Chapter 65

 Jon sat up on the sundeck with his guitar, he had his trusty notebook on the lounger with him.  They had spent the day out on a beach at Harvest Cay, which made the boys happy.  Jesse and Jake met up with a couple of girls from a cruise ship, and spent the day chatting and playing in the surf, emails and phone numbers were swapped.   All in all, it was a great day on the beach.  No one hassled Jon and Colleen, it wasn’t like if they had gone to Saint Barts, no Camera clicks, and no demands for autographs. Colleen was getting a really nice tan, and thanks to the sundeck, no tan marks.  Thinking about their nights on the yacht a lyric floated in his head, he had to get it down on paper. He was trying to get the tune in his mind to match the lyric, which was the hard part of putting a song together.  

Colleen came up to the deck with a fresh bottle of wine for Jon, and a coke for her.

“How’s it coming?  You’ve been humming all day,” Colleen sat on the foot of his lounger. “Do you need to be alone to write?”

“No, it might help if you listen to what I have so far,” Jon strummed the intro. “I started it after meeting you and even Lema came over and played it on the piano.”

“So you’ve worked on it for about six months?” Colleen sipped her coke.

“There or about, I hadn’t picked up the guitar for, hell a year, but it hit me one night after you and I were on a date,” Jon did a key change and smiled at her.  He had vivid memories of the night, it was the first night they had made love.  “It’s called Real Love.”

“They're putting up the chairs to close, she let me settle up my tab

I tore the button off your coat as you jumped up to hail us a cab

We can get a cup of coffee unless you gotta get back home

Sitting across that table, a gypsy couldn't read her mind

I took her hand and told her I just wanna crawl into your eyes

She shook her head and said, "it's cold" cold is just a cheap disguise

Have you ever known a real love?

The kind of love that makes you feel, love?

No, this ain't let's make a deal, love

It'd make an angel give his wings up

It makes you guilty 'cause you want more

If it's a kiss that you would die for

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it could break your heart

It's real love

We drank that muddy pot of coffee it was morning when I walked her home

I've never been this lonely, lying in this bed alone.

Her words still ringing in my head, I said I sunk men like a stone

Have you ever known a real love?

The kind of love that makes you feel, love?

No, this ain't let's make a deal, love

It'd make an angel give his wings up

It makes you guilty 'cause you want more

If it's a kiss that you would die for

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it can break your heart

It's real love

I put on that same shirt, and I ran out the door

Stole a fistful of roses from the sidewalk store.

Just my heart in my hand, I had nothing to throw

Standing up on a front step calling to your window

Have you ever known a real love?

The kind of love that makes you feel, love?

No, this ain't let's make a deal, love

It'd make an angel give his wings up

It makes you guilty 'cause you want more

If there's a kiss that you will die for

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it can break your heart

It's real love

Feels like you're falling through the stars

If it can break your heart

It's real love”

Jon sang the words that held so much meaning to him, it’s when the light came back into his life.  He strummed the last chord and as it faded over the water he looked up into her shining tear-filled eyes.  “You hate it?”

“I love it, it’s about us,” Colleen wiped the tears out of her eyes.  “I love it.”  She stood up and walked over, as Jon saw her intent and placed the guitar on the other lounger, Colleen sat in his lap.  “I’ve never had a song written about me, and it is perfect,” Her lips inches from his, she leaned in and gave him a kiss that showed the love the song’s words gave her.

Jon pulled her into his chest, his heart swelling in his chest, he had found his Muise again in Colleen.  He could now write songs again.  After Richie leaving on them Dorothea killing herself, the words wouldn’t come. Two Thousand and thirteen about did him in, killed the band. But this petite redhead was the sunshine that resurrected his life and his career.  In a few days, two thousand and fifteen would ring in a new life and a new thrill to write again.  Shock of all shocks it was a love ballad to start of the New Year. 

Matt and Tony were coming to get Jon and Colleen for dinner, but both stopped as they heard Jon sing to Colleen.

“Looks like we’re going back to work Brother,” Matt said as he patted Tony on the back.

“I see a long road trip in our near future, Bro,” Tony smiled looking up to the sundeck.  “Let’s give them some alone time.”

“Jonny, dinners ready, you and Colleen take your time,” Matt hollered up to them.

“We’ll be down in a little bit, don’t have the kids wait,” Colleen yelled back at Matt.   “We’ll be down soon.”

“Not too soon,” Jon told her as his hands slid up her leg and under her sundress.  “Is this something new?”  

“Desi and I went to shop while Nina was on kid duty, do you like it?” Colleen sat up and started to stand up when the hand on her thigh squeezed it.

“I’d like it better off of you, but it’s really pretty,” Jon told her, just as a chopper went overhead.  

“I see we picked up observers,” Colleen slowly stood up.  “Maybe after dinner and before the ball drops you see how it looks on the hanger.”

Jon reached for his guitar and put it in the case after putting his notepad in.  Handing the bottle of wine and his goblet to Colleen, they headed to dinner.

Chapter 64

 Jon rolled over and wonder of wonder the bed was empty. “Fuckin hell,” Jon moaned.  Sitting up he listened to see if she was just in the bathroom, nope all quiet.  “Did I not tell her, she had to be in bed till I woke up?  I distinctly remember telling her those words.”

Just then he heard the key in the lock on the door.  It began to slowly open, the smell of coffee hit him, had she gone to get him coffee?  Colleen slowly backed into the room rolling a cart of coffee, covered plates and Danish.  

“Did I not tell you Miss O’Sullivan, future Mrs. Bongiovi, you are to be in this bed when I wake up?” Jon asked in a very dominating voice.

“Shit, you were supposed to be asleep when I got back,” Colleen gasped.  Dressed in one of Jon’s tee shirts and her flip flops. “I was planning on breakfast in bed.”

‘”I was planning on us having a morning sex break,” Jon told her as she pushed the cart close to the foot of the bed. 

“You’re always thinking of a morning round of hide the pickle,” Colleen laughed as she fixed him a plate of eggs, bagel and bacon.  Adding a mug of coffee he walked to his side of the bed handing him the mug and plate, then leaning down kissed his lips.

“Hide the pickle hum, big chilly willy or a kosher dill?”  He put the plate on his lap and sipped the coffee.

“Gherkin because they’re crispy to taste,” Colleen giggled and tried to get away from Jon’s grabbing hands.  Losing the battle she ended up ass in a plate of warm eggs. “Shit, how do we explain egg yellow on my ass when they do the laundry?”

“Gherkin, a fucking Gherkin is small, more like a Kosher Dill, to hell with the laundry” Jon said pulling the steaming sheet off his chest.

“Who told you to grab me before setting the fucking cup down?” Colleen struggled to get off his lap and back to standing, ripping the coffee stained shirt over her head.  There were red spots on her chest and neck.  Rushing into the bathroom to splash water on her next.  “I have fucking coffee Hickes.”

“Next time don’t get out of bed,” Jon said as he pulled the sheets off the bed and put them in a pile by the door. Picking up the cold and congealed eggs off the floor, putting the plate on the cart.

“Ok, next time,” Colleen stuck her head out of the bathroom door.  “Will shower sex erase the missing morning hide the pickle?”

“I think this once that would be a yes,” Jon said as he headed to the bathroom.

Much later they joined the family around the table, Jon walked over to the buffet set up and fixed two plates.  When he got back to the table, sitting one before Colleen and then sitting down, with his own plate when the young lady filled his coffee cup and Colleen’s.

“I thought I saw you earlier on my jog around the deck, take a food trolley to the room?” Matt asked as he sipped his coffee.

