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

Chapter 53: Baby's First Tour Part 2

Weeks would come to pass after the start of the tour on August 31. 1989, or basically a month. And sure enough, sad to say Guns did fire poor Steven Adler who didn't fuckin' deserve that and this happened after we'd been on tour 2 weeks. Poor guy was devastated, and Tommy Lee was ready to kill, and what made it worse was some of them i.e. Axl Rose showed up and Tommy ultimately of course protecting Adler, who had a bad panic attack.... did give the guys from Guns a brutal verbal ass kicking, but Vince Neil and my Nikki did end up beating the shit out of Axl, which trust me he deserved. And of course we were true to our word, him becoming Aerosmith and Mӧtley's producer ultimately. Oh, before I forget Tommy did propose not too long after this on what would be September 16. 1989 and he took my advice to heart and naturally Adler said yes.

So much happened the first month of the tour besides what I've told you so far: Josephine turning 10 months old....so very close to a year, it only served to remind us just how fast our daughter was growing up, for Nikki and I really wished time would slow down. At 10 months of age of course she'd been trying to walk and was bound and determined. And one night during a show or I should say at the end of Aerosmith's set ( My husband's band went first on the tour), I suddenly felt a warm and small weight against my leg and I looked down at my daughter with wide tear filled eyes, aware that Nikki was CHASING after her trying to catch her and he'd just reached me breathless, "She WALKED, WALKED Joe...no RAN, oh my god....i mean wow...I couldn't catch her." He laughed and cried both as did I, I scooped up my daughter telling her, "I am so proud of you sweetheart!! Running and walking now! I love you!" Her reply was adorable, in her little voice she piped up pointing from where she'd come to me said, "Daddy, I w'kd (Walked) dis' (This) Way." She just had to see me Nikki told me, and I'd never been so proud....

The shows of course, sold out...huge. What was important to Nikki and I, as well as Brad and Mick especially, was making sure our children, the family, came first. So, Nikki and I rotated watching Josephine when we performed and if we couldn't be with her, Steven Adler helped to watch her and where you will find is the end of September...September 26, 1989, me spending time with my husband daughter after Aerosmith performed and I took a quick shower....

God, am I eager to see my precious little girl and husband and I rushed thru my shower, pausing briefly to talk with my extended family at large and now I've just reached my dressing room and I open the door....and immediately Josephine walks to me, holding her arms out and of course I scoop her up in my arms, happy to see her.

"Were you good for mommy sweet girl?"

"Uh-huh daddy! Wuv ew."

"Love you too..." I go to give her kisses on her cheek, and she shakes her little head and points to Nikki.

"We missed you, Joe. Josephine enjoyed seeing you out there, but she got tired....and I..." I cut my husband off, pulling him into a kiss and I smile into it. "---Love you." Nikki finishes.

"Love you too." Softly, "And I missed you both too...now I believe its some little girls' bedtime here soon." Finally giving my daughter her kisses, as she giggles, and we make our way to the hotel....

Upon arrival I send for take out to come to our room and of course I help my husband get everything ready for Josephine's bath ( we have a little baby sized tub) including her stuffed 'Jo-Jo' baby bear and her favorite little night gown and her favorite baby soap which is lavender scented, she loves it because Nikki does and she also loves anything raspberry scented or food related.

All the while, she talks with Nikki and I in her own way...

"Daddy show?"

"More shows sweet girl?" I asked her. A little nod. "Yep, still got lots of shows left for mommy and daddy."

"Unka Pink!" Josephine exclaims seemingly randomly, giggling and I know exactly why, and Nikki and I break out in laughter.

"-Man.... that was priceless!!" Nikki wheezes. "Worth it." Nikki was referring to, the prank he'd come up with prior to the tour, and I of course helped him and oh god, Steven's reaction.... i swear I saw steam come out of his ears, still he didn't stay mad long, Vince really helped with that but ever since that prank.... Well Josephine still to this day calls him. 'Uncle Pink' in reference to mine and Nikki's hair dye prank.

We get Josephine in her little tub, making sure she's nice and safe...washing her hair, which is tame for now until it dries and I help until mine and Nikki's Chinese take out comes and by the time it does, I find Nikki has Josephine in her little night gown, a clean diaper and is carefully drying her hair...and I stand in the door way admiring the scene before me....

My family, a family of MY own. Something I've longed for, for a lifetime and now...now I am living it. Nikki looks so beautiful, and he is such a good mother.... everything a mother should be, he's a beyond amazing partner....my soul mate in every sense of the word and our daughter? A beautiful little girl, growing up so fast.... she walks, she runs and is always learning new things, new words.... having all these experiences at her young age. She looks like my husband and I both and has his stunning eyes though...my lips and largely I would say she has Nikki's personality with my traits thrown in and God, I love that, and she's handled the tour all told well for the most part....

Nikki scoops up Josephine and holds her close and turns to me, and both their eyes light up seeing me.

"Hey, let's get you to bed ok princess?"

"k' dada..." Josephine yawns. Nikki follows me as I have her baby bed, we travel with all ready to go, her snuggling her bear...all cozy. "Wuv ew mama an' dada."

"We love you too, so much." Nikki and I say together, me wrapping an arm around his waist, him leaning against me and moments later she's asleep.

I laugh quietly, "Conked out. Life on the road." Nikki turns in my hold and faces me, caressing my cheek.

"Yep," Nikki agrees.

"Oh! Food's here, meant to tell you." Just remembering, Nikki still is caressing my cheek.

"That can wait another minute...first I need a kiss." Nikki smiles and I oh so happily oblige him, and after we check on Josephine, we dig into our food, always keeping her in sight, trading kisses and talking about our day. "---I saw how you looked at me when I was getting Josephine ready for bed, I just.... love the way you look at me Joe, I can't get over it."

"You take my breath away, I stopped to look while you were getting her ready for bed and I looked at her and it was the most beautiful sight. You're everything a mother should be, you're her mother and just all-around a beyond amazing partner, I feel I don't tell you enough Nikki." Softly, emotionally.

"As you do me Joe....and, you tell me and show me every day. I don't need words, not always. I FEEL it from you, I see it in your eyes." Nikki says in the same tone as me, our hearts I FEEL are beating in sync with one another....and everything disappears but him and our daughter....

A/N: Part 2 is now done and stay tuned for part 3, maybe a bit of a time skip with both the bands still on tour before Josephine's 1st birthday.