Prompt: Dani is performing a huge show in her hometown and she gets really emotional from the amount of people that came to see her. Santana is her rock.
IMPORTANT: If you want a visual I suggest you search "Demi Lovato the house that built me" on youtube. It's the first option and it's what inspired this.
You're standing side stage at the Houston Rodeo, watching your wife perform to one of her largest crowds ever. It's Texas––it's where she's from––and you can see how much it means to her that her home state is giving her so much support. She's wearing a cute little black dress with lace sleeves, and a pair of her strappy black boots. Her hair is dark now, a more natural color that has possibly become your favorite these past few months.
You know her mom is here tonight, along with her sisters and the majority of her childhood friends. You also know that she is the pride and joy of her city, so you understand why this show is more important to her than any other award show performance or TV appearance.
You think back to the conversation you two shared this morning, relaxing on the balcony of the modest Dallas home you both bought for your 2nd wedding anniversary.
"I can't believe I'm gonna be playing in front of 70,000 people tonight San," she had told you as she leaned her head back onto your shoulder, her dark hair tickling the side of your face.
"You've done it before," you murmur next to her ear, your right hand stroking the birds on her arm. She's laying on you in one of the recliners sitting on your balcony. Your show had just finished its 7th season and fortunately, you get a nice long break to spend with your wife.
She turns her head so it's in the crook of your neck now, and she places a kiss there before muttering,"Yeah, but it's Texas, babe. It's where it all started––they're my people, ya know?"
"I thought I was your person," you retort and you hear her giggle into your neck.
"Shut up," she says, "I'm just saying, there's no way I won't be getting emotional tonight. I used to be lucky to have 10 people at one of my shows."
You're pulled out of your thoughts as you hear Dani tell the crowd she has one last song.
"I don't usually end with a cover, but I really wanted to play this as a thank you for all your support since the very beginning." She's sitting on a stool now and you admire the delicateness of her profile as the spotlight rests softly on her. "This song reminds me of home, and you guys are my home so I wanted to sing this for you. Thank you all so much for coming out tonight, you mean the world to me."
She starts swaying a little to the beat in her head, and you can tell that her eyes are getting a little glassy just looking around at how many people are in the crowd. The guitar starts, and you smile a little as you see her bite her lip to stop herself from crying as she looks adoringly at the large amount of people watching her.
I know they say you can't go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
She's really trying not to cry now––it's obvious by the way she keeps blinking her eyes and looking away.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.
She keeps looking back at you for support and you just smile at her, feeling your own tears prickling your eyes. It amazes you to see your wife, your wife, playing in front of tens of thousands who absolutely worship her. You know how hard she's worked to achieve her dream, and here she is, doing all she wished for and more.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.
You keep smiling as you watch the screens above the stage show her continuing to stare around the arena in complete adoration.
Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board ...
You laugh a little to yourself when she's too close to crying to finish the line, and now it's you watching her in awe as she bites her lip and looks at you for strength before belting out the chorus once again.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.
She's pulling herself together now, and you can tell by the power in her voice that she's going to finish strong.
You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.
The music fades back to the guitar again and now it's just her on the stool with her eyes closed, swaying slowly back and forth.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.
From the state that built me.
The crowd explodes into applause and you can see the tears on her face as she thanks them again and again, wishing them a good night.
She heads back stage and you know she's looking for you now so you head back to find your dark haired beauty. When you get to her she's still crying but she's smiling at you now and you just wrap your arm around her and start to walk her down the hall.
"I'm proud of you," you whisper in her ear, and she smiles at you adoringly before leaning her head into you and continuing the walk to her dressing room.