Merry Xmas!

Hi all.

Just incase you didn't know, I've revisited these guys in a super little short called Slow Burn, Rough Night for Xmas. Their story can be found here. Slow Burn, Rough Night

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season.

Kiwi
xxx

Callie & Jon Re-visit

Recent events have inspired me to go even further into the future with Jon and Callie, you can find my little snapshot, Any Other Day and revisit Callie and Jon in a little moment in time....


Enjoy!


xxx

Epilogue

July 1996


He dumped his bags, keys, and kicked the door closed. "Honey, I'm home." He ignored the red flashing light on the answer phone, flipped off his shoes and padded to the kitchen. Coffee gurgled in the pot, he noted the timer had been set to five minutes before he'd arrived home. "Cal?" He frowned and poured himself a coffee and leaned against the counter. Home, after a gruelling tour fresh from the two months in Europe, he was finally home.


Where on earth was she? All he wanted to do was crawl into bed and die but he needed to see her first. He wondered back through their expansive New Jersey home, medical text books were stacked high on the dining table like jenga towers. God, she never stopped. He chuckled, like he could talk. Callie was in her final stages of her residency and when she was done they were taking a long holiday where the words "hospital" and "tour" would be illegal.


He headed upstairs to their room and laughed, the blankets were rolled back and the curtains drawn. God, she knew him so well. She must have been still working, her hours were crazier than his tour schedules. He dressed down and sunk into the bed. Her scent was buried deep in the pillows, yup he'd missed her. He didn't remember falling asleep as the light of the en suite burned against his face. He squinted, "Callie?" He rubbed his forehead, sat up and groaned.


"Relax, lie back down, I'm joining you in two seconds flat, I'm dead." She was a vision even in her blue scrubs. Her dark hair that had been bleached by the sun tumbled low around her shoulders.


"Do I even get a kiss?" He reached out and hooked his arm around her waist, she squealed as they both tumbled back into the bed. He locked his hands at the base of her spine and he groaned as her soft body pressed against his.


"Jon!" She giggled and their noses bumped. He captured her mouth in swift kiss and tasted her. "How was the hospital?"


She sighed into his neck, "exhausting but good." He stroked her hair, she was amazing and she never complained. She was doing what she loved, and like him sometimes it came at a price. He'd learnt it the hard way after the New Jersey tour which reduced him to shreds. Callie had been there to pick up his sorry ass and kick him back into reality. She was his girl and after seven full years together he knew he was a lucky man.


"I'm done," she murmured. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the weight of her.


"Me too babe, I'm so ready for a break."


"No, I'm really done, it’s over. I'm officially a surgeon."


He grinned, "You are? He tipped her chin to meet his gaze. "Well shit, look at you, why are we still lying here? We need to celebrate!"


She buried her face back down in his chest, "too tired. Feet hurt. Brain-dead."


He sighed, "OK snooze first, then we go out."


She moaned, "OK. Can't we just order in?"


Jon chuckled, "alright let me take care of that, Dr Richards."


Jon reached for his phone, punched out a few texts and then wrapped his arms around Callie and joined her in a quick nap.


~


She blinked and rolled over, her head still heavy with sleep. "Jon?" Was it just a dream he'd been home? She squinted at the small white square he’d left on his pillow.


I’m downstairs.

J


"God," she raked her wild hair out of her face, sat up and stretched. She’d bled for the best part of five years in that hospital and finally it had paid off in ways she could only dream about. She had been offered a permanent surgical position as a junior surgeon. It was rare for someone so fresh and so quick out of their residency to secure such a thing, but she’d done it. She smiled, she couldn’t wait to tell Jon and had saved it for a moment when they were both fully functional.

They had a month off together to look forward to, as she made sure that she didn’t start till September, and god she couldn’t wait to do nothing. She couldn’t remember the last time that they both could do that. She scooped her hair back into a clip and went downstairs.

"Jon--I holy crap!" She smacked her hand against her heart as she rounded into their living room and their parents, the band and a few close friends stared back at her.

"Surprise!" Richie handed her a glass of wine, she blinked. Well hell. She didn’t quite expect this.

"What are you doing here? You just got home!" She looked down, "oh my god I'm still in my scrubs!" The room laughed and the skin up her neck flushed. She was going to kill him.

"We couldn't miss the news, you're officially a doctor now." He dramatically clutched his chest, "I think I need an exam--nakey." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh dear god Richie," she kissed his cheek. "It's good to have you guys home."

"It's good to be home, here he is!" Richie raised his beer in Jon’s direction.

Jon flashed a grin as he came back in from the deck, "and there she is! Nice digs babe," he ducked as she swiped his head. She fingered the arm of his navy blue thermal, “your note didn't tell me to get changed, I thought it was just you down here," she hissed.

"You can't tell me you didn't think I was going to let this go by quietly. I'm hurt, how well do you even know me?" His smirk reached his baby blue eyes, a fleck of golden honey hair fell across his face.

They met in a kiss and held it little longer, "well enough that we should be in bed having sex right now."

He bit on her bottom lip and groaned as she subtly slid her knee between his legs. "Oh, that's coming. Don't worry your pretty little head about that."

A sharp cough behind her tugged her away. "Mom, Dad- hey." God, how did he ever get her parents here? They were not the spontaneous type at all.

"Hi darling, we're so proud of you." Her mom kissed her cheek and Callie smiled as her Dad shook Jon's hand, then wrapped her in a hug.

"You did good honey." She blinked away tears, her father seldom showed his emotion but when he did, he meant it. He'd accepted she was becoming a doctor but it had taken time for them to become close again, it would never be like it was but she had his respect and that's all that mattered to her.  

"Thanks, I'm glad you guys could come. I'm going to murder Jon for letting me come down in these old things."

She chatted with her parents, Jon's parents, and their friends. Through the years her and Jon had entertained constantly this house, she could hardly remember when it was just the two of them but that's who they were. Jon had opened her up, in ways she would never dream were possible.

David refilled her glass, and they all looked up when Jon stepped up onto the Ottoman and tapped his glass. "Oh lord," she muttered.

"Ok, thank you all for coming. We're celebrating something special, my girl is a bonified doctor after years of slavery, I don't know how you did it Cal but hell, I know you worked your ass off, so here is to my girl. The Doc."

She smiled as they raised their glasses, "thank you," she mouthed back to him. He was full of damn surprises and always knew ways of keeping her on her toes, that was Jon. Expect the unexpected. He coiled his arms around her tight and she rested her chin on his shoulder , "I love you. God, I missed you."

He chuckled and gently soothed his hands down her back over her ass, cupping it firmly. "I missed you more, and you know I love you too."

No one stayed long, they seemed to know they needed their "we" time. S he had never felt so overwhelmed and loved in one night. She finally showered her day off and slid in between the sheets and sighed, "mmm so good." She stretched her legs out to soothe the pulsing ache through her body.

He rolled on his side and pushed up her Cami, drawing lazy circles across her belly. "Me too, we're sleeping till noon tomorrow and then we're deciding where to go on vacation."

Her smiled widened and she closed her eyes, "mmm Vacation," she purred. "Somewhere hot, where no one will ever find us."

"I was thinking Bora Bora."

She groaned, "oh yes. Bora Bora," she whispered sinking back into the pillows already imagining it was hot sand pooling around her. "You have my vote."

"I was thinking...." she cracked her eye open on his pause. "It could be our honeymoon."

Her eyes flew open, "our what?" They'd stayed content over the years, living in sin, hell they'd been too busy to do anything else. But now? She wasn't one of those girls that longed for a pretty white dress and millions of flowers, but now?

"How about it? I think it's time we got married."

"Jon--I..." words caught in her throat. It'd thrown her so off guard, like he always did she mused. Married? Now?

His eyes zeroed in on hers, and his lips twitched. "Go on you know you want to, I'm quite the catch."

She burst out laughing, "oh big ego have we? I don't know about that. You're hardly home, you're messy when you are, you can't cook, you don't clean..."

He rolled in, and pressed himself up against her, his lips millimetres from hers. "I just pay people to do all those things for us, so when we are home..." his fingers trailed down and ran along the elastic band of her scrubs. "We can be naughty."

She pushed his hair back and cupped his jaw, god love him. "I got offered the surgical contract, I start in a month." She'd been waited for the right moment to share it with just him, and the intimacy of the moment caught up with her.

His eyes widened, "you did? Already? Holy crap woman! That's amazing!" He kissed her squarely on the lips, "I'm going to marry a surgeon."

Their teeth clicked as she laughed, "I didn't say yes yet."

His kiss went sweet to hot, sizzling down her skin. "You will." She closed her eyes and arched under him and he laid claim to her, the joy bubbled inside her.

She nipped his chin and held him still, "yes."

He grinned, "yes," he whispered sealing the deal with a kiss. "I know just the place."

"Oh yea?" God, she was marrying him...it felt strange, but it felt right. He was her lover, he was her best friend and she knew he always would be.

He wiggled his brow. "Atlantic City baby." 

Chapter Sixty-Five

Philly 1989.



