FLA 31

The next morning after their night of love making, Jon was lying on the couch with his arms around his wife. Their naked bodies were wrapped up in the comforter that Jon had gotten off the bed the night before. Just as the sun came beaming in through the window he felt Dot moving her body for what he assumed was just trying to get comfortable..
Dot moved again, slowly waking up. She kissed Jon's neck and then moved and almost fell off the couch. "Honey we need to move to bed." She whispered.
His eyes were still closed but he was coherent enough to smile when she moved to close to the edge. "If you would stay put then you wouldn't fall."
"Lets go to bed honey."
"Alright." he said still half asleep. "You lead the way."
Dot got up naked and grabbed Jon's hand. "Come on." She pulled the comforter off the couch.
A sudden draft flew over him realizing that he was still naked and so was the woman standing in front of him. He stood up on his feet then took the comforter out of her hands and stretched it across the bed. His back was immediately grateful when he laid on what felt like a cloud compared to the couch. "This is better." mumbled pulling the covers up over hime while his wife slid into the bed.
"See listen to me its all good." Dot cuddled to him laying her head on his chest.
"Mommy knows best." he smirked.
She poked him in the ribs, "i'm not your mom."
He moved over a few inches not expectin her to do that. "Alright....wifey knows best."
"ok that's better." She cuddled up closer.
"Do you realize that if we would be home there would be rugrats crawling around on us right now? It's kind of nice just being here in the peace and quiet."
"Yes its wonderful to be alone with you, thank you for taking me out on a date last night."
"You thanked me plenty last night baby." he smiled.
"Brat." She smiled.
"What? It's not like your effort wasn't appeciated." He slid his leg up bending it at the knee while the bottom of his foot rested on the bed.
"So what do you say we make an effort to do this at least once a month?"
"I'm all for that."
He yawned rather loudly just knowing that it gets under her skin. "I am so damn tired!" His eyes were closed and he reached down to scratch himself incoherently, it was just something that was in his male genes that he had to do every morning.
"Men." She murmured and moved her head to her own pillow curling up into her typical sleep position.
"This man in particular is wonderful." he laughed sleeplily moving onto his side so that he was facing her back. Seeing his wife's bare skin put a smile on his face until he saw a few small scratches curtousy of the wall she was leaning against last night. His fingers moved over the scratches and he kissed each one of them before moving closer to her.
"I still can't believe I fucked you outside, on the top of the rock." Dot laughed. "We'd kill Steph for even getting felt up in public.
"I would kill her for getting felt up in private." he laughed.
"Oh you're in for a long adolence of hers."
"Yeah don't remind me." He wrapped his arm around her waist then put his hand over hers. "But last night was pretty damn incredible if I do say so myself."
"Brag it up Jonny." She smiled.
"You were pretty good to." he snickered.
"I was kind of hoping we would get caught though."
"are you serious?" She asked.
"Yeah does that sound crazy?"
"Yes but nothing shocks me with you."
He laughed softly moving his mouth to her shoulder. "Why do you say that?"
"Because Jonny you tend to be a little unusual to say the least."
"Unusual in a good or bad way?"
"Good baby, always good."
HIs hands couldn't stay off her body while she layed there, he even tried resting his head on her pillow and pulling her as close as possible but couldn't fall asleep.
"Jon why won't you let me sleep." She asked.
"Sleep baby, I'll go in the living room." he kissed her softly on the cheek.
"No just stay and cuddle, please."
Even though he wanted her more than anything right now he took her up on her offer, it was better than nothing at all. He laid on his side again and put his arms around her pulling her back into his chest.
Dot knew if she could encourage him to relax for a few minutes he'd go back to sleep, he doesnt' get nearly enough sleep on the road.
He sighed deeply while grabbing the other pillow on the bed and putting it onto hers trying to get comfortable. Sleep was definately not on his to do list, he wasn't used to doing it, the latest he had sleeped in for the past few months was 7 am then it was straight to the gym.