“We had a little mishap with a cup of coffee and a plate of eggs,” Colleen said looking down at her plate trying not to laugh.

Jon gave Matt his own personal stink eye, Matt just laughed it off.

Colleen looked at Jon and busted out laughing along with Matt.

Jon rolled his eyes and joined in the laughter.

The purser came to the table to talk about putting out the sea toys.  “We have the slide going out and we have Jet Ski’s in the water and float’s for the younger ones.”

Jon thanked her and yelled to his boys about the things for them, and to be careful.  The adults finished eating, Desi asked Colleen to join her and Nina on the tanning deck.  “Matty, watch the kids,” Desi said as she got up from the table.  “You too Tony, you’re on daddy duty,” Nina told him. “Use that new Go Pro you bought for underwater pictures.”

Colleen looked at Jon and smiled as she took off her beach cover-up and showed off her tiny black bikini, “You can join your brothers on Kid Watch.”

The three women headed up the stairs to the top deck. 

“Sun block Colleen, don’t get burned up there,” Jon called as he looked at his brothers smirky faces.  “At least my kids don’t need to be watched.”

“Uncle Jonny, can I ride with you on the jet ski?” Allie asked Jon.  “You won’t dump me off like Daddy.”

Jon looked at Tony and smirked, “You got it Alliekins, give me about thirty minutes and we’ll get on the Jet Ski.”

“Okay Uncle Jonny,” Allie yelled from the launch rim splashing her feet in the water.

Colleen and her future sister in laws claimed a lounger each after lathering up on sun block. 

“You two set a date yet?” Nina asked Colleen. 

“Not yet, but spring sometime, I was thinking of a backyard, but Jon isn’t on board with that idea. He said the paparazzi would be in the air over the whole thing.” Colleen told them as she got on her stomach.

“Yeah that a hazard of marrying a rock god,” Desi told her.  “I loved your small Church at the Hamptons.”

“That would make my parents happy and have the reception at the bar or the club.  I just don’t know how Jon’s mom would take it.” Colleen rolled her eyes. “I need you two to help me pick the perfect dress.”

“Yeah Carol is a handful, but we’d be happy to help with the dress,” Nina said.  “Too bad you can’t do ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ Jon might put his foot down on that.”

“Why would he do that?  Not like I’d do that, I want my dress to be special,” Colleen told them.  “But I wouldn’t put a kibosh on looking there.”

“You got an idea of what you want?”  Desi asked.

“Irish lace, maybe sleeves, Maybe a trumpet style, I haven’t much thought into it,” Colleen told them, which got them to laughing.

One of the ship pursers brought up glasses and a picture of water with cucumbers in it.

“Ooh spa water,” Nina moaned accepting a goblet of spa water.

Desi took hers and Colleen took hers.

“A toast to the next Jovi wife.”  Nina said as the girls leaned in to click glasses.

“To Colleen,” Desi said.

“To Colleen,” Answered Nina.

Colleen giggled.

 The purser went to the captain with the information she got from the three woman on the sundeck.  The purser then went to the ladies that would do the master bedroom and informed them of the engaged couple that were in that room. Rose petals on the bed were warranted.

The rest of the day was spent in the water and the sundeck.  The girls went on mommy duty while the guys hit the sundeck. 

Chapter 63

 Jake, Jesse, and Romeo helped their uncles unload the bus.

“Hey Uncle Matty you know why dad’s so upset?” Jesse asked as he stacked the suitcases on the trolley.

“You know how your dad hates to have his plans screwed up.  He worked on this for a month,” Matt handed him another suitcase.  He had overheard what Colleen said to Jon, about the boys who weren’t happy with this new tradition.  “First you three bumming about the Maldives and plus a hell of a lot of bad weather, it was more than he could handle.”

“Dad heard what we said?” Jake had walked up to take the full trolley.

Matt had also heard what Colleen said and how upset she had been.

“Yeah he heard you, do you think maybe you three were being sort of brats? This being Colleen's first Christmas with you kids, being in your mom's shadow isn’t very comforting,” Matt told them waiting on the empty trolley to come back.  “Wait till the fans get hold of the fact that your dads engaged.”

Jesse, Jake, and Romeo stopped and looked at each other.  They were in deep shit.

Jon was in talking to the captain of the Yacht about what he wanted for them, a place for them to hit a beach a few days, but no one was to know he and his family were on this trip.  Privacy was the key.

Jon found Matt hauling a luggage trolley onto the deck, where the staff of the yacht waited to take to the rooms.  Jon had a trust thing with his luggage, after finding shirts and jeans missing out of his stage locker in LA. Heads rolled and a new wardrobe mistress was hired.  For some reason, his Takamine was along on this vacation. ‘He must be working on a new album, then tour, wonder if the wedding will be before, after, or during tour.  Knowing Jon, before so he can have a real honeymoon this time,’ Matt thought.

“Hey we need to talk,” Matt told Jon.  “As far as the boy’s attitude adjustment, they think you, not Colleen, heard their brattiness.”

“The stink eye must’ve worked,” Jon finally smiled. “I can’t believe how they’ve acted.  I think they need to stew a little more before they’ll come to me.”

“Yeah, I think so too,” Matt agreed.  

They split when Jon went to find Colleen. Checking the hot tub first, he found Desi and Nina, they told him she was in their suite. Climbing the steps to where the captain said their suite was, he found the door open and Colleen putting their go-bag stuff away.  Jon leaned on the doorjamb and watched her.  He could see her on her first tour, taking care of him.

“Now that’s what I like to see,” Colleen said as she finally acknowledged Jon watching her.  

“The views not bad on this side either,” Jon walked into the suite and shut the door.  “Our luggage is coming soon.  Captain Mike said lunch is set up when we want, buffet-style today.”  Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled her into the V of his legs.  “I thought you’d be with the ladies in the hot tub.”

Colleen ran her fingers in Jon’s silver locks of hair, leaning down she covers his mouth with hers.  Jon slipped his hands around to hold onto her ass cheeks.  Just then there was a knock on the door before they could say they were there, the door opened and the porter came into the suite and brought in their bags.

Colleen looked down at Jon and laughed.

“Lunch?”  Colleen shook her head.

“Lunch,” Jon stood up and took her hand as they left the room.  “Remind me to find the do not disturb sign for the fucking door.” 

Colleen laughed all the way to the buffet.

Much later the yacht left Key West, Colleen and Jon stood at the upper deck and watched the sunset,

“This is beautiful,” Colleen cuddled in the circle of Jon’s arms.  “I almost hate to go back in a week.”

“If you didn’t have to work, I’d say let’s send the kids back and stay in Key West,” Jon kissed her neck. 

The sound of footsteps on the stairs to where Jon and Colleen stood, Jesse was the first to join them, followed by Jake and Romeo.

“We need to apologize to you two,” Jesse said as they watched their dad and Colleen move from the rail to the sectional seats.

“Oh, is that so?” Jon said as he gave Colleen’s hand a squeeze. “Why do you need to apologize?”  

“Well we might’ve said some things that we shouldn’t,” Romeo told his dad.  “We really didn’t want to go that far, it would take almost two days to get there.”

“And our friends couldn’t come,” Jake said as he looked from Colleen to his dad.  “We always got to bring a friend with us, talking to the fans was not allowed.”

“And, you let Steph go home with Greg and his girls,” Jesse finally let his dad know what really broke the camel’s back.  

“I let her go back because she asked,” Jon told his sons. “I did the no friends so we could do family things.  If you didn’t want to come, why not just tell me, before I planned all this?”

