door downstairs open.

"We're here."  Jon called out.

Snowball jumped out of Romeo's arms and ran barking down the the stairs to great Jon.

"Hey Snow girl, where's is everyone?"  He picked up the jumping dog and turned to the kids.

"Daddy, that's a dog, when did you get a dog?"  Stephanie said reaching out to the little dog.

Jakey looked up at the dog and smiled.  Jon took a step back, it was the first time Jake had smiled since they arrived at the hotel.

"Pretty puppy."  he whispered and rubbed Snowballs foot.

Romey came running down the steps.

"Hey slow down partner."  Jon put Snowball down on the floor and caught Romeo before he fell.

"Snowball is my puppy."  Romeo said looking up at Jon.

"No Romey, Snowball is Lexie's puppy."  Jon told him, "She just comes to visit you and me."  he said ruffling Romeo's head.

"But I don't want it to just be a visit."  He sniffed, "I want them to stay."

"I do too, but that's gonna be up to Lexie and Snowball, Romey."  he stood up and looked up at Lexie who was coming down the steps with Richie.

"Uncle Mookie." Stephanie ran over to Richie.

"Hey Princess, Heard you had a terrible time."  Richie rubbed her back.


"Oh it was terrible."  She looked up at Richie.  "Who is this and why is she here." She whispered in his ear.

"She's a great lady and you need to get to know her."  he whispered back.  "She makes your dad happy and that's the important part."

Stephanie stepped back and looked over at Lexie and held out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Stephanie, I'm,"  Stephanie started to say,

Lexie took her hand and gave it a small shake and a squeeze.

"I know who you are, Your dad has told me all about you kids."   Lexie said with a smile.  "Romeo has been looking forward to you all getting here today."

"Listen, let's get the bags upstairs and go grab a bite to eat.  I don't know about anyone else but I am about to starve."  Jon sheppard the kids upstairs.

Richie watched Lexie, going over he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Give'em time, they'll love you as much as Jon does."  He told her giving her a little squeeze.

"I told him they needed time to adjust, they've been through a lot and don't need a new person dropped on them."  She nudged Richie in the ribs.

"Hey Dean, get your hands off my woman."  Jon laughed as he came back down stairs.

"Hey didn't see no tag on her saying she belonged to anyone, Frank."  Richie retorted.

"Hey I ain't property to be fought over."  Lexie joined in.  Looking up she saw the look on the two older Bongiovi children.

"Listen I need to get home and call my editor, I have a deadline looming."  She stepped away from Richie and rubbed her palms on her jeans.  "Come one Snow time for us to head home."

"No, don't want Snowball to go home daddy."  Romeo's lower lip trembled.

"Romey, you can come and visit us anytime you want to.  But I have to work sweetie."  She bent down and picked up Snowball and turned to pick up her bag and headed for the door.

Jon caught up to her at the door.

"Why don't you stay and go eat with us."  He asked putting his hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Jon, you have two kids that right now don't want to share you with a woman they had no idea existed until you sprung her on them."  She whispered.  "Give them time, bring them to visit when you bring Romeo.  Let them warm up to us being an us."  They walked out to the elevator.

"So we are an us?"  he smiled.

"If you have to ask,"  She let the statement hang in the space between them.

Jon leaned in his lips covering hers.  As they broke apart Lexie smiled.

"Does that answer your question?"  Jon whispered.

"Daddy, Romeo has locked himself in his bedroom and is crying his eyes out."  Stephanie called out.

"Go to him Jon, tell him he can come down anytime."  Lexie sighed.  I knew this was going to happen.

"Be right there Princess."  he gave Lexie one more quick kiss then watched her get on the elevator.  Giving her a little wave as the door closed.

"Dad...dee"  came the call from the house, Jon rolled his eyes and headed into the kayos that was his life.

Chapter 29

Jon saw sitting on the sofa in the suite, he had just gotten the kids down for the night.  He was still worried about Jakey, he was still very quiet.  Maybe getting him back with Romeo would bring the kid back into him.  Picking up the wine glass he had sat on the coffee table earlier he took a drink.  This had been the longest day in his life, ranking up there with the day he found out Dorothea was getting married.

Glancing at the clock, it read eleven, too late to call Lexie.  Well, she did say call. Man you’re so hooked, just hearing her voice will make the day better.

Getting his cell he toyed with it for a second till he hit the numbers needed to hear Lexie’s voice.

Lexie sat curled up in the sofa with her own glass of wine, her laptop open on the coffee table.  Romeo had been in bed for hours, Snowball curled up with him.  Richie had gone to his mom’s for a visit, then went right into the studio.  Soft guitar sounds filtered through the house.

She was reaching for her wineglass when her cell went off.  Glancing at the caller ID she smiled.  Flipping the phone open she smiled.

