So here we are, chapter 50 of this series. That's like 150 chapters.
It's crazy!
Anyway, i'll let you read on and after the chapter there will be a little surprise.
Chapter 50
"We want to thank each and every one of you for coming out here tonight. This is our first concert we have played in so long and we appreciate all our fans who have stuck by us all these years." Shane spoke to the thousands watching at Madison Square Garden. Connect 3 had just released a comeback album and the arena was completely sold out.
I was absolutely bewildered at the level of screaming and felt like I was going to be knocked off my feet side-stage.
"We have a very special guest for you here tonight." Nate said, making the crowd scream even harder.
I could see down the end of the catwalk where Melody was on the boy's body guard's shoulders next to Caitlyn and Savannah.
"I'd like to introduce you to one very special girl." Shane said walking down to the end of the catwalk and picking up Melody off security's shoulders. He set her down on the stage next to him with the widest smile on his face.
"What's your name sweetheart?" He asked, handing her, her own microphone and getting down on his knees to be at her level.
"Melody." She giggled.
"And how old are you?"
"Six tomorrow."
"And why are you at this show tonight?"
"To watch you sing daddy." She giggled as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"How about you sing this one with me?"
She nodded and the music began to play to 'Gotta Find You'.
Shane began to sing to her and it absolutely made my heart melt, I flashed back to all those years beforehand when Shane and I were on tour together in Europe where he would bring little girls up on the stage and sing to them and let them sing too.
When they hit the chorus, he got Melody to sing along with him and the audience were going crazy. I couldn't help but smile to myself at the sight of it.
At the bridge of the song, he stood up and scooped her up with arm so she was resting on his hip and they finished the song together with Shane kissing her on the cheek.
"You did so good!" He exclaimed.
"You did good!" She said happily.
"Melody Gray everyone." Shane said, making everyone cheer yet again, "Now how about we get you back to your mommy?"
'This Is Me' began to play, just like the old days and I quickly rushed onto the riser to be risen up.
"But I was with Aunty Caitlyn and Aunty Vanna." I heard her say.
"I think I know where she is." Shane said, as I rose up onto the stage causing more screams.
Beginning to sing the song, I couldn't help but smile at the image of Shane twirling Melody around on the spot before bringing her back onto the main part of the stage, meeting me there.
I reached for her free hand, taking her over to one side of the stage for the chorus. She began to sing along, having heard the song countless times before.
I stopped singing to let her sing the next verse, leading her over to the other side of the stage. I could tell she was having the time of her life and I glanced across the stage to Shane who was beaming.
Joining in for the chorus with her, I took her back to the centre of the stage for the bridge of the song, meeting Shane there.
Shane began to sing to us both, holding Melody's other hand as she had stopped singing to listen to us both. The three of us walked down to the end of the catwalk and I picked Melody up so she could sing again if she wanted to, Nate and Jason close behind us.
As the song came to an end, and the crowd roared on and on, Melody waved to the audience as Shane wrapped an arm around me.
"Give it up for my girls." He said proudly, as I handed Melody to him, "My beautiful daughter, Melody." He announced before kissing her and safely popping her down into Caitlyn's arms.
He turned to me, bringing me into a tight embrace, "My beautiful wife, Mitchie Gray!"
We all turned around to head off stage, the boys for an outfit change and me to watch the rest of the show from the dressing room with Tess, Andrew and the kids. Shane placed his hand on my lower back, leading me off and as I went to head off directly to the wings he grabbed me by the elbow to stop me.
I looked at him quizzically for just a split second as he was supposed to be right behind the stage to get changed, not following me off. He smiled that gorgeous smile of his and kissed me in front of everyone in the arena.
...
"Hey babe, where are you and Melody?"
"We are almost on our way, she should be out any minute."
"Okay, I am just mixing the song with Caitlyn. We'll see you soon."
"Love you."
"Love you too." He replied.
I smiled, hanging up as the school bell rang. It was only a few minutes later I saw Melody running down the entrance stairs amongst the other kids, with her backpack on.
"Mommy!" She exclaimed once seeing me, sprinting over as fast as she could. I caught her as she leapt into my arms, hugging her tightly.
"How was your day at school, birthday girl?" I asked, kissing her forehead.
