Chapter 12

The guys stood there in total shock, each with a different expression on their face. Richie had his hands on his hips, his eyes wide, Hugh was shaking his head back and forth in disbelief, David and Jon each had the goofiest grins plastered on their faces. As for Tico, well, he just started laughing. Watching the kids run towards them, the guys opened their arms wide ready to be tackled.

The wives, Jon’s parents, and an Arena filled with 80,000 fans watched through tears at the reunion taking place right in front of them. It was a beautiful sight to see, and it was being caught on film, thanks to David Bergman.

Tico kneeled down on one knee as Tia raced towards him, yelling “Papa.” Scooping his daughter up in his arms, Tico swung her around, letting the tears flow freely down his face as he buried his face in Tia’s hair. He didn’t care who was watching, he had his little girl in his arms again. Opening his eyes, Tico looked down to see Sam standing there staring at him. Taking one of his arms from Tia’s little body, Tico placed it around his boy’s shoulder. “Hola, hijo (Hello, son.)” Tico’ s voice was full of emotion. Sam just smiled at his dad before resting his head against his shoulder.

Hugh had one arm hung around Rae’s shoulder, the other arm slung around Max’s shoulder. The three of them were laughing at David.

Poor David, the kids were all over him like flies on honey. Tabitha was standing on her dad’s right side with both arms around his neck trying to pull him closer to her so she could kiss his cheek. Gabby was on his left, her arms securely wrapped around her father’s waist, squeezing him so hard David’s ribs were starting to ache. Caleb stood beside Tabitha with his hand casually sitting on David’s forearm. In all the mess, David was trying to balance Eric on his hip. David was grinning from ear to ear.

Ava ran towards her dad with Joseph on her hip. The poor kid was being bounced around like a Mexican jumping bean. Richie plucked Joseph out of his sister’s arms tossing him high in the air, smiling when he heard his son laugh. Tossing Joseph a few more times, Richie finally settled Joseph against his waist before turning his attention to his girls. Giving each one of his daughters a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, Richie stood back to look at them. “So how are my beauties doing?”

Rolling her eyes, Ava giggled, “Dad that only works on Mom.”

Richie’s heart swelled with love for his first born, Ava was more like him than she realized. “Just humor me, okay?”

Giving her dad another hug, Ava chuckled. “Sure, Dad.”

“I missed you, Daddy,” Katie cried burying her face in Richie’s side. Savannah put her arms around Richie’s waist, echoing her sister’s sentiments. “Me too.”

Richie tucked his kids close to his body, his voice choking up from the emotions he was experiencing. “Well, Daddy missed you too. All of you!”

Standing there with a huge smile on his face, arms wide open, Jon watched his brood fast approaching him. Sabrina ran past her siblings, jumping into her dad’s waiting arms, nearly knocking him on his ass. Laughing, Jon hugged his daughter tight. “Hi, baby girl.” Within seconds, Jon and Bri were surrounded by the rest of the kids, exchanging hugs and kisses.

Eric kept tugging on his dad’s right arm. “Dad,” he repeated over and over. Leigh Anne was bouncing from one foot to the other, she was understandably excited to see her dad again. “Hi, Daddy.”

Bobby and Michael each stood on opposite sides of their father, a smug look on their faces while affectionately slapping him on the back.

Time stood still for those few precious moments while the guys enjoyed being swarmed by their families. Even though it had only been six weeks since they had seen each other, it felt like a lifetime. All too soon, Obie was speaking to Jon through his earpiece, gently reminding him that the band still had a show to finish. Knowing Obie was right, Jon reluctantly put Sabrina down on the floor, then turned to his kids.

Michael knew what his dad was going to say, so he beat him to the punch. “Time to go back to work, huh, Dad?” Nodding his head, Jon gave his kids a real smile, the one reserved only for his family.

Slapping his father on the back, Michael leaned close to his dad. “I think the audience has seen enough of our mushy side. Don’t you?”

Rustling his son’s hair with his hand, Jon gave a heartfelt laugh. “Nicely put, Michael.”

Walking over to where his wife was standing, Tico handed Tia over to her mother. Giving Lani a gentle kiss on her lips, Tico softly caressed her cheek. “Hola, my beautiful, Kailani.” Giving her husband a sweet kiss on the lips, Lani playfully swatted him on the ass. “Go finish, my love.” After a high-five from Sam, Tico walked back to his drum kit.

Hugh brought the kids back to stand next to Melissa. Leaning over he gave her a kiss, which he tried to deepen when he put his hand on the back of her head, but Melissa wasn’t having it.

