Rose N Bud 5 – Reach for the Sun
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Warnings: none
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The alarm blared out a heavy disco beat, and Axl groaned, letting go of Rosie to roll over and slap it quiet. Rosie grumbled, still half asleep, shifting on to her back and rubbing her face.
"Did I really just hear Right Said Fred?"
"What, am I too sexy for you?"
"At this ugly, cow-milking hour, nobody's sexy."
Axl's deep chuckle filled the dim room.
"I dunno nice lady, you're looking pretty good over there."
Rosie just grumbled again, ruffling her hair. "You must need glasses. I feel like desert roadkill, everything's gritty and hurts like hell."
"Well, for what it's worth, you have time for a shower."
Rosie gave a quiet hum, pausing to consider, then rolled over and up, hissing softly. Turning on the bedside lamp, Axl sat up too.
"Need any help?"
Rosie turned her head slowly, glancing over her good shoulder. He gave her a charming smile, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. Her eyebrows shot up then down as her eyes closed, her shoulders shaking for a moment in laughter.
"Ow. Dammit, don't make me laugh!"
"Too late, told you I'm too sexy."
"You are lucky I hurt too much to beat you to death with my pillow."
"Feathers, ooh baby. What can I do to get you to use the whole chicken?"
Rosie sputtered, shaking merrily again as she moved gingerly to get up. "Definitely too early in the morning for any of that."
Walking over to the bedroom door, she turned the knob.
"Ah, Rosie?"
She opened the door to the common area. "Hmm?"
"Good morning, sunshine!"
"Hey, isn't that Axl's shirt?"
Rosie squawked, slamming the door shut again.
"God fucking dammit, why didn't you tell me they were out there? I don't even have pants!"
Axl had the grace to look a little sheepish, but only just.
"I was about to, you just got to the door before I could say anything. I swear!"
He stood and walked over to where she leaned against the wall, face hidden in her hands. Rubbing her good arm gently, he sighed.
"I'm sorry, Rosie."
She relaxed a little, tilting her head his direction. "It's ok, I guess." She sighed. "I'm just not that comfortable with them as I am with you."
"They haven't tried anything, have they?"
"No! No. Just, the way they talk makes me nervous? I'm not used to being the center of that kind of attention."
"Little rusty on the friendly flirting?"
"Is that what it's called? Less rusty, more completely unaccustomed."
"I find that hard to believe. I'm sure you had plenty of guys chasing you." Axl smiled warmly, but Rosie shook her head.
"If they did, I certainly never paid it any mind. I got married very early, Axl, and I wasn't one to stray. I don't think I've had this much attention since I was fourteen."
Axl's eyebrows shot up, his eyes glinting brightly. "You really are too sweet. What're you doing with us old, jaded types again?"
Rosie snorted. "I dunno. Some asshole keeps extending my invite."
"That's 'Axl'."
"I heard no difference."
He laughed, patting her arm gently and turning to open the door again.
"Ah…aren't you going to put on pants?"
"Really? Why start now?"
Duff and Slash were lounging on the sofa wearing matching grins as Axl walked out, making his way towards the room Rosie had used the first night. Duff tracked his movements, eyebrow arched in humor.
"So, I hope you gave our heroine a proper thank you. Or do we have to make up for your …shortcomings?"
Axl shot him a finger as he emerged from the smaller bedroom, Rosie's backpack in hand. Coming up behind the two guitarists, he dropped the bag, laying his hands on the backs of their necks.
"Alright fuckers" he growled, keeping his voice low. "She's had a really rough night, and there isn't a one of us, security included, that was as fast to sacrifice themselves as she did without a moment's hesitation. So, stop. Giving. Her. Shit."
Axl's fingers gripped in emphasis of his words. Slash was on the receiving end of a fairly baleful glare, and he held up his hands in supplication, easy grin back on his full lips despite the weight of Axl's hand.
"Chill, man. You know we're only teasing."
"Yeah, I know. And I'm telling you to tone it down, jackass."