**slept in**
Dot yawned a little deeper than normal, "Hold me Jonny, I love you."
While he was lying there holding her a familiar urge hit him so he tore himself away from his wife for a couple of minutes while he took care of business. Since he was in the bathroom he went ahead and brushed his teeth before climbing back into bed with his wife.
From what he could tell she was still asleep so he moved back under the covers with his body pressed against hers.
Dot cuddled back into Jon, her body fighting the morning hours, sleep was not about to let go of her this morning.
When Jon looked at the clock it was 7:30 am and he closed his eyes trying to go to sleep. A short while later he raised up and saw 9 am then smiled "I guess I did need sleep." he said softly as to not wake up his wife who was sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face.
The minute Dot felt the bed dip with Jon moving she opened her eyes. "Morning baby."
"'Bout time you woke up."
"Pot meet Kettle." She smiled.
"Pot made kettle sleep." he laughed.
"I had other things on my mind."
"Yes but you needed sleep, sometimes baby I know best."
"That you do." he pulled her closer letting the stubble on his face rub on her shoulder.
"Will you go put the coffee on I need to use the bathroom."
"Yeah sure baby." he yawned letting her get out of bed.
He watched her walk across the room freely naked. "On second thought who needs coffee?"
"Jon I need coffee." She smiled hearing his words.
"I need you." he said softly trying to get enough strength to get up out of bed and thens slipped on a pair of boxers before going into the kitchen.
Once Dot finished in the restroom she slipped on one of Jon's button down white dress shirts, he always kept his dressier clothing in the city. She walked out into the kitchen in Jon's shirt and black panties of hers she found in a drawer.
He heard her walking into the kitchen and turned toward while pouring coffee into a cup. Big mistake that was....he stood there speechless until he felt his foot getting a little hot then realized that that he overfilled the cup while looking at his wife, causing it to flow down the counter.
"Are you wanting me to hurt myself?"
"I didn't do anything?" She said moving to get a towel and wiping up the coffee. "Maybe I shouldn't leave you with hot liquids."
"Maybe you shouldn't come in here looking so damn sexy." he told her still staring at her.
"What I'm just wearing a shirt. Its not like I'm wearing a teddy or anything?" She laughed at Jon taking the coffee and pooring herself some. She looked around the kitchen and saw the cleanliness that they paid the maid for, the sterilness of the modern stainless steel kitchen and Dot instantly wanted to go home. "Jon can we go home when we get enough coffee in us?"
"Home?" he asked a little surprised. "I thought we could stay here for a while."
"I miss home Jon, its not the same here, its so sterile and well, honestly quiet. I want to be with you but I need to know the kids are close to us.
"
"You do realize that when the kids are close we can't be right?" He asked her jokingly while pouring some of the coffee from the cup.
"Why are you pouring your coffee out?"
"Aside from the fact it was to full without it spilling?"
"I thought that was against the law, spilling coffee is like the greatest offence right?"
"Well hell whats a little bit more after I poured have a pot all over the counter." he laughed still looking at her and shaking his head.
"What did I do?" She smiled. "I'm so innocent I just came out here in a shirt and you're blaming me for coffee spilling?"
"Innocent my ass." Not able to resist anymore he walked directly in front of her and moved his finger down to the one button in the middle just under her breasts that she had buttoned. He tugged on it slightly then allowed her to see the mischievious grin on his face. "I wonder how much it would take to pop that button?"
"Its your shirt, do you know how to sew buttons on?'
"I have people for that." he smirked.
Dot smiled and set her coffee cup down on the counter and snaked her fingertips around his midsection, pulling him into a kiss.
He picked her up and sat her up on the counter just a few feet away from where he spilled the coffee. "You know we've never had sex in here before." he teased while tugging on her ear lobe gently with his mouth.