“You two seemed so happy and wanted these new traditions, why did we have to go to the India Ocean to make a new tradition?” Jake asked.  “Why with all the other islands in the Atlantic we could’ve gone to?”

Colleen listened to their arguments and had to agree, they really didn’t talk to the kids on the where, just the why.  She placed her hand on Jon’s thigh and gave it a squeeze.

“I agree with you and your dad, I wish you guys would’ve said something sooner,” Colleen said as she turned to the boys.  “We’re now on the same page, but remember for us to work as a family, you have to speak up. Mindreading is not easy to learn this late in life.  Can we just enjoy this week and move forward from here?”

The three boys looked at each other and nodded.

“Okay, I think I heard dinner was ready if anyone was hungry,” Jon told them as he covered his hand over Colleen’s and linked his fingers with hers. Once they were alone again he looked up at the sky.  “Thank you, but I thought all teachers were mind readers, or it seemed when I was in High School they seemed that way.”

“Nope, but we are all seeing and that comes from the eyes in the back of our heads,” Colleen laughed.  They went down to eat with the family.  

Much later as they got ready for bed, Jon came up as Colleen brushed her hair.

“Have I told you today how much I love you?”

Chapter 62

 It was going to be a long flight, which Jon and Colleen dozed.  Colleen woke up and headed toward the front galley for a snack.  Granted her mom had sent a huge care package of cookies for the rest of the holiday, but she was craving salt.  As she got near the seats with the older boys, she heard them talking.

“If we’d gone to St Bart’s we’d be on the beach by now,” Jake moaned.  “The Maldives is more for adults than kids, the little dudes will be bored.” He would be bored, he missed Rose already.

“Yeah and the fact that our friends couldn’t come really makes this trip suck,” Jesse said and Romeo agreed.

“I’ll be stuck watching over the little ones, because you two will run off on me,” Romeo complained.  They always went off and left him out.

Hearing this finally from the kids, made her feel like the wicked stepmom in Cinderella.  Suddenly her need for salty chips and coke turned her stomach.  Turning around she headed back to her seat. 

Jon woke up and reached for Colleen, ‘Damn even on the plane I wake up alone’, Jon thought.  Getting up he saw Colleen turn around and walk back to her seat. The look in her eyes, like someone kicked her puppy.

Jon stood up and was going to see what hurt her when the flight attendant told him the pilot wanted to talk to him. Very important, she said.

Jon was in the cockpit for a while the pilot showed him the weather reports and told him it would be a dangerous flight.  As he walked back, he went into his take charge Jon mode, he called out to his brothers and wives.  “I need adults to the back please,” Jon watched Jesse stand up.  “Over 30 adults only. We have to make some decisions, I will let you know soon.”

“We have a problem, the weather is bad, really bad. We can either go to Florida or the Caribbean, but Italy and the Maldives are out. I need to get us a place to stay, Matt contact the ship and tell them a change in plans, and can we still get a ship here in Florida or the Caribbean?” Jon pulled out a map and the other five looked at the map.  Jon placed an X on St Barts, which was out of the mix.

Matt came back to the group, “Ship in Maldives canceled, we can pick up the ship in Key West, I told them I can give them the decisions once we get to Key West.”

“Okay that makes this a whole lot easier, let me call my assistant to get us from Miami to Key West,” Jon reached out and gave Colleen hand a squeeze and noticed her smiling again.

Jon leaned over and whispered, “We need to talk,” He kissed her cheek.

Jon gave the pilot the news then went back and sat with Colleen.  Colleen had a pack of chips and a cold can of coke, she and Desi were talking about going shopping where ever they ended up.  Jon laughed, as he grabbed a chip and sat in the window seat. Reaching for another chip, Colleen snatched the bag away from him.

“Get your own, these are mine,” Candy brought him a bag of chips and a glass of Rose’.  Colleen laughed at him.  “I like coke with my chips.  How can you drink wine with potato chips?”

“I can drink Rose’ every day, with anything,” Jon told her as he crunched a chip loudly.

Jon watched as his brothers and their wives moved back to their seats.  “You look happy we aren’t going to the Maldives,” Jon asked Colleen as they finished their snacks.

“Anyplace as long as we’re together,” Colleen told him.  “Yeah, I’m happy.  I was reading online it’s more of an adult playground.  Maybe for say a honeymoon instead of a family vacation?”

“Honeymoon hum, say a private room on the water?” Jon pulled Colleen on his lap.

“Little skinny dipping?” Colleen giggled. She opened the top button on his shirt and slipped her hand in his shirt.

“And the kids will be happy not in the Maldives?” Jon asked her. He said as he rubbed her back.  Keeping her mind on his questions.

“Well, yeah,” Colleen agreed then it hit her what he said.  “Oh shit, how did you guess?”

“I woke up and saw you walking back, you weren’t smiling the way you are now when we had the change of destinations,” Jon rubbed her back.  “You know you can tell me everything.”

“Don’t say anything to the boys, I don’t want to be the future wicked stepmom who ruined their holiday,” Colleen begged him, her eyes brimming with tears.

That got to Jon, she was more worried about how the boys would take her telling me what they said.  He pulled her closer to his chest.  They sat that way till Candy came to tell them they were landing and to get into their seatbelts.

They landed on the private area of the airport and taxied to the hanger where the transport to Key West waited.

“Grab your luggage people and move it to the bus,” Jon told the boys.

“This doesn’t look or feel like Italy dad,” Jake said.  He looked around at the palm trees.

“That’s because we're in Miami,” Jon loaded his and Colleen’s suitcase.  “Change of plans, due to weather.  We’re going to the Belize area a place called Harvest Cay for the beach, but we have a Yacht to stay on.  Too late to get a house.”

The boys looked at Colleen then to his dad, who was giving them the world's worst stink eye.

“Oh Shit,” Jesse mumbled.

The bus pulled out on the highway and they had a long ride to try and figure out what and who was in deep shit.

Chapter 61 HO HO HO

 HO HO OH NO

The bedroom door flew open and four little kids jumped on the bed, one of them barely missing little Jonny.  Colleen pulled the covers over her head, glad she had on her nightgown when they finally went to sleep.  Jon on the other hand was buck naked under the covers.

“Santa came, Santa came,” Four voices squealed so high only dolphins could understand.

Maggie stood in the doorway biting back her laughter.

“Breakfast first my darlings,” Maggie shoed the kids out.  “I bought you about twenty minutes, you better hurry.”  Maggie closed the door as her laughter could be heard as she went downstairs.

Jon pulled the quit off Colleen’s head.

“Your mom said twenty minutes,” Jon snuggled close, his hand going under the tail of her gown.  “You want your present now or later?”

“You only have eighteen minutes now,” Colleen mumbled as she lifted her hips for Jon to ease up the gown.

Jon smiled as she started to move over Colleen when the door opened with no knock.

“Dad, Santa time for the little dudes,” Jesse, Jake, Romeo, and Stephanie stood in the open doorway.

“Shut the door,” Colleen giggled.

“With you four on the other side,” Jon groaned.  “GET OUT.”

His four kids backed out of the door and shut the door, rolling with laughter.

“Damn locks on the door next year, I swear this will not be a new tradition for them,” Jon continued to slide his hips between her open thighs.

“Fifteen minutes,” Colleen giggled. Colleen sat up so Jon could pull her gown over her head. She put her hands on his shoulders. “If the next person is my dad or Jamie I will kill them.”

“My brothers understand a closed door means keep your ass out,” Jon said as he pulled her nipple between his lips.

“Ah,” Colleen gasped.  “How about their wives?”  It was hard for her to talk as Jon played in her folds till all words left her head.

