Chapter 1

Richie reached out to punch the code into the keypad and waited impatiently for the gates to open and let him pass. A glance at his watch assured him that he should be in time to see his youngest two before they went to bed. The tour was going really well, the six month break in the middle so that he could be home with his wife and new baby hadn’t seemed to lessen the fans enthusiasm. He loved performing as much as ever, but he missed his family. His oldest daughter, Ava, was fourteen and growing up way too fast for his tender father’s sensibilities. His son, Stephen, was almost three and learning new words every day. Lauren, his baby daughter, was eight months old and starting to reveal different facets of her personality. Most of all, he missed his wife. He’d come very close to losing her almost three years ago through his own stupidity and not a day went by that he didn’t thank God that she’d loved him enough to give him another chance. Tori was his angel, his light at the end of the very dark tunnel his life had been when he met her and he would be lost without her.

Thanking his driver, he picked up his suitcase and opened the door, smiling at the large felt bunny and eggs hanging on it. The sound of his daughter’s plaintive cries assaulted his ears, followed by her mother’s murmur. He set down his bag and followed the sound to the living room where he found Tori pacing, the squalling baby in her arms, and Stevie on the couch, a bucket on the floor beside his head.

“Mama, tummy hurts.”

“I know Peanut. Ssshh Sweetpea, I know.”

Stevie frowned. “Not Seetpea, Peanut. ‘Oren Seetpea.”

Tori chuckled. “I know Peanut. I was talking to Lauren too. She’s not feeling well either.”

“When Daddy tomin home?”

“Soon, very soon.” I hope!

Richie frowned at his wife’s pale face. She looked tired. “Well well, what’s going on here?”

Tori turned towards the doorway, relief flooding her face. “Hi Babe! I didn’t hear the gate.”

“Daddy!” Stevie lifted his head, then laid it back down.

Richie’s frown deepened to see that the small face so like his own was also pale, with red fever flags riding his cheeks, the blue eyes dull. He knelt beside the couch. “Hey Peanut, still not feeling well?”

“I sick!”

“Yeah? What doesn’t feel good?” He brushed the hair back from his son’s forehead.

“He means he’s going to throw up. Grab the bucket!” Tori warned him. Just in time.
He held Stevie over the bucket, then eased him back onto the couch when he was done and wiped his face with the cloth that Tori handed him. “Still got the flu huh?”

“Yeah. Three days and counting.” Tori struggled to hold onto the baby, who, seeing her daddy, was wiggling and holding her arms out to him.

“What did the doctor say?”

“To keep feeding him fluids and Tylenol to keep his fever down and he should be over it in a couple days. He’s a little better today.” She had to pitch her voice to be heard above the baby’s cries – which were increasing in volume by the minute.

Richie stood. “Is that Sweetpea’s problem too? She come down with it too?”

“No, she’s got an ear infection and she’s teething. Welcome home.”

He chuckled and took the baby from her. “Awww, poor thing. Sore gums huh?” He put his pinkie finger in her mouth and rubbed, wincing when she bit down. “Easy Sweetpea, Daddy needs that finger.” The baby’s cries trailed off, then stopped completely as she gnawed contentedly on her father’s finger. “There. That’s better.”

Tori gave him a disgusted look. She’d been walking the floor with Lauren for an hour and five minutes after he walked in the door, she stopped crying. Even though the rational part of her brain knew that the pain reliever she’d given her had finally kicked in, the exhausted part of her brain was pissed.

Richie chuckled, leaned down and kissed her. “How come you’re dealing with this alone? Where are Rosa and Cathy?”

“They’ve been helping me, but they need a break too and you were coming home tonight, so I sent them home.” She sighed and picked up Peanut’s bucket to empty it. Returning, she set the clean bucket by his head, stroked his hair and kissed his forehead.

Richie studied her for a moment. “Why don’t you go have a hot bath and get ready for bed?” When she looked between the kids he smiled wryly. “I can handle these two for awhile.”

Exhaustion warred with maternal instinct. She frowned. “But you’ve been travelling so much . You must be tired too.”

He sighed. “Angel, go. I’m fine. I can handle it. If I run into any problems I’ll come get you. I promise.”

She smiled tiredly. “Okay. Thanks. Yell if you need me. Oh, and remember, when Peanut says he’s sick it means he’s going to throw up.”