Slash lowered the glasses he had on even at this early hour, matching Axl's stormy glare with a measured look, eyebrows tilting and smile growing the longer their gaze held.
"You didn't get any yet. I'd stake a guitar on it."
Axl growled, but the wild-haired man just grinned wide, smacking Duff on the arm, the blonde giving a grunt and a curse.
"What the hell?"
"Six months man. A wedding…or a funeral. You in?"
Duff glared at him a moment, then smirked. "There an over-under?"
Axl stood back up, smacking both men on the backs of their heads. Hefting Rosie's bag he headed back for the bedroom.
"Rosie better not catch wind of your fucking betting pool."
"Don't worry, Ax. We've got a separate one for that."
Flipping Slash off one more time, Axl shot over his shoulder. "At least make yourselves useful. Get Doc up here to check on Rosie."
The shower was running, shutting off just as he closed the door. Knocking at the bathroom, he called in. "Rosie! I'm gonna put your bag inside the door."
"Thanks!"
Opening the door a crack, he slid his arm in, just enough to drop the bag on the other side, out of the way. Movement in the mirror drew his eye, and he caught a glimpse of a dark, angry bruise staining Rosie's shoulder purple, easily larger than his hand. The wound itself looked bright and raw. He closed the door quietly, getting himself ready even as he heard the her doing the same.
She came out a few moments later, wearing his shirt again, though she'd buttoned it wrong so it hung off her shoulder, exposing the wound to the air. Axl was about to say something when a knock came at the door.
"Doc's here. Come on out, lovebirds." Rosie colored, but Axl just rolled his eyes.
"Don't pay that jackass any mind, Rosie. It'll be ok."
He opened the door as she bent to pick up her bag.
"Just leave it. I'll get it later when we head out."
Walking out behind her, he leveled a death glare at his friends, but he needn't have bothered. Both of them were quiet, eyes glued on her shoulder, and she shifted uncomfortably under their gaze.
Doc stepped up, the older man giving Rosie a friendly smile. "Hey there sweetie." He leaned in in a feigned hush. "We've got to stop meeting like this, people will start to talk."
Rosie giggled. "They do little else."
"Too true, little lady. Now, have a seat and let's get you patched back up. I may have to get to a little more of ya to do it proper. You want me to send these apes packin'?"
"No... It's fine."
He got her bandaged up quickly, his eyes narrowing when she hissed pulling the shirt back up over her shoulder.
"You takin' the meds the hospital gave you?"
"The antibiotic, yeah."
Doc frowned. "I know you got pain meds, Rosie. Why aren't you takin' them?"
Rosie dropped her gaze away from his stern look. "I don't like how it makes me feel. I just get all cottony and trapped in my head. I'd rather stick with regular stuff. I promise I'll have some with breakfast."
Doc grumbled, kneeling in front of her to make her look him in the eye.
"It's alright to take help when you need it, little lady. Even if it's just to ease your pain."
Her smile was anything but happy as she stared back at him. "They're not what I need, Doc. And they really don't work that well for me. I appreciate your words, though."
Sighing, Doc patted her knee as he stood up, turning towards Axl.
"Keep an eye on this one – she's tougher than she looks, but she's also not gonna say when she's at her limit. I don't want an ambulance pacing us to be my first notice she's tipped over."
Axl smirked. "Tell me something I don't know. We've got a few days on the road so it won't be too hard to make sure she rests up."
Rosie glared at both of them. "'She' is sitting right here, you know. Rude ass men."
The entire group started laughing as she looked around, clearly unamused.
"Why don't y'all come a little closer, then we'll see who's laughing."
Axl snorted. "Not on your life. I can still feel the pummeling you gave me a few nights ago."
"So glad I made a lasting impression."
"Made an impression? Lady, you almost made me a permanent soprano!"
Doc took that as his signal to leave, as Duff and Slash teased Axl. The redhead gave as good as he got though, and Rosie was shaking with restrained laughter by the time the exchange wound down.
