Raura's Daughter

twenty nine.

Ross' POV

"And you promise that you'll call every night?" Mom asked me in a flustered voice, following behind me eagerly down the staircase with one of my suitcases in her hands.

"Yes mom." I repeated in a monotone voice for what felt like the millionth time that morning. I took my suitcase from her and placed it down by the front door, breathing a sigh of relief that all my belongings were finally packed and ready to go. I slowly turned to face her and wrapped my arms gently around her. "Don't worry about me okay? I promise I'll be fine."

She stepped back and held her hands tightly on my arms, tears filling her hazelnut eyes. "Okay honey... okay. Ignore me, I'm just being a mom."

We both chuckled and I placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you mom."

She cupped my chin with her hands and smiled at me before holding me closely in her embrace. "And I love you."

I slowly pulled away and let out a gentle sigh as I glanced around the downstairs area of my house, knowing that I wouldn't be back here for the next six months. I wasn't religious by any means but I'd been praying the past few nights that nothing would change from the time that I left to the time I arrived back home. I wanted to come back as the exact same person I am before I leave. It'll be hard but I won't allow this tour to define who I am. After all, I've already learnt my lesson about defining myself. It never seems to work out for the best.

I hopped into the tour bus that my father had arranged for us. My face was on the side of it, front and centre for the whole world to see. It was an incredible feeling and also a terrifying one all at the same time. I sat on one of the seats beside Rocky and he handed me a bag of chips, tapping me gently on the back. "Are you good man?" He asked before taking a bite out of his pastrami sandwich.

I nodded and tapped my hands anxiously on my knees. "Yeah, I think so."

Rydel and Ratliff were the last ones to board the bus, they were arguing over something as per usual and had sour expressions on their faces as they took their seats across from one another. Rydel held her phone up to her face and began to text someone, her brown eyes averting back and forth from Ratliff to the floor. "Quit giving me the death glare Del, I've done nothing wrong!"

"Don't talk to me Ellington. I'm not interested." Rydel sarcastically replied before closing her eyes and turning her body away from his. She plugged her earphones into her ears and began to blare loud rock punk music that the rest of us scowled to.

"Well, this is a great start." Riker joked before opening a can of beer. He sat opposite Rocky and I and gestured his hand to the window of the tour bus. "Are you still going to say goodbye to Laura and Bella before we set off?"

I nodded and fiddled with my fingers. I suddenly began to wonder if I truly could last six months without seeing my girlfriend, my daughter and the rest of my family. It had all been such an easy decision up until I stepped onto the tour bus and then the realisation of my situation hit me dead in the face. "Yeah... yeah, I am." I murmured, turning to gaze out of the window. I could see my parents standing by the doorway getting ready to wave us off and I gulped. I'd never left my home for more than two days before, this definitely wasn't going to be easy.

The tour bus started up and the driver excitedly waved his hand to the five of us from the front seat. "Are ya'll ready to go?"

Rydel didn't respond and Ratliff had gone into the bathroom so Rocky, Riker and I lamely responded with. "Yeah."

"Okay then... first stop, the girlfriend's house!"

I rolled my eyes and turned to face the window as my parents excitedly waved the five of us off. I waved back to them eagerly and felt a lump in my throat forming as I watched them get smaller and smaller as our distance grew away from them. I slumped back down into my seat and quickly wiped the stray tears away from underneath my eyes. Rocky wrapped his arm gently around my shoulder and chuckled hoarsely to himself. "If you're like that with mom and dad then how are you going to react with Bella and Laura? Are you sure you're okay to do this man?"

"I have to." I murmured, watching as the tour bus pulled up outside Laura's house. "They are my family."

The bus came to a halt and without any hesitation I ran to the doorway and leapt out with six notes sealed in baby pink envelopes and a small bracelet for Laura and Isabella in my hands. I rushed to the Marano's front door and eagerly banged my fist against it. "Mrs Marano? Laura? Are you there?"

A weary Laura began to slowly open the door. She was dressed in a long fuzzy pink robe and instantly her brown eyes lit up as she saw me. She ran into my arms and began to cry into my chest which caused me to cry back in return. God damn it, I promised myself I wouldn't cry.

"Oh my god... your tour... the bus!" Laura choked out as her eyes adjusted to the huge tour bus behind us. I chuckled and nodded before wiping the tears away from her bloodshot eyes. "Are those for me?" She asked, pointing to the envelopes and the bracelets in my left hand.

"Oh these!" I gasped before handing them to her with a smile. "All of these things are very important, okay? There are six letters, one for each month and a bracelet for you and Bella to wear to match with mine so that neither of us lose sight of what's important whilst I'm away."

Laura held her hand out for me as I gently tied the bracelet around her wrist. It had pink beads with the initials, R, L and I engraved into it in cursive letters. I kissed her hand and wrapped my arms tightly around her small body before sharing a passionate kiss with her. "I love you okay? These months will fly."

Laura nuzzled her head into my chest and nodded in agreement with me. "I love you too, Ross."

With a deep sigh we pulled apart from one another and Ellen appeared by the doorway with Isabella in her arms. She was fast asleep but with an encouraging smile Ellen handed her to me and I felt my eyes well up with tears. "She gets more and more beautiful every single day doesn't she?"

Laura and Ellen nodded in agreement. "That she does." Ellen added. "That she does."

"I love you baby girl." I whispered before shakily pressing my lips to Isabella's forehead. She began to snore lightly in my arms and ever so gently I wrapped the bracelet around her tiny wrist also. "Daddy won't be gone for long. I'll be back before you know it."

The driver of the tour bus beeped his horn loudly and Rocky cursed at him. "Dude! Let him say goodbye to his daughter... jeez."

I smiled at Rocky in a thank you and carefully handed Isabella back to Ellen who quickly wished me good luck for the tour and stood back for Laura and I to say our final goodbyes.

Laura walked me back to the tour bus and stood by the doorway, watching as the small entrance to the bus divided us in a matter of seconds. We both held our hands to the glass and smiled at one another with tear filled eyes. The bus started up and began to drive slowly down the street with Laura running after it, waving her hands excitedly in the air. "I love you!" I shouted through the window as Laura, just like my parents became nothing more than a tiny dot in the distance.

This wasn't the end of our journey.

It was simply just the beginning.

*

Laura's POV

I traced my fingers gently over the six pink envelopes and sat beside a now wide awake Isabella who was staring at the bracelet on her wrist in a confused manner. I pulled her onto my lap and slowly began to open the first envelope. "Month one..." I read aloud, running my free hand through Isabella's messy blonde hair. "Are we ready to see what daddy has to say?"

"Yay!" Isabella gurgled.

With a giggle I held Isabella close in between my legs and began to quietly read Ross' message to the both of us.

***

a/n

Ross is finally going on tour!!!

what do you guys think the envelopes contain???

all my loveee,

b x