Can't Stop (Frusciante fan fic)

Part 44-I've Written My Own Part

A/N: Title is for you, FruStaleyLover, who has kind things to say about my writing. From AIC's "Rotten Apple," from Jar of Flies, one of the best EP's of all time IMO. I saw a new picture of John today, and he is still hot, but in this chapter, he thinks like a typical male, so he gets a picture of him when he was young and crazy. ;)

Ellie's POV

"Thanks, Aaron," I say, as he hangs up on John. I hear my phone beeping with a text message right away, and my breath catches in my throat. "It's OK, want me to get rid of him, El?" Aaron asks.

"No, thank you, Aaron, let him text all he wants," I reply. "We have other things to discuss." I take a bite out of my PB&J sandwich. "Hey, this is pretty good, thank you, Aaron!" I compliment him. I really was hungry despite all the food the past few days.

"I'll be blunt," I say. I hear the text signal again, and ignore it, hard as it is. I'm angry with John, but I still miss him. "Sophie, we need to go home. There's just no other way to say it."

"Wait a minute, Ellie, so you mean back to the Santa Cruz area?" I think I see the beginning of a smile on Aaron's face. I take another bite out of my sandwich.

"Yes, back to Santa Cruz! Sophia, I know it's beautiful here, but let's face it, with Greg out of our lives, and me not working for that stupid company anymore, there's no reason for us to stay in San Diego." Sophie listens intently, trying to process this.

"Look, we'll be near your Dad, and you can hang out with Noah and Christopher (her best friends and our office assistant's children) again. And snowboard at Tahoe in the winter as much as you want. And maybe we can live in our old place. What do you think, Sophia?"

She pauses for a second, then says, "Mommy, yes, please, I want to go back. Please make it work!" "Will we get to take John with us?" she asks anxiously.

"If Luis (old landlord) says no to us, we'll find someplace that will take a kitty. I promise you, John stays with us, he's family, sweetheart. Always," I hug her.

Aaron is smiling at both of us. "I think this is wonderful, Ellie. I hope you can make it happen because I can't wait to see both of you every day. Or, however often you want," he trails off, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean to impose, I'm sorry."

"OK, then, "I'm glad everyone is on board," I try to stay as professional as possible, even though this is my kid and my ex. The text message alert beeps yet again.

"I'll go ahead and delete that, Ellie but I think it would be great to be back with your old work family. I mean, you already work for them remotely, so why should it matter where you live?" Aaron states.

"You don't have to delete anything, Aaron; I'll deal with it," I reply, wanting to see what John has to say, if anything, beyond a half-assed apology. Just because I want to move back where we belong doesn't mean I want to get back with Aaron now. I hope he understands that.

"Well, then, it's settled!" I go on. "I'll contact Luis to see if our unit is still available and call Dr. Gupta to get back on the right track, and there is something else." I debate about whether or not to tell them about my idea about my parents' ashes. Both Sophie and Aaron knew them well. My parents couldn't stand Aaron, but he gave us Sophia, so we owe him some gratitude.

"Go on!" both Aaron and Sophie say simultaneously. I then tell him my cheesy idea about the ceremony at the church in Venice. Both of them love it. We are the sappiest people, I think silently. And John is a sap too, I grin to myself, before it hits me he won't be a part of this.

"I'm glad you guys love it, Linda thinks I'm crazy," I say. "Aunt Linda is crazy, Mom," Sophie responds, and I laugh, then remember myself and tell Sophia that is not a nice thing to say. "I'll call the church and try to find Father Sheldon on Monday. Yeah, I know, good luck with that," I say sardonically. "The worst that can happen is that we hold onto their ashes for a few more years, right?" The phone starts ringing.