"Are you seriously that horny?" She laughed, he's asked for sex at least 4 time this morning already.
"You come in here wearing a shirt of mine and a pair of panties that leaves very little to the imagination, what did you think that make me do?"
"Enjoy the eye candy." She smiled.
"Oh I am believe me." He leaned into her just inches away from her face. "And I would like to have a piece of that candy." he grinned devilishly just before his finger pulled at the button making the shirt fall open. "Oops."
"Yeah oops my ass. You are such a teenage boy today."
"And is it such a bad thing that I want my wife?"
"no not at all sweetheart." Dot pulled him into her space and kissed him. "So you wanna take me on the counter?"
"Mmm hmmm very much so."
"Well take me."
The way that she was willing to be with him anywhere was a bigger turn on for him than she ever even knew. With her telling him to take her he placed his lips onto hers for a sensual kiss while his hands roamed her legs from her calves up to her thighs.
Jon was making her skin tingle, every nerve ending in her legs knew exactly where his hands were and her kiss got more urgent the longer he touched her.
The counter that she was sitting on was just the right level for Jon to press his cock up against her, letting her know exactly how much he wanted her.
Dot quickly pushed his boxers down, if he was going to have sex with her in an odd place this time he was the one that'd be naked.
"In a hurry?" he smiled still kissing her.
"No just want you naked." She smiled.

They both stood there for a few more minutes watching the kids and since the older to did nothing more than wave they just went into the house and unpacked their things.
"So how do you like the fact we get ignored?" Dot smiled unpacking her clothes.
"Just wait till they want something then they will be all sweet and loving."
"Our kids are always sweet and loving." Dot laughed.
"The little ones yeah, the older ones not so much any more." he smiled just dumping out the clothes from his suitcase onto the bed.
Dot shook her head at Jon. "You haven't figured out unpacking yet after all these years?"
"It all gets washed anyway right?"
"Yes magically that happens." Dot laughed. "So I'm gonna go downstairs and see our munchkins." She said after putting away the rest of her clothes appropriately. "You coming down?"
"Right behind you." he told her just as he threw his clothes in the hamper at the bathroom door.
She reached back for Jon's hand having walked out the door already.
'Why do we even bother going down there? I don't think thye care that we're home."
"Sure they do, why don't you go talk to Steph and Chris and I'll see what Jesse and Ryan are up to? Making your presense known is half the battle babe."
"Steph will just tell me to piss off, she's still a little upset with me I think."
"Why what did you do now?"
"Just being a parent."
"No what did you really do?" Dot laughed.
"Nothing in particular. I think she just has pms 24/7 cause I can't do nothing to make her happy."
"Go talk to her, with an attitude like that you may get no where but see where she's at. Its critical we keep her talking with us Jon." Dot told him hoping he understood the seriousness of keeping the communication open with their only daughter.
"I'm not good at it like you are baby. everytime I try to do that she pushes me away."
"Well try harder. You learned how to talk to me from your heart, just listen to her Jon." Dot turned around and put her hands on his arms."Honestly baby right now her emotions are changing every 5 seconds, she doesn't know whats right or wrong for her and she's trying to figure that out while making us happy. Just walk around the property with her and find out where her head is, don't judge just listen to her."
"Listen." He put his hands onto her hips. "Just listen and don't talk is that what you mean?"
"No I mean listen as someone who loves her and wants to help her find an answer she can live with. Parenting isn't always about telling them what to do sometimes its about allowing them to find their own way too."
"But what if her own way isn't the right way? Am I supposed to stand back and let her make a mistake?"
"Yes sometimes baby that's the only way kids learn. Like I told Jesse to tuck himself safely inside his underwear before trying to zip his jeans, he didn't listen and one day he kind of caught himself. From that point forward he never did it again. If Steph asks for your opinion give it but remember its her life." Dot told Jon softly, she's so impressed with his desire to be a dad that she'd help him anyway she can.
