As The World Turns

Chapter 58

''You ok?'' Marshall whispered, noticing how Jodie was fidgeting on her seat, something that was very out of character for her.

''Er, um... I'm really not a fan of flying,'' she confessed, turning her head to look away from him. Jodie had always been embarrassed at the fact she was scared of flying because normally when she told people they just laughed at her.

But, Marshall didn't laugh at her. Instead, he brought his headphones, that he was about to put over his ears, down around his neck and placed the notebook he'd taken out of his bag on the spare chair next to him. His daughters, Paul and Taylor had decided to sit away from them mainly because in Whintys words 'we don't want to watch you be gross with each other.'

''Take my hand,'' he rested his elbow on the armrest that separated their chairs and bent his hand towards her. With a small smile Jodie slid her hand into his, ''everything will be fine I promise,'' he whispered placing a small kiss on the back of her hand.

When the plane started to move a mixture of different feelings bubbled up inside her stomach, she grew hot and could feel her palms beginning to get sweaty. However, either Marshall didn't realise or he didn't care, he still kept a tight hold on her hand. But no amount of hand-holding would stop the tears from bubbling up in behind her eyelids, that she had squeezed tightly shut, as the plane accelerated up the runway.

As the tears slowly to trickle down her cheeks she felt Marshall slowly, realise her hand from his. It made her eyes open in a panic thinking that he'd let go because he realised how pathetic her reaction had just been, but instead his hand had moved so he could use his thumbs to wipe the strays tears from her cheeks.

''See told you everything was gonna be fine,'' Jodie didn't say anything, instead, she just not sniffling a little bit as she tried to calm her breathing down, ''here, drink some water,'' seemingly out of nowhere Marshall pulled a bottle of water and handed to her.

''Thank you,'' she was finally able to speak again after a couple of sips, ''sorry,'' she then added.

''Ya got nothing to be sorry for, we're all afraid of something. I get that it feels even worse when people don't understand your fear,'' as Marshall spoke he moved his hand to rest on her thigh, which he squeezed lightly, while Jodie continued to drink.

''Like giraffes?'' Jodie questioned raising her eyebrow at him.

''Their necks have no business being that long,'' Marshall's reply got the reaction he was hoping for because Jodie could hardly contain the laughter that had bubbled up inside of her, ''yeah, you may be laughing now, but when giraffes rule the world ya won't be laughing then,'' she only stopped laughing when she started struggling to breathe.

+++

When they landed, Jodie couldn't wait to get off the plane and Marshall wasn't surprised considering, he'd had his hand squeezed so tightly during the plane's descent that he thought she was going to break it. He did end up with it cramping not long after, which was just as painful.

''So before we get to the hotel, I got some rules,'' Marshall was met by groans from every single female in the car they'd all just piled into to take them to their hotel.

''Come on dad we don't need rules anymore,'' Hailie whinned, sighing as she leant her head against the car window in exasperation.

''I don't care, you're still children to be and I'm your dad so I can set as many rules as I like and they apply to everyone is this car right now,'' Marshall shot back pointing a finger towards her.

''What even my teddy bear?'' Taylor commented, which got an eye roll and glare as a response from Marshall.

''The first rule,'' he spoke ignoring the groans that filled the car for a second time, ''nobody leaves the hotel alone, ya either go in pairs or take one of the security guys, hell go shopping with Paul I don't care, but nobody goes anywhere alone.''

''Wait, does this apply to me too,'' Denaun pipped up from the backseat, he had to shout a little because he'd be shoved in the back of the seven-seater car they'd hired, with Aliana next to him.

''Yes, I said the rules apply to everyone in the car, including you and Taylors stupid teddy bear.''

''Mr cuddles can hear you ya know, he has feelings,'' Taylor responded, garnering yet another eye roll from Marshall, while Whinty seemed greatly amused as her little giggled filled the car.

''Whatever,'' he finally sighed, ''rule two, stick together at Coachella and remember to be in VIP when my set starts ok, I ain't losing any off you in that kinda crowd,'' nobody had a snarky comment in response to that rule so he went to the next one ''rule three, you have to enjoy my set otherwise there will be consequences unless you're Taylor cause her opinion don't really matter.

''What about Mr cuddles' opinion?'' Jodie asked smirking over at him from the passenger seat.

''I'll be very offended and might even quit rapping for good if Mr Cuddles don't like my set,'' Jodie had no idea how he managed to say what he had just said with a straight face, it baffled her greatly.

+++

''Right keys, don't lose em ok,'' Paul had the keys for all the rooms in his hand and a list in the other, '' most of ya'll are sharing rooms, but you still get a key each and if ya lose it you pay for it unless your one of Marshall's children cause he'll pay for it for you.''

''Yo I think we get it, man, this ain't some kind of high school field trip,'' Marshall called out, which Paul choose to ignore.

''Right rooms; Alaina, whit and Hailie, you're all having a room so here's your keys, go careful of girls,'' they all nodded in response, taking their keys happily from Paul. Everyone watched as they bundled themselves into the lift.

''Taylor and Denaun, you each have your own rooms, but they are next to each other so if you could check on each other every so often that'll be great,'' they both nodded taking their keys. Next, Paul gave keys out to various members of the security as well as The Alchemist, Marshalls DJ. Paul handed over Marshall's key last.

''There's security staying just across the hall, so if you need anything or you wanna go anywhere they'' ll just be opposite ok and I'm down the hall from the girls so I'll let them know if they need anything they can always ask me.''

''Right thanks man, we'll probably unpack and shit for today, but I'll let ya know if we plan on going anywhere,'' Marshall took the key from his manager and led Jodie to the lift.

''So ya wanna unpack first or maybe leave that for later,'' Marshall whispered wrapping his arms around her waist and placing an innocent kiss on the side of her neck.

''Depends, what you had in mind,'' Jodie giggled as he tickled her sides.

''Something you'll enjoy I promise,'' he said with a smirk.