Comeback (Sequel to 'Before the Storm')

Chapter 40: Greetings from Your Hometown

Quick Author's Note:

I'm so sorry it's been a while! I promise I haven't forgotten about you or this story. Things have just been a bit hectic over the last few months. I truly appreciate your patience!

—

Ally's POV

*fast forward to the opening night of the tour*

The kick off concert had reached its peak. The crowd, already wild from the set, was on the edge of their seats, ready for the final moments.

I stood backstage, watching the scene unfold through the monitors, my hands resting lightly on my swollen belly.

My heart raced, not just from the excitement of the concert, but from the anticipation of what was about to happen.

The tour kick-off had been a huge success. Joe, Nick, and Kevin had given everything on stage, and now it was time for the grand finale.

The last song of the night was always the most emotional, but tonight, there seemed to be an extra layer to it.

Joe, standing at the front of the stage, grinned at the crowd as the last notes of their song lingered.

"Alright, alright, we're almost done here tonight, but we've got one last surprise for you all," Joe said, his voice teasing but full of love.

I glanced at Dani and Pri, who were both standing close by, equally curious about what Joe was up to. The crowd's energy only increased, with the anticipation buzzing in the air.

Joe's grin widened as he looked to Nick and Kevin, the three brothers exchanging a quick glance.

"We've got some very special people here tonight," Joe said.

"People who've always had our backs, no matter what. Mom, Dad, Franklin—come on out here!" shouted Nick.

The crowd erupted in applause as Denise, Kevin Sr., and Franklin made their way to the stage, taking their spots alongside the band.

Franklin, ever the goofball, waved enthusiastically to the crowd, while Denise smiled brightly, a proud momma. Kevin Sr. sat at the piano, gently tapping out a few notes.

We had no idea what was coming next. We assumed the family moment would just be a quick shout-out and the usual hugs, but Joe had other plans.

"Ally, Dani, Pri, please come join us!" Joe called out with a wink, his eyes searching for mine in the wings.

I froze for a moment, my pulse racing. I hadn't expected to be invited onstage, especially not while heavily pregnant - 9 months to be exact.

But before I could process it fully, Dani was already nudging me forward.

"Let's go, buba!" Dani said, her voice full of excitement, "You're not getting out of this one."

With a deep breath, I moved toward the stage, feeling the heat of the lights as they hit my skin. Joe was standing at the edge of the stage, arms open wide, waiting for me.

I was suddenly very aware of my pregnancy—my belly prominent and unmistakable in the spotlight, but as soon as I saw Joe's face, everything else seemed to fall away.

As I climbed onto the stage, Joe immediately pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling my back against his chest. The crowd's cheers grew louder as they saw the two of us together, and I immediately felt a warmth flood through me.

My heart still thudded in my chest, but Joe's presence steadied me.

Dani and Kevin Sr. were positioned at the piano, with Alena and Valentina happily perched on their laps, clapping along to the rhythm. Pri stood beside Nick, both watching the family moment unfold.

Nick, ever the joker, grinned and leaned into the mic.

"You know," he said, "I've got to be honest. I think the real surprise here tonight is the fact that Allyssa's out here on stage at all! Can you believe it?"

The crowd laughed and erupted in cheers, as my cheeks flushed a little, but I couldn't help but smile. Nick's easygoing humor was infectious, and for a moment, the nerves melted away.

Without missing a beat, Joe spoke into the mic, his voice warm and affectionate.

"I mean, Nick's not wrong," he chuckled and gave my belly a gentle, loving rub, "I've got to say, though, I've never seen her glow like this before. And trust me, it's not just the stage lights. I think she might be glowing a little extra due to this little one on the way!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, and I could feel my heart swell at the sound. Even though the pregnancy had been public for months now, hearing Joe talk about it in front of all these people, in such a loving, casual way, made it feel even more real.

Joe leaned in, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "You really are glowing, baby. You look incredible."

My heart fluttered. I turned to look up at him, smiling. "You're not too bad yourself."

With the spotlight now fully on them, Joe continued, his voice full of affection as he addressed the crowd.

"We're so grateful to have each and every one of you here with us tonight. This tour, this journey—it's about family. And you know, we've got a whole new chapter ahead of us. But for tonight, we're just gonna soak it all in with you guys. All of us.. together."

As the first notes of 'When You Look Me In The Eyes' began to fill the air, the band launched into the melody, Kevin Sr. playing a soft, familiar tune on the piano.

The entire family harmonized together, singing the words that had come to mean so much to them over the years.

As the song reached its end, the crowd's cheers grew deafening, and the family stood together at the front of the stage, arms around each other, waving to the audience.

Joe turned to face me, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. "I love you," he said softly, his eyes filled with emotion.

I rested my head against his chest, overwhelmed with love and gratitude. "I love you too. This... this is everything."

—

I stepped off the stage with Joe's arm still wrapped around my waist, my heart still pounding with the adrenaline of being on stage. I could hear the faint echoes of the fans' cheers still bouncing around in my head as I made my way toward the dressing room.

"You ok?" Joe asked softly, stepping toward me with that look of concern that always made me feel safe.

I nodded, stepping into his arms. "Yeah. Just... processing. It was a lot."

Joe chuckled, brushing a lock of hair from my face. "You were amazing out there. And I'm so proud of you. You handled it like a pro."

"I couldn't have done it without you," I said, resting a hand on his chest, "You were the one who made me feel like it was ok. Like I belonged up there with all of you."

Joe wrapped his arms around me, his hands resting on the curve of my belly.

"You do belong up there, Allyssa. You always have. And this little one will too," he said, his voice dropping in affection as he kissed my temple, "But seriously, how are you feeling? You've gotta be exhausted."

"A little," I admitted, "But it was worth it. I think I just need a minute to breathe and—"

Before I could finish, Nick poked his head into the dressing room, a mischievous grin on his face.

"You two good?" he asked, his arms crossed.

"Yeah," Joe replied with a nod, "Just checking on Ally. She's still glowing."

Nick raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're still glowing too, man. Maybe you're the one with the pregnancy glow. You're looking like a proud papa tonight."

"I... I still can't believe you all got us up there," I admitted, a soft laugh escaping my lips, "It wasn't part of the plan, right?"

Kevin gave us a playful shrug. "Nope, but it worked out, didn't it? The fans love the family vibe. I think we're going to need to do this more often."