That Thing You Do! (Multiband Fan Fic)

Chapter 49 - Reunions

Katie's P.O.V - New Jersey

After a long, angry, heartfelt discussion... We made peace with Todd. Eddie talked us into it, saying what Todd was saying was true.
His parents were getting divorced and he was taking it very hard. He's been getting a lot of phone calls from them, as off lately, and they're taking it to court. They've been asking him to pitch in, paying for their problems, so he's financially unstable.
I don't know what to think, but Todd is really distressed...

We've made it to New Jersey now... Five shows left of the tour. We'll be marching home heroes, as far as we're concerned.
The TV loved us, the radios adored us, the cameras could only capture our good sides, and to add it all up... We ranked No. Seven in the charts!
We were living the dream! - Stevie even had his own fan base. These kids were seriously only here for Stevie, it was nuts!

I held onto Alec's shoulders as he gave me a piggy back ride to the stage. We had soundcheck, after just grabbing some lunch together.
He hoisted me up, just as we heard a shit ton of yelling. The voices of his bandmates, all coming from the stage.
"Fuck off, man! I'm done!" His drummer stormed off the stage, throwing his sticks in the air, in frustration.
"Nooo!" Alec ran to the stage, with me on his back. "Where you going, man?! We need you." He asked the dude. I never got his name...

I hopped off Alec's back and smiled politely, excusing myself so they could talk.
Eddie ran over and dragged me off to stage left. "They've broken up. Their band, has just split up!" He spoke quietly, as Joey was arguing with Callum. Their rhythm guitarist, Garrett, walked off the stage and towards the dressing rooms.
"No waaaay!" I looked at him.
He nodded, then did a double take, looking behind me. "Oh my God..."
I looked back. Maria and Heather stood smiling at us, with Joe and Billie behind them.
"Joe! Billie!" I smiled.
Eddie and I ran over, Eddie scooping Maria into his arms and spinning her around, me crashing into my family.
"Alrigh', dude!" Stevie ran over, joining the hug.

"I've missed you both, so much!" I smiled, Billie's arms wrapped tightly around me, making me feel at home.
"Oh, we've missed you too! And you, Stevie!" Billie smiled, wrapping an arm around him.
"Not us much as they have, though..." Joe directed our attention behind himself and Billie.
Vivian and Gabriel smiled at us and Stevie looked stunned. He wasn't expecting them to come to any of our shows. They're always so busy...
He let go of Joe and ran up to them, crashing into his dad like a bulldozer. 

I smiled, watching them. "This is going to be perfect..."
"It sure it." Joe smiled.
I smiled up at him and hugged him again. "Thank you, Joe."
"Whoa... Hey, everyone!" Dylan smiled, walking over.
"Dylan, did you want me to invite anyone?" Gov asked, coming from the stage door corridor.
"I got no one." Dylan replied.
"You got us! Get over here!" Maria called out to him, opening out her arms, as Eddie was hugging his sister.
Dylan shrugged, with a smile, and gave her a hug. "Hello."
"It's so great to see you guys!" Maria smiled at us four.
"You as well. It's been driving me crazy!" Eddie smiled at her, keeping his sister close.

"I've asked if Maria and Heather were able to stay for the remainder of the tour. They've both agreed to stay. Now quit your whining!" Gov smiled at Eddie.
"Yes, gov'nor!" Eddie smiled, hugging his family again.
We all smiled. Seeing everyone was so great!
"So, uh... Vivian, Gabe... This is our bassist Eddie, his girlfriend Maria, and my new best friend Heather!" I hugged Heather waist, getting a hug back from her.
"You guys haven't met!" Dylan remembered, looking between them.
"Your parents, I assume, Stevie?" Eddie asked.
"Yeah! My mum, Viv, and my dad, Gabe!" Stevie smiled, standing between them.
"Awesome to finally meet you guys!" Eddie walked over to meet them properly.
I shrugged at Dylan and he shrugged at me.

. . .

We all caught up, Stevie gave his parents a tour, I'm convince Eddie and Maria had a quickie somewhere, Hell Hounds were dead, and we're first on the bill. No pressure, boys...
Alec stayed behind to watch our show tonight, but he was devastated his band was dead. We had ten minutes before our set, so I walked over to him. He was by the guitars, tuning up one of mine, stage left.
He wore the ripped jeans I met him in, black cowboy boots, with a white Bon Jovi shirt, and black bandana around his head.
I felt bad for the guy, but I really hoped we could remain friends. I'd hate to lose him.

"Hey, man." I smiled, standing to his right.
"Hey... Great that your family could be here. I'm too stunned to go say 'hi'." He smiled at me, looking over to Joe.
"Eh, Joe's not that scary! He's just an old rocker." I shrugged, looking back at Joe, talking with AC/DC and some crew.
"That's awesome, man." Alec smiled, shaking his head at it.
"Hey..." I thought of something. "You love touring, you're a great friend... You can tune guitars and you hate being on stage. Why not be my guitar tech?" I asked him.
"You serious? You'd give me that gig?" He looked at me, pausing his work on my guitar, looking down at me, as he was quite tall.
"Yeah! Why not?! It's what you want to do!" I smiled at him.
"Katie... Thank you!" He smiled at me, stunned. "I'd love to! I'll talk to your gov, when he comes round."
I smiled at Alec. "You'd do the same for me." I hugged him.
He kissed my cheek and nodded. "I owe you one, anyway!"
"You don't owe me shit! We're friends. We're even." I spoke honestly.
"Thank you, Monroe." Alec couldn't stop smiling.

"Janie's Gun! Five minutes!" A guy called out, heading from stage left to stage right, where I knew Dylan and Stevie were.
I took a steady breath and nodded at Alec, excusing myself.
I turned around, and to my surprise, saw Kirk... Searching for... me?