The Honeymoon

 They spent five days sightseeing in and around London, then they hit Ireland.  Colleen met a lot of celebrities, her imaginary boyfriend Jamie Dornan and Sir Paul to name a few, to say that she was lucky, was n understatement. Jon took tons of pictures, so she could remember.  Jon thought the pictures of her and Jamie, were the best.  He had never seen Colleen tongue-tied before. She blushed when Jon told Jamie about her making him read the books, and watched the movies.

Then they headed to Ireland for three days to visit her birth parent’s grave and other spots that Maggie told her to go see.  They stopped over in Scotland before heading back to London till their flight home.  How two people could leave with two pieces of luggage, and return with four each.  Lots of souvenirs and clothes, Jon got tour clothes, in Piccadilly and at Harrods.  Colleen found some sweet second-hand stores in Piccadilly, which she loved.  Jon also bought her a new Mister Bear at Harrods and some sweet pieces of jewelry.  

As they passed over the Atlantic Ocean, Jon was watched Colleen sleep as he read emails that piled up over their Honeymoon.  The one he worried about opening, was from Colleen's doctor.  She wanted to update her surgery, she also asked if they still wanted to adopt? He had told her they would talk when they got home, which seems that will be the first topic on the agenda, barring Jetlag recovery.

Colleen yawned and opened her eyes.

“How close are we to home?” Colleen asked as she rubbed her eyes.

“I’d say maybe another hour or two, why?” Jon asked, then he noticed her flushed skin.  This was not asleep flush, more like I’m Horny flush.

“Well, I was dreaming about our picnic in Scotland, how we made love,” was as far as she got when Jon finished her words.

“Besides the little brook, in the tall grass,” Jon said softly as he unhooked his seatbelt.  “You had on that sundress you bought in London, and a crown of flowers in your hair.”

“You had on a kilt, for me,” Colleen said as she giggled.

“Yeah easier access than these tight jeans,” Jon laughed, as he stood and righted her seat.  He made quick work of the seatbelt and leaned down to cover her lips with his.  

As they broke the kiss, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes, Colleen allowed Jon to help her stand. As Jon turned to lead her to the back bedroom, Jeanie the flight attendant spoke to Jon.

“Mr. Jon, we’re about to descend into Teterboro,” Jeanie informed Jon and Colleen.

Jon turned around and faced Colleen, lowering his head to touch foreheads, he huffed.  “Fucking cockblocked again.”

“Tell them to circle the field,” Colleen sighed.

Jon could tell by the sounds of the Lear jet, it was too late to circle.

“Albert better come in the town car, instead of the Mercedes,” Jon told her as they headed back to their seats. 

As they rolled onto the tarmac, Colleen looked out the window and saw the town car and looked at Jon and smiled.  Hot backseat sex will tide them over as they headed back to Redbank.

------@------@------@

They had been home a few days, Jon finally decided that they need to talk before they had Colleen’s next appointment.  She had been grading papers in her home office, Jon stood in the doorway, watching her mood.

“Want to go for a walk?  You’ve been in here for over four hours, you need a break, and a walk toward the river in the sunshine will do us both some good,” Jon said as he came into the room.

Colleen looked up and took off her glasses, “I could use a break.”  Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she put her glasses on the desk.  “Seems like my sub did a lot, now I have to handle finals.” 

Jon watched her get up and roll her shoulders, yeah she needed a long walk.  “Well let’s stop by the kitchen and grab some water.”  

“Oh, this is going to be a long walk,” Colleen giggled.

Jon stepped back to let her come into the bedroom, he reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers.  A quick stop in the kitchen for water, they headed out the side door, onto the rolling yard toward the river.

They talked about their day, what was being set for the tour this next year when the boys would be home for the summer.  As they got to the little bridge over the creek, Jon stopped and looked down into Colleen’s upturned face.

“We need to talk about June,” he lifted her up and sat her on the railing.  “Your doctor has set your surgery up for June fifteenth, school is over and she thinks it’s the best time,” Jon said as he stood between her knees, his hands reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears.

“It is the best time, get it over, and hopefully one night in the hospital and I can come home. “ Colleen said as she leaned forward and kissed Jon.  “I got the same email.”

“I was talking with Greg, he knew we were thinking about adoption,” Jon said as he looked deep into her eyes.  “He has this client that works placing kids, like foster care, into families.  Greg sent me the lady's name, said that they need foster families really bad, I said I’d talk it over with you.”

Colleen thought about what he was telling her, she knew what it was like to be in a foster home, she was only five when her parents were killed and Aunt Maggie and Uncle Cullen had come to get her.  Fosters could adopt also since Maggie and Cullen became her mom and dad.

“We do have the room,” Colleen said nodding her head.  “I mean the house is huge, we can make it work.”

Jon loved the way she was talking and thinking out loud.  That’s when he saw the sparkle in her eyes, they would foster kids in need.

“So, you want to talk to the lady?  I know they come out and do a home check,” Jon was saying when Colleen placed a finger on his lips.

“I think you knew the answer before you asked the question,” Colleen laughed.

“Yeah, I think I did,” Jon chuckled right along with Colleen.

With This Ring

 

David started playing Kissed By an Angel, the song of his, Colleen fell in love with.  It was the song that fit how Jon felt since the first time he met Colleen, and today he will join his life with hers. He and the boys turned to watch Desie, Nina, Sarah, and Stephanie walk down the aisle, followed by Allie scattering her petals. Jon watched as his baby girl walked down as maid of honor, she had been so excited that Colleen had asked her.  Then when she showed her dad the dress, she had cried, as she told Jon what the four of them asked Father Mike to let them be a part of the vows. There was a pause in the music when Canon in D, the Tran Siberian version played by David, Lorenza, and Phil.  Jon forgot to breathe, Jesse nudged him and whispered Breathe.