"I hate seeing her mess up though, she's a very bright young lady." Jon smiled only the way a dad could for his daughter. "I love that girl more than anything and I just want to help her make the right decisions." He told her honestly.
"I know you do Jon. I see that in you. Just remember the right decision is the right one for her not you. Sometimes they'll match and other times they won't. When you talk to her see if you can get her to agree to dinner with us so we can give her the ring."
"That I can manage." he laughed. "I'll just tell her we can get ice cream afterwards....I dont know which one of us she got that from."
"What her love of ice cream?" Dot smiled.
"Uh huh." He pulled his wife into him sighing as he did. "Let's go do this before I loose the nerve to let my little girl grow up.:
"
"Ok baby lets go" She leaned in and gave him a kiss. Walking hand in hand outside they quickly looked for the kids and realized that Steph was walking around by herself. "Chris may have went home." Dot smiled to him
"I won't be that lucky to get her by myself right now.?
"
"You just might." She laughed.
"I'm doubtin' it baby." he smiled.
"Go." Dot ordered and smacked him on the ass to move him in the right direction.
He took the hint, giving her a soft smile before walking over toward who was standing there looking at the river from a distance. Jon placed his hands on her shoulder and rested his chin on the top of her head. "Whatch lookin' at?"
**toward Stephanie**
Steph smiled because of that. "The peacefulness of the water. Did you and mom have a good time? Did she like the ring?"
"She loved it....thank you."
"You're welcome. See having a daughter is a good things sometimes." She says sadly.
"It's always a good thing." he smiled but didn't like the tone in her voice. "Something botherin' you baby girl?"
She turned to look at him, "You really wanna know?"
"Yeah, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."
"Chris." She answered. "He's asked me to do something that I'm not entirely comfortable with and I told him that and he whined so I told him to go home."
"You wanna talk about?" he offered. "We can go for a walk if you want."
"Are you gonna flip out on me cos I don't need that now?"
He took in deep breath getting himself prepared for what she had to say because he knew he wasn't going to like it. "What did he want to do?"
"He wants," Steph started and started walking along the riverbank away from the house. "He wants us to kiss and touch more."
"And you don't want to do that?"
"No I do. But he asked me what I liked, like where I liked to be touched and I didn't know."
Jon was confused which was starting to become a habit when talking to his teenage daughter. "He got mad because you didn't know?"
"No, he actually asked me to touch myself and find out and I didn't feel comfortable doing that and when I told him I didn't want to touch myself he got moody so I sent him home. He doesn't think I want to be with him if I'm not willing to find out about my own body. Dad do girls do this?"
"It's normal for guys and girl to that's how they find out about their bodies."
"Really?" Steph asked him with a scrunched up face. "It seems odd, why doesn't he just touch me and I'll tell him if I like it."
"It is kind of awkward the first few times but that goes away when you start exploring. As far as him not touching you, if he's never been with a girl then he doesn't know what the hell he's doing either so it's easier if you tell him what you like."
"But won't that sound bossy?" She asked, damn this conversation was odd, especially to have with a parent but her dad has been her best friend in many regards for years. She's always felt closer to him than her mom and since some of her female friends had used her for press the last few years she's been very leary of trusting new people. Dad would have to do.
"Not really." he grinned thinking about the first few times he was with his girlfriend who is now his wife.
"Honestly dad it just sounds like an odd kink." She told him.
"Whadya mean?"
"Well it just seems like it'd be a visual for him thinking I've touched myself."
"To be honest that probably doesn't hurt."
"eew - Uncle Mookie wanted to know why you never talked to me about this stuff. I think you might be in trouble with him."
"You talked to Sambora about this?" He asked his daughter, his only daughter a little disappointed.
"Yeah last night when you were out with Mom. I didn't want to interrupt you."
"Just promise me that you'll talk to me about this kind of stuff from now on okay, not Uncle Mookie."
"Why?"