Pushing against her husband’s chest, Melissa shook her head. “Uh uh, not happening here, big guy. Now go finish so we can continue our little party later.” With an uncharacteristic pout on his lips, Hugh walked away.

Laughing as she watched her husband advance towards her, Tracy could read the want so blatantly written on David’s face. Without warning, David took Tracy in his arms crushing his lips against hers in a mind blowing kiss. Hearing the moan that escaped her lips almost had David taking her right then and there. With Herculean effort, David reined his passion in before he gave the fans a show they weren’t expecting. Pulling away from her husband’s lips, Tracy tried to remember how to breathe, even her knees were shaking. Giving his wife a hug, David spoke softly into her hair. “Hi, sweetcakes.” Placing a kiss against her temple, David stepped back. Satisfied with the rattled looked on his wife’s face, David walked away whistling.

Most of the kids were either walking off the stage, or they were already offstage, with one exception: Joseph.

Joseph had the audience in hysterics watching him running away from his daddy, hiding behind the drum riser, or underneath David’s keyboards. Joseph refused to leave the stage. Seeing no other way to wrangle her son, Isabel hesitantly stepped out on the stage, stopping in front of Richie’s microphone. When the fans spotted her, they started screaming and calling her name. Doing her best to ignore the crowd, Isabel wanted to get off the stage as soon as possible. Placing her hands on her hips, Isabel wasted no time in getting Joseph’s attention. “Joseph Adam Sambora! Quit running away from your father and get your butt over here. Now!” There was no mistaking the irritation in her voice.

Joseph knew by the tone of his mommy’s voice he was in trouble. Crawling out from under his Uncle David’s keyboards, Joseph allowed his daddy to pick him up. Bending down, Richie picked his little boy up, giving him a hug. “Come on, Speedy,” Richie teased the child. Seeing the sad look on his boy’s face, Richie held him close to his chest. “Hey now, little man, why are you so sad? When I am all finished playing here, you and I will play hide and seek when we get back to the hotel. Okay?” Richie hated to see his son looking so sad.

Hopeful eyes looked up at him. “Promise, Daddy?” Giving Joseph a kiss on the forehead, Richie promised his son.

Isabel stood by the microphone, watching father and son interact with each other while Richie carried him over to her. “Hi, honey,” Richie greeted Isabel as he placed Joseph in his mother’s arms. Richie planted a scorching kiss on her lips. Isabel felt the blood pounding in her veins, her body swaying as her husband’s tongue assaulted hers in the most erotic way. Pulling back from his wife’s delectable lips, Richie softly caressed the side of her neck. “Don’t be too hard on him, Bel. He just got excited.” She could not think one coherent thought with Richie touching her like he was, and he knew it! Isabel mumbled something close to “Ok,” or at least that’s what Richie thought she had said. “Thanks, honey. I will make it up to you later,” he whispered in her ear, giving it a little nip. Richie escorted his semi coherent wife off the stage with Joseph wrapped in her arms.

While Joseph had been entertaining the audience, Jon made his way over to where his woman was standing. He did a quick scan of her body, his eyes enjoying what he was seeing. When he got to Jojo’s feet, his eyes widened; there gracing her feet were his favorite heels, he called them his “I am getting laid” shoes. Bringing his gaze back up to his wife’s face, Jon met his wife’s eyes staring back at him. Joanne was having a hard time reading her husband’s face. She couldn’t tell if he was mad that the kids had interrupted the show or not. Reading the worried look in her eyes, Jon wrapped his arms around Joanne’s waist gently pulling her closer to him.

“Hi, baby,” he spoke softly next to her ear before kissing the side of her neck, just below her ear. His special spot. He could feel her pulse beating against his lips. Enjoying the feel of being wrapped in her Jonny’s embrace, Joanne had her arms around his waist. “God, I have missed you, Jonny,” she moaned. Brushing her lips across his jaw, Joanne relaxed against her husband’s body. Cupping her face in his hands, Jon stared into the eyes of the woman who he loved with every fiber of his being. Lowering his head, Jon pressed his lips against Joanne’s, his tongue stroking gently over her bottom lip, patiently waiting for permission to enter her warm, moist mouth. Joanne eagerly granted the request, opening her mouth to her husband. As their tongues dueled it out for dominance, Jon felt the fire stirring in his lower region. Knowing he would have to wait and finish later, he pulled his lips away from hers. Putting his forehead against hers, Jon smiled down at her. “We will pick this up later, baby.” Dropping a kiss on her nose, Jon gave her a quick hug before walking away to resume the show. Giving the signal with his hand, the band blew into “Summertime.”