Seasons of Wither, Seasons of Love *A Steven Tyler Love Story*

Beach time fun

July 18, 1982

"MOMMY COME GET US!" Ethan screamed as he ran on to the beach, holding his twins hand while Brooke chased the two, letting the hot, soft hand sink between her toes.

She decided, upon Chloe's insistence, to take the twins out for a beach day on Long Island. After getting in their bathing suits and retrieving their beach things, the family drove off to have a day of fun.

Brianna ran straight to the water while Ethan landed on the sand to start building a castle. Brooke, while keeping an eye on Brianna, set up their towels in a spot just a few feet from Ethan. The sun was in her eyes, and she had some trouble seeing Brianna, but the girl waved her arm and smiled at her mother, so Brooke was comfortable with walking over to Ethan and helping with the castle.

It couldn't have been longer then a few minutes when mother and son heard an ear-piercing shriek. Brooke looked up and saw Brianna struggling to keep her head above water and being pulled in deeper.

"BRIANNA!" Brooke screamed and ran into the water. She pushed people away and continued to swim to her daughter. Brianna went under, and she didn't come up right away "no, no, no.." Brooke said, crying.

Brianna's head popped up again and she was gasping for air and crying, watching her mom coming to save her. But she felt herself sinking back under, and she didn't know if she could come back up. Suddenly, Brianna felt two strong arms grab her from behind lift her up. Brianna leaned her head back and looked at who grabbed her. She saw a man with long, curly dark hair, warm brown eyes, and such big lips, like hers. She looked back at her mother, who saw the man and had dropped her mouth open.

"Are you alright?" The man asked Brianna. She looked back up and coughed a little, and struggled to take a deep breath, coughing again "I'll take that as a sort of." He laughed, winking as her. Brianna smiled at him.

Brooke made her way to the two, glaring at the man and roughly pulling Brianna from her arms "What are you doing here?"

"Thank you, Steven, so much for saving my daughter from drowning!" He said in a mimicking voice.

"I never asked you to"

"I think it went without saying"

"Why do you have to be here? Life is better when you're not here."

"Wow, you're such a bitch"

Brooke covered Brianna's ears and glared at Steven, turning around and bringing her daughter back to shore. She put Brianna down and rubbed her back.

"Momma?" Brianna asked "Why were you mean to that man? He's my hero." She said innocently.

Brooke paused and raised eyebrow "Your hero?"

"Yeah momma, didn't you see him help me outta the water. My knight in shining armor. He's my hero. You gotta be nice to heroes momma. Can't you say you're sorry?"

Brooke sighed and turned her head, watching Steven get out of the water. She looked back at Brianna and held back an annoyed groaned and took the twins hands. The two followed, oblivious to the fact they were walking to their father. Their father who doesn't want to be their father. Brooke nearly cried at that.

The trio walked up the rockstar, and Brooke forced a smile "Look, Steven, I'm sorry for yelling at you. As you know, last time I saw you, you didn't leave on the best of terms. But thank you, for saving Brianna. I... I really didn't believe I would be able to make it to her on time." Brooke said, her voice cracking and her bottom lip trembling "And if I lost her... Either of these two really, I.. I don't know what I would... They mean everything to me I... I can't imagine being without-" Brooke's resolve broke, and tears started streaming down her face "And I was a... Witch to you cause I was scared and upset and you were really awful when I saw you in February and I'm not really over that and I'm sorry for throwing a record at you and for getting so mad at you when you didn't believe me but I'm not lying to you and I don't want anything from you, I swear and I'm going to go now okay goodbye" Brooke said, dragging her kids away from a very confused Steven Tyler.

------

An hour or so later, Brooke had calmed down and the kids were collecting seashells just a few feet away from her. She smiled a little as they threw the shells at each other. Brooke took her camera out of her bag and snapped a picture of the twins when they went back to their searching. She grinned again as she admired the photo, not noticing anyone walking up to her.

"They're adorable."

Though it was unexpected, Brooke somehow managed to sit still, looking over at her guest "Yeah, they are."

"Must get it from their mother."

"Oh, yes, they do. But their lips..." Brooke said, running the nail of her pinkie finger along her small lower lip for emphasis "They must get that from their father." She added, giving Steven a pointed glare.

Steven sat down next to Brooke, staring at the kids and then Brooke "Are they really mine?"

"Yes. I'm not lying to you."

Steven sighed and rubbed his hand against his face "Right, right..." He whispered under his breath.

Brooke scooted closer to Steven "I'm not after anything. I promise you, I'm not. I won't tell anybody, the only other person who knows it Chloe. It'll be a secret. I never meant make you mad" She said quietly, looking at the twins.

Steven stayed silent for a few moments, just watching the beautiful twins play around "I'm sorry too. I don't know why I was so surprised when you told me."

"What do you mean?"

Steven laughed "Even if they trick me at times, I have working eyes. I could see the resemblance, I saw it when I looked at them in the park. I didn't put together it was you guys though."

"You're not mad at me?"

"No."

Brooke smiled, relieved. She felt Steven's cold fingers press against the back of her neck, rubbing it a little. "I like this, when were not screaming" She giggled

"Maybe we should start over" Steven said, grinning ear to ear "I'm Steven, Steven Tyler" he said, sticking out his hand

Brooke giggled again and took Steven's hand "Smith. Brooke, Smith."

"Well, Brooke, it's nice to meet you" Steven said. He looked at the twins and back at Brooke and sighed a little "Unfortunately, I have to get going. But tell me, how would dinner sometime this week sound?"

Brooke looked at Steven with pink cheeks and wide eyes "really?" She said, the corner of her lips turning upward "I'd love to" she said.

"Amazing. You have a pen on you by any chance?"

Brooke dug through her bag and retrieved one, watching Steven scribble a number to call him at on her hand. She giggled and smiled more at the rockstar. "I'll call" she said, taking the pen from Steven and writing her number on his hand "Or you could"

Steven nodded "You'll be hearing from me soon" he said and kissed her cheek before leaving.

As soon as he left, Brianna ran over and grabbed her mothers hand. "Momma, you're not taking away my knight, are you?"

"No, I'm not. He may be my friend though, is that okay?"

Brianna seemed to think about it "He can be your Prince Charming."

Brooke grinned.