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

Chapter 176: The Call of Fate Part 1 (Josephine Nicole Perry)

-November 18, 2004- Diary Entry

SO MUCH has happened these past several months, this PAST year. But ever since earlier this year in February and that evil bitch's trial and at long last receiving justice. My family and I especially got the justice so long denied us. It wouldn't have happened without my family. Then came my brief 'coma' on the heels of the trial and STILL no matter how much I tried, I struggled. I struggled trying NOT to struggle, still those nightmares would persist, but I insisted on soldiering on.... I just wanted to do as I'd always done and so I have. These months have been busy, my mom's band recording 'Red, White & Crϋe' and I got to help produce! Plus, I got to hear the song I wrote on the radio for the first time, and I CRIED, my parents cried....it was priceless! IN fact, it came on the radio when mom and I were out driving, with him teaching me. It WAS fun! So too I have spent the time since FEB. driving, designing clothes, writing songs for mom's band and dads, as well as Uncle Alice. Just been doing anything and everything to keep busy, but at night.... The trauma came calling. I suppose during the day, I'd buried it.... but my parents never pushed, never forced.... They just have been there and so having my siblings. Also, Aerosmith VERY reluctantly finished the tour that was cancelled last year, agreeing to do it ultimately because Amara and I especially felt it would help us to feel normal, feel BETTER and it did in some ways. Course, breaks were taken, and the dates happened after Storm's first birthday at some points, and her birthday was epic, cake.... that I baked, laughter...tears. And Storm's first words a few months beforehand were, 'Josey', followed by 'momma' and daddy. She truly is a rainbow, so it's been busy but as always, but my family came first. What helped at least some was taking care of everyone and everything as always, as I always had and have.

Still that feeling of feeling lost and fragmented has refused to leave me, no matter how hard I have tried. And now my 16th birthday has passed, I have my driver's license and that also means the anniversary of what happened has passed and it has hurt like hell. Which is why, I am out of the house.... I'd insisted, mom and dad told me to be careful, and I had just called them and now...now, I can't breathe......

-End of Entry-

Panicking, the walls closing in....and I haven't paid attention but I've wondered driving in my car and am in the place that I haven't seen since I DIED, AND I don't know WHY, but right now....i try and shut on the noise, and head for some corner near the restrooms, vaguely aware I am rocking back and forth....bag at my side, diary hastily shoved in said bag.....

I don't really remember getting here....in the place I 'died'...sure I paid attention to the road and hell no I don't regret saving my sister's life.... but I remember the FEAR and right now, that's a problem....and I am SO ALONE and scared.... I can't MOVE....

Suddenly I feel someone standing over me and I panic even more.... trying so hard to breathe....

"G-Go.... AWAY.... gonna hurt me.... i died.... here...." I barely managed to get out, sobbing......

"God, DARLING.... I am so sorry! Truly I didn't mean to make you panic. I swear I wont hurt you. Right now, I need you to listen, ok? You're having a bad panic attack, you're about to make yourself pass out at any moment. Breathe, please breathe...." That voice! I KNOW that voice.... British, HE is British. And I feel him next to me.... close, but seeming to give me space.........and he's not hurting me, not hurting me.... he WONT. "----My name is Hunter.... Hunter Freddie Mercury. I am the son of Queen's Freddie Mercury and Brian May. I understand all to well how you're feeling right now. Scared, lost....in a place, that hurt you. I've experienced such trauma, being triggered. I was kidnapped as a baby, story goes I was gone for days, and it nearly killed my parents. And what the world doesn't know is several attempts were ALSO made when I was a child. Which is part of why my parents have left London with me, well one of the reasons. Can you please tell me your name? I truly want to help you.... i hope I am."

My eyes widen as I FOCUS, and it IS him.... the one from my dreams and it scares me.... yet, yet I calm enough to speak.... still crying, but my breathing gradually slows, "---I.... I....am sorry you've had to d-deal with THIS.... I...."

"Don't be sorry, it's nothing you can help..." He interrupts gently but firmly, and I decide finally to go with my gut and trust this stranger and yet not stranger.

"----I feel like such a burden on my family. See, I lost my life just outside this place last year, I nearly died for real several times. I've been shot here TWICE. I saved my sister's life, which I don't regret.... I'd do it over and over for her, for my family...." I find myself closing my eyes before landing on his dark eyes. "---I'd been thru a lot prior to my 'death' last year, graduating from high school....my littlest sister's birth and how that came about, what I'd went thru at school.... then my death, my coma....and the trial earlier this year. It hurts like absolute hell, I feel like I've been trying but it's not ENOUGH. Been so damn LOST." I paused again, still crying but much calmer than I was. "—I've.... well, I don't say this lightly and....and well." I hesitate before saying, "---I've never had any real friends outside of my extended family and...and well I hope, I mean you feel like the first real friend I've ever had."

Hunter's face (and god he looks EXACTLY like Freddie Mercury, apart from his dark curly locks and height as i can tell even sitting down he's a little bit taller than me) register's surprise, but he has touched and those eyes filled with the sheen of tears and compassion says with a small kind smile, "You're not the only one who feels like that, same here and I can think of no greater honor darling than being your friend except for getting to know my new friend and her name for a start."

"Josephine Nicole Perry...." I find myself holding out my hand before I realize it and he takes it and his grip is strong and it makes me feel things that I don't know WHY I feel them but then I find myself getting upset again, "----I feel scared and...I don't remember how I ended up here....I drove and my car...."

"Shh, hey you're gonna be ok. I don't feel right leaving you and if you're anything like me, which I feel you very much are well I believe you don't need to be driving back home. You look spent." I feel myself shaking but I realize Hunter IS right.

Without a word, I took out my phone and called my parents, who are very worried and already were before I left the house, I told them what happened, and they told me they would be there soon and that they loved me and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, they are coming and...and just THANK YOU." I find myself saying. "I Feel I should like do something nice for you."

"Good and you're more than welcome Josephine Nicole Perry." Relieved and a small smile, "You ARE, and you have already done something nice for me. and as I said I'd like to get to know my new friend" He then blushes to my amazement and then his look grows shy, "Sorry for calling you 'darling' it's a habit since Dad bloody well calls everyone 'darling'" He frowns, but the corners of his lips are lifted in a smirk.

I find myself laughing, laughing through my tears and the tension disappears, and I haven't laughed in SO long like this, but he joins in with me.

And suddenly two voices, that sound highly familiar sound out.... British voices and I find myself staring at Freddie Mercury and Brian May.

"Darling there you are! And...." Freddie Trails off as if realizing perhaps what has happened, brows furrowed in concern as i can still feel those ever-present tears and feel shaky. 

Hunter helps me up, and I let him...surprisingly.

"Dad, Mum.... this is Josephine Nicole Perry.... she had a wicked panic attack, and I had to help her..." Here his voice grows a bit husky, "She's MY friend....my FIRST real friend."

A/N: Bit of a cliff hanger there at the end, but I promise it will pay off. And at last, they've met and neither realizes quite yet what's in store for them but it's something they both NEED and deserve. More to come soon!