In The End (Sequel to In Real Life - Nemi)

Paranoid

I was watching the crew set up the stage for Demi's first show & even though I had seen the rehearsals, now, I wasn't comfortable with some things. Maybe it was because I had felt my daughter move inside Demi's belly. Maybe it was because this felt all too real now, that I was going to be a dad. I felt like I needed to do whatever I could to protect my daughter. I had to make some changes.

I turned to go find Demi, but didn't have to go far, because I saw her standing to the side of the stage, watching the crew with a huge smile on her face. She was excited. I could tell by her expression. I took a deep breath & put on my "boss" hat on before I strutted over to Demi.

She smiled as I approached. "I can not even explain how pumped I am right now." She beamed.

"I can see that." I took another deep breath as I looked around. "Listen, Demi, we're going to change your entrance a little."

Demi's entire face collapsed as she stared at me, her forehead wrinkled. "Change it? Change it how?"

I waved my hand up to the platform that was being put together. Demi was making her entrance on a big metal platform that was raised up beforehand & would be lowered down, slowly, as her music started playing, then she'd step off of it when it got to the stage & she'd start singing. Simple enough, except now that I thought about it, I didn't want my unborn child up there, just in case something unforeseen happened. Sure, Demi was belted to a metal pole, but I still had my reservations. "I think the guitarists should come down on the platform & you come in from the back through a cloud of black smoke." I looked at the crew & not at her. I didn't want to look into her eyes because I knew she'd be pissed.

"What the fuck, Nick? I'm not changing it. That is the way I envisioned myself making my entrance & that is how I am doing it." She said in a serious tone, as she pointed to the platform that was being put together on the stage.

I looked at her face & I knew this wasn't going to be easy. "It's dangerous, Demi. That is a long way down."

"We practiced it a hundred times during rehearsals. Each time went off without a hitch. I'm strapped to a pole for Christ's sake. I'll be fine." She crossed her arms like a defiant teenager & looked away.

"You never know what could go wrong." I said, in an equally firm tone.

Demi huffed & rolled her eyes. "I'm not changing it." She told me with her teeth clenched together.

"Demi..."

"Nick." Demi put her hands up & cut me off. "I get that you're worried. It's cute, but I'm not changing my show."

"As creative director, I think you should consider what I'm saying...."

"I'm still the boss. It's my fucking show & I will do it how I fucking want." Her eyes were angry as they stared me down, daring me to argue with her.

I exhaled & bit my lip. "Fine. Then I want Alex or Mike at the bottom, waiting for you & helping you off the platform, then helping you down the stairs."

Demi groaned, rolling her eyes again. "I'm sure they'd be fine with that, Mr. Creative Director." Demi sneered before turning on her heel to walk away from me. She was kinda cute when she was mad & boy was she mad right now. She was so independent that I know she hated to feel like she needed help from anyone.

John came up beside me. "So what's the verdict? Are we changing the entrance?"

I let out a frustrated breath. "Nope. But Mike or Alex will help her off of it & then down the stairs." I shrugged my shoulders, smirking. "I'm going to pick my battles."

John laughed, too, shaking his head. "She'll be fine. You're just being paranoid. I think it's cute." John patted my back, giving me an amused smile. I responded with an eye roll, then left to go talk to Demi.

I found Demi in her dressing room, pacing as she held her phone up to her ear. "I know. You should have heard his cocky ass. He was such a fucking asshole, I wanted to punch him. Like who the fuck does he think he is?" Demi vented, loudly, not realizing I was there, since her back was to me. "I know that, Marissa. I just mean changing shit at the last minute." She turned around & froze when she saw me. "Let me call you back." She said into her phone, then sat her phone down on the table. "Did you come in to tell me you're going on tonight instead of me because I could fall off the stage?" Her angry tone made me want to kiss her, but she probably would have slapped me. I looked at her hands, defensively on her hips as her small baby bump moved from her heavy breathing.

I smiled, not being able to contain it & this seemed to infuriate her even more. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like a control freak. I know you'll be fine." I took a deep breath, still smiling, as I walked toward her. "I'm just being paranoid because I love my daughter already." I watched her face soften when I said that. Demi smiled as I put my hands on either side of her belly. "I am a little anxious, so you'll have to forgive me. I've never been a father before, so I didn't know I would react this way." I leaned my forehead on hers. "I'm probably going to be worse once she is physically here in my arms." I smiled, impishly.

Demi sighed, putting her hands on my waist. "You know how I feel about being controlled, Jonas."

I chuckled. "Yes. I do know & I won't do it again."

"Promise?" Demi grinned up at me.

I nodded before kissing her, softly. "Better get ready for sound check & you gotta call Marissa back & finish telling her how much of an asshole I am."

Demi's smile faded as her eyes looked down & she let out an embarrassed chuckle. "I'm sorry. I was mad." She shrugged her shoulders as she looked at me from under her eyelashes.

I laughed & kissed her forehead. "I know. And I was being an asshole. I wasn't discussing it with you, but telling you what was going to happen. Am I forgiven?" I bent my legs a little so my face was level with hers. She giggled & nodded her head before she kissed me. I let go of her & watched her go finish getting ready for her sound check.