 

Colleen walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, she was a vision to his eyes, and he wiped a tear from his eye.  When Colleen had walked into the chapel she only had eyes for Jon.

 

 Her Bouquet was in white and soft peach roses, her mother’s Irish lace veil was flowing down her back held in place with a diamond headband that sparkled in the afternoon light flooding the chapel windows.  She was his angle walking to him.  He leaned in close and whispered she look beautiful.

 

When it got to the part, right before the vows,     Phil started to strum his guitar as Jon looked deep into her eyes and began to sing to her.

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin?

If I can't help falling in love with you?

 

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Take my hand,

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you

 

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Take my hand,

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you

For I can't help falling in love with you

By the time he finished there wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel.

 

Father Mike called for their vows and he told the congregation that they chose their own vows

Colleen looked deep in Jon’s eye as her voice never faltered, Jon I love you with my whole heart with a passion that can't be expressed in words, only in kisses, glances, and years of adventure by your side. I promise to be your honest and loving wife for the rest of my days. I pledge to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my husband today and every day. You are my every dream come true, and I can’t wait for the reality we get to build together.

I promise to be your guiding light in the darkness, a warming comfort in the cold, and a shoulder to lean on when life is too much to bear on your own. Give me your hand, and I will give you forever.

She took the ring that Allie handed her and slipped it on his finger.

Jon reached for the ring, Romeo handed it to Jake, who handed it to Jesse, who in turn and placed it in Jon’s hand.  Jon looked deep into Colleen’s eyes and in a clear voice said to her, Colleen, I love you with my whole heart with a passion that can't be expressed in words, only in kisses, glances, and years of adventure by your side. I promise to be your honest and loving husband for the rest of my days. I pledge to honor you, love you, and cherish you as my wife today and every day. You are my every dream come true, and I can’t wait for the reality we get to build together.

I promise to be your guiding light in the darkness, a warming comfort in the cold, and shoulder to lean on when life is too much to bare on your own.

Give me your hand, and I will give you forever.

He slipped the circle of diamonds onto her ring finger placing it snuggly to rest on her engagement ring.

 

Father Mike looked over the assembled friends and family and smiled “This is normally where I say by the power invested in me, but I have been asked for a special time for all of you to witness these special vows,” he motioned to the boys and Stephanie to come up to circle Jon and Colleen.  This shocked Colleen, but Jon squeezed her fingers and waited for his children to say their special vows.

“Colleen we, Stephanie, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo, pledge to honor the new family, brought together on this day. We promise to respect Colleen as our mom, for she has brought our father much joy. We will act with respect to our parents and will work together as a family,” they smiled at Colleen and placed their hands over the joined hands of Jon and Colleen while they said their vows.

Father Mike smiled and spoke, “As you are all witness to these vows given freely and without prejudice, I can now pronounce you all family, Wife, and Husband by the powers vested in me by the state of New York. What God had joined let no one put asunder,” Father Mike waited for a beat and looked at Jon, “well you can now kiss her I think Maggie will approve.” The congregation laughed as Jon pulled Colleen on his embrace and kissed her, not once but twice. The kids applauded with the congregation and moved so they could walk up the aisle.

 

They quickly headed to the classroom to wait for David Bergman to come get them when the chapel had cleared to take pictures.

Jon was shocked when his mother came up and told him, that this was the happiest day of her life and she approved what the kids had vowed, now they had only to make it legal.  Pictures done they all headed to the country club for the reception.  Colleen left him to change and he waited on her, to make their grand entrance.  He could hear his band playing, when they walked in and Jon led her to the dance floor they would play her choice for the first dance.  Stephanie, Desie, and Nina came into the hallway where Jon waited, cellphones and David in tow.  Then he got the first look of Colleen in the dress he loved, once again it worth the dent in his black card.

Jon could only stare at his beautiful wife.  When he finally found his voice it was almost a whisper. “You look as beautiful as you were earlier, I love this dress, my dress choice.”

 

Colleen walked into his arms, where he turned her in a circle, lifting her up in his arms.  David was snapping away. Her giggles made it all worth the spins, his laughter joined hers.

Stephanie called her father, “Hey dad, they’re waiting on you two in there,” Stephanie finally got then to stop spinning.  “You two want Grandma Maggie to come to get you?”

Jon slowly stopped spinning and let her feet touch the floor. “Okay, Steph, why don’t you ladies go in and let Lema know we’re going to come in, say 3 minutes?” Jon watched the three of them go into the ballroom, he turned and kissed Colleen, “We’re going to sway and I’m gonna sing to you while we sway.  Then we’ll circle the room, toast, cut cake, am I forgetting anything?”

“Garter and bouquet toss,” Colleen wiped the lipstick off Jon’s lips.  “Are you going to join the guys?”

 

“Maybe, but don’t let me forget we have a driver coming at seven-thirty to take us to the apartment,” Jon smiled.

 

“Okay, I’ve got it, Husband,” Colleen winked at him.

 

“Good, Wife,” Jon winked back.

 

Taking her by the hand, they opened the door and walked into the ballroom of the country club to the turn of Teddy Bear. Jon sang to her.

Baby let me be,

You’re lovin' teddy bear

Put a chain around my neck,

And lead me anywhere

Oh let me be

Your teddy bear.

 

I don't wanna be a tiger

'Cause tigers play too rough

I don't wanna be a lion

'cause lions ain't the kind

You love enough.

 

Just wanna be, your teddy bear

Put a chain around my neck

And lead me anywhere

Oh let me be

Your teddy bear.