"Because you are MY daughter and I want you to know that I"m here whenever you need me."
"Alright dad but you have to promise to talk like you did today and not flip out like normal. He just talks to me which is why I call him."
"Look I know I haven't been the best dad lately but I'm really tryin' Steph."
"I know you are that's why I said talk like today - today helped most of the times before I tuned you out because you weren't listening you were preaching. Today you've been listening, thanks daddy."

Dot sat at the kitchen table with a notebook open and four 8x11 sheets of paper in front of her feverishly writing things down when Jon walked in.
brb
"Hey babe." Noticing that she was a little preoccupied he grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator then sat down at the table just watching her.
"So honey you wanna play daddy and go to Office Depot and get the school supplies with me?" She smiled taking his water and sipping from it.
"Really? You wouldn't mind?"
"No not at all you can keep the kids rounded up." She smiled to him and again started writing down information her notepad.
"I knew there was a catch." he smiled. "So what are you writing down?"
"What they need. They actually take their lists and go in all different directions so this way I can actually check that they get everything.
Jon took the list and looked over it not believing everything that they needed. "Whatever happened to bringing a notebook and pencils?"
'Because now a days nothing is provided for the kids, how I don't know - I have no idea where our tax dollars are going because honestly that we have to provide, scissors, klenexx, color crayons - give me a break." Dot complained.
Just then Steph walked into the room. "Dad can I talk to you?"
"Sure have a seat." Jon reached over and pulled out the chair next to him.
"Dad you do lots of stuff for charity right?" Steph asked.
"I try to why?"
"Well have you ever thought about giving back to the school systems? I mean I know you hated school but have you thought about it?" Steph asked softly not knowing how to ask this of him.
"Do you mean for under privelaged kids that can't afford the start up items for school?" He took the list back from his wife and looked over it again. "I think we could buy up alot of this stuff and distribute it if you want."
"Well that would be cool, but I was thinking bigger."
"Steph honey is there something particular that you're thinking of?" Dot asked.
"What kind of bigger things are you asking about Steph?"
Jon asked.
"Well I was thinking in high school, we're required to have laptops for school, but some of the kids even in our neighborhood can't swing that. What if you donate all the 80,000 of them that you have been given or we buy brand new ones and give them to familes like.." She couldnt' say.
"Families like who?" Jon asked looking at Dot at little strange hoping she could figure out their daughter.
"Steph are some of your friends families finding it rough to make ends meet this year?" Dot asked softly.
She shrugged, "Yes."
"I think we could swing the laptops for the school. What do you think baby?"
Jon asked his wife.
"I think its a great idea, Steph how do you think we should hand them out so no one thinks of it as charity."
Dot asked their daughter.
"Well I think that it should be as a 'hey my kids go to school here and I appreciate the school system they belong to, here's a free laptop for everyone in school that wants one - or everyone above 10th grade or whatever?" Steph recommended.
"Above 10th grade?" Jon questioned. "Do the younger kids not have to use them?"
"They aren't required in 9th grade because they take computer lab, but by 10th grade they require them. Maybe we can just buy enough that the school can hand them out with our books."
"How about your mom and I go by the school and discuss it with the principal? Would that be alright?" He was unsure where the sudden interest was for his daughter wanting to help out her fellow classmates but he certainly wasn't going to tell her no.
"Ok but school starts on Wed after Labor day do you think you can get something in the paper before then? Cos otherwise the parents are going to keep trying to scrimp to buy them. Can I give some of the extra ones we have to some of my friends?"
"Wouldn't your friends get them if we donate to the school?"
"Yeah but I know their parents are stressed about trying to find an extra $700 to buy one cos the requirements the school wants in a laptop cost that much."
"Yeah honey that's fine." Jon smiled. "I'm proud of you for wanting to help out you know that."
"It feels good that I can call them and tell them they'll have their computers for school."