"Well, about time we hit the road." Duff chuckled, standing up. "How about you, Rosie? You coming too?"
She looked up at the tall blonde, eyebrows knitted in concern. "Axl extended my invite, and I thought I would accept. If that's alright with you?"
She glanced at Slash, tilting her head to include him as well.
"You're more than welcome to stay, as long as you like, Rosie." Duff knelt down, taking her good hand as Slash came to crouch by her other side. "Nothing we can do would repay you for your courage yesterday. Your quick action kept anyone else from being injured, or worse."
"Yeah, and you kept this asshole from biting the big one."
"That's 'Axl', fucker."
The banter kept Rosie from breaking down, though her eyes were bright from Duff's kind words.
"We'll see you two at the bus. Don't be late now."
Duff leaned in as he stood, Slash doing the same, the both of them planting warm kisses on Rosie's now flaming cheeks. Smirking at the shocked look on her face, the two took their leave.
Axl just rolled his eyes at the pair's antics, placing a light hand on Rosie's good shoulder. She sat quietly, hands twisting around each other in her lap.
"You OK there, nice lady? We gotta head out soon."
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." She wiped at her face, voice soft and rough.
"I've gotta get my shit together. I'll just be a minute."
When he came back out of the bedroom with all the bags, Rosie was standing, smoothing the ends of the shirt out after rebuttoning it. He opened the door, and she turned away for a moment, picking the rose up out of the glass he'd put it in to carry with her. With a smile and a nod, he followed her out of the room.
…..
The caravan of buses was waiting for them, people milling about stowing the last bits of gear. Security staff wandered around, checking doors and keeping an eye on the exit ramp.
The applause started as soon as they were close, and Rosie turned a confused look to a smiling Axl, who began clapping as well. As musicians and crew gathered around her, she looked like a deer caught in headlights, ready to run.
Axl took her hands in his, chafing them gently. "Rosie, we all wanted to thank you for your bravery and selflessness yesterday. We, and the fans, owe the rest of this tour…hell, our very lives, to you."
Tears were tracking down Rosie's cheeks, and she wasn't the only one in the crowd sniffling. Wiping her face again, she looked around at the crowd of people, all smiling her way.
"I…I don't even know what to say. You really didn't need to make such a fuss over this. I'm just glad you're all OK."
"More than OK, Rosie, thanks to you." Melissa pulled her into a very gentle hug. As if on cue, most of the crowd moved in, giving light hugs or clasping her hands carefully, thanking her for her courage.
Axl watched quietly for a while, smile bright, before cupping his hands around his mouth to shout over the milling group.
"Alright folks! We got places to be! Rosie will be with us for a while, everyone will have a chance to say hi and get to know her. Let's roll!"
Within minutes, everyone boarded up and the buses were on their way. There was a full breakfast laid out on the common area table, and the musicians all piled into the chairs and booth, ladling out food and jostling each other. Axl guided Rosie over, sitting her next to Mel as they slid into the open end of the booth.
Things got quiet for a bit as everyone dug in, passing around plates and drinks, occasionally chatting about the tour and the next city. Dizzy was wiping at his moustache as he looked over at Rosie.
"I don't know if Axl told you, but the shooter's gonna be behind bars for like, the rest of his life. Now that he's out of the hospital, that is."
Rosie turned a questioning look his way, while Axl gave him a dark look from over her shoulder. "I haven't really heard anything about it, I just gave my statement to the police shortly after I got treated. Axl said the lawyers would handle the rest of it. Why would he be in the hospital?"
"You don't remember? You practically tore half his face off with your teeth. It was OW! What?!" Dizzy rubbed his shin where Mel had kicked him hard.
Rosie was looking very pale, breath turning shallow. Axl put a light hand on her cheek, turning her his way as he pulled her close, rubbing her back gently.
Feeling Rosie tremble next to her, Mel turned a black look Dizzy's way, hissing at him. "Great job, asshole. I can't believe you!"
