Chapter 75 (This is a record 4 in one month, I'm spoiling you all)

Lexie looked at the kids waiting for an answer.  In her mind she was already their mother, she didn’t need a lawyer or buying off their mom to be that.

“Of course I want to adopt you mutts.”  She laughed. 

All the kids jumped up to hug her.  Jon stood watching the free for all.  They were joined by the elder Bongiovi’s who added their congratulations. Carlotta came in to tell them breakfast was on the table.

Much later that evening as Jon and Lexie cuddled in bed, she ran her fingers along his chest. 

“You know, this paper is a formality, those four already are my kids.”  Lexie looked up at him.  “I can’t believe she signed away her rights to those kids.  I could never do that.”

Jon smiled.

“I have to ask, when did you five have this meeting?”  She sat up and leaned against the headboard.

Jon knew she was going to ask that.

“You just happen to be in your writing spot.  Seems they talked about it when we were at the cabin on our honeymoon.  Dad told me they asked about how you went about adopting” Jon sat up facing her in the bed, knowing that the cuddling was over until she got her mind around this adoption.

“Dorothea has separated from Greg, she called because she heard we were married.”  Jon reached for her hand.

“Separated, I thought they had moved to Los Angeles?” Lexie linked her fingers with his.

“Well, seems she needed more money, he lost his job, and she refused to go to work.” Jon sounded very upset the more he talked about her.  “I offered her a deal, she signed the papers for adoption, and it was a one-time lump-sum deal.”

“You mean she took money to sign away her rights?”  Lexie gasped.

“Yeah she did.  I would have paid anything at this time.  She gave up custody to me after the Philly incident, so this legally ends her involvement with the kids.”  Jon shifted in the bed so he could look in her eyes.  “My mom will tell you I should have made her sign a pre-nup” He stopped to take a breath, she jumped on it.

“Jon, I know all this. That’s why we met with the lawyers before we were married.”  Lexie reached out and touched his face.  “I just want to know, why she gave in so easy.”

“Well, for one it was all about the money.  Two, the kids do not and I stress do not, like his parents.  Three, I wanted to wash my hands of her.”  He sighed, “With this payment, she can’t have contact with them, without me being there, and it has to be in Jersey. She can’t come to me for more money, this gold vein had been tapped out.”

“So she sold her kids to you, I could never do that.”  She placed her hand on her swollen abdomen.  “One of us has to die first.” 

He knew she was serious.  She would never give up her trio or his four, unless she was dead.  When he and Dot got married, she had wanted kids, and he would settle down and they would be a family.  When he hit the big time, she begged his to slow down, not tour so much.  When he found out she cheated on him, it had just about done him in.  He still hand feelings for her, they did have four kids, and just now the feelings weren’t the love they had shared.

“She signed the paper and the money was deposited in her name.” Jon sighed and brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

Lexie just shook her head.  She would make sure not a day goes by that those kids didn’t feel unloved.

The next two doctor’s appointments came and went, Little Baby Bongiovi three, managed to hide from having its privates photographed.  She left Jon with the boys while she and Stephanie headed to Atlanta for the Book Writers conference.  The Paps camped out at the hotel, keeping Lexie and Stephanie holed up in the hotel.  If they wanted food, Robbie would order it sent to his room and he would sneak it up the back stairs.  They rented in room movies and shopped online.  Every night she fell asleep talking to Jon.

They were sitting on the balcony waiting for Robbie to bring up dinner.  They had ordered pizza and salads, Stephanie was leaning over the balcony railing looking down at the photographer and autograph seekers.

“You know I could throw a bucket of water down on them, bet they would leave us alone.”  She leaned back and watched Lexie tapping away on her iPad.

“Ah Hua,” Lexie mumbled.

“That or just spit down on them.”  Stephanie teased. She had seen it before, a bomb could go off and Lexie wouldn’t hear it, when she was in the throes of writing.

“Yeah, but you could get arrested.” Robbie said as he walked out on the balcony with a large veggie pizza.  The smell finally drew out of her iPad world.

“Yummy, the trio is getting hungry.”  She saved her chapters and shut down the iPad.

“She was so gone Robbie, I threatened to toss water on the paps or spit on them and she just agreed.”  Stephanie grabbed a plate and a slice.

“I know I get caught up in my writing, but it was just flowing.”  She grabbed a slice and a plate.  She grabbed a bottle of water and took a long swallow.  “Your Dad and Uncle Mookie are the same way, when they are writing.”

“That’s true.”  Stephanie said.

Later that night as she sat talking to Jon.

“I am so sick of this hotel.”  Lexie sighed as she sipped a McDonalds to go sweet tea. Robbie made a midnight run to McDonalds for Lexie.  The babies wanted sweet tea and the hotel tea just didn’t hit the mark.  “We leave tomorrow by way of the kitchen backdoor.  Security sucks.” 

“Well, you come home tomorrow and don’t have to go back.”  Jon told her as he ran through the channels on the bedroom television. 

“Yes I will, the awards conference is here, this summer.” She rubbed her tummy.  “The trio hates this place too.”  She placed the empty cup on the bedside table.

They talked until she fell asleep.

Snow in February, Jon sat in the airport waiting on the plane to be ready.  He had a bad feeling leaving Lexie yesterday.  Her cravings were making him sick and he put on about twenty pounds since they found out she was pregnant.  At Midnight he woke up to her eating a peanut butter sandwich in bed.  Of course he had to have one too.  Reaching for her other half, he missed the dill pickles in the sandwich.

“I didn’t think you liked crunchy peanut butter.” He said as he took another bite.

“That’s the dill pickles.”  She said as she took another bite.

Jon almost barfed in the bed right there.  He tossed the three bites he had last into the trash.

“Damn Lexie, next time warn me.”  Jon said as he jumped out of bed and run to the bathroom to rinse his mouth out.