Her heels clicked on the pavement as she pushed through the heavy steel door, VIP pass swinging. She glanced at her watch; they'd be due to go on stage any minute. It was a split decision to drive from Jersey to Philly, but hell they hadn't seen each other in forever--three weeks, five days and twenty two hours, but she wasn't really counting. Third year medical school was trying to kill her, add in a boyfriend that toured just as much as he breathed, and it was a textbook definition of disaster. Somehow, someway they were writing their own chapter of happiness in all of that. They each had to do what they had to do, understanding that made it work.


She darted past the roadies, waving and smiling back at the faces that had become her unlikely family. Humidity, the house music thumping out AC/DC, and the hum of an excited crowd was as welcoming as a hug. She grinned, spotting Richie sucking on a cigarette, his guitar slung over a jacket with more sparkles than should be humanly possible. "Richie!"


He stopped dead, talking through a haze of smoke. "Hey Doc, good to see you! We're about to go on. Jonny's gone to the waiting area--want me to go get him?"

She hugged him, smoke and liquor swirled around her. She caught his face in her hands, giving him a once over before she dragged him down for a kiss on the cheek. "No—God, no—not before he's about to go on. I don't have a death wish. I'll slip into the crowd for a bit and watch.” She clutched his hand. “Is he doin’ ok?"

Richie chuckled, hooking an arm around her neck, dragging her around his gear to kiss her forehead. "You know him too well, darlin’. See you after the show." She frowned, that wasn’t an answer, but she heard the warning shouts that signaled the guys to get their places so she let him go.

His voice had been giving him all kinds of issues, even with the cortisone injections he'd started. Plus the back to back tour dates were killing him inside out. Doc had pre-booked the dates so there wasn't much Jon could do about it, even with his new contract, without letting the fans down. This time in their careers was far too important, but it worried her that she couldn't be there when he needed someone to pull him back.

She blew out her breath and snuck around to the side entrance to the arena. Her eyes widened at the wall-to-wall faces that spread across the stadium.

Holy crap.

How he did this every night was beyond her, but he got off on it. She'd been around him enough post-show to know what it did to him before he collapsed in a heap of dead. She took a deep breath and walked into the pit with a nod from Jerry, one of the security guards. A sea of cheap perfume, blood red lipstick, and low slung spandex surrounded her. She blended in…kinda, with her jeans and blue off the shoulder top. Of course she didn’t need to flash her charms here, he’d get first crack at them after the show.

Callie pushed her way to the front and leaned against the barricade. Everyone was preoccupied with how tight Jon's jeans were, or how they were going get backstage to sleep with him after the show. She just smiled. Hell, those comments were everywhere when Jon was in the vicinity. To her it was just Jon who had a crazy job that he was brilliant at.

All this had nothing on what they had between them, she knew that now. These girls could drool over him for three hours, but she got to take the real Jon home. She loved him for reasons that these girls would never see or understand. And that's all that mattered to her.

The lights dimmed, and in seconds she was catapulted into Jon's world. The boys exploded onto stage in a flash of light and the ground shook like thunder. Her heart beat as loud as the feet stomping on the floor.

And then there he was. Jonny, singing about being wild and young in the streets. She knew the songs. She had her cassette player going while she studied, keeping a piece of him with her even when he couldn't be. That boyish smile was spread wide, his eyes sparkled under the stage lights, and he let go.

She laughed, he was so good at what he did, drawing each person in with a wink, a smile, or a hand touch. And they hung off every word, every command, for the rest of the night. It always amazed her how much co-ordination that they had, always in tune with each others movements, all orchestrated by what Jon did.

Richie smiled several times during the show in her direction but Jon hadn't seen her yet. She swore he'd look at every person except her, but she could live with that. It was fun watching him be so unaware that she was just yards from his touch.

New Jersey was her favorite album so far. Maybe she was biased since she'd been around when he wrote it. But this album was so much more personal than the first. He and Richie had written amazing songs. She smiled as the song changed and he pulled the crowd in with a rasping whisper as he talked about brotherhood, critics and clichés. She wondered how many people really knew how close that was to her Jon away from this stage. Blood on Blood was her second favorite song from the album, the first being something very close to their heart.

The encore started, she squeezed past a couple of people to beat the crowds out of the pit but froze. The lights fell low, and the lone deaf drumbeat turned her, Jon stood in the middle of the stage, his guitar slung down the side, leather jacket and tight blue jeans. He reached for the microphone and closed his eyes as the crowd fell a few notches above a hum.




Woah ohhhhhhhhhhh woahhhhh ohh baby
Dont' know where to begin
Where we fit in
Livin in Sin, baby
Come over to your house
Knock on your door

She knew the medical term for blood rushing to her cheeks, but fuck if she could think of anything remotely intelligent at this point. Her belly bottomed out as her fingers curled over the railing. He stood, in his moment separated from the twenty thousand people around him. His words, like arrows in her chest as he crooned.

Her song.

Neither of them had revisited the idea of marriage over the last two years. He'd joked the song was her engagement ring, with the irony of the lyrics. Living in Sin had worked well for them. They’d never been conventional, nothing about their relationship had fit into that definition. Somewhere along the way being unconventional had become their perfect and their right.

This is me, for you.
Where do we fit in
Where to begin

His whiskey roughened voice hit her in the back of her knees. God, she'd missed him, more than she'd let herself admit to. She was so used to being independant, that craving Jon's love was something that still blew her mind.

Living on Love and Living in Sin—two lines that summed them up better than anything else in this life. Through the smoky haze, he bared his soul. Then he stood back and his eyes met hers.

"Jon," she whispered blinking away the blur.

The band lurched into the verse, he held her gaze, nodded at her and turned to the band. Richie bowed his head and gave her a sly grin. Holy Christ, her heart was racing fast enough to be a Tachycardia. Her knuckles were white around the railing as he continued the song. No one knew. That moment between them, in the midst of twenty thousand people, and no one knew how intimate he'd just been with her.

Oh god she needed to see him now.

The screams made her clench inside. Worry that he was shredding his vocal chords couldn’t combat the passion that oozed all over the stage. For her, and maybe a little bit for them, he let the crowd see his ache, feel his ache and every moment became her ache. God, body and mind screamed with exhaustion but this made the trip worth it. Skid Row joined them for the last song, and she slipped backstage.

~

He took his bow, waiting as the band walked off and then waved to crowd one last time. He jogged down the stairs and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I've got the physio and doctor lined up Jonny," he waved Doc away like a fly on food and searched down the hallways. Those things he had to take care of, but there was one thing he needed to do first.

He smiled when he saw her, cornered by David yapping away. God for a medical student that was burning the candle at both ends, she looked great. Her hair spilled loose around her shoulders, her blue eyes danced at David’s jokes. God he’d missed her, just one look and the throb in his throat faded away. He nudged David with his shoulder to the side, "Move Bryan, now." He pulled her in, wrapping himself around her and sighed into her hair.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have a test tomorrow?"

She linked her arms up around his neck and they kissed, the rest of the world melted aside. "It was two days ago, I have another on Saturday so I thought I'd come down."

He buried his face into her shoulder. "God, I don't know what day of the week it is. Thank you, just thank you."

She rubbed his shoulders, he took a moment. He just needed one, and then he'd be good. He needed her, and then he could go back and face the world of needles, doctors and press. "You ok?"

He looked up and pushed back her hair, he thumbed around the groove under her pretty blue eyes. "I am now. You're working hard?"

She straightened his jacket. "I do what it takes. Nothing below A's for this girl."

He smiled, and drew her in, her sweet scent more effective than any of the potions and pills waiting for him in his dressing room. "I'm so proud of you."

She kissed his chin. "And I'm of you. You killed it on stage, I didn't think you'd seen me until..."

He chuckled. "Your song." He'd seen her. He hadn't intended to sing the song at all tonight, to rest his voice from the screams, but one look at his pretty girl and he couldn't resist. Shattering her to pieces was definitely worth the pain. "You and me baby. I don't care how, and I don't care where. Just you and me." He squeezed her tight. "How long are you here for?"

"I'll head back tonight. I've got class at noon."

"No.” At her frown, he linked their fingers. “I've got to go and get the chiropractor to do his thing, get a shot, and then we're outta here. I'll have you up at seven and you can drive back then." He wasn't past begging. If he could take a few hours with her, he'd have paid in blood for it.

"OK, OK--I'll stay. Come on then, you better go and get your treatments."

His world for the past year had spun out of control. It was exciting, it was outrageous, and it was a fucking lot of hard work. But he would never change it. It pissed him off that his body was crapping out on him before he was ready, but his one constant in all this crazy mess was her.

Thank fuck for her. If he wasn't about to get a needle shoved in his throat, he'd have taken her in a back room and pounded a few orgasms out of her with the adrenaline high still riding him like a drug. The tour had been nuts, and his popularity had skyrocketed. Maybe he was arrogant but he could score any piece in this place, but he only found himself wanting one.

He tugged her into the dressing room where the chiropractor was waiting. He stripped off his shirt and lay flat on the table while Callie sat in his line of sight. He groaned as things clicked and stretched that he didn't really want to know why. "I can't believe you're here. Did you drive down?"

She nodded. Instead of the snap, crackle and pop, he admired her sparkly blue top that bared creamy shoulders he’d missed so bad. "In your new car?"

She chuckled. "Yes Jon, in the new car. It drives like a dream."

