AN: Remember who's had the greatest influence on Johnny since the New Moon Theatre. Family is so important and if you can save a relationship, you should at least try. Eddie's relationship with his parents is so shattered that there is no repairing it.
Part 47
The wedding ceremony adjourned back to the hotel room for the wedding dinner.
"Congratulations Johnny," Ash hugged her best friend. It had been such a beautiful ceremony, blemished only by Ryan's father.
Johnny hugged her back. "Thanks Ash. I didn't know love could feel so good." He looked up at Ryan who was bringing over glasses of punch. "Thanks."
Ash watched them hold each other. She was very happy for them but she was wondering when it would be her turn. She looked at Lance who was talking with Tyler.
"Lance, don't worry. She has no case for custody. She's been out of the picture for too long," Tyler was trying to reassure him.
Ash looked at the porcupettes who were playing with the piglets. She made up a small plate of croissant-wrapped turkey sausages and other hors d'ouevres.
Katherine stood in front of the four-tiered cake, admiring the green and red fondant lightly dusted with confectioner's sugar. Poinsettias and sprigs of holly made from sugar paste lined the bottom of each layer. And on the top… "Oh! This is amazing. It looks just like them." She looked at Meena. "You made this?"
She nodded. "I baked the cake and Alphonso made the decorations." The elephant said proudly.
The tigress whistled. "You both have great talent. You should consider turning this into a career."
Alphonso laughed. "Actually, we actually own a food truck. During the winter, we primarily sell baked goods and hot beverages."
A knock came at the door and Marcus answered it. "Ryan, there's a strange man here. Should I send him away?"
"Where is my wife?" They heard Jackson demand.
Katherine went to the door. "What do you want?" She asked him.
"I want you to come along. I'm hungry and I want to eat and we need to get home," he ordered.
She looked back at her son. "I'm not leaving, Jackson. You can go if you want but you'll have to figure out your own dinner. Or you could swallow your pride and apologize to your son. There's a lovely meal in here." She opened the door wider so he could see the array.
He saw Ryan looking at him as if begging. Meanwhile, the brutish Marcus glowered at him. "I can't, Katie. You can pretend if you want but I can't." He turned and left.
Ryan looked down at his drink. Johnny saw he was trying not to be hurt again but how could he not be. He squeezed Ryan's paw. "I'll be right back."
Jackson was almost to the elevators when he heard Johnny shout. "Wait! Come on, don't leave like this."
The older tiger turned around and glared. "I can't stay."
"Look, no matter what happens, Ryan will always be your son. No matter how much he pretends, he loves you. All of his life all he wanted was for you to be proud of him. For you to love him unconditionally," Johnny explained. "Why is that so hard?"
"Because my son had a future! He could kick a field goal from the other team's 100-yard line! He was the most popular boy in school. He could have any woman he wanted!" Jackson stated. "Yet he chose you!"
Johnny nodded. "Ryan doesn't want the life you had planned for him. Why is that so hard for you to accept? He hates football! He won't even play Tecmo Bowl with Eddie and me when he comes to hang out." He sighed. "Look, I think we started off on the wrong foot. I'm not asking you to like it, or approve. I don't need your approval to love your son. I'm asking you to love him anyway. Come back in and have something to eat at least. It's all homemade. Sitara and Rosita really are awesome in the kitchen." He sighed as the elevator door opened. "I know you don't really want to leave. You're just hurt that Ryan doesn't want to be like you. If you get on that elevator, you will never see him again. And you don't want that. He's the only son you have. The only son you'll ever have. All we have to do is be respectful of each other. That's all I ask." The old tiger considered and Johnny sighed. "Or at least let me buy you a drink at the bar before you go."
The stubborn man sighed. "Well, I could use a drink. You play Tecmo Bowl?" He asked as they got on the elevator. "All Ryan ever wanted to play were those fantasy games."
"Oh those are fun too but yeah, I play Tecmo Bowl occasionally. When I have someone to play with," Johnny said. "Ryan and I mainly play FPSes and JRPGs. Or even board games. We love playing board games as a family."
"Our family used to play board games, when Ryan was younger and I was still his hero," Jackson said.
"Hey, I know something about that. I almost lost my dad, 5 years ago," he led his father-in-law to the hotel bar just outside the theater and bought them each a double shot of MacCutcheon whiskey. "He was a gang leader back in Calatonia at the time. He forced me to drop out of school and join the gang as a look out. I didn't want to, I hated it. I wanted to be a singer but I didn't know how to tell him. So I just followed along with him. Until one day, a golden flier flew under our garage door. Singing Competition Auditions, Prize 100,000, Moon Theater. 551 Echo Drive. Director: Buster Moon…" Johnny took several minutes to tell his story, giving him time to take several drinks. "And he wanted me to be the getaway driver for the heist. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to do this contest, to win the money. I didn't want to be a criminal. And then worse, the ship came to port in broad daylight, right in the middle of rehearsal. Well I thought I could get to the theater, rehearse my bit and get back in time…." He trailed off. "Yeah, I could not. And my dad and my Uncles Stan and Barry were all arrested. I went to visit my dad and I had to come clean. I didn't want to be in his gang. I wanted to be a singer. And do you know what he said?" Johnny still remembered the hurtful words as clear as a bell. He forgave his father but the memory still hurt. "'How'd I end up with a son like you, eh? You're nothing like me. You never were and you never will be.'"