“I pregnant with triplets, I eat what they want, one wanted peanut butter, the other wanted raspberry preserves with seeds and baby c, our unknown passenger, demanded pickles.”  She laughed as she popped the last bite of the sandwich in her mouth.

He jumped when his cell rang, checking the caller ID he noticed it was Stephanie number.

“Hey Steph, what’s up?” Jon got up and walked toward the windows so he could hear her over the band horsing around.

“I’m taking Lexie to the doctor’s office, she said she’s fine,” Stephanie said as she helped Lexie into the car.

“I’m fine Jon,” he heard Lexie sounding weak.

“I’m stuck in the airport in Cleveland, their icing down the plane.”  Jon started to pace.

“I just wanted you to know, I called Dr. Sally and he is waiting on her.  I’ll call you when I know something more.”  Stephanie gave the driver directions, Lexie grabbed her phone.

“I’m okay Jon, Stephanie is just over protective, I woke up from my nap and my back was hurting worse than it had before.  She thinks I’m in labor, but it’s too soon, I’m almost seven months, I’m not due till May.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can Lex.”  Jon was getting worried, the last time they were at the doctor’s office, Dr. Sally said with multiples, early contractions have happened.  “Have you been timing the pains?”

“We’re heading in the tunnel, Stephanie will call you from the doctor’s office.”  Lexie said and sure enough they lost the signal.

“Lex, Lex?”  Jon looked at the screen “Damn, Obie get my ass out of fucking Cleveland.”  He turned and yelled at the sound man.

“Wouldn’t that be Paul’s Job?”  Obie the sound wizard of the crew.

“Once they get the plane ready we can leave, Kidd.” Richie said as he walked over toward Jon. 

“I knew I shouldn’t have left her.”  Jon paced and looked at the plane.  “Freak ice storm my ass.” 

“Is something wrong with Lexie?”  David joined Richie who was pacing along with Jon.

“Early labor, we knew it could happen with Lex having the trio.”  He stopped pacing and looked between Richie and David.

“Maybe it’s just Braxton’s.” David told him.  “Aprille had that problem.”

“I don’t know, I just want to be there.”  Jon said quietly.

By the time they got into the air, Jon checked his email over and over, for work from Stephanie.  As they landed he turned his cell off.  It listed a hospital and a room number.

Jon started to give the driver but he already knew.  He was taken to the back, past the field of photographers.  Stephanie was waiting in the hall, he had to show ID to get into the hall.

“Steph?”  He called to his daughter.

“Daddy,” Stephanie went to her father, walking into his open arms.  “She’s sleeping, Dr. Sally, wants her on bed rest.  Said she was over doing it and if she wants the Trio, he was going to make sure she slows down.”

Jon and Stephanie walked into the hospital suite, she looked so pale and it was very evident she was carrying multiples, by the tent where he stomach would have been.  Sitting beside the bed, he held her hand.

chapter 74 (OMG three in one month)

The room erupted in congratulations to the couple.

“Hey Lemma, Jon just took the lead on Multiples.”  Richie smacked Jon on the back, then leaned over and gave Lexie a kiss on the cheek.

“You better congratulate Lexie, so far as we know, Jon can only shoot out singles.”  Lemma laughed and gave Lexie as kiss on the other cheek.

Several rounds of Champagne later, the guest started to leave and the elder Bongiovi’s headed up to their rooms.  Jesse and Stephanie helped Lexie pick up the glasses, plates and trash.  Jacob and Romeo headed up to bed, Jon had let them stay up until they started to crash.

“Carlotta will kill us if we don’t get this place back in order.”  Lexie said as she came out of the downstairs guest powder room with two glasses and a plate.

“I think that is the last of the trash.”  Jesse said as he came in from the trash dumpster.

“I loaded the dishwasher and started the load.”  Stephanie came in from the kitchen.  She joined Jesse as he flopped down on the sofa.  “All the packages are off the tables at the front door.”

“It’s snowing again” Jesse told them as he yawned.

“Why don’t you guys go on up, you know Romey will be up before the sun comes up.”  Jon said as he went toward his office.

“So that’s where he hides everything.”  Jesse yawned and stood up.

“The Shoe Inn until before the party.”  Lexie said as she sat down and kicked off her shoes and sighed in relief.

“Ah,” Stephanie joined Jesse as they headed toward the stairs.  “Don’t stay up to long Lexie, you’ll need your rest.”

“Going up soon after I help your dad.”  She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Jon came in with Romeo’s old wagon loaded down with an assortment of brightly wrapped packages and bags.  “Lex can you go start on bringing the bikes in.”  He said as he started to unload the wagon with Xbox games and Wii games.  Three teddy bear’s, two with pink bows and one with a yellow bow.  When she didn’t answer he looked over at the sofa and smiled.  Standing up he shifted her on the sofa and covered her with the throw, off the back of the sofa.

He finished up playing Santa, going over to the plate of cookies he ate two, took the carrots back to the fridge and poured the now hot milk down the drain.  Taking the empty glass back to the desk, we went over and moved Lexie over some, kicking off his shoes he got comfortable on the sofa with Lexie in his arms and drifted off to sleep.

Romeo crept to the top of the stairs, it was almost eight in the morning, staying up late and the excitement for the babies’ announcement, he actually over slept.  Knowing he had to wake up his dad and Lexie, he went to their door first.

“Merry Christmas Daddy and Lexie.”  He knocked and opened the door.  The bed was empty.  “Maybe they didn’t wait on me.”  He went next to his sister’s room.

“Merry Christmas Steph.”  He opened the door and went and jumped on the foot of her bed.

“Merry Christmas Romey.”  Stephanie yawned.  “Daddy and Lexie up yet?”  She rolled over and looked at the clock, “Eight O’clock, Romey, have you already been downstairs?”  She sat up and pulled her little brother in a hug.

“I just woke up, Stephie, stop it.”  He giggled.  “Daddy and Lexie weren’t in the bedroom, the bed is still made.”  He gasped for air when she stopped tickling him.

