A Leppard's Kiss of Fate: A Def Leppard/Kiss Romance

Chapter 8- Welcome to my Home Part 1 (Joe Elliot POV)

Tommy is ready and yet not to leave the hospital, ready because he's been here for 2 months, one of which he was asleep for, but I believe he's terrified of not just Jamie lurking somewhere out there, but the prospect of at least trying to start a new life, plus he is at the beginning of his mental recovery....oh how I LONG to tell him how much I love him, but Tommy's not ready for that yet, for those words...I want to give him time, but then again there have been teensy signs here and there, that shows my feelings aren't one-sided.

Last night, in the arboretum.... for a moment in time, Tommy was happy almost it seemed, calmed and that meant the world to me. I could tell it soothed his sprit a bit.... but then, came the nightmares, no Tommy didn't wake me, I just felt that he needed me. We need each other and my hope is someday truly, we will do that together...be together, but Tommy is worth waiting a lifetime for, very worth it.

Currently, Tommy has just been discharged and I am gathering his stuff, well rather helping him gather his things and making sure he's dressed warmly against the cold.

"There, I think I've got everything.... Joe, thank you for your help. And I just wanted to say.... you don't know how much it means to me, for all you do for me and have done for me.... i-I mean no one's ever gone to such trouble for me before." Tommy stops gathering his things, as he is now done and looks up at me, tears in his eyes. From now on my love, I will keep taking care of you, SPOILING you...you've went a lifetime without such.

"Someone should Tommy, should take care of you...spoil you even and its no trouble at all. Ready?" I smile at him, and he smiles back at least a little and we are off, but not before a tearful goodbye with Mabel, who promises to keep in touch and then we walk down to my car and carefully put all Tommy's things in and head for my home. I note during the drive, the tears that stream down his face as he takes in the passing sights, the tears of wonder, of sights seen perhaps thru new eyes.

At last, we reach my home, NO OUR home and Tommy turns to me with his jaw dropped...beautiful chocolate-colored eyes filled with tears.

"This is.... BEAUTIFUL! I mean...I really get to live here? With you?"

"I'm glad you think it's beautiful....and of course you get to live here with me...always." I truly do mean that Tommy, not just always but FOREVER...

"Oh, the ivy, and the lawn and its what Tudor style kind of?" I nod. "It just seems so peaceful...something I haven't felt in SO long....so damn long." Tommy sighs sadly.

"I hope truly that you find the peace you're looking for here, I believe you will." Gently, slowly.... i take his hand and to my delight, he lets me.... looking at me strangely, but I DO feel rather than see.... his breath hitches. At last, we get out of the car, and I help Tommy unload his things we'd brought home and open the door, letting him go first....as he takes everything in with wide eyes. "I'd say, we can look around if you'd like Tom...but you look like you need some serious sleep." My love.

"B-But....t-the nightmares.... i mean I've gotten better about s-screaming.... please...I don't want to, I mean...sleep or try to right now." Tommy begs me and then looks shocked as I utter the following....

"Tommy, you don't have to if you don't want to.... but just please let me know if you wanna try. Just rest."

Tommy blows ME away with, "What about you? I mean, you've stayed with me for basically two months, I know you must be exhausted Joe. I mean, I want you to be ok.... rest too."

"I'll be fine, I promise...now let's get your stuff up to your room and then we can do whatever you want, or you can have time to yourself?"

"I'd love to see my room...wow...my room." Tommy says to himself, shaking his head at the I am sure terrible memories going thru his head, as I lead the way upstairs, Tommy taking in everything...and we stop before his door, which his room is across the way from mine....I open the door and step back, letting Tommy go first....He claps his hands to his mouth, before dropping them, walking around the room in awe, disbelief and someone unaccustomed to the most basic of comforts, comforts period. "It's everything you said it was and more.... all these books," and as I enter the room, he looks out the balcony...., "I-I knew it was beautiful from just how you described it, but in person? It's even better." To my absolute joy.... he walks to me and HUGS ME, I fight back tears as I hug him, gently rubbing his back as I'd set his stuff down to where he could arrange it how he wanted.

