Chapter 6-New Beginnings

February 1988

Jem and Riot were out house-hunting a week after her cast was taken off her ankle. Starlight Music had been sold, as had Starlight Mansion, and with the proceeds from those sales, the soon-to-be-married couple could afford something nice. Riot was leaning more towards a mansion, while Jem would be satisfied with a nice house in the suburbs; the white picket fence was optional.

"I am planning on selling my half of Stingers Sound when my contract is up in April," Riot told Jem as they drove through Benedict Canyon. "I do not wish to deal with Eric Raymond any longer. He's treacherous."

"I already told you that," Jem chided gently.

"I had no idea," Riot admitted. "Personally I'd want something in a gated community, which is what we're going to look at today. I'm concerned that Eric's really up to no good. After all the things he's done that you've told me about…I'm a bit concerned about security."

"So where will the Stingers go, if you won't be with Stingers Sound?" Jem asked.

"I hear Stormer's brother, Craig Phillips, has started his own company," said Riot.

"Craig's a decent, trustworthy man," said Jem. "I say you should go for it."

"I think we will," said Riot.

"Riot…how many children do you think you want?" Jem asked. She knew that small children tended to irritate Riot; she wasn't sure if he'd be that way towards any children they might have. Still, Riot's attitude had changed quite a bit in the time she'd known him, and he'd even enlisted his father's help in helping Ba Nee reunite with her father.

"It is time we had that talk, isn't it?" he said as he cautiously steered his car along the winding canyon roads. "I've been thinking about it. Maybe two or three."

"That many?" Jem grinned, her tone teasing.

"I really don't mind children all that much. As long as they don't nag."

"I have news for you, children nag a lot," said Jem.

"I think I can handle it. I'd just tell them to ask you," Riot said with a mischievous smile. "But seriously…about two or three. Were you wanting to wait or get started right away?"

"I was thinking, just let it happen when it happens," she said.

"Spontaneity. I can handle that," he grinned.

Jem suddenly felt a wave of depression overtake her. "Kimber wanted to be an aunt," she sighed. "She would have been my maid of honor."

"Jem, darling…we can't concentrate on what could have been…we have to deal with what is," Riot said in a gentle voice.

"I asked Stormer to be maid of honor because she was Kimber's best friend," Jem said.

"That's fine," said Riot. "Especially considering Craig agreed to be best man."

Jem had to giggle at that.

"It'll be all right, Jem," Riot assured her. "You're healing. You're getting through this. I think giving those clothes to charity and giving those families the proceeds from that auction has helped you feel like you've accomplished something."

"It has," Jem agreed.

Finally Riot steered the car into a gated community, after checking in with the security guard at the gate. He drove down the street a little ways, then pulled into the driveway of a rather large home, which they'd been told had six bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Another car was already in the driveway; it belonged to the real estate agent. The agent got out of the car as Riot and Jem pulled in. "Mr. Llewellyn, Miss Benton. I'm Bradley Timmons," he said as he held out his hand, which Riot shook. Bradley grinned. "My teenaged daughters are fans of both you and your fiancée."

"Thanks, Mr. Timmons," said Jem as she also shook his hand.

"Well, let's get down to business, shall we? Let's have a look around," said Bradley.

"I love this house already," Jem whispered to Riot.

"Let him give us the tour first," Riot whispered back.

Eric Raymond sat in the den of the Gabor mansion, trying to figure out how to get rid of Jem once and for all. At this point, he was willing to do away with Riot as well. The plane crash had gotten rid of the Holograms for him, but not Jem. It was too bad innocent people had to die in that crash…sometimes you had collateral damage. Couldn't be helped. Tech-Rat, ever the misanthrope, had assured Eric that he'd caused the plane to go into the mountains, but anything beyond that was out of his control. He hadn't told the Misfits that the plane was sabotaged; like everyone else they believed it was simply pilot error.