“Maybe they beat us downstairs, you go get Jacob and I’ll get Jesse.”  She waited for her brother to hop off the bed, getting up she pulled on her robe and headed to Jesse room.

The door opened and Jesse stood there in his robe.

“You’re up already?”  Stephanie asked.

“Who could sleep with you tickling the giggle monster?”  Jesse asked as he followed her to the top of the stairs.  Soon they were joined by Jacob and Romeo.

“Okay let’s go see what Santa brought.”  Stephanie led her brothers down the stairs.  She stopped short when she saw her dad and Lexie asleep on the sofa.  “Found Daddy and Lexie.”  She said as they came into the room wishing them Merry Christmas.

Jon groaned and looked at his watch, his back was killing him, but the soft body of his wife took the pain away.

“Merry Christmas,” came the sleepy voice of Lexie.  She kissed his chin and sat up.  “We never made it up to bed.”  She yawned.

“You fell asleep on me.”  He said as she sat up and gave him time to sit up.

“Want me to make some coffee while we wait on Grandpa and Grandma?”  Stephanie asked looking at the small box with her name on it. The tag said it was from Santa.

“That would be great Steph, anyone wake them up yet?”  Jon asked as he looked around at the kids peaking under the tree.

“I’ll go get them.”  Jesse said, “You want your camera dad?”  He asked as he started up the stairs.

“Yeah Jess, Thanks.” Jon called out.

Soon they were joined by his parents and the mass hysteria known all of the world as Christmas morning had begun. Jacob and Romeo got new bikes and wanted to take them outside, but changed their mind when they saw the fresh show. 

Stephanie opened the small box from Santa and squealed.  “I got a car!”  She jumped up and threw her arms around her dad, who snapped away following one kid or the next.

“Don’t thank me Steph, it came from Santa.”  Jon laughed.

It all got down to one box, Jesse was showing Lexie how to use her iPad.  Jon was excited when he opened the box from Lexie that held the same three charms for his family necklace as the charm bracelet that he had given her. Walking over he nodded for Jesse to move off the sofa by Lexie.  He motioned to all the kids to gather round.  He took the iPad from her and sat the last unopened box on her lap.

“What is this?  I know every box that was under that tree.”  She looked at the tag.  It read To Lexie and had all the kid’s names on it along with Jon’s.  “When did you put this one under the tree?”

“Last night when you fell asleep on me.”  Jon laughed.

John Sr. and Carol quietly left the family, going into the kitchen to get more coffee.  Carlotta was peeking out the door when they came in.

“Is it time for the big gift?”  Carlotta asked them.

“Yes, he just gave it to her.”  Carol told her as she poured a fresh cup of coffee.

“My son said it wasn’t hard to work for Mr. Jon.”  Carlotta said.

“Well, Money will tell.” Carol said and Carlotta agreed.

Back in the family room, Lexie was slipping the ribbon off the box and eased to tape off the paper.

“Just rip into it honey,” Jon said as he was not patient.

“But the paper is so pretty, Jonny.” Lexie eased a piece of tape off the paper.

“I’ll buy you a whole huge roll of it, just rip the paper please.”  Jon begged. 

Lexie giggled and ripped the paper. Lifting the lid she takes out an envelope.  Carefully she slips the papers out.

“Is this what I think it is?”  She reads the pages slowly not once but twice.

“We had this meeting,” Jesse stated to say.

“We want to be one family.” Stephanie added.

“We want you to be our mom.” Jacob said as he moved closer to the sofa. 

“Yeah, will you adopt us?”  Romeo looked up at her with puppy dog eyes.

“I don’t know what to say.”  Lexie said with big tears rolling down her cheeks. Looking down to make sure Dorothea signed the papers.

“Say yes, please?”  Jacob asked.

Chapter 73

Jon looked up at the screen, sure enough, right behind baby Bongiovi Girl B, two was a head and two arms.  Jon slowly started to slide down to the floor.

“Trio, not a duet, but a trio.”  Jon mumbled as he sat propped against the wall, pulling away from the nurse in a futile attempt to get away from the foul smell of ammonia "popper", faint giggles surrounding him.

“Three, we’re having triplets?”  Lexie asked.

“I hope this one’s a baby brother.”  Romeo mumbled as he looked at the third baby on the screen.

“Is it a girl too?”  Stephanie asked, her fingers crossed.  Being in the minority in the house, it would be nice for the girls to outnumber the boys.

“Its sister is blocking the view, we’ll just label it Baby Bongiovi C.”  Doctor Sally said as he helped Jon stand.  “I hope you’re not going to do this in the delivery room.”  He teased Jon.

Lexie kept her eyes on the screen, two girls and a third one?  “I’m not having twins but triplets?”  She slowly sat up. Stephanie handed her a towel to wipe off the gel.

“That means, you’ll be coming back more often, we’ll try again after the holidays to see if baby three is also a girl.”  Doctor Sally said as he made a notation in the file. 

“Daddy, can we go by the mall tomorrow?” Romeo asked.

“Mall, sure, why?”  Jon asked his youngest.

“I got to see a man in a red suit about ordering a brother.”  Romeo said in a serious voice.  “Sissy asked for a sister and got two, I want to ask for a baby brother.”

The last of the four that still believed in Santa.  Jon smiled and patted him on the shoulder.  He would need to see the jeweler about adding another rattle to his order.

All the way home, they talked about how they would tell the family about the new trio coming to the family.

“We’ll announce it at the party.”  Jon told then as they headed into the tunnel on the way back to the river house.

“Jon, you know what this means?”  Lexie asked him.  “We need to start looking for a larger place to live in the city.”

Jon was more thinking in the moment and not in the long term.

“We got a while before you need to look.”  Jon told Lexie.

“You have tour starting, I have to be in Atlanta in a month, and the kids have school.  When are we going to have time?”  Lexie nibbled on her bottom lip.