“Bout time you called, everything all taken care of?”  she sipped her wine waiting to hear about his day.

That was so like Lexie, she never answered with hello, or hey.

“Yeah, kids are in bed, sitting here with a glass of wine.”  he smiled.  Just hearing her voice chased all the doubts away.

“Like minds, sitting her with my laptop open, just finished my chat and waiting on my muse to talk to me.  Richie is in the studio, have no idea what song he’s playing, but it’s very erotic.”  she sighed. 

“Erotic, you can’t say that to me with three kids in the other room and you in another state.”  He laughed.

“Speaking of your three kids and you coming back tomorrow, with Richie here, Snow and I will head home in the morning.  You don’t need the two of us in the mix.  You need this time as family time.”  She had been thinking about this since Romeo had gone to bed.  

Jon almost dropped the phone, she was leaving.  

“No, I want you to be there when I get back.”

“Jon, these kids have been through a huge shock.  They need you one hundred percent, they don’t need me added to the equation just now.  I’m only a block away and Richie will be here.”  she sipped the wine.

“Please, don’t leave till I get there.  Think of Romeo, he’s got you and he trust you and losing snowball will kill him.”  Jon played his ace card.

“Low blow there Jon, using Romeo and Snowball.”  she put the glass down.  Sighing she knew pulling snowball from Romeo would be hard.  But he knew she would be down the block.  

“I know, I know, but Lexie, I just,”  he sighed himself.

“Jon, we’ll be here when you get back tomorrow.  Snowball and I will head home when you get here.  With all the excitement Romeo will not miss us.”  she gave in.  She loved Romeo and had gotten attached to him more since they spent the day yesterday together.  

Hell going back to her empty cracker box of a town home will be a cultural shock after spending two days here in Jon’s.  

“Good, good, I want the kids to meet you too. “  he smiled and finished off the wine.  

“Jon, don’t go seeing all smiley faces and hearts, they just went through a hell, they just might not be ready for Daddy’s new girlfriend.”  She drained her glass.  

 Girlfriend, I like the sound of that.  Wonder if she knew what she said?

Getting up she headed to the kitchen and rinsed her glass out and put it in the sink.  

“I’ll call you and let you know when to expect us.”  he grinned “What are you doing now?”

“Putting the empty glass in the sink and going up to bed.  Romeo kept Richie and I busy today.”  She climbed the stairs to the master suite.

“I’m sure he did.  You sleeping in my bed?”  he shifted on the sofa.

“Yes, is that okay?”  she rolled her eyes.  His voice had dropped to barely a whisper.  

“More than okay, when you went to your town home for supplies for Snowball, you didn't pick us anything for yourself did you?”  

 Damn why didn't I get a two bedroom suite. 

“Toothbrush and change of clothes, why?”  she grinned she knew where this was going, but let him play it out.

“So, does that mean what I think it means?”  he teased.

“Jonny, do you think I’m gonna slip between these satin sheets with nothing on but a smile?”  She giggled.  “I have on those little silky thongs, you know the white ones with the blue bow.”   she whispered into the cell.

“Oh you know I like those, you like those too.”  he whispered back.

Jesse was tossing in the bed with Jake, who kept grumbling for him to get in his own bed.  Sitting up he thought about heading to the sofa.  Slipping out of the bed he looked over at his sister asleep in the other bed.  He’d taken the fall for her, spending that night in the Juvenile Detention Center will give him nightmare’s for a long time.  As he headed toward the living room area he heard his father’s voice.  Stopping at the door he listened to his father flirting with someone on his cell.  

Way to go dad, hope she likes kids. 

Backing out and back into the bedroom he shared with his sister and brother, he crawled back into be smiling at the idea that Daddy has a girlfriend.

Jon and Alex had their little interlude, it was close to two in the morning before they hung up with a promise that she would be there when they got there tomorrow.  

It took some time to get the three kids and assorted luggage into the Escalade.  As he pulled onto the highway he looked back at the kids in the mirror.  Jesse had his earphones in with his iPod and so did Steph, Jakey was playing with his game.  

Turning back around he pulled onto Ninety Five and went toward the turnpike.

Jesse waited until his father was not looking he nudged Stephanie.

“What?”  She pulled out one ear bud.

“Shhhh, Daddy’s got a girlfriend.”  he whispered.

“A what?   When did he have time to find one of those.”  She gave him a funny look.

“Don’t know but he was flirting with her on the phone last night.  He wants us to meet her.”  Jesse looked at the back of his fathers head.  

“Wow, I never expected him to find anyone after mom.” She said quietly.  How did this make her feel, first her mom, sneaking around on her dad while he was out on tour and now her dad having a girlfriend.  

Both kids settled down with their own thoughts.