"Sorry! Fuck, I didn't mean anything, I thought it was badass."
Rich elbowed him. "Not cool, man. Save it for later, maybe, yeah?"
"Alright! Sorry, Rosie I didn't mean to make you feel bad. Your singing was really banging though."
"That is true." Frank added. "That was a hella deep growl to come outta someone channeling June Cleaver. You actually got organs in there, or are you all lung?"
Rosie stilled, then pulled away from Axl's shoulder to give Frank a bewildered look. "What did you say? I'm trying real hard not to be offended here."
"What? She was nice." His deep laugh was joined by several others as Rosie gave a clearly exaggerated frown. Axl flashed him a grateful smile, trying to hide a chuckle of his own.
"I don't look anything like some hopped up fifties fantasy wife! That's terrible!"
"I dunno, Morticia was always my idea of a fantasy wife."
"Oohh, smooth." Duff chuckled, bumping fists with Rich.
Rosie arched an eyebrow with a ghost of a smile. "That's a comparison I'd take."
"You're kidding, you're like, the exact opposite of Morticia!" Rich laughed outright, Frank's low chuckle joining him.
Rosie's eyes flashed. "Morticia had a much better family life than any of those plastic, picture perfect Barbie dolls. As did I."
"I dunno 'bout that, I just don't see it."
Rosie just blinked and gave Rich an unfriendly grin. "Nor are you ever likely to."
"Ooh, I dunno, Rich, but I think you just got burned."
"If you say so." Rich shrugged, then turned a wicked smile Rosie's way. "One thing I could see though, little rowdy Rosie. Sing us something else, I'll even give you back up."
Rosie just gave Rich a blank stare. "What?"
"Sing something else. We'll give you back up, whatever you need. I know you can, no foolin' us anymore."
Rosie sat quietly for a moment, forehead furrowing. Turning to Axl, she took one of his hands in hers. "This is your band. Is this really OK? You would be alright with it?"
There were soft chuckles all around the table as Axl gave Rosie a soft smile, pulling her hands up to kiss her knuckles. "It's a kinda funny thing about musicians, Rosie. There really is no 'off' button. Sharing music, playing together, this is how we get to know one another, how we communicate, how we learn to work and live together. I want to hear you as much as they do."
Rosie blushed, glancing away from his kind gaze. "Well, now I really am nervous. I'm not even sure what you'd see…or hear? I'm gonna feel like I'm trying to speak a foreign language, really poorly."
Axl tilted his head. "That's not a bad analogy. Try not to worry about it though. We'll take it slow. And maybe you'll pick things up along the way."
Mel rubbed Rosie's good shoulder. "Don't worry, sis. We gotcha. And if any of these apes gets uppity, I'll take care of 'em for ya."
Rose dipped her head, giving Mel a bright smile. "Thank you." Shaking her head, she glanced around the table. "Thank you all. It's very kind of you to include me like this. You know you really don't have to."
"We want to." Duff broke in. "Not to call you fresh meat, but you kind of are, and it's a good thing. I love 'Come together' but it's been years since I tried running it. That kind of thing helps us get out of our own ruts. So…whatcha wanna do this time?"
"Hmmm…Blue Bayou?"
There were blank looks as Rosie glanced around at everyone, till she looked up at Axl's incredulous eyes, his shoulders starting to shake in restrained mirth. Losing her façade, her wild snort set them both into a giggling fit.
Coming up for air, they met mildly amused glances. "What? It could be the next hot cover, just fit it in the set right after 'Used to love her'. Axl coughed out a laugh, but the rest gave her odd looks.
"I think we're the only ones that remember that song." He patted her arm consolingly.
"That so? Now I have to sing it. Not right now, I'll just spring it unexpected-like some time."
"So…what'll it really be?"
Sighing, Rosie turned thoughtful. "Staind, maybe? 'Something to remember'? Can you do that? I don't know if it needs the whole orchestra though."