"Good." He smiled, pleased with himself. He'd bought her the car before the tour and had a helluva time convincing her to use it. Finally, the old one had died and she’d had no choice. The house thing he’d deal with when they had a break in a few months. He'd already set aside her medical tuition for the next few years. She wouldn't let him pay it, but he was still working a way to get around that. She would want for nothing when he was finished, and it was what she deserved.

He rolled over and the doctor came in. Fuck he hated needles. He closed his eyes and wished the damn thing over. He relaxed when a hand wrapped around his and warm lips pressed against his knuckles. The prick was lethal, fire flooded his blood, but he stayed there with her hand in his until the doctor stepped back. As the cortisone found a new track he finally couldn’t stand it. "Son of a bitch." He blew out his lungs as it finally eased and managed a small smile. When her face came back into focus her eyes were filled with worry and tears. He squeezed her hand. "It's OK, I'm good now. We can go."

He didn't say goodbye to the band, they were all smart enough to work out where he'd be going. Somewhere away from them, maybe it was so much touring and time together but his temper was shorter these days. So it was best to remove himself. They pulled up to the hotel, a far cry away from what they were staying in a year ago. He dropped the key card and slammed the door.

"Wow, this view is amazing Jon." The city lights sparkled against the skyline, but he wasn't interested. His insides still felt like they were burning and his body ached with a tired that blazed past the definition of tired. He needed her. He needed to lose himself in her and forget about tour dates, interviews, partying, drinking, and snorting. He just needed her.

He admired her perky ass that sat perfect in her jeans. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her back from the window, his eyes on hers, not the skyline. "You're right, it is amazing."

In seconds clothes were strewn to the bed and he was wrapped deep in blankets, deep inside her. He kissed across her shoulder, up her neck, to her lips until gasps turned to sighs and the healing began, as always, in her arms. She was the one he could fall apart around, the one that picked him right up off the floor again. He was burning out, but never once did she complain, never once did she threaten to walk away. She just loved him.

He rolled her into his chest and laid his cheek in her soft hair. No matter where he was, no matter how many times he wondered how the fuck he was going to survive this tour, it was these moments that told him he could. As long as he had her.

The End.




There will be a short epilogue in a few days. ;) A little sneak peek into the future.

I can't thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this journey with me, Callie was very close to my own heart in many ways and like the song says, It's Hard Letting her go. All your comments, feedback, tweets etc have meant the world to me, so thank YOU for allowing me to share the story of Jon and Callie with you.

Chapter Sixty-Four

"I don't know how I will ever thank you."



Callie smiled, shuffled her papers into her briefcase, and snapped it shut. "You keep to your end of the deal, and we'll call it even." She cinched her jacket at the waist, stood and slid over a piece of paper to Doc.



"Should I get my lawyer to look at this?"



She shrugged, "if you want but it's all very clear, just like we discussed. No hidden clauses and you'll still make enough money that will keep you very comfortable."



He studied the documents and loosened his tie, "wow, you really don't miss anything. Are you sure you want to become a doctor?"



She chuckled, "I'm done with law. I'm good at it, but I'll be an even better doctor.”



Doc's court case had gone smoothly; he'd earned himself 500 hours community work and a sizeable fine for being involved in an amateur drug trafficking operation. His record was clean previously thank god so her case was pretty cut and dried. She was relieved that they hadn't chosen to make an example of him for the wider rock and roll industry, as that too could easily have happened. Now, it was time for him to hold up on his end of the deal.



He raised his brow and nodded. "Somehow, I can believe that. Ok, I'll sign. Is Jonny happy with all of this? It means extra responsibility on his behalf."



"He'll have to sign as well to make it binding, but yes I believe he'll be very happy with the terms outlined."



Doc scrawled his signature and handed the pen and papers back to her. "I was wrong about you, and I'm sorry. Thank you again for what you did."



She tucked them in the sleeve of her briefcase. "You're welcome, I did this for Jon so just be thankful. I care about him that much I had to protect everything he ever worked for because of your stupid decision making, and greed."



That's right, she too could be silver tongued.



He nodded and slipped his hands into his pockets. "I know, but just thank you Callie."



Doc left the empty courtroom, the door crashed on his way out but it was someone coming in.



"Jesus Jon!" She smiled, he'd had to wait outside during the settlement as Callie had negotiated the terms of the agreement with the judge and Doc privately. She shook her head, his suit barely stayed on his shoulders. She dusted down his sleeves as he dragged her in for a quick kiss.



"What happened? It's killing me, am I screwed?"



She traced her fingers down the lapels of his jacket, "you look cute in a suit but it's so not you."



He grabbed her fingers, "Callie, stop being a tease."



She laughed, she didn't have the heart to tease him any longer. "He's off, five hundred hours community service and a twenty-five thousand dollar fine."



His eyes widened and he grabbed her, her feet left the floor as he spun her around. "Thank fuck for that, god, thank fuck for you." His lips smashed against hers and she sighed as his hands drifted to her hips.



She pulled away, her mouth barely from his. "There's more." She brought contract up between them.



He flipped the page and his eyes narrowed. She loved watching Jon go from playful sexy to businessman Jon in an instant. His face fell flat, his eyes scanned the pages, and with the suit it just made cute. His eyes popped and she grinned. "Read the end huh?"



"You've managed to give me sixty-forty control on decisions? And then..." He pointed to the last line, "you've changed the profit margin as well, and how the hell did he ever agree to this?"



"I have my ways---let's just say threatening him with jail, made him very keen to take whatever he could."



"Holy crap! Was he really going to go to jail?"



She bit her lip, "that's what I told him...after I met with the judge I knew what he was looking for and I don't think he ever was planning to send Doc to prison, but I may have left that part out …"



Jon scooped her up close, "do you know how much I freaking love you right now?" He fingered her lip, "you are a bad ass."



"My last duty as a lawyer, had to make it count." She groaned, the warmth of his kiss touched her lips and tingled down to her toes.



He laughed and kissed her nose,” I can’t fuck believe you pulled that off. Marry me."



Her eyes widened, his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Jon, I-"



"Relax, I was teasing Cal," he rubbed her arms and stood back. "C'mon let's blow this joint and celebrate. Sixty-forty baby!"



She smiled, she had to admit seeing him so happy because of something she did was more rewarding than any of her court cases over the years. As for marriage? God, they'd agreed to stay together for now. She couldn't think about marriage right now, she loved him more than anything and she wanted to be with him. Maybe in time they would, and they had grown so much just in the last month together. They were in the middle of crucial parts of their careers and that's what they needed each other for that support right now.



"I could use a drink or two." Jon swung open the courtroom doors and held one for her. She tucked her briefcase under her arm and glanced over her shoulder to the empty room. This was part of her life she was finally leaving behind for good. She'd grown up between these four walls, it had never been a waste, and it just had never been what she wanted to do. She had bled in this room and now it was time to let go. For good.



She reached for the hand that fell on her shoulder, "I'm ready."



They walked through the bustling lobby hand in hand, Pearce Richards stepped in front of them and Callie's heart thumped against her chest. "Dad?" She didn't know what else to say, it had been less than kind the last time they'd spoken. She'd ignored the calls from her mother and her siblings which had been easy with her schedule.



He nodded at Jon and managed a small smile.” I just saw Judge Harrison, he said you did very well."



"Yes, we reached a good deal."



He sank his pockets his long woollen coat. "Are you ok?"



She raised her brow, surprised he would even ask. "Yes, I'm busy with school but doing well. This is my last court appearance."



He rolled back on his heels, "I'm pleased you're doing ok."



She stood taller as Jon squeezed her hand, "is that all? We've got some celebrating to do."



He stood aside, "of course."



Callie tugged Jon's hand and they got to the double doors when he called again.



"Callie, look your mother misses you, she's tried calling you. Why don't you come over for dinner?" He glanced at Jon, "And Jon."



She had meant to call her mother, but as per usual her mother's schedule had got in the way of coming to see Callie for herself. She sighed, "What about you Dad?" She wasn't afraid at the truth anymore. She could take it now.



"Of course I miss you, it's just going to take me sometime to get used to this."



Callie crossed her arms, "Can you Dad? Honestly?" All she ever wanted was his approval but now she knew she didn't need it.



"Of course I do," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I've said some things Callie, I'm not proud of. All I wanted was for you to be the best, you have so much talent. More than your brothers and sisters."



She sighed. "I just don't want to do it anymore. I want to be a doctor, and I’m going to be one."



He managed a small smile. "And you'll be the best."



This was as good as it got for her father to apologize, this was something Callie had wanted to so badly to hear but oddly she didn't feel as proud as she thought she would. It didn't matter anymore, she already believed she would be the best. Her father's sentiments was a nice to have, but not compulsory anymore. "Thank you Dad."



"So you'll come for dinner? Soon? Before Jon goes back on tour next week?"



"How did you--"



"I read the papers Callie, especially when my daughter is concerned."



He would never admit it but that was her father’s way of looking out for her. She glanced at Jon, "sure we'd like to come for dinner."



Pearce smiled. "Great---just call your mother and tell her what day suits you both."



"We will, talk to you soon Dad."



"Does he ever show emotion?" Jon asked as they hit the steps outside the courthouse.



"Nope, he's just not the type. That's as good as it gets." Callie took a deep breath, things would be ok. Her father didn't change his own opinions and ways well but this was something.