Jackson remembered those words. He'd said the same thing to Ryan the day before. "He said he broke out of jail to make it right. But there's a difference between wanting your son to play football and wanting your son to be a crook."
"Big difference definitely but the important thing is, it's not what I wanted to do. I wanted to sing and I was never going to be happy if I couldn't sing," Johnny explained. "I mean you're concerned about financial success? I basically went for 100,000 instead of 25 million. We could have left that life for good with that kind of money and start over. But it's not what I wanted. I wanted an honest living and Buster said I was a natural-born singer." He pulled his necklace out from his shirt.
"What's that?" Jackson asked, his tongue loosened and his inhibitions lowered.
"We'll get there…" Johnny stalled him. "The night after our first show… I knew I had to tell Mr. Moon everything. If anyone could help, he could…"
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Johnny waited until everyone else went home before approaching his boss. Buster was beyond ecstatic for their success.
"Johnny! You were great! I knew you could tickle those ivories!" The koala praised him.
"Thank you, Mr. Moon. Sir, can I… can I talk to you?" The silverback asked with a tremble in his voice.
Blue eyes smiled up at him. "Of course, Johnny. Pull up a chair." They sat in their makeshift theater.
"Mr. Moon, did you read about the gold heist in the newspaper?" He asked for context.
"I'm afraid I don't read much of the newspaper, Johnny," Buster admitted.
Johnny nodded. "Well my dad… the family business I told you about… My dad is a crime boss. He was just arrested a few days ago for trying to rob a cargo ship of 25 million." He told him about his father in detail. "But he broke out tonight. To tell me he was proud of me."
The koala smiled. "Well that's great. I'm sorry your father's in jail, Johnny. What can I do to help?"
"I don't know but I was hoping you'd know what to do," the pianist explained. "He's my dad and I don't want him going away for so long."
Buster nodded. "Of course not, Johnny. I'm meeting with Nana tomorrow. Let me talk to her about it."
"And you don't hate me for being a criminal?" Johnny asked.
"You're no criminal, Johnny. You chose not to help your dad commit his crime. You're a good boy and I can see that. Now let's get out of here and get some sleep."
"And where will you go, Mr. Moon?" The gorilla asked. "Back to Eddie's?"
Buster shook his head. "No, but I'll figure out something. I'm resourceful."
Johnny shook his head. "Then you're coming home with me. It's not much but it's a bed to sleep on." Buster seemed reluctant and Johnny added, "Let me help you, Mr. Moon. Like you helped all of us."
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"To Mr. Moon, family was the most important thing of all," Johnny drank his drink. He looked at the ashes in the pendant. "He passed away last May. He was like a second father to me and he was suddenly gone."
The tiger couldn't help feeling a little pity. "I'm sorry."
"Mr. Moon's father sacrificed so much so Mr. Moon could buy his theater. Mr. Moon idolized his father," Johnny chuckled. "And he helped to save my father, to save my family. Now it's up to you, Mr. Hunter. How much is your son worth to you? Because he is worth everything to me. Can't we at least find common ground in that?"
Jackson eyed the gorilla through the bottom of his glass.
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Up in Suki's apartment, she was on the phone. "What? They're ALL sick? But tonight is our Christmas Day pageant! We can't have a pageant if there's no cast! We'd have to refund every ticket. That's 6000 tickets!" She groaned. "I can't ask them! Johnny's still healing and they just got married. Well yeah, I know it's for a good cause. I get it and it is Christmas. Ugh, I'll ask them!" She regretted taking the call in the middle of the party now but what could be done?
She went back down to the party. She saw Johnny was still not back. "Rosita! Rosita!" She went to the mother pig. "We have a huge problem! It's absolutely horrible!"
Rosita gasped. "Oh no!" Everyone gathered around to hear what was wrong. Marcus even looked at Suki with alarm. "What is it?"
"The cast for the Christmas Day pageant is sick! All of them! It's a big thing every year. The proceeds all go to Operation Christmas Child," she explained the tradition. "We'll have to refund every ticket. And it's a sold out show."
Porsha cried out in dismay. "No! I love the Christmas Day pageant. We have to help!"
Rosita took a relieved breath, glad it wasn't really an emergency. "It's okay, Suki, we'll help out. We can cobble something together for such a good cause." They all laughed as the door opened and Johnny came in with Jackson.
Ryan went to them. "Dad? You came back!" He shook his head. "Why?"
The old tiger jabbed a finger at Johnny. "Your husband is very persuasive. We've agreed to respect each other's differences. He's right. It's not worth the cost. I paid it once. I don't want to pay it again. I'm sorry, Ryan. It's your life. I don't have to agree with every choice you make. But I will always love you. And in that we agree."
Ryan looked at Johnny and shook his head with a smile. He took his hand. "Why?"
Johnny held up his necklace. "He's your dad. So what's going on?" He asked as he got a plate of turkey and cranberry sauce.
"We're filling in for Crystal Entertainment's Christmas cast, they're all sick. How long do we have, Suki?" Eddie asked.
"The show starts at 7," she replied. "Oh if you can help us, we'd be so grateful. The kids would be so sad if the show didn't go on. You're welcome to sing whatever you want as long as it's holiday-themed and family friendly."
AN: Upcoming, the New Moon Troupe performs a Christmas special for the guests.