Something Is Missing | Ronnie Radke

Epilogue

I smiled as I unlocked the door and the cool air hit my face. Home. I was finally home after a long tour. However, the house was quiet, almost too quiet.

I dropped my bag onto the floor and shuffled through the living room— there appeared to not be a single soul in the house. And everything was oddly exactly how I left it when I went on tour four months beforehand. That wasn't what I was expecting. I thought the place would be a mess.

"Ronnie!? Remmie!?" I called as I looped around to the dining room... Nothing. There was no one. And the placemats were exactly where they'd been before... There were even flowers in a vase.

That was when I heard a bit of giggling and a 'shh' from the kitchen. I stopped dead in my tracks and shook my head. I knew it—my boys could never be quiet.

"Is anyone home?!" I called out, shuffling back into the living room.

I began to shuffle toward the kitchen and smiled at the view. There were balloons everywhere, a big box on the counter, and "welcome home" balloons were up against the windows.

"Oh! Look at all of this," I said, voice soaking of fake shock. "But no one is here to greet me. I miss my boys. I wonder where they are. Oh! And is this cake?"

I moved forward, ready to lift the top off the box, only for Ronnie to jump up from the other side of the island with Remmie in his arms.

"Welcome home mommy!" They both screamed with big smiles on their faces. Ronnie set off a little confetti cannon as Remmie struggled with his.

Ronnie quickly helped him, then looked toward me with a big charming smile.

"Hi guys!" I exclaimed as I rushed around the island and instantly wrapped my arms around them. "Oh my god! It's only been three weeks since you met us in Florida and I've missed you so much!"

"Mommy!" Remmie squealed as he wrapped his arms around my neck. "I've missed you! Did you miss me!?"

I pulled away from Ronnie, taking Remmie into my arms. "Of course I did, baby boy!" He was so damn adorable. He was now three years old— almost four, and only looking like Ronnie more and more by the damn day. "I've missed our cuddling time and our story time! I got you a new story while I was gone, too!"

Remmie's brown eyes went wide. "Oh! Yeah! Can we read it right now, mommy!? Please!" He grabbed a hold of my sleeve as he looked at me in question.

I playfully rolled my eyes, but nodded. "I suppose we can, but it's up to Daddy," I told him and looked to Ronnie, who was looking back at us in amusement.

Ronnie sucked in a breath and tilted his head. "Oh I don't know, Buddy... Don't you want to keep reading your spongebob one!?" He gave Remmie a knowing look— we'd probably been reading it to him for six or seven months.

Remmie looked at Ronnie with a raised eyebrow before rapidly shaking his head. "No! It's getting boring! Can we please, Daddy?!" Those big brown eyes began to fill with tears. "I want to read something new."

"Oh I suppose we can," Ronnie said, his voice full of sarcasm. "If it's what you really want, Bud."

Remmie nodded his head, his brown eyes still wide. "Yes! Where is it mommy!? I can go get it!"

I chuckled at his assertiveness. He was just like his damn father. "It's in my bag by the front door. Are you okay getting it by yourself!?"

"Oh yeah! I'm a big boy! Ask daddy!" He said with a big smile. "I brush my teeth by myself!"

"You really are a big boy," I replied. I placed him on his feet. "Now go and get that book. You're really gonna like it, Rem!"

Once he was on his feet, he went tearing off in the direction of the living room.

That left me and Ronnie in the kitchen. My smile only grew on my face as I turned to him. I wrapped my arms around him and brought my hands up, threading them through his hair.

"Hi," I whispered as soon as we were nose to nose. His big brown eyes looked back at me, a sparkle clear in them.

"Hi, baby," he replied. His lips pressed to mine as his arms snaked around my waist. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, too," I said. "I couldn't wait to get home today. I've missed you, Remmie... and more importantly... Our bed. I can't wait to sleep."

"Welcome home, Jenny," he mumbled. We both pulled away and smiled at each other. "We are so glad to have you home with us. It hasn't been the same."

I chuckled as I moved a hand to his chest. "Now you know how we feel when you go on tour," I joked. "I'm glad we're both home for a while now."

"Me too," he said. "It'll be so nice."

"I haven't missed too much, have I?!" I questioned, my eyes wide as I looked into Ronnie's.

Ronnie chuckled. "Not a lot," he replied. "He's getting better with his learning... and he's started a bit more on that tricycle that Dierks and Cassidy got him... Not too much more."

I nodded. "Good. I love touring, but I never want to miss too much," I told him. "I wish you guys could just tour with me. Not just visit."

"I get it," he said. "I'm just glad you're home now. Now we have Halloween through New Years together. I'm so happy we have more time to plan his birthday party this year. Last year was so hectic with only having a couple days to put stuff together."

"Ugh, don't remind me. He's growing up too fast." I poured. "My baby boy is growing up too fast."

Ronnie nodded. "He really is... But you know, I wouldn't mind us having another," Ronnie informed. "It's just so... I don't even know... I never thought I'd be so happy being a father."

I looked at him with a knowing face. "I know, I actually love being a mother, too. But one, that's not the only way you can get some. Two, are you carrying it this time!? And three, we don't have the time right now. We're both headed in big directions with our careers."

He pursed his lips as he rested his forehead against mine. "What's wrong with wanting more kids. I think it would be great," he replied. He was now pouting.

I rolled my eyes. "We will have to see," I told him. "But I'm all down for a party in bed tonight."

"Good, baby... Cuz I had one planned." His voice was low and seductive.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Remmie screamed as he came running into the kitchen. "It has Dinosaurs! Fucking dinosaurs!"

I yanked away from Ronnie with wide eyes. His hands instantly went up in defense.

"I'm sorry, I've told him not to say it! Blame Derek!"