Jess’ POV

The alcohol had been strong but the last joint had been giving us the last hit that we needed. I really had no idea where Jimmy was getting that stuff, and maybe that was for the best. My head was swimming, my vision blurred. I was just happy that Jimmy was leading the way… Where he was leading the way that was a different story!

“Babe? You really don’t remember which house belonged to Dan?” I slurred out and Jimmy threw me one of his famous grins over his shoulders, his puffy blue eyes sparkling with joy and wickedness.
“No idea, but I think they were right, that didn’t look like Body’s house! Angles? What the fuck, right?!” Jimmy started shaking his head and I had to chuckle.

He dragged me over the dark street towards the next house, but before he could start with his next actions, I put a hold on him. I grabbed his belt loop and he stopped when he felt the tugging motion.
“What’s going on my queen? Second thoughts?” His blue eyes were full of concern and they were nearly drowning me in.

“No, babe… but can we be sure if this is the right house, before we break into another one?” I asked and Jimmy smiled at me, he nodded his head and dragged me forward again.
He pointed towards the bell sign and the name on it and I had to chuckle, why didn’t we do that one before? “This is the right one, let’s quickly do all the dirty work and enter it, find out where the spare set is and afterwards we get the girls.” Jimmy explained and crouched low, moving up towards the entrance.

“They will be fine for a few more minutes I bet” Jimmy said and leaned towards the door, he looked up and down, searching for cameras probably “We can take the front… it’s an easy lock, Body should really think about security matters, what if it’s not me who is breaking into his house the next time?” He tsked under his breath and just a minute later the door popped open and he held his hands out motioning me to enter first.

I entered the house and looked around, okay yes, this definitely looked more like Dan’s house… really bachelor like. “See this is the right one, I knew it… Second try, not too bad, don’t you think?” Jimmy grinned and laid his arm around me.

“Memories surfacing, we had some fucking awesome parties here” Jimmy mused while he let his eyes wander around the room.
“I haven’t been here before” I let out feeling a little lost to all the memories Jimmy was talking about.
“I know, that’s one of the reasons you are here, creating new ones, having my muse right beside me.” Jimmy kissed my forehead with a lingering kiss and I inhaled his unique scent.

“Did I tell you how much I love you, today?” Jimmy asked and I smiled up at him “I guess yes, a couple of times, but I can’t get enough of it… so keep going, babe” I grinned at him and he captured my lips in a lingering kiss.
He moved us backwards to the staircase and we fell back onto the steps.

I moved onto Jimmy’s lap and didn’t let go. I needed to feel him, have his arms around me, his voice in my ear, his fingertips exploring.

His lips moved from my throat up to my ear, biting a soft path, making me shiver in his arms.
When his lips found my mouth I immediately opened up to him, we explored each other like it was the first time, until a loud siren sound broke the silence that surrounded us.
Both Jimmy and I broke apart, wildly looking around for any kind of threat. “What is that?” I whispered not really able to locate from where the sound was coming from.

Jimmy scanned the area and took my hand in his “Come on, my queen. Let’s start the mission, this is a good distraction, let’s find the drum kit and then we get the girls from the neighborhood. They must be afraid from the sound, but our followers will probably be misled too, so let’s move quickly.” Jimmy pulled me along and we went down to the basement, he opened each and every door he could find until he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“My beauty” Jimmy said in awe and if I didn’t know Jimmy that well, I might have gotten jealous at his little outlet but I knew how he was and knew he was talking about his drum set, so I would let that one slip.
“I knew I would find you” He whispered and walked forward, while I kept my position and leaned onto the doorframe.

“Don’t worry, I have just the right thing for you, babe” Jimmy let his fingers run over the drums, leaning down checking for some kind of mistreatment as it seemed.
“Look at her my queen, isn’t she beautiful… but so alone” Jimmy turned to me, his eyes sparkling with joy, the blue nearly drowning out the black.

“She is, babe… Will you show me what she got?” I asked him and Jimmy grinned even more “I will… and during this little trip, an idea hit me. It might sound strange, but you will understand… I have this story in my head, it has to get out… it just has to” Jimmy said but he turned around already, he picked up the drum sticks and sat on the stool.

“You wanna join me?” He motioned to his lap but I shook my head “I wanna see you, babe” I told him and he nodded and then closed his eyes, he looked still, wasn’t moving at all, no muscle, it was a rare occasion to see Jimmy like this but, damn it was a sight of pure masculine beauty.