 

Baby let me be, around you every night

Run your fingers through my hair,

And cuddle me real tight

Oh let me be

Your teddy bear.

 

Colleen started to tear up as he sang the song as a love song.  He remembered about the first night she was in her old bedroom.  This and singing can’t help falling in love with you, her two favorite love songs.

 

It was time to cut the cake and have the toast, Jon and Colleen went over to the cake they had finally decided on.  The inside of the cake was red velvet, with buttercream icing with the roses in pink and lavender.  Of course, Jon ended up with more frosting on his face than in his mouth, but Colleen had a dot of frosting on the tip of her nose, that Jon quickly licked off.  David stood up and tapped his campaign glass with his skull ring to get everyone’s attention.

“It says in Bon Jovi history that when I was born the doctor slapped me on the butt and yelled Bon Jovi, and Jon is a month younger, born in the same hospital, by the same doctor was held up by his feet and butt slapped with the same words, Bon Jovi.  For those of you that don’t know me, I’m David Bryan, the king of the keyboards and Jon’s older brother, by different parents.  When Jon came home from a weekend in the Hamptons and had a smile on his face, I knew there had to be a woman behind it, I was right, a little bitty fireball named Colleen Ann Marie O’Sullivan.”  David raised his glass to toast Colleen and winked.  “I knew this would be the woman of his future and the light back in his life. So today raise your glasses and toast the new Mr. and Mrs. John Francis Bongiovi, may they live long and happy today as in life, Mazel Tov.”

Everything was going as planned, till Jon joined the band.  Colleen kept checking the clock in the room, she was out dancing with her dad when saw it was time. Jon was just starting on another song, when Colleen came to the microphone and put her hand over it.

 

“Husband, it’s time for the garter and the bouquet toss,” even with her hand over the mic, her voice could be heard.   “You can concert later, you’re the groom, not the Rockstar.”

 

Jon smiled really big and said in a loud voice, “Yes wife dear.”  That got the whole room laughing.

Of course Stephanie caught the bouquet, Greg caught the garter.  Jon had fun going up that tight dress to get that garter, the band gave him hell for taking so long. 

Birdseed fell on them as they started toward the waiting limo, Colleen was having a hard time keeping up with Jon, and he stopped and lifted her over his shoulder, to her sequels of laughter. Putting down at the car, the drive opened the door for Colleen and Jon to get in.  He drove them to the bar parking lot.

Get Me To The Church OnTime

 Looking over at the clock, Colleen sat up in the bed.  She and Jon had texted till she fell asleep, the last text being that he’d see her at the altar.  Of course, all the text weren’t all lovey-dovey, some of them were hot enough to melt her apple phone. He told her that he would replace her bed in the apartment if they broke it on their wedding night. This week of abstinent from sex was making him so horney, like a sixteen-year-old. He had said he had gotten reacquainted with his right hand.

Colleen heard a gentle knock on her door.

“Mom, are you up?” Stephanie asked as she slowly opened the door.

“Yes Stephanie, I just woke up,” Colleen smiled, Stephanie had been calling her Mom since the day they went dress shopping.  If Jon had heard it, he hadn’t commented on it.

Stephanie brought in a tray, with two cups and a pot of hot chocolate, and two pastries. She set the tray on Colleen's lap and sat on the edge of the bed.

“You ready for today?” Stephanie asked Colleen.

“Yes, now I wished we had set the date earlier,” Colleen said as she sipped her hot chocolate.  “We’d be married now and settled into married life.”

“I’m just glad that my dad found you, it was fate that you two would meet. No matter what Pop and Granddaddy say,” Stephanie laughed.

“Did your grandmother get in?” Colleen asked as she looked at Stephanie over her cup rim.

“Yes she rode in on her broom yesterday while we were at the wedding dinner,” Stephanie said breaking off a bite of Danish. “She ambushed Daddy when he got home.”

Colleen thought that was odd since Jon never told her anything. Maybe he didn’t want to upset her, or he handled it for them.

“Well, she got here, that’s the important part,” Colleen finished her pastry and hot chocolate.

“I’m happy we had this mother-daughter breakfast, your mom was going to bring this up and I begged her to let me do it.  She told me to tell you, to get a shower and wash your hair, the car will be here to take us to the church to get dressed and pictures,” Stephanie said from the door taking the tray back to the kitchen. “Uncle David said he would see you there.”

Colleen stretched and headed to the bathroom, passing her mother in the hallway.

“This is my last time with you as a single woman, but Stephanie begged me,” Maggie said proudly.

“You want to sit in the bathroom, as I shower?” Colleen asked her mother.

“I haven’t sat in there while you had a bath since you were a little girl and I washed your hair for you,” Maggie sniffed.

“Come on mom, and you can wash my hair,” Colleen smiled and hugged her mom.

------->----@

Jon and the boys headed to the church around noon, he had to rehearse his song with Phil, Lema, and Lorenza.  He had finally decided on an Elvis song, Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.  He knew she loved that song.  Phil was going to play an acoustic guitar, while he sang to Colleen, during the ceremony.  Phil had left with Lema while he was finishing his shower.

His mom had cornered him again this morning, he had almost wished she had stayed in Miami.  Was he sure Colleen was the one?

“Mom, I wouldn’t have asked her if I didn’t think she was the one,” Jon told her.  “Please mom be nice to Maggie and Cullen, they’re my new in-laws.”

“For you Jonny I will,” Carol said with a smile that let Jon know today was going to be hell.

The rehearsal with Phil, Dave, and Lorenza went okay, something was missing.  Jon sent Jesse to get Stephanie, he needed a stand-in.  Stephanie looked beautiful in her maid of honor dress of deep burgundy.  Explaining why he needed her, Stephanie smiled and held hands with her dad, as he sang Love Me Tender, by his hero Elvis Pressley.  They ran through it twice with Stephanie wiping tears out of her eyes on the last time through.