"Well hell, I think the old man misses his daughter." He hooked his arm around her neck and kissed her cheek. "Can't blame him really."



She laughed and they climbed into a taxi. She snuggled under his arm and closed her eyes, she was moving on for good. For better, for worse.



*Authors note: Ironic this was Ch64, and Callie's deal for Jon was Sixty/Forty. LOL ;)

Chapter Sixty-Three

Callie squeezed her eyes shut, it couldn't be morning already, could it? Ugh. She rolled over, slipped out of Jon's arm and laughed. His face was mashed into the pillow and he was snoring softly. She wished she could miss her lecture this morning, but she'd made the promise to attend every lecture, and complete every assignment the day she walked on that campus. She couldn't fall behind with Jon and Doc's trial coming up, so it was an easy choice. She slid out of bed, stepped into her jeans and retrieved her top which draped over his dresser. Jesus, she blinked in the mirror. Who the hell was that girl? She touched her swollen lips, and winced. Slashes of red painted the side of her hips, where stairs once were.

It was still early enough, she prayed Carol and John were still asleep as she crept down the stairs. The sun crept up the hallway as the morning came alive. Silence was the goal here, she needed her purse and it was somewhere in the living room, or was it the kitchen? She shook her head as she tip toed across the kitchen floor, this was ridiculous. Was she on a cookie heist? She snagged her purse off the counter, her fingers closed over the strap and victory was near.

"Coffee?"

Oh god. She smiled and turned, John held out a blue mug.

"Thanks, sorry I thought I was the only one up. I've got a lecture at eight." She accepted the coffee and took a sip.

"I'm an early riser." He picked up his own mug and leaned back against the counter. "I didn't expect you to be still alive this morning though."

Her cheeks burned, "oh?" God, for a lawyer she sucked at lying sometimes.

He chuckled, "I thought my son may have killed you last night." He winked and took a sip.

Oh man. "Um--sorry I didn't-" She slapped her hand on her forehead. She wished the ground could open up and swallow her whole. He had such a good humor about him though, if this had been her father---She didn't even want to think about it.

"Relax Callie. It's refreshing to have love-struck teens in the house again."

"Love struck? Well, I guess we are. I'm so sorry, how embarrassing."

He shook his hand, "seriously. No big deal." He finished his coffee and his lips curved. "However I'm surprised you still have your voice."

Heat shot up her neck. "Oh god." He was every bit like his son, enjoying watching her squirm. "John, I'm--"

"If you apologize to me again, I'll take back my coffee. You're good for Jon Callie. I don't think you realize how much."

She nodded, "I think I'm beginning to."

"And him for you."

Callie smiled, "most definitely. I don't think I'd be here doing all this, if I hadn't got so bored at the law function I was at and married your son. It was so ridiculous at the time, but it looks like it's going to work out."

"The best ones are at the time, and they do work out." He placed his mug down. "Can I give you a ride?"

"No, I'll just catch a taxi, it's not that far from here."

"Ok, let me at least call it for you. Help yourself to anything you want, I'll be right back."

"Thanks." How could they be so different than her parents? She had good parents, they always looked after her, they loved her but John and Carol were much more relaxed while still keeping the rule of thumb. She collected her things, wrapped her coat around herself and headed outside. Concentration was going to come at a premium today, her body ache and she would give a bunch of money to curl back up in bed. She turned as the front door opened behind her, expecting to see John Snr but it was Jon. Wrapped tight in a ridiculous blanket, his hair a wavy mess of curls.

"What in the hell are you doing?" She laughed as he opened the blanket and engulfed her inside.

"You didn't wake me. My woman doesn't leave me asleep." His lips met hers, the kiss relaxed and warm, so very them. Her hands cupped his neck as they took it deeper, the taste of musk and morning on his lips tingled in her toes.

"Your Dad knows what we did last night," she whispered.

"Baby, the whole neighbourhood does. Are you that loud in court?" His lips quirked and she smacked his chest.

"Do you know how embarrassing hearing from your father-in-law, I mean-" she laughed. It really did feel like they were married all over again, this time for real. She gripped the edges of the blanket. "It wasn't funny."

"I bet he thought it was,"

"As a matter of fact yes he did. You're going to get me into all kinds of trouble, aren't you?"

Jon kissed the top of her head and stood back as the taxi rolled up to the curb. "That's the plan."

Callie smiled. In all her life had she never expected to feel like this for someone. She opened the door of the taxi and paused, she turned and he lifted his brow.

She jerked him back and laid her lips on him, sliding her hands under the blanket, and over his shoulders. He groaned as her tongue slid into his mouth, and she let the blanket slip off his shoulders, tumbling to the ground.

His eyes popped open and he yelped, scooping the blanket up off the ground. "Fucking hell!"

The laugh bubbled in her throat. "So you do get embarrassed. Duly noted." She winked as she climbed into the car. His nose pressed up against the window.

"You are so going to pay."

"Sue me," she mouthed back as the taxi pulled away. She leaned back and closed her eyes, unable to stop the twitch on her lips. It was a good day.

Chapter Sixty-Two

"Can I help you Carol?" Callie slid out of her chair as Carol reached to clear the table.

She waved her down, "John can help me. Why don't you and Jon head into the living area and I'll bring in dessert and wine for us."

Jon stood and kissed his mom's cheek, "thanks Mom." He beckoned Callie over, "you heard the lady."

Callie placed her napkin down and took Jon's hand as he led her into the living room alone. When John and Carol left the room, she wound her arms around his waist and their chests bumped as she planted a long kiss on his lips. He ran his hands down her arms and chuckled against her teeth.

"What did I owe the pleasure of that kiss?" He asked as they sank down on the couch.

"You know what. This has been a lovely night." She watched his blue eyes dance in the dim lights Carol left glowing in the living room. She'd never felt so comfortable as she did with him and his family, and it was the oddest sensation.

"You thought that they'd pick on you? Uh uh, I'm the one that needs attention apparently. I look like shit."

She laughed and tucked a long strand of his hair back from his cheek. "Well that's no lie. You listen to them I notice." She bit her lip to hide her smile as she pretended to pout.

He leaned in and pushed her back into the couch, "oh I listen to you." It was deeper this time, the taste of whiskey and garlic from the lasagna blended into the kiss.

She rested her hands on his chest and pushed gently, "Jon, stop being naughty. We're at your parents place for goodness sake."

He laughed, "chicken huh?"

Her eyes narrowed, "don't even think about trying to trick me into anything Bongiovi. I know you." She poked his chest hard but he grabbed her fingers and kissed them.

"Yes you do." The back door slammed and thundered through the house as his father came back into the room, dripping over the carpet.

"Storm's rolling in out there. She ain't pretty." He shook off his jacket and made his way back into the kitchen. Jon leaned over and peeked out the curtains.

"He's not kidding either, it's coming down in buckets out there."

The clatter of china accompanied Carol as she came back in and laid down the coffee and dessert. "You kids should really stay the night, no point in travelling in that sort of weather. Jonny's room is already made up."

Callie's eyes widened. "Oh, we wouldn't want to be any trouble Carol. It's a short taxi ride back to my place."

John Snr came back in and handed Jon another glass of whiskey. "Get this down you son. We've added cloves and ginger in it, good for the throat."

Jon sipped it and screwed up his nose, "how many shots of whiskey pop?"

"About three, or so." He winked at Callie as he sat in his armchair.

"Jon doesn't need to get drunk John. He's done enough of that on tour don't you think?"

"Relax Carol, it's just a few drinks with his old man. He's relaxing, and that's the main thing. Right Callie?"

Callie laughed as Carol raised her brow, "oh I'm with Carol on this but it doesn't really matter. If Jon wants to do something, he's going to do it anyway."

The room burst into laughter and Carol patted her shoulder. "You're going to fit into this family just fine. I'll get us more wine, since you're staying."

You couldn't really argue that much with her, she was like Jon in that her mind was already made up, she mused. Carol came back with the wine, served up dessert, fussed over Jon and then relaxed. She was lucky enough to hear about Jon growing up, and the mischief he got up to with his two brothers which wasn't surprising at all. Carol and John weren't walkovers but they certainly backed Jon in what he did, and had made sure they were tough on him to get where he wanted to be now. And that was the difference, they were tough in the right ways, not the ways her father had been to her. What surprised her the most is that they showed interest in her career, the same way they spoke to Jon around his. That was what was heart-warming.

John and Carol headed for bed around midnight, with Carol dragging her staggering husband with her. Callie laughed as Jon tried to move from the couch, but he flopped back down. An empty bottle of scotch and two glasses that gleamed in the light were the culprits. "Come on you, silly boy. We'll get you to bed."

She squealed as he tugged her in, and she lost the floor under her. She pressed her palms to his chest and steadied herself as his naughty hands slipped up her shirt. "Jon," she hissed. "We're in your...oh god," she groaned as his clever thumb flicked her nipple.

"You were saying?" His eyes sparkled and his fingers curled into her waistband of her jeans. She slapped her hand down on his, "Jon--your parents are just out there somewhere."

Her head tipped back as his lips slid up her neck to below her ear. Her toes curled and skin buzzed, how was it that she used to have some of the best defence skills that a court room required, but this man's mouth was more powerful than the sharpest DA's tongue.

