"Jess? How exactly do you expect me to handle four kids by myself for 6 months? And I thought you quit playing shows? Remember when you took all our money to buy that run down building so you could start your own label. Remember that? You promised me no more tours. No more being away for months. I had to tell you I was pregnant with Megan over the phone." Becky was now in tears. "I wanted to share that moment with you Jess. Do you know I worried you wouldn't see the birth of our child?"
"Beck...look I never expected you to get pregnant."
"Oh well sorry I didn't run it by you first. Sorry it wasn't perfect timing." She yelled.
"I didn't say I wasn't happy. I just didn't think..."
"You missed half the pregnancy when I was pregnant with the twins. I thought you'd want to be around the second time. But you were too busy." Becky slammed their bedroom door.
Jessica sat across the table from Stephanie. "We need to talk about this."
"Were you ever going to tell me?" Jessica finally said breaking the silent treatment she was giving her mother.
"Of course." She reached across the table grabbing Jessica's hand. She was about to speak again but was interpreted by the loud slam from up the stairs. Both girls jumped slightly turning their attention to the stairs. Becky ran by grabbing her coat before slamming the back door just as hard. Both were still staring at the back door wondering what had happened when Jesse walked into the dining room. He looked almost as upset as Becky had been. "What's going on?" She dared to ask instantly regretting it from the look she got from him. It was almost as bad as the time Michelle played with his expensive recording equipment.
"We can talk later, mom." Jessica said jumping up and leaving the room.
"You're happy right?" He asked sitting down in the chair beside Stephanie.
"Yeah. I guess."
"Am I...selfish?" He asked looking down at his hands.
"No. Why?"
"She's been mad before. We've had load's of arguments. But she's only walked out on me once." He played with his wedding ring. "What if she doesn't come back this time?" He asked with hurt in his eyes.
Steph half smiled. "She would never do that. She loves you." Jesse only nodded. "How'd you win her back last time?"
"Chased after her." He sighed.
"Then what are you doing sitting here?" She asked smiling.
"How'd Jess take it?" He only now looked her in the eye.
"Fine, I guess. She was just mad I never talked to her about it first. And maybe that's why Aunt Becky is so upset."
"When did you get so smart?" He said smiling.
"I was raised right." They both laughed. Jesse stood up grabbing his jacket. "Tell Nicky to go ahead and practice without me." Steph nodded.
Jesse found Becky sitting on the swing set in their backyard. He sat down next to her. "Hun?" Becky looked up at him the tear stains showing. "I'm sorry. I never meant to disappoint you."
Becky shook her head. "Why do you keep thinking you're not good enough?" Jesse gave her a confused face. "I'm not mad cause you like music. I'm mad you didn't even tell me you wanted to perform again. I'm proud of you. I'll always be proud of you." She smiled.
"I love you."
"I love you too." They kissed.
"Aunt Steph? Where's mom?" Megan asked coming into the living room.
"Outside, I think." Steph answered looking up from the TV.
"Why are they fighting?" Megan asked teary eyed.
Stephanie pulled her into her lap. "Everyone fights. It doesn't mean anything. Your parents love each other very much." She hugged her. "Look." She said getting up and going over to the window. Megan smiled widely at the sight. "See what'd I tell you." She ruffled Megan's hair before sitting back down on the couch.
"Mom? Dad?" Megan shouted as they came into the house. "Are you gonna get a divorce?"
"No. Sweetie who told you that?" Jesse asked.
"Honey, Dad and I were just having a fight like you and your brothers." Becky grabbed her into a hug.
"Well that was an interesting night." He said as he got into bed later that night.
"We really can't keep doing this. I'm tired of the twins constant fighting. And this tour thing. It's not the best timing." She said turning off the light and snuggling in closer. He wrapped his arm around her kissing her forehead. "Ok, if you stay home and help with kids all next week and maybe talk to the twins. I won't be dealing with so much while you're on tour."
He nodded. "Ok. Sounds good."
"Is Jess ok with Steph going on tour?" She asked concerned.
"They didn't really get a chance to talk." He said. "You know we're gonna have more trouble with Megan then anyone."
"True. But what about Nicky? He's been upset about you going in the past. And now Stephanie is going with you."
Becky turned over wrapping her arms around her husband. She laid her head on his chest. He woke slightly wrapping his own arms around her. She noticed the smile on his face. She chuckled to herself. It was quiet in the house. Everyone must still be asleep she thought. The chaos never seemed as bad on the weekends. No one had anywhere to be and the kids slept in late which gave her and Jesse time to themselves. "Hey" she whispered but didn't get a response. She must have fallen back asleep cause she jumped when the bedroom door flew open her son yelling her name. "Mom?" That didn't last long she thought.
"What Nicky?" She asked trying to hide her annoyance.
"Can I go meet my friends?" He begged.
"What about practice?" A still half asleep Jesse asked.