“Then you can kill them,” Jon groaned no other words were needed.

They used their last twelve minutes to the fullest, a quick shower later they joined the family down in the kitchen.

Things got crazy when the doors to the living room opened at the screaming started.  After all the packages were opened, Colleen slipped away to put out the personal gifts for Jon. These were nowhere PG13 packages.  Jon must’ve beat her upstairs because her side of the bed was covered with packages.

She never heard the door open and close till the lock clicking in.

“I see Santa came while we were downstairs,” Jon said coming up behind her.  He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her neck.

“He’s been very busy,” Colleen said turning in his arms.

“Think he peeked in on us earlier?  Just to see if we went downstairs,” Jon said as he kissed her lips.

“Well you know he sees you when you’re good or bad,” Colleen snuggled in his arms.

“Well we were sort of bad,” Jon patted her on her bottom.

“But we are so good at being bad, don’t you think?” Colleen asked him as she rubbed his butt.

“Let’s open these before we need that bed, some of them are breakable,” Jon said as he let her come out of his arms.

They moved to their side of the bed and picked up the first package. Seems they went to the same stores.  

“Well it must be true that when you stop believing in Santa you get underwear,” Colleen laughed as she opened panties, teddies, and sexy pantie bra sets.

Jon smiled as he held up his penis warmers, jockey briefs, and undershirts.

The one that got the most screams was the albums and the IOU from Sir Paul McCartney for the Meet the Beatles album that was destroyed.

“I told him we’d come and pick it up on the way home,” Jon told her only to nearly fall of the bed, as she launched herself to hug him.

The rest of the packages were quickly opened, seems they had the same idea at the bookstore buying duplicate copies of the Fifty Shades trilogy books.

“Well, we won’t have to share when we read them,” Colleen laughed.  “I bet the clerk gave you a strange look.”

“I told her it was for my girlfriend,” Jon laughed. “Matt bought a set for Desi too.”

“Tony too,” that made them both laugh a little louder.

Colleen leaned over and kissed Jon.  “Thank you, I better go help mom and the ladies get lunch ready.”  

“Oh babe, Stephanie isn’t going on the cruise, Greg and his girls will be here for lunch,” Jon told her as she unlocked the door to go downstairs. “She’s going home with them tonight.”

“Good, I knew she was hoping they would change their minds about her being with them,” Colleen said as she looked back at Jon.

“If they hurt her,” was all Jon said.

Greg and the girls got there with packages for Stephanie.  Colleen pulled out the boxes she had picked up for Stephanie to give the girls, just in case. They squealed at the American Girl dolls and hugged Stephanie.

After Lunch, they saw Greg, Stephanie, and the girls off, with promises of pictures of the cruise.  Jon called his dad to wish him a Merry Christmas to find out he was home in New Jersey while mom was still in Miami.  They talked for a while and Jon texted his mom with a Merry Christmas and a family photo.  He sent the one of all over them on the stairs with him and Colleen standing to the side of the steps, making sure it said Family Christmas picture in the text heading. 

Much later as the younger kids got to sleep, the adults repacked suitcases for the plane ride to India.  Jon had the big plane sent to take them to India, instead of the band plane, just to hold the luggage.

“Just to think you get to wear your new bikini tomorrow on the ship,” Jon said as he closed his suitcase and started on his go-bag.

“I have to pack more than the bikini Jon,” Colleen scolded him.  “Maybe some short sets and sundresses.”

“Don’t forget your new panties and bra’s,” Jon laughed.  “Well, you can leave out the bras.”

Colleen rolled her eyes at Jon.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” Jon asked.

“Yes Christian,” Colleen laughed.

“OH no you didn’t just call me HIS name,” Jon groaned.  I’m nowhere like him.”

“I think you two share a lot of idiosyncrasies,” Colleen said as she closed her suitcase and grabbed her own go-bag. “The pops on my butt for one, or is that just a man thing?”  She took it into the bathroom to pack her pills and Jon’s vitamins, coming out she added her kindle and the fifty shades books, along with slippers and sandals.

“Well I think it’s a guy thing, we see those heart-shaped bottoms and our hands itch to touch it,” Jon told her.

“Well I loaded the movies on your laptop when you were down having a beer with dad,” She giggled as she finished loading her bag and zipping it shut, putting it next to her suitcase by the doors.

“You put porn on my laptop?” Jon had just zipped his laptop bag.

“It’s not porn, they are R. rated,” Colleen sat on the bed to take off her shoes.  “I know you’ve watched porn before.”

Twas the night before Christmas Chapter 60

 

Christmas Eve

Once again Jon rolled over and reached for Colleen, only to find the bed empty on her side.   Once again this week, he’d have to take care of his morning wood in the shower.  Looking at the clock, it was close to nine in the morning. Sitting up in the bed, he reached for his phone.  He had missed two calls from his mom and one from his dad. The voice mail from his dad wasn’t a shock, he knew it was coming, they were separating again.  This was the second time they had taken a breather, in their marriage. Of course, his mother’s voice message was blaming Colleen for the split.  He decided to put his mother on an allowance, if she won’t see the damage her viciousness was causing by herself, maybe this would help.  He would support his dad and Tony’s sauce business, but mom would be on an allowance.  

After taking a hot shower he dressed and headed down to the kitchen.  It was full of the women in his family.  Maggie was calling out directions like a military general, and her happy little soldiers in Santa hats were snapping too.  Going up behind Colleen he put his chin on her shoulder and his hands around her waist.

“When we get on that ship, you don’t get out of bed till I do, or I might have to pink your ass,” he whispered in her ear.  

“Momma, he threatened me,” Colleen told her mother, as she fed Jon an apple slice she had cut for pies.

“Then you must’ve deserved it, sweetie,” Maggie told her as she cut butter into the dough on his counter.

That statement brought laughter to the other women in the room.

“Did I miss breakfast?”  Jon said still holding onto her waist.

“I saved you a plate of bacon in the warmer, and a bagel,” Colleen told him as she turned her head for a kiss.

Jon gave her a smacking kiss on her lips and as he uncurled himself from her he popped her butt. That sounded loud in the suddenly quiet kitchen.

“Ouch,” Colleen squealed. “Momma.”

“Yep, you must’ve deserved it, Colleen,” Her mother rolled her eyes.

Jon laughed getting his plate out of the warmer of the stove. Taking it into the living room where Stephanie came and handed him a mug of coffee.

“Hey Dad, would you be mad if I didn’t go on the cruise?” Stephanie sat beside him on the sofa, looking at the tree in the corner of the room with half the floor covered with packages.

“Greg?” Jon asked her.

“Yeah, he called me this morning to see when I would be home,” she turned and looked at him.  “The girls missed me.”

Jon sat his plate and mug on the table and turned to face his baby girl. “Stephanie, I don’t want to see you hurt like you were after the dance, it killed me that this man could hurt you like that,” Jon said softly

Stephanie placed her hand on his arm, “Dad, I love him so much, I want his girls to see me the way we see Camo,” Stephanie told him, “I think they’re starting to accept me because they asked for me to be around.”

“How will get back to Jersey?” Jon asked her.

“They’re coming tomorrow for lunch, and I’ll go back with them,” She told him.

“We’ll miss you, but if it’s what you want,” was all he got out before Stephanie threw her arms around him and hugged him.

Stephanie jumped up and ran back into the kitchen, Colleen stood in the doorway watching them.

“If he hurts her, I’ll kill him,” Jon told Colleen.

“Did my dad tell you that?” Colleen asked as she came in and sat on his lap.