"Then you're going to have to try and not to scream." His hot breath swirled around her skin and she closed her eyes. "Think you be quiet?" The tips of his fingers reached and grazed down the crease of her thighs, "for me?" He was killing her, she cupped his wrist tugged it back.

"Jon," she hissed and popped up on her feet, him still firmly attached to her.

He pushed back her hair and kissed her full on the lips, "to my room." He walked her slowly backwards until ankle hit step. The weight of him pushed her back, as he carefully lay her down on the stairs, "oh Jesus-Jon, please not..." the groan from her throat wasn't one she'd heard before as he bunched the cotton of her top and his mouth scraped up her belly to the edge of her bra.

She arched and gasped as he hovered over her like a hungry lion over his prey. His eyes darkened and swirled with a lust that she'd never seen before. He wouldn't do her on the stairs, right here? Where anyone could walk out and see her spread naked helplessly under their son. But oh god, she needed him. The pulse of heat inside her threatened to burst and she wouldn't care where she was, as long as he broke her, in the best way possible.

He flipped up the her cups, her nipples tightening as his gaze rested on them. His mouth swallowed one whole, sucking, licking as she reached out for the banister. His fingers danced around her heat before plunging in, with no chance to breathe, let alone think. His rhythm jerked her body, her nails dug into his shoulders as the back of the step jammed into her head.

Bolts of pleasure zinged to her toes, her teeth dug into her lip as held on, held onto the control that dissolved quicker than sand in an hourglass. The pad of his thumb flicked relentlessly and her fingers craved skin. The first orgasm slammed her, and she bucked, all parts of her body would blissfully ache tomorrow.

His tongue teased her nipple, and he tormented her soul. She lay sprawled, maimed across the stairs as afterglow burned through her veins. Jon rose and tugged her up, her body carrying the weight of the world. She wound her arm around his neck and dragged him for a kiss, the other slipped around his waist to balance herself as her ass pressed against the banister.

When she'd come to the house tonight, she was so happy John and Carol had treated her with the respect she deserved. The way they had been with Jon made her happy, but it had also made her sad. For the longest time she always had family around her, always thought she had to have them and why she sacrificed so much of herself for it. But now she knew Jon was her family, he believed in her like the rest of her family should have, without question. The love inside her she was never capable of until now, burned bright for him. She loved him, and she knew with every fibre in her being he loved her. The way a person should be loved.

Their lips broke but she held him close, the smell of liquor and his aftershave burned her nose. Her tongue traced his bottom lip and her eyes flicked to his. "I love you."

His lips curved and his thumb swept across her cheekbone. "You might not after what I do to you upstairs." His tongue met hers and slid slowly down the side of hers, into her mouth. She crumbled into his arms as he swept her up carrying her the rest of the way. Her eyes widened as Carol and John's voices floated down the hallway. If they saw her now, dishevelled and her clothes wrecked off her body, she'd die.

Jon bent and swung the door to his bedroom open, her feet hit the ground and her back pressed against the door. The air was sucked out of her lungs as he mashed his mouth against hers. The room spun as lust and need rushed to her head. She raked her hands through his hair but he captured her wrists and pinned them above her head. Her chest rose as his gaze fell to her breasts. His free hand shot up her top and cupped her breast, his thumb dragged over the aching tip as she fought every instinct in her knees not to fold under her.

His mouth was a minefield, popping kisses over hers, her chin, across her jaw and her earlobe. His raggered breath pounded her ear, "I need you Callie."

The tingles and bolts of pleasure zipped around her, it was like being drugged, slowly and surely she was losing any control and wanted to give everything over to him. The murmurs of his parents in the hallway outside should have rung bells in her head but no. She wanted to lose it, lose herself within him. He wound her fingers up around the coat hook and released his grip.

"Stay," he commanded and his hands smoothed down her sides, his thumbs hooking into the waistband of her jeans and dragging them to the floor. He hit his knees and his mouth kept busy, she shuddered as his tongue swept around her navel.

"Oh god," she rolled her lip under her teeth as his tongue outlined the crease where thigh met hip. Her fingers curled tight around the door hook, and her other hand rested on his head. She gasped as wet warm tongue traced around the edge of her panties. The squeak in her throat became so much more. Her head hit the door as he stroked deep, blowing any idea she was going to be quiet. She screamed and lifted her leg up over his shoulder as he plunged deeper.

"Jon, oh god---I" She looked down but he didn't look up, he kept drilling her, and his finger slipped inside her and pushed her over the edge. She shook, and slammed her hand into the door. Her whole body throbbed as she slid down the door in a pile on the floor. He wound her legs around his waist and pushed back the slicked hair from her cheeks.

Her eyes met his, her chest heavy with breath, and his lips curved. "I'm so not done yet."

She kissed him fiercely, the taste of sex lingered on his lips. "I don't know if I can." Her whole body ached, and her clothes were hanging off her like she'd been terrorized. Oh wait, she had.

He lifted her up with him and backed her towards the bed. He spread her shirt off her shoulders along with her bra, letting them fall to the floor. She was floating on a fluffy cloud of pleasure. She unlocked his belt and popped his jeans open when he nodded. She curled her hand around his hot hard shaft and his hissed as he pushed her back, and tumbled them onto the bed. He hovered above her and kissed her lips gently. "You can."

Callie gripped his shoulders and lay back, her heels dug into the mattress as he slid inside her. He was gentle, and her body silently thanked him as he kept the rhythm between them. Sweat poured, skin slapped and his name was loud on her lips. She felt free, she felt safe, and most of all, she felt loved. Jon rolled them onto their side and kissed her forehead.

"Now I'm done."

She chuckled, "god I hope your parents didn't hear any of that." She buried her head into his shoulder.

Jon laughed, "they're not stupid, they know we're not playing scrabble in here." His grip tightened around her waist, "however if we were it would be safe to say I just got triple word score."

Callie snorted and rested her cheek against his chest. "You're such an ass." She closed her eyes, the steady bump of his heart under her.

"I'm your ass."

She smiled and ran her fingers through the sweaty soft hair on his chest. "Damn right you are."

It's coming!

I'm back & I've finished the draft of this next chapter, so it'll be up tonight... thank you so much for all your patience.

xx

Va-cay

Hey guys.

If you didn't already know I am in the United States for two weeks, I am here to see Bon Jovi out at the Meadowlands for the shows, and catch up with friends here. It's going to be awesome.

So what this means is that I won't be posting for a couple of weeks! Well definitely not this week, it's going to be crazy. So thank you for understanding but I will be back online very soon! Promise, and Jon and Callie will continue ;)

xxx

Chapter Sixty-One

Callie followed Carol into the kitchen, she smoothed her hands down her jeans. God, she didn't know why she was nervous, Carol had been nothing but welcoming since they arrived.

"You don't mind helping fix the salad? I was just about done." Carol gestured and the glint of her heavy gold bracelet caught in the light.

"Sure, not a problem at all." Callie took the knife and began slicing the carrots methodically.

"Everything ok with you? Medical school keeping you busy?" Carol asked as she bent over and slid the bread into the oven.

"Yes, it's unbelievable but I'm managing the pace." She wondered what and how much Jon had told his parents about them, she assumed most of it since they displaced the usual signs of being a close family, something she dreadfully missed.

"My son isn't distracting you too much being there is he? I wouldn't want him to get in the way of your studies." She smiled warmly, and Callie chuckled.

"No, he's fine. He needs to rest, but apart from that he's not in my way at all."

Carol slipped her oven mits off and reached into the cupboard for the plates. "I'm glad you see that, Jon doesn't really listen to us when it comes to that." She turned to face her,"but he listens to you."

Callie arched her brow, "well I just want him to look after himself. You know he'll keep going until he drops unless someone makes the man rest." Carol dried her hands on the handtowel and laughed.

"Why yes, I do know that about Jon," she paused. "I have to be honest, when you broke up I thought it was the best thing for both of you, considering how the marriage started. But then I saw him when you were apart."

"Oh?" Callie asked as she chopped the cucumber. The guys had already told her that Jon had been a grump, and hard to live with while they'd been apart but hearing it from his own mother, was a little overwhelming. Good overwhelming.

"It was like a little part of him was missing, I thought it was ridiculous at first. You're both so young and have your whole careers in front of you. But when you showed up to help him with Doc's mess, the change in him was remarkable. I, like Jon don't trust people easily Callie. But I watched you care for my son, use your own money and never asked him for a dime while you took him under your roof." Her jewellery jingled as she shook the lettuce dry. "So I have no doubt you care for him."

Callie felt her shoulders ease, "I do care for him, a lot. We just went through some rough stuff. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what it's like in Jon's world on the road. It was crazy and we were in such a muddy place, we sorted it out. I trust him now."

"And you deserve nothing less Callie, I think he realized what he did. He's a boy and he's young and stupid. But one thing with Jon is he doesn't tend to make the same mistakes twice."

"Has he told you w'rve sorted things out between us?"

Carol laughed, "not really but I figured when he said he was staying with you on his break and then I saw you two tonight. If you want my advice, and of course it's just my advice."

"Sure."

"Take it easy, don't rush into marriage again, until you're ready. You've got some hard years ahead of you, and so has Jon and you'll need each other without all the complications."

