Epilogue - Part One

Kris was driving home. Every once in a while she shook her head, if someone ever told her how dramatically her life would change from that moment she entered the Bongiovi house nearly nine years ago, she would have laughed. All of a sudden she had a family. A huge family, which really cared. Of course they had their ups and downs, especially in the first couple weeks, but actually it all went more or less smoothly. And now…and now THAT!

She still couldn’t believe it. All she wanted to know was why she was so damn tired in the last couple weeks. She was barely able to stay awake during the day and mostly went to bed by 7 pm. He was really starting to worry and actually she just went to the doctor today to make him stop saying “This ain’t normal, darling!”

She shook her head again while stopping her car in front of their house close to one of New Jersey’s beaches. He would be very happy, she knew that. Why didn’t she think of this possibility before? Still smiling she got out of the car and walked to the door. She had just entered when she felt two small arms around her waist.

“You are finally back. Can we make cookies now…please, Mom, please.” Kris had to laugh. She looked down at the beautiful blond girl, who called her “mom” even though she wasn’t her mother and was as fanatic in cookies as her dad.

“Let me just talk to your dad for a minute, ok sweetheart?” Kris said and ran her hand softly through the blond hair. Ava pouted.

Kris gave her a kiss. “It won’t be long….why don’t you look for all the stuff we need, we don’t have much time, because we are going to my parents place later, remember?”

Ava’s face lit up. She loved it when they were going to the Bongiovi house, because she had someone to play with. “Ok.” was her only answer before she ran off into the kitchen.

Kris walked into the living room and found Richie sitting on the couch playing guitar. He looked so relaxed these days. Nothing remind of the drama in his life anymore. He had some rough years; first Heather filed for divorce, then his dad died and after that the rehab.

Well, the beginning wasn’t easy for them, because Richie was in the clinic and Kris wasn’t allowed to visit him for the first two weeks. She thought she wouldn’t survive and all that during her exams at college. But she had her family and even her dad came around after he realized that Kris and Richie really wanted to give this relationship a try and weren’t just looking for someone who kept them warm at night, after both their previous relationships went so terribly wrong.

Kris had to chuckle. He really tried to act like it would be the 'normalest' thing in the world that his daughter was together with his best friend. In return Kris and Richie tried not to make out directly in front of him. Kris could see how uncomfortable Jon felt when she and Richie were only kissing. No need to let him see those clever fingers of her boyfriend wander over her body.

But one night during the Lost Highway Tour after an absolutely great show, Richie couldn’t control himself. When he came backstage the adrenaline was still rushing through his veins and he kissed the hell out of her while his hands where gliding over her body.

She thought she was in heaven until she realized her dad was staring at them open-mouthed. Finally it seemed to kick in that they were doing more than just holding hands or kissing. Not easy for him to accept, especially because he knew so much of Richie from the ‘80. Just the thought that his little sweetie would participate in some of this things made him feel sick.

She knew she had to talk to him and when she walked over to him and gave him a hug, he held her tied and mumbled in her ear “But you’re my sweetie.”

She smiled “I’ll always be your sweetie, but I love him, daddy!” She whispered in his ear. Jon sighed deeply and glanced over at his wingman.

“If he hurts you, I’ll kill him…best friend or not, band or not.” He whispered back.

“Don’t worry, he’s as protective as you, dad.” Kris smiled at him, feeling that he finally accept their whole relationship.

She knew, she loved Richie, but she also knew that it wouldn’t be easy. Denise was still calling, couldn’t accept it was over. When she even showed up at their place in Jersey Kris lost her temper and told her she would dump her into one of New Jersey’s famous swamps if she would ever contact them again. Richie laughed his ass off about her stupid face. And even if Kris didn’t find it funny at all, she had to admit it was great to hear him laughing again. He did it rather rarely that time. He was still working through the death of his dad and he missed Ava like hell and all the time the press was following him.

After his dad’s death they went out a couple times. Just to talk at the beginning. Kris seemed the right person to talk to, for him. First they had lunch, then dinner and one night she actually made him go with her in a club and dance. They had such a good time that night, even though he wasn’t really into dancing, but he couldn’t leave her alone on the dance floor, because the other men would circle her the minute he left. That night he realized that he couldn’t stand the thought of her being together with someone else! Something she already knew with sixteen. It still amazed him.

How did we get together and the press didn’t notice, it’s a miracle.

She grinned. Well, actually it wasn’t. So many people were helping them to keep it a secret. She discovered that the ‘inner circle’ was working and even the road crew, at least those people who were working for the band nearly all their life, helped.

When Richie and Kris were kissing or hugging and someone who didn’t belong to the circus was coming their way, they always got the warning “enemy” from one of the crew. They always seemed to know where they were, Kris was sure that Jon had arranged that. He just needed to control something.

The warning was only topped by “ultimate enemy” when a reporter was close. In those moments Kris found herself in the middle of several security men while Richie had to deal with the reporter on his own.

“They like you more than me…that’s unbelievable after all this years!” he said pouting.

And then another miracle happened, Richie got full custody for Ava.

Heathers new husband didn’t like Ava and asked Heather to choose.

Actually, she just wanted Ava to live with Richie and Kris part-time and have her back in L.A. for a visit when she had time. Richie was telling her that he would never send his daughter back into a house where she wasn’t welcome and that it wasn’t good for to be pushed around like that.

If Heather wanted Ava out of her house, she had to agree to give him full custody for his daughter. Ava could visit her when she wanted, but he wouldn’t force her to see her mother. Kris still couldn’t understand how you could give up your child for a man, but lucky for all of them Heather did.

Ava was really sad about it the first days, but then her anger became visible. Everytime someone mentioned Heather she asked dryly “Who’s that? Do I have to know this person?” Needless to say that she didn’t want to see Heather. Maybe someday she would be able to, but Kris wasn’t counting on it. Ava was deeply hurt by Heather’s action.

She asked Kris if it would be fine for her to call her “mom”, because she was there for her and her mother didn’t bother. “A mother fights for her kid.” she said. Didn’t I hear that before, Kris wondered? “She didn’t, she’s not worth it to call her mom!”

The logic of a nearly 12 year old girl. Kris was more then fine with it, she loved Ava, like she was her own daughter.