Elsewhere in the mansion, a party was raging, one with plenty of drugs, alcohol, and who knew what else. Harvey Gabor was off in New York City on business, and while he had rules against that kind of thing (as if he ever actually enforced rules with that incorrigible daughter of his), Pizzazz flouted them. Not that Eric really cared; drugs was one way he made money on the side. Most likely Stormer was elsewhere in the mansion, working on the Misfits' next song; she wasn't into the party scene. It seemed they only kept her around because she had some measure of talent, though they butchered her songs.

Funny thing was, the Misfits didn't really approve of the tactics he was employing. They didn't so much want their competition dead as simply out of the way. They just wanted to be recognized as the best. That is, when they weren't getting drunk or stoned.

So Riot was going to go ahead and marry Jem. That had Pizzazz throwing hissy fits right and left. She still had it bad for Riot, who wouldn't so much as give her the time of day. It didn't help that Minx and Rapture enjoyed playing pranks on her and the other Misfits; just last week someone had glued Jetta's saxophone keys closed, ruining the pads, and she'd been jerking Roxy around by the hair when it was discovered that Rapture had done the deed.

Riot's contract was up towards the end of April. Eric had yet to find out where he and Jem were planning to go on their honeymoon; no one knew anything about that as of yet. He was going to have to get rid of the both of them. After all, Riot was worth more dead than alive at this point. Eric had to act quickly if he wanted a chance to make money off Riot's name.

The morning of April 16, 1988, Jem was marching down the aisle of a large church in the area, on the arm of her friend Howard Sands, who had agreed to give her away. All the planning, and fittings, and trying to coordinate things-things were running smoothly today, thanks to everyone's efforts.

Riot was waiting for her at the altar, dressed in all white, just as she was. Minx, Rapture, Ashley, and Deirdre, dressed in fuschia, were the bridesmaids. Stormer, dressed in yellow, was the maid of honor. Craig, the best man, was dressed in a black tuxedo with a yellow tie and cummerbund. Jeff Wright and three other men were dressed similarly, but with fuschia instead of yellow. Ba Nee was the ring bearer and flower girl; the wedding rings were loosely tied with ribbons that trailed from her basket.

Riot held out his hand, and Jem took it while Howard sat down next to the Countess. The bride and groom then faced the minister.

Stormer and her brother untied the rings and gave them to Jem and Riot, so that they could exchange them. The minister had the couple say their vows as they slid the rings onto each other's fingers. Finally he said the words everyone wanted to hear: "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Riot didn't just kiss her; he dipped her, much to the delight of the guests. The minister grinned, and when the newlyweds finally stood up, they turned and faced their guests. "I now present to you, Rory and Jerrica Llewellyn," the minister said happily.

In the front row on the groom's side, Riot's mother was having a hard time holding back tears. His father was beaming, obviously glad that his son had decided to settle down and get married.

The reception was at a banquet hall elsewhere in the area. Riot and Jem got into his car. "Well, Mrs. Llewellyn…let's go to a party," Riot said to Jem as he started the engine.

"You still haven't told me where we're going on our honeymoon, Riot," Jem said with a smile.

"And I keep telling you it's a surprise," he laughed.

The reception was winding down, and Riot told Jem it was time for them to go on their honeymoon. He handed his car keys to Rapture. "That white limo out there is our ride. Rapture will take my car to the house," he told Jem.

"I take it you have something very special lined up for us."

"I believe so."

Some of the guests had seen that Riot and Jem were ready to leave, and they had little bags of rice ready. Rice flew everywhere as the newlyweds laughed and ran to the limousine, the door of which was being held open by the chauffeur, who was looking amused.

Riot and Jem got into the back of the limo. The driver got in and drove off to whatever destination Riot had in mind. Riot took Jem into his arms and kissed her deeply. "Too bad it's not that long of a ride…it would be interesting to have our first experience in the back of a limo," he whispered.

"You just can't wait, can you?" Jem giggled as she blushed.

"I wouldn't mind taking you right here," Riot teased back. "But I'll settle for making out in the back of a limo."

It wasn't that long before Jem looked out the window and saw that they were at some docks. "Riot-a cruise?" she exclaimed.

