JENNIE

One year later . . .

"Good luck!" Dad shouted over the roar of the crowd.

"Thanks," I mouthed, not even trying to compete against the noise.

We were backstage and our opener, a band who'd been gaining fame quickly since joining our tour, had the arena rocking. They'd just walked off stage, but the crowd was still cheering as the crew raced to prepare for our set.

It was the end of another tour and my parents' first show. They'd been wide- eyed since they'd arrived two hours ago. Soon, Jimin would escort them to a section of seats he'd roped off for my family.

Hanbin and Mindy each had beaming smiles on their faces. Evan and Maya had the same awe in their expressions as they looked around, seeing but not hearing much thanks to the noise reduction earmuffs I'd given them in my dressing room.

Louis was wearing the same, something he grumbled about at each show, but the alternative was he missed the concert, so he wore them begrudgingly.

This wasn't Louis's first time on the tour, and he was enjoying being the resident expert, telling his cousins exactly what to do and bossing his grandparents around. Jimin loved that Louis was his shadow and adored the attention as much as my son.

My son.

Three months ago, Louis had officially become mine. The judge had approved the adoption, and though we'd been a family for a year, there was something settling about it being legal.

"Good luck, Mom!" Louis shouted.

My heart swelled. He'd been calling me Mom since the judge's ruling, but I wasn't used to it yet. "Thanks, buddy."

"We'll meet you after?" Dad asked.

I nodded, leaning in to speak loud enough for him to hear. "Just stick with Jimin. He'll take you to the dressing room when it's over and we'll regroup there."

Lisa's arm slid around my shoulders and she pulled me into her side. Her lips brushed the shell of my ear. "Have fun."

"Thanks." I blew out a shaking breath and leaned into her strength. My stomach was in knots. My hands were trembling. Whether it was the fact that my family was here or that this was the last show or that we were about to start on a new adventure, I wasn't sure, but I was nervous.

Luckily, Lisa was here to help me through it. Like she'd been at Nan's funeral. Like she had been on the start of this tour, standing behind the curtains where I could see her when I sang "Love, Always" for the first time to a live audience.

It was the second best-selling hit from our new album.

The first was a song Bambam and Kai had written after Bam got out of rehab. They'd spent a month together at Kai's home in Maine writing. "Mad Alibi" was on track to be our biggest hit to date.

It was a kickass song with a kickass beat, and when I started it off tonight with the slam of the bass drum, the crowd would explode.

"Good luck, Jennie!" Mindy waved as Jimin arrived to usher everyone to the VIP section.

I bent to kiss Louis's cheek before he started headbanging with his tongue sticking out. It was going to take forever for him to wind down and sleep tonight. That would be my parents' problem since he was bunking with them. Mom and Dad adored having all of their grandchildren close, so tonight they were having a campout in their hotel suite.

Jimin had arranged for child-size tents and sleeping bags to be waiting when they arrived after the show.

My wife and I would have a night alone.

The morning after Lisa proposed, we told Louis the news over a campfire breakfast, and we asked if he would like me to legally become his mother. He screamed yes without hesitation before throwing his arms around my neck.

So Lisa and I married the next weekend. We didn't want to delay the adoption process, worrying the family justice system might be difficult to navigate. We exchanged vows in my parents' backyard. I wore a simple, white strapless gown and went barefoot. Lisa wore jeans and a white button-up.

My father was the officiant, and with our family and friends as witnesses, we signed our license without fanfare or fuss. A photo of Lisa sweeping me into her arms for a kiss was framed on the fireplace mantel at home.

"Last show of the tour." Lisa took my face in her hands, dropping her forehead to mine. "Enjoy it, babe. You deserve it."

Every nerve ending in my body was alive, sparked with excitement and adrenaline. Each show was fun, but some were out of this world. "It'll be a good one. I can feel it. Then we're taking a year off. Minimum."

"A year? What about next summer?"

I leaned back so I could watch the expression on her face. "I'm not taking a newborn baby on the road."

"A baby." She swallowed hard. "You're pregnant?"

"I took the test this morning."

Lisa crushed me against her, burying her face in my hair as her arms banded tight. "I love you."

"Love you too." I breathed in the scent of her shirt and melted into her chest.

Thank you, Nan. I sent my gratitude to the heavens, hoping she was close enough tonight to hear. She'd brought Lisa and me together. She'd returned me to my family. From now until I saw her again, I'd keep sending her my thanks.

"If it's a girl—"

"We're naming her Nan." Lisa didn't let me go until our stage manager cleared her throat behind us, signaling it was time.

"Go." My wife winked. "Enjoy the magic hour. Then later, we'll have a little magic of our own."

I pressed my lips to her, lingering for a long moment before stepping away. "Make sure I can see you in the crowd tonight." I wanted to see her while I sang.

"I will." she nodded and disappeared down the hallway, walking behind Krystal and the kids.

One more show.

After this concert in Seattle, Hush Melodies was officially on vacation.

We'd had a hectic summer, traveling and performing. Lisa and Louis had joined me when they could, but we'd had too many nights apart. Lisa had been working tirelessly, along with Hanbin, to finish up our home. When we returned to Bozeman tomorrow morning, we'd be moving into our house.

I was ready for this break. Louis was starting a new school year and I wanted to be the one to chauffeur him around this fall. I wanted some time to just be a mom and relax into the role.

And my sticks wouldn't be far away.

The guys and I had some new ideas for the next album. We'd already

informed Harvey that we wouldn't be creating this one on a deadline. Our plan was to write through video chats and the occasional visit. We were reinventing our process to fit our changing lifestyles. To fit our families.

Without the pressure, we'd already polished two songs. If we kept it up, we'd have an album wrapped before the baby was born.

"Ready?" Kai asked from where he stood with Bambam.

"Yeah." I walked over and took his outstretched hand, then I took Bambam's.

They clasped grips and tightened our circle. My eyes drifted shut and the noise from the crowd outside faded for just a moment.

This was our tenth year together. We'd changed a lot in that time. As individuals. As a band. But we fought for this life. We fought for each other. We fought for the music that came from our souls.

I wasn't sure what was in store for Hush Melodies's future. But together, we'd navigate the way. We'd break the mold for a rock star life and have it all.

Kai squeezed my hand before dropping it, and I met his smile with one of my own.

Here we go.

I was the first to walk on stage. I sat on my stool and scanned the crowd, finding Lisa's eyes.

This was the magic. Not the fame or the fortune but finding her face in a crowd of thousands and letting the rest of the world fade away.

Maybe our melody hadn't come easily. There'd been times when our rhythm had been out of sync. None of it mattered.

Because our beauty was in the refrain.

THE END . . .