A Rock & Roll Romance

Eighty

After showering, Meg didn't even bother dressing, instead just throwing on her robe and heading downstairs. As she walked into the sitting room she threw herself onto the sofa with a loud sigh. "What's up with you?" Poppy said walking in with a mug of coffee in her hand. "I'm in such a big mess." Meg groaned before sitting up. "Well a problem shared is a problem halved... come on out with it." Poppy said sitting down opposite her sister. "I told Johnny I don't want to be in the public eye..." "Wow." Poppy looked stunned. "And how did he take it?" She added. "Amazingly well, better than I thought but I just don't see us working if I'm not in the public eye. And, well I heard something I shouldn't have..." Poppy's eyes widened. "You? Goodie Goodie Meg earwigging..." "Poppy be serious. He's pulling out of a load of work commitments because I won't be there. He's only opting for the ones he's legally obliged to." "So..." Poppy said with a shrug. "I can't have him do that... it's just not fair. His career, his reputation everything will suffer because of me." Poppy nodded "relationships are complicated. They are about compromise." Meg was shocked at the maturity of her sister's comment. "Yes... you're right." Meg said quietly. "So what do I do?" "You love Johnny?" "Of course." Meg said almost defensively. "And you would do anything for him?" Poppy said knowingly. "Yes...." Meg responded knowing what her sister was getting at. "So...." Poppy said with a sweet smile. "You're saying I should just get on with it?" "Don't get me wrong I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is, being so hated and judged and constantly having people wanting to get to you after being incognito for nigh on 30 years but if you love him as much as you say you do, isn't it worth a bit more of a battle?" Meg nodded before saying "I'll think about it..." Poppy lent in and hugged her sister. "We love you for you, you don't need to prove anything to us. Whatever you decide I'll stand by you." She said with a smile before the elder sister hugged her back and offered to begin lunch.

Later, Meg had dressed in a cute tee shirt style dress, sneaks and had her denim jacket on as she walked up the road of Sweetzer to Johnny's abode. This time she knocked on the door, and waited to be let in as opposed to earlier that day. Lily Rose answered the door with a smile. "Meg!! How are you?" Meg hugged the teen before greeting her and heading into the house. "I'm good, how are you? How was school?" "Good. We've got the last of our exams tomorrow and then I'm almost done for summer!!" "Well isn't that exciting!! I used to love Summer vacation." Meg said before Jack bundled down the stairs and hugged the woman. "Dad's out back already come on!!"

The four sat out in the garden for the entire evening, laughing together, playing games and just enjoying one another's company before Meg offered to make hot chocolate for the children. She headed into the kitchen and began the task when she was joined by Johnny. "Doll, you ok?" "Yeah I'm fine, why?" "You've just been a tad quiet that's all. I wanted to check on you." "Johnny I promise I'm fine." She said trying to reassure him. "Are you ok?" She asked as he wrapped his arms around her. "Of course. I have my two gods outside and my amazing woman here in my arms. I'm good." He kissed her before she went back to making the drinks.

After returning outside to the terrace, Meg sat down beside Johnny and he threw an arm around her loosely. She smiled and enjoyed his comfort but wondered how long they could avoid the inevitable. He was a celebrity, he was famous, of course any woman who he was involved in would have to be in the public eye. She was listening to Lily talk about her upcoming projects when Jack turned and said "Meg, if you're not going to Palm Springs you can come to my music show." Meg smiled touched that the boy had thought to invite her, she was also shocked that Johnny had told the children about the change of plan. She also didn't know how she would feel going to a school recital with Johnny's ex though, especially with him not there. "Umm sure I'll look at my calendar buddy." She added taking a sip of her drink before Johnny chuckled looking at his watch "Right, you kids better be in bed soon. Especially you madam with your last exam tomorrow." Lily nodded and the two stood thanking Meg for the drinks before retreating into the house. "They are smitten with you" Johnny smiled before Meg coyly said "only because I make a great hot chocolate." "No they love you like I do." "I love you too Johnny." Meg responded with a simple smile as she cosied into him under the stars.

The next morning, after a casual breakfast with Johnny and the children, Meg headed home to crack on with some work, she knew Johnny would be busy with prep for his trip so decided to knuckle down herself. As she headed into the foyer she saw Travis wandering down her staircase topless. "This is getting far too often I'm seeing you naked." "I'm hardly naked..." he smirked pointing to the sweats on his legs. "Has she overslept?" Meg said knowingly. "Not exactly, but she will be late if she doesn't get her fine ass in gear." Meg rolled her eyes before saying "Coffee?" "Would love some." The security guard said following her into the kitchen.

"Meg I'm sorry I didn't have a clean blouse I've borrowed one.." Poppy shouted as she headed to the front door. Meg soon sped out the kitchen. "That's Chanel!! Don't even think about ruining it with a stain!!" Meg scolded to a smirking Poppy who quickly kissed Travis passionately and left with a slam of the front door. "You two really are chalk and cheese aren't ya?" Travis said with a smile. "Umm we are alike in some ways." "Are you?" He chuckled. "Yes but not in the way you're thinking..." she giggled. "We have the same morals, the same ethics, whether she admits it or not she has a good head on her shoulders. I think she kinda enjoys being treated like the baby of the family because for so long Mum didn't give her any attention. Besides I like fussing over her. We are different in the fact she's not done laundry in three weeks and she knows my wardrobe is immaculate and I know full well she didn't just borrow the blouse, the skirt was mine too. Prada." Meg said with a smirk sipping her coffee.