“Sick means throw up. Got it.” He watched her walk out of the room, then looked down at his daughter, and headed for the kitchen. “Come on Sweetpea. I bet Mommy’s got a teething ring chilling for you in the kitchen. That’ll feel better than my finger. And if Daddy’s really lucky there’ll be some cookies! Peanut, do you want some juice or something?”

“Potsicle pease.”

“What flavour?”

“Red.”

“One red popsicle coming up.”

For the next hour he sat with his kids, getting them whatever they needed, soothing their pain as best he could, just...being a dad. Despite their illnesses, it was a welcome change from life on the road.
Finally, he took them upstairs and put them to bed. Stevie went easily, his fever making him sleepy. Lauren was a little more difficult. If he laid her in her crib she cried and reached for him, calming only when he picked her up again. He tried rocking her, but each time she dozed off and he thought she was down, as soon as he put her in her bed she woke up. On the verge of getting her mother, but not wanting to admit failure, he tried rubbing her back and singing to her. She calmed within a couple minutes and was sound asleep within ten. Sighing in relief, he made a tour of the house to check locks and shut off lights, then went to find his wife.

In their bathroom, Tori sank into a tub full of bubbles with an appreciative sigh. She loved her children, but having both of them sick at the same time was wearing on her. Especially since she was doing almost all of the caretaking by herself. Rosa and Cathy had offered to help, but except for an hour or two during the afternoons, she’d declined. They were her children and her responsibility. She really didn’t mind, she was just so damn tired! Relaxing for the first time all day she laid back and thought about everything that she needed to talk to Richie about, in an attempt to stay awake. She’d missed him and sharing their daily activities. He called everyday when he was on tour, but it wasn’t the same as being together. She was looking forward to him being home for a few days.
After about half an hour, when the water began to cool, she quickly washed and did some personal grooming that she’d let slide since her man was away, dragged herself out, dried off and pulled on her nightgown – one of Richie’s T-shirts. Even after all their time together, it was still her favourite piece of clothing to sleep in.

In the bedroom, she turned down the spread, then couldn’t resist laying down – just for a few minutes - before she went back to the kids.

She woke up when Richie’s weight dipped the bed, blinked and started to sit up. “The kids....”

Richie pulled her back down and into his arms. “Are in their beds, asleep. The monitors are on your bedside table. It’s okay angel. Go back to sleep.”

She sighed and snuggled close, one hand toying with a patch of his chest hair. “Did you give Sweetpea more Tylenol?”

“No. I wasn’t sure when you gave her some last and she was satisfied with a teething ring. Peanut had a popsicle and some juice before he went to bed – and I put the bucket beside him. They both went to sleep without a fight.”

Her brows rose. “Sweetpea went to sleep without a problem?”

“Mmmhmmm....well, after a bedtime song.”

Tori chuckled. “Yeah, that’s her newest thing. She won’t go to sleep unless I play some music for her – but not just any music. I tried playing the guitar and singing for her, but that didn’t work. Then I tried some Jovi, but that only worked a couple times.”

“So what does she want then? I didn’t have a problem tonight.”

“That because Daddy was singing for her. That’s the only music that will do the trick. Your solo stuff. Her favourites are Father Time, The Answer, Undiscovered Soul and In It For Love. As soon as she hears your voice she settles right down. Definitely Daddy’s girl.” She hadn’t told him before because she didn’t want him to feel any guiltier about being away than he already did.

He chuckled. “Yeah. I missed her too.”

She yawned. “Some homecoming. Sick kids and a wife too tired to show you how much she’s missed you.” It had been almost a month since he’d been home.

He chuckled and kissed her forehead. “I’ve missed you too angel. I’m just happy being with my family – sick kids, tired wife and all.”

“How did everything go yesterday?” They’d had a show the night before, but she hadn’t talked to him.

“Good. Jon pulled out a couple of the oldies and the crowd seemed to like them.”

“Mmmm...told him.” It was a sleepy murmur.

Richie smiled. “And Shirley and I took every opportunity to remind him of that.”

“Wish I’d been there.”

“Jon’s glad you weren’t...but I think he’ll listen to you more from now on.”

“Pfft! Sure...in which lifetime?”

“Well, I listen to you....and not just because you’re my wife. I know that you are a very smart, intuitive woman.”

Tori lifted her head and reached up to cup his cheek, urging his lips to meet hers. The kiss was deep, gentle and full of feeling. Releasing him, she traced his mouth with a fingertip. “I’m glad you’re home honey. I love you.”

He kissed her finger. “I love you too angel. Now sleep.” He didn’t like the way she looked. He hoped she wasn’t coming down with the flu too.