Chapter 59

Alex rushed through the back door of her New Jersey home and scooped the phone off the counter just as the answering machine picked up. "Hello...hello, I'm here...hang on." She ran over to the machine and hit the stop button. When the sound of her own message had finally ceased she spoke into the receiver again. "Hello?"

"Hey baby." His voice was low and sexy...hell it was always sexy. The edge of seduction in it would usually have her thighs quivering but not this evening.

"Oh, hey Jon." She replied flatly.

"What's wrong Ali?"

"Nothing...everything...I don't know," she sighed.

If she was being honest, she would admit to herself she knew exactly what was wrong...things just hadn't been right for her since Dot had had the baby. It had hit her harder than she thought it would...and she had promised herself that she would never go through that again. But that meant....and she wasn't ready for that. She wouldn't give him up...she couldn't...not yet. But if there was another child.... She pushed the thought from her mind. It was silly to worry about things that most likely would never happen. Jon had promised her that Jesse was the last.

"What's going on? Why so down?" He asked gently.

"Just a tough day I guess." Alex shrugged irrespective of the fact he couldn't see her, "I'm feeling a little sorry for myself."

"Well I have the perfect antidote for that. I am taking you out." He said cheerily.

"I don't think so, Jon." Alex said glumly.

"What do you mean you don't think so?" He asked. "You're always complaining that we never go anywhere. And now I arrange it so we can and you say no?"

"I'm sorry Jon...I just don't feel like going out. I just came in from the garden...I'm a mess and ... to be honest.... I just couldn't be bothered." Alex dropped onto the stool at the counter and propped her head up with one hand.

"I'd offer to come to you but I know how you feel about me being in that house...I won't do that to you again." He said resigned. "Can we at last meet somewhere on neutral territory? I need to see you baby. Even if it's only for a few minutes."

The desperation in his voice tugged at her heart. "No babe...you know what...just come here. It will be fine. I mean I don't think I could ....you know...but I would love to be able to spend some time with you...just the two of us. Maybe snuggle up and watch a movie or something. Since Jesse was born I've hardly seen you...and soon you'll be gone on tour and..."

He cut her off. "When do you want me there?"

"Come when you're ready. I'm just gonna jump in the shower."

"Want someone to scrub your back?" She could hear the mischief in his voice.

Silence echoed down the line and he could almost see the look of disapproval on her face.

"It was joke, Ali." He chuckled

"No, it wasn't," she said firmly, brokering no argument. "But I can't do that, Jon. Not here. If that's what you're coming for, just forget it."

"I'm sorry baby...that's honestly not it. I just want time with you...no matter how we spend it. I'll be there in twenty."

"I'll leave the back door open." She said quietly and rose from the stool.

"See you soon." He heard the line click and pressed the disconnect button. Thankfully Dorothea had taken the kids to visit with her mother so he didn't have to explain where he was going. He grabbed a jacket from his bedroom. While winter was officially over, the nights still held a bite.

Standing at the door to his garage he considered his options. His lips curved up in a grin as he fingered a set of keys on the rack near the door.

As he pulled out of his driveway and onto Somerset Drive, the sun sank below the horizon behind him, casting an eerie glow as it back lit the dark heavy clouds that were just starting to blow in from the ocean. Just five minutes later he was pulling into her driveway.

As Alex stepped into her pyjama's she heard an engine growl and then die somewhere towards the front of her house. In fact she had heard that engine rumble its progress most of the way down her street. She ran down the hall way to the guest room at the front of the house and peered through the window. There, sitting on her driveway was a Harley Davidson motorcycle, tiny star bursts glittered from the chrome, sparkling under the glow of her security lights. A dark figure was stalking away from the bike and heading for her back yard. She flew down the stairs and met him at the door.

His faded blue jeans were tight, and hugged his thighs - and she was sure his fine ass - to perfection. She followed the line of them down to black scuffed biker boots. The matching jacket hung open to reveal a fitted white T-shirt beneath. The well worn black leather was soft to the touch as she pulled him to her for a welcome kiss.

"Conspicuous much?" She observed as she pulled away from his lips.

He chuckled, and the rumble of it vibrated through her. "Sorry babe. I couldn't help myself. It's been so long since I've taken her out. Do you think I can get her in the garage though? Looks like we're in for one hell of a storm. I didn't realise until I was pulling out of the driveway."

"I'm sure we can squeeze it in." She smiled and leaned up to kiss him again.

