Penny’s POV
The next two weeks seemed to go by at snail speed. I was working at home one day and the doorbell rang. It was a Fed Ex delivery man.
"I have a special delivery for Penny Jenkins."
"I'm Penny Jenkins" I held my hands out for him to hand me a package.
"I have four boxes. Two of the boxes are very heavy and the other is listed as fragile. I have been instructed to bring them inside for you and put them in your living room. I'll be right back."
"OH-Kay." I was now very curious. Since when does Fed Ex do special deliveries?
He brought in 4 boxes. "One was very large, the other was smaller but very heavy, and there was a small one that wasn't real heavy. They were all from Schecter Guitar Research. The fourth box was long and thin; it was the one labeled fragile. It was from BEHJ, I had to smile. There was also an envelope attached to the box, it said "Read first, Penelope." I had to smile and laugh out loud.
"Huh, hmm." I forgot about the Fed Ex guy. "I just need you to sign here, to show that I have delivered everything."
"Of course, I'm sorry." After signing it I told him "Wait here, let me give you a tip for all your trouble."
"That's not necessary, Ma'am, I have already been tipped generously. As a matter of fact, I was told not to let you give me a tip."
"Well, thank you again."
"It was my pleasure, Ms. Jenkins. Looks like someone thinks a lot of you."
He left and I couldn't wait to open the envelope.

Dearest Penelope,
This is for us, when I am there. You are only allowed to open this box right now.
Love, Junior

I carefully opened the box, inside was a Schecter guitar case. I took the case over and laid it on the couch. I opened it slowly. It was a Purple and Green limited edition Synyster Gates guitar! There was a small note tucked in the case.

I can't wait to play this for you.
I Love You


Brian's POV
I sent her a surprise, making sure that it all arrived at the same time. I was hoping that she was working at home and I had a small fear that she wouldn't accept it. I kept checking the delivery status. Finally, it was listed as delivered.
My phone rang and I was a little nervous, but I tried to act normal.
"Hi Beautiful. I thought you were supposed to be working right now. Slacker." I had to grin.
"You know exactly why I am calling, Haner!"
"Were you surprised?"
"Hell yes! I couldn't imagine what it was, I opened the guitar and couldn't help jumping up and down. I can't wait to hear you play!!" She squealed "I assume that the other boxes are an amp and gear?"
"A private show with Synyster Gates, you are a lucky woman!!"
"Yes I am, the luckiest woman in the world."

The days until I went back to Penny's seemed to go at a snail’s pace.
Finally the day was here and the plane landed Columbus. I hated waiting for my luggage, but at least this time I didn't have to waste time getting a rental car. We had decided it would be safe for Penny to meet me as long as I just met her in the parking lot.
I jumped in the car and kissed her right away.
"I'm glad to finally be here, I've missed you."
"I missed you too, now let's go home." I could tell she was nervous about being there in public.
"We need to get you a car with tinted windows"
"No, WE don't need to. I need to. Maybe I could get the windows tinted on this."
"Why can't I buy things for you?" This was new to me.
"Because you don't have to buy my love, it's free." And she grinned and turned her face toward me and winked.
"Eyes on the road Penelope!"
This discussion was not over.

It was a perfect week, she had to work part of the time so I used that time to work on new material for the next album. Chloe came over for dinner and I met Max, her fiancé. I liked him, he seemed to have a really good head on his shoulders. He had graduated college last spring and already had a good job. We all laughed and even played Monopoly, I hadn't done that in years. I felt at home there and it was only my second visit.
My private concerts for Penny, went even better than I imagined. She would sit on the sofa and listen with just total admiration on her face. She was my best audience ever.
Of course the first time it started out with, "Synyster Gates!", "OMG you are so hot!", "Party with us" she is such a smart ass.
I just shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I have other plans." She smiled.
The great thing about the private shows was that we always ended up on the couch or the floor, naked and sweaty. Bravo Gates, Bravo.