“I’ll call the realtor that found the penthouse and have her start looking.  Will that be okay?”  Jon asked her as he pulled into the Garden State Parkway and headed to exit nine.

“I guess so, we have four months to find a place.  I wanted to start looking at furniture, three of everything.  We can’t go with pink, because we don’t know what number three is.” Lexie pulled out her ever present notebook and pen.

“Why don’t you do the room in a green and yellow colors, sort of generic baby colors?”  Stephanie leaned forward to the front seat.

“That’s true, those are natural baby colors.”  Lexie agreed.  “It will need to be a big room, to fit three cribs, changing tables and dressers.”

So Lexie and Stephanie talked about baby things all the way home.

True to his word he stood in the Santa Clause line with Romeo, so he could make his bid for a baby brother.  It was just Jon and Romeo, Stephanie and Lexie were looking online at baby items, Jesse and Jacob were helping Carlotta with moving things around for the party in two days.  After spending thirty minutes in line, they went to the food court for hot chocolate and coffee.

“So, Romey, you want a baby brother?”  Jon asked as he watched his youngest grow a whipped cream mustache.

“Yeah, Steph is the oldest, then Jesse and Jacob and me.” He wiped his lip with the back of his hand.

“Yeah, that’s because we had you last.”  Jon said as he handed Romeo a napkin.  “That’s how things happen.”

“I know,” He took the napkin and wiped his hand and lips.  “Jesse taught Jacob and me how to play football, Jacob taught me how to play Mario, who do I get to teach?”

“You could teach the girls how to play football, or play video games when they grow older.”  Jon said watching how Romeo processed the ideas.

“But it’s not the same, they’re girls.”  He said as he finished his hot chocolate.  “I can’t be the real older brother.”  He looked up at his dad.

He didn’t seem to understand that he would still be an older brother to the, then it hit him.  He would be the older brother of a little brother, instead of the youngest brother.

“I understand Romey, I understand.”  They threw the cups in the trash and headed to shop.

The day of the party, Christmas Eve dawned snowy, Lexie had been up with the birds, making sure everything was ready for the party.  Jacob came down in his PJ’s, he came into the family room and watched Lexie flitter around the tree.

“All this work and its over by lunch tomorrow.  Romey will be up before the sun, to see what Santa brought him.”  He yawned, “I’ll hook up the video for tonight, its looks good.” 

“I bet it does.”  Lexie came over and sat by Jacob.  “Do you like doing that sort of thing, videotaping?”

“Yeah kinda, I take all the videos when we go out trips, either with dad, or St. Barts.”  Jacob reached over for one of the gingerbread men sitting on a tray on the table.

“That’s why you’re not in any of the family shots.”  Lexie grabbed a cookie too.

“Unless Dad’s in his David Bergman mode,” He bite off a foot.  “Everyone thinks, just because I look more like him than Jesse and Romeo, I’ll be the singer just like him.  But I like being behind the camera not in front of it.”

Jon had woken up alone and went in search of Lexie.  He wished he had picked up his camera on the way down.  They were facing the tree, with their backs to him.  Of all his kids, Jacob was the quiet one, coming out of his shell more and more.  Lexie was a great mentor for Jacob.

Coming up behind them, he looked down and noticed the half eaten gingerbread in their hands.

“Cookies for breakfast?”  Jon spoke and they both jumped.

“Gingerbread has flour, eggs and milk, which makes it a breakfast food.”  Lexie said as she bite off its head.

Jon came around and sat beside Jacob. 

“Ready for tonight?”  Jon reached for a cookie.

“The house is ready, so I guess I’m ready.  The kids want to announce the baby news.”  She said looking down at Jacob and winked.

“Yeah dad, we want to be the ones to announce the baby news.”  Jacob said as he looked up at Lexie and winked back.

“Okay, if that’s what you want.”  Jon said.

The party was in full swing, packages under the tree grew and what they had bought for the guest were on the table by the door.  So when they left they could grab one.  In each basket was a copy of Lexie award winning book, the women’s bag had earrings and the men’s had a watch. It was easy to tell them apart the women’s was on one side of the door and the men’s the other. 

About nine o’clock Romeo moved everyone in the family room.  Jesse and Stephanie, made sure everyone had a glass of champagne or cider.  Jacob attached his cell phone to the TV system.

Jesse and Stephanie got to the front of the huge screen.

“We had to wrestle this from daddy,” Stephanie said to much laughter.  “Yesterday we, Jesse, Jacob, Romeo and myself, along with daddy and Lexie.  Went to the Doctor’s appointment.”

“We all got to be there when we, found out what Lexie was having.”  Jesse added.

“Many of you know Lexie and Daddy were having twins.”  Stephanie told the crowd. 

Jon was on the receiving end of head tapping and shoulder bumps.  Jon reached over and took Lexie hand, bringing to his lips he kissed her knuckles three times.

“So, we thought we would show you how the appointment went.”  Jesse informed the crowd.  “Uncle Southside will you get the lights.

Once the lights went down, Jon leaned over and whispered in Lexie’s ear.

“Did you know about this?” He whispered.

Lexie just nodded and smiled. 

There on the big screen was the family with Doctor Sally.

Everyone clapped when the Doctor announced Baby A Bongiovi was a Girl.

“A little Granddaughter.”  Carol oohed and ahhed. 

“Way to go Kidd, another girl.”  David yelled across the room.

Then the Doctor announced Baby B Bongiovi was also a girl.

“Twin Girls, Jon is after your title Lemma.”  Richie kidded David.

“What is this?”  The Doctor said.  The camera moved to Jon kissing Lexie.  Jon had looked up at the screen.

“We’ll call this one Baby C Bongiovi.”  Doctor Sally said, as the camera panned to a very pale Jon sliding to the floor.

“Trio, not a Duet, but a Trio?”  Jon was heard to mumble.  The screen went dark and a banner was held up between Jesse and Stephanie saying “Welcome Bongiovi Triplets”.