He indulged for just a moment before pulling back. "Baby...if you keep that up, I can't be held responsible for what happens."

"Sorry." She replied looking down.

"Hey," he said, tilting her chin up until their eyes met, "It's fine. It's just hard for me to be around you and not...well you know. But really, it's fine. We'll deal. Even if I have to find you a chastity belt." She offered him a tentative smile and his heart lurched. "Now, you go open the garage so I can bring the bike in and then we'll settle in for a movie...maybe order in a pizza. What do you say?"

"Sounds perfect." She gave him one more quick hug and headed for the garage.

Two hours later they were sitting cuddling on the couch. "Ok, are you ready?" Jon asked excitedly. "There." He said pointing at the screen.

"Where? Alex whined, turning away as she suppressed a cheeky smile.

"Oh come on Ali. You must have seen it that time. I was right there." He protested, pointing a little more forcefully. "Right there," he repeated. They were watching Young Guns II and he had spent the last few minutes rewinding and replaying the tape to show her his 'part'. Alex knew exactly when he appeared on the screen. She had watched the film countless times on her own just to see the few brief seconds he was on the screen but the opportunity to tease him was far too good to pass up.

She shrugged noncommittally.

"Fine," he huffed, "one more time. But if you don't see it this time, I swear Ali..."

"You'll act it for me personally? Will you fall for me Jon?" She giggled, covering her heart with both hands and feinting back onto the couch.

"Oh honey, I fell for you the second I saw you...and I haven't stopped falling since." He said, his voice softening. "Now watch." He added a little more sternly.

As the tape began to play, Alex rose from the couch and with barely a glance at the screen pointed to the exact spot that Jon would appear.

"You little brat," he growled, as he launched himself at her and brought her tumbling to the floor beneath him. She just giggled. He brought his mouth down to hers effectively stifling her laughter.

Passion ignited between them and what started out as innocent teasing soon evolved into something much more dangerous. Ali pulled back first. "We have to stop Jon."

Immediately he began to rise off her, though not without tremendous effort. She pulled him down for one last chaste kiss....a thank you for being understanding....and the whole process started again...roaming hands, panting breaths, writhing bodies. And that was when the phone rang.

"Fuck!" he exclaimed when she wriggled out from beneath him, more out of frustration than anger. Jon looked at his watch, 12.54am. "Who the hell calls you at this hour?" he asked, but was sure he didn't really want the answer. He rose and started to leave the room as Alex crawled towards the phone. He wasn't going to stick around for phone sex. Not unless he was on the receiving end.

Alex took a second to get her breath and then answered calmly. "Hello?"

There was a few seconds pause then, "Mum...what...?" Jon immediately halted and spun to face her. There was another pause. "Oh..." It came out on a whoosh of air. Jon watched her face pale as she listened further. "I'll be there as soon as I can." Pause. "No, Mum...I'm coming home. You need me. Da..." her voice cracked, "Daddy needs me. I'll make arrangements as soon as I get off the phone."

When Alex tried to put the phone back in its cradle her hands were shaking so badly she couldn't even manage it. Jon gently took the phone from her hand and put it down on the side table.

"What's going on baby?" He asked.

No answer. Alex just stood there staring off blankly to some far distant place.

He stepped in front of her and tried again. "Ali...baby...what's happened?" He shook her gently.

Her eyes gained focus. "Wh...what?" She said shaking her head as if trying to clear it.

"What's happened at home Alex?" He asked again clearly.

She frowned, "Daddy...there was...he was at the bank. There was a robbery...he..."she looked up at him, puzzlement and disbelief clouding her eyes, "he was shot, Jon. Daddy was shot, just standing there in line..."

"Is he..." Jon started.

"I have to get home. Shit Jon, I need to call the airlines. I need to..." In those few seconds she went from numb to frantic.

Jon grabbed her by the shoulders. "Ali listen to me. How bad is it?"

"They don't know. He hasn't regained consciousness. The bullet hit somewhere near his spine, but they aren't sure of the extent of the damage yet. I need to ring the airlines Jon." She tried to push past him, but he held her firm.

"Let me make a call first," he said pulling out his cell.

"I don't have time for this Jon. I have to get home."

"I know baby, I know. You start packing. I'll organise the rest. Just trust me ok?" He said calmly. He was the voice of reason she needed.

When Alex walked back into the room twenty minutes later, a large duffle in one hand and her purse hanging from her other arm, Jon was perched on the arm of the couch, foot tapping impatiently. He looked up when he heard her enter.