"The teacher surprised me with a cake and it had six candles and everything." She said happily as I set her down and reached for her hand.
"Well daddy is in the studio recording that song he sang for you this morning."
"Really?" She asked in amazement.
I nodded, "Really, so we are going to go see him and Aunty Caitlyn."
She smiled widely at this as I lead her to the car, "Well I painted a picture today but it is drying so I will show you tomorrow."
I noticed a couple paparazzi on the other side of the road, following us along and I tried not to let them see my dissatisfaction. Shane and I knew they would keep showing up to see Melody at school, we couldn't stop them but they did try to keep their distance.
"I can't wait sweetie." I said as we reached my car. I opened up the back door and made sure she put her seatbelt on before I got in the driver's seat.
"What else did you do today?" I asked, starting up the car.
"I got to sing for my class because I knew the national anthem."
I smiled at this and looked into the rearview mirror to look at her. Her eyes were shining brightly and her dark hair was in pigtails. She really was the cutest thing and she had Shane wrapped around her little finger, especially when it came to visiting him in the studio.
"Wow, maybe you should sing it for daddy when you see him."
"Could I?"
"Of course, Melody."
Twenty minutes later we were at our studio, I helped Melody out of her seat before heading inside. The foyer was empty so we walked straight into the recording room where Shane and Caitlyn were sitting at the computers, still mixing the song.
"Daddy!" Melody squealed, running over to Shane instantly and jumping into his arms.
"Hey sweetheart, did you have a good day at school?"
"Yes! I got a cake, I painted a picture and I got to sing!"
"Wow, sounds like you've had a good birthday."
"Speaking of which," Caitlyn spoke up, taking her headphones off, "Happy birthday Melody."
"Thank you, Aunty Caitlyn." She smiled.
"Uncle Nate and I got you a present, it's out in the foyer if you want to open it now."
"Could I?" She asked, jumping up off Shane.
Caitlyn laughed, "Of course." She said, reaching for her hand and leading her out.
I put my handbag down on the couch we had in their and gave Shane a kiss, "How are you going?"
"Nearly finished but I do think a break is in order." He grinned pulling me onto his lap.
"Do you now?"
"I do," He affirmed, "I actually wrote another song today and although it's not really a duet i'd love for you to sing with me at the end of the song."
"We haven't recorded a song together in years."
"Well it's about time we do." He smiled in that adorable way that made my heart melt, "I'll grab you the sheet music, I'll get you to come in on the last chorus with me."
He grabbed some sheet music off the table besides him and handed it to me. It only had the chorus on it and I quickly read over it a few times.
"It's sweet." I complimented him, having only heard a few lines from it, "Have you already got music to it?"
"Yes, I recorded the guitar earlier. When Caitlyn comes back in we'll record it."
I brought my lips to his, kissing him slowly and wrapping my arms around his neck.
"I can't help but notice you've been quite happy these past few days." He observed.
I shrugged my shoulders, "Is that a crime?"
"Not at all. I love it when you're happy." He said, "How did that interview with Hot Tunes go today actually?"
"Great, you can watch it on the show tonight. I do mention my adorable daughter and my gorgeous husband."
He grinned at this and went to kiss me before an ecstatic Melody burst in with a new bike, closely followed by Caitlyn.
"Look mommy, daddy. I got a big girl bike. And it's pink!"
It wasn't too long later that Shane and I both had headphones on and were ready to record. I looked through the glass where Caitlyn and Melody were looking back at us. Melody kept waving and blowing us kisses.
I soon heard a sweet guitar melody begin to play and Shane began to sing to me.
"Words don't come easy without a melody
I'm always thinking In terms of do-re-mi
I should be hiking, swimming laughing with you
Instead I'm all out of tune
But what you don't know
You lift me off the ground
You're inspiration, you helped me find myself
Just like a baseline a half-time
You hold down the groove
That's why I'm counting on you
And if I heard you on the radio
I'd never wanna change a single note
It's what I tried to say all along
You're my favorite song
I'm in a session writing tracks
You've got another class to teach
And then rehearsal with a band
You're always one step out of reach
I'm looking for some harmony
With you it comes so naturally
You helped me find the right key"
I grinned from ear to ear and began to sing the rest of the song with him.