Callie felt a twinge of sadness, while she was happy that Carol was being so sound and accomodating she couldn't help think about the fact her parents, hadn't even cared enough to talk at this level with her, like she was now. She swept the sliced vegetables into the salad bowl with the blunt edge of the knife. "Yeah, we haven't really talked about that." The marriage was being dissolved thanks to some strings her father had pulled when they were apart. She could probably reverse it, and they could remain married but she wasn't sure that's what Jon wanted, or even if thats what she wanted.

Carol plucked the wine glasses out of the cabinet, "I need some wine." She took the wine out of the fridge, bumped it with her hip shut, and poured two glasses handing Callie one.

"Thanks." She took a long sip of the wine, longer than she intended.

"Everything ok dear?"

Carol had been honest with her, so maybe she could be honest with her. "I'm still just trying to make sense of everything in my head, my career change, my family...Jon."

Carol reached out and squeezed her hand. "You're doing just fine. I know you're parents haven't been as supportive as they should have been. And I'm sorry, that's really not fair to you. As for my son," Carol's eyes sparkled. "He loves you Callie, he won't hurt you again. As I said, he already did that once. He won't do it again, because you matter."

Her heart pounded against her ribs. "I know he does, and I feel the same way about him. He opened my eyes in so many ways, I'll never thank him enough." And that was the truth. She already knew that, but it made her a little buzzy to say it over and over again in her head like and she doubted it would ever get old.

Carol lifted her glass, "to a long healthy relationship...and maybe some grandchildren later?"

Callie burst out laughing but clinked the glass with hers, "we'll have to see what we can do about that in the future."

~

Jon sank into the armchair that he'd spent many a Sunday afternoon watching football with his father. He stretched his legs out and rested them on the edge of the coffee table.

"You know your mother hates that," John returned armed with two beers and a bag of Lays.

He grinned and took the beer his dad popped open for him. "She's in the other room. I'm sure she's grilling Callie for the details I haven't told her."

John Snr chuckled and sat down on the couch. "She's a lawyer, she'll be even worse than you were telling her information."

"Ah, Touche."

"You don't look good son, are you ok?"

Jon closed his eyes and rested the butt of the beer, low on his belly. "Yea, I'm ok Dad. Just tired, but we'll get there."

"And Doc?"

Jon groaned, "he's ok--Callie's got the court side of things under control. She's confident he'll get commununity service."

"Thank god. I would have personally smashed the man for stuffing up my son's career otherwise."

"You and me both. I was so close to losing her as well."

"Something else I could have slapped you for, but you had to learn that one on your own Jon."

Jon nodded, "I know. I just didn't realize how I felt until she was gone. I'm an idiot."

John tipped the beer to his mouth, "no objections there. You were enjoying the fruits of your fame. The important thing now is to keep her, we all need someone Jon and she' a great girl." He paused, "rockstar and a doctor huh? Couldn't think of two more harder lives to sync together."

Jon laughed, "I know. But I think that's what will make us work. We get it, we get we need the space but when we're together---it'll count and be, just wow." He smiled and took a pull of the beer.

"Like father, like son."

The two men continued chatting and caught up on football movements and his brothers activities. "Are you sure you're not over doing it Jon? Your voice is really awful."

Jon rubbed his throat and grimaced, "Yeah it's pretty raw. The break should do it good."

"I'll get your mom to give Callie her lemon and honey recipe, works wonders."

"Thanks Dad. I'm ok," his head screamed through the silence of the room. Jon was learning to deal with it, get on with it. He was starting to get everything he'd always wanted, he knew there'd be a sacrifice, just like Callie would have to go through with the mountains of study she would have. He could do this, they could do this.

John reached for a handful of chips. "You always were a good liar."

Jon smiled and sipped his beer. "So, you're just dying to do something with my hair aren't you?"

"You know me well son, what the hell have you done with it? You need a good conditioning pack for starters, and then a cut."

"Yes Dad." He felt like he was home, between his parents fussing over him and his girl hanging out with his mother which he'd hoped hadn't torn Callie to shreds, it was a good day. They all could take the minute they needed and then he could get on with it.

Chapter Sixty

Jon stirred as the hum of the washing machine floated through the apartment. His legs were crumpled up on the couch where he'd been asleep for the last couple of hours since had Callie left for school. He rubbed his eyes and raked his nails down his throat. When he swallowed it felt like glass was lodged in there, god he hoped he wasn't getting sick. He lifted himself off the couch and padded into the kitchen to fix some juice. Thank god she'd let him back into her life. He hadn't realized until she was gone how much it sucked without her. He sunk into the chair and rubbed the bottom of the glass along his belly. The flat was messy, no thanks to him. Maybe he should clean for her. He snorted, him clean? And for a girl? Stranger things had happened.

He changed the sheets over into the clothes dryer, did the dishes and put his things away before he crashed onto the couch again with the TV blaring. He tried to settle, god he wasn't used to just doing nothing but he needed to, for his body and his sanity. His parents would be happy to see him especially with all the shit that had been going on with Doc. They were worried but they were comfortable that Callie was handling the situation. And so they should be, god she was amazing. While he’d straightened up the table tops he'd found her latest medicine essay, with a giant red 'A' smeared on it. Fucked if he could understand what it was about, medical jargon did his head in at the best of times.

His head hit the cushion and the next thing he heard was the click of the door. "Hey," he mumbled sleepily stretching his legs as she came in. Wrapped tight in her winter coat, her dark hair was up in a complicated twist thing, that only women knew how to do. She kicked off her ankle boots and popped her jacket open.

"Hey yourself dreamer. Glad to see you were getting some sleep."

He sat up and patted the couch beside him, "lots of sex is always a good cure for lack of sleep." He dragged her down, her sweet scent swimming around him as his mouth found hers. He kissed her slow and long, savouring the taste of her. She wound her fingers up into his hair and he groaned as her nails grazed his scalp.

"You need a lot more sex then." Their teeth clicked as she laughed against his mouth.

"See me complaining?" He cupped her jaw and sipped from her a little longer, "have a good class?"

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Yeah, really good. Another assignment to do but I don't mind them. What time are we going to your parents?"

"What's time time now?" He nipped her chin playfully.

She checked her watch and leaned back laughing, "Jon, stop it. It's four-thirty."

"Can't, I need a shower," he ran his fingers down her shoulder to her breast. "I bet all that lecturing makes you very dirty," he grinned as he touched her breast and was rewarded by her nipple hardening under his fingers.

She moaned into his mouth, "oh yes---very dirty." Her fingers curled around his shoulders and she slid into his lap.

He groaned and his cock stirred under her. Were they finally in the honeymoon phase of their relationship? Even if it was all backwards, it was so right. He didn't want to keep his hands off her for more than a second when they were in the same room. He needed to lose himself in her. His fingers tunnelled into her hair, loosening pins until it floated around his wrists. She lifted his tee and up his chest and clever little nails scraped up to his nipples. "Jesus Callie," he hissed as he swivelled her around to straddle him. He dragged his finger down her jaw and ran it across her lips, his eyes widening when it disappeared into her mouth and her tongue swirled around the tip.

"Shower." He cupped her ass and lifted her up, she giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. He took two steps when the shrill of the phone stopped him, "ignore it?" he mumbled against her mouth.

She reached over his shoulder for it, "hello?" Her lips curved into a smile. "Sure Doc, he's right here."

Jon groaned and dropped her gently back on the ground. He took the phone and pressed it into his chest, "this will wait--go and get all cleaned up." He plucked a kiss on her forehead and took a moment watching her as she left the room. Damn, he was a lucky man.

"Hey. What's up?" He leaned back against the wall and rubbed his face.

"Hey Jonny, I've secured us an interview with one of the biggest magazines in America Jon, and they happen to be in town tommorow."

Jon closed his eyes, "I thought this was our break Doc. I'm tired as shit here." It wasn't performing but christ if he couldnt' be bothered pulling out the fake smiles and laughs this week.

"I know, I said that Jonny but this one came up at the last minute, and we'd be stupid not to take it."

"Stupid like getting involved in drugs stupid?" He closed his mouth, he didn't meant to be so fucking blunt but, hell.

"Jonny you know what this means to the band."

Jon closed his eyes and sighed. He swore to god... He tucked the phone under his chin and reached for the chunky pad and pencil Callie had on the counter. "Where, and when? Will you tell the guys?"

"Yes, I'll call them next." Doc gave him the directions and then wheeled into talking about the next album. By the time he hung up the phone, he wanted to jam it into it's cradle. The shower was running, but he needed a couple of minutes to calm down so he grabbed his cigarettes and slipped out to the small balcony to clear his head.

~

Callie bundled herself into a thick towel and slathered body cream down her arms. In the pit of her stomach, she was still a little nervous that Jon's parents would be weird towards her. Even though the last time she saw them, when they had just got married, they were a lot better about the situation than her parents. She pulled on some jeans, a snug navy cahsmere sweater and started to fix her hair. The apartment was awfully quiet so she slipped on her shoes and went out to the living area. "Jon?"

He hadn't heard her as he leaned over the balcony flicked his ash. His jaw was tight, and his stance was stiff. He was a million miles away. She sighed and crept up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his back. "You ok?"