"Ok!" he exclaimed, "Got your keys?" he asked, and nodded when she opened her palm to show him that she did. "Let's go." He took the keys from her hand and grabbed the duffle.

"Where are we going? There is no way you booked a flight at this hour." She said trailing after him towards the garage.

"Yes honey, there is. It's called a private jet and it will be sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off by the time we get there."

"I can't do that Jon. I can't take your plane. Just book me a commercial flight. It will be fine."

"Baby, listen...now isn't the time to be stubborn or proud. I can't give you much and I can't do much for you...but I can do this. Your Dad isn't doing so great right now and you need to be with him. This is the quickest way to get you there, so damn it this is the way you're going." He said sternly.

Alex knew it was a fight she wasn't going to win; even if she could she wasn't sure she wanted to. Besides, Jon was the most infuriatingly stubborn man she had ever known. But she had to try nonetheless. "I have to call Rick." She said. It was a futile attempt and she knew it.

"You can call him from the plane." He put her in the passenger seat of her car.

"What about the paperwork...my visa...?" she asked.

"Sorted." He said simply.

Alex could think of no other line of protest. Once on the road to the airport, Alex once again retreated into a world of her own. Jon looked over at her every couple of minutes, worry deepening the few lines on his face. She was oblivious to his attention, seeing only a blur of lights out the side window as the car sped forward into the night.

They made it to the airport in record time and after a few words to the guard at the boom gate they were directed out onto the runway. Jon pulled the car to a stop before the jet. Bon Jovi was blazoned boldly down the side. He jumped out of the car, grabbed her bags from the trunk and threw the keys to a man standing nearby, just a streak of lightening brightened the night sky. The thunder clap that followed made Alex jump so severely as she exited the car, that she hit her head on the door aperture.

"Park it in the hanger Tony," he instructed. "Thanks." He turned to Alex, "Are you ok baby? That was quite a bump there?"

"I'm fine." Alex dismissed the injury with the wave of her hand. "Where is he taking the car? If he parks it in the hanger, how are you getting home?" Alex asked over her shoulder as she headed for the plane at an almost-run.

Jon was right on her heels. "I'm not." He yelled over a second thunder clap. "I'm coming with you."

Chapter 58

It was a chilly day in February when Jon rushed from the cab directly into the foyer of a large tower of concrete, steel and glass in Manhattan. Outside a constant drizzle of sleet drifted down from gloomy grey skies. He gave his head a quick shake to rid his hair of the icy slush, and adjusted the deli bag in his arms. If Alex wouldn't come to him he would go to her, God damn it. He had tried earlier to entice her to lunch, but she assured him she was far too busy with a strict deadline to meet. She had done a photo session for an album cover, and the edited images needed to be submitted the following day so the covers would go into production on time. He nodded to the doorman as he passed, stepped into a conveniently waiting elevator and hit the button for the 24^th floor, where he knew Alex would be slaving away in her new city residence come studio.

A sharp rap on the door had Alex's head shoot up. She wasn't expecting anyone today...it was the weekend for Christ sake...she didn't generally see clients on weekends...but did that stop them from coming around? She ignored the persistent tapping. When the intruder knocked more forcefully, she cursed but tried to remain focused on the work before her. When the knocks turned into loud thuds, she strode to the door with the sole purpose of telling the person on the other side of it just where they should shove their fist. She swung the door wide with a serious amount of bluster, but the second she saw who was standing on the threshold, all the wind went out of her proverbial sails.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, an edge of her recent annoyance creeping into her voice.

"Aw, come on baby," Jon cooed as he stepped through the door, "don't I deserve a better welcome than that? I did bring lunch after all." He held up the deli bag.

"Ooh, what did you bring?" Alex asked excitedly.

"So you don't get excited when your lover...a stunningly gorgeous international rock star slash actor, no less....," he added mockingly, "...turns up on your doorstep to fuck you senseless...but you do get excited over the food he brings. Hmmm....we may have to work on your priorities Miss Belle." He still couldn't bring himself to think of her as married, let alone refer to her in that sense. So the maiden name remained, besides he justified to himself, she still used it professionally anyway.

Alex giggled. "I only wish I had time to be fucked senseless. Now what's in that bag?"

"Only the best pork roll sandwich Jersey has to offer," he beamed at her.

