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

Chapter 144: An Iconic Tribute Part 1 (Amara Rain Perry)

This is SO cool! That FINALLY after what feels like FOREVER, my older sister Josephine & I are due to hit the stage soon. We've been rehearsing our songs, 'No More, No More' & 'Angel', for days. We're getting ready to live one of our greatest dreams, but we are here to pay tribute to Aerosmith for MTV'S Icon AWARDS. But really Josey, as I and my brothers & sisters call her, are HERE to pay tribute to our parents. It was Josey's idea, and it's been SUPER hard to keep everything secret from our parents. Well, they KNOW, we're working on something special....and right now I can see my sister is nervous, she can't keep still....

"Josey?"

"Huh?"

I know just what to do, I hug her & she relaxes & stills, and she makes me feel better because now she's smiling, though too I see tears. "Thanks Amara.... you know you remind me SO much of dad."

"And YOU remind me of mom a lot, & I think that's wicked awesome!" Josephine laughs, her laugh just like moms. "—I could tell you were really freaking out a bit, but we got this. I believe in you; I believe in US. You won't be alone up there, you'll have me, I'll have you & sides we'll have the first song with Uncle Alice, Uncle Tommy & Aunt Stevie.... but I guess you're more worried about performing for our parents than the millions of people who are fixing to see us." I know my sister, as dad has always said.... since I was a baby, wherever/whatever Josey does...I follow, I just love my sister a lot. She is my hero....

Josey's mouth drops a moment, "You...wow, yeah. You're right, and you really ARE like dad's twin." The look on her face screams MOM, our mother.... Nikki-Perry Sixx. "You always know what to do and say.... this is HUGE for us, I just wanted to do this not just because it's been my dream, OUR dream...but for THEM."

"Me too..." I Whisper, "Remember Josey.... like dad always says, 'Think of those who you love, think of the good things...FEEL the music, get lost in good ways...put everything into what you're passionate about."

She doesn't say anything, but she just hugs me tightly....and then I find myself standing at her side, both of us with our guitars in hand & I Think.... getting excited.... just THINKING.

I can't WAIT to see the looks on everyone's faces from Uncle Pink to Joey & especially our parents: Joe Perry & Nikki-Perry Sixx. I know they are proud of us already....and I know they will love this, Josey.... she's dressed in dad's old leather jacket, the same jacket he wore in the 'Angel' video for Aerosmith, & she's gonna sing that song....and her voice, is Amazing! I meanwhile, am gonna play the lead on our first song....and now, I hear Aunt Johnny say the words.... Josephine & I look at each other, smiling....and we hear the family we have on stage, whispering words of encouragement to us....

"----We have two very special people, very special & insanely talented girls who wanted to pay tribute not just to an Iconic Band, but their family & their parents....and here they are----,"

The curtain rises, people cheer.... gasps of surprise & I look to the balcony where our parents are, along with our other family, Josephine following my gaze & everyone is on their feet. Our parents, have tears in their eyes....and so the song begins......

This.... This is the best dream! And I get to share that dream with my older sister....my fingers as mom would say, don't miss a beat.... We moved around, glancing back at our parents, I swear I could hear dad saying, 'Nikki! Nikki.... our girls, there's OUR girls...and they are killing it!'

I lean back against my sister, whose hair like mom's is forever untamable & she also is wearing his old scarf in her hair, the same one he wore on the Dr. Feelgood tour.....all I know, is both of my sister feel one another....playing off each other, our parents advice on performing playing in our heads......and we are lost, lost & found both....

More time's passed than I think....cause its time for the 'outro' solo for 'No More, No More' & I can see Josephine mouth, 'Let it rip, show em' whose daughter you are...you got this!' and so I do as she says & Let IT RIP....giving it my all, my father's solo to me deserves no LESS than that...HE deserves no less, it means everything....

I can feel how proud dad is, how proud both our parents and our family members i.e. Uncle Tommy, Aunt Stevie on the drums.... Uncle Alice, Uncle Tom & Aunt Joey...EVERYONE is. I hear whispers.... good ones & bad ones & I hear in my head my mom's voice say:

"People are gonna tell you, that there's no way you can be good as you are, that you're not good enough. People will always find something stupid & hurtful to say, they will tear you down if they can. Don't let them win, all you need to do is be YOU, go with your gut & give the world the middle finger.... when you need to."

"People love to talk; they love to judge you when they don't even know you. You give em' you & make no apologies. Sometimes they forget your humanity, you're not perfect. You are YOU, love all parts of yourself just like your ma & I do.... that we love all parts of each other & of you & your siblings." I hear dad's voice in my head and still not missing a beat, channeling everything into my playing....

"Mom, dad.... You're my heroes. You always have been....and I love you so much...." I answer back in my head & I KNOW they hear me....

I blink & the solo...the song is at an end, and the cheers are deafening....and I find Josephine hugging me excitedly, both of us PUMPED.

"Oh my god! Oh my god, we did it! YOU did it!"

"Told you we would! Now it's your turn! You're gonna blow them away. I love you Josey...."

"I love you too..." The way she says it, says it ALL.

A brief commercial break, the lights dim......frantic touch ups for the make-up & Hair, Uncle Alice leaving the stage but not before telling Josey & I, "So proud of you girls, it was an HONOR to share the stage with you.... you've got an amazing future ahead of you both." ....

I don't think he's wrong, I KNOW he's not wrong.... I feel it, my sister feels it....and now its HER moment....

And we're back.... the true moment is HERE....and I must tell my sister....

"You've got this Josey.... I'm right here with you, it's YOUR time."

She smiles, her smile just like dad's.... her expression pure mom.... the notes start floating through the air, and the spotlight is focused on Josephine....

Eyes wide, my jaw on the ground as her VOICE comes in loud & clear.... i knew she could sing, but NEVER have I heard her sing like that......

-Josephine Nicole Perry-

I get to do this with the people I love....my family....my sister killed it, now it's my turn. I glance now at the balcony, to see tears......tears not of sadness but of pride, of joy & love.... i feel my eyes widen, the voice I am hearing now is MINE.... never heard it quite like this....and I feel the tears, I feel the love....

"Angel.... the song I wrote for your ma when we were apart, it was the first song I ever wrote him borne out of love, out of heartbreak when circumstances pulled us apart, but never we're we truly apart & in the end it got thru to him....and really it got thru to us both...." It's dad's voice I hear in my head, loud & clear.... loud & clear.

A/N: There is so much more to come! Stay tuned!