He didn't turn back around but he covered her hand with his against his belly. "Yea, just Doc's scheduled a last minute interview tomorrow, a long one. I'd just turned myself off from all that." He rubbed the butt of his boot against the concrete. "I'm just pissy, sorry baby."

"You can be pissy, but don't let it ruin your time off. Things will get better soon. Trust me." She squeezed her arms and then released them, heading back inside. He'd be back in a few minutes. She had learnt Jon brooded, and when he did, he just needed a little space and he always came back. She collected her purse, keys, money and fixed her make-up. She at least needed t look respectable for Mr and Mrs Bongiovi. Jon returned into the living room and grabbed his denim jacket, he smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Ready?"

She smiled and tucked her arm into his. "I am ready."

The ride to his parents was uneventful as they blended in with commuters making their way home from the city. Her belly flip flopped as they pulled up to the sunny painted split-level house. He took her hand and she paid the driver.

"Just relax, my home is your home." Her shoes clicked on the cobblestones and the door swung open before they had made it up to the porch.

"Angel!" Mrs Bongiovi wearing a shiny teal pantsuit came rushing out and flung her arms around Jon's neck.

He smiled and hugged her back, "hey mom."

"God it's so good to see you, and it's nice to see you again Callie." She popped her head over his shoulder and smiled warmly.

"You too Mrs Bongiovi."

Her blue eyes sparkled, "Call me Carol. I hear you've been looking after my Angel?"

Jon snaked his arm around her waist, "She sure has."

Callie smiled, "it's been no trouble really."

"Ok, why don't you two come inside? I've made lasagne, just the way you like it baby." Callie's shoulders eased, so far so good. Carol didn't seem too bothered that she was here. She followed them inside to the living room where John Francis Snr was flipping through the newspaper. He got to his feet when Jon and Callie both walked in.

"Son, Jesus Christ you look like shit!" He wrapped his on in a bear hug and Callie watched on amused.

"Gee thanks Pop, nice to see you too."

John Francis winked at Callie and leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Good to see you sweetheart. Least someone in the room apart from my wife looks lovely." Callie's cheeks flushed and she laughed, the resemblance from the cheeky grin and the same kind eyes was uncanny.

"Thanks, nice to see you both as well."

Carol clapped her hands together, "Ok why don't you two boys go and have a catch up, and Callie can come and help me set up for dinner." Callie raised her brow. She'd be alone with her? She didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, but so far it didn't feel bad.

"Sure. Happy to help."

John slapped his son on the shoulder, "time to break open the whiskey son."

"Not too much," Callie and Carol said in unison, and everyone dissolved into laughter.

Carol hooked her arm in Callies, "oh yes. You and I have a lot to discuss."

Jon winked at her as Carol dragged her off into the kitchen. In a way she was scared what the hell Carol was going say, or issue a warning against her son. And in the other, it was oddly nice to feel like part of a family. She just hoped it was the latter.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Callie stretched into sunshine and smiled, she reached down covered the hand that was snaked firmly around her waist. She closed her eyes sleepily and smiled, as the steady breathing of the one behind her tickled across her shoulder. This was them, and god it felt so right. She'd mentally shelved the niggling doubts she'd had and let the good flood in, she loved him. And that's all that mattered. She lazily stroked down his arm as he stirred, his morning groan vibrating against her ear.

"Morning," she whispered still content just to lie and enjoy the comfort and warmth between them.

"Hey--what time is it? I can't even remember falling asleep," he mumbled lazily.

"After ten, we slept like the dead---evidently I am sure it's what you needed." Her finger traced across the tops of his knuckles.

"You're not wrong there; I could sleep for ten more of those kinda nights too sadly."

She rolled over within his grasp and smiled, "well I think you should. I have a lecture at one o'clock so stay here in bed."

He sank down further into the pillow, "that sounds like a plan. I should go and see my parents though."

"Well we could go tonight?"

Jon's eyes popped open. "We? You would want to come?"

She laughed and curled into his chest, "well I just thought....if you don't want me to, that's fine." She hadn't meant to offer so quickly, hell she didn't even know why she wanted to go with him, maybe part of it was she craved to see a family that acted normally.

He tipped her chin up, and she met his eyes. "Of course you can come, I'd be proud to drag you back to my parents."

She ran her fingers through his chest hair, "I really only met them that once, and if we're going to be together, makes sense I do again. Right?"

His lips curved into a big smile, "damn right. Mom, Dad meet my--girlfriend."

She chuckled, "They'll probably like me way more as that than your wife. Although they weren't half as bad as--" she paused and he pushed her hair back from her face and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Shhh, I know. You can have my family Cal, they'd love you."

She blinked and looked down, she loved what she'd done, and she loved how independently fierce she now was, but everyone still needed family. It was a little ache of sadness left inside her chest that she knew would take some time to heal. She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled in closer to him. "You're my family now Jon."

"Baby, he'll come around. You'll see." He buried his face into the top of her hair and sighed. "I'm still so proud of you."

"I know, I love you Jon. And I'm gonna fix your mess for you." She needed to dig into those case notes tonight, with the court case only a week or so away. She needed to be on her game to get the result she needed for Doc, and for Jon.

"I know you are. I wish I could fix your mess for you."

She smiled, "you did---in a roundabout way." If Jon hadn't come into her life, would she be studying medicine? Nope. If he hadn't come back into her life would she have stood up to her father? Nope. She owed him a lot, but that's what made them work so easily, she just hadn't seen it before. "How about I fix us some eggs before I need to get up and going?"

He soothed the tips of his fingers down her back, "how about I fix us some sex instead?"

She laughed against his chest as she was rolled backwards, her legs wound around his hips by instinct as he hovered above her. She could feel his cock bump at the centre of her. "That might work? Are you going to ask me how I like my sex?" She rolled her lip under her teeth and bit back the smile.

His lips dusted hers, "oh I think I know exactly how you like it." She groaned as his hand slipped down beneath the sheets and he hooked his thumb under her hood.

"Oh god," she whispered as his he used the pad of his thumb to draw lazy circles against her. Her body quivered as the little pulses of pleasure flicked out to the tips of her toes.

He glanced down at her breasts, "I like these sunny-side up." He dipped down and flattened his tongue, dragging it over her sensitive tip.

She moaned and dug her fingers into his shoulders, "Jon," she managed. His hair spilled over her breasts as he sucked, nipped and worked his way back up to her lips. He caught her mouth in a long slow kiss.

"I love the taste of you."

She arched and kissed him back, letting herself slide into the warmth of his kiss. Their tongues danced and lathed at each others, soft moans and hiccuped breaths filled the room. He slid into her easily and seated himself deep holding them still. "And I like being inside of you."

She wound her hands around his neck and kissed his nose, “I like it too." He retracted and slid slowly back into her with a cheeky smile. "That's not nice."

"I'm not a nice person Callie."

She bucked up to feel him slide in further, anything to get him moving. "No you're not at all are you?" She teased as her hand dropped to his nipple. She rolled her thumb across the tight tip and his head tipped back exposing the long line of his neck.

He hissed and met her gaze. "You really want to start something here? You know I'll win, no matter what."

"So sure of yourself. Are you sure you didn't want to be a lawyer?" She teased as she rolled her thumb firmer across his nipple.

"I misjudged you; I thought you were a sweet innocent girl." He growled as she switched over to the other side.

"You wouldn't like me if I was sweet and innocent."

His eyes widened and then he laughed, "Oh I love how well you know me." He rolled his hips and she whimpered as the angle went deeper.

She reached out and clutched the sheet. "Please, Jon....god!" The slow painful strokes were worse than anything else, always leaving her body screaming for more. She fused her mouth against his, desperate for contact, desperate for the heat that he was holding ransom between them. Her fingers ran up into his arms and into his hair. This man could make her crazy in all the best ways a man was supposed to. She longed for him to push her, pull her, down into that sensation she was so used to losing herself in with him.

"I love you Callie." He pressed his forehead against hers and they took the moment, as they connected.

"Ditto." The kiss was warm, slow, and sweet like a hot summer's night rain. His eyes flicked down hers lips and he smiled.

"Eggs you say?" He took her hands and kissed her knuckles, wound his fingers through them and sank deep into her. The movements quickened and he focused on nothing but her. Each hiccup, each sob, he curled his hands tighter and held her gaze. The moment was there’s, no one could touch them, no over-bearing father, and no over-bearing manager. As long as they had each other, it would be ok.

Her thighs clamped around his waist as he groaned into her mouth, kissing, encouraging them to both let go. She closed her eyes finally broke his gaze and let go; her body shuddered under his, and his over hers. She held on tight, white stars bursting before her eyes while her skin sizzled. He gently rolled them over on their sides and didn't slide out of her at first; she pressed her cheek into wet warmth and laughed when his belly grumbled between them.

"Ok, so someone needs to be fed huh?" She patted his flat belly and went to roll back, but he gripped her shoulders.

"Just wait a couple of minutes." She sighed and leaned back in, closing her eyes for just a minute as contentment was heavy on her eyes. When she woke what felt like seconds later she was alone, and the faint sounds of clanging followed by a curse, floated through the door. She wrapped the sheet around her and padded out to the kitchen and laughed, as Jon battled with pans and toast.

"What on earth are you doing?"