"Later Dad." He said. "Can...can I take your bike?" He asked cautiously.
"Sure." Jesse answered turning over falling back asleep.
"Jess?!" Becky swatted his arm. "No. No bike." Turning her attention back to Nicky.
"Mom?" He stomped his foot.
"Keys are by the front door." He sleepily said.
Becky glared at him but his eyes were still closed. "I'm not gonna win this am I?" She said catching her son's expression. "Fine but please be careful." Nicky jumped up and down then ran out of the room. "What was that back there?" She said hitting Jesse again.
"I'm up ok." He answered like a child late for school.
Becky laughed. "Are you kidding me?"
"What?"
"Your motorcycle?" She said like it was obvious. "Jess, we talked about this. It's not safe."
Jesse faced Becky. "I had a bike at his age."
"That's supposed to be reassuring? You rode like a maniac. Some of the things you did at his age still make me wonder how you're in one piece." She added getting serious now. "Please tell me you've never shared those stories with our children?"
"Of course not. But Nicky is 17. And you're the one who let me teach him how to ride. It's not my fault he likes it so much." Jesse said. "As for the stunts I really do regret those days." He pulled Becky closer.
She smiled. "I'm a mom, it's my job to worry."
"And you are a great mother. Look how well Stephanie turned out. You did that." Becky smiled against his chest. "I'm sorry for getting upset last night. It's just that I miss you so much when you're on tour."
"It's hard for me too babe. I miss you already." He smiled placing a kiss on her forehead. "I don't want to fight."
"Me either." She placed a kiss on his lips. "I love you." Before long they were full on making out.
"Dad?" Knocking was heard from the other side of their bedroom door. "Dad?"
"We gotta get a lock." He joked. "I thought we had no privacy before we moved."
Becky shook her head as she sat up. "Come in."
"Dad?" Megan said again.
"I heard you the first time." He said still lying in bed.
"How come you let Jessica go with Nicky?"
"We didn't let her do anything." Becky said pulling on her robe. "Did you check with Steph?" She glanced back at Jesse. "This is why I said no."
"Don't get mad at me." He said now sitting up. "He's like me. What'd you expect?" He said coyly.
Becky frowned. "Don't remind me. It's bad enough we got the twins a car on their 16th birthday. Now Nicky wants a motorcycle."
"He's teaching Jess how to drive." Megan admitted but regretted it.
"What?!" Jesse jumped out of bed furious. "She's only 15." He yelled. "And a motorcycle?"
"You got to be kidding me?" Becky now had her hands on her hips. "Oh, with her it's different but our son it's all cool cause 'he's just like me'." She walked out of the room.
"I wanted to teach her to drive." He yelled into the hallway following after Becky.
"Shouldn't you ask Stephanie?" She said before shutting the bathroom door.
"I did. She's fine with it." He yelled through the door before walking back to their room. He flopped down on the bed.
"Dad?" Alex asked.
"What?" He answered irritated. A peaceful Saturday already ruined and it wasn't yet noon.
Alex sighed. "Forget it."
"Ok" Jesse answered rubbing his face.
Alex stood there slightly hurt. He hadn't expected that answer. Usually both his parents were always ready to talk if needed. He wanted to just go back to his room but something about his father's lack of concern made him angry. "Ok? Really?" He yelled now getting Jesse's attention. "You never want to listen!" Jesse sat up eyeing his son wondering where this sudden outburst had come from. He was usually the quite, laid back one. He was exactly like Becky. "It's not fair!"
"Alex?" Jesse said rubbing a hand through his hair.
"Sorry I'm not into music like Nicky or Stephanie. And I'm not daddy's little girl like Megan." He put air quotes around 'daddy's'. By now Jesse was staring at his son surprised. "You make more time for Jessica and she's not even your daughter!"
By now Becky had also heard the commotion. She grabbed a towel and headed back to their room. She bumped into Alex in the hallway. "Alex?" She asked but he went down the stairs and out the back door. Slamming it as he went. The car started up and both heard it tare out of the driveway. Jesse was standing behind Becky in the hallway still shocked. "Where's he going?" She asked facing him.
But he didn't answered. He just stared at the stairs. "Am I selfish?" He finally asked Becky.
She raised an eyebrow. "No, of course not. Why? He is upset about the tour?"
"I don't know." He said quietly deep in thought about what Alex had said to him. "He wanted to ask me something. I think."
Becky looked at him concerned. "What did he say?"
"I don't care about him." The words stung as he said them. "That isn't true? Is it Beck?" He said now facing her with hurt in his eyes.
"He didn't mean it, Jess. He knows you love him just as much as the others. It's just harder since you'd don't have much in common." She said trying to reassure him.
"Do I?" He said. "Do I love him the same?" Tears had come to his eyes. Becky reached out to give him a hug but he walked downstairs leaving her standing there.
