With and Without You (A Jordan Knight Fanfiction)

9

Jordan promised Vivian he'd think about it, but right now all he could think about was loving her. He wanted to show her all the love he felt for her after what she just told him. He stood up and pulled her into his arms. He began to sing for her. He sang the first song he ever sang for her, Waiting For a Girl Like You, they slowed danced as he sang for her. She felt 17 again, young and like anything was possible. When he finished the song, she kissed him softly on the lips and said, "One more, for old times sake." This time he sang her favorite, he sang their song from 1988, She's Got a Way. This made her really see how lucky she was to have Jordan back in her life, to have him love her after all these years.

Telling him her story, as sad as it was, just brought them closer. Jordan didn't care that she could never give him a child. He only wanted her. She was what had been missing from his life for so many years.  They spent a month together in Boston.  It was a great getaway, one she had needed for so long. Her family knew a little about her time with Jason. They knew how it ended but they didn't know everything that led up to the end. She had to shield her dad from that. Jordan was amazing with her. So patient and loving. 

They were inseparable. And for the first time in a very long time she was happy.

They were playing pool one night, laughing and talking about their first week together during Spring Break of 88. It was a good time, until Donnie came strolling in. He saw Jordan and came over to say hello. Donnie didn't even seem to recognize Vivian. Jordan wasn't happy about seeing Donnie. He gave him the cold shoulder,  until Donnie insisted rather loudly that Jordan tell him what the fuck was up with him.  Donnie turned to Vivian and said , "Sorry for the interruption sweetheart. Could I get a minute with my boy here"? She grinned at him and said, "If that's what Jordan wants Donnie, he can ask me to leave." Donnie's mouth dropped open. He couldn't believe he was looking at her, "Vivian? Wow look at you. You look amazing.  How long has it been?"

"Oh man it's been like five or six years. The last time we saw each other was San Francisco, backstage at Jordan's show. When you told me to leave, told me I didn't have the right to be there. It's good to see you again Donnie" she says.  Donnie looks down, "I'm sorry about that Vivian. I was just looking out for him. He had been so heartbroken and then you showed up with that guy. If Jordan had seen you with him, it would have broken his heart all over again. I'm really sorry Vivian. Seeing you here with him now, that makes me very happy. I hope you can forgive me." Vivian slides off her barstool and gives him the biggest hug, "Forgiven" is all she whispers into his ear. They both smile at each other.

Vivian goes to Jordan and puts her arms around his waist. He pulls her tight against his side. She lays her head against his chest and basks in the warmth that is Jordan. She looks up at him and says, "You have to forgive him. He was only trying to protect you. He never would have put me in harm's way. He didn't know what the future held. He just saw me there with another guy, and he knew if you saw me there with another guy, it would hurt you. He didn't want that." Vivian thought for a second and then asked Jordan, "Did you forgive him for the morning you found us together"?

Jordan winced a little at the memory, "Yes, eventually. It took a little while. But eventually I heard him out. He said it was all a big mistake. You were both really drunk. He said you got into his bed thinking it was the guest room and he thought Angie had crawled into his bed. It was two cases of mistaken identity." Vivian nodded her head. "If you can forgive him for that, then you can forgive him for this".

Jordan knew she was right. Donnie had been one of his oldest friends. He also knew he couldn't blame him for what happened to Vivian. There was no way to know whether things would have worked out differently back then if he hadn't run her off. Donnie had just been trying to protect him. Jordan pulled Donnie aside and told him everything was fine, he was sorry for being a dick to him. He said he just recently found out about Vivian coming to his show in San Francisco all those years ago. And about Donnie running her off from backstage. He told Donnie, "I just wonder if Viv and I would have gotten back together that night had she stayed".

Donnie looked at him and spoke quietly, "Jordan I'm sorry.  I thought she was there with that guy. I didn't want you to get hurt. You had seemed so much better at that point. But it wasn't my place. So again I'm sorry man. Looks like you two are pretty cozy now. When and how did this happen"?

Vivian had rejoined them when Donnie was asking this question. She and Jordan looked at each other and laughed. He told her to tell the story.

She pulled up her barstool and placed it between Jordan's legs so she could lean back against his chest. She started from how she got forced to his interview. She told Donnie how nervous she'd been. How she sat in her car before mustering up the courage to actually knock on his hotel door not knowing what he would do. "Donnie I was terrified he was going to be so mad when he saw me. I got to his door and I swear I knocked so quietly, waited like ten seconds and headed back to the elevator. I was just about to push the button and I hear his voice. My heart fucking stopped. Then I turn around, he's wearing only a towel. Dear God...I thought I'd die, my heart went from a dead stop to a hundred miles an hour. Jordan looked like he saw a ghost."

Jordan put his arms around Vivian and squeezed her. He kissed her cheek and told Donnie, "Dude, when I saw her standing at the elevator, I thought Damn, its going to be tough to get through this interview with those legs and that ass sitting across from me. Then she turned around...I felt all the blood leave my face. I thought I was hallucinating. I used to see her face on every girl I saw. But then she said my name. My heart felt full and empty at the same time. I just wanted to kiss those fucking luscious lips. I'd missed them so much."

Vivian turned and kissed him, slipping him a little tongue. Then she continued their reunion story. "So he invited me in, he got dressed, and we started the interview. Well we hugged first and for me it felt like coming home after being held hostage for a lifetime. I never wanted to be out of his arms. We started the interview and made it through three questions and got into an argument, but it didn't last very long. We made up rather quickly. Then I knew I was home. I can't imagine ever being without him again. I got to see him perform the next night. He was amazing!"

Donnie stopped her, "You'd never seen him perform before?"

Vivian's heart plunged into her stomach. As she remembered the other night she had seen him perform. He was equally as good. But the other events of that night overshadowed his performance. She didn't know what to say. Anytime Jason or her time with him was brought to the forefront of her thoughts she got nervous, scared even, and she would start to shut down. Jordan felt her breathing change and her whole body felt to him like it was vibrating.

Jordan tightened his arms around her and whispered in her ear that everything was okay. His lips grazed her ear and she felt his warm breath caress her ear lobe. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her breathing went back to normal and she felt calm again. She felt safe.

"So Donnie how's my sister? What's Angie up to these days? Are y'all still together?"

He nodded, "Yep, still together. We have a little girl now. Izzy, she's one now. She's the cutest little girl you'll ever see." He pulled a picture out of his wallet and showed Vivian. He was right, Izzy was adorable, her mom's red hair and her dad's hazel eyes. "Oh my gosh, I'm an Aunt! Jordan, I have a niece to spoil" she said as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Well I better be getting home" Donnie said, "Angie and her mom took the baby to visit Angie's grandparents and she usually calls before her bedtime so I can read her a bedtime story. Can't miss that. Viv, it's really good to see you again. Don't be strangers, come meet your niece when she gets home."