"Hmmm yummy...you definitely do deserve a good fucking..." she said, he grinned and reached for her but she stepped deftly out of his path and continued, "but can we take a rain check til this job is in the bag...literally in the bag. I need to get it in an overnight satchel first thing in the morning."

"I can wait. Eat first, work second, fuck last. You should always leave the best for last anyway...and I am definitely the best." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Ha, Ha." Alex replied.

After a very satisfying lunch, Jon insisted on staying to keep her company while she worked. He settled on the couch with a book, and without so much as a murmur of complaint, let her go about her business.

When dinner time rolled around he ordered in pizza and made sure she ate, before returning quietly to his book. He was exhibiting patience she didn't even know he possessed. She doubted that when he had insisted on staying he had any idea of what he was letting himself in for...but he had showed no signs of wanting to leave anytime soon.

It was hours later, as Alex was bent over a light board full of negatives, that the sound of deep rhythmic breathing drifted to her ears. She turned slightly and looked over her shoulder to the long, white, low line couch that was the only piece of furniture gracing a wall of windows. Outside the city lights twinkled against the inky black backdrop of deep night, only a few stars bright enough to compete. Inside, another kind of star dozed on her couch.

He lay stretched out on his back. His left arm was slung carelessly across his face shielding his eyes from light, his right hand rested on the bare expanse of skin created where his soft blue cotton T had ridden up from his low slung faded denims. The book he had been reading rested open and face down on the floor beside the couch.

Alex grabbed her camera and crept quietly towards him. She checked the camera settings and shot off a rapid succession of photos. Jon stirred under the intrusion of the camera flash, not quite waking but rolling onto his side, resting his cheek upon his clasped hands. A stray lock of hair fell across his face. Alex moved forward and ever so gently pushed it back and away from his eyes, before crouching in front of him with her camera aimed. Dropping her camera she paused and just looked at him...really looked at him. In sleep he was stripped of all the responsibilities and trappings of fame and fortune, he was just a man...a gorgeous, sweet, sexy, thoughtful man, who in that moment, looked so carefree, so vulnerable, that her heart swelled with love.

This was the man she had fallen in love with so long ago. Over the years she had periodically questioned her feelings and motives in loving him, often wondering if she had been captivated by the rock star instead of the man. In this moment all of those doubts melted away. There was only one reason why she was here, and he was lying peacefully asleep in front of her.

Alex raised the camera and took a couple more pictures before putting it aside and kneeling on the floor at his head. With a feather light touch, Alex brushed her fingers through the hair at Jon's temple and bent to kiss him lightly on the lips. "My love," she whispered against them.

As she rose and turned to head back to her desk, he snagged her hand and pulled her down on top of him.

"Oh you...you..." she squealed, swatting him playfully on the chest as she nestled into his arms. "You are supposed to be asleep."

"How could I sleep through that kiss? I thought the prince was supposed to awaken Sleeping Beauty with a kiss...not the other way around." he smiled up at her...a slightly crooked, sleepy, sexy smile and then drew her down to him for a kiss. The second their lips touched the spark ignited and all thoughts of sleep or work were banished.

The kiss was languorous and consuming. Jon reached up to the nape of Alex's neck, where he found the clip that bound her hair and released it. Lustrous waves of deep auburn cascaded over her shoulders and around them. Jon threaded his hands in it and twined its silky strands around his fingers.

Alex let her hands drift over the firm lines of his chest until she found the pert buds of his nipples through his shirt. She gave them a little tweak and smiled when his chest rumbled with an almost inaudible groan. Jon held her tightly to him before sitting up abruptly and yanking the offending garment off over his head...he wanted nothing in the way of her touching him.

When Jon collapsed back onto the couch, Alex remained upright and adjusted her position so she was straddling him. She could feel his rock hard length pulsing, even through their two layers of denim jeans and the one of filmy lace that covered her core. She scored her fingernails down his chest, flicking over erect nipples, continuing down over defined abs, before resting her palms flat just below his pectorals, where she could feel his ribcage expand and contract with each ragged breath.

Jon could feel the wet heat of her core penetrate their clothing as she undulated above him. With each movement, the coarse texture of the denim rubbed across the tip of his cock, eliciting a sharp intake of breath. He lifted his hands and took her face between them, tracing the lines of first her jaw and then her collarbones with his thumbs as he flattened his palms against her overheated flesh and began his journey down. He paused at the swell of her breasts to cup them as he rolled her nipples expertly between his thumb and forefinger. Her movements became more urgent, and in turn so did his.