Smiling proudly Jon leaned over and gave her a hug and whispered in her ear. "Your momma raised you right."
"Thanks dad. I'm gonna go call everyone." She ran out of the room and got on her phone.
Jon turned back to his wife with a smile still on his face. "What do you think brought that on?"
"honestly?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"I think Chris' family can't afford one. Laura doesnt' work to take care of his younger siblings and Tim has been pulling a lot of overtime but I don't think they can swing it."
"Why didn't she just say that then?"
"Because she didn't want to have it seem like its all about him, I think its true that her friends families are having a rough time of it."
He always just took for granted that everybody in their area got along fairly well so was a little surprised at his wife's statement. "Do you think we could do anything else?"
"I think that would help huge. Most people around her started off just find but the real problem is this economy, with the cost of every single thing going up I think the paychecks just aren't stretching as far as before."
"I guess I didn't realize how much things had went up, I mean money isn't something we really have to worry about."
"Jon honestly its something we dont' even think about. When I look at this list of supplies for our 4 kids I can only imagine what a regular working family trying to pay these mortages on maybe $50,000 a year."
"Only 50,000 a year? Isnt' that decent money for a regular job though?"
"Well yeah but think about it, how far does that go when your mortage is $1200 - 1300 a month I thinks thats what the houses around here run. Now think Chris' family has 3 kids in school."
"Doesn't leave a whole of money does it?"
"No. I am really proud of her for recognizing this."
"Me to...shows good parenting." he smiled looking at his wife while taking a drink of his water.
"Thank you Jon." Dot smiled and kissed him. Then she heard the kids coming downstairs.
"So when are we doing this school shopping thing?" He was actually a little excited about doing this becuase it had been the first time in 15 years he was ever able to go out with his kids.
"As soon as we can find all of our kids." Dot laughed.
"Watch and learn." he smirked. He stood up and walked over to the doorway that lead out of the kitchen and shouted. "Anybody that wants to go to Crazee's for ice cream be down here in one minute!"
Quickly Jesse and Jake come running down and Steph walked down the stairs still on her cell and picked up Romeo and boosted him up on her hip as she entered the room.
"See how easy that was." Jon laughed.
"you cheat" She laughed while standing up and taking her paperwork with her.
"Chris listen if you don't believe me ask my dad." Steph took her phone and handed it to her dad. "Will you tell him about the laptops you're donating he thinks I'm just being rich."
He took the phone reluctantly. "Hello."
"Hi Jon its Chris."
"So what is it you have a question about?"
"Well Steph said that she has a laptop to give me cos you're giving them away?" He asked uneasy. Damn his dad seriously needed a break with expenses but he wouldn't take handouts.
"Yeah, my wife and I are buying up some new pc's to give out at school. Steph was telling me that it's required for classes now and there are alot of people that can't afford them so we are helping out. Not that it's a hand out or anything, I just think that kids need to make the most of their education."
"Sounds like a hand out."
"That's not what it is. Every now and then people need help and thats not anything to be ashamed of." Jon explained. "Even when I was young and just starting out I need help myself."
Chris wanted so much to accept but he didn't know if his dad would be ashamed.
"We aren't making people take them you know. If someone needs one that's perfectly fine and if they don't want to take it that's their own personal choice."
"OK can I talk to Steph."
"Sure." Jon handed the phone back to his daughter just before Romeo ran up to him.
"Daddy, I can go to school this year?"
"yes buddy, this year you get to go too."
"Will I be wit Jakey?"
"No Jakey will be in another class." Jon explained.
"Okay." Romeo grinned running over to his younger brother to tell him that they wouldn't be in the same class.
**older brother Jake**
"So are you coming over later to get a laptop?" Steph asked Chris.
"I dont' know Steph, let me talk to my mom and dad first."
"Chris don't be stupid, don't make your dad stress over having to buy you one, if you don't like the fact it came from me tell yourself it came from Jersey's favorite son."