“Congratulations Daddy and Lexie on having triplet’s two girls we know for sure.  We’ll find out next month if it’s a Boy or Girl.”  Jesse announced.

You could have heard a pin drop in the room.

Chapter 72

Strong arms came up to steady her shoulders.

“Hold On Miss Lexie.”  The man said, as he righted her back on her feet.  Cold Strawberries and cream wet his shirt, when she ran into his chest.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”  She backed away from him.  She had never seen him before today.  “Why are you following me?”  She asked, then glanced over his shoulder looking for a security guard.

“You knew I was following you?”  He asked stunned.  He had never been caught before.

“The men’s store, the book store and the toy store, but that isn’t answering my question.  Why are you following me?”  Lexie asked again.  Taking a step backwards to distance herself from the stranger.  Half her Venti drink was smeared on his dark shirt.

The man cringed. 

“Mr. Bon Jovi has hired private security for you and the kids.  He contacted us that you five were shopping today.”  He told her.  “My name is Vito Manillie.  We have three of us watching the family.”

John Francis Bongiovi you are a dead man! She thought. 

“Well Vito, I wish I had known and Mr. Bon Jovi will get an ear full at lunch today.  I’m sorry about your shirt.”  She handed him the napkins she had grabbed.

“It’s okay, I’ve had worse tossed at me.”  He laughed it off, as he wiped the cold creamy drink off his shirt.  “Can I ask what gave me away?  I don’t want to fail again.”

“I’m a mystery writer and you reflected in my cell when I checked to see if the kids were in trouble.”  She tossed her half empty cup, the taste for cold strawberries and cream gone from her cravings.  “Once I knew you were there I started looking for you in the stores.”

“Mr. B isn’t going to be happy I was so spotted.”  Vito said.

Mr. B is going to get a piece of my mind when I see him at lunch.  She smiled at him.  They were soon joined by the kids and their security agents.  Well the kids didn’t see them, but Lexie did. Vito tried to blend in with the other shoppers.

“All done?”  She looked down to the kids with multiple bags.

“Yeah and I have some left over.”  Romeo said.

“That’s great, Romeo.”  She looked at the four bags he held.  She smiled when she saw they had one to the pet store.

“I’m tapped out.”  Jesse told her.

“Me too.”  Stephanie said smiling, she knew her dad would offer more money to shop for Lexie.

“What about you Jakey?” She looked into Mini Jon’s blue eyes.

“I’m okay.” He smiled up at her.

“He’s tight with his money, wouldn’t even loan me a dollar.” Stephanie laughed.

“Well, let’s go meet your dad and have Pizza.”  She widened her eyes when she said Pizza and Romeo giggled.

They left and headed down into Rumson.  She kept checking in the rearview mirror, sure enough Vito was in a black sedan following her.

Parking the car they met Jon out front of Umberto’s. 

“You guys go on in, I need to talk to your dad.  Get me ice water with lemon.”  She smiled at the kids as they trooped into the pizza parlor.

“Did you have fun shopping?”  Jon asked as they walked out of the entrance of Umberto’s and down away from where they wouldn’t be interrupted.

“Didn’t you get a report from Vito?”  Lexie asked sarcastically.

Jon should have gotten a warning when she sent the kids on in to the restaurant.  The bite in her voice, he bowed his head a little.

“You know about Vito?”  Jon asked her quietly.  “I guess I should have told you about Vito and the men.  I just wanted to keep you and the kids safe.” He looked up at her sheepishly.  “You know how my fans are, I bet there are pictures of the kids and you shopping already on Twitter and Facebook.”  

“It ruined my whole shopping experience.  I only picked up two things I needed.  I haven’t got the kids anything, or your parents.”  She whispered to him.  

Jon knew he was in deep shit when she whispered at him.  She never yelled when she was mad, but boy could she whisper.

“I spotted him in the first store, I didn’t know who he was. Then I started seeing him in every store I went to, the book store, the toy store, everywhere.  Then in the food court I ran smack into him and spilt my strawberries and cream all over his shirt.  Then and only then did I find out you hired someone to follow me around.”  She stood there toe to toe, hands on hips, the only thing missing was her tapping toe to her boots.

“I know, I should have told you about Vito and the boys.  The kids know they are being watched.  The older two not as much as the younger two.”  Jon took her hands, which he was lucky she would allow.  “I love you so much and out little duet, that I don’t want anyone or anything to hurt you three.” He leaned forward and kissed her nose.

She knew she should really be pissed at him, but he was only trying to protect her.

“Next time, tell me I have a hired shadow.”  She told him.

“Can we go eat now?”  He asked as he put his arms around her hips.

“I guess so, is there anything else you haven’t told me about?”  She asked him as she took his hand and they headed into Umberto’s.

Jon ducked his head a little, should I tell her about the adoption?  He decided until the paper was in his hands he wouldn’t say anything.

Lunch was so fun, loads off laughs and jokes.  When it got time to leave Jon call the owner over to introduce Lexie and let him not only were they married but going to have a baby or two.  Much back slapping and stories till Stephanie reminded her dad about shopping.  Jon paid the bill and they walked out to the cars.  Lexie waved them off then headed her car toward the shops along the downtown area of Red Bank.  Pulling into the deck she parked and looked for Vito to join her,

“I thought you would head back to the house.” Vito told Lexie as they headed down the stairs to the sidewalk.

“Well since my shopping was botched, I thought you might like to join me while I look for stocking stuffer’s and some stuff for the kids,” She told them as she went into the boutique Stephanie liked.  They shopped for three hours and Vito carried the packages.  Once back into the cars, she headed the long way back to the house.