Then his eyes snapped opened and he began to play, a tune I haven’t heard before, he was singing along, his voice but barely audible to me.
Then his eyes snapped up to me and the words were getting louder while he kept on playing.

‘Before the story begins, is it such a sin,
For me to take what's mine, until the end of time
We were more than friends, before the story ends,
And I will take what's mine, create what God would never design’

He had a face wide grin on, his words were carrying me away to a story, I saw the pictures inside of my head, I knew he wasn’t talking about us or me, he was talking about the story idea in his head.

I quickly pulled out of the bag a notebook and began to write down the words that I could make out, we worked more and more often like this.

“I wish I had my piano… this tune needs a piano… and orchestra… god Jess, that’s it… A orchestra of dead!” Jimmy yelled and I had to chuckle, he was completely lost to the song.

‘Our love had been so strong for far too long,
I was weak with fear that something would go wrong,
Before the possibilities came true,
I took all possibility from you’

He played more and more, his words coming in waves and I scribbled everything down, he began to laugh in between, then some yelling and I had to laugh along with him, he was a genius at work and I was glad that I could be standing by and help the way I could and he let me.

‘Almost laughed myself to tears,
Ha hahahahaha
Conjuring her deepest fears
Come here you fucking bitch’

“Picture Matt’s voice yelling… oh this is gonna be perfect” Jimmy cried and his drum technique was getting harder, faster and I had to just stare and watch, everything else was forgotten.
Jimmy played and played, I had written down nearly an entire song, Jimmy was stopping every now and then to read over it and to write down some notes and ideas, until I heard a noise from the outside, and my eyes widened, we had forgotten something!

Something very important!

“JIMMY! MAYA AND AVE!” I yelled and quickly gathered my stuff and ran towards the front door, Jimmy hot on my heels, he was about to put his shirt back on which he had lost during his playing.

“Oh holy shit” Jimmy breathed, we saw the home of the neighbors where we had left Maya and Ave now surrounded by cop cars, the siren of a break in just shutting off and cops with guns in hands barging into the house.

“We are in deep shit, my queen… I think it’s about time to inform Gates and Shadows, so they can get their girls out of jail…”

Brian’s POV

After debating back and forth about Jimmy’s mysterious message we decided to not go after them right away.
We knew what Jimmy was doing… which wasn’t at all soothing our wrecked nerves, but the problem was, we wouldn’t be finding the girls anyway.

Jimmy was… Jimmy, and if he didn’t want to be found, we wouldn’t find him… with or without our girls, that was sad but true.
Still I couldn’t keep my hands still and tried Ave’s number again and again, maybe they were at least able to tell me when they were back… I mean.. we had some plans, you know!

“Not picking up?” Matt sat beside me and frowned at the phone I just put down. “It’s ringing, but she is not picking up, oh she just put me on voicemail.. damn!” I frowned and then looked up meeting Matt’s eyes “And Maya?”

“She shut it off completely. Damn, I was hoping for a last night with my girl before all the busy work in the store starts and every time Jimmy’s gets his way between it. I can’t believe how receipting our girls are to that guy” Matt groaned out in frustration and Zack started to chuckle “Don’t let anyone hear that, or they think they get a chance at your girls either”

“Fuck off, Vee” I threw my empty pizza carton at him and he brushed it off so it fell onto Johnny, who was already half asleep after eating.
“You know what, I’m gonna drive home now… We won’t be getting here far tonight anyway. Johnny can do his bass line on his own. I’m done for the day, what you say Shads?” I asked while getting up from the couch.

“Yeah, good idea.” He got up as well and brought his trash to the can and grabbed his phone and key’s from the counter.
We said our goodbyes’ to Zack and I slapped the back of Johnny’s head to wake him up before quickly leaving out of the door.

When Matt made his way over to his car, I quickly followed, to be honest, I had some other plans then to go back home right away.
I wanted to do something that I couldn’t do when Ave was around, and this way I didn’t even have to lie to her, she wouldn’t know and couldn’t find out…

“Hey… you really wanna go home now?!” I asked him and Matt turned around “You following me or what? I thought you wanted to go home?” Matt looked confused and I looked down on the dirty road beneath my feet.

“Well… since Maya and Ave both are on some wild trip without us again… and we won’t be able to find them until Jimmy really wants us to… I was wondering if…” I trailed off meeting Matt’s eyes and he had this stupid grin on his face so I knew I didn’t really have to finish my sentence.