“It’s perfect Dad, and I know she’ll love it, hell you could sing the phonebook and she loved it.” Stephanie reached up on tiptoes and kissed her dad’s cheek.  “Now go back to the groom’s room so Uncle David can get pictures.”

Jon smiled at Lema, who was so happy when Colleen asked him and Lorenza to play at the wedding.

They weren’t in the room long before David Bergman was in telling everyone where to stand and who needed to smile.  Jon took Romeo aside and asked if he was sure about what they asked him this morning.

“Hey Romeo, I need you to do something for me,” Jon said as they headed into the bathroom.  “Ro, are you sure this is what all four of you want?”

“Yeah Dad, Stephanie has been doing it for over a month, and we boys want the same thing, and today would be perfect.  Jesse wrote what we want to say and we talked to Father Mike at rehearsal and he agreed,” Romeo told his dad. 

“Okay, now do me a favor, run this to Colleen in the brides’ room and give it to her from me, please,” Jon asked his youngest.

“You got it, dad,” Romeo said as he waited for his dad to get the small box and the card. 

After leaving his dad, he walked to the other end of the hallway where the wide white door with the wedding bells on it and knocked.

All the giggling and talking stopped.

“It better not be Jon,” Maggie told the women in the room.  Carol was in there with them, as it was her place as mother to the groom.

“It’s not his first go-around,” Carol said as she sipped her one glass of Champagne. John and Jon both admonished her not to get drunk and spoil the wedding,

Stephanie went to the door and opened it, seeing Romeo on the other side with a gift and a card.

“Dad said to give this to Mom,” Romeo said loud enough for everyone to hear him.  He walked past his sister to where Colleen stood with tears in her eyes.

“Thanks, Romeo,” Colleen gave him a hug.

He handed her to gift and card.

“Will you take this to your dad,” Colleen asked as she turned and placed her presents and picked up a similar box and card to Romeo.

Maggie and Carol looked on in a stunned facial expression.  “Did he just call you mom?” Maggie asked.  Carol was just as shocked but she had heard Stephanie call Colleen mom, so she figured Jon had decreed it.

“He sure did,” Colleen said as she opened her card. It wasn’t the sentiment that caused her to blush but the note Jon wrote on the inside of the card.

‘I look forward to finally waking up with you in my bed.  I love you so much my sunshine, my love.  Do not plan on staying long at the reception, it’s been the longest week of my life.  See you at the altar.’

“By that blush, I think Jonny,” Desi started to say something x rated but her girls and Carol were in there.  “Said something blushable.”

Sarah, Nina, and Stephanie nodded their heads.

Colleen cautiously removed the wrapping paper on the package, so she could put it in the envelope with the card.  Gasping she held the Tiffany blue box in her hand. Slipping the jewelry box out of the box she slowly opened it.

“Grandma Maggie was mom like this as a child?” Stephanie asked.

“Worse, that’s why we never wrapped her gifts up fancy. Maggie laughed.

“Oh,” Colleen gasped again as she brought out the diamond drop earring.

“Your something new,’’ Nina, Desi, Sarah, and Stephanie said in unison. Stephanie took the earrings and Sarah took off the ones she wore, and Stephanie handed them to Sarah to put the new ones in.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the bride’s room, meanwhile over in the grooms’ room. Romeo got there with Colleen's gift to Jon.

“Dad, Mom sent these to you,” Romeo smiled with a pair of lady's lip prints on his cheek, which David Bergman got several pictures of before Jon took a tissue out to clean his cheek.

Jon opened the card first then laughed, they had bought the same card.  The only thing different was the note to him in Colleen's handwriting.

‘On this day we two shall be as one.  You are my love, my mornings, my nights, and everywhere in between.  I’ll see you at the altar just so you know, I’ll be the one in white and lace.’

The men in the room waited for him to open the gift, circling him.  Jon ripped the paper and smiled at Tiffany’s box that was the same as his gift to her.  Inside was a new set of cufflinks, a tie tack.  Both were engraved with a twist design of their initials. Jon held out his hands so his dad could take out the rental links to put in the new ones, while Cullen took out the cheap tie tack and put the new one in its place.  

David got more shots of the men of Bongiovi and when there was a knock on the door, Father Mike came in and told Jon it was showtime.  They all had a prayer then Cullen left to go get Colleen with Jamie following them, His dad left to get Carol, and Matt and Tony went to walk behind their parents, and Jamie was to walk down with Maggie.  That left Jon with his three boys, the Nutt crew, he was so proud of them and what they were declaring today.  This was the beginning of a new life for all of them. They walked out with Father Mike and took their place in the front of the packed chapel. 

Chapter 76

 

They arrived at the church for the rehearsal for tomorrow, Colleen came in with Stephanie who would be her stand-in. Jon came in with the boys, But, Matt was a stand-in for Jon.  The boys stood in the front being Jon’s best men, Jesse, Jake, and then Romeo. Dave was on the piano with Lorenza by him and was playing softly.

 

“Ok let’s line up ladies and so you’ll know how to line up, and we’ll mark where you all will stand.” Father Mike told them to line up to come down. Colleen looked over at Jon who was listening to the father like he was studying for an exam. She pulled out her cell phone and snapped a picture, sending it to him. ‘Are you getting nervous?’ Jon pulled his cell out to see who was texting him, please God don’t let it be mom, he thought.

 

“Ok, music let's go,” Father Mike said as he motioned for Dezi to start down, then Nina, Sarah then Izzy who stood in for Stephanie.  Ally walked proudly tossing paper in place of the rose petals.  Stephanie walked down with Cullen.