"That's right," he said. "A two-week-long cruise, after which we get settled in our new house."

The chauffeur opened the door and Riot and Jem emerged, still dressed in their wedding attire. Jem looked around as Riot led her to their cabin. "There's no rush," Riot said. "We can have dinner first…then relax together and let things go as they will."

Jem checked the time. It was almost four o'clock. "Are you wanting to change?" she asked. "What time is dinner here?"

Riot consulted a sheet of paper that was on the desk. "At six. And yes, it would be a good idea to change."

"Well…do you want to change in separate rooms, or…?"

"Whatever you're more comfortable doing," Riot replied.

Jem started shrugging off her dress. "We are married now," she said, more to remind herself.

Riot followed suit and took off his tuxedo. "Do you really want to wait until after dinner?" he asked when they were both in their underwear.

Jem wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "No," she replied.

"That's the only time I want to hear you say no," Riot said with a grin as he gently pushed her back onto the king-sized bed.

A little while later, Jem lay there with her head on Riot's shoulder. His arm was wrapped around her. She raised her head and softly kissed his lips. "That was wonderful…I have a good reason to call you Riot now," she said teasingly.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said. "What time is it?"

"Five-thirty."

"Let's get dressed and go to dinner…and then practice this some more," he suggested.

For the next two weeks, Riot and Jem enjoyed themselves immensely. They danced together on nights dances were held and participated in the activities on board. At night they expressed their love for each other and fell asleep in each other's arms. For the first time since the deaths of her sister and friends, Jem felt relatively safe.

The two weeks went by quickly, and it was time for them to go home. The ship was docked at the same port, and a taxicab was there, waiting to pick them up.

The taxi took them to the house in the gated community that Jem had loved; they'd bought it that very same day and had moved things into it before the wedding. "We're home, my love," Riot said as they went inside.

The following Monday, the Stingers signed a contract with Craig Phillips' company, Phillips Productions. Riot still owned half of Stingers Sound, which he'd already told Eric he could rename "Raymond Records" if he so chose.

And in a move that was sure to enrage Eric even further, Riot made a deal and sold his half to none other than Harvey Gabor. Eric had sold everything to buy the company from Mr. Gabor to begin with!

"I know all about Mr. Raymond's shady practices, and that's going to come to a stop," Mr. Gabor said as they sat in his office, working out the details. "Sorry I couldn't offer you more."

"It's worth it just to wash my hands of it," Riot told him.

"I only bought it to keep my daughter happy. I think it's high time I cracked down on her."

Way past time, Riot couldn't help but think. He knew that Mr. Gabor indulged Pizzazz just to keep her out of his hair. One of these days she was going to wind up in jail or some other kind of trouble.

On Friday night, Riot and Jem were at a dance club, kicking back and relaxing. "It's about one in the morning, think we should be getting home?" Riot asked Jem as they sat in a booth together and watched other patrons.

"I am getting a bit tired," Jem agreed.

They held hands as they left the crowded, noisy building and headed for the adjacent parking lot. Suddenly, they heard footsteps, and before anyone could do anything, someone grabbed Jem from behind. She could feel the muzzle of a gun against her temple.

"You come with us or your girl gets it," said a familiar voice. Jem knew that voice-it was Zipper, one of Eric Raymond's thugs.

Another thug appeared from the shadows, and he too had a gun. "Get that punk in the trunk, Mickey," said Zipper.

"You're a poet and don't know it, Zipper," the second thug chuckled. "You-in the trunk of the car, or her brains get blown out."

Jem watched, tears streaming down her cheeks, as her husband was forced into the trunk of an old car. "Now you get to be in the back seat," Zipper said happily.

"Think I get to have some fun with her?" Mickey asked.

"No, you idiot, 'cause Eric said not to leave any kind of evidence. Too bad," Zipper replied.

Jem was shoved into the back of the car and Mickey sat on the seat and covered her with a blanket. "You show your pretty little face and your husband gets it," Mickey said as he aimed the gun towards the back. "You hear me in that trunk, you wuss? Any of you does something funny and you get it."