“You wanna go see Larry? Ask for his daughters hand, huh?” Matt put one and one together obviously.
“Yeah… and you said you would come along, so why not now? At least this way Ave won’t find out about my plans” I explained and Matt opened his car.
“I wouldn’t want to miss that, get into the car, I’ll bring us to Larry’s home” Matt opened his car door and quickly got in, while I walked around and took the passenger seat.

On the drive towards Larry’s home, I was getting more and more nervous, my hands were getting sweaty and I tried to rub them dry on my pants, but shit that wasn’t working at all. If that was what was happening to me now, what would happen when I would ask Ave?
Would she really want to marry? Me? Now?
Or would she go running?!

“Don’t worry, man. He won’t freaking rip your head off… He might kick you out of the band but…” Matt tried to joke and I shook my head “You are not funny and never were, you know that right?” I asked him drily and Matt chuckled.

“Damn, just think about your feelings for Ave, I told you already… and everything will be damn fine. Don’t worry too much, he knows you love Ave, and he knows you learned your lesson, but maybe don’t point that out again, alright?” Matt said and I breathed deeply in and out, the house now in sight.

“You got my back right?” I asked before climbing out of the car and Matt clapped my shoulder when we walked up the driveway towards the entrance “Always, you know that”

I pressed the doorbell and after a few seconds, Larry opened up, his phone on his ear and gesturing us inside without a word. “I know I told them that, but I had to reschedule, no… Like I said before, that was not an option.”

Some more yes and no’s followed that until Larry sighed dramatically and then nodded a few times “I know, listen I got visitors here… I will call you back in an hour, alright? Okay, fine… Bye” Larry hung up and rubbed his temples, maybe we should better leave and come back at another day, maybe that would be better…

I slowly retreated but was held back by Matt’s arm, pushing me not really softly forward into Larry’s direction.

“So boys, why this sudden and unexpected visit? What is going on? Nothing with my girls, right?” Larry’s voice got angry and demanding at the end of the sentence and I opened my mouth to say something about another day and cancel all my plans, but Matt was faster, that son of a bitch.

“No, nothing wrong. We just wanted to talk to you for a second if you got the time?” Matt asked and settled down on the couch, this could be my opportunity to run out of the front door, letting Matt explain my sudden departure, but I shook myself mentally, now or never Brian. If you want Ave, you had to go through with it, no way around it… and damn I did want her!

“Is that so? Do you guys want a drink?” Larry asked looking from Matt to me and back “Because I could need one” He added and I nodded, “Me too.”
“Thanks, just some water… gonna pick up Maya later on, hopefully.” Matt muttered the last part and Larry moved already to his bar, pouring me and himself a whiskey and bringing a water for Matt before we joined Matt on the couch.

“So you wanted to talk… what is it about?” Larry asked and I rubbed my sweaty hands again, I tried to loosen the stiff muscles in my neck, and damn was it hot in here? I got up and opened a window without really replying and saw both Matt and Larry looking at me with confusion.

Now or never, Haner! Now or Never!

“Listen, Larry… I am here, because… well…”Shit shit shit, I am not ready to ask that… I had no idea how this is done, what a dumb idea to go here unprepared. I’m gonna make a fool out of myself and get thrown out of his house, banned from his daughter!

“Yeah?” Larry looked at me with narrowed eyes, confusion written all over his features.
I breathed deeply in and out “I am not here… or we are not here because of Band matters… I am here because I have an important question.”

“When it has nothing to do with the band, it must have something to do with Ave” Larry clarified and I nodded.
“Yes, and before you say anything… We are fine and happy, don’t worry.” I quickly added and Larry turned his head to the side looking at me curiously.

“So if you didn’t do anything stupid and you are not about to do anything stupid, why are you here? And why is Matt with you?” Larry asked a small smile on his lips, would he still smile after I asked the question that was burning on my tongue.

“Don’t even mind me.” Matt waved his hand, and then lifted his drink with a smile and I shook my head annoyed.
“Okay, then Brian. Tell me what this come together is about.” Larry asked again and I nodded.

“Larry, you know that I love Ave with everything that is in me. We have been through a lot together, you know that as well” I saw Matt shaking his head slowly and I narrowed my eyes on him, he better let me do it my way.