Penny's POV
I love when Brian is here. His private shows get me so turned on. He is so amazingly talented, sometimes I am jealous. Aside from his devastating good looks, it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen.
After breakfast on the last full day of his visit, he said he had a surprise for me.
"Another surprise?" I asked.
"Yep, but this one you have to wear a blindfold for."
"Whoa, Gates you are synful!" I am pretty sure the great Synyster Gates blushed.
"You do have a dirty mind and I like that. We'll talk about that later. Now, please put this around your eyes."
"Okay, but you promise no tricks or trying to scare me?"
"I promise, Penelope. Now put the blindfold on." He commanded. I put it over my eyes
"Can you see anything?" I shook my head. "Swear?"
"I nodded yes. He took my hands and led me through the house, I could tell we were going into the garage. As soon as we walked in, he said "Okay, take it off."
It took a second for my eyes to adjust to light again, but there parked in my Garage was a Blue Mustang with dark tinted windows
"Holy Shit Brian! I told you not to do this!"
"I know you did, but I decided that didn't work for me. So don't even bother arguing or telling me to take it back. Do you like it?"
"Are you kidding, I love it!" I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a kiss. But you've got to stop doing this!"
"No way Baby, this is just the beginning." He dangled the keys in my face "Ready to take her out?"
"YES!"
He opened driver door for me, "It's the same color as your Fusion, I remember you saying you loved the color of it."
I stopped "Wait! Where is my Fusion?."
"Chloe and Max brought this over early this morning and took the Fusion. I couldn't really have it parked in the driveway, could I? Now let's go, Woman!!"
We had a great drive. We even took a walk through the woods. It was starting to get dark, I said "We should head home."
"I like that, we and home." He said.
"Well, my home is your home"
He put his arm around me as we walked, "I wanted to talk to you about home." I looked at him with panic." Before you freak out, I mean it's time you came to my house and met my family."
"I don't know..."
"You promised Penz!" He said. By this time, we were back to the car. He opened the door for me again.
I sat there and didn't even start the car. He got in and shut his door. "Are you sure I'm ready, are you sure they're ready?"
"Are you kidding? They all want to meet you!" He said with great enthusiasm.
"But do they know, "
He cut me off mid-sentence, "That you're older than me? Yes, they know and they are okay with it."
"When are you thinking about doing this?"
"I was thinking Labor Day Weekend would be great. You could take off the Friday before and the Tuesday after." He did have this planned out.
"There is one problem, there's something I haven't told you."

Brian's POV
"Something you haven't told me. What is it?"
"I haven't flown since I was a kid"
"How much of a kid?"
"I had my first birthday in California, isn't that funny?" She nervously laughed.
"Yes, that's hilarious." I just sat there, so how is this going to work? I must have been pretty dazed.
"Brian, Hey Bri?"
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"We're home." She looked at me like I had antennas growing out of my head. "Are you okay?"
"Yes babe I'm fine, let's go in and talk about this flying thing. This is one obstacle we have to work through"
After we both grabbed a beer, we went to the family room and sat on the couch. I started the conversation. "So you haven't been on a plane in 43 years. Is it because you are afraid or you just haven't done it?"
"A little of both, I don't think I can fly my first time all by myself."
"Well then, I guess I am flying to Ohio and you are coming back with me."
"Won't work Haner, what if you're recognized?" Crap! She got me there.
"What about Chloe?"
"She has school."
"Don't you have any friends you could ask to go with you? Someone you trust enough to tell about us?"
She thought about it for a moment. "The only friend I would trust with a secret like that is Bianca." We have worked together for about five years. She, Jay and I were good friends. You could say she's the only friend I got in the divorce."
"So have her come over, I want to meet her." I figured it was best if she met me first.
"I'll give her a call and see if she can stop by tomorrow, before we have to leave for the airport."

Bianca's POV
My phone rang and I saw it was Penny.
"Well hello stranger!! I hardly ever hear from you anymore and you worked from home last week."
"Yeah well, I have been busy. I met someone and we have spent a lot of time together."
"Really? Do I know this guy?" She had definitely peaked my interest. Thank God she is moving on after Jay.
"I don't think so, he's not from around here."
"Where is he from?"
"Huntington Beach California, that's what I want to talk to you about. I need to ask you a HUGE favor. Can you come over for breakfast tomorrow? I'd like you to meet him." Now she really had really peaked my interest.
"Are you kidding? I can't wait to meet this guy!"
"How does 8:30 sound? I have to drive him to the airport at noon." I sensed some nervousness in her voice.
"You know I'll be there! I can't wait to meet this guy. I need to make sure he's worthy of my buddy, Chicken Legs!"
"Please don't call me Chicken Legs in front of him. He would probably start calling me that too."
I couldn't resist making her paranoid "I'll try, Chicken Legs. See you in the morning."
"Bianca, I'm serious."
"Oops, gotta go. Byeeee." I cut her off, I know it's bugging the crap out of her.
Penny and I live to tease each other, she is a smart ass and so am I. I am relieved that she is at least dating after Jay, I wasn't sure she ever would. This guy must be pretty special.