“Not in those words, but the look in his eye told me all I needed to know,” Jon admitted as he cuddled Colleen to his chest. Rubbing her back he sighed. “I know she’s almost thirty years old, but damn it she’s my baby girl.”

“She’ll always be your baby girl, but just think Jon,” Colleen sat up and put his face in her hands. “Those girls might be your first grandkids, other little girls to spoil rotten,”

“Oh my God, grandpa,” Jon gasped.  “I’m not ready.”

Colleen laughed, “At least you won’t need to change their diapers.”

“That’s one blessing,” Jon pulled her back down to his chest, kissing the crown of her head.

“Uncle Jon,” Isabella said from the doorway.

“Yes Izzie,” Jon answered and looked at Matt’s daughter.

“I’m so sorry, don’t be mad at me,” Izzie stood there in tears.

Jon waved her over and pulled her up in his arms as Colleen stood up to give up her spot in Jon’s arms to Izzie.

“I’m not mad, I could never be mad at you sweetie,” he told her as he wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

“I’ll never do it again Uncle Jon,” Izzie said. “Never ever.”

 

“Aunt Colleen had some cookies in the kitchen, why don’t you go get us a cookie?” Jon asked.

Jon saw Matt standing in the doorway, watching his daughter make her apologies to her uncle.

Once Izzie was out of the room, Jon motioned for Matt to come and sit down.

“Dad sent me a text, did you get one?” Jon finished his now cold coffee.

“About the separation?  How many does this make seven or eight?” Matt snatched a slice of bacon from the plate.

“Second, it just feels like eight,” Jon pulled the plate out of Matt’s reach.  “It’ll get worse before it gets better, this time mom is blaming Colleen for this.”

“Damn, when she goes off her meds, she really goes off,” Matt said as Tony came into the room.

“You two talking about Mom again? Let’s make a pact,” Tony snatched a strip of bacon, “No mom talk till we get back to Jersey, in the spirit of the season, happiness.”

“Sounds like a plan, Bro,” Matt agreed.

“I’m in, after tomorrow, no mom talk,” Jon agreed.

------***-----***-----

After Mass they all congregated into the Livingroom, it was stocking time. Colleen sat on Jon’s lap as her mother passed out each stocking.

“Wow was this all in one of those boxes Tony brought up?” Jon whispered in her ear.

“Santa’s little helper,” Colleen laughed.  Tony was up capturing all this for the family.  The little girls loved their mini-dolls and princess jewelry and candy.  The little boys loved their hot wheels, army guys, and the candy.  Each stocking had an orange, candy, and little dollar store goodies.

Jon took his stocking, the fruit, nuts, and candy reminded him of when he was a kid.  The pens, paper clips, and hot wheels car made him chuckle. “Thanks, babe, I love it.” Then at the very toe of the sock, he found a coupon book for Frosty’s from Wendy’s.  “Trying to fatten me up?”

“I know how you like a little non-dairy treat every once in a while.” Colleen accepted Jon’s kiss and started to pull things from her own stocking.  She was really enjoying this time with all the family together.

Soon it was time for the milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  All the kids off to bed, while Cullen, Matt, Jamie, and Jon went to the bar in Tony’s van to pick up Santa gifts, and haul it to the house.  It was close to three before Jon and Colleen made it to bed.

“Merry Christmas Babe,” Jon said as he cuddled her close, spooning her to his body.

“Merry Christmas, Jonny,”  Colleen yawned and patted his arm.

Chapter 59 Christmas Eve Eve Part 3

 

Jon took several deep breaths as he went down off the kitchen to the patio outside.  Matt and Tony walked out to see what was going on.  “Who told Mom about the engagement?” Jon asked his brother.

“Not me,” said Tony, who looked at his younger brother.

“Not me either, and I don’t think Desi did,” Matt told Jon.

“Well, I know it wasn’t Nina, she hates talking to mom,” Tony went over and sat with his older brother.  “You getting up the nerve to call mom?”

“Yeah, I wanted to wait till tomorrow when we call to wish them a Merry Christmas,” Jon told them, wishing he still smoked, Cigarettes or weed.

“Jonny you need to put mom in her place, you’re over fifty, and she needs to cut you loose from her apron strings,” Matt told him.  Neither Desi or Nina, have seen what mom can do to a marriage.”

“Yeah I have to agree with Matt, Jonny you have a woman who brought you back to life, you really don’t want mom to run her off, do you?” Tony came over and sat with Jon at the patio table.  Matt joined them as they waited for Jon to make the call.

They were soon joined by the two wives and the future wife, all three in sweats and wrapped in blankets.

“We decided you needed some real support,” Des told them as the girls sat with their men.  Colleen snuggled close to Jon.

Jon shook his head at his family, at least his kids weren’t out here.  Bringing up his dad in his phone, he waited on him to answer.

“Hey Jonny, congratulations, I’m happy for you two,” John Sr. said.

“At least one of you is happy,” Jon told his dad.  “Mom just called on one of her bitch trips.”

“I heard her, At least you two didn’t elope to Vegas,” John Sr. laughed. “I think she’d have a heart attack.”

“Once was enough dad,” Jon told him.  “She still awake?”

“John? Where are you, is that Jonny?”  Carol Bongiovi screeched.

“Damn, she has the hearing of a bat,” John Sr. moaned.

“You got that right dad,” Jon huffed and waited till his mom was on the phone, then it started.

“Jonny, please tell me Izzie was wrong, you and that woman are not getting married,” Carol was a cross between crying and spitting mad.  “Think of your children, they just lost their mother, not to mention you lost your wife of almost 30 years of being together.”

“Mom,” was all he got out before his mother took a breath and started again.  Jon was so glad he hadn’t put the call on speaker.

“I mean really Jon what do you know about her?  She had thugs after her, are you protecting the kids from these criminals?  I mean just look at her family,” Carol took another breath as Jon chose that second to stop his mother.

“That’s it mom, I’m only saying this once, so you better listen,” Jon was so mad, he was past caring if he hurt her feelings or not.  “Since I met Colleen, it’s like I’m reborn, the kids love her and we are getting married, and it’s time the diva was put to rest.  The O’Sullivans don’t put on airs, they don’t treat people the way you do.  Colleen’s dad is the president of the country club and dad’s golf partner.  You have to agree dad has great taste in friends.  His on the city council here in East Hamptons,” Jon got up and started pacing, this was only the third in his life he had to have this kinda talk with his mother.

“But Jonny,” Carol started talking, but Jon stopped her.

“No buts mom, you will accept Colleen as my wife, or this is the line in the sand Mom, you won’t be at the wedding or allowed in our home,” Jon stopped pacing and looked at Colleen, his love for her, shined in his eyes. “You think about what I just said and make a decision, either accept my life or not, because I can’t do this anymore, it’s the end of you trying to run my life.  You have until the new year to decide to continue being a part of my family or not.” Jon disconnected the call and sat back down pulling Colleen on his lap. Colleen placed her head on his chest, and just held him till his heart stopped pounding.  Sitting in the lounger by the pool no word were needed, just the feel of being together.

Matt, Tony, and their wives left them to talk.  As they walked into the kitchen, they saw Stephanie, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo heading to the back door.

“I think they need you four,” Tony told the kids.

“Grandma?” Stephanie asked.

“Yep,” Matt told them.

“We heard daddy yelling,” Romeo told his uncles.

“Yep, now I’ll have to talk to my little agitator in the morning on what we tell granny and what we don’t,” Matt looked at Desi.  “Isabella was our mole,” Matt was sitting close enough to Jon, he heard his mother say who told her.

