Book 5: I'll Wait, Dear (Steven Adler FanFic)

Ch. 22: Babysitter

"Her dad is David Lee Roth?" Steven's voice came out trembling, a raspy echo of his otherwise cheery tone.

Hearing the sudden change in him, I couldn't help but to sit up. At first, his hands remained in my hair as though he was trying to pull me back into his lap. He released me when it became apparent that I had no intention of laying around anymore. I wanted to look at him. I wanted to see his eyes when I told him the whole story. All of it. If he wanted me to trust him, I'd have to open up at some point. I'd finally told him who Catherine's father was, might. as well tell him everything now that the cat was out of the bag.

"Yes," I choked out, my eyes locking with Steven's. I was watching him curiously, seeing how he would react to the news. So far, he didn't seem to have much of a response other than to gaze at me with wide eyes. It was as though he was having a hard time believing me.

"How do you know Diamond Dave?" Steven asked, his face still fairly emotionless. All of his feelings appeared to be swimming around in those big, blue eyes of his. Like fish darting through ocean waves, his irises were alive with wonder. Then why was his expression so grave?

"During Van Halen's 1984 tour," I explained, glancing away from Steven and down at the grass. His eyes had become so intense, I couldn't even look at him anymore. He was making me feel as though I was lying, even when I had nothing to hide from him at this point. I felt like my thoughts were no longer private. It was strange seeing the bubbly blond so solemn. I had to say, I'd take his "annoying" smile over this strange stare-down any day.

"He, uh...got a roadie to take me backstage to meet him. Of course, being as young and naïve as I was, I jumped at the chance to meet David Lee Roth," I continued, my fingers now mindlessly fiddling with a blade of grass. "Meeting my favorite rockstar had been the most stellar moment of my life, and I was willing to do anything to seem cool in front of him."

I paused and locked eyes with Steven.

"Anything," I emphasized.

I didn't feel like dealing with whatever drama might come from Steven knowing that DLR had taken advantage of me that night. Nor did I want Steven treating Catherine any different simply because of the way in which she had been conceived. Besides, I felt that part of the blame still rested on my shoulders.

On some level, I'd wanted DLR to make love to me. To take me away from my crazy mother and my estranged father. His larger-than-life persona had enamored me to him, and a part of me had hoped that maybe some of it would rub off on me.

Maybe I could act wild and not care what people thought. Maybe I could always be as happy and as carefree as he was. Maybe I could be as successful in life and in love. When I woke up and that was not the case, perhaps it was easier for me to say he had raped me. Perhaps I'd said it to make myself feel better. To make my mom feel better.

"Anyway," I shook my head lightly, trying to shake the thoughts from my mind. "That was why you saw me at the studio with Cathy. She was meeting her daddy for the first time."

"So he hasn't been helping you at all?" Steven asked, his eye brows furrowing.

"Well, he is now. That's actually why I went out to lunch today. We were discussing visitation rights and all of that 'fun' stuff," I explained. "He seems pretty excited about being a dad."

I had expected Steven to brighten up when he heard that. Knowing him, he would be happy just knowing that Catherine would grow up knowing her father and having a happy and healthy family. So, I was surprised when his lips frowned slightly before he turned away and looked to the pool where Catherine and the others were still playing.

He didn't look the least bit pleased.

I heard him mutter something. Expecting some sort of back handed compliment, I cupped my hand behind my ear defiantly. "What'd you just say?"

He whipped his head around to face me. Those same ocean eyes flashing and roaring with a new life.

"I said, if he's so excited, why isn't he with Catherine right now?" He demanded.

My mouth fell open in shock. Not only was he questioning mine and David's parenting, but I wasn't expecting something like that to fall out of his mouth. It was so angry, so accusing, so...right.

Dammit, he has a point.

But I wasn't willing to admit that. DLR wasn't even here to defend himself. After all, the way DLR had been reacting to Catherine, I doubted he was avoiding her like Steven was making it sound like. He was in a band, he had tours and albums and music videos. He was busy.

"He's a busy man," I spluttered, hurriedly rushing to David's defense. "He's got a band."

Steven snorted. "How do you think I was able to afford this house? Who do you think those guys over there are? My band is right here, and so am I. I've found time for Cathy. Why can't he?"

I glared at Steven. Was he really worried about Catherine's well being? Or was he just trying to make himself look like the better option in my eyes? Either way, this was completely uncalled for, and I had zero interest in explaining my love life to this man whom I'd only just formally met.

"I've never even heard of your band," I spat, finally hobbling onto my feet. I stumbled slightly, still dizzy from passing out earlier, but I quickly regained my balance. I loomed over Steven, a sneer on my face. "And anyway, neither me nor David have to explain ourselves to you. We're the parents, you're the babysitter. Got it?"

He glowered up at me, his features darkening before he turned away from me, focusing his gaze on the pool in the distance. Duff and Liz seemed to have picked up on the change in atmosphere, but everybody else seemed too entertained to notice or care.

"Is that all I am to you?"

His voice was small, almost nonexistent. I peeked at him in the corner of my eye, but he seemed to be too fixated on the group of people in the distance to return my stare.

"I think it's time for us to go," I murmured, following Steven's gaze to Catherine, who was now riding around on Izzy's shoulders.

When it became obvious that Steven had finally run out of words to say to me, I stepped away from him and off towards the pool.

"C'mon, Cathy! It's time to go home!"

I watched as my daughter's face immediately fell. Ignoring my command, she instead gave me one of her own. "Momma! Look out for CC!!"

"CC?" My face scrunched with confusion. I followed her pointed finger, which led me to looking down at my feet. I jumped back when I realized that a ball of fur was lying at my feet. The baby pug noticed me staring down at it and gazed up at me with googly eyes, its nose making strange snorting sounds.

So Steven had gone through with his promise of a puppy. I remembered back to before I'd fainted, when I'd first seen the puppy cowering in Liz's arms.

"Cat named him Cutie Cake," Izzy explained when he noticed the look of confusion on my face.

"But we shortened it to CC after our 'favorite' guitarist. You remember CC, don't you, Slash?" This sarcastic remark came from Duff, who turned his attention to Slash, who simply flipped him off from his spot in the hot tub. I guessed CC was somebody they didn't care for around here.

Shaking my head, I frowned and planted my fists onto my hips. "Sorry, Cat. Stevie said he'd keep CC here for you, but we can't take him home. We don't have the space, nor do we have the money for it."

This prompted an immediate pout from Catherine, who turned away from me and hid her face in Izzy's hair. Her mouth being buried in the guitarist's greasy hair was enough for me to shiver. It made my OCD act up.

"Uncle Izzy, please bring Catherine to me," I asked.

With a reluctant sneer, Izzy waded towards me. As he approached the edge of the pool, Catherine began to throw a tantrum, trying to hop off of his shoulders to avoid me. Luckily, Izzy grabbed ahold of her and handed her over to me.

Kicking and screaming, I carried Catherine passed Steven and towards the side gate. "I'll see you at home, Liz."