Ch 7 – Daddy Loves Me
“Your future’s no future…” Jonah sang out at the top of his lungs. The little brown haired, brown eyed three year old jumped around on the side of the stage that his father and uncles were performing on. They were somewhere on the west coast- all Jonah knew was that they were on a vacation. He wouldn’t understand for years the business of touring or what exactly his family did- just that they were always there.
“Yeah! Wooohooo! Go Daddy!” he screamed as GC exited the stage.
Joel picked him up and Jonah laughed, “Eww daddy, you smell!”
Joel just laughed and carried Jonah to the backstage area. They socialized and then started to go back to the bus.
A voice began calling after Benji and Joel, they turned and searched for the voice. What they saw next made their blood run cold. (A/n: dundundun- can ya guess who?)
“Joel!” she yelled less than 15 feet away.
“What the fuck!,” Joel turned and handed Jonah to Benji, “Get him on the bus and lock the fucking door.”
Confused Jonah clasped onto Benji’s neck as Benji walked quickly onto the bus not letting Jonah see his father yell at his estranged mother, “Where’s daddy going?”
“He’ll be back, don’t worry.” Benji said turning Jonah around so he couldn’t see.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Joel yelled as Jadie stood in front of him.
“I’ve come for a visit,” Jadie smiled maliciously, “What no welcome?”
“You can’t see him.”
“I can’t see my son?” she asked innocently.
“He’s not your son- he’s my son. You gave him up.” People were staring at the normally laid-back lead singer yelling at this woman.
“You don’t want him, you’re only his father because you have to be.”
“Fuck you. You’ll never know how much I love Jonah. You lost your chance- you better leave before I call security.” Joel screamed.
Jadie didn’t move, “Bullshit, you really think this lifestyle of traveling around the country is good for a little kid? You should just give him back- you don’t want him.”
“Whoa! You’re the one who didn’t want him. There’s no way in hell I’d let you ever take him from me. Now stay away from my family. If I ever see you again, I’ll have you thrown in jail.”
“You can’t tell me I can’t see my son.”
Joel had to control ever muscle in his body to not hit Jadie. “For the last time he’s not your son anymore! He’s my son. Jonah is mine and you can never have him back. Even after the day I die I hope you never see him again. He’s my son- not yours.”
Jadie smirked and shook her head, “I see you’re still set on ruining my life.”
“And I'm not going to let you ruin Jonah’s.” Joel said stepping in front of her defensively, “Now are you going to leave or am I going to have to get security?”
When Jadie didn’t move Joel yelled to the security standing by to have her taken outside the venue. Joel watched as they walked her away and the people around dispersed.
Joel’s anger was bubbling beyond his control- he was scaring himself. He started walking to the bus and got there before he really wanted to. He leaned up against the side and hung his head trying to calm down. The bus door opened and Benji stepped out shutting the door behind him, but not before the sound of Jonah laughing with his uncle Billy floated to Joel’s ears.
Benji stood next to Joel and slid his hand down Joel’s arm twining their fingers together. Joel closed his eyes and sighed then fell into Benji as their arms wrapped around each other.
Benji kissed the side of Joel’s head then leaned his cheek there as Joel’s breath was ragged on his neck.
“She was crazy, I mean insane. Like not totally there,” Joel said, “She accused me of not wanting him, not loving him- but I do…I do with all my heart…”
“I know, I know,” Benji said running his hands over Joel’s back. “You don’t have to explain it to me.”
“I'm scared Benj,” Joel admitted, “can she take him away? She doesn’t have the power to. We signed all the papers.”
“And we’ve had them all checked- there’s no way she can take him back. He’s yours. Forever.” Benji pulled away from Joel and saw the tears begging to get out. “Go ahead, I'm right here- don’t try to be strong.”
Joel started nodding and his face pulled into crying. Benji pulled him into his arms again and let Joel sob. He hadn’t broken down like this since the day before they got Jonah.
“You…and Jonah…and the band are my life. If I lost one, my life would crumble.” Joel managed to get out. “I love you and Jonah so much.”
Benji held onto Joel as his sobs died down but the tears remained rolling down his face. Raising a hand Benji wiped Joel’s cheek, “She won’t come back. Come on you need to get some sleep…and a shower.” He added leaning in playfully.
Joel smiled lightly and leaned into Benji once again, “I think I’ll play with Jonah for a while first.”
Benji nodded and opened the door letting Joel go in first.
“Daddy! Look what uncle Billy drawled. Now I have tattoos like you and uncle Benji.” Jonah said running up to Joel after he had sat down on the couch. Jonah held out his arms proudly showing off the little objects that had been drawn on his innocent skin, having already forgotten about before.
Joel smiled and ran his hands over the black ink, “Wow, they look real.”
“Daddy, when can I get a realer one?” Jonah grinned and poked at Joel’s wrists. “I want to be just like you.”
Joel smiled and glanced up at Benji then back down to Jonah, his tears back again.
“Why are you crying daddy? Who was that lady?” Jonah asked trying to climb up in Joel’s lap. Joel pulled him up the rest of the way and smiled as Jonah touched his face. “Daddyyy?”
“You know that daddy loves you right?” Joel asked as he pulled Jonah closer.
Jonah nodded and smiled, “I know how much!”
“How much does daddy love you?” Joel smiled.
“Daddy loves me this much!” Jonah exclaimed and threw his little arms out to the sides accidentally hitting Benji in the knee. Jonah giggled, “Hehehe, I hit uncle Benji.”
“Oh no! You know what that means?” Joel laughed as Jonah tried to squirm away, “Tickles for Jonah!”
Jonah wiggled and laughed as Joel tickled him and when Joel stopped he hugged his neck, “You’re silly daddy.” Joel hugged him back and Jonah pulled away, “You wanna play racecars with me?”
Joel nodded and Jonah got down, “I’ll be there in a second, okay?” Jonah answered with an ‘okay’ and ran off to the back of the bus.
Joel sighed and rubbed his eyes with his palms. He looked back up at Benji and smiled, “Yep, I love that kid.” Benji smiled and nodded back. Joel got up and kissed Benji sweetly, “I love you too.” he said and with another kiss, “Thank you.”
Benji smiled, “for what?”
Joel kissed him again, “letting me keep him.” Joel turned and went to go play racecars with his son.
(A/n: aww that was sappy! But good right? Send me reviews!!!! Please? One more chapter- and its gonna get slashy!!!! Woohooo! Latas Julie!)