Desi did a face smack and rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be hard on her, we’ve already told her, never tell grandma about anything Uncle Jonny does,” Jake said as the four pulled on jackets and went outside.

Jon and Colleen lay covered under the blanket she brought out.

“Why does she hate my family so bad?” Colleen asked Jon, as her voice cracked.

“She hates everyone I ever dated.  It took years before she tolerated Dorothea,” Jon explained.  “Give her time.” 

“Give her time or what will happen if she doesn’t?” Colleen asked looking up at Jon.

“Then she won’t be welcome in our house, just like I said.  It’ll be up to the kids to go visit her, but not in our house,” Jon told Colleen, stressing the words our house.

They heard the kids joining them.

“Steph, pull out another blanket from the bench, Colleen lips are starting to turn blue,” Jon could’ve warmed her lips, if the kids hadn’t chosen that moment to join them. “Unless you want me to warm them up another way?”

Stephanie pulled the beach blanket from the bench and covered Colleen and her dad. “Not in front of us kids dad”

“Grandma on her broom again, dad?” Jesse said as he sat on the chase next to them, to be joined by his brothers. 

Stephanie sat at the foot of her dad’s chase, tucking the beach blanket corner over her knees.

“Yep, things are going to change, I drew the line in the sand, she either changes her attitude or she’s not allowed at the wedding,” Jon sat up some pulling the blanket over them more.  “And she’s not welcome in our home.  If you four want to visit, you’ll go to her place.” 

The four looked at their dad and nodded.

Alright this is Christmas time, no sad faces, no time for things we can’t control,” Colleen sat up taking her blanket with her.  “Tomorrow will be busy with cooking, parties and church.  I only want to see smiles and no shaking of packages.”  She stood up and reached down for Jon’s hand.

“Camo’s right, and I am freezing my butt off out here,” Stephanie laughed.  “And it looks like snow.”

Colleen pulled Stephanie up and shared her blanket.

“I see where I stand in the pecking order, you women stick together,” Jon laughed as he folded the beach blanket and replaced it in the bench.

“Hot chocolate and cookies before bed?” Romeo asked as he and his brothers headed to the backdoor.

“I think that could be arranged” Colleen said as Jon came up behind her and scooped her up.

Jon and Colleen laughed, as Stephanie snatched the blanket and beat them into the kitchen.

It was close to one in the morning when the house was dark and quiet.  Jon and Colleen were snuggled in the bed. Jon spooned to Colleen back, his hand resting on her stomach.

“I love you Colleen,” Jon whispered and kissed her neck.

“Love you too Jonny,” Colleen whispered back, her hand covering Jon’s.  

As they drifted off to sleep, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Chapter 58 Christmas Eve Eve 2

 Jon and Tony pulled in with twenty pizza, enough salad to feed an army.  They had left Matt and Colleen at the grocery store with the fruit, nuts, and candy for the Magi gift bags for the kids at the church for midnight mass, along with dessert for tonight’s pizza fest.

 

Tony went and got the older kids to help unload the van.

 

“Hey old man did you buy out the malls?” Jesse said as he looked in the back of the van.

 

“Oh good pizza,” Jake loaded Romeo up with pizza boxes. “You just miss Uncle Matt and Camo seems the cake got dropped. They headed back to the store.”

 

Stephanie came up and bopped her dad in the butt. “So tonight’s the night.  Got your knee pads ready?”  She grabbed the bags of salad laughing.

 

“Who told you kiddo?” Jon asked as he grabbed another bag of Salad.

 

“The Aunts were upstairs, Aunt Nina was pulling out Uncle Tony’s gear bag out,” Stephanie said as the headed into the kitchen.

 

“Just as long as Colleen doesn’t know,” Jon said as he followed her to the kitchen.  “Oh yeah and don’t tell Maggie, Cullen told me she would ruin the surprise.”

 

“I’ll tell the aunts,” Stephanie headed to the stairs.

“I think my mom dropped that cake on purpose,” Colleen told Matt as they stood inline again.

 

“Not a fan of store baked items hum?” Matt looked around at the people in line.

 

“I think she was hoping you all would eat the fruit cake she made at Thanksgiving, that no one touched,” Colleen moved up and waited her turn next.

 

Matt watched She pulls out the black card, not seeing if it had her name or Jon’s on it. Only one cashier gave her a problem using Jon’s card, and that was at the mall.

 

“G. or J.?” Matt asked Colleen and pointed to the card.

 

“G,” She said holding it up.

 

“If you get flack, I’ll pay for it,” Matt didn’t want a scene like earlier.

 

Moving up to the register she watches the cashier scan the cake and bags it.

 

“Twenty-five ninety-nine,” The cashier says as I hand her the card.  “Can I see some id please?”

 

‘Oh no, here we go again,’ Matt thought, as Colleen took out her license.

 

Colleen pulled out her New Jersey license.  Matt smiled when he saw it said Colleen Ann Marie Bongiovi.  Colleen was smiling a little smirky smile, as she showed the new card to the cashier.

 

“Thank you Mrs. Bongiovi,” The cashier ran the black card and handed it back.  Matt grabbed the receipt and the bag while Colleen put her card away. 

 

As they walked out Matt couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

 

“Did you see the look on her face when she saw the name match,” Matt laughed all the way to the car. “I can’t believe you have a Bongiovi name already.”

 

“Thank your brother for that, he pulled some strings,” Colleen said as she put the cake in the truck. “It matches my black card, when I use my charge card I use my New York ID.”

 

Matt smirked as he headed back to the house again, it was just like his big brother to be nine steps ahead of the curve.

 

There were people everywhere eating dinner.  Jon and Colleen sat on the steps near the front door.

 

“This what I love, a huge family gathering,” Colleen said as she balanced her plate on her lap.  “It makes a house a home.”

 

“Around sixteen people in a house can do that,” Jon told her as he sipped his wine. He was still in his ugly Christmas sweater, but he changed to black sweatpants, to cover the ring box in his pocket. He remembered the night he sat in his office doing a zoom call with the kids and asked them what they thought about making Colleen a permanent member of the family.  It was quiet for a few seconds when Jon thought he had finally shocked his kids.  Stephanie was the first to talk, telling the boys what he had seen while they were at school. Jesse nodded and Jake looked at Romeo and they held up their thumbs.  “We vote yes and add about time.” Stephanie and Jesse agreed to Jon's excitement and pride that they all wanted Colleen in the family.

 

They had finished dinner, Jon knew it was time.

 

“Before everyone goes down for movies in the basement, can I get everyone in the living room,” Jon yelled over the noise of family all talking as one.  “I got something that I want to say.”  He watched the room fill up with all of them looking at him like he was stalling. “Pull up a spot of the floor, make sure Mom and Pop O. have a seat on the sofa please, Kids on the floor.”

 

Jon held Colleen up in the doorway to the kitchen, holding onto her pinkie finger.

 

“Let me get my camera,” Tony yelled.  “He usually does this on Christmas Eve.”

 

Jon waited while Tony got his camera.  Once he rejoined the crowd, he nodded to Jon.

 

“This is a new tradition for the Bongiovi’s, a new start for us.  This includes tomorrow night joining the O’Sullivan at Midnight Mass,” Jon paused to all the moans and groans. “Yeah, Midnight Mass.”

 

He caught Stephanie’s eye and winked.  Stephanie tossed a pillow at him, which Jon caught and dropped on the floor.

 

“Colleen?” Jon turned her to face him and let her hand go.  “Close your eyes.”

 

Colleen turned to him and cocked her head, but closed her eyes.  Maggie gasped when Jon put the pillow to use, pulling the box out of his pocket and opening it as he dropped to his knee.

