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

Chapter 23- A Most Dreaded Encounter (Tommy Thayer)

I've entered my fourth month of pregnancy, and FINALLY my morning sickness is going away! It'd been rough, and I worried my husband so, worried me...but the most important thing? Was that my baby, my little flower was healthy and growing. I watched my ever-changing figure with awe and fascination, my belly growing it seemed to me ever rounder and my husband nor I could quit touching my growing stomach or each other to be honest, there i said it.  Joe was my absolute rock thru my 3 months of morning sickness...and now, we are home in London. The flight was rough, and I had been cleared to travel, but upon landing as soon as we could we had me checked and the baby was ok...but then I slept for I forget how long, but it was long enough to send me back to the hospital...scared my husband to death, but again thankfully the baby was ok.

Which brings us to now, me sitting up in bed rubbing my swollen stomach fondly as my husband is downstairs fixing me a bowl of ice cream and figs, but I wanted pickles too, and I am feeling the baby move and they haven't kicked yet and oh how I cannot wait for that! and I smile.... very active it seems.

"You're really moving in there! Must be as happy as mommy is! Or you really want those snacks daddy is bringing me! Back home in London, and oh I can't wait for you to be born so I can show you our garden and all the sights!" but then unwanted thoughts creep in about: Jamie. Jamie has been spotted recently here in the UK, and it gives me chills and I feel strongly my nightmare may come true...I am brought of my thoughts by my husband's voice in our doorway:

"Tommy? Love...what's wrong?" Sounding worried, and I realize my face is wet and I didn't even know I was crying. Joe sets down my cravings on my side of the bed and takes me in his arms carefully.

"I was really h-happy! And the baby is really moving a lot and I talked about how I wanted to show our flower our home and sights...but t-then Jamie. Joe, I am scared. He's been spotted here in the UK recently." I cry.

" I know Tom, i hate that bastard for scaring you so...but i promise he will not harm you." Joe's voice is strong, but I hear the crack and I know it's because he fears losing me and the baby. But he calms me down, and then I wolf down my cravings and burp loudly causing us both to laugh.

The rest of the day is spent taking care of business, I decided to work from home or here in London working on arrangements for a reunion tour for Kiss and too my husband and I spent time together and even had a visit from Eric and Sav....

Now It is the next day and I really want to go to the store for food, Joe reluctantly agrees but he is going with me...I feel that I will need that.

Upon arrival to the store, I am in my element gathering things I am craving, stocking up on things and my husband laughs as he tells me he's hard pressed to keep up with how energetic I am right now, but despite the laughs he and I are both uneasy...me especially. I am down a particular isle for pasta sauces, and my husband is of course right by my side...when I get the feeling, we are being watched....and I make the mistake of turning and see...someone I never wanted to see again: Jamie. Fuck!!

The jars I was holding fall and shatter on the floor and the second my husband sees WHY: His eyes scream 'death', and he stands in front of me protectively steering me clear of the sauce and glass I am really starting not to feel good...I feel sick, and woozy.

"Hello Tommy.... been awhile and I see you've been busy." Jamie's voice was and IS the stuff of nightmares, full of quiet menace. I cradle my stomach protectively; I am feeling worse by the moment. "To think we could have had our own.... but you knew better, didn't you? You would've loved it more than me...and now you have your spawn." His words cut me like a knife, it's just like my nightmare that I had while in a coma, but I am not alone, Joe tenses at my side.

"NEVER refer to the baby I lost as an 'it' or my child as a spawn! Yes, I would have loved the baby...I wish you would've, you never loved me...you nearly killed me and killed the baby I lost. You deserve the worst sort of punishment, I know you never loved me...it was all about power and control, go to hell." My Voice shakes badly. My husband glances at me, worried...increasingly worried for me and our baby, my baby who it seems is moving frantically. She, I know it's she...my daughter is feeling my fear, oh my sweet little flower be ok!!

"Oh Tommy, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your lover, would you? If he and you BOTH know what's good for you, you'll come with me." Jamie snarls.

"How DARE you!! How dare you threaten my husband, my child or me." Joe snarls back and I've never seen him so angry before, but I know it's directed at Jamie. Jamie makes the mistake of rushing me, and before he or my husband can do anything I swing as hard as I can, knocking his ass out cold...Joe kicks him for good measure, and turns to me quickly.

"J-Joe...d-don't feel..." my words all sound as if I am speaking thru a tunnel as I lose consciousness, praying my baby and husband will be ok.... i hear footsteps and frantic shouting....

I wake up and find my self in a hospital gown, and I panic....

"Oh god.... oh god. The baby!! Joe...Joe..." I sob.

"Tommy!! Ladybug, I'm here...I'm here. Shh...the baby is fine! They checked the baby; our little flower was in distress but is fine. They want you to rest here for a day or two." I feel his warm and loving arms wrap around me and I sob into his chest, as he tries to soothe me despite his own tears and trembling frame and despite that he gently rubs my back and brings my hands to my swollen stomach, his joining with mine as I sigh in relief feeling our child move gently.

"Joe...I am SO sorry, you could have gotten hurt...I could have gotten hurt or our baby." I whisper.

"That possibility scared me, but Tommy...I am SO damn proud of you...you stood up to that bastard despite how scared you were, you did what you had to defend our child and us. I love you...I love you so damn much!" Joe has tears streaming down his face as tearfully we kiss and his hands are still resting on my stomach...the moment we part, we both freeze and look at each other in wonder, it feels like something is thumping against my stomach.

"The baby is kicking!" It dawns on me, "Saying 'hello'...hello little flower. Daddy and I are happy you are ok. We love you very much!" I laugh and cry, as we are rewarded with more kicks.

"Oh Tom...I'll never forget this moment!" I find I cannot agree more....Since I am awake, they take me for an ultra-sound, my husband refusing to let go of my hand as soon we get started, my gown lifted exposing my swollen stomach, the doctor telling us everything is healthy, baby is a perfect size...and the greatest moment of all occurs when we are asked if we want to know the gender.

"Yes please." I state tearfully, my husband and I eagerly staring at the monitor...as we see...our precious baby...girl. "Joe! It's a girl.... a girl...this is a dream come true!"

"It is love...it is. Truly the greatest of dreams. Hello flower, Hello Violet Rose Elliot...your mother and I cannot wait to meet you." Joe grins and kisses me.

When we are back in my room...

"What happened? After I...well." I hesitantly ask my husband, who sighs but holds my hands in his, his gaze steady.

"He woke up...Jamie did, cops arrived about that time...he tried...he tried, to kill you...he had a gun, I tackled him...but he tried again, and he's dead...I saw the body myself, they got him love." Joe trembles, voice husky from tears.

"Oh god...I know that was bloody hard to tell me. Joe, you saved my life...more than once now. I am proud to be your husband and mother of our daughter. I love you...I love you." I whisper as we come together in a kiss...now, now, begins...my recovery, true recovery.

A/N: A dramatic and scary encounter...but now Jamie is gone for good and Tommy can truly recover, sweet moments between Joe and Tommy and their baby is indeed a little girl!