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

Chapter 177: The Call of Fate Part 2 (Josephine Nicole Perry)

I can still feel myself tremble and I HATE that but NOW I am more concerned about my new friend: Hunter....

"Um are you ok? I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you cry....and I...." I start rambling, going into that all too familiar dark head space but he cuts me off gently yet firmly.

"These aren't sad tears, I am TOUCHED.... Like you, I've never had anyone outside my extended family want to be my friend. And for the record Josephine? You have nothing to feel guilty over, though I know that's easier said than done."

I exhale shakily, "I—I ok." I hang my head, still feeling shamed and awkward but something I don't know what makes me look back at him, "I just hate.... i can't control it, especially the past year." I find myself saying and his eyes, his eyes show understanding and compassion, and I say again, "I really feel I should do something nice for you still."

"And I tell you again, you have...you ARE, more than you know." He counters, "And I would love to get to know my new friend." I manage to nod and turn to two people I'd NEVER dreamed I'd meet, both wearing looks of concern and kindness.

"I am sorry we're meeting like this......"

"Darling don't be sorry, true it's not ideal, but I think I speak for Brian and myself when I say it's an honor to meet YOU." I gape at one Freddie Mercury. Hunter elbows me as if to say, 'See? Told you he calls everyone 'darling.' I try and hide my snickers. He glares playfully at his son, "Really? Don't act like you don't love it DARLING son."

Hunter rolls his eyes....

Brian clears his throat, "Boys..." More time has passed than I think, as my phone rang, I apologize as it's my father asking where I am and all. I tell him I am near the restrooms, and I am with Hunter and his legendary parents, and I tell him I love him and mom and hang up and before long my parents come into view....

Hunter and his parents stand back to give me and mine our time....

"Oh, honey you're trembling still...." I bit back a sob, mom he and dad both merely hug me tighter, "---We're here ok. Not going anywhere, and if you're wondering your brothers and sisters are fine. Uncle Mick and Brad are at the house along with their kids."

"It... was a really bad one and I don't remember how I got HERE...." I whisper crying, "---But..." I look back to my.... friend, strange as it is to say my first true friend outside of family, "---He helped me and....and I made a new friend. He's been thru some similar stuff like me and I wanna...we wanna ger to know each other."

"Josephine, it will be ok in time. We got you, honey you look so tired and when we get home, you need to rest ok. And don't worry about your car, your ma told me on the way here he'll drive it home." I don't say anything, I don't need to at this moment. Dad of course KNOWS, he and mom both do. But I promise I will get some rest and now after more hugs and making sure I'll be relatively ok, I find myself seated across from Hunter at a table in the café with both sets of parents gathered at a table close by, talking about the two of us naturally and too I know they will listen. Their support means so much to us both I know......

"You're the light in your family's life, I can tell." Hunter begins, voice containing to my surprise something I can't identify now, but it's nothing bad.

"That's what my family always says, especially my brothers and sisters." Quietly, "---We've all been thru so much this year. My sister Amara was the one whom was with me during.... the hostage situation and held me in her arms...." My voice shakes, "---in some of my final moments. But, as much as I've felt so fragmented and like a huge burden still, they are there. Deep down, I know what I said was bullshit about being a burden.... feeling guilty, it's just far too easy to get in my head." I really wanna talk about something else now, but maybe this IS helping more than I realize, Hunter seems to pick up on my trail of thought....

"I know that feeling all too well, you're not alone there but I can tell you would like to talk about something else right now......so how many brothers and sisters do you have?"

"I have five....me the oldest, followed by Amara, then the triplets otherwise known as Tony, James and Frankie and then the youngest Storm.... Storm was, IS the rainbow baby. My parents, they'd had a miscarriage which HURT before it turns out mom DID get pregnant with her not long after and the whole time Doctor's couldn't tell us what was wrong with him.... but on July 3, 2003, we found out. It was scary, so scary but I followed my mom, and I knew it wasn't a miscarriage. He was in so much PAIN, out of it...screaming, there was blood.... he thought he'd lost another one.... but I got him to listen just enough, and I delivered my youngest sister with my own hands and then.... Then things happened so fast. I thought I'd killed him, but Doctor's say my quick thinking saved his life." I finish speaking in a puddle of tears, yet there is a strange feeling of relief having someone LISTEN and understand.

Hunter says in awe, "You are so damn brave.... special, I can tell you don't feel you are but believe me when I say you ARE special. I know though it hurts as well, but you did what you had to, damn the risk to yourself." His look grows sad, and he sighs heavily, "---I don't have any brothers or sisters, bar my Uncle Deaky's & Aunty Rog's kid's....my parents wanted them badly to give me them, but the story goes that it took them several tries and many failures. The man who kidnapped me as a baby, hurt my father quite badly.... Paul Prenter. Prenter the bastard manipulated and twisted, got me dad on drugs and so it took my parents until I think it was about the time of Live Aid to finally get together. They'd been in love since they met in 1970, when Dad joined the band and Queen was formed.... But neither had wanted to admit it and then there was Mary Austin, which she was, as it turns out better off as a friend. "Hunter pauses a moment before going on, "---But the baby's....yeah, at last mum got pregnant with me and in fact....THAT is the inspiration behind Queen's album in 1989, 'The Miracle' and coupled with the fact that well Dad had been sick and that turned out to be a miracle when I was born, because it ended up giving Dad even more reason to fight, ya know to LIVE."

Our parents are watching, listening.... eyes filled with concern, with amazement if I didn't know better and loved for their respective child......I never imagined I would meet the one I've dreamed about, but I think in the end it helps....it will share our stories with one another, it's what we need. It's what I need.

"You.... wow......you DO understand. No one outside of my family ever has." I murmur.

"I could say the same thing of you." That look...., "---Now Josephine, what do you love to do?" A small grin forms on his face.

And I.... I feel one on my own, a small even admist the tears as I get to know my new friend some more.

A/N: A hint of sparks perhaps and neither one yet knows or realizes, bonding and so much more. And there is more to come for the fated meeting of Josephine and Hunter.