"And when I hear you on the radio
I'd never wanna change a single note
It's what I tried to say all along
You're my favorite song
My favorite song
And when I here you on the radio
I'd never wanna change a single note
It's what I tried to say all along
You're my favorite song
You're my favorite song"
He held my hand, interlacing our fingers together and I mouthed 'I love you' to him before Melody came bursting in.
"Daddy can I record what I sang at school today?"
"Of course sweetheart." He said, beckoning her to come in.
She raced inside and Shane took the headphones he was wearing off, placing them over her ears.
I grabbed a stool for her to stand on so she was level with the microphone. Shane picked her up and put her on the stool, making sure to hold her so she wouldn't fall.
"What are you going to sing for me?" He asked her.
"The national anthem." She replied sweetly.
I put my headphones down and went outside to sit with Caitlyn to watch them record and it brought me back to the night before where he had her on stage with him in front of thousands and thousands of people. On stage with him and me, Nate and Jason.
Caitlyn hit the record button and I smiled proudly as Melody began to sing. I had written a few songs about her and so had Shane, there was so much meaning to my marriage now that came from motherhood.
...
"Why are you not working on another album anytime soon."
"My daughter has begun school and both Shane and I want to be able to pay full attention on her and try to give her as normal a childhood as possible. Other factors come into as well but Shane and I really can't be continuously performing and taking her out of school throughout the year, it's not fair to her."
"What did you mean by other factors?" Shane asked, pausing the recording later that night at home.
"I was hoping you were going to catch onto that." I grinned, "i have news."
"Why's that?" He asked me confused.
I sat down on the couch next to him, looking him in the eyes with the hugest smile on my face.
"Mitchie, you're really starting to scare me."
I pressed my lips against his firmly before pulling away slightly, "You're going to be a daddy again." I breathed out, "I was late and took like three tests yesterday before going to the doctor to make sure."
He looked at me in disbelief and all I could do was smile.
"You're really pregnant?" He asked me.
I nodded, "Yes, I really am."
His wrapped his arms around me tightly, kissing the side of my head, "Oh my god, I cannot believe it. I'm so happy."
He let go to touch my flat stomach and I could see his eyes were slightly watery.
"I love you." I whispered and he kissed me with so much passion I thought my head was going to explode.
"I love you too." He eventually pulled away, "I love you so god damn much. You really cannot believe how much."
"I know how long you have wanted this especially after what happened, but I just cannot wait to have another little baby to hold in our arms."
"Hey, it didn't matter if it was now or a year ago, I knew we'd have more kids. Either way I am the happiest man in the world right now."
He smiled at me and I felt like nothing in the world mattered, we had a family and another baby on the way.
We spent our Friday night at my parents for dinner, and getting there that night I knew how elated Shane was.
Melody rushed inside and straight into my dad's arm and Shane would not leave my side, his hand resting on the small of my back.
After watching Melody open her presents we had a wonderful family dinner, we didn't want to announce anything just yet. I wanted Shane to be able to enjoy this with just Shane, if only for a little while before telling everyone else.
"Thank you for dinner, Grandma." Melody said once we had all finished, Shane smiled proudly and reached for my hand under the table.
We watched a DVD my parents had bought Melody after dinner, and by the end of it she had fallen asleep.
"Look, do you mind if we pop Melody upstairs? I just want to take Mitchie out for a couple hours."
"Yeah, of course." My mum replied, "You know we love having her here."
I looked at Shane curiously, but followed him as he scooped Melody up effortlessly and carried her upstairs, placing her in my bed and tucking her in.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked softly.
"To the studio, just you and me."
As soon as we got to the studio, Shane lead me around the back to the beach. It was completely deserted and the moonlight was shining down on the water.
"It looks beautiful at this time of night." I commented, pulling my shoes off once reaching the sand.
"Probably too cold for a swim though at this time of year."
"Perhaps." I grinned, "You aren't young anymore. You are getting close to thirty now."
"And still as handsome as I was at eighteen when you met me."
I laughed, walking down to the shoreline and soon felt Shane wrap his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder.
"At least we have another on the way before I get too old." His hands moving down to rest on my stomach.