"Ooooh, we're an orchestra. Hear that, Frank?" Rich elbowed the drummer, who gave out a surprised 'oof', swatting his bandmate back in retaliation.
Slash broke in, getting her attention before the other two could get carried away. "We can run it either way, but you're thinking more the acoustic version, yeah?"
Rosie nodded. "That's the one I like, yes."
He flashed a bright smile. "Gotcha covered, sweet lady. Let's take this to the back." He waggled his eyebrows, his grin growing wider when Rosie rolled her eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere alone with you."
"Oh, we won't be alone. We'll have a whole audience."
Slash wasn't the only one laughing as Rosie blushed. Axl patted her hand again as the guitarist got up.
"Easy there, Rosie. We know this is new to you, and despite the way these idiots are behaving we really are happy to have you join in and make music with us. Remember, Mel and I are here for you."
"Hey, don't make it sound like we've got it out for her, old man. We're all on her side, just some of us are a little blunt about how they express it."
Rosie snorted, rolling her eyes as she got up out of the booth. "I think the word you're looking for is 'crude'."
The group moved to back of the bus, where the small open space had been set up with a few keyboards and an electric drum kit. Slash came slipping down the stairwell, cradling a double necked guitar.
Rosie looked at it curiously, and Slash grinned wickedly as he threw the strap over his head, settling the instrument low across his belly. "You wanna touch it?"
Amidst general laughter, Rosie just shook her head, smirking. "I don't know, beastie. I'm not sure where it's been."
"Hey, no dissing my guitars!" he stroked the body gently. "They're sensitive instruments."
"I'm so sorry. You two need a moment?"
Slash flashed another grin. "Nah, lady. Just warming her up for ya." His fingers went to the upper neck, pick strumming across the hollow body.
He started picking out the intro, the pensive sound filling the space. On the repeat, Rosie bowed her head, face flushing as she took a breath and joined in, voice low but steady, her eyes closing as the music carried her.
The sweetness she usually wore slipped away, face shifting, brow furrowing as her clear voice thrummed with desolation, hands twisting around each other. Axl and Duff shared glances, the rest of the band watching Rosie quietly.
She opened her eyes as the song ended, giving Slash a pale smile. He returned it in spades, and hers grew warmer, cheeks pinking as her eyes dropped away from his focused gaze.
"That was good, babe. I know we're not your favorite band, but how 'bout you give one of our songs a go?"
There were murmurs of encouragement as she looked up, startled. She shook her head, shrugging uncomfortably.
"I'm not really made for singing most of your songs…I don't really..." Her face scrunched uncomfortably, nose wrinkling. "…know how to scream…"
Slash snorted, and she favored him with eyes narrowed in a withering glare. "When I sing."
He grinned and put his hands up in supplication.
Chuckling at the amusement coming from the band, Axl stepped up. "It's ok, Rosie. It's a technique that's tough to learn, and it's easy to damage yourself if you're not careful. I'm sure there's something in our catalog you can do?"
She ducked her head a little. "I do like 'Estranged'."
Axl chuckled. "Go big or go home, eh? Nice. I think we can manage that."
Everyone started moving, getting in to place, Dizzy yielding to Axl on one keyboard while Mel got herself settled in at the other. Axl smiled reassuringly at Rosie once everyone was ready.
"You need the lyrics, nice lady?"
She shook her head. "I know them."
"Aww…and here I thought we weren't your favorites." Slash teased.
She gave him a cool look that hid amusement poorly behind a highly arched eyebrow. "Not the only one, anyway."
"You hear that, Ax? Guess we're just another notch on Rosie's belt."
"Shut it, fucker." Axl tossed back through a bright smile. "Ready, Rosie?"
She gave him a sly look, and he startled for a moment.
"Long as I don't have to change into white spandex shorts."
Dizzy and Duff sputtered as Axl's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline, his eyes sparkling with sudden mischief.
"Maybe you should."