Jon watched the kids take off into the mall, once again, the older two split the younger two.  He went on his own shopping, usual disguise sunglasses and a ball cap.  At home and in the City he could walk around, sure there were Pap’s everywhere, but after he signed and posed for a few pictures they normally left him alone.  Shopping for Lexie he didn’t want them to catch him in one shop or the other.  He had Stephanie going to Victoria Secret for him, with the pictures of what he wanted to buy her.  Jesse was picking up an iPad for her, so when she was out and an idea struck her she didn’t have to grab napkins or beg for paper.  He even has Romeo and Jakey picking up little things for her stocking. Stepping into the jewelers he picked up a special order, He got her a necklace like his but added the two baby rattle charms.  He knew God would give them two girls, they were due at the OBGYN tomorrow. The whole family was going in, they would get the news if it was boys or girls or one of each.  Coming out he was stopped.

Pap one, “Merry Christmas Jon, Been shopping for Lexie?”

Pap two. “Is it true you’re having twins?”

Jon smiled, good thing he had put the bag in his jacket pocket.  He posed for pictures and signed some pictures.  He knew the questions before they said them. 

“I’m shopping for my family.  Shouldn’t you also be shopping for your families?”  He turned and walked to another shop.  He walked into a toy store and began looking at games for the boys.  He wished he could still buy a doll or a tea service for Stephanie, maybe he’ll pick up a doll and a teddy bear for the duet.  He came out on the other side of the shop where there were no Pap’s, he quickly rushed into the next shop, looking around.

He finished his shopping, having a lot of it delivered tomorrow while they were at the doctor.  He had already handed off money to his older two, but by all the bags they carried, it was money well spent.  He loaded them into the car and headed to the house. 

Once the car was unloaded they separated to wrap and put things under the tree. He found Lexie curled up on the sofa, sound asleep.  The packages under the tree had grown and the stocking looked like they were fuller.  Carlotta came in with a platter of veggies and cheese.

“Mr. Jon, she hasn’t been home long, been in here wrapping and on that phone of hers.”  Carlotta placed the tray on the coffee table and smiled.  “You got a good wife Mr. Jon, you got real lucky this time.”

He grinned like crazy, she wasn’t telling him something he didn’t already know.

“Mail is on your desk in the office and your parents called, bring the pasta over before the party.” She chuckled.  She knew his daddy and the family sauce.

“I’ll go check it in a while.”  Jon said snagging some cheese cubes and walking over to the bar and fixing him a goblet of wine. 

“Go check your mail Hon.” Lexie said as she sat up and wiped the sleep out of her eyes.  “Did you have fun at the mall?”  She reached for some cheese and a cracker.

“The kids made a haul and I got cornered by the paps, they wanted to know about the duet, and what I picked up for your Christmas.”  He sipped his wine and went and sat by her on the sofa.  “Mail can wait until after dinner.”

“I got to proof my new book, thought I could use Stephanie’s help.”  She snatched up more cheese.

“She’ll like that.   You ready for tomorrow?”  He handed her a napkin.

“As I ever will.”  She took the napkin and smiled.

They were soon joined by the kids, dinner and a movie was on tap for the night.

They were put in the family waiting room while Lexie was prepped for the ultrasound.

“Are we going to be able to see the babies daddy?”  Romeo asked

“We should, now you know they won’t look like babies.”  Stephanie told him.

“Yeah, I read the book Lexie had.”  He beamed.

“Okay Bongiovi Family we are ready,” The Nurse came and got them, “We have Lexie all set and the machine is running.”

They were told where to stand as the doctor came in.

“Well, maybe I should have brought in some popcorn for the show.” Doctor Sally said as he took his position.

“They wanted to come,” Lexie told Dr. Sally.  “Stephanie is the keeper of the secret.  But Jon and I decided we want to know.”

“So we change your folder.”  Dr. Sally smiled at her and turned on the sound.

“Is that the babies heart beat” Romeo asked.

“That would be Lexie heart.”  Dr. Sally told him.

“Oh.”  Romeo sounded disappointed.

Dr. Sally slid the wand down Lexie tummy a faint heart beat got stronger. 

“That’s the baby’s heart beat.”  Dr. Sally told Romeo.

“Sounds like just one, I thought Lexie was gonna have two.”  Jesse said cocking his head like the other three Bongiovi males.

“Let’s make this one Baby Girl Bongiovi.”  The Doctor showed them that baby one was a little girl.

“Thank you for the sister, she’s all I wanted for Christmas.”  Stephanie went over and hugged Lexie.

“A sister.”  Jesse smiled “A little Sister.” 

Jacob and Romeo didn’t say a word, but you could tell they were happy.

“Okay come out come out where ever you are Baby two.”  Dr. Sally moved the wand around.  “Ah there you are.”  He locked in on baby number two.  “And you are also a little girl.”

“Double the Christmas presents.”  Stephanie giggled.

Jon puffed her chest out, two little girls, twice the love and twice the Oh My God factor.  He bent down from where he stood at her head and kissed her lips.

“Well, well what have we here?”  Doctor Sally asked.

The whole room got deathly quiet.

Chapter 71

Jon pulled out the remote, she had slept most of the way.  He had hit the drive through for burgers and they stopped at a park and had dinner.  He pulled out a tablecloth and candles.  It was just the two of them, like they were regular people. No one approached the table, he didn’t see any cameras, that didn’t mean they weren’t there.  He had let her sleep as he pulled up the drive.

“Are we there yet?” Lexie sat up yawning.

“Yep,” He turned off the key and turned to face her.  “Happy honeymoon.” He leaned forward and gave her a little kiss.

The headed to the kitchen door, unlocking it, he turned he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the cabin.  Walking in he took her into the family room, the first place they had made love, and sat her down on the sofa.

“I’m going to unload the car, why don’t you see what’s here and what we need to pick up tomorrow.” He bent down and gave her a kiss. 

“Back to where it all started hum?”  Lexie got up and headed to the kitchen.  They would need fresh stuff, eggs, bacon, something for lunch and dinner.  Pulling out the drawer she pulled out a note pad and pen.  Checking the wine fridge, it was stocked from the last time they were there.  Pulling the freezer open she found coffee, taking it out she added it to the list and the fridge. 