 

Soon they were all where they were supposed to be.  The father told them what would happen and he finally let Jon and Colleen practice the kiss, a few times.

 

“That’s enough they know how to kiss,” Maggie told the father teasing Colleen and Jon.  The whole chapel laughed. 

 

They walked back up the aisle and he said that was good, but one more time would be better.  It went better this time than the first, all but the kissing part, and soon they were on the way to dinner.  Colleen road with John Sr. and her dad.  Sitting in the backseat Colleen listening to them talk.

 

“We couldn’t plan this any better John. Now if only Carol would get with the program,” Cullen said as they pulled into the bar.

 

“I thought we were going to Uncle Mario’s place?” Colleen asked her dad,

 

“It’s all delivered, you didn’t think I would have your last party as a single lady at the restaurant?  Come on Coco.” Her dad said. “John and I simply wanted to have a good Italian, Irish dinner.  He made Lasagna and I had corned beef and cabbage sort of a blended family dinner.”

 

The bouncer Albert, was there to make sure no one got in, without the golden ticket.  Someone placed a drink in Colleen's hand, as she circled the room looking for Jon.  He would get a kick out of their dad’s taking credit for them hooking up and getting married.

 

She made two circuits of the bar and kitchen, then slipped out the backdoor and as she went up the stairs she noticed the lights on in her apartment. Slowly going up the steps she noticed the door not closed all the way. “Jon, are you in here?”  She eased the door open and then stopped when she saw the candles and the roses.

 

“I wondered if you would come looking for me,” he reached for her hand and pulled her into his arms.  Soft music played on her stereo and there was champagne chilling in a bucket.

 

“I’ll always come and look for you,” Colleen whispered on his lips before kissing him.

 

They stood there wrapped in each other’s arms. Whispering words of love to each other.  Soon Jon walked her to the sofa and sat down with Colleen in his lap.  Reaching to the coffee table her handed her a glass of champagne and got his glass.  Holding it up he started talking.

 

“Here is to the lady that tomorrow will be my wife, the love of my life, the sunshine that took away my darkness,” Jon smiled and tapped her glass with his, then they sipped the bubbly.

 

“Here’s to the man who I fell in love with and in about eight hours will be my husband, the maker of dreams, and my protector. The man who will grow old with me and owns my heart,” Colleen tapped his glass and they sipped.

 

Leaning toward each other, they sealed their declarations with a kiss.  The screen door opened and Stephanie stood there with Greg.  “I told you I knew where they were,” She pulled Greg into the room.

 

“And why did you have to find us,” Jon asked.

 

“It was either me or grandmother Maggie, now which one did you want to find you,” Stephanie asked her dad.

 

“Thanks Steph, I meant to find your dad to tell him our dads are taking credit for us hooking up and getting married,” Colleen told them.

 

“Those two got us hooked up? I don’t remember seeing your dad that night I came in?  But we can give them this one,” Jon leaned over giving her a quick kiss.

 

“Oh yeah, the guys are looking for you so they can do their set,” Stephanie and Greg turned to head back to the bar.

 

“We better go back down, or the next person might have a garden hose,” Colleen laughed.

 

“Tomorrow night we’re coming back here for the night, I want you all to myself,” Jon said as he corked the champagne up and put it in the fridge.

 

“Oh that can be arranged,” Colleen giggled. “I have some rain checks to cash in.”

 

“Oh yeah, so do I,” Jon said as he took her hand and left the apartment.

 

The band played for almost a two-hour set, then the lights flashed and they came on full.

 

“People we have a wedding tomorrow, think we need to shut down this party, till tomorrow," Cullen announced.

 

Colleen and Jon stood at the door personally thanking everyone who came to the party.  When all that was left were the immediate family, they sat at the bar and Jamie filled glasses with champagne he raised his glass.

 

“To my soon to be brothers and their wives, I never thought to see my sister married to a famous rock star, but tomorrow that will change,” Jamie teased them. “No, give backs.”

 

Everyone laughed but Colleen, she flipped him the bird.

 

Much later as she sat on her bed, sipping hot chocolate with Stephanie. They swapped secrets, Stephanie told her about her mother, by the time they were finished talking about the last month her mom was alive both Steph and Colleen were both in tears and hugging.

 

“Night Mom,” Stephanie said as she dried her tears and hugged Colleen one more time.  “Tomorrow I can legally call you mom.”

 

“It’s something we need to talk to your dad about. I don’t think the boys really want to call me mom,” Colleen told her.

 

“Oh I think they do, I just need to talk to them and to dad,” Stephanie told her as she got to the door.  “We’ll talk about it when you two get home.” And on that note, she left.

Chapter 75

 Jon and Colleen arrived at the church, Jon was glad there were no paparazzi around, so far the date of the wedding hadn’t been leaked.    He parked the car and went around the car to help Colleen out, using the opportunity for a quick kiss.

“I missed you last night, I had the whole big bed by myself,” Jon said as they walked up to the doors to the chapel.  “The shower wasn’t fun without you either.”

“I slept like a kid, in my virginal daybed,” Colleen gave his hand a squeeze.  “But the bubble bath was fun.” She giggled looking up at Jon and winked.

Jon opened the door and stepped back for Colleen to walk in, where Father Michael waited on them in the vestibule.

“Ah, here are my bride and groom,” Father Michael gave Colleen a hug and shook hands with Jon.  He led them through the chapel, where both lit a candle.  Jon said a prayer that Colleen would be happy and that God would guide them about a baby that both wanted so badly.

The meeting with Father Michael wasn’t long, he asked them questions, some of the deep questions like that made Jon really think about what was going to happen in his life on Saturday.  Then he gave them a blessing and told them he would see them Friday for rehearsal.  As he walked them back to the front, he told Jon that everything was going as he wished.

