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

Chapter 171: A Family Reunion Part 2

What can I say about the family reunion with Josephine with our entire family? It was everything.... filled with joy, sorrow, the bitter-sweet, you name it. And of course, the ever-flowing tears. It was SO heartbreaking to see that Josephine struggled in any way like feeling GUILTY she made everyone sad and too I could tell she felt like a burden and absolutely NONE of that shit is true. She and Nikki are VERY much alike in good ways and in bad and I love all parts of them. But ah yes, the reunion. The good things as Nikki had said, all the surprises and at the center of it all: Josephine. I can tell you we DID see her smile, which is mine.... we heard her laugh, cry.... We heard HER which was really the most important thing. Also, we were together and really celebrated that she was ALIVE. Things after this wouldn't be easy, such as her physical recovery, the mental and my PSYCHO ex's trial, that evil bitch but before then.... here you will see more of our reunion.

My oldest daughter in tears still, which God is heartbreaking and STILL she is taking care of everyone ever watchful over us, her siblings....and always of course, she is surrounded by love we all are and now for the surprises to come......

One Vince Neil-Tyler clears his throat as best he can, given the tears and shares a look with Mick, Tommy Lee and Nikki who nods tearfully. "---So, your mom.... had come to us weeks ago with something extraordinary that the Crue recorded for you. Nikki?"

"Your dad and I found the letter you'd written sweetheart and read your diary. It was Mick's idea so we could hear your voice, and we found.... the song you wrote, 'If I Die Tomorrow.' I know it's been one of your biggest dreams to write songs for the Crϋe and your father's band but honey.... I gotta tell you, it was EXACTLY something that I would write." Nikki pauses a moment, squeezing my hand with one of his free ones tightly and I squeeze back. "---So back to what Vince was saying, I went to him...Tommy and Mick after talking with your father and so we decided to make one of your biggest dreams come true. We are gonna include it on the 'Red, White & Crϋe' album we have in mind. We want you to get full song writing credit and royalties. And honey? We could NEVER do enough for you. I am SO proud of you, beyond proud and not just for this...we all are, never forget that."

Josephine is stunned, very much speechless and I can tell though that spark in her eyes.... the excitement and the fact that she is touched. No, you don't always need words. Tyler also tells her that next time Aerosmith does an album we'd be honored if she would help write/write songs, and I KNOW those promises will be kept.

At last Josephine manages to find her voice, "Mom.... Vinny, Mick.... Tommy, I...I.... I just can't believe you did all that for me. Its.... just WOW. But I can't thank you ENOUGH for doing this for me. It's the best dream, because it's REAL. I love you all, ALL of you....and I wish I could listen to it right now...."

Tommy Lee cuts her off with a wide, watery grin practically bouncing in place.

"Well, I DO believe we can do that right now."

Tommy Holds up a copy in triumph and truly it IS a triumph...not just of my husband's band, but of course my oldest daughter. It means SO much more than words can ever say. So, something is quickly produced to play it on for Josephine to listen to and of course by extension everyone and oh her reaction!

Eyes wide, tears spilling down her cheeks.... those eyes she shares with Nikki, I SEE, and I believe we all SEE how much this means to her, seeing and HEARING one of her dreams come true.... Josephine whispering, 'This sounds even better than it did in my head, and this was done for ME? I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.' Josephine thanking Nikki especially.... thanking her mother, thanking Mick, Tommy and Vince profusely and the way her eyes shine says it all and a smile....MY smile slowly spreads across her face, and I hear Nikki say lowly to me now....

"Totally fucking worth it. Seeing her smile.... that smile she shares with you Joe."

"Ditto, no lie and I can't tell you how much I love that, and I know it means even more to her being able to share this with all of us." I reply in the same tone.

Managing to share a kiss with my beloved Honeybee.... holding his hand, holding Josephine's hand.... holding all the children we share to us, our family all being here.... this is everything, right here...right now, in this moment. The song before I know it comes to an end....and of course the surprises are FAR from over.

"If I had to hazard a guess.... the surprises are far from over." Josephine remarks, and she is SMILING. Smiling through tears and she has the most beautiful smile. "---I can't tell you enough how much this means to me Dad.... how much you and mom do, my siblings. I've missed you all SO much, I saw you in my dreams....and I swear I heard you and wished I could respond. But still I came back to you." Josephine whispers to me and Nikki.

"Well of course you know us so well...." Nikki teases tearfully before his tone shifts to more tender, his voice cracking slightly. "---It was worth it to see you smile sweetheart, smile for even a moment thru the pain. You have your father's smile, and I love that....so much. And Josephine? We've missed you too, we've missed everything about you. And you're like me, you don't know how the hell to quit...you keep going. I felt deep down and I know you're father did or does to that you could hear us. We HEARD you, need you to know that.... Remember that. You're fighting and so will we, always. I love you."

"Mom..." Her voice trembles and the way she says it says it all.

The surprises of course were epic in Josephine's words and true words had never been spoken. You already know some or we've alluded to them. Just wait till you see Josephine's reaction to what comes next. Before we get there though....

Josephine was exhausted still, very much so that day......after all she'd just woken from a coma a day or so prior. And for some time to come, she'd sleep a lot, or I should say she would until my ex-wife's trial. Which would come after the holidays, and they didn't take long to put Elyssa on trial.... but still heart breaking as fuck for my oldest daughter's, to see them having to relive that. However, Josephine would take it hardest of all. The toll, the pain.... the phantom pain of my poor oldest daughter. It kills me even now to think about.

"I remember that day. Our family reunion....so much love especially, so many tears and so much pain. I could tell Josephine was in so much pain physically and trying so hard to brush it off and push it through for our sake. Still, it was worth it, all the things we showed her...gave her to see her smile.... but the look in her eyes...God that gets me. And what came not very long after? Fuck she had no time to BREATHE. Amara didn't and we didn't.... none of our children did." Nikki muses tearfully, he like I remembering the past.

"She was so stubborn just like you Honeybee and I love that....and it was more than worth it to see her smile that day. And with what came all too soon after her coma and all. FUCK IT HURTS to this day. She got thru it in the end, and so did we and all along NONE of us were alone." I replied, pulling Nikki tighter against me.

Again, just wait till you see what happens next time for our reunion, until then peace out....

A/N: Part 2 of 'A Family Reunion' done. Tears, love and a taste of things to come. More to come soon!