Chapter 10: The Jareds

The warmth touched her skin, there was a comfort to it. One would normally roll into the warmth and embrace, instead, she rolled away and swung a free arm to cover her face, from the morning sun that peeked through the curtains. It was too early in the morning to be awake, echoed in her half-sleep mind.

After a few minutes of fighting it off, she moved her arm and stared at the wall across from the bed. They were home, again, not some tour bus, or some random hotel, where they would get in and sleep for a few hours. Yes, they were home, for two weeks, a break, something they needed, more now than ever. She wasn't nineteen years old anymore, yet she wasn't old, but she was now thirty.

She huffed out a breath and sat up. After a minute of sitting there staring at the wall, she ran her hands over her blonde hair. The house was generally quiet, except for the snoring of the person that was sharing the bed next to her. It wasn't a terrible thing, but she missed the small space with people everywhere, maybe that's why she loved touring so much. The bus was no different than how she grew up.

Making a smirk, her blue eyes scanned across the room. Looking down, she was wearing the gray camisole pajama set she dug out of the dresser last night when they got in as the years changed. It was cotton, as she didn't like satin, and was low cut, not that it was noticed. She would keep telling herself that it was the exhaustion and finally getting to be home and in their own bed, that shut everything off.

Running her feet along the carpet of the floor, that was something she insisted when they bought this place, that way their feet didn't touch the cold floor when they got out of bed. There wasn't much of a fight, and she was glad that it was here, now. Stretching her arms out over her head, she felt the knots in her road-weary back and shoulders.

Lowering her hands, she reached behind her head and started gathering her light blonde hair in her hands and pulled it back. Finally grabbing the messy ponytail, she made with one hand she reached over with the other and found a hair tie and secured the hair. Once that was done, she stood up and walked over to her dresser's mirror and looked at her face. Her blue eyes were still bloodshot from the long hours, and her face showed the long hours as well.

Turning around she looked over the bedroom. She nodded, how far she had come. Eleven years ago, she was still sharing a room with her little sister, and now, she had this large master bedroom and king size bed. It didn't connect in her head, neither did her owning this house. It wasn't a crazy sized house, but it was not the small two-bedroom apartment she grew up in.

With a nod, she walked over to the closet and pulled out a robe and slipped it on. It was an old Terry cotton thing she lifted from some hotel in some city many years ago. It was comfortable, and with what she felt in the air, it was cold here, and she wanted to be comfortable and well, warm. She smiled and looked at the mirror, and then turned to look at the bed and see the sleeping figure, still sawing wood. Peace, near quiet, and stable, after the last few months on the road, that's what she wanted, for at least the next two weeks.

That was when she heard fussing coming from a baby monitor on the nightstand. A new smile broke upon her face, and she turned and left the room. Walking down the hallway, she stopped at the door and opened it. The nursery was opened before her and the bright colors and the early morning light filled her eyes. Standing up, just barely contained in the bed, was a bright-eyed, blonde hair baby girl.

"Vse v poryadke, Raya, Mama zdes' dlya tebya," She said, walking over. The little girl looked at her and smiled a toothy grin. When did so many teeth come in, she asked herself? The little girl cooed and that brought a bigger smile to the woman's face.

"Mama?" The Little Girl asked.

"Da, Raya, eto Mama," The Woman said.

The Little Girl giggled, "Mama!" she said, "Tay!" The Little Girl said and reached for the door past the woman. The woman turned around and looked at the door. The Nanny was standing there, she was dressed in pajama pants and a baggy t-shirt.

"Mrs. Jared, I didn't expect to see you up this early," The Nanny said.

Mrs. Jared nodded, "It's okay, Tayla, I couldn't sleep anymore, and Mister Jared was snoring," she said, "Again."

Tayla nodded, "I was about to take care of Raya," she said.

"I'll get her up, and if you don't mind heading downstairs to get breakfast for her ready," Mrs. Jared said.

"No problem, Mrs. Jared," Tayla said and started to walk away.

"Tayla," Mrs. Jared said.

"Yes?" Tayla stopped and said.

"How are Raya's language lessons coming?" Mrs. Jared asked.

"I work with her every day, and when Ms. Hartmann is here, she does as well, Ma'am," Tayla said.

Mrs. Jared nodded, "Okay, thanks," she said.

"Why do you ask?" Tayla asked.

"Raya didn't seem to respond to my Russian," Mrs. Jared said.

"I don't know," Tayla said.

"Thank you," Mrs. Jared said.

"You're welcome," Tayla said and left the room.

Mrs. Jared walked over to the crib and picked up her daughter. She smiled, at the almost-three-year-old girl, the light of her life, Raya Alena Jared. Mrs. Jared laid Raya down and checked to make sure she needed to be changed, she was potty trained, but can't be too sure. After she was done, Mrs. Jared put Raya down on the floor and took her hand.