As Jon and Colleen got to the car, Colleen leaned back on the door so Jon couldn’t open it.

“What was that all about with Father Mike?” Colleen asked.

“Security and someone to check the invitations, to make sure no one got in that shouldn’t,” Jon told her. “No fans, paparazzi, Old boyfriends you know that kinda things.”  

“What about old girlfriends?” Colleen tapped him on the chest.  

“I don’t have any remember,” He took the hand of the finger poking and kissed said finger.  “Maybe I should ask for a muzzle and duct tape for my mom’s mouth.”

“My mom wrote her a nice letter, telling her about my hen party and the rehearsal dinner, oh yeah, and what color dress she was wearing,” Colleen told him.  “She never answered, but your Dad and my Dad talked.  She’ll be there for the dinner and the wedding only.”

“My, that’s so nice of her to grace us with her presence, I bet her dress will be black,” Jon looked up at the sky.  “If we’re lucky she’ll get blitzed and won’t wake up till after the wedding.” 

Colleen gasped at the venom in his voice.  She wrapped her arms around Jon’s neck and held him to her.

“Don’t let her ruin this day for our family,” Colleen whispered in his ear.  “It’s our day, not hers.”

“I knew I loved you for a reason,” Jon kissed her cheek and drew back to look in her eyes.

“You better, because you can’t fit into the dresses I bought,” Colleen laughed.  “Or the shoes and trashy undies.” 

Jon laughed and popped her on the ass.  “I don’t know about the shoes, but I might be able to rock the trashy undies.”

When their laughter drew the eyes of people walking by, they jumped into the car and headed to his house.

The boys were on the porch when they pulled up. Jon parked the car and went around the car and opened the door, Romeo exclaimed while Jon helped Colleen with her coat. “Great Camo is here, she’ll make us something to eat,” 

“You poor starving boys,” Colleen played along with them.  “Jon have you not fed them today?”

Jon rolled his eyes at their antics.  “We stopped before we got here and got a couple bags of burgers and fries,” Jon said as he followed them into the house.

They took her straight to the kitchen and then sat at the bar.

“Damn guys, give her time to take off her coat and get comfortable,” Jon went over and helped her out of her coat.  But then he too sat at the bar.  Colleen laughed and went over to the fridge opening the freezer and started pulling bags out and setting them on the counter.

“Roe, get the instapot out and get me a glass of water,” Colleen started to hand out jobs to the starving boys. She tossed a loaf of frozen French bread to Jesse and a frozen tub of garlic butter. “Nuke the tub with the lid popped so we don’t need to clean out the microwave, like the last time.  Jake, I need you to go down to the cellar and pull out a bottle of wine, red please.”  She then got out the apron she found at Christmas while they were there, that read be nice to the cook and she’ll let you live.

Soon the smells filled the house, Irish stew, hot buttered bread, she had also found a package of cookies from Christmas that they froze and thawed them in the oven after they took the bread out.

After the boy’s cleaned up the kitchen, they disappeared.  Jon and Colleen sat in the sunroom.  They looked out over the pool and through the trees if she squinted she could see the shore.  Jon was looking at some papers that Max had dropped off about the Soul Foundation.

“Jonny, can we talk about my appointment?” Colleen asked softly as he put the papers in the folder.

Jon put the folder on the coffee table and pulled Colleen on his lap.  “You want to talk babe, we can talk,” Jon told her. He rubbed his hand up her back, as she looked down at her hands.

“I did a lot of talking to Mr. Bear last night and shed a lot of tears,” Colleen told him.

“Mr. Bear hum, is he an old boyfriend?” Jon asked her softly.

“You know I was adopted, well Mr. Bear was the only thing that came with me besides some old hand me downs,” Colleen said softly.  “I really want to have the surgery for a hysterectomy, yes it will end my dream of carrying a baby, but I don’t want to die.”

“I don’t want you to die either,” Jon told her as he lifted her chin so he could see her eyes. “There are other ways to have a child.”

“I know, but Jonny I don’t want some other woman, carrying our child,” Colleen said in a tone that her mind was already made up. “I don’t want our child  made in a petri dish and implanted in some stranger.”

Jon thought about what she said, he could understand a little bit, till she added the nail that ended the surrogate idea.

“I would feel like you had an affair and wanted the baby you two made, even knowing that it was my egg, in my mind I couldn’t give us what we wanted,” Colleen had tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Oh babe,” Jon pulled her close to his chest and sat there with tears in his eyes too. “How would you feel if we adopted a child?  Don’t say anything now, let’s think on it, all the wedding pressure is tight now has us both emotional. By the time we get back from our honeymoon, we’ll sit down and talk about it all.”

She knew he was right, it was something they had to go in with eyes wide open. What really got her that this wedding in a few days will be emotional for him?

“Jonny she’ll be here for you,” Colleen told him, looking deep into his eyes. “She loves you and only wants what’s best for you.”

“That’s what worries me, wonder if Father Mike will leave the part about whoever has an issue with this marriage speak now or forever hold her peace,” Jon said with a gruff laugh.

“That might can be arranged,” Colleen giggled.

“Now that we’ve gone from tears to laughter, I think I better take you back to your parents’ house, before I toss you over my shoulder and carry you to my bedroom and do sexy kinky things with you,” Jon gave her his smoldering stage fuck me face.

“Sexy kinky hum,” Colleen gave him a shiver and leaned close till their lips were bare an inch apart.  “Save it for Saturday night Jonny,”

They broke out in laughter when a voice from the door interrupted their sexy teasing.