“But I only got wiser and my feelings for Ave got stronger. I know that Ave is the one woman for me. I love her and I want to spend my life with her. She completes me like no one else does, she understands me like no one does and she is the love of my life, I never wanna be without her again.” I just said what came to my mind, and Larry just looked at me, no sign on his face, no movement of his expression.

I swallowed thickly, thinking about Ave and a smile spread over my face “I am here, to ask you, Ave’s father to have your permission to take Ave as my wife. I thought about this for a while, and the thought got stronger and stronger, it evolved into a plan and I am already on the finishing line, but to do this with a pure conscience I have to ask you for her hand and need you agreeing to it.” I finished and looked at Larry straight.

“And if I say no” Larry’s only answer, his expression unreadable and I thought about that for a moment. “If you say no? Is there a way to convince you?” I asked back and Larry had a small smile on his lips.

“No” He said and I nodded “Then it won’t matter to me. I would ask Avery no matter what you say, but I wanted to do it the right way and ask for your permission. I love Ave, and I wanted for her to have your permission and your goodwill, but if not, that won’t change my decision of asking her. Ave is my little piece of heaven and I need her in my life, no matter what you say.”

“How would you convince me, if you could?” Larry asked and I breathed deeply in and out.
“Well, if there is a way to convince you? I could invite you to dinner, to show you just how much I care for your daughter, and let you see for yourself again just how in love we are? I could tell you a million things about Ave that I love… If that’s what you need.” I said and Larry nodded.

“Let’s say I give you my permission and you would ask my daughter… what if she says no?” Larry asked and I swallowed thickly “I would be heart broken, but understand.” I said quietly and that’s when Matt stood up.

“Larry, I saw Ave and Brian over the last weeks and months, even the past year, and I can’t picture a better couple. They are completing each other. When they are apart, they are constantly trying to get in contact, they need each other like air to breath. Brian is beside me of course, the proudest man on earth when our girls will open up that store tomorrow. Those two are a puzzle that got completed and you have my word if that’s of any worth to you, that I will keep an eye on him, but honestly I know that won’t be even necessary, because Brian is with Ave like I have never seen him with any woman before, he cherishes the ground she is walking on and I am not worried at all…” Matt finished and I gave him a small smile mouthing ‘thanks man’ and he nodded in reply.

Larry got up and paced the room for a moment, everything looked like he wasn’t about to give me any permission. I knew it would be hard to convince him, but I hadn’t thought he would be so negative about it right from the start.

“If you hurt my little girl, Haner I will have your balls for it and I fucking mean it, if you make my little girl cry, it’s your head that rolls.” Larry looked at me with narrowed eyes “And if she is wise, she will give you hell and make a run for her money, but sadly… I believe my little girl is blinded by love… and if this love makes her happy and if that’s what she wants, yes you do have my permission” Larry finished and I opened and closed my mouth not any sound emerging.

“And when we are at it…” Matt added with a huge smile on his face “Maya will be next… just so you are prepared” He quickly said and then sidestepped before Larry could throw something at him.

“So I… I got your permission?” I asked again not able to comprehend and Larry chuckled “You have my permission, Brian. But keep in mind what happens if you mistreat her in the lightest way… I won’t make the mistake twice and pull myself back.” He said and I nodded “There is no need for you to worry, I promise.”

“When will you ask her?” Larry asked, when his phone started buzzing again. “I don’t know exactly, but I will let you know as soon as possible.”
“Okay, and now get out of here, you shocked me enough for one evening… and you better prepare a better speech then he did, Sanders!” Larry shooed us out of the house and answered his phone just when he closed the door.

Matt had a huge grin on his face clapping my shoulder “See, that wasn’t too bad was it. You got his permission!” He chuckled “And you thought you just add yourself to the question, to make it easier for you, huh? You jackass!” I shoved him towards the car and he grinned even more “Well, it seemed to work out… at first!”

My phone started to ring and I frowned, Jason Berry. What does he want now? Was something up with Jimmy?
“Haner” I picked up and heard some rustling, then giggling and more rustling.
“Hello?” I repeated “Why do you have a beard? This morning you didn’t have one… weird… but soft!” Ave’s voice sounded through the speaker and I frowned, beard? Who the fuck was she with and what the fuck was this about!

“Brian?” Jason’s voice sounded finally “Yeah, what the fuck is going on Berry!” I nearly yelled and he sighed.“Ave… can you… wait” Some more rustling and then silence and I looked at Matt who shrugged.

