California Gold

Chapter 20 // Melody

A/N - Sorry guys!! I was on vacation with no service <3 we're back to Tuesdays and Fridays now!

The plane ride back to LA was practically silent. Ally slept for much of it- as the pregnancy progressed, she found herself more and more exhausted. Jack had too much on his mind to make idle talk. He'd lie with her, his ear pressed against her swelling stomach, and listen to their daughter's heartbeat. It seemed to be the only thing that soothed him. Ally ran her hands through his hair, scratching his head and tugging his hair, wishing she could massage the stress and worry out of his mind.

The drive up to Calabasas wasn't much different. Ally ached to be there, knowing her father was waiting with open arms and ears, eager to feel his granddaughter kick. Jack's mind remained at the hospital where his brother lay in bed comatose. A timer ticked in his mind, counting down to the moment where Jack would have to decide whether or not to pull the plug.

Charlie bounded out to meet them as they stepped out of the SUV, and Ally crouched to embrace him, ruffling his fur. Jack gave him a quick scratch behind the ear, then moved inside. Ally looked after him, nervous. She planted a kiss atop Charlie's fuzzy head, then followed Jack.

"Ally!" Lorenzo chirped as she walked into the house. He rushed to embrace her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her in a circle. He kissed her cheeks and forehead, then pulled her in close. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, too, Dad," Ally smiled. Her eyes drifted to Jack. He stood in the kitchen, braced over the sink, gazing out the window. It reminded Ally of darker times; she could almost see the scotch glass clutched in his hand. Instead, his fists were squeezing so tight his knuckles turned white. Ally's heart broke for him.

"Let's catch up!" Lorenze exclaimed, pulling Ally from his embrace and guiding her off toward the patio in the back. Ally nodded, but she couldn't help but look over her shoulder at Jack. Knowing he needed a moment alone, she allowed Lorenzo to lead her outside.

When the door shut behind them, Jack whirled around, barely able to catch his breath. He looked to his left, gazing out over his living room. His thoughts drifted back to the day he'd bought this place; Bobby had found it, insisting it was the perfect mix of wilderness and Hollywood. Jack was unsure. He'd wanted to move back to the ranch in Arizona, but as his manager, Bobby insisted he find space in LA.

Now, he knew it was because the ranch didn't even exist anymore. Jack thought of his father, buried somewhere in the vast Arizona desert alongside his mother. Had their bodies truly been swept away in some flash flood, leaving their bones to be picked by coyotes? What would become of Bobby's body? Or his, or Ally's, or someday his daughters? Jack imagined a massive flood, sweeping them away into oblivion. No one left to visit their graves, no one left to care what became of their remains.

Jack shook the thoughts from his mind. Those thoughts would drive you mad. Instead, he placed his focus on the living room. He thought back to his first day in this home, lying on his back in the empty living room while Bobby strummed his guitar absent-mindedly in the corner. He'd been right, Jack admitted to no one in particular- this home was perfect. The perfect place to bring home a wife, to chase a child down the halls.

It's time to focus on the future, pal, Bobby's words rang in his ears. Let go of the past. Let it die, and don't let it drag you down with it.

Jack moved toward the hall, stopping to flick on the neon la vie en rose sign over the doorway. He imagined Ally dancing atop the bar, how magnetic she'd been as she serenaded the crowd. It was staggering to think of how far they'd come since that night. Jack sighed as he moved into their bedroom; he'd always have Ally, that much he knew for certain. Soon, he'd have their baby girl, too. There was so much to live for, he reminded himself.