“Can’t y’all stay out of each other’s pants for five days,” Stephanie stood in the doorway and shook her head “Mom, your friend Shelley wants you to be at the bar in an hour and dressed to party,  Something about going bar hoping?”

“Baby girl what do you know about people getting into each other’s pants,” Jon let Colleen off his lap and stood with his arms folded.

“Oh daddy, you’re so funny,” Stephanie laughed.

“Don’t you two drink too much tonight,” Jon shook his finger at his girls.

“Yes Dad,” they both laughed, as they walked out.

Jon heard them laughing all the way out the front door.

chapter 74

 The week before the wedding, Colleen packed everything in the town car, and she and Albert headed to her parents’ house.  She had wanted to stay in her old apartment for the last time, but it being a one-bedroom, Jon thought it was better if she stayed with Maggie and Cullen. She had nixed using the chopper, saying she only wanted to unload once not three-time.  So instead of sitting in the back, her dress bags were laid out on the backseat, she sat in the passenger seat in front with Albert. They made pit stops along the way for coffee and lunch, soon they were driving onto the island and to her parent's place.

 

“Oh Coco,” Maggie came out and pulled Colleen into her arms.

“Hi momma, is daddy at the bar?” Colleen hugged her mom. 

“Are you two hungry?” Maggie helped carry her dress bags. “He is, getting it ready for the bachelor party.”

“We stopped on the way unless Albert wants to go down to the bar for a beer,” Colleen said over her shoulder as Albert brought in the bags.  “I’m not going anywhere till we meet Jon and Farther at the church.”

 

She followed her mother to her old bedroom, this was where she would stay till the wedding.  Jon was not too happy, but Maggie had put her foot down. Jon would stay at his place, Jamie had worked with Jon’s brothers for the bachelor party, tomorrow night. Colleen made him promise there would be no strippers.  Stephanie, Desi, and Nina got a list of Colleen’s friends to be a part of her hen’s party.

 

Colleen hung the dresses up on the hooks on the closet doors, and went and sat on her daybed.

 

“I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Maggie sat on the bed beside her.  “Jon is such a good man, I’ve tried to bury the hatchet with Carol.”

 

“What did you do mom?”  Colleen was shocked.

 

“I wrote her a nice letter, and asked her what color is she wearing to the wedding, and gave her the date and time for the bridal shower, that’s all,”

 

“Did she answer you?  Jon’s dad called yesterday, he’s back in Jersey,” Colleen told her mom. “He didn’t say anything about Jon’s mom being with him.”

 

“John called your dad, they’re going to play golf with Tico and David tomorrow, but he told your dad, she’ll be here the night before to attend the wedding, if Jon lets her,” Maggie picked up a purple teddy bear off the pillow behind her and handed it to Colleen. “You've heard they have separated, hasn’t Jon told you?”

 

“Mr. John told us at the cookout, he said it was coming for years,” Colleen hugged Mr. Bear.

 

Mr. Bear was the only thing she had left from her life before Maggie and Cullen adopted her, Mr. Bear and a battered old grocery bag of her meager clothes.  He had been her confidant when things went wrong, the one that held all her tears when she found out she had cancer and that at such a young life, to maybe never have kids.  She had needed Mr. Bear this past week, knowing her dreams were over, Jon was a good substitute for Mr. Bear.

 

Maggie got up and went to the door, “You want to help me with the last meeting with Marino’s about the rehearsal dinner?” 

 

“Yeah, sure Mom, let me change into my grubby’s,” Colleen said as she put Mr. Bear back on her pillow.  She would wait till tonight to tell her mom about what they learned at the OB/GYN later.

 

Jon and the kids made it to the house on the beach, it was already getting close to his meeting with Colleen and the Father of her Church. He had met with Max about the change in his will, that Stephanie was there as she was the executor of his estate.  Max suggested making both Stephanie and Colleen joint, incase to cover his butt.  Stephanie had agreed, so he gave both of his girls the power.  Thinking about Stephanie coming down with Greg and his girls and that she and the girls were staying with Colleen, Greg was bunking with him and the boys. 

 

Around two, Jon pulled up to the O’Sullivan’s house to see Colleen sitting on the steps. 

 

“Hey, you want to take a drive little girl?” Jon tried not to laugh keeping his stage sexy face that would melt panties in a huge arena.

“Oooh you look just like that Rockstar, what was his name again?” Colleen giggle as she grabbed her cross-body bag and walked over to the car and leaned in the window.

“Jon Bon Jovi?” Jon asked her.”

“No, I don’t think that’s him,” she leaned in further and kissed his lips.  “I know who you look like, David Bryan.” She quickly moved back from the car and walked around the car to get in the passenger seat.

“You better be glad I love you so much, or I had left your perky ass standing in the yard,” Jon scolded her.

“I always knew you were an ass guy,” Colleen laughed. He leaned over and wrapped his hand around her neck and devoured her lips.  They broke apart when Stephanie beat on the window.

“Hey you two get a room, better yet get thee to the Church or you’ll be late.” Stephanie laughed as Colleen blushed. She laughed harder when her dad gave her the Jersey State salute which she returned double-loaded.

 

Chapter 73

 Colleen met Jon at her Gynecologist in the city, he was waiting in the foyer of the building.

“Hey Jonny,” Colleen walked to him and gave him a kiss and hug. “You ready for this?”  

“As ready as I can be,” Jon pulled out his cap and glasses and slipped them on.

They walked into the doctor’s waiting room, no one looked up.  Many of the ladies were in various stages of pregnancy, or husbands wishing they were anywhere but to OB/GYN’s office.  There were a few girls that looked too young to be expecting, with no one to hold their hand while they waited.  That could’ve been Stephanie if she hadn’t changed her life around.