"It means so much that you love it Tom, I hope that here you will be happy." My voice husky, Tommy is still in my arms, God I don't want to let go of him!!

"I am sure I will be these helps...more than you know...." Tommy surprises me by opening with the following, "I met him...J-Jamie.... when I was fifteen, he was the first.... ONLY person to ever notice me.... but I was painfully shy unless I had my guitar, b-but.... he was older, but I was with him for 10 years...10 damn years Joe, time I'll never get back. He never loved me.... i always knew, but never wanted to admit it.... it's STILL far too ingrained in me to, NOT feel worthy of anyone, you, all of this...." Tommy fairly mumbles the last part...but I HEARD 'worthy of you', Tommy seems not to have noticed....but I hear the confusion in his voice, the fear...still not there yet my love, you're not fully ready to hear or maybe too I'm being a coward, but Tommy you still need time, time to realize....you love me, you've fallen for me....i will wait till I die if I have to, to hear those words...'I love you' fall from your lips...

Finally we part, and Tommy decides he wants to explore the house, so explore we do and I even show the studio, where I surprise Tommy with the guitars I'd gotten him with help and he declares there and then, he wants to play...and so I listen to him play....perfectly happy to see him in his element, still just as amazing a guitarist as I'd met years ago and then some....

I end up fixing us dinner, Tommy insists on helping...so I let him help me fix pasta, him having two helpings and we just watch tv for a while until its nearly 1 am....so Tommy takes a shower and goes to bed, looking like he's going to his execution....

I lay in bed, now staring at my ceiling.... unable to sleep, feeling restless.... It's been two hours, since Tommy has gone to sleep, and I hear.... screams.... frightened screams.... i throw back the covers and burst into his room to find him thrashing about, I carefully and quickly wrap my arms around him rocking him back and forth and he wakes up, crying.

"Joe?!.... I'm sorry.... I am SO sorry!" Tommy cries." T-Thought...they went away...the screaming did.... I mean."

"Shh, shh.... I'm more worried about you." I soothe, my heart breaks for him.

"I-I dreamed Jamie...came...and he hurt you to get to me!!" Tommy looks at me, fearfully.

"That will never happen...I will never ever let him anywhere near you...or me, I'd gladly though...I'd gladly fight that bastard, give him a taste of his medicine...for you. I especially won't let him hurt you." Tommy pulls back to look at me....

"I just wish I could sleep!" Tommy cries desperately and a thought occurs...a wee bit out there or maybe not....

"I have an idea...cookies and milk, that's a sure-fire way to get you sleepy...worth a shot."

So, despite Tommy's protest, he follows me down to the kitchen as I grab the tin of cinnamon cookies I'd made and milk and I watch as Tommy's eyes light up, making my heart soar.... beat faster at the sparkle in his eyes. Tommy eats cookies until he declares he's full, and glasses and dishes are washed from our cookie feast...Tommy surprises me by hugging me tightly...

"I don't know how to thank you...these cookies are magical, and I feel like I can sleep now."

"I'm glad." I murmur, gently.... VERY glad. I walk with him back to his room and he hesitates for a bit before turning to me to say...

"I love lady-bugs." He blurts, looking sheepish. "They're really pretty...and cute."

"That IS wonderful Tommy. Tell the truth.... i think so too. Butterflies though are my favorite...but lady bug's just may have to become my new favorite." I smile at him, as I notice Tommy seems so tired now, he's fighting to stay on his feet. So, I carry him, he doesn't even argue as I tuck him in bed, and he immediately drifts off to sleep and I head back to my room.

Tommy did sleep the rest of the night...in fact he'd sleep 12 hours straight...and he never had any nightmares, he said.... that was a huge step in his mental recovery. Something is coming not too long from now, that would scare Tommy into running....and I will say, fate will strike once more, and confessions will be made...but what leads to him running...will be unwelcome news...or I should say an unwelcome rumor.

A/N: Oh, I honestly could have kept writing!! Tommy is opening bit by bit, he's getting there. Stay tuned for more!