Open Your Mind Before Your Mouth

Life Goes On

          We had plenty of babysitters, so me Chris and Blaine headed to the hospital. Jen was in the waiting room, sitting on a couch, tears running down her cheeks, she looks at Chris. He sits down next to her and wraps his tattooed arms around her lightly stroking her back. Blaine and I just stand there unsure of what to do. I sit on Jen's other side and wrap my arms around her as well. Jerry was like a second father to me growing up, he was always joking about me being his oldest for as long as I can remember, it happened until he walked into Chris' room when we were 13 and 14 and he caught us making out. My family moved in next door to his when Chris was 2. I was 3. My mom was also a touring musician for a long time, she committed suicide when I was 5 and after that, my dad pretty much checked out on me. I was over at the Cerulli house every day.
"Party for Cerulli?" A doctor steps into the waiting room, Chris and I step over to him, Jen can't or won't move, so Blaine takes Chris' spot on the couch and continues to hold her. "I'm sorry," the man says to us, "but he didn't make it." Chris looks like he's about to puke, and Jen screams, I just start crying right there. "I'll give you some time alone." About twenty minutes or so later Blaine drives Jen and himself home, and Chris and I head back to our house. I can tell he needs to be alone, so I just leave him be. I go outside and sit on the picnic table near Demon's doghouse. The dog comes over and puts his head under my hand. I start to stroke his fur, tears threatening to fall from my eyes. Ryan comes over to me. "What's wrong?" He asks. "Jerry died." Ryan puts his arms around me and just holds me for awhile, I don't want to tell the kids, but I have no other choice. This also couldn't come at a worse time, we're supposed to be leaving for tour in two and a half weeks, well Chris is, I have another week after that.
          "I can't." I'm sitting on the roof outside my bedroom window with Chris after we put the kids to sleep. "He wouldn't want us to stop living our lives." Chris says to me and I rest my head on his chest. "I know. I just, I hope the kids are gonna be okay to go on tour, this is Skye's first time since she was a baby, and the twins' first time period." "Well we're just going to have to make the best of it." "I wonder how Nick's doing with this, Blaine said he did get a hold of him about an hour ago, he texted me an hour ago."

June 2000

          "What are we watching?" Chris asks me. My laptop is between us on his bed. "Final Destination." "Cool, I cant believe my parents said you could spend the night." "I know, I can't believe our parents don't know about us." "No one does, well except for Blaine and Dylan." "If they did know do you seriously think they would let us spend the night together?" I ask kissing my boyfriend. "No," he kisses me back and slides his hand up my shirt cupping my breast. A knock sounds at the door and Chris and I immediately break apart as though nothing happened just before his dad steps in holding a bowl of popcorn. "Did you two make this?" "Oh, yeah, thanks dad," Chris grabs the bowl and sets it between us. Another hour later we've set the bowl and my laptop aside and are just making out on the bed. This time we don't hear Jerry knock before he comes in. Chris and I have our tongues in each other's mouths and his hand is up my shirt. "Ahem," Jerry clears his throat. Chris and I jump away from each other and Chris falls to the floor hitting his head on the dresser. "Oh my god! Are you okay?" I ask him. "I'm fine," he answers rubbing the back of his head. "Dad?" "I just came to ask if Alex wanted to stay for the rest of the weekend and I find you two swallowing each other's faces," he laughs, "to tell you the truth," he says looking back and forth between me and Chris, "we had bets on who would catch you two first, looks like I owe your mom $5." "So it's okay?" I ask. "Of course it's okay, but now that I know for sure, you two are definitely sleeping in separate rooms. And I'm telling your mother just to make sure because I have to work tonight, got it?" "Yes sir," Chris and I chorus. "Telling me what?" Chris' mom steps into the room. "I just caught these two making out." "Hmm,okay" she chuckles, "Alex I guess I'll go make up the guest room," she looks at Jerry, "you owe me five bucks."

****

          "You all packed?" I ask Salem. Chris and the twins leave in the morning. "What am I supposed to bring?" "Other than clothes, I dunno," I roll my eyes at the ceiling, "your tablet, toothbrush, things to keep you entertained, to be honest," I look at Chris who's pulling on the ends of his hair. "Don't look at me," he says, "the last time I had a kid on tour was Skye when she was a baby." "Same, maybe we should call Blaine, he's brought Jefferson a few times." "Good idea." Chris pulls his phone out of his pocket and calls Blaine. "I need some help." "Help with what?" "Salem and Amaya, packing, we've got the basics covered, is there anything else?" "I'll stop by after dinner and see what's up." "Okay, thanks man, you're a lifesaver."
Later on after Blaine came over and helped out with packing for Salem and Amaya we decided to watch a movie. Amaya and Salem were both snuggled up against my sides while Skye had Chris all to herself, she was in his lap with her head resting on his shoulder. We were watching 'Aladdin' the original animated version, not the live action one. I love this movie, and it's just so nice to have my family together and relax. Salem laid his head in my lap and fell asleep before the movie was even over, Amaya was starting to get droopy eyed as well, Chris picked up Salem and brought him to bed while I did the same with Amaya. For some unknown reason I'm relieved I can talk with my hands rather than speak because I know if I do then I'm probably going to start crying. "I miss grandpa Jerry." "I know honey, so do I, and your dad, but we have to go on and live our lives." "Is uncle Nick going to be okay?" Nick came to stay with us after the funeral and hasn't quite left yet, he's having a hard time, as are Chris and Jen and myself, but we all have each other. "He's gonna be alright, he just needs some time, but you know what?" I ask her, "you're going to go with your dad tomorrow, and you're going to have fun, and when ever you feel sad, you can always talk to someone, you're not alone." "I know mommy. I love you. Goodnight."
After we put all of the kids to bed me and Chris put his, Amaya and Salem's bags in the trunks of our cars so that we wouldn't have to do it in the morning. Nick was out back sitting on top of the picnic table just staring out the sky, I can tell he's been crying. "Are you sure you're gonna be alright?" Chris asks him. "Yeah, it just sucks ya know, first me and Cristal break up and then dad dies, my life is just going to literal shit right now bro." "Just take some time, figure shit out, you know we're all here for you." "I know." Nick lights a cigarette and Chris walks away. I go over and sit at the table and light a cigarette of my own. "Do you wanna talk?" "Not really." "Me neither, I just asked." I pull out my phone and put in my air pods. I play 'Judith' by A Perfect Circle.

A/N: Just a filler