As Jon's hips arched up off the couch beneath her in his desperation to get closer, Alex felt the sweetest sensation shoot from her core to every nerve, from the very top of her head to the tips of her curled toes. Her head fell back in pleasure, exposing the graceful line of her throat. Unable to resist, Jon sat up pulling her to him, nuzzling into that sweet place just below her jaw.

The sensation of her soft mounds with their erect nipples against the hard plains of his chest was his undoing. He lowered her onto her back and came down on top of her.

"God Alex, look what do you do to me?" He rumbled, grasping her hand and putting it on his erection. She rubbed up and down his length through the fabric of his jeans and he moaned. "Oh fuck yeah," he growled through clenched teeth.

Alex smiled. "Baby," she cooed, "I haven't even started yet."

She managed to manipulate her other hand in between them to join the first at their joined crotches, and began to work on the fly of her jeans. Realising what she was doing, Jon raised his pelvis off her slightly, and with a little difficulty, Alex managed to undo her jeans and wiggle them off her hips. The black lacy creation beneath them could barely have been considered underwear.

"Christ," Jon muttered against her lips after looking down her length, "you're trying to kill me here aren't you."

His mouth claimed hers with an urgent possession, his tongue slipping inside as his finger slid under the lace and into her core. She moaned.

Her hands fumbled at his zipper. "Off," she said urgently.

He lifted a little once again. The second his pants were open, her hand was inside them, her fingers wrapped around his hard thick length, pre-cum oozing onto her palm as she stroked him.

An alarm sounded, and a vibration buzzed at Jon's hip. "What the fuck?" she snarled.

To Jon that noise was like a bucket of ice water. Every muscle in his body tensed. "Please God, not now....not now." He whispered, dropping his head to her shoulder. But instinctively she knew.

"What?"

He reached to unclip the offending article from the waist band of his jeans. She hadn't noticed it before. It was a pager. He glanced briefly at the screen and cursed. "I have to go."

"Why? What's going on? What's...." the question trailed off as realisation hit. "You've got to be fucking kidding me? Now?"

He nodded.

"Could the woman have worse fucking timing?"

"Jesus, Ali I'm so sorry."

"Just go." She said softly. Alex watched as the panic from her words touched his eyes. He thought she meant he had to leave for good.

"You mean..."

She didn't allow him to finish the sentence, "I mean... go be with your pregnant wife. She needs you more than I do right now. I'll be here when you can get back." She assured him.

"I don't want to leave you like this." He said, clearly torn. He had moved himself into a sitting position and she got up to sit beside him.

"Jon, your wife is in labor...you have to go." She rose to her feet, he followed, pulling her to him.

"Fuck baby, I really am sorry." He looked at her pleadingly.

"It's fine Jon. I'm fine." She kissed him tenderly then disengaged from his arms so he could dress. She bent to retrieve his shirt from the couch arm, where it had landed just a few minutes earlier, while he fastened his pants. She turned the shirt out so it was the right way around and handed it to him. "Now you need to go."

He pulled the shirt over his head and ran his fingers through his mussed hair. "I love you." He whispered in her ear as he drew her in for one final hug.

"Love you too." She said as she pulled back. She kissed him chastely on the lips. "Now go...before you miss it." She urged.

"You are one special lady Ali. You know that?" He said as he headed for the door.

She smiled. It was a small tight smile. "Call me when there's news." She called after him as she followed so she could lock up behind him.

"You'll be the first. I promise." He raced back to her, kissed her again and was gone.

Alex slid down the wall and sunk to the floor near the door, her knees drawn up to her chest. She hated this...really hated it. No matter what they may have together, this was something she could never give him. It was a connection they would never share...not only that, it was one she would never have with anybody...and that knowledge was absolutely devastating. Tears coursed down her cheeks as her body was wracked with silent sobs of desolation.

Alex sat slumped against the wall for a long time, until the chill from the cold concrete wall permeated her bones. When she shivered, she looked down at herself and realised she was still all but naked. She drew herself off the floor and walked zombie like into her room, not bothering to head back into the studio to clear up and or even turn off the lights. She fell into bed and soon after into a restless sleep, filled with dreams of a dark haired, baby girl with her gentle features and Jon's blue eyes.

She started awake when the phone rang. Fumbling to retrieve it from the side table, she was finally able to answer it on the forth ring. "Hello?"

"It's a boy."

And the tears started again.