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

Chapter 54: Baby's First Tour Part 3

That epic co-headlining tour with my husband's band, as I have said, was epic, nothing short of it. Surely the hell was memorable for many reasons, chief among them my daughter I shared/share with Nikki: Josephine. All her milestones on tour, walking for the first time/running.... her seeing and learning new things daily and it was her very first tour. And of course, there was Nikki...my other half, he and I not only performing with our bands but US. Ya know, our love...parenting our daughter. In short, we were thriving, happy and on top of the damn world, Nikki, and I And then there was of course our large extended family, and again FAMILY...my own and the other made. True there were as you know bitter-sweet moments, sweet as well as painful ones with Steven Adler but he wasn't alone, NONE of us were....

The tour was highly successful, and it turns out we sold out all our shows. My point is: never did I lose sight of what was important....my child, my husband THEY came first. My family came FIRST. Time was rushing by, ever moving forward...the shows went by even faster after that show on September 26, 1989, and before I knew it, it was October. Josephine was 11 months, Bobby Mars was four months behind her and for Halloween Josephine was dressed up in the most adorable little bee costume, Bobby was dressed as an alien I remember well as a tribute to his father: Mick Mars ( we'd had a show on Halloween and plenty and I do mean plenty of pictures were taken) and again, it's like I blinked and then came November. The weather was growing colder, my daughter was fixing to turn one and Nikki and I especially were ready to go home. Yes, we loved and still do, what we do for a living...the music, but we missed our home and where you will find all of us is on the last day of the tour, November 12. 1989 just having come off stage, showered and all of us meeting up at a restaurant to celebrate and well you'll see....

"Ready to go princess?" I hear Nikki's voice in my dressing room, the most beautiful sound, followed by another beautiful sound....my daughter's voice and I'm more than ready to see my family, I've showered and changed and we're all going to meet up at a restaurant to celebrate our last show....in any case, I open the door to hear the sweetest, little (for now) voice in the world reply...

"Wes'! Mama.... da-da?"

I clear my throat softly and my husband and daughter look up, both smiling brightly....

"Daddy is right here sweet girl, you excited to see everyone?" At this point Nikki is at my side and carefully I wrap my arms around my worlds, sharing a kiss with Nikki as Josephine bounces excitedly in her mother's hold. "—I take it that means, yes?" I tease.

"Wes' dada! Wuv ew an' mommy!"

"We love you too, so much and we'll go eat with everyone and tomorrow we head home and in just a few more days..." Nikki's voice cracks, "—It will be your birthday, its very special just like you." True words my love, true words.... YOU and SHE are very special......

We stand there in our own world, for just a wee bit longer savoring our time with just US before we make our way to the restaurant, Italian I do believe but not before making sure we had Josephine's stuffed bear and her baby bag ready to go....

Upon arrival, Steven Tyler as per usual takes the piss outta me or tries to.... a glare from Vince shuts him up that and the fact, he KNOWS my husband and I have pranked him the whole tour and we always keep him on his toes, fucking worth it. Tom & Joey snicker as they are sitting close to Steven not even bothering to hide it, not that I blame them.

We get settled, or rather I get Josephine all secured in her little highchair and then I insist on pulling Nikki's chair out before I then sit down myself and he leans over to whisper in my ear, "You Jo-Jo Bear are truly the sweetest partner, I love you."

"I love you more." I counter whispering back. Everyone is here, its life...its chaos, conversation flows between everyone, there is laughter and there are tears....and there is the food when it comes.

Truly my life, my life is so full...as is my heart. I never imagined this would come to be, but it IS...and my life, well it really all began that fateful night in 86' that Nikki and I met....

Nikki and I trade kisses in between bites, feeding Josephine...she insists on Nikki feeding her, asking sweetly of course and then she alternates having her version of conversation with one Bobby Mars making the whole table 'aw' at how cute they are together and during all this, Steven Adler who is sitting next to Tommy Lee who is on Nikki's left leans over and says tearfully, holding tightly to his fiancée's hand....

"I feel like I haven't thanked you Joe or you Nikki for what you've done for me and plan on doing, especially taking me SERIOUSLY and giving me a family. Sides' Tommy, you're the only ones that have ever truly cared. I have a purpose now and my relationship with Tommy, well that's gotten better too."

"That means a lot to Nikki and I, and Adler you're FAMILY. It has taken me a lifetime to have a true family, one forged and one of my own. A lot of hurt, tragedy happened along the way, but here we all are. Things fell into place once I realized Nikki was my soulmate and my feelings and I get the feeling it was much the same for you and Tommy. So anytime, anything you need.... just let us know, ok?"

He did of course....

It's like I blink and its Nikki and I bathing a messy Josephine in our hotel room, getting her ready for bed, her chattering away.... her words punctuated by little yawns...

"Wuv food an' Unka Pink an' ebbyone...cited'...an..."

"All right little bee, let's finish up your bath huh and put you to bed." Softly, she makes a sleepy protest and I insist on finishing up with her while Nikki gets her little baby bed ready and once that's done and no sooner, I enter the room, she's asleep. "Honeybee...." Softly, I begin making my husband turn, "Our little bee wore herself out but I gotta say how adorable she looks even in sleep."

Nikki chuckles quietly, "She does look adorable even in sleep, just like us." He teases, carefully taking her from my arms, kissing her little forehead and laying her down in her little bed, me wrapping an arm around his waist and then Nikki's voice grows husky from tears, "—Joe, where the hell does time go? We have the most beautiful little girl, and in a few days.... She'll be a year old. This tour is at an end, I wish that time would slow down ya know."

"I know Nikki, no lie baby I know. I feel the same way...." I turn him to face me, gently cupping his cheek with my hand, "---You are an amazing mother, husband NEVER doubt that Honeybee. A life without you or her, wouldn't be a life at all. And someday, I would love to have more children with you."

"Joe.... don't YOU ever doubt how amazing a partner YOU are, a devoted and loving one and a hell of a father and I would LOVE to give you more children, no lie." Sweetly we embrace, locking lips until we need air before we resume watching over our precious little girl.

A/N: The tour is now at an end and next will be Josephine's first birthday followed by the holidays for the Perry-Sixx family. Stay tuned!