A Rock & Roll Romance

Ninety Two

After a very hot sweaty afternoon pitching the large (ish) tent and making everything perfect, Meghan had taken a moment to shower and freshen up. Just because she was sleeping outside tonight didn't mean she was going to wave the right to personal hygiene. Although the weather was still warm, the temperature had dropped massively, and as she donned some short pjs, she felt outside would be a little cool. She was rummaging around in her case before Johnny appeared in the bedroom. "Doll you ready? The kids are desperate to get going." She smirked before standing up. "Please remind me to unpack tomorrow." She giggled looking at the sight of her messy cases. "Sure thing." Johnny chuckled. As if he knew what she had been thinking he grabbed one of his flannel checkered  shirts that had been aimlessly tossed on a nearby chair and gently handed it to her. "You might need it." He said politely making her smile. "Thank you." She said sweetly before donning it and heading downstairs where the kids were eagerly stood in the kitchen in their pyjamas with piles of sweets, snacks and hot chocolate items on the island. "I'm thinking s'mores first, then hot chocolate before bed?" Lily said and Meghan nodded. "Sounds like a plan." She helped the kids grab all the items and left her phone on the side. After all camping was about being at one with nature right? Johnny soon followed as they made their way a short distance to the "perfect" spot according to Jack, where the tent thankfully still stood. The fairy lights they had spent ages untangling were now wrapped loosely around the guide ropes and provided a pretty glow alongside the small fire Johnny had obviously got going whilst Meg and the kids were getting changed for bed. "It looks perfect." Meg said softly not realising how loud she had said it. "It does, and Jack and I bought the Polaroid, we thought maybe, if you know you wanted you could make some new camping memories. Daddy explained that it would be hard for you to do this again." Meg smiled before putting her arm round Lily and pulling her close. "I would love that. Come on let's get cosy." The four pulled their camping chairs close to Johnny's fire and immediately Jack opened the marshmallows. "How many do you think you could eat?" He asked with a giggle making the others smirk.

An hour later, Meghan was staring up at the stars. The sun had completely set and how they were engulfed with the moonlight and the glow from the fire. "I don't feel too good." Jack said rubbing his belly. "That's because you've just eaten your fifth s'more!" Lily scolded with a giggle. "Drink some water you'll be fine. You do this every year." Johnny said with a chuckle handing over a blue water bottle with Jack's initials on. "Remember that year he almost was sick?" Lily said to her father making Jack groan. "That wasn't funny." "Megz do you want another?" Lily said passing the bag of marshmallows round. "Good god no!" Meghan laughed. "I think if I did, it might actually be me being sick." She giggled sipping her drink. "I know.. let's play a game. I'll start with a word and everyone has to add a word to make a story. Ready.." Johnny said with a smile.

After games, spooky stories, and searching for shooting stars, Johnny checked his watch and saw the time. "Right it's even late for me kids." He said before stoking the fire one last time. "Let's get into bed." The group slowly got into the tent and Johnny zipped the main door up. "Umm guys...." Meghan said holding her lantern up. "What?" Johnny asked. "Where are the bedrooms?" Meghan asked before her boyfriend held his torch up and shone it round the tent. "Jack? Where's the inner tent?" Johnny asked. "I left that bit out. I thought the girls would get scared and we should all sleep together" the boy said sweetly making Lily giggle. "I may have known about this. Sorry." She added before Meghan giggled. "It's cute. Just please tell me you remembered the camping mats?" "Yep!! And extra blankets and duvets to sleep on. It's proper cosy." Jack added proudly making Meg shrug. "It's one night." She whispered to Johnny who look rather put out to be sharing his girlfriend with his children all night. Jack quickly flopped down on his pillow and Lily took the opposite end of the tent, leaving the middle for Johnny and Meg, who laid down next to one another awkwardly in the presence of his two teenagers. "Dad..." Jack lying next to his father whispered although they could all hear him. "Kiss her goodnight." He added making his father gasp. This made Lily giggle. "Yeah Dad. Don't be rude." She added making Meg blush, thankfully the darkness hid her glowing cheeks. "I tell ya what..." Johnny smirked sitting back up, leaning over Meg to kiss Lily's cheek, then back to his right to kiss his son's head and then finally pecked Meg. "Now everyone has had a kiss goodnight. Happy?" He said making them all belly laugh. "Wonderfully so." Meg added before Lily replied "spectacular." "Wonderful." Jack giggled. "We were the three musketeers, now we are the awesome foursome." Lily said as they quietened down. This touched Meg deeply. Her and her siblings had always called themselves that alongside her father, after her mother had chosen another life after the divorce. It was the first time she had heard those words in a long time. Johnny felt her tense beside him and reached for her hand gently squeezing it. "The awesome foursome... the new generation." She whispered quietly. Lily heard the emotion in her voice and also reached for Meg's hand, as Johnny reached an arm out to his son embracing him. "This is it guys. This is the new chapter in all our lives." He said quietly. All four of them happily falling asleep to that notion.