A kindhearted cowboy

Uncle Mike, a visit, and reality hits

Miranda's pov

I softly feel my eyes drift closed listening to Jason singing onstage. "Rock it til you're ready, ready to let me in, I wanna be closer than we've ever been." I wonder if he's singing about us. That's my last thought until my eyes get heavy and I fall asleep.

*in her dream*

Jason walks into the kitchen, kisses my cheek, and slips his cowboy hat on his head. "I gotta go to the studio. Love ya baby." I smile. "Love you too." Just then Rick our son walks into the kitchen. Jason ruffles his hair and heads to the studio.

*she wakes up*

When I wake up, I'm back in the bus. Hm, I must've been really tired. The door opens. I smile, seeing Jason. "Hey baby." I say, stretching. "Where's Sierra?" "Playing with Uncle Mike." He says, quoting the word uncle. I roll my eyes. He lays beside me. "How long's this tour? I can't wait to get home." I say, smiling and scooting over to him. "I'm not sure babe, ya gotta ask Mike." He says, closing his eyes I lace his fingers with mine. He smiles and opens his eyes. "What are you doin'?" He asks. "What do you think cowboy?" I counter ask, smirking and running my finger slowly up his arm. He shivers under my touch, making me laugh. He grabs my arm, stopping it from moving. "Now what are you doing?" He smirks. "What do you think?" He kisses me softly, pushing me back against the pillows and kissing my neck. I softly moan, closing my eyes, his hands on my stomach, slowly moving to my pants. "Do it." I whisper.

Mike's pov

We get to the hotel. I cover my arm over my eyes, tiredly. Sierra's a bouncing ball of energy. Ugh. "Sierra it's time for your nap." I say, picking her up. She lays her head on my shoulder. "Where's mama and Daddy?" She whispers, slowly falling asleep. I smile, carrying her off the bus. The five year old asleep by the time we get to the door. Jason walks through the door, carrying a beer. "Hey Mike." He says, waving. I nod. "Uh whatcha doin'?" He asks pointing. "Sierra fell asleep so I carried her in." I mutter annoyed. It seems like I'm more the father figure to the little girl. "Something you should have done but I guess she's not that important to you." I grumble. "Whoa, hold on a sec, what is with you getting those little digs in like that?" He gripes. "Well it seems like you're too busy nowadays!" I shout furious now. "I am not!" He shouts, "Just get out!"

Jason's pov

The nerve of him. How dare he say that?! He thankfully leaves, his hands clenched into fists. I stand by the bed, thinking and looking at Sierra. Is what he said true? I hope not. I sigh sadly and lay on the other bed, deep in thought. Miranda walks in like ten minutes later. "Hey baby where ya been?" I ask. "Nothin' just hanging out with the guys in the band." What Mike said has been eating at me. I glance at Sierra who's still fast asleep. This is nerve wracking. What if what he said is true? I clasp my hands together in front of me. "Hey baby, when we get home, I wanna take Sierra out. I mean I know I'm not her dad but I wanna do a kinda daddy daughter day." "Ok sure." She lays beside me. I wrap an arm around her waist. "I'm gonna be a great dad for Sierra." I whisper. "Of course you are baby." She whispers, cuddling with me. Her finger tracing my arm again. "Why would you think you weren't?" I'm not gonna tell her about what Mike said. "Nothing baby." I say, kissing her, her hands easing up under my T-shirt. As much as I want to, I have to start thinking more about Sierra. I hold her hands down. "Baby not while Sierra's sleeping in the bed beside us." "Oh she'll be out all night." She purrs in my ear, hands on my neck barely touching it. I shakily keep my hands at my sides. I so want to. I smile and grab her wrists. "As long as there's no chance of her waking up..."

*the next day*

I wake up. Miranda is getting Sierra dressed. I slept a little later then I wanted to. "I'm gonna go take a shower." I mumble, standing up.

*ten minutes later*

I get out and there's a knock on the door. We lock eyes. "Who is it?" I call. "Jason, open the door!" My mom shouts. I stumble over surprised. "Ma! What are you doing here?" I gasp caught off guard. "A little birdy told me you had a new daughter!" She says, excited. I clench my fists in annoyance. Mike. "Yeah mom, this is Sierra. And Miranda, my girlfriend. They're... Uh actually sisters so technically-" "Jason zip it." Miranda says. I'm so caught off guard by mom showing up. Then my sister Kasi walks in behind my mom. Ugh. "It's a damn family reunion!" I mutter, annoyed. I walk back out, scrunching my eyes. Mike walks off the bus with Tully. They're laughing and talking. "Mike, did you call my mom and sister?" I ask, annoyed. "Yeah man, I figured you wanted to show your family your new daughter." He says, smugly. Is this a test? "Or does it annoy you Jason? Or embarras you?" I take a deep breath and pretend not to be pissed off. Why is he doing this to me? "No! Of course not thanks for calling them." I say through clenched teeth. He smiles. "I don't know why you're trying to sabatoge me or whatever it is you're doing but I want it to stop!" I shout. "I'm not sabotaging you! I'm making sure you really care about them." What is he talking about?! "Of course I do!" "Babe you okay?" I spin around, seeing Miranda and Sierra. "Yeah I'm fine. Mike's just pissing me off." I grumble. "Let's go. We've gotta get back on the road." I mutter getting on the bus. She follows a second later. "What about your mom and sister?" "I don't care." I grumble, sitting down on the couch. "Why are you so mad?" "Nothing. It's just my family is a little annoying. I know that they'll end up driving you crazy. They've already driven me crazy." She stares at the floor. "At least you have a family to drive you crazy." She whispers. Uh oh. "Hey honey, what do you mean by that? Of course you have a family. You have Sierra and me and as much as I hate to say Uncle Mike. I say, forcing a smile. "Yeah whatever. Just be thankful for what you have. Before you know it, it could be ripped from your hands." She whispers, standing up and walking away. Poor girl. I feel so stupid being mad after seeing her so sad. She lost her parents and is now taking care of her baby sister because of it. I am such an idiot complaining about my mom! When she doesn't have one! I better go talk to her. I stand up to do that when my mom and sister come on the bus. Ugh. "What do you want?" I mutter. "Why are you so mad that we came to visit?" Mom gapes. "It's not that ma. It's just Miranda doesn't have a mom anymore and it's hard on her." Both of them gasp in surprise. "I'll go talk to her." Mom says, worrying me. "No, ma leave her be!" But as usual she ignores me.

Miranda's pov

I look at the picture in my locket. Tears shimmering in my eyes. "I miss you mama." The door opens. I turn to look at him. But it's not Jason. It's his mom. I fight back the tears. "Hey sweety, Jason told me." "I'm sorry. It's not you. I guess I'm just jealous. He's got a mother and he complains about having to deal with her! It just frustrates me so much." She pats my back and sits beside me. "I miss my mom so much." I show her the picture and poor Sierra doesn't remember much at all. Tears silently roll down my cheeks. "I'll go get Jason." She says, hugging me. I lay back down.

Jason's pov

I'm so sick of them. Mom comes back out. "I'm sorry Jason. We shouldn't have ever come." "Mom please just go home." They finally leave and I lay Sierra down for her nap then I walk in our bedroom. "You okay honey?" She's asleep. I sigh and lay beside her, wrapping an arm around her. She scoots over, laying her head on my chest. "I'm sorry honey." I whisper, kissing her head and rubbing her back.