Chapter 29

He pulled her from the corner and out into the living room settling himself on the couch and her on his lap. "I don't understand."

The raging flood spilled over the dam she'd built carefully for years. "She got sick after Dad died, something broke inside of her ok? I mean she just up and moved us one day, didn’t even take our stuff, just put us into the car and left. I was fifteen I couldn't fight her."

She sniffled, "Next thing I know we're in Seattle of all places, and she just gets weirder and weirder, but I was so mad, I hated her for taking me there." She leaned against his chest, and felt the condemnations she'd wrapped herself with for years. "She didn't die of a broken heart and I was too angry to notice. Came home from a walk and she was, she'd..." she couldn't say it, she couldn't put it to words, the sight of mom slumped over the bed, the multitude of empty pill bottles around her. "I didn't stop it cuz I was too mad to see it happening."

Richie listened disbelieving. It explained so much. He got angry. Angry at their mother, angry at the life that had cheated Mel out of normalcy. "God damn Melanie.....I'm so......." He sighed and held her tightly willing her to let him take her pain from her. His hands stroked her hair "Baby it's not your fault, you were just a kid..... let it go..... it's alright."

"Had to take over, be there for Shan, be normal you know? I pushed it all away, even the memories. Mom wouldn't even give me time, let me say good bye, that's when the hope died." She curled into his lap then as she finally admitted that one loss that added up to all she'd become. She'd lost the hope of making things right with him along the road of taking care of them all.

He pulled her in close, his arms wrapping tightly around her. He’d hold her while she cried, no matter how long it was. She needed to cry, to let it all out. It was the only way she’d heal. His hands slid over her hair and shoulders, offering all the comfort he could. "It's gonna be ok now.... I promise."

She snuggled closer and let the heat of the man lull her back into whatever was normal for her now. "I never told Shannon, it would have killed her.”

He nodded understanding. He didn't know Shannon now, but from what he'd seen, the girl didn’t do well with negativity.

"And you're back, well technically I guess I am, and.. you confuse me Richard Sambora." She sat up and brushed a finger over his face. "Why'd ya have to grow up so damned nice?"

He leaned his face into her touch. "Dunno..... mom would kick my ass if I wasn't... what's so confusing?"

She blinked rapidly then started to laugh, "Oh not that kinda nice.. well, yeah that kind too, but.. " she huffed, "You still have that ..I mean.." She trailed off. Shit how did you explain to the guy exactly what it was about him that had made her run hot and cold, mad or happy as a kid, and that it was still there? "You were, ya know, not that coordinated and well you hadn't found your voice and you were still .. DAMMIT DORK don’t ask me to explain!" She punched him lightly and shook her head, "I ain't even gonna try."

HE chuckled a bit, she always had been a volatile plethora of emotion, he loved that about her, not many had the nerve to tell him like it was, to call him on his shortcomings, to NOT kiss his ass. She was real, she was as normal as normal could get. He kissed her cheek and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. "God I love ya Mel."

"Oh hush, you don’t know what that is. You're still .. " She tilted her head, "Ok the better question is what do you think that is? Cuz me? I'm not so sure anymore."

"Don’t tell me to hush," he admonished softly. "I dunno what it is I just know that I feel it."

Her eyes rolled, "You keep saying that, that you love me, but I don’t get it Richard. We went from being friends to damn near being enemies due to a miscommunication, but it’s been YEARS and we don’t really know each other now. I just.." she paused a moment and tried to gather scattered thoughts, "I guess I don’t feel loveable enough for anyone to love, especially you, and you say it so easy!"

"How can I prove it to you?"

She snorted, "Well that's the sixty-four thousand dollar question ain’t it?" She smiled then, and let it reach her eyes. "I guess we just keep seeing where it goes. Hey I admit, I gotta learn this new Scarecrow, he's nothing like the pipsqueak I used to torment cuz he was so forgetful you know."

"I'm not forgetful!" His brow waggled as he smirked. "Just scatterbrained.” He smiled, happy to see the light reach her eyes again.

She shook her head, "You say tomato and I say too-mah-toe. Man, you'd get lost going to the bathroom and you know it."

He laughed and helped her to her feet again, his hand reaching out to swat her ass playfully "Come on let's get things ready for dinner... Shay'll be back soon"

She started towards the kitchen, her laugh flowing around her. "Get things ready? God did you finally learn to cook?"

"Ahhhhhh to be sure my love." He winked, "you just sit back and watch the master!" He grinned and set himself to showing her just how much he had learned.

She leaned back, propping one slender bare leg on the chair in front of her, her eyes widening as he mixed, chopped and generally prepared things for a roast. "Ok is there ANYTHING you CAN'T do?"

He looked up from his actions stopping to ponder her question "I can't roller skate very well."

"You can't? Well that makes sense, it’s on wheels!" She winked as a wickedly devious grin started to shine. "And took to wearing all black, simpler huh?"

Jon awoke and stretched. Hearing the murmur of voices in the kitchen he stood and located his tee-shirt. Pulling it on as he walked out, he followed the sounds to the kitchen. His brow quirked along with his humor as he heard Mel’s comment. "That's cuz everything else he owns clashes."

Her gaze shot to the man in the doorway. Damn, she'd forgotten he was here. "He don't clash, he matches what he can see. Hell even I know that."

Jon's eyes went wide. "Huh?"

She turned to Richie and started to snort, "YOU never told him?"

"Well..I.." Richie looked slightly uncomfortable "It ain’t nothin', didn't think I needed to announce it to the world."

She stood up suddenly and moved too him, "Hey, Dork, it’s not a big thing, and certainly nothin’ to be embarrassed about."

Jon watched and wondered what could put that embarrassed look on his friends face. Nothing ever embarrassed Richie."Hey man, seriously, unless you're a mass murderer nothing is that bad."

Richie sighed "Ok ok... I can’t see colors right ya know? I’m colorblind to red and green. ” He paused and threw in quickly, “so? I like black!"

She blinked, her brows furrowing. "You only wear black?"

Jon started laughing, "Is that all man? You had me worried. Makes sense though, explains some of those shirts you're fond of."

"Hey man leave my shirts alone.. ain't like your Mr. GQ with your leopard and purple pants and all that," he teased

She turned on Jon a slick grin on her face. "Tease him and feel sorry Shortie." She glanced back at Richie. "I'm sure your shirts are nice."

Richie stifled a laugh at her dig on Jon.

Jon frowned, "I am not short, and you're just,” he risked a glance at Richie and grinned, "being nice cuz he's famous now."