Valium

Don't You Cry Tonight, I Still Love You Baby

It was another glorious rainy day in London. The Hudson family was seated in their living room along with Duff, Izzy and Steven.

"So baby bear, how's school holdin' up?" Slash flashed a huge smile in Lena's direction. He had wanted to catch up with her so badly but whenever he wanted to, some show of GN'R would come up and he'd have no choice but to be busy in the practices and what not. The truth was, he missed Lena and his mother. He loved his life and the band – he would never trade it for any other thing in the world, except to be with his mother and sister at all times. One couldn't deny that there was simplicity in such a life – surrounded by family and friends. No drama, lies, drugs, violence or sex. Sometimes when he really got fed up, he went to purchase a plane ticket to return home for good. But then something always held him back – always.

"Stop calling me baby bear, Saul. That makes me feel like a kid all over again. And school's bollocks as always. I can't wait to get out of there." Lena groaned and Slash and the guys laughed.

"Lena, language, sweetheart!" Martha yelled from the kitchen. A rainy day called for fresh tea and scones.

"Now that's an interesting word. Thanks, baby girl. Here's another English word in my ever-growing vocabulary." Duff proudly announced and gave everyone a toothy smile.

"But you need to study hard, love. I want you to be smart, successful and all of those......cool things." Slash struggled in completing the sentence, which only made the others howl with laughter. So much that Martha even joined in.

"Saul, don't give her half-hearted advice. I know you all too well, sweetheart." Martha gave him a knowing smile and Izzy just patted Slash's back in a mock attempt to soothe him.

"Not big brother material, are ya?" Izzy smirked.

"Shut up, I try." Slash rolled his eyes and Lena laughed hard.

"I know you do, and that is why I love you." Lena jumped and engulfed Slash in a bear hug – a little too tightly. Everyone continued to laugh and Duff was nearly in tears.

"Baby be-Lena, I can't breathe!!!" And to top it all off, she gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. Now Slash was real embarrassed but he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Man, I wish my siblings loved me this much." Duff wailed sadly.

"You want a hug, too? It's for free." Lena exclaimed innocently and he smiled. 

"I ain't the one to reject free hugs. Ever." And Lena hugged him as well. Everyone was alarmed when Martha asked, more like yelled, them to join her in the kitchen for scones and tea.

"Man, I'm gonna get so fuckin' fat here but I don't give a shit. Martha is like super-chef on steroids." Steven was the happiest one in the lot because not only did he love the place and the shows there, but he also loved the food a lot.

"I want food, too! Foooooood." Duff was the biggest eater in all of them. Nobody could ever understand how he stuffed so much without ever putting an ounce on.

Everyone was seated in the kitchen immediately and the entire house smelled heavenly. It wasn't every day that the guys got to enjoy such a vacation, especially everyone else other than Slash. He was born into it but they weren't and even though those were old memories, they were never too far away.

"I know everyone's gonna give me hell for this but Ma, I've missed your scones. A whole fuckin' lot!" Martha smiled and didn't bother correcting her son and his language again. Some things just couldn't ever change.

The guys and Lena began munching on the food and just then they heard the front door open.

*

Axl was in an awfully good mood the entire morning. Val noticed and couldn't hide her smile. She was still shy around him, considering she had never even had a friend, let alone a lover.