She shook her head, biting her bottom lip as a flush blossomed on her cheeks again. "Oh, no. I'm quite sure I couldn't possibly do them the same, ah…justice."
"Oh, I don't know about that." He winked when Rosie smiled at him, and her blush deepened, hands curling together. With a smirk, Axl rolled his fingers up the keyboard, and Rosie startled, glancing at him.
Starting the intro, he lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head. She took a shaky breath but nodded back, and the band got underway.
She kept to the lower register, voice firmly in her chest. Years of familiarity let Axl watch her while he played, that soul-aching pain returning as she sang, etching onto her face, evident in the way her body curled, flowing out of her to turn the song mournful.
Axl caught Slash's amazed glance when she dropped into the lowest notes of the song, vibrato coming through clearly. In turn, she was fascinated at the plaintive sounds Slash pulled from his guitar, and nearly missed the next verse, starting softly but quickly catching up. Surprising them all, Rosie nailed the high note cleanly with a sweet falsetto before sliding down the scale to end the song.
Standing abruptly, the stool tipped from under Axl, the sound of it falling cushioned by the carpet. Axl started clapping, the rest joining in, Rosie's smile shy but happy.
Mel piped up over the ruckus. "Rosie! That was great, girl! Got anything a little more upbeat on your setlist?"
Rosie just shrugged as the others quieted down. "I dunno. I guess melancholy is more my setting. Let me look over some stuff a minute."
Pulling out her phone, she poked and scrolled for a few moments before a smile came to her face. "I don't suppose y'all know 'I'm the only one' by Melissa Etheridge?"
"Nah, but hum a few bars and we'll fake it." Slash laughed, coming up behind her to look at the song. "Hook up to the bluetooth and play it through, I'm pretty sure we'll be able to pick it up."
She tapped a few things, finally hitting play. Slash nodded as the song came on, fingers automatically ghosting over his strings, Duff and Rich doing the same as Melissa stepped back to lean against the bus window, head tilting as she listened.
"You're really ok with me just picking random songs for you to play?"
Duff sidled up, glancing down at Rosie with a smirk. "It's good practice, gets us stretching out with something we'd never think of. Not playing Linda Ronstadt though."
She laughed. "Pussy."
"Ooo, Rosie's got a mouth."
"Yeah, I do, beastie."
"What else that mouth do?"
"You wanna end up like yesterday's guy? Come on over and find out."
"Pretty sure that's not what Slash has in mind when he says 'Eat Me'." Everyone dissolved in laughter at Frank's dig, Slash grinning and shaking his head enough to set his wild hair floating.
Duff started picking out the opening. Slash and Rich joined him and they jammed along for a few moments, watching each other and nodding before stopping.
"Alright, Rosie. We're good. Let her rip."
Duff ground out the intro again, the others sliding in. Rosie started singing, quieter this time, her low growl barely registering above the guitars.
Axl stepped in front of her, hands up. She stopped, cheeks flaming as she straightened up.
"Easy, Rosie, it's alright. You're holding yourself back, is all. Do you know why?"
She had a hard time meeting his eyes as she shook her head. "I…don't know if I feel this the way I do the other songs? I do really like it though."
Putting a hand on her good shoulder, he gave her a thoughtful look. "Maybe later you'd let me walk you through some of the practices I do for my voice? We can give it go, see how far it gets you. Deal?"
Her smile was full of warmth this time. "Deal. That would be really amazing."
"Great. Now, try it once more from the top, and give it all you've got."
Rosie rolled her eyes as Axl chuckled, patting her shoulder gently and stepping back. Duff swung in, leaning down to whisper in Rosie's ear. "Focus on Axl like he's the guy in the song. Here he is, saying he wants to run around, and you're gonna let him know what he's missing. Make him sorry, Rosie."
She looked up, startled look turning thoughtful, a downright wicked smile blooming. Duff returned it with a smirk of his own. "Knock him flat, lady."
She dipped her head in thanks, eyes bright with mischief as she turned back to the one-man audience. With a nod to the others, Duff began again.