Jon came in with the suitcases and headed up the back stairs.

“Look like snow.”  He said as he came back down.

“November in the mountains who’d a thunk it.” Lexie laughed as she put the pad and pen down.  “Good thing no one rented this since the last time we were here.”  She walked into the circle of his arms.

“About that,” He got a sheepish grin on his face.  “I bought it when I went to turn in the key.  He offered me a great deal.”

“It’s ours?”  She looked up in his eyes. 

“Yep, the kids love it, you love it and we have enough rooms so no one has to share.” Jon laughed.

“I do love it here.”  She stepped back.  “There’s something about this place, I can see us escaping here with the kids.”  She reached up and touched his face. 

“Yeah I can too.”  He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm.

“You do know, that’s how we got this way.”  Lexie closed her palm over the kiss and reached down and patted her rounding stomach.

“You can hardly tell you have babies in there.”  He dropped down to his knees and lifted up her sweatshirt.  “Hello little Bongiovi’s, this is your daddy.  Please let your momma not be sick anymore in the morning, we’re all on our honeymoon.”  He kissed her tummy.

“We can only hope.”  She said as she helped him up. They moved into the hearth room and Jon turned on the fireplace and the flames kicked on.  “There is plenty of wine.”

Jon looked at her and started to shake his head. 

“I don’t want to drink in front of you.”  Jon told her as he stood by the sofa.

“Jon, you can drink in front of me. I’m not a big wine drinker, but I would like some hot tea.”  She smiled up at him. 

He came back with a glass of wine and a mug of hot tea, she was stretched out eyes closed.  He knew she hadn’t slept much, between the morning sickness, Thanksgiving and the wedding prep she was also writing a new book.  He sat the tea down on the coffee table, pulling down a throw from the back of the sofa, he covered her up and took his wine and sat in the wing chair by the sofa.  Sipping his wine he thought back to the reason he first got to the cabin, Dorothea’s wedding day.  He had been so depressed, she had everything, a new life and his kids.  He hoped by the time they got home, Dorothea would have signed the paper to let Lexie adopt the kids.  They had a family meeting, while Lexie had been writing before the wedding, and they had agreed they wanted this to happen.  He knew with the right amount of money she would sign.  Leaning his head back he looked over at Lexie, God put her in the right place and the right time in his life.  He loved her so much, God don’t let me mess up this marriage too.

Finishing his wine he put the glass in the sink, along with her cooled tea, going back in he lifted her off the sofa and took her up to the bedroom.  She woke up when he put her down on the bed.

“Did I fall asleep?”  She asked him in a sleepy voice. Sitting up to pull her sweatshirt off, leaving the teddy she had worn under her wedding dress.

“Yes, but you have not been sleeping and when you do sleep you wake up sick.”  He got undressed and pulled on sweat sleep pants on.  “But you weren’t out long.”

“It’s our honeymoon, I’m not supposed to be sleeping, and we’re supposed to be making love.”  She lifted her hips and shimmied out of her jeans, leaving on the lacy pair of undies that went with the teddy. 

“Honey, we have the rest of our life to make love, your body is telling you, you need to recharge.” He went over and sat in the bed by her hips, she did look sexy as hell in her lacy teddy, little Jonny approved, but he had to think with his big head not his little head.

“Can we cuddle?”  She looked up at him with big green eyes.  Reaching up she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down so their lips came together she smiled and gave him little nibbling kisses. 

Jon moved over her and rolling so she was on top.  His hands moved from her shoulders, looking up in her eyes, he let his hands slide down her arms. He could tell by the look in her eyes, she was fighting sleep.  She looks so sexy sleep rumpled. 

“You know, (Yawn) the last time we were (Yawn) here.”  She ran her hands along his chest.  She hated it when he had it waxed his chest.  He had a furry chest when they first made love, but he had read for a part and bye bye fur. “I wasn’t sure, (Yawn) you even liked me (Yawn) you ignored all my advances. (Yawn)”

Jon thought back to those two weeks they had hooked up, he must have been so fucked up that first few days.  He did started wanting to be with her, the way he made her laugh, she’ll never let him forget he called her the cook. 

“Hey, my kid was there, I couldn’t go all cave man on ya, you know.”  He chuckled.  She was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open. He was going to let her go till the sandman took her away.

“Little Romeo, he was so cute.  Snowball took up with him right off.  You know (Yawn, Blink blink) I’m so happy (Yawn).”  She leaned down to kiss him.

Jon enjoyed the kiss, his arms came up to hold her in place.  He knew when the kiss ended, she had just laid her head on his shoulder. Hearing her even breathing, he knew she was once again asleep.  Smiling he held her close till he too fell asleep.

Today was the last day of school for the kids, Lexie had already headed down to the river house.  Jon was waiting for the kids them they would close down the townhome and head over the river and through the woods to Red Bank.

Lexie had spent the day with the decorators.  The gate had huge wreaths with red ribbons. The wreaths on the front door matched the gate.  The first tree was in the foyer, over fifteen feet tall.  The decorators were not too happy with Lexie, they were used to dealing with Dorothea.  In other words, she left them alone.  Lexie had them strip the tree, which they had just decorated because, it needed more lights. The head decorator informed her there were a thousand lights on the tree, Lexie said double it.

“You can’t see the lights, you have three ornaments per branch and you can’t see them.” Lexie went over to one branch and removed the ornaments and handed them to the manager.  “I want an old fashioned tree, lots of lights, one ornament on each branch and lots of tinsel. Mix silver and gold.”

“But Mrs. Bongiovi, we have handled the trees the same way for over fifteen years.”  The manager replaced the ornaments.

“That was the other Mrs. Bongiovi, I am the new Mrs. Bongiovi and I want an old fashioned three.  I want the kids to see this tree first and fall in love with it.  So, this Mrs. Bongiovi is the one writing the check, and this Mrs. Bongiovi wants an old fashioned three. Now do you have any questions?” Lexie took the ornaments off and handed them to the manager.

