Chapter twenty-three

Two days later the band was moving in.

“Hey, watch out with the drums. Don’t let them fall or hit anything with it.” Teddy growled when Stevie and Eric helped him to get his “Lady” down into the basement. He loved his drum set. Just the thought that it could be damaged made him sick.

Steve rolled his eyes. “It’s not the first time we carry her around, T. Stop worrying.”

“I always worry when you are around.” Teddy replied and eyed his bandmate carefully while he balanced the bass drum downstairs.

“Don’t we all do that?” Daniel said when they entered the little room in the basement.

“What are you doing down there?” Eric asked confused. Daniel was crawling around on the floor.

“What do you think? I need to plug my keyboard in, genius.” Daniel said and streaked his blond hair out of his face.

“GUYS! Do you have everything or is something missing?” Kris yelled downstairs.

“You mean besides our beautiful singer?” Stevie yelled back.

Kris rolled her eyes. “Very funny Steve.”

“Krissy?” Daniel yelled back.

“Yeah?” she smiled about her nickname.

Daniel showed up in front of her. “Michael is still missing. He wasn’t ready when I wanted to pick him up, so I gave him the address and told him to come here later.”

“Couldn’t decide what to wear, right?” she grinned when Daniel nodded. Laughing Kris turned to her father and his bandmates, who were watching the scene amused. “Could you let him in when he arrives? We won’t hear the doorbell down there.”

“Sure, sweetie no problem.” Jon replied and was trying hard not to laugh. To watch them was just great. But he was afraid they looked equally funny when someone would ever film them during recording.

“Ok, this is scary, guys. They are so much like us…well, maybe except that their drummer is taller.” David said still chuckling about the kids after they disappeared in the basement.

“Thanks, man.” Tico frowned and slapped his back.

“Ouch, dammit.” David cursed. Richie laughed.

“And that their singer is a GIRL!” Jon pointed out.

“Well, there’s no huge difference to you in the eighties…” David said and hurried back into the living room before Jon could get a hold of him. Richie and Tico tried to hide their laughing. Jon eyed them angry.

They had just settled down in the living room when the door bell rang. Jon opened the door and was greeted by a tall brown haired boy with beautiful green eyes.

“Hi, I’m Michael. I’m looking for Kri….Oh, my God!” he was staring open mouthed at Jon.

“Hi, why don’t you come in?” Jon said and stepped aside. With a deer in the headlights look on his face Michael entered the house and couldn’t take his eyes of Jon.

“Jon? Was that the doorbell?” Kris came running up the stairs. “Oh, hey Michael.” He didn’t react at her at all. She frowned.

“Are you ok?” She moved her hand in front of his face. No reaction.

“Uhm, DANIEL!” she yelled. Sometimes Michael just clicked off; Daniel was the only one who was able to get him out of his trance again.

Seconds later the blond keyboard player showed up on the stairs. “Yeah? Oh, he found the way.” He said grinning when he spotted Michael in the hallway.

“I take it you didn’t tell him who my father is, right?” Kris asked and tried to hide her laughter, as well as Richie and the rest of the guys, who showed up in the hallway again.

Daniel chuckled. “No, I wanted to sleep at night.” He turned to Jon. “I apologize for his behaviour; he’s a huge fan of yours.”

Jon watched the still staring boy. “Well, I have to tell you, I never had that specific reaction before.” Richie started coughing as he tried to control his laughter. This was just priceless. He wished he had a camera.

“Michael? Honey? Are you in there?” Daniel was standing in front of dark haired boy and looked him directly in the eyes, but Michael wasn’t showing any reaction. Daniel sighed and kissed the slightly parted lips of his boyfriend.

Jon’s jaw dropped and so did the jaws of the other guys. They expected Michael to smack Daniel in the next second, but instead the boy closed his eyes and his arms found their way around the neck of his lover. Kris watched her father amused.

“Uhm, hello? Can we maybe separate the two lovebirds? It’s hard to play without keyboard player and singer.” Steve interrupted the scene with his dry comment. Michael finally snapped out of his trance.

“What…What happened?” He looked at Daniel confused.

“You clicked off again, honey.” Daniel said softly and pulled him into his arms.

“Oh…sorry.” Michael sighed and rested his head on Daniel’s shoulder. “You know Jon Bon Jovi was suddenly there.”

“Uhm, Michael? He’s still here.” Kris said and pointed at her father. Michael turned around surprised.

“OMG! I’m so sorry!” he was really embarrassed about his reaction. “...Wait a second…” his head snapped from Kris to Jon and back to Kris. “He’s your dad?” he asked shocked.

“Yeah!” Kris smirked. She just couldn’t control it. She knew so well, that she looked a lot like her father when she was smiling like that. Tico and the rest of the guys tried hard not to lose their control. She was perfectly playing with the boys. I wonder whether they know that, Richie thought.

“How could you not tell me?” Michael slapped Daniel hard on the arm. “You are mean!” he turned around and walked downstairs, pouting like a little kid. The men looked at him surprised.

“Michael…honey…please wait! Let me explain…honey…” Daniel was right behind him and sounded like the poor husband in the dog house.

“When you hit him, don’t hurt his fingers, we need them!” Steve yelled after them and hurried downstairs. You never knew what happened when they both were fighting. Sometimes Teddy had to separate them; sometimes the rest of the band had to leave the room, because they need some alone time.

Kris couldn’t control it any longer and erupted in laughter. Richie and the rest of the guys joined her instantly.

“I can tell you, it’s very funny to watch them. They are a great couple.” Kris said still laughing. Jon watched her unsure.

“How long are they together?” Richie asked trying to get his breathing under control again.

“A little bit over a year, I think. Steve said they acted like a long-time married couple from the beginning on.” She replied.

“You are sure that you don’t mind?” Jon asked.

“What should I mind? That they are together?” Kris was confused.

“Uhm, well…I thought…uhm…forget it.” Jon stuttered. His bandmates watched him chuckling.

Kris smiled. “You thought I’m interested in Daniel, right?” Jon nodded yes.

“Well, he’s kinda cute. But it’s obvious that he will never be interested in me. So we are just good friends.” She walked a bit closer to Richie, before she continued. “And I have to say, I like them more tall, dark and handsome.” Her eyes gleamed. Jon groaned and watched his wingman pulling his daughter into his arms, making Kris squeal happily. He couldn’t believe it.

“Back off Sambora!” he said when Richie hid his face in Kris’ long blond hair and tried to nuzzle her neck.

Kris pouted and tried not to laugh. She let her hands ran softly over Richie’s strong arms which were looped around her waist. “Why?” David, Tico and Hugh watched the shocked expression on Jon’s face. She was really getting him and Richie was playing along.

“Cause you are sixteen.” He pulled her out of Richie’s embrace and pointed to the stairs. “Go and play with the boys.”

Richie laughed out loud, but Kris was able to keep a straight face. “Are you sure you want me to do that?” she asked with a smug smile. “I’m sure Steve is more then willing to follow your wishes.” She said before she ran down the stairs. Her laughing echoed through the stairway.

“I don’t believe that.” Jon shook his head. Wonder where she has that humor from?

“She really got you, man.” David said still laughing. “Right, Rich?”

“Yeah.” Richie said absent; his eyes still fixed on the spot where Kris just vanished. She was really giving him a hard time or maybe he just imagined her to snuggle closer when he held her in his arms. I need to control myself better. She’s Jon’s daughter for God’s sake.