Rosie took a deep steadying breath, fixing her gaze on Axl. He seemed amused by her focus, but his smile slipped away as her voice turned passionate and dismissive in turns.
Pinning Axl with a fierce glare, Rosie was like a different person, the rare glimpses of fire she'd shown now in full display. Bracketing her, Duff and Slash exchanged amused glances as they watched their friend practically squirm at the force of the emotions she projected at him.
Together, they pushed Rosie with tone and volume till her singing rose above their instruments, then dropped away at the last minute so that her voice rang hard and heavy through the small area as the last verse ended.
Still staring at Axl as she finished, Rosie panted quietly, face slowly softening. Blinking, she finally noticed his almost awestruck look, and broke into a sunny smile.
Above her, Duff winked at Slash, mouthing "A month, tops." Slash flashed him a finger, grinning all the while.
Returning Rosie's smile with a bright one of his own, Axl came in to give her a big hug, mindful of her shoulder. Beaming down, he shook his head in amazement.
"That was wild, pretty lady! I knew you could do it. Let's get some tea and honey in ya, keep those fantastic pipes ready for another round."
He led her off, Duff moving to the center to take over. "Any requests, Rosie?"
She turned back, head tilted. "Civil War' is always good, but would you ever consider doing a cover of 'Presidential Rag'?"
Duff frowned, turning around to look at the others, who seemed equally perplexed. He pulled out his own phone to look it up, eyebrows shooting up as the folk song played over the speakers.
Axl had turned back as well, brows knitting as he listened. He gave Duff a questioning look.
"That'd need a whole arrangement to match our sound."
Slash nodded. "Sure would. I kinda like it though."
Axl grinned at the group. "Why don't you play around with it. I'll be back in a few."
Duff nodded absently, already picking out a rhythm that Frank picked up.
Starting up the teakettle, Axl grinned at Rosie. "That was a great suggestion, Rosie. Almost too bad it's so fucking timely. Thanks."
She beamed at the praise, and his smile softened. Doctoring up steaming mugs of tea, they went and sat back down in the booth, pushing aside breakfast plates, Rosie grimacing as her movements pulled at her sore shoulder.
"How're you feeling, Rosie?"
"I'm ok."
Axl's brow furrowed slightly at her remark.
"You did really well, I think you might be surprised how far you could get if you really wanted."
She just shook her head. "I appreciate that, Axl, it really means a lot coming from you. But it's really not the lifestyle for me."
Feeling his heart clench, Axl kept his face carefully neutral.
"Is there anything that'd make you reconsider? You seem to be enjoying yourself now."
Glancing up from her tea, Rosie met Axl's concerned look briefly, face falling as she turned away to watch the cars on the highway.
"I am, it's been a wonderful experience, but I'll never be one for being out in front of it all. My part in this will be done, sooner or later."
"You could keep rolling with us through the end of the tour. You'd be more than welcome."
Rosie grimaced, still watching the road. "As what? Some kind of lonely ghost haunting all you bright and vibrant people? What good to have someone so useless hanging around."
There was an ache in her words that cut him to shreds.
"Rosie" he whispered; voice suddenly hoarse despite the tea. "You're not a ghost…I…we, would never see you that way."
He reached out, brushing a strand of her hair back with a feather-light touch.
"You're a friend, Rosie. You could never be useless, even if you hadn't done what you did yesterday. You just fit with us. Can't you see it?"
She glanced at his earnest face for only a moment before lowering her head, pulling her legs up under her.
"Still being kind, I see." Her voice was soft as she laid her chin on her knees. "I'm afraid your reputation will never recover."
Axl moved closer, sliding a gentle hand to rub at her back. "Rosie."
Sighing, she let him pull her close, curling against his chest.
They sat for a while, the sounds of rehearsal fading to the background as the long night caught up with them. Feeling Rosie's breath even out as she relaxed against him, he kissed her temple.
"Maybe I don't want it to."