They found two seats together, he held her hand as they waited to be called back.  Jon picked up one of the pamphlets off the table, one on from conception to birth.  He began to flip the pages till it showed pictures of crowning and birth.  Of course, he was there for the birth of all four of his, but just the sight of it fourteen years later about turned his stomach.  Colleen reached over and pulled it from his hands.

“Don’t be counting the eggs before they hatch,” she leaned over and whispered in his ear.  “It might never happen, you know.”

He looked in her eyes, they weren’t sad or angry, more resigned.  It wasn’t long till they were called back.  She had him turn his back when she stepped on the scales.

“No peeking Jonny,” Colleen giggled.

As they handed her the cup with the blue lid and she stepped into the bathroom, the nurse left the folder where he could look.  His eyes trailed over the three numbers on the post-it note on the top cover, one hundred twenty pounds.

Colleen came out just then and caught him looking.

“All right Jonny go step on those scales and let’s see if all my cooking had added a few extra pounds on you,” Colleen led him over to the scales.

He had added a few pounds on, but then again he wasn’t running around on stage almost every night. He looked over at her and smiled.

The nurse shuttled them into a room and told Colleen to sit on the table.  Jon helped her up on the table and went to sit in the only chair beside the doctor's rolling stool.  They weren’t alone long before there was a knock on the door and Doctor Harrison came into the room.  Jon was a little shocked that the Doctor was a woman.

“Hi Colleen how are you feeling today? Oh, and who did you bring with you today?”  Dr. Harrison asked.

“Melody this is my fiancé Jon,” Colleen said as Jon got up to shake her hand.

“Oh this is the reason all the nurses wanted to assist me for your appointment,” the doctor said as she put her stethoscope around her neck and walked over to Colleen.

“See I told you the hat and glasses weren’t going to hide your identity,” Colleen laughed.  

Melody had Colleen lay back and began to press on her tummy, then put the stethoscope to use listening to her tummy and chest.

“When did you have your last period,” Melody asked her. “And how long was it?”

Colleen told her it was just last week, and it was short about three days.

Melody made a note on her file.

Jon watched the doctor's face, he didn’t like what he saw.

“Your last one was also short, about four days,” She had Colleen sit up and asked Jon if he wanted to step out while they got her prepped for an ultrasound, that he could come back in.

Jon headed out the door and gave Colleen a wink.

“He knows about your history?” Melody asked as Colleen got out of her jeans and panties.

“Yes he knows, that’s why he wanted to be here today,” Colleen told her.  “I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I know they're getting shorter and lighter.  They told me what to look for, early menopause.”

“Let’s not think that just now, your wedding is soon, I got my invite and clearing my schedule so I can attend,” Melody put the sheet over her lower body and went to get Jon.

Melody moved his chair to the head of the table. Her assistant made sure he could see the monitor 

“I assume you know all about this part of the exam Jon?”  Melody asked.

“Yeah, I’ve been in the seat four times already,” Jon explained as he took Colleen's hand in his.

“Four hum,” She looked down at Colleen as she lifted her feet in the stirrups. 

The room got quiet as she lowered the lights and lifted the sheet, and squirted the gel on her tummy.

“There’s Stanly,” she said as Colleen’s only ovary showed on the screen. Her assistant held the wand and Melody clicked on the machine.

“Stanly?”  Jon asked as he watched the image shifted a little.

“Stanly, because he stands alone, Ollie left him,” Colleen explained.

 Then she clicked in again and moved the screen.  Jon got worried, the last time he sat in for one of these, the Doctor chatted and joked.  Dr. Melody was quiet once she started clicking on the machine.  Soon they had Jon step out while Colleen got dressed and then they would talk.

The assistant told Jon that he and Colleen needed to see the doctor in her office.  Jon looked at Colleen’s face as she joined him in the hallway.  Her eyes looked very strange, like she was holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. They were ushered into the office and sat.  Jon reached over and took her hand in his, like a lifeline, her hand was ice cold.

 Dr. Melody came in and put two photos on the lighted screen next to her desk.  Then sat down and opened her file, folding her hands in front of her.

“Colleen, I made a promise to you when we were in college, I would never lie to you,” Melody pulled out what looked like a pen and pulled it to make a pointer.  “This was Stanly back in November, you see how large he was.”

Jon leaned forward to see what she was pointing at.  This was not looking good.

“I was a little shocked at how much he has changed in twelve weeks.  You can see on the second picture, Stanly has shrunk,” Melody said them looked back at Colleen.

“I knew this was what might happen with the shorter periods,” Colleen said so softly both Jon and Melody looked at her.

Jon gave her hand a squeeze as he saw a tear slowly roll down her cheek.

“Colleen, there are always other ways to have a baby, we can use your eggs and Jon’s sperm,” Melody started to say, but Colleen spoke up.

“No, it’s over, Stanly needs to join Ollie and I don’t want to wait till the cancer comes back,” Colleen stood up and looked down at Jon.  “My new dream is to live and grow old with you Jon. “

Jon stood up and pulled Colleen into his arms and held her as she cried.  Melody left the room to give them time to digest the information she gave them.

When she got her tears and emotions under control and they could talk.

“Colleen, I want to grow old with you too, but I also don’t want you to give up,” Jon sat in his chair and pulled her in his lap.  “Let’s wait till we get back from the honeymoon, think about what Dr. Melody said.”

Dr. Melody peeked in and saw them talking.  “Have you thought about it?”

“We’re going to wait till after the honeymoon, then we’ll come in and talk over alternatives,” Colleen told her.

“I think that’s for the best.  So I’ll set up another appointment for late March.”  Melody told them.

They were walking out as Doctor Melody went into her next appointment in the room next to the Bon Jovi’s.