He didn't turn around, "don't. Just sit down at the table and I'll be right there."
She laughed as he kicked closed the cupboard door with his knee. "Ok, I'm sitting down. I don't suppose there's coffee?" She asked sliding into the chair, tucking her sheet tight between her breasts. He glared at her over her shoulder and pointed to the machine bubbling in the corner.

She snorted and nodded, "Ok then. You don't cook much do you? You look like you're being sentenced to death Jonny."

He flipped the pan and fussed around for a couple of minutes before turning around, complete with a plate and cutlery in hand. He placed it down in front of her, and to her surprise, it looked edible. Good actually.

"I can't cook, but I can cook some mean eggs." He filled her mug and rested that down beside her plate. "Oh, and I can make coffee. See more than a just a pretty face." He smiled and slid into the seat opposite her.


"So I see, sheesh---we might have to keep you on, for the sex and the eggs," she winked as she scooped her fork into the eggs. It tickled down to her toes that he'd down this for her, and it was so un-Jon like.


"What's better? The sex or the eggs?" His lips curved upwards in a grin.

She looked at her fork. "These are pretty good eggs, tough call." She squealed when egg catapulted across the table and bounced off her wrist.

"Don't start something with me Bongiovi. I can play dirty when I want to, “she waved her fork in his direction.

He shrugged, "of course. You're a lawyer so of course you can."

She dropped her fork and blinked. "Right." Besides the fact he was right, lawyers did lie. That was beside the point. She wanted to wipe the self satisfying smirk right off his face. She pulled herself up out of the chair and walked to the fridge. She snagged the ketchup bottle and wondered back past him, flipping open the lid.

"You forgot the ketchup." She squeezed the bottle and laughed as he watched in horror, the gleaming river of red slide down his chest.

He lunged but she was quick on her feet, bunching up the sheet and heading for the bedroom, unable to control her laughter. She felt his arms grab her from behind and screamed when she felt the ketchup smear against her back as they tumbled onto the bed in a fit of giggles.

Chapter Fifty-Eight

His girl had got some balls.

In some ways Callie had always been more mature than he had been at times, but now—now she was his hero. He squeezed her tight until the hiccups and sobs eased. He soothed her back and then tipped her chin to meet her gaze.

“Hey there.”

She smiled and he thumbed away the tears on her cheeks, “I feel so much lighter. It’s hard to explain.”

He chuckled, “no it’s not. You let go Callie. You can finally just be you.” He’d been lucky his parents had always allowed that of him right through his teens. The situation with Doc now was about as close as he got identifying with her, but nobody should be bound to their parent’s guilt and preference. That he fully believed.

She snaked her arms up around his neck and pressed her lips against his. “Thank you Jon, for taking me as I am. For making me want who I am.”

His lips curved into a smile. “It’s all you baby. You did this. Not me. I just gave you a gentle nudge.” He brushed back her hair and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Now, what do you say we get out of this hallway?”

Her brow arched and her hands smoothed down his chest, over the fine hair of his belly and cupped his jeans. “I think we need to celebrate.”

He lifted her from the ass, winding her legs around his waist and arrowed his tongue around her lips, tugging down on the bottom one. “I think that sounds like the best idea.” He carried back into the apartment and kicked the door shut. “How about a bed? That’d be a novel idea too.” He stepped into her bedroom and lowered her onto the bed. He hit the bed on his knees and scooped her up into him with a swift kiss.

She giggled and their teeth clicked as he pushed her back. Her hair spilled out on the sheets as he hovered over her. He pushed open her shirt, “this needs to go.” Jon dipped down and kissed between her breasts, “and so does this…” He flicked open the bra clasp and nosed off the cups of her bra. Her nipple hardened the instant he drew it into his mouth.

She murmured and arched up and fisted the sheets in her hands. She tasted sweet and sinful. Each groan, each whimper shot straight to his cock. He was tired as hell but when he was with her she had an uncanny way of being able to put him at peace and give him exactly what he needed.

He palmed down her belly, over the sweet dip of her thighs as he tugged the skirt down. He peeled off the stockings down the lovely long line of her legs. Her skin was creamy and soft against his lips as he skimmed down over her calves.

He hooked his finger in the band of her lace, “pretty.” He kissed down into the apex of her thighs tasting the very centre of her. She was like a guitar, and deserved to be played with same perfect emotion and precision. His tongue flashed out and down her lips lapping up the sweet juice that was his girl.

Her breath hitched and she choked on a sob as he pushed her deeper, sliding two fingers inside her. He pumped with a gentle ease as she wriggled above him. “Let go Callie.” He kissed the inside of her thigh as her cheeks flushed and she rolled her lip under her teeth. He saw hundreds of pretty girls day to day but none, none compared to her.

She screamed and he held the pressure as she shuddered under his spell. He traced his thumb in lazy circles on her flat belly as she settled under him. He crawled back up and grinned at the dishevelled girl under him. He brushed back hair that was slicked to her cheekbones, “let go more.” He kissed her softly and brought her hands up on either side of her head. The connection between them was something he’d never felt before and he could feel her slowly giving more and more to him each time they were together.

His gaze rested on her lips and then her gorgeous eyes, “I’m so tired Callie.” Every bone in his bone ached down to the marrow from long nights and never-ending weeks on the road.

She lifted her hands and cupped his cheeks, “then you lose yourself in me.”

He traced the outline of his lips with his index finger watching it slide from one side to the other. “I want to,” he flicked his eyes up to hers. “Maybe I’m scared to let go too.”

The marriage had started as a joke, and inch by inch it had turned into something greater. Something that he didn’t understand until this moment, he knew he loved her but what he didn’t understand was that the love for someone was so much more than just loving them. He wanted to lose himself in her, he wanted to become one with her and the very thought of that scared him down to his very soul.

It all his life, he’d never looked for the trust and companionship that was lying right under him now. In his world that was so crazy, she really was his constant and he’d do anything from this moment to make sure she stayed that way.

“I’m not anymore.” She ran her finger lightly down his cheek as the watersoft skin of her breasts pressed against his chest.

He closed his eyes and lost himself in her heat as they kissed, each stroke of his tongue against hers intensified their connection. Could he let go? Everything was already spinning out of control outside this room, and he was so tired and weary.

His lips slid down the curve of her neck and he buried his face into her shoulder knowing the one thing he needed to escape all this, was her.

~

Callie weaved her fingers up into his hair and dragged him down for a kiss. “Forget what’s outside, forget everything. Except me.” Her skin was charged and she wanted him like she’d never wanted someone before. Boyfriends had come and gone in her life, she’d never really had the tie to someone like she felt with Jon. He could frustrate her down to her toes but at the same make her feel like she was walking on air.

“Ok.” She hooked her lip over his hip and rolled him over till his back hit the bed. She licked and tasted down the arch of her neck, the scent of sweet spice filled her as she shifted down to his chest. Her fingers raked through springy chest hair her fingers found his nipples.

His eyes amused watched her as she licked and sucked down hard on one tight bud. His cock pressed into her inner thigh, heavy and hard as she continued along the journey of Jon. His fingers dusted over her shoulders encouragingly as she angled lower down into the dip of his stomach. She grinned into skin as he groaned appreciatively as she reached down and curled her fingers around his shaft.

Slowly she pumped as she scraped teeth along the defined edge of his v. Her thumb massaged the tip, swiping across the precum. He growled as her nails dug into fleshy skin.

“Fuck Callie.”

She chuckled as she sank down between his legs, gripped and took a long lick down to the base.

“Oh crap.”

Her tongue traced along the thick under vein. “You know the best thing about learning medicine.”

He buckled and slammed his hand down on the bed. “What? You get free condoms? Fuck!”

“Nope,” she teased her teeth along the sensitive skin. “I know where all your sensitive parts are.” She pressed her thumb lightly into his sac and grinned when he grunted.

He lifted his head and narrowed his eyes, “oh you’re evil.”

“Yup.” She took licked him again and took him fully keeping the rhythm off slow and firm. Stroke by stroke she had him arching up off the bed into her until she felt him break and collapse in a heap of limbs back on the bed.

She crawled back up into his chest and placed a kiss at the base of his neck.

“Pleased with yourself huh?” He smirked and ran his hands down her arms and cupped her hips.

“A little.” The sweat on her skin had started to chill. She rested her chin on his chest and looked up. “I love you.”

“Aww, hell. C’mere.” He pulled her down and flipped her back onto the bed and drove himself into her. The fluid movement of his hips slapped their skin together as he pushed deep.

She blinked and he lifted her knee up to his hip taking the angle deeper. The rush of skin and Jon overwhelmed her but she curled herself around him, completely. The first orgasm blasted through them and he kept the rhythm moving. They danced their own dance, tangled inside of each other and rose and fell within each other.

She cried out and he covered her mouth in a kiss that was as blinding as the orgasm that ripped right through her. The taste of sex and sweat mingled in their months as she fluttered back down. Holy fucking Christ.

She opened her eyes to blue ones staring right back through her soul. “Wow.”

He smiled and lightly ran his lips over hers. “You’re mine now.”

He rolled off her and pulled her in so her cheek rested on the side of his chest. The sweat had cooled so she pulled up the sheet around them. “Guess I am.” She snuggled down into his warmth, being someone’s didn’t seem too bad at all. Infact she kind of liked it.