Nothing Else Matters

“I want to see him.” Bridget tells me as she follows me backstage. “I’m his grandmother, I deserve to see him.” I stop in my tracks and immediately turn around narrowing my eyes at her.

“You deserve to see him?” I scoff. “I deserved to having a fucking mother in my life. We don’t always get what we deserve.”

“I was 17 and scared.” She says defending her actions. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“And Dad wasn’t scared?” I counter. “Dad told me being 17 and a dad was the scariest things he’s ever had to face. And the man was caught on fire because of pyro on stage and suffered pretty bad burns. And don’t use the 17 and scared excuse. If Dad could manage to be a parent plus front Metallica, you could have stayed.”

“Being a mother is the scariest things I woman has to deal with.” She once again defends her actions. “You can’t tell me that you never thought about leaving Presley.”

“I’m not like you.” I growl. “Yes I was terrified when I found out I was pregnant. I thought it had to be some cosmic joke. How could I be a mother when I never had one myself? But the moment I held Presley in my arms, every single fear melted away. I knew no matter what, this boy is the only thing that’ll ever matter. Nothing else matters but him. I never once thought about leaving him with Michael and taking off; that’s only you.”

“He needs to know about me.”

“He doesn’t.” I counter. “I never knew you and I turned out fine.”

“Look at you!” She exclaims. “Short shorts with knee high boots and that dyed hair and tattoos. You’re nothing but groupie material. You’re far from fine.”

“I may wear clothing a teenager would wear and I haven’t had my natural hair coloring since I was 13. I have way too many tattoos and too many old holes in my face. But I have a college degree and a good job. And you can’t forget that amazing six year old I have. So I may not look like I have my life together but I do. And you’re not to thank for that. That’s all Dad. So my son doesn’t need to know about you or know you. He’ll be just fine without you.”

“Then why are you bringing me backstage?”

A smirk appears on my lips, “there are bound to be someone back there that’ll be happy to see you.”

**
“What is that bitch doing here?” Lars asks once Bridget and I make out way backstage. Mike, Matt and Dad are the only ones that really pick their heads up and look at us. Dad’s eyes go wide when he sees her.

“Bridget.” He whispers almost. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see our daughter.” She sneers. “Did you seriously not tell her about me?”

“You’re nothing but an incubator, what’s there to tell?” Lars counters. “You left her, remember.”

“Lars.” Dad growls, instantly shutting up the drummer. “Once she hit a certain age, I just stopped trying. Especially since you refused to even see her. You’re the only that cut off contact; not me. Every time we came to New Jersey I begged you to see my daughter; you’re the only that refused.”

“You never tried to contact me.” She scoffs.

“You were too fucked up on heroin to even remember.” He rolls his eyes. “Why are you suddenly interested in Layla?”

“We have a grandson, James.” She smiles. “I’m never going to be a grandmother, not with Brent being gay. I figured I can get a second chance to have a connection with blood.”

“You’re never going to meet him.” I sternly say. “Over my dead body.”

“I second that.” Michael says and he stands up and and heads right over to me. “You weren’t there for Layla, I’ll be damned if you think you’ll be there for our son.”

“So you’re the baby daddy.” She says as she hungrily looks Michael over, smirking in appreciation. “You have great taste in men; something you get from me. It’s just a shame you let this one go.” I let out a growl as Michael holds me back from advancing towards her.

“You shouldn’t have come Bridget.” Dad says sternly. “You shouldn’t have made contact with Layla. You should have just stayed hidden in your New Jersey suburban world.”

“I deserve to meet my grandson.” She growls. “And I will meet him whether you like it or not.”

“Is that a threat?” Lars questions her. “I think it’s about time I call security or you can walk away on your own. It’s completely up to you. You are pretty good at walking away.”

“This isn’t the last time you’ll see me, mark my words.” Bridget says before walking away willingly; leaving the rest of us backstage.

“You okay?” Michael asks pulling me into a hug.

“I’m fine.” I pull away from him and turn to Matt. “How about instead of kicking Mike’s ass, you kick hers instead?”

“Usually I have a rule against hitting women but I’ll make an exception.” He smiles. “You sure you’re okay. A woman just threatened your son.”

“She’ll never get to him.” I confidently say. “Not with you guys in his life. It’ll be a cold day in hell. She’s going to wish she never made contact with me.”

Notes