“Brian, you gotta come and pick Ave up. She is at a friend’s home… it’s a long story, I’ll send you the address. And tell Matt to go to our home, there he will find my bother and Maya… like I said long story…” And with that Jason hung up and I frowned at my phone, anger and concern bubbling up inside of me, just when my phone rang again and Jimmy’s number popped up.

Oh that fucker could start running right now, because if I got my hands on him he would-
“Brian?! We have a situation here… I kinda lost Ave and Maya… there are cops everywhere… and I think we need to get them out of jail or something… we should-” I hung up, this was getting weirder and weirder, my phone buzzed with the address Jason send me.

“What is going on, Haner?” Matt stood beside me frowning at my phone “Something with the girls?” He asked concerned and I nodded “If you want to see Maya you gotta drive to the Berry’s home, Jason said Matt and Maya are there… I would say highly intoxicated as it sounds… and I have to pick Ave up from this address.” I frowned and I saw Matt’s frustration building.

“Fuck, and where is Jimmy?” Matt asked his voice a growl “Don’t know, he called and said something about having lost Maya and Ave… so I hung up on him… but he will get a piece of my mind as soon as I see him, believe me” I told him and Matt nodded “Alright, you take my car and bring me towards the next cab, I will head over to Berry’s home and have a look at what Maya and Matt are up to. I just hoped they didn’t escape and do anything stupid… fuck!”

As soon as Matt got out of the car I drove on full speed towards the address that Jason send me. I walked up to the house and saw a sign on the door that a doctor was working here, shit why would Ave be here, and why was Jason with her?
And why the fuck did I still feel so jealous about the face that Ave had been talking to Jason the way she did…

I still hated that guy around my girl, knowing just how close they once had been, and I still wasn’t over the fact, call me a possessive bastard, but I don’t fucking care!

I rang the doorbell and Jason opened up the door “Hey man, that was quick!” I shoved him out of my way and moved into the house “Where the fuck is Ave and what happened?!” I asked and looked wildly around.

And when I saw Ave finally my heart stopped for a second, she had a band aid on the side of her head, covering her temple and my heart started beating so fast again that it nearly hurt “Fuck, love… What happened?!” I quickly ran towards her and pulled Ave into my arms, she melted to me and I heard her inhale deeply.

“You smell so good… oh did you shave?” Ave slurred, her eyes glazed over and I knew I wouldn’t get a clear sentence out of her now, while her hand kept running over my chin and cheeks.
I felt anger rising inside of me and the next one I could direct it at was Jason. I placed Ave softly onto my lap and narrowed my eyes at Jason, pointing my finger at him.

“What the fuck happened! Tell me now, and what are you doing here with her!” I demanded and Jason held his hands up in surrender.
“Nothing… really! This wasn’t my fault!” Jason said and I really tried to calm myself down, while I brushed Ave’s hair behind her ear and softly placed a kiss on her forehead.

Then Jason began to tell me how the girls, including Jess showed up at the Berry’s house, and then how they followed Jimmy and the girls… ending up breaking into some home, finding the girls in this drug induced state and Ave with a nice cut on her head.

“So my bother decided to take Maya home… and I said I would drive with Ave towards a doc, just to make sure... And said doc, that’s Marc, he is a friend of mine.” Jason motioned to the guy silently standing in the corner.

“Hi” He held his hand up in greeting and I nodded “How bad is it?” I asked and he waved his hand “Nothing too bad, I just cleaned the cut, she didn’t need any stitches… but needs lots of water and sleep to get the drugs and alcohol out of her system, I would suggest.”

I nodded “Thanks” and slowly got up together with Ave in my arms “You mind bringing us home?” I asked Jason and he shook his head. “No problem. I would have done it already, but couldn’t reach you at home, so thought to call your cell before standing before an empty house with her like that” Jason said and I nodded.

I thanked Jason’s friend again before we headed towards the car. I climbed into the backseat together with Ave, she was watching me with a smile and I had no idea what she was thinking, but I would wait for her version when we were home alone, not now with Jason in the car.

My phone started buzzing again and I saw Jimmy’s picture, I put him on voicemail, he could suffer now, not knowing where the girls are at… Like I said before, if I got my hands on him, this wouldn’t be a happy ending, that was for sure!

Notes

OHOOO?!
Jimmy and Jess forgot about the girls, huh?!
What's happening now?!

And Brian, he asked Larry for Ave's hand!!
How did u like that one?!

Let us know in the commentssss!