Might as Well Face it, You're Addicted to Love (Joe Perry/Nikki Sixx)

Chapter 52: Baby's First Tour Part 1

-Diary Entry- August 31. 1989-

I never imagined this would be my life, but I've found I would have it no other way. August 31, 1989, and Aerosmith and Mӧtley Crϋe are hitting the road together in a massive co-headlining tour which according to what we've been told.... Well, we've already sold out of a bunch of shows already and are very likely to sell out this whole tour. This is one of the most memorable tours I've ever been on for two reasons, two very...very special and beloved reasons: Nikki, my beloved Honeybee and Josephine, my precious flower and it's her first tour.

It's the start of the tour and we're on the road, traveling (both bands) in the same bus, interesting to say the least. It's chaos, its family. Nikki and I have both been super anxious about bringing our daughter on the road. So far, she's fascinated by everything and making her rounds with everyone (Bobby Mars is too, he's napping at the moment) Course, she is also sleepy because she's been excited about being on the road and she's trying to walk, she can stand but she has been determined and she's already started talking just a few weeks ago, fucking floored Nikki and me. The moment in question came when we were in our home studio, Nikki and I jamming and out of nowhere, she pointed at my guitar and said, "Tar'" aka Guitar. Nikki and I gaped at one another, holding our breaths, and holding back tears, but she didn't stop there, she also pointed at Nikki's bass and said, "Bass." Followed by of course, "mama" and "Daddy" and those tears, those precious tears flowed....

-End of Entry-

I quit writing because one Nikki sits beside me, Josephine in his arms who is seriously fighting sleep and he says anxiously, "She needs sleep but refuses and I've tried everything. she had to make her rounds but still...."

"Lemme help you babe, I gotcha...." I take Josephine from him as Nikki leans against my shoulder and I speak to my daughter, "Sweet girl you need sleep, ok? I know you had to see everyone and are excited, but you need lots of rest."

"No dada!" Josephine frowns, and it's just like mine her words punctuated with a little yawn.

A thought occurs, "How about a story?" I suggest it to my daughter and by extension my husband. I can feel more than see my husband smile.

A sleepy little nod and so i tell her the story of Nikki and I, our first date...the one he took me on, Nikki joining in and by the end of the story she is fast asleep at last, so lovingly and carefully she's placed in her little travel 'baby' bed, Nikki and I lingering making sure she's safe and within view of us, close.

And once that's done, Nikki and I resume sitting on the couch, him sitting in my lap with my arms around him and God, do I love how this feel!

"I really loved our daughter hearing the story of our first date, the one where I took you and gave you an 'LA' style education." Nikki murmurs into my neck, his head resting on my shoulder and his voice grows husky from tears, everyone else is meanwhile doing their own thing...Vince and Steven Tyler disappearing as if we don't know what they are up to, Mick and Brad are cuddling and seem to be falling asleep....meanwhile I think Tommy Lee seems to be playing solitaire and seems deep in thought about something( He was thinking about asking Steven Adler to marry him or I should say, how to go about that and he would end up asking me for advice and also he was pissed at Guns 'n' Roses because of how they treated Adler, which you will find out more later), anyway...., "---God I remember that night, well up until you and I getting shit faced....still, we didn't see it as a date then....or maybe deep down I always knew, all I did know that night is I felt normal around you Joe, and for a time you helped me let go. And now, now look where we are, our bands on tour together and this.... US, you, and I here with our daughter. I can't fucking get over how far we've come." At my husband's words, I too am now in tears.

"Oh Nikki...." Too overcome to say much more, but my husband oh he understands, I feel a soft pair of lips on my own and I am lost, lost in my Honeybee. Nikki pulls back and wipes away my tears despite his own and smiles at me and no lie, there is no sight more breathtaking. "I love you." I whisper.

"I love you too." Nikki gets off my lap, checking on Josephine who is still sleeping away making my heart melt, before he joins me at me side as I slide an arm around his waist, him leaning against me and no sooner than he does that, then Tommy Lee shows up, looking nervous rocking back on the balls of his feet.

"Um.... Joe? Could I ask you something? Talk with you and Nikki too?"

"Tommy relax and you can ask me anything as well as Nikki. Why don't you take a seat?" Tommy plops down to the floor and crosses his legs, twirling his drumsticks.

"I was thinking.... i wanna ask Steven to marry me, he's special....so special, he...I mean, God...I'm not good with words, but I love him and...well, I don't know how the fuck to go about it. I mean, I've taken him on dates.... we've had a lot of fun, then...a lot of them too where when we were fucked up. I always try and make him feel special, but like man I don't know what I'm doing."

"Ya know Tommy I know exactly how you feel, I didn't know what the fuck I was doing when it came to Nikki for so long. He took me out, and yeah, we had a lot of times where we were together and fucked up in some form or fashion. But I'll tell you this, what MATTERS is the two of you being together. Your heart knows, even when your head doesn't. My advice is listen to your heart, do things for Adler like cook his favorite meals and such. As far as asking him to marry you? You'll know when it's right because it FEELS right. Hmm, Nikki said Adler was going to come visit you in a few weeks or soon as he could, maybe a picnic and blanket in a hotel room for when we get to that. in the end Tommy, don't over think it and go with your heart."

"Thank you, I feel a hell of a lot better. And you know, you're so damn good for Nikki...you were made for each other." Tommy is grateful, relieved all at once.

"Didn't you Say Steven loves the beach, collecting seashells and all?" Nikki asks Tommy.

"Yeah, Sixxter I did...." Tommy trails off and then practically bounces in place, "I think I've got some ideas now; I've already got a ring." Tommy then frowns heavily, "There's another thing.... Guns' n' Fucking Roses. They treat Steven like shit man, I mean they don't take him seriously and he's struggled with being sober because of THEM, not Izzy Stradlin.... Steven's been fully sober for a few months now, and he seems to think the rest of the band is looking for an excuse to get rid of him."

"I guess Vince and I both will beat the shit out of Axl now and then some. "Nikki snarls, I gently squeeze his waist and he calms, and his tone is thoughtful, "If anything happens.... he'd be welcome to tour with us, of course but I was thinking we could use a good producer for albums if you think he'd be interested." How fucking lucky am I to be married to Nikki?

Tommy Lee's jaw drops, "Wow man.... thank you. Thank both of you."

"We're family man, we've got your back." I told him.

They did end up firing poor Steven Adler, aka Popcorn as he is often referred to as and he would end up becoming not only Mӧtley's Producer, but Aerosmith's as well and eventually go on to work with other rock bands. And Tommy Lee would a few weeks from this point in time, ask Adler to marry him.

There's a lot more to come in our rock 'n roll tale and our co-headlining tour. I will leave you this, it was a memorable tour.... especially because Nikki and I had our daughter.... but really it was memorable all the way around.

A/N: Part 1 of Baby's First Tour Is done. Stay tuned for the next part!