Water Ch. 219 - We'd Just Kiss

 

Christmas at the Bongiovi house has always been one of entertaining, food, family and friends.  This year wasn't any different. 

Beth had come to know everyone, family and friend, and has been accepted as one of them.  The Christmas cards all came addressed to Jon and Beth Bongiovi and that made Beth smile.  His family and friends knew and accepted her, she was happy with that, what more could they do to get Dorothea to accept it? 

Even after all of these months and the struggles that she knows Jon and Beth went through, Dorothea was convinced that she and Jon would still reconcile; refusing to sign any document that made them look anything other than happy and in love.  She even refused to sign separation papers, which they needed to restart the divorce proceedings.  Beth wasn't worried about the divorce so much any more. 

They manage to live a full and happy life without being legally married, why rattle the lions cage while it's resting?  She didn't need the piece of paper to tell her what her heart and soul already knows.  Jon and Beth are in love, they are happy and that's the way they will be. Even when he has to leave her again.  He's getting ready to hit the road again, but this leg covers South America.  He'll be a little farther from home and the absence from home will be 6 weeks.  Beth hated to think about it, but now she has no choice. 

Before they were carted off to school this morning, Jon told the kids goodbye again and gave them the same speech.  They know to behave, listen to Beth and help as much as they can.  The kids know that dad calls on certain nights and they all talk and catch up.  They love when he first leaves, but after a few days they miss dad.  He had a firm hand and at times they hated it, but in all reality dad is the reason they are as wonderful as they are.  Well mannered and very polite, they got most of that from their dad.  With always being in the public eye, Jon would settle for nothing less than model children when the cameras were around.

Jon is in his office, when the doorbell rings.  Beth boogies down the stairs and answers the door.  It was David.  "Hey, what are you doing here?"  Beth asks him, quite surprised to see him.  He should be at the airport or on his way to the airport.

"Hi.  Is Jon still here?" he asks, as he steps in the house.

 

"Yeah, he's in his office." and she motions him back to the private end of the home.  "Will you remind him that it's almost time for him to go."

 

David kisses her cheek and says, "Yep, I'll tell him.  Thanks babe."  And he heads back to Jon's office.  Beth stands there in the foyer and makes note that Jon has three bags.  It's a mean reminder of how long he will be gone.  She hopes that he pack the news clothes that she bought him, when she took him shopping in St. Bart's.  He looked great in the pink, purple and orange shirts she picked out for him.  She knelt down and opened one bag, to see what he did pack.  She smiles when she sees the clothes that they did buy. 

 

She walks back into Jon's office to see what he and David are doing.  She walks into a at she can only heated debate that she can only guess is none of her business.  She doesn't stick around to find out.  Turning around to go, she hears, "Beth, come here."  It was the voice of no one other than Jon.  Stopping dead in her tracks, she turns around and re-enters the office with her hands over each ear. 

 

"I didn't hear anything."

 

Jon laughs at her and asks, "Do you think that we should bring in a new stylist?"

 

"Why?' she wrinkles her brow when she asks.

 

David jumps in here, "I am not a glitter kind of guy.  You should see what she has in my wardrobe trunk.  A long sleeve silver shiny shirt, I don't do silver and shiny.  She's tried to put pink in there too.  I do NOT do pink, either." Beth can see that David isn't happy, but did he really come over here to bitch about Janine, the band stylist? 

 

"Dave, no one said you had to wear what was in there.  Maybe she's just trying to mix it up a little bit.  You might look hot as hell in silver."  Jon laughs at his keyboard player, making fun of the wardrobe changes that Janine is trying to add.

 

"Maybe her friend is the designer.  I wouldn't get so worked up about it Dave.  Worse case scenario, borrow some of Jon's shirts.  We just bought him a bunch."  Beth says as she leaves the office.  She knows there is something else going on and she doesn't want to be any part of it.  She knows when to leave well enough alone.  Yelling back at them, she says, "Car should be here soon, you two."

 

Jon and David take care of the business at hand.  Beth goes into the living room and starts to do some stretches.  She learned that stretching is a good way to relieve herself of anxiety and she knows that her max level is about to be met.  At anytime the doorbell could ring and it will be the car, taking Jon to the airport - and out of her life for 6 weeks.  The thought made her sick to her stomach, almost.

 

Touching her toes, she can feel the some stress pour out her finger tips.  It feels good.  She tried to keep the stretches going, but her mind kept going back to the conversation that she just had with Dave and Jon.  What's the bigger issue? She asks herself.  Something is going on.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rings just like Beth expected it too.  She stands up and straightens her clothes up and starts toward the door.  She can hear Dave and Jon coming, so she stops and stands in the hallway.  Jon sees her and says, "This is it." He gives her a wink. 

At the doorway, David stops and kisses Beth, "See ya gorgeous.  Be good." And David steps out of the house.  Jon hands his bags to the driver, keeping his 'man purse' as Beth calls it with him. 

"It going to go by quick." he tried to reassure her.  Knowing damn well that each minute of every day is going to drag.  Six weeks will feel like six months to both of them.

"No it's not."  She pouts her lips out.  "It's going to drag on and on." 

"It's only six weeks, babe."

"Long weeks." she walks up next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder as they walk outside, "I'm not going to make it."

"You will be fine.  Stop over thinking it, babe.  The kids have a whole new schedule now, you are going back to work and we are only gone for six weeks this time.  I'll be home before you know it."

Nose to nose, she tells him, "You talk too much."  Her lips meet his and the heat rises.  She kisses her man goodbye for the last time.  In every tongue touch and ever drop of saliva that they share, she's telling him that she will miss him so much.  And he's telling her the same thing.  Beth doesn't want to let him go, but she knows that she is only prolonging the inevitable.  Stepping back she says, "Go, get out of here."  The smile hides the tears that are welling up in her eyes.  She takes another step back, "Go.  Before I don't let you leave."

"Can I have a hug?"

"Already gave you one." she smiles her naughty smile at him.

"Not leaving until I get another one." and his hand goes on his hip.  He stands there and the stare down ensues.  Beth loses.  She couldn't resist his 'come hither' look that millions wished they would get from him.  She steps into him and jumps up.  He catches her and holds her to him.  They kiss one last time and Jon says, "Until next time."

"I love you."

"I love you."