**my family**
"I'll think about it." Chris told her still unsure about accepting it, he knew that it would be easier on his family but at the same time he didn't want to be a charity case.
"Chris you are pissing me off, its not charity its my dad giving back to the community, hello have you heard about the Philly Soul Foundation!"
"Yeah I have and it's to help underprivelaged people." He argued.
"No its not, its to give back to communities, to make a difference, to give hope when its not easily found." Steph was so pissed off at him she hung up on him. "I hate men." She said and stormed out.
"She actually pays attention to the things I'm involved in?" He said softly then turned back to his wife to tell her that he would go talk to her but as soon as they finished they would go out shopping for the kids.
Unsure of where she went he looked into the different rooms while going down the hallway but finally found her outside on the deck that was right outside the family room. "Steph?"
"Yeah dad."
"You wanna talk about what just happened with Chris?"
"He's such and idiot. I'm sorry he's not from a rich family but damnit I'm done apologizing cos I am. My father has sacrificed the first 15 yrs of my life to his career so I won't have a financial care in the world and damn its not my fault that rock stars make more money than cops."
She vented and then looked at her dad. "Sorry I swore."
"You actually had every right to on that one." It didn't really hit him until he heard it from his daughter. He had been gone most of her life and he finally saw that it really did affect her. "I kind of understand where he''s coming from though. Before I made it big your mom and I had to count on her folks and mine for groceries sometimes. I didn't want to but we had to eat."
"But we're not doing that though, he's being stupid, his damn pride and all because the school system isn't using the taxes right." Steph continued to vent.
"he's probablly just embarassed -- Would he be offended if it was a gift?"
"Probably not but I think I just want to spank him for being dumb. Hes only stressing his dad out, I heard Tim and Laura talking while I'm over there, dad he's working like huge hours I think he did like 70 hours in one week. He's such a nice guy he should get to see his kids but he can't. Laura is going to work next year when Michael goes to school but right now its not feasible."
"I know what it's like not being able to see your kids." he sighed. He walked over leaning onto the bannister besied his daughter. "Do you think we could do anything to help them out?"
"I don't know, they are very proud and he has an honorable job it sucks that doing something thats such a good thing can't pay all the bills."
"Yeah it does but it's a part of life Steph, it seems the more honorable the job the less you get paid."
"Well that completely sucks. I refuse to grow up if that's what I have to look forward to."
"I've been refusing to grow up for the past 46 years but your mom's not havin' it." he joked trying to ease the tension of the conversation.
"We all have to grow up whether we like it or not."
"Nope, I refuse. Lets go school shopping."
They walked back into the house with Jon's arms across her shoulders. "What exactly am I in for with this shopping thing?"
"Daddy we go get crayons." Romeo told him.
"Are you gonna let daddy color when you get them?" Jon smiled taking hold of his youngest son's hand.
"We better get 2 boxes." Romeo laughed.
Jon pouted. "You won't share with me?"
"I will but then have to bring new box to school."
"Oh okay--that makes sense." he laughed walking into the kitchen with Stephanie and Romeo.
"We ready to go." Jesse asked.
"If your moms ready I am."
"I've been ready." Dot laughed.
The family walked out to the vehicle, once everyone was buckled in, Jon double checked with his wife to make sure she had the list and the kids had theirs. After everyone was ready Jon drove up the small driveway to get onto the main road but he didn't start out in the right direction.
He had just enough of Chris getting his daughter upset so was going to take matters into his own hands.
"Dad where are we going, Office Depot is the other way." Jesse asked him.
"We're gonna pick up another kid." Jon told him turning down the street Chris lived on.
"Dad what the heck are you doing?" Steph asked.
"Chris is going shopping with us."
"I didn't invite him." Steph told her dad.
"I'm going to." Jon replied just as he pulled into the driveway. "I'll be right back."
"Dad!" Steph tried one more time to get her dad to not do this.