 

“Open your eyes.”

 

Colleen gasped as she looked down into Jon's eyes.

 

“Colleen Ann Marie O’Sullivan, I love you, you came into my life when I needed you the most.  You pulled me off the ledge and brought happiness back in my life.  My kids love you and they think I came alive when I met you.” He had rehearsed this a million times in the last four days.  “I want to go to bed knowing that you’re mine and wake up loving you more each day. I want to protect you, and be the man you turn to when you need me the most. I want to grow old with you,” Jon watched her eyes mist over with tears.  “I want to show you the world, write you love songs, and show the world that your mine.  I know we hadn’t talked about marriage, but I’ve thought about it for weeks.  If you say it’s too soon, let me show you why it isn’t. Colleen, will you join your life with mine and be my wife?” 

 

Colleen looked at the canary diamond ring to Jon’s eyes. She could see the love in his eyes.  As her tears rolled down her cheeks, she nodded her head and whispered yes.

Jon stood up and took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger.  It was a perfect fit. Pulling her close, he leaned in and softly kissed her, sealing his proposal.

 

Tony was so busy making a video and Nina was snapping pictures. Jon’s kids jumped up off the floor clapping with the rest of the crowd.  Colleen's mom and dad were the first ones to get to the couple.

 

“Oh, oh, oh my goodness,” was all that Maggie could say, she hugged Colleen.

 

Cullen slapped Jon on the back and welcomed him to the family.

 

“I’m a new grandmother again,” Maggie opened her arms to Jon's kids.  “And I didn’t have to change a diaper on these four.”

 

Colleen laughed as she hugged Stephanie. Then pulled the three boys into a group hug.

 

Much later after the champagne and cake, the kids headed to the basement for Christmas movies, popcorn, and soda.  The adults sat in the den talking.

 

“What does your mom say about this Jonny,” Maggie asked Jon, knowing the hell that she had made at Thanksgiving.

 

“Dad knows, I thought I would call them tomorrow and wish them a Merry Christmas and tell them then,” Jon sat holding Colleen's hand.

 

“At least you won’t be calling them like the last time,” Matt laughed.

 

“Last time?” Colleen and her mother asked at the same time.

 

“You know how I got married the last time, no one knew but me and Dorothea, not even Matt knew and he was my head of security.” Jon answered.  “I had the number one album, we were on a sold-out tour, and I just said let's go to Vegas and get married.”

 

“Oh yeah I remember reading something about that,” Maggie said.  Colleen had told Jon, her mother googled him.

 

“Well, I woke them up on the east coast and asked them if they wanted to talk to their new daughter in law.  My mom didn’t speak to me at all, handed the phone to dad and said talk to your son,” Jon looked over at Cullen, he knew that his dad had told him about how they found out I was married.

 

“Your dad told me it took Carol to the end of tour to speak to you,” Cullen added his knowledge to the story.

 

“Boy we had it easy, didn’t we Nina,” Desi asked Nina.

 

“Yeah, but she took over the wedding plans, it was more than Tony and I wanted,” Nina said.

 

“Well Carol will be dealing with me and Colleen, I’ve planned this since the day we adopted Colleen,” Maggie told them. “This red hair doesn’t stand for a walk all over me.”  Cullen patted her arm to calm her down.

 

“I didn’t know you were adopted, Colleen,” Nina told Colleen.

 

“My parents died in a car crash, mom and dad were my aunt and uncle, and they adopted me when I was almost two. They are the only mom and dad I remember.” Colleen got up and went and hugged her parents.

 

Much later Jon and Colleen were finally alone.  Jon pulled her close and just held her in his arms.  “You don’t want to go to Atlantic City tonight?”

 

“And kill both our mom’s,” Colleen put her hand on his chest and pushed him down on the bed.  “I see an outdoor wedding, with water in the background and lots of flowers.” Colleen pulled the ugly sweater over his head, when it started to flash and sing Santa Clause is coming to town, Colleen started to giggle.

 

“So a spring wedding, outdoors, a field day for the paps babe,” Jon said as he leaned back on the bed as Colleen undressed. His sweats starting to tent.

 

“I said it was a dream wedding.  We can use tents,” Colleen said as she slowly lowered her jeans, letting them drop to the floor and stepping out. 

 

“Tents,” He looks down at his own tent.  “That could work.”  Sitting up he began to stand and add the sweatpants to her jeans.  His hands go to her shirt and slowly take it up over her head.

 

Colleen was standing a demi bra and a tiny pair of thong panties in Christmas red and green. “These new?” Jon asked as he ran his hands around her waist.

 

“Something that caught my attention today at the mall,” Colleen allowed Jon to pull her close.

 

“I think it caught my attention too,” Jon lowered his lips to hers.

 

There came a loud knock on the closed door.

 

“Shit” Colleen groaned.

 

Jon laughed.  “Your mama thinks you don’t cuss,” Jon kissed her again.

 

“Hey daddy, grandma is on the phone and she is pissed,” Stephanie called through the closed door.

 

“Fuck,” Jon groaned.

 

“I’ll share my soap bar with you,” Colleen laughed as she tossed Jon his sweatpants and grabbed her robe.

 

“Be there in a second Steph, tell her I’ll call her back in a second.” Jon said as he looked at Colleen. “Rain Check?”

 

“Rain Check,” Colleen smiled.

Chapter 57 Christmas Eve Eve

 Jon woke up slowly to the scents of bacon, coffee, and fresh cinnamon rolls.  Mom O was already up making breakfast, Jon reached his hand out to Colleen’s side of the bed, and only felt cool sheets and no Camo.  Sitting up in bed, they had gotten very little sleep the night before playing Santa’s helpers at the bar.  He had truly forgotten the nicked fingers and sore legs, from sitting on the floor for hours putting dollhouses and bikes together.  Cullen had loaned them the bar to put together toys for the Church Charity and Matt and Tony’s Kids.  Jon even had the honor of putting a bouncy swing together for his soon to be new niece, Abbie.

 

Hearing the door open slowly, he turned his head and saw Allie, Tony’s daughter peaking in the door.

 

“Aunt Camo said to get your lazy butt up if you want breakfast, Granny Maggie said she’s not going to make seconds for those who miss firsts,”  Allie laughed as she ran over to the bed and climbed up to hug her uncle.

 

“Well, I guess we better do what Camo and Maggie said,” Jon started to tickle Allie. 

 

Getting up, wearing loose ND sweatpants, he tucked a giggling Allie under his arm like a football and headed downstairs.  Coming into the kitchen he sat Allie on a barstool and reached for a slice of bacon.

 

“Morning ladies,” Jon noticed Nina and Desi were helping just like Thanksgiving.  All three of the younger ladies were hiding yawns and downing coffee like it was a lifeline.  Jon noticed the coffee urn from the bar was sat on the counter, that’s why they were using the big mugs.  Grabbing his Rockstar mug that he got from his kids a few years ago and filled it to the rim and sipped and refilled before getting him and Allie a plate.

 

Colleen took his plate and added a huge cinnamon roll and bacon, leaning in for a kiss as she handed him the plate. 

 

“Do we have plans for later Camo, or are you four cooking all day?” Jon asked as he split the roll with Allie.

 

“Cooking and shopping,” Colleen told him as she went back to rolling balls of dough and filling pans.

 

“Shopping. Didn’t we haul all we needed up from Jersey,” Jon asked her?

 

“Fresh fruit and candy,” Colleen smacked his butt as he took the plate and headed to the bar.  “Maybe something for my boyfriend, who got to sleep in till eight, while I was wrist-deep in chocolate Chip cookie dough for his cookie fetish?”

