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

Chapter 145: An Iconic Tribute Part 2 (Josephine Nicole Perry)

This is a dream come true, one of my biggest dreams.... i get to be THE rock star, right here in this moment. And I get to share that moment, this moment on stage with my sister: Amara & our family. Speaking of family......my parents.... i can hear them, feel them....and I get to share this.... this gift with them.

I've just started the intro to 'Angel' and now...now the lights come up, and vaguely I am aware.... of video clips of the 'Angel' Music video are playing in the background. I'm not missing a beat....my voice though surprising me, coming back at me.... a combo of my parents....and I think of what they've told me......

"Everything you feel, channel it into your playing.... Music makes you FEEL, you take it & make it your own, and remember how proud we are of you, not just for how talented you are but because you are OUR daughter. You've got this, we've got you...always."

"----Don't know what I'm gonna do.... about this feeling inside......yes, it's true.... loneliness took me for a ride---." My voice taking me still by surprise, my voice now blending in harmony with Amara's, her sharing the mike with me in this moment & the song.... The feeling continues as the words come out. And my eyes seek my parents especially and I see the tears, the pride, how TOUCHED they are.

Interacting with the audience, my nerves long gone.... interacting with my parents, all of us together...family, this is a dream & it's REAL.......

"----I wrote this song, added last minute to 'Permanent Vacation'....it was at the beginning of one of the darkest periods of my life.... of your ma's. I wrote 'Angel' for HIM, because it took me a lifetime to realize what love was, what it meant....and I learned truly what it meant while we were apart. I'd found the light.... even amid darkness....and it is 'Angel' that in the end led me back to your ma, it got thru to him...in the end it got thru to both of us---."

Dad's voice echoes in my head, recalling now he told me the story of why & how he wrote it...in fact, he told me when he first taught me the song, because it meant so much.... because it always has, always will.

Losing my self now, losing & finding myself both....my younger sister: Amara, she is sharing the mic with me.... our voices blending in harmony....and then it's a mere moment before the solo....

I look up the balcony, locking eyes with my parents.... & time stops...for just a moment....

'We've been proud of you since the moment.... We knew I was gonna have you. We love you, Josephine.' I hear mom's voice in my head now....as if he was standing right next to me....

'I'm proud to be your daughter.... your love gives me hope.... gives me wings....to fly...' I answer back in my head.

My eyes, fill with tears.... not ones of sadness, my eyes still locked with my parents...till the spell is broken, and it is TIME....

I close my eyes, just FEELING the solo.... I've played it, heard dad play/perform it many times.... but this is something else....

'You're making it your own.... Josephine that's the mark of a true artist, you pay tribute to the melody, but you take it & make it your own....' Something I think about all the time, that dad once told me. Well really, he told me & tells me, I feel it every day.

The spell is broken....as my solo ends, me sharing a look with my sister....my family members & see the looks of awe.... pride, and love. As always surrounded by the love....and my sisters voice once again blends with mine & before I know it, the song is over....and the applause is THUNDEROUS.

My guitar slung carefully over my shoulder, I feel my sister grab my hand....smiling, and raising our combined hands in the air....our family joining us, words of love & congratulations as we take our bows and my sister & I bow deeply to our parents...to Uncle Pink, Uncle Tom, and Joey....especially our parents & I SWEAR I hear them say....

''We love you both SO much.... we love you...and we.... are SO proud of you!"

"We love you too, mom...and dad, we are PROUD of YOU both..." And I know they can hear Amara & I, little do they know though that we...as in my sister & I have ANOTHER surprise....

We eventually exit the stage....and Uncle Tommy & Aunt Stevie bark at people that get a little TOO close, I still don't like strangers...and it all goes back to my kidnapping...but I am ok, I will be....Amara KNOWS & holds tightly to my hand....we have some time ( a few minutes) before we....will introduce Aerosmith, before our father & the rest of our Aero family take the stage....

I sigh with relief, as we are safe...the make up is touched up & I divest myself carefully of dad's jacket...Uncle Alice taking awesome care of it, and I catch my breath a moment with my sister....

"You know you girls really rocked it out there, we're proud of you....so damn proud." Uncle Tommy is bouncing in place practically & his usual drumsticks spinning between his fingers.... He never leaves home without them; he hugs us. Followed by Aunt Stevie, he is just as excited as Uncle Tommy.

"Oooh he is so right! And Tommy, you forgot to tell them you love them..." Aunt Stevie, I know is teasing Uncle Tommy who looks sheepish.

"We feel how much he loves us Aunt Stevie, how much everyone does. Mom & Dad have always said you don't always need words." Seriously, feeling the onset of tears.

More hugs are given, Uncle Alice & Johnny joining in....and then I feel Dad somewhere back stage....Amara & I share a look, we of course KNOW cause always are we connected....and before I know it, with family waiting in the wings....my mother: Nikki Perry-Sixx with our brothers & sisters looking on....we stand on stage, greeted by deafening cheers. And we KNOW he & especially dad can hear us....

Taking a deep breath, I begin, "---My sister & I had one last surprise, for our father, for our mother & for those we call family. Aerosmith needs no introduction, but here we go.... for decades, their music has done the talking.... their lives, they are so much more than just a legendary band. This night...is about honoring them yes, but more than that.... honoring our family. and now...Now its time for the band themselves to take the stage......"

"We want the world to know...that we love each & everyone of them...and to our father.... we are proud of you, proud to be your daughters.... of you & mom...." Amara says before we share a look & then say as one....

"Ladies & Gentlemen, we give you.... Aerosmith!" Gesturing to the stage as the curtain begins to rise & we make our way back the way we came, standing in the wings with family....

This never gets old, seeing our father perform.... seeing Aerosmith perform same for our mother's band: Mӧtley Crϋe. Both bands we grew up on.... launching now into their set...their first song....and after the first....to OUR surprise, we hear from a grinning Steven Tyler aka Uncle Pink....

"Now.... hold on a minute before we go any further..." Here he looks our way, "I think it would be only right if the Perry Girls.... Josephine & Amara join us...." Amara & I look at each other in shock...., "---What do you think Joe Perry?" He asks dad.

Dad eyes full of tears, of love & such pride says, "I can think of NO greater honor than to share this stage with my daughters."

I walk out on stage with Amara, feeling like I could fly.... we're handed our guitars & we take our places flanking our father on either side.... all of us, connected.... our family together......

A/N: OH, I had SO much fun with this chapter, writing it! And there will be part 3 to this, so stay tuned for more from me!