“No Mrs. Bongiovi.”  She got the girls to remove the ornaments and loaded it with lights, spread out the ornaments, and sent her assistant to Walgreens for tinsel in silver and gold.  Stepping back she had to admit the new regime was right, an old fashioned tree was beautiful.

Each child had a two foot tree in their rooms. Stephanie was decorated with pearls, Swarovski crystals and sparkling lights, Jesse tree was Football, Notre Dame and Patriots and for his stepmom the Giants with a touch of lacrosse ornaments.  Romeo’s tree was game ornaments, Zelda, Mario, Pokémon and Infinity ornaments. That left Jacob, he wasn’t into sports like his big brothers or video games like his baby brother, and Jacob was into books.  Potter, Kingdom keepers. Firefly books.  In her office she had two baby trees, both were in pinks, blues and yellows, rattles, pacifiers, tiny bears and bunnies. After one quick check, she handed the ladies a check and saw them off of the property.  Coming back she leaned back on the door and rubbed her tummy.

“Next year, you’ll be here to share the enjoyment.”  She headed back to the kitchen and took the cookies out of the oven, and put the next one in.  Between checking on the trees and making cookies she looked up at the clock.  They were late they were due home over an hour, dinner would be soup and subs.  She had a huge pot on the stove of homemade soup and the stuff out for subs.  She went out to the foyer and made sure the lights were on for the tree and went and checked on the one in the family room, once again she butted heads with the decorator about more lights less ornaments. Next year, she would hire her own decorator.  She made the loop back to the kitchen to pull out the last of the cookies and turned the oven off.  She checked her watch and heard the gate warning beeping that a car was coming in.  She took off her apron and headed to the front door. She had just stepped out when the car stopped at the porch.

“Was the traffic bad?” She asked as she watched the kids spill out of the car.

“It was terrible, the bus was late with the boys, and then we got stuck in the tunnel for a while.”  Jon said as he paid the driver and unloaded the trunk.  It was full of gifts and suitcases.  “Hey get out here and help unload.”  Jon called out to the kids as they headed upstairs to their rooms.  He watched Lexie picking up bags of packages and heading into the house.

“Sorry daddy, Oh my gosh, the trees are great Lexie, daddy you should see all the trees in the house.”  Stephanie said as she grabbed her suitcase and one bag of presents.

“You didn’t do it by your self did you Lex?”  He grabbed his go bag and a big package.  The driver helped in the unloading of the car.  The boys ran out to grab bags and packages.

“Daddy I have my own tree in my room.” Romeo yelled as he ran out to get his bag.

“Lex,” Jon called out as he headed into the house.  Stopping short he took in the tree.  It looked great, different from what they had been putting up when he was married to Dorothea.  Loads of colored lights and white twinkling lights.  He took the stairs two at a time to drop off his bag.  He looked into the kid’s room and noticed the trees, as he headed down to master bedroom. Dropping off his bag he headed back downstairs looking for Lexie. Finding her in the family room unloading packages in the family room, half under the tree shifting boxes wrapped in festive paper.

“No Jon, I used the decorators that you and Dorothea used, I found their name in the rolodex.”  She said as she unloaded the bags of packages from the shopping bags.  “I think I’ll change companies next year.”

“What happened?  Lex this is your house now, you do what you want.  What happened?”  He remembered the trees they had in the past, these new ones where brighter and reminded him of the trees he had as a kid.

“If I heard, this is what Mrs. Bongiovi liked, one more time I was going to toss the manager out the front door on her over inflated ego.”   Lexie looked up at him with this smile on his face that scared him.  Lexie imitated the manager’s voice when she spoke.

“As long as I don’t have to get rid of the bodies, I see why you want to change decorators.” He went over and kissed the top of her head.  “Reminds me of when I was Romeo’s age.”  He sat down beside her to help unload the gifts.

“I got a hold of a caterer to handle the Christmas Eve party, I have your turkey to deep fry and a huge ham, with all the trimmings for Christmas lunch.” She grabbed another shopping bag to unload.  “I got a room ready for your mom and dad, Dezi and Matt will head to her parents, so they will not be staying.”  Folding up all the empty shopping bags and let Jon help her up.  “I take the kids to the mall tomorrow to go shopping, I have their money in envelops.”  They went over to the sofa and sat together looking at the tree. 

Soon they were joined by the kids.  Talk was about school and shopping.  They decided to go early and then go eat lunch at Umberto’s, Jon would meet them for lunch.  Then he had plans to take the kids with him for the afternoon, to do his shopping.

Dinner followed and bed early, so they could be at the mall by the time it opened. 

Breakfast was a quick stop at McDonalds drive through.  As she parked her car as close as she could, they headed in the mall main entrance.  “Stephanie, you take Jakey and Jesse you take Romeo, we’ll meet at the food court at noon.”  She handed the older two envelops for them and the younger two.  “Try to stay on budget. Call me if you have problems.”  They disappeared into the crowded mall.

Lexie headed to the men’s shop to look around.  The textures of the dress shirts made her fingers tingle as she ran her fingers over the shoulder.  She loved it when Jon dressed up, the feel of his muscles under the material made her smile.  She picked out one in the same blue as his eyes, then added a tie in the same blue.  Jon loved to wear tone on tone colors, Lexie laughed at his form of Geranimals.  Paying she checked her phone to see if any of the kids had called.  She caught a reflection of someone staring at her.  Thanking the clerk, she headed out to the next store on her list, the book store.  She made sure to turn and look at the person she caught staring at her, but he was not there. 

That same feeling came over her in every store she went to.  The uneasiness made the book store a bust, the same thing at the card shop and they toy store.  She checked her phone and almost called Jon, but shook it off.  She was a mystery writer, a story must be working in her writers mind. Heading to the food court early, stopping at Starbucks, she turned with her strawberries and cream and ran smack into her stalker.