Night Owl || Rocky Lynch

CHAPTER 29

*A year and a half later*

"So..." Rocky shut the bedroom door behind him and started to unbutton his shirt. I sat on the bed with a book in my hand, but folded the corner of the page down to mark my place so I could shut it and look up at him. "I know you don't want to talk about this, but..."

I groaned. "Yeah, I know," I sighed.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and tilted his head with a small apologetic smile. "Have you thought about it more?" he asked. "You know, about what I proposed to you...?"

"I don't know!" I sat my book down on the nightstand and sat up, crossing my legs underneath me. "On the one hand, we'd miss you so much. On the other hand, it might be more work than it's worth."

We knew this time would come sooner or later, and the band was really good about postponing it so Rocky could stay with his family. We had our wedding and settled into our lives as not only parents, but husband and wife. James was growing up so fast and was almost completely potty trained. Things were going by smoothly with only the smallest hitches here and there. Nothing that wasn't manageable.

But now the album was finished. It was charting well and it was time for a new tour cycle. It didn't come as a surprise. In fact, this was the plan. The only thing was that we couldn't agree on one thing.

"I'd miss you both too," he pouted at me and leaned in to kiss my cheek.

"Rocky, think about it."

"I did think about it," he mumbled and kissed my other cheek. I rolled my eyes and giggled before pushing him away. "Come on. If anyone can raise a kid on the road, it's us! We've grown up so much. Plus we'll have so much help. My mom and dad will be there. My brothers and sister will be there."

"You're the sweetest," I said, taking his hands into mine. "Won't we be a distraction? It's your job, baby. I don't just take you and James along with me when I sign onto a modeling gig. It's unprofessional." He shook his head at me and his smile faltered. "No, don't give me that look," I laughed pathetically. "We can visit you. And Skype. Like we used to."

"It's not the same. You two are part of me. I don't want to be without you for even a day."

I ran my fingers along his freshly shaved chin before pulling his face to meet mine. I pressed my lips softly against his and he hummed quietly, but the moment was interrupted by the door knob jiggling and the door creaking open. "Mommy? Daddy?" a small voice called.

"James-y," I responded and looked over to him. "What's wrong, baby?"

"Monsters," he pointed.

"Again?" Rocky feigned a pout at his son and reached his arms out. James hurried over to him and Rocky lifted the toddler onto his lap. "I thought we took care of those meanies yesterday."

He buried his face into Rocky's neck and shook his head. "I'm scared," he almost cried.

"Aww, let's go have a look." He stood up and held our son on his hip. "Mommy, do we have any monster be gone spray left?"

"I think so," I nodded with a soft smile.

I followed the two to the bedroom and Rocky sat James onto the bed. He immediately covered up in his blanket and watched as Rocky peaked under the bed. "Nothing here," he said and I sprayed some of our 'monster spray' (it was just water in a cute bottle). In the closet, "all clear," and I sprayed again. Behind the curtains? Nothing at all. "Mommy, if you'd do the honor." I nodded and sprayed one last time.

"See James-y, everything is okay," I kissed his forehead and both of his cheeks.

"I love you," he yawned as Rocky gave him yet another goodnight kiss.

"We love you too buddy," Rocky said and shut the light off. The night light by the bedside flickered on. "See you in the morning." And we pulled the door just until it was cracked open.

As we walked back to our bedroom, I held onto his arm. "So you really want to deal with that every night? On a tour bus? In a hotel room?" I teased him. Maybe that little reality check helped him think clearly.

"There's nothing I would love more," he grinned down at me. God, he was still so stubborn.

"Well... give me one more day to think?" I asked of him.

"Sure, love," he yawned and we settled into bed as he clicked the bedside lamp off.

***

Everyone gathered around the table as the cake in the center glowed with lit candles. A chorus of Happy Birthday rang through the house and James sat with the biggest grin in the center of it all. This was the first birthday of his where he actually understood what was happening. "Happy birthday dear Jaaaaames," the song started to wind to a close. "Happy birthday to you!"

"And many more!" Ross and Riker added and the whole family clapped.

I knelt down next to my boy. "Now blow the candles out like this," I told him, blowing lightly as to not actually blow out his candles. He looked up at Rocky, who nodded with his phone in his hand, taking photos. With a deep breath and a gust of air, the candles were out. I cut him a big piece of cake first before handing out the rest, and then sat with the adults while all of the kids ate at the table.

"Did you decide yet?" Rydel asked as she messed with the diamond engagement ring on her left hand. Even after being engaged for months now, Rydel still couldn't get used to a ring on that finger.

I shook my head. "Are you sure you guys want a two-year-old going everywhere with you? It's not like the good old days anymore."

"You're right," Ross said. "It's not like the good old days anymore. We've all been forced to grow up a lot in the past few years. So yes, we are sure. You're family, Tor. James is family. Rocky would be a sulking miserable mess without the two of you. Sure, this band is his life. But so is his family."

"Yeah," Riker swallowed a huge bite of the white cake that was speckled with colorful sprinkles. "Ever since the beginning of the band, it's been the whole family or none of us. And that counts you two now."  He took another huge bite while everyone mumbled and muttered in agreement. "Mom is losing her mind with excitement. James would keep her occupied so she stays off of our backs. And Rocky is not any fun when he's upset. In fact, it's a nightmare."

"I resent that," Rocky sat down next to me and handed me the phone. "Can you go through the good pictures and send them to my mom? Your idea of good is closer to hers than mine is."

I nodded and scrolled through the adorable still frames of memories. "Do you guys need an answer right now?" I asked idly.

"We need to know what size bus we need to rent so... yeah," Rocky told me. "You've thought about it for like two weeks now. Stop worrying about being a burden because you and James could never be a burden to us. Just go with your gut. What do you want to do?"

I sat the phone on my lap but kept my gaze down as I thought. I stopped the constant list making and worrying inside my head and took a deep breath. What did I want? That was a good question. If I knew anything at all, it was that I didn't want to be without my family, and I didn't want James to be away from the most important man in his life. So I silenced the voice inside my head and took a deep breath. "So when do we leave?" I said and looked up at Rocky with a small grin.

The band all hollered in excitement as Rocky hugged me tight. "This is going to be a great adventure," he assured me. "Do you know how much I love you?"

"I think I have an idea," I scrunched up my nose before kissing him.