Brian's POV
I'm not sure why, but I'm nervous about meeting Penny's friend. Maybe because when I met Chloe it was a surprise and Max knew who I was before meeting me. I asked Penny what she is like and she said "She's sassy, classy and a little smart assey, like me!"
Our last night together this visit was the best yet. We ate dinner outside by candlelight and then slow danced under the stars. Damn, this woman has made me a sappy mess! But I don't care.
We woke up in the morning, took on of our "long" showers. Her shower was smaller than the hotel one. While it allowed for closeness, it made other activities a little difficult. "We need a bigger shower." I said.
"We?" She said.
"You said your home is my home. Yes, we need a bigger shower."
"Even Synyster Gates the great and powerful can't make a shower bigger when there is no room to even add on to the house." She teased.
"True, very true." I conceded.
We got dressed and she whipped up a hash brown, sausage and cheese casserole. "No eggs?"
"Bianca doesn't eat eggs, I'll scramble some for us."
Just then the doorbell rang. I stayed in the kitchen. Soon Penny and Bianca came in. Bianca and I looked at each other with a slight hint of shock. "Bianca, this is Brian. Brian, this is Bianca."
Bianca spoke first. Shook my hand and said. "Hi! I'm Penny's token black friend." She and Penny started laughing, so I laughed too. This girl is sassy! "You have a lot of tattoos, wow! What do you do for a living?" She obviously didn't recognize me or probably even know of Synyster Gates.
"I am a musician in a metal band."
"That kind of explains the tattoos. No wonder Penny likes you, she loves metal. Penny, what's that band you always talk about?"
"Avenged Sevenfold" Penny said. I had to bite my lip so that I didn't laugh.
"Music is hard business to break into. What do you play?"
"Lead guitar" I said with a smirk.
"Chicken legs loves guitar." She devilishly grinned.
"Why? Why do you do that to me?" Penny asked.
"Because it's fun to watch you get upset about it."
"You are such a brat."
I had to pile on" Let's sit down and eat." I pulled out their chairs. "Bianca" she sat down, very impressed by my gentlemanly manner. Then I pulled out a chair for Penny "Chicken Legs." From that point on, Bianca and I were fast friends.
"You two! Stop!" Penny scolded

Bianca's POV
Penny has obviously found someone special they get along great. And he's not too bad on the eyes either. Sexy brown eyes, very handsome face and muscles. I think he is younger than her, I don't hold back. I had to ask. "So Brian, how old are you?" He practically choked on his orange juice.
"I'm 34"
Penny had to chime in "Yes, he's 10 years younger than me."
"No judging here"." She seemed a little touchy about that subject.
"You know Brian, you look familiar. It's like I have seen a picture of you before."
"Penny probably showed you one." He winked at Penny.
That didn't make sense to me. "No, Penny hadn't even told me she had met someone, let alone in a relationship."
"I guess it's time to tell her." Penny said to Brian
"Tell me what?" I didn't know what the big secret could be.
"Truth is Bianca, I have shown you a picture of Brian. Remember when I went to the Avenged Sevenfold concert last July and I showed you pictures and videos of the concert?"
"Yea, I remember you were like a 13-year-old girl with a crush on a rock star." Brian raised an eyebrow at me with a conceited grin. "You kept talking about one of the guitar players, Sinister something."
"Synyster Gates." Penny corrected me.
"Yea that's it, but what does that have to do with me seeing a picture of..." Suddenly it hit me, he was the guitar player! My face must have given me away.

Penny's POV
I could tell it was all clicking for Bianca now.
"Bianca, I would like you to meet Synyster Gates" Brian gave her a little wave.
She jumped out of her chair "Are you shitting me? Is this some kind of You Tube set up and you are taping this? Damn it Penny this better not be some kind of crazy joke!"
Brian tried to reassure her. "I swear it's not a joke. I am Synyster Gates, that is my stage name. My real name is Brian Haner Jr. and I am in love with Chicken Legs."
Bianca just fell back in her seat "Holy Shit! Why haven't you told me Penny?"
"We're trying to keep it low-key. We want only family and close friends to know." I explained.
"Oh I get it, Mr. Rock star party animal doesn't want to cramp his style!"
"No Bianca, keeping it quiet is my idea" I said.
Brian interjected, "If I had my way, the whole world would know."
"But how the hell did you two meet?"
We gave her the Reader's Digest condensed PC13 version of our story.
"I want Penny to come to California and meet my family on Labor Day" Brian just cut to the chase.
"And let me guess, Chicken Legs is scared to fly"
"Yes, I just want someone to go with me this first time" I explained.
"So you want me to go?" She said with skepticism.
Brian was selling the deal. "Bianca, an all-expense paid trip to California. How can you turn that down?"
"I guess I can't, I'm in,"
Brian jumped up and hugged me from behind. "Did you hear that, Penelope? You're going to California and you are going to meet everyone!"
Bianca stopped Brian "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Did you just call her Penelope? You must be special, lives have been lost for that!!"
We all laughed. "We have to leave soon., I'll go park the Fusion on the street so we can leave in the Mustang."
"Mustang? What Mustang?" Bianca didn't miss that.
"The one Brian bought, it has tinted windows so that we can drive around without worrying about someone recognizing him.
"Damn girl!"

Notes