Part 2- This is Your Pilot Speaking

Chapter 6

Griffin sat at a table in the back of the Bell and Crown Pub. He kept on checking his phone, checking for the time. It was 1:15. Alice wouldn't meet him until 2. He nervously bounced his leg as he took a sip of his beer. Griffin wasn't sure why he had asked Alice to meet him. What else did he want from her? She had explained to him what had happened between her and Bruce. They had both initiated the relationship, they had both tried to end it...but they couldn't stay away from each other. Bruce had left Paddy in London while he went back to Ibiza to be with Alice, so obviously there was something there. As upset as he was with his Dad, he knew that his parent's relationship wasn't what it once was. Paddy barely accompanied Bruce on any of Maiden or his speaking tours. When she did, she would usually be off on her own or with Rebecca. If Bruce was at home, he usually locked himself in his study and she would be in her office, busy with her homemade jewelry business. They even started sleeping in separate rooms. At 27, it still upset him that his parents were on the verge of a divorce. The cheating is what upset him. If they wanted to separate, fine, but Bruce cheating on Paddy, that was what had made him angry.

Griffin was curious to see what Alice looked like. He explained to her what he would be wearing, but she told him she knew who he was. Turns out, she was a fan of Shvpes. He found that odd. There weren't many Maiden fans that liked his band. Shvpes was nothing like Iron Maiden. They were influenced by nu-metal, hip hop, and hardcore. Griffin's favorite band, Limp Bizkit, were a huge influence on his bands style and on his singing. There was rapping, screaming, and melodic tones in their songs. He actually didn't like bringing his Father's name up in interviews. It's not that he wasn't proud of who he was related to, he just wanted to make it on his own. Shvpes toured small venues, did festivals, toured around the country in a rented van with all their gear...he never let his surname get him any favors. Steve had once asked him if he'd be interested in touring with Maiden as an opening act. Griffin knew that was the opportunity of a lifetime, opening up for the biggest name in heavy metal, but he declined. He couldn't bring himself to doing it. In his mind, nepotism wouldn't get you anywhere.

Knowing that Alice was a fan of his piqued his curiosity even more. Bruce had told him that she was 32. She was pretty much the same age as he was. Austin was 29...as weird as he found it that his Dad was with someone that could be his daughter, he felt proud of his old man. He could still pull birds that weren't alive when he was at his prime. And from what Bruce had told him, Alice wasn't a groupie. She was smart, beautiful, and was interested in Bruce, not Bruce Dickinson. Not once had the band or his status been brought up in the time they were together.

Griffin looked up when he heard the bell to the front door of the pub jingle. He was about to take a swig of his beer when he froze in place. Alice had just walked in. Griffin knew it was her, and he couldn't believe it. She was beautiful. Alice looked around the pub, adjusting to the dim lighting. She caught Griffin staring at her and gave him a smile. Griffin smiled back, he saw her walk up to the bar, enjoying the view from behind. He couldn't help but groan as he saw her bend over the bar to talk to the innkeeper, she had a perfect ass. He could see how his Dad had fallen for her.

"Fuck...." he cursed at himself, "...fuck. I didn't expect her to be fucking gorgeous. God damnit Dad..."

Alice walked up to the table with two beers, she set them down on the table and stretched out her hand, "Hello Griffin. Nice to meet you, I'm Alice."

Griffin took her hand in his, slowly shaking it, not breaking his stare, "Griffin."

He immediately pulled his hand away and looked down, blushing at his inability to form a coherent sentence.

Alice let out a shy laugh, this was the first time seeing Griffin in person. She had always thought he was attractive from seeing him in magazines and from following him on social media, but he was a lot better looking in person.

"Uhm....so, may I sit down?"

Griffin looked up at her and smiled, "Yeah....yeah, please, have a seat." he pulled the chair that was next to him out for her, not realizing how close she would be sitting next to him.

Alice sat down, her thigh brushing up against Griffin's. She swore she heard a suppressed groan coming from him, but she couldn't be sure.

Alice turned to look at him, she might as well start the conversation, it didn't look like Griffin was going to start speaking any time soon, "So, why did you ask me here? What more do you want to know about your Dad and I?"

Griffin was at a loss. Just 10 minutes ago he had thought up a ton of questions, a few smart ass comebacks, he was ready. Now, he was tongue tied.

He looked up at her and gave her a shy smile, chuckling as he took a sip of his beer. He took a deep breath, not knowing how she was going to react to what he was going to say "Honestly, I don't know what I wanted to ask you. I'm not even sure why I asked you to come meet me, but I"m glad I did. How about we just hang out, have a few beers...not talk about you and Dad."

Alice was relieved that he didn't want to talk about her and Bruce. He seemed like a nice guy, so why not hang out for a bit and have a few beers.

"OK, sounds good. You're buying next round though." she giggled as she settled into her chair, taking a sip of her beer as she did so.