"I think after this one we will need a third much sooner. I don't think I could wait another five years." I said softly, turning my head to the left to see his face.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me." He murmured before kissing me, he knew how hesitant I had been.
I loved how he could still make me feel like I was a teenager still, make me feel like I was still sixteen years old when we first met. It was so incredible to think we had spent a decade together now.
"I love you, I love you more so than I did ten years ago." I admitted.
"I don't think it's possible for me to love you anymore." He chuckled, nuzzling the side of my head, "Let's go inside."
Getting inside the warmth of our studio, he closed all the curtains making sure to lock the door behind us.
"I'll grab some blankets." I said, going over to one of the cupboards grabbing a few.
Shane walked into the recording booth, making sure to close the curtain of the window overlooking the shore, we often would come here to get away. Just the two of us, whenever we could.
I followed him in, laying some blankets down on the ground and wrapping myself up to get warm. He joined me a few seconds later, wrapping us both up, his hand resting on my stomach again.
"Do you want a boy or a girl?" I whispered softly.
"Either, I don't care because either way I will be extremely happy."
"I know you said to leave it up to God to decide when i'd fall pregnant again, but I know that's just because you knew how scared I was."
It was when Melody turned four that I fell pregnant again and I lost the baby at only five weeks along. It had crushed the both of us and although the doctor told us it was unlikely to happen again and that the next pregnancy would most likely end up with a healthy baby, I was terrified.
Shane wanted to start trying for a baby after that but I had refused, I didn't want it to happen again and eventually Shane said we'd leave it up to fate after many arguments.
"I love you and this is what i've wanted for so long and I know you have too."
"I have. I have been absolutely terrified since that horrible day up until the moment I found out I was pregnant again. It's like the fear has just disappeared and has been replaced." I said as Shane traced circles on my stomach.
"We'll just keep this to ourselves okay? Until you are a few months along, no one else has to know. We'll take it one day at a time and just enjoy ourselves okay?"
I nodded, kissing his lips gently before pulling away.
"We need to be home when Melody wakes up." I said a moment later.
"I know, i've set my alarm for five to make sure."
I smiled and couldn't help but not look right in his eyes, "You're still too good to me after all these years."
"And I will be for many more to come." He murmured, kissing me whilst unbuttoning my shirt.
…
"What are you doing?" Shane yawned a few hours later.
"Writing." I answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"In my shirt?" He yawned, sitting upright next to me. The wall supporting our backs upright.
"Yeah."
"A new song about how I am so amazing in bed?" He teased.
"No, my story...our story. For Melody and all our other future children to read when they are old enough." I answered; repositioning myself between his legs to get comfortable, my back resting on his chest for support.
"So you turned down writing an autobiography, but will do one just for them?" He asked, placing a kiss on my neck, his fingers becoming entangled in my hair,
"Yeah, I think it's something that needs to stay private. They already did the E True Hollywood story documentary about us, I think that's enough. We've always been quite public when it comes to the media, some things just need to stay private."
"Like right now?" He spoke in my ear, his hand resting on my bare thigh.
I grinned, "Don't think I want to write this down for out kids to read."
"Probably not the best idea, Melody isn't dating until she is at least twenty-one."
"I have a feeling there will be plenty of guys knocking on her door before then. I just really didn't think i'd ever be doing this so young you know? Getting married, having a six year old already, being a famous singer that's sold a few million albums or so. Being with you out of all the men on the earth. I often think of where my life would be if we didn't meet at Camp Rock that summer, what if we didn't meet and fall in love?"
"We would have met some other way," He assured me, "Destiny brought us together."
"You have no idea how long I waited for you, if I had to wait any longer I would have died." I confessed, "I loved you before I met you."
He smiled at this and kissed me sweetly, "Where are you going to start?" He asked, referring to our journey together, kissing the side of my head.
"From the beginning." I decided with a smile, "From where I found my missing piece."
How'd you like the time jump?
AND OMG! GUESS WHAT?!
THERE WILL BE ONE MORE CHAPTER AS THERE WILL BE AN EPILOGUE! :)
So it's not all over just yet. Be sure to leave me a review and i'll get to finish writing it and updating.
Love you all so much!
xox