 

“Oh, so now you abuse me and tell me you have a boyfriend?” Jon laughed.

 

“Yeah, from what Camo said about him,” Desie ribbed Jon.  “He’s great in the sack.”

 

Jon smiled and puffed out his bare chest, while Maggie cleared her throat going over to Allie and covered her ears.

 

“No talking like this in front of the C.H.I.L.D.” Maggie reproached the giggling ladies.

 

“Oh Momma Maggie, she’s heard worse than that around this family who Fuc…” Nina started saying before she got a momma stick eye from Maggie. “Misspelled duck is in about every other word out of these Bongiovi boys mouth.”

 

“I have a bar of Ivory soap to clean that one out of their mouths.” Maggie went back to dressing the ham to go into the oven.

 

Jon put the piece of bacon back on the plate and grimaced.

 

“I’ll tell my brothers and kids to lose the F word, Mom,” Jon said and then remembered the only time he heard cuss words out of Colleen's mouth was when they were having sex and she was in the throws of her orgasm.

 

“See that you do Jonny, I hate to have to sit you on the stool with a bar of soap in your mouth, and that goes for the rest of you. I know my daughter never cusses,” Maggie beamed at her blushing daughter, whose eyes were on Jonny.

 

Just then Matt and Tony came into the kitchen in about the same morning outfit as Jon.  The girls busted out laughing.

 

“I got some news for you two, No F word out of your mouths or you’ll be eating a bar of Ivory,” Jon smiled.

 

“Wives and girlfriends too?” Matt asked.

“Yes and Kids,” Jon answered.

 

Maggie went to the sink and held up a brand new bar of Ivory soap.

 

“Shi...Shoot,” Tony backed up with a mug of coffee.

 

“Yes Ma’am,” they both said.

 

It was around noon when Jon, Matt, and Colleen left the beach house.  Their first stop was to find a parking spot at a small strip mall.

 

“I need to go in a few of these stores, you two want to find a bench to wait?” Colleen put her crossbody handbag over her shoulder.

 

“I think Matt should go with you, I see a place I want to check out,” Jon told her as they got out of the car.

 

Matt pulled out his phone and shot off a text. “I’m with the sparrow, you follow the eagle.”  Not waiting on an answer, he followed Colleen to a book store, as he watched Jonny walk toward a store a few doors from the book store.

 

Colleen walked to the desk and talked to the clerk, the young woman pulled out a store eco bag and handed it to Colleen. Smiling she looked in the bag and looked at the girl and handed her a credit card.

 

Matt saw a couple of books on Massage and relaxation titles and thought of Desi.  Picking them up, he headed to the counter. Colleen was getting her recite.  “Do you guys do gift wrapping?” Matt handed the books and his card to the young girl.

 

“Yes sir, if you want to wait.” The young girl said as she rang up the order.

 

“Matty we can pick them up after the next shop,” Colleen told him.

 

It was agreed they would be back in about thirty minutes, then they exited the store.  Jon watched them leave and move to the next store.

 

“Ok, Tony, you can come out from behind the post,” Jon laughed.

 

“What gave me away?” Tony stepped out from behind the post that he stood by.

 

“Ah, I knew Matt wouldn’t let me walk away unguarded.” Jon tossed him the bag with the black bikini he had picked out for Colleen.  She only had a one-piece suit packed for the rest of their holiday.

 

Tony caught the bag and followed Jonny into the book store that Colleen and Matt had left.  Tony was shocked when instead of the biography section Jon had detoured into the romance section.  Pulling a list out of his pocket, Jon read the titles and checked the list. Pulling out several books Jon moved to the counter and paid for the books and then handed the bag to Tony.  This went on as they made it to a few more stores till Tony’s phone beeped.

 

“They’re ready to head to another mall,” Tony told his brother.

 

Jon tossed his keys to Matt to have him drive his car, and he rode with Tony to the mall.  They ended up parking on opposite sides, Jon crammed his hat on his head and kept his sunglasses on.

 

Planning on meeting them in the food court at two-thirty, the first place Jon made a beeline for was Victoria Secrets.

 

“Books, bikini and bloomers, Big brother?  You need to expand your alphabet some,” Tony laughed.

 

“You think you might want to add to Nina’s wish list too?  I bet you might find bloomer shopping as much fun as just being my pack mule,” Jon tossed over his shoulder as the shop's bells rang to show a new shopper.

 

From Vickie’s, they headed to a music store that showed they carried vintage LP’s. There Jon pulled out his cell, he had been having a hard time finding all the ones that were destroyed when she was robbed.  If this showed a bust he had a member of the bands on speed dial. Finding two he hit speed dial.

 

“Hey Beatle Paul, this is Jon Bon Jovi, I need a favor,” Jon said into the phone.  “I’m having a hell of a time finding a Meet the Beatles on Vinyl for my Girlfriend’s collection.”

 

“I know of a shop in Piccadilly I’ll have them look for you Mate, and global it to you,” Paul McCartney told Jon.  “When am I going to meet your bird, man?  Before the wedding, I hope.”

 

“That’s great, and I’ll see about a stopover before we head home from the rest of our holiday,” Jon told his buddy. They talked a few minutes while Tony paid for Jon’s purchases, and they were off again.

 

“Colleen is gonna shit a brick meeting you buddy BP,” Tony said as he followed Jon to another store.

 

“You think?  There are so many I want to introduce her to, I want her to be a part of this side of my life,” Jon checked his watch, then headed to the new age store.

 

Tony raised his eyebrow seeing Mister Allergies walking into a store he could smell before hitting the door.

 

Soon they were in the food court waiting on Matt and Colleen to appear.  Jon had ordered a coffee and hot chocolate at Starbucks and found a table. So far so good, he hadn’t been fan covered or harassed for pictures. Wearing the ugly Christmas sweater and bah humbug ball cap must have worked.

 

Tony sipped his hot chocolate and wishing he had made a car stop with all his bags, which the clerk helped him load into a Santa sack size bags so Colleen couldn’t see where they had been.

 

“When are you going to pop the question?” Tony asked as Jon scanned the crowd.

 

“Tonight after dinner, have your camera ready,” Jon pulled out his phone and sent a text to Matt. ‘Where are you two, it’s almost three and Camo’s hot chocolate is getting cold?’

 

‘In line, when will this hell be over with?’ Matt texted. “Hey Camo JBJ has a hot chocolate ready for you,” Matt told Colleen.

 

“Oh good, I need it.” She finally got to the register to pay at the sex shop they saw on the store list. “Give me your basket to pay for and we’re done.”

 

They headed to the food court. ‘Stand up so we can find you two’ Matt texted. Seeing a man in the ugliest Christmas sweater and ball cap motioning to them. They wove between the tables to get to them.

 

“Great disguise big bro,” Matt accepted his cup of coffee from Tony. “See you got the free Santa Sack over by the gift wrap kiosk.”   Matt lifted the heavy bag.

 

“The only way to shop little bro,” Tony laughed.

 

“Just one more store them I need to get home to help with dinner,” Colleen told Jon.

 

“Why don’t we pick up Pizza for dinner?  Your mom needs a break from cooking as that’s all y’all will be doing tomorrow,” Jon reached for her hand and rubbed her ring finger, thinking about the time he’ll ship that canary diamond on it.

 

“I’ll call mom, you order the pizzas,” Colleen told him.

 

That done they split up and headed to the cars.

 

The Bongiovi telephone service got around so that everyone knew but Colleen what was going to happen after dinner. Plans were changed and champagne was put in the bar fridge to chill.