Part 2- This is Your Pilot Speaking

Chapter 19

Austin was on his way to Griffin's flat. He hadn't heard from him in a couple of days. They could go a while without seeing each other, but Griffin would always text or call Austin back. He was worried about his brother. Austin had heard the radio interview and acoustic set Shvpes had done in Birmingham. Griffin didn't sound like himself. He would usually shoot down any questions regarding Bruce, or would just ignore them. But during this interview, he sounded angry when Bruce's name was mentioned. He had threatened to leave if his name was said again. "I'm here to talk about my band. Not fucking Bruce Dickinson."

Even during their acoustic set he didn't sound like he was into it. Griffin was a lot like Bruce. He was a showman. He enjoyed preforming. He poured his heart and soul into each and every song. This time Griffin sounded like he was just going through the motions. There was no depth to his voice.

He arrived at Griffin's flat and knocked on the door. "Griff, mate, please open up. It's me."

He heard brief movement behind the door. "Fucking go away. I don't want to see anyone."

Austin sighed, he would stay outside his door all night if he had to. "C'mon, open up you twat. Let's talk. I won't leave until you let me in."

Griffin pulled open the door, "What do you want?"

Austin pushed his way passed Griffin. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed two beers out of the fridge, handing his brother one.

"What's going on? I haven't heard from you in a couple of days...you didn't sound like yourself during the interview or the live set....what the fuck is wrong?"

Griffin looked at his brother and sighed, he shrugged his shoulders as he took a sip of his beer. "That's what I"m trying to figure out. What the fuck is wrong with me?"

"Is everything alright between you and Alice?" that was the only thing Austin could think of that would affect his brother.

Griffin shook his head. "I don't know. I think she still likes Dad. The other night when I went to get her at Mum and Dad's I found her outside crying. Dad came out a bit later and it turns out he kissed her...and she kissed him back. Dad says he wanted more but Alice stopped him. She swears she loves me....I just...."

Austin couldn't believe what he was hearing. He couldn't believe that Bruce would stoop so low..again. Now he was involving his own Son. "Griff, I don't know what to say. I thought Dad was over Alice. I know Dad loves you so I don't...."

Griffin chuckled, "Please stop. Don't make excuses for him. Dad's an asshole. If he loved me, he wouldn't of tried to get with my girlfriend. He's a selfish cunt. There's only one person he cares about and that's Bruce fucking Dickinson. I'd watch Liz around him mate, he may try to make a move on her."

——————————————————————————————————————————————————Bruce sat in his den with a bottle of brandy. He had already drank half of it, and planned on polishing it off. He was hurt, upset, confused...

He had kissed Alice, his Son's girlfriend. Griffin Michael Dickinson, his boy. He had betrayed him. He did still have feelings for Alice, but why had he acted on them? Why couldn't he just keep his feeling for her locked in and let his Son be happy. What kind of father was he? What kind of husband? He was a cunt. He loved the attention he received from women. He was a rockstar, and loved acting like one. He didn't do drugs or drink to excess, so why not indulge in the sex part of it? There was plenty of that going around and a lot of it was offered to him. What man wouldn't want girls throwing themselves at him? Bruce never considered himself good looking, but it seems like a lot of women did. Ever since he was a young boy he would see pictures of Ian Gillan on stage, and dreamt to be him one day. Now he had it all. He was the lead singer to the worlds biggest band, he travelled the world in a custom jumbo jet that he had the privilege to pilot, he got to sing his songs to thousands of die hard fans each and every night...he had a loving wife and three amazing children. That last bit was what should matter most. His wife and his children. If everything were to end tomorrow, he would still have them. Now he wasn't so sure.

Bruce grabbed his phone, he needed to talk to someone. Austin was usually his go to when he was feeling down, but he didn't know if he could face any of his kids right now. No doubt Griffin had told Austin what he had done. He wasn't ready for the tongue lashing he would rightfully receive from Austin.

He thought of calling Alice and apologizing. He wanted to let her know that he was the one at fault, and that he would never do anything again to risk her or Griffin's relationship. Would he be telling her the truth? Could he be around her and not try anything? Bruce had a feeling that if he were ever in the same room with Alice again, they would not be alone.

"Fuck it, I may as well swallow my pride and call her...." he pushed the call icon under her name and held his breath as he put the ear to his phone.

"Bruce??" Alice's voice was hesitant.

"Yeah, it's me...." Bruce let out a sigh of relief, Alice's voice sounded like a breathe of fresh air. 

"How are you doing?"

Alice didn't know what to say. She hadn't seen Bruce since he had kissed her...and she hadn't seen Griffin either. They had texted each other, but that was it. Griffin still wanted some time to think things over. 

"I'm OK, I guess...how about you?"

Usually Bruce would tell people he was doing OK even if he wasn't . He didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him. He was too proud to ask for help, or to have people throw him a pity party. Even when he was going through his cancer treatment and was in excruciating pain, he would say he was OK. Paddy and the kids knew better though, but they also knew not to baby him. He wasn't going to lie this time. Alice needed to know how he was feeling.

"I'm not well. I just...." he swallowed hard, he felt a knot in his throat, and the familiar sting in his eyes that occurred each time he cried, "....I want to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you. I shouldn't have said the things I said...about you and I running off and leaving everything behind. You were right....I'm a selfish cunt. I betrayed my wife, my son...you...." Bruce wiped his face with the back of his hand, "Fuck...I'm sorry Alice. I want only the best for my Son, and that's you."

Alice hadn't expected Bruce to call her and apologize for his behavior. He was hard headed and proud. In Bruce's mind he was never in the wrong...and now he was admitting he was. Alice hoped this wasn't another one of his ploys to get back with her. She truly loved Griffin and wanted to be with him.

"Thank you for apologizing. I shouldn't have reciprocated the kiss. I love Griffin, and I want to be with him. When you kissed me though, it lit off that spark that was there when we were together. But...we can't do that again Bruce. You have Paddy, I have Griffin. I will only lose Griffin if we do this again, you, you'll lose Paddy, Griffin...and possibly Austin and Kia. I don't think you want that..."

Bruce hadn't thought of that. She was right. If something happened again between the two of them, he would risk losing his whole family. He couldn't handle that. His life wouldn't be worth living without them.

"You're absolutely right. I don't want that. I promise you, I will never make a move on you again."

"You don't have to convince me Bruce. Call Griffin, convince him. Let him know how sorry you are. Repair your relationship with him. I'll be waiting for him, however long it takes. But first you need to let him know."

Bruce nodded, "Yeah...I'll do that. I'll call him now. Thank you Alice. I....." he was going to say "I love you"...

"I know Bruce. I did too...."

Bruce couldn't help but notice what she had said...."I did too....." she didn't love him any longer.

He ended the call and threw the phone onto the couch. "Fuck....." he yelled out. "FUCK!!!"