The two blondes walked downstairs to the kitchen. The main living area was rather plain and comfortable. There weren't any trophies or memories of being out on the road, the living room wasn't the place for it. This was a place, for her, and her family, not her accomplishments. It was better for Raya too, so she didn't feel there was anything to live up to.

Once in the kitchen, Mrs. Jared got Raya all set and looked at Tayla brought over the little girl's breakfast.

"I'll watch her, Tayla, have breakfast, relax," Mrs. Jared said.

Tayla nodded, "Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," Mrs. Jared said, "Did Ms. Hartmann get off with any major troubles?"

Tayla nodded, "Yeah, she got off without any major hassle," she said.

Mrs. Jared laughed, "I love my sister, with all my heart, but well, she'll always be my little sister," she said.

Raya made noise better a mouthful of cereal. Mrs. Jared smiled and looked at her daughter, "Yes, we're talking about your Aunt Alix," she said.

Raya smiled and took another spoonful. Mrs. Jared smiled, "Ty skuchayesh' po tebe tetya Aliks, Raya?" she asked.

"Auntie Alix, Momma," Raya said.

Mrs. Jared nodded, "Yes, I miss her too," she said.

"Why didn't you bring them out with you, Mrs. Jared?" Tayla asked.

Mrs. Jared shrugged, "Alix doesn't need to be under my shadow," she said.

"What about Mr. Jared's shadow?" Tayla asked.

Mrs. Jared nodded, "Yes, his too," she said.

Tayla nodded, "Do you want coffee?" she asked.

Mrs. Jared smiled, "Yes, that would be great," she said.

"Coming right up," Tayla said.

There were a few minutes of silence, that was only accented by the sounds of Tayla making coffee. But the general mood changed as a new figure walked into the kitchen. Mrs. Jared was paying too much attention to her daughter.

"Kat, there you are, I was worried sick," Mr. Jared said.

Kat Jared turned and looked at her husband of six years, "I'm still home, Arne," she said, "I heard Raya, and went to get her."

Arne Jared nodded, he wore a bathrobe, and his blonde hair was a delightful mess. He was also three years older than Kat. "I wasn't sure," he said, "I woke up, and you were gone. I worried."

Kat shook her head. Raya turned to the sounds of the male voice. "Dada," she said.

Arne smiled, "Morning, Baby girl," he said, "Is she speaking Russian?"

Kat shook her head, "No, she's too much an American Girl," she said.

Arne laughed, "Just like her Momma," he said.

"It's not funny," Kat said, and got up, she walked by Tayla, who offered her a cup of coffee. Kat took it and walked out into the wintry weather.

Arne shrugged, "What did I do?" he asked Tayla.

"I don't know, Mr. Jared," Tayla said.

"Please keep an eye on Raya," Arne said.

"I will," Tayla said, and Arne followed his wife outside. He found Kat standing on the porch looking out across the gardens and the North Carolina Morning.

"What's wrong, Kat?" Arne asked.

Kat sighed, "We're home, and I dressed sexy for you, and you passed out," she said, "We've been on the road and have this film, video, whatever being shot and I'm not feeling this tour."

"Why didn't you say something before?" Arne asked.

"I did, and you ignored it," Kat said, "And remember, Psycho and I are still hired guns."

"I've tried to talk Dallas and Casey about making you two-part owners," Arne said.

Kat sighed, "It's not just that, Arne," she said.

"What else is it?" Arne asked.

"Okay, I understand some jealousy in life, its normal, and possibly a little healthy, but for fuck sake on the new album, I'm singing songs basically tearing into Brian and Gabi," she said.

"I remember working on a song with you where you write about Brian's treatment of women," Arne said.

"It wasn't just out there, Arne," Kat said.

"That's how I felt after we did that favor for Brian, and where did it end up for us?" Arne asked.

Kat nodded, "I get your point, but we were paying it back. Brian got me into the music industry, and I grew up with him, and Gabi, they needed my help, and that was the least we could do," she said.

"My point is Kat; was we gave Brian this chance and what did he do with it? What Brian Scott always did with his opportunity and chances, shit on them," Arne said, "Also, I agreed that we would never play that one song live."

Kat shook her head, "That was four years ago," she said, thinking Uzhasnyy god.

"The wound is still fresh, and how close you were to Brian," Arne said.

Kat sighed, "Brian and I were never like that," she said, "Surprisingly, he wasn't my type, and well my type happens to be here standing arguing with me."

"What?" Arne asked.

"Never mind, Arne," Kat said, "YA khotel trakhnut' tebya proshloy noch'yu, Arne, no ty takoy nevezhestvennyy."

"I hate when you speak Russian, Kat," Arne said, "It makes me feel like you don't want me to know what you're saying."

"Vielleicht, weil ich nicht Arne Jared bin," Kat said and walked away, leaving Arne to stand there in the cold North Carolina Morning, trying to figure out what she said.