"What?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"He needs to realize that just because you have more money than him it doesn't make you any better and he needs to wake up before he loses the best thing that will happen to him." He told her honestly.
Steph smiled. "Ok go get him dad." She smiled.
Before she could finish her sentence he was out of the car and headed toward the door. He rang the doorbell and waited impatientlely.
Laura opened the door. "Hi Jon, what can I do for you?"
"I was just wonderin' if it would be okay if Chris went school shopping with my kids."
"Well, um Jon Tim and I were planning on taking both Chris and his sister this weekend." She answered a little embarrassed of their current situation.
He picked up on the fact that she was embarassed so he had to put his mind to work as to why he wanted to do this. "Look, Steph and Chris have been having little disagreements lately and I'm trying to get them together so they can work out everything. If you want we can take your daughter to, I think she's about the same age as my oldes son."
"Jon, this is embarrassing we don't have to money to pay for their supplies right now." Laura admits with a blush covering her face.
"Did Chris tell you about the laptops that the Soul Foundation were donating to the schools?"
"no." Laura answered honestly.
"Steph told me about how the school now requires laptops for certain grades now and it may not be in everybody's budget so I'm going to volunteer her school as the one they donate to."
"As far as you guys not having money right now, don't worry about it okay." Jon smiled hoping that his charms would work on her. "Dot and I owe you for taking Steph horseback riding the otherday."
"Jon we can't accept charity Tim has a very respectable job."
"It's not charity."
"Well what do you call it?"
"Giving back to the community that I call home?"
"Are you sure this isn't because Stephanie has heard Tim and I?" Laura asked, she wanted so bad to say yes, Chris' school supplies alone with the laptop and the special calculator he needed were going to be close to $1000 and that was just something they didn't have right now.
"It has nothing to do with that I can promise you. The economy pretty much stinks for everybody now and I just like helping out when I can, now that I'm able to. It's like I told Steph earlier, her mom and I even needed help when were just starting out it's certainly not anything to be ashamed of." he explained the best way he could without making her feel bad for accepting his offer.
"We just don't want you treating us differently because our son is dating your daughter."
"No it's nothing like that." he assured her. "Your husband has a very respectable job and the fact that he was willing to help out my daughter when she had trouble with the paparazzi made me respect him even more. I owe him for that one."
"Thanks Jon you have no idea how much this helps out."
Laura then turns and calls for Chris and Melody to come down.
"If you guys ever need anything don't hesitate to ask alright." Jon told her sincerely.
"Jon we arent' the type to do that even if we were family." She admitted.
"I understand."
"My dad was always like that."
"What's up mom?" Chris yelled as he ran down the stairs.
"Jon is here to pick you up. Your sister is going with."
"For what?"
"School supplies, sounds like you have some differences to work out with Stephanie. Melody I want you to listen to the Bongiovi's ok?"
"Otay mom." She laughs. "Is Jesse in your car?"
"Yeah he is." Jon smiled. "Have you met him yet?"
"yes he was in my school last year." She told Jon.
"Oh -- Well are you guys ready?"
Laura handing Jon both of the school supply lists. "Thank you again Jon.'
"You're welcome." he said softly letting the kids head toward the car. "We'll be back in a few hours....at least I hope. I've never done the shopping thing before." he laughed.
"Yeah remember when we were in school we had to bring a notebook and pencil." Laura smiled not knowing how Tim would take this but she was thankful for his help.
"I asked Dot that when I looked over the list. Damn the school doesn't supply anything any more."
"your right Id love to see the breakdown of where our taxes go."
"Well when you find out let me know to cause we pay a hell of alot." He told her just as he looked up to the vehicle and Romeo was sticking his head out the window telling him it was time to get his crayons.
"Looks like you have to get going. Thanks again."
"Yeah he starts school this year and he's all excited." He grinned stepping down from the step. "I'll have Chris call you when we're on our way back."