FLA 39

Laura looked at Chris' door she knew this conversation was going to be awkward but it needed to be had. "Chris are you awake?"

"Yeah mom I'm just finishig up homework."

"Can I come in?" Laura asked, she wasn't about to invade his privacy.

"Sure." He finished up his last math problem then closed the book as his mom walked in.

"Hey Chris, how is school going?"

"Pretty good so far, but we've only been giong a couple of weeks." he smiled but could tell that something was up with his mom.

"Ok so I should just tell you why I'm up here huh?" She laughed.

He only nodded because he had a pretty good idea of what she was wanting to talk about.

"You're right, you know what I walked in on earlier, Chris how far has things gone?"

"We haven't had sex if thats what your asking." Chris told her, embarrased to even talk about this with his mom.

"Thats not exactly what I'm asking. Do you have condoms?"

"NO! Mom do you really think I would need them right now? I really like Steph but we aren't ready for that yet." he told her honestly. "We've only touched either outside of the clothes."

"Honestly Chris I'd rather you have some on hand than take the risk that things get to that point and you have nothing. I expect you to have some before you see her outside of school again."

"But I see her this weekend, I'm going over to her house to hang out."

"Then you get your ass on your bike after school tomorrow and you take some of your allowance and go to target and buy some."

"But mom I cant do that." he whined.

"And why not?"

"Aside from it being embarassing nothing."

"if you can't buy them then you can't see Stephanie this weekend. You're choice."

"But we aren't going to do anything mom!"


"Sorry Chris you've proven otherwise."

"What? Kissing?"

"And feeling her up, your hands were not on her shoulders Christopher."

"They were just on her boobs." He explained rolling his eyes unsure of why his mom was making a big deal out of it. "I haven't even touched her down there yet."

"Christopher James do you want me to let your father know what I walked in on?"

"No."

"Then go buy the condoms tomorrow, or no Stephanie this weekend, you're choice." She told him boldly and walked out of his room. Damn kid.

"Whatever." he grumbled like a typical teenager as he crawled into his bed.

The next day at school, Stephanie walked up to Chris and took his hand. "Morning Gorgeous."

"Morning." He kissed her on the cheek then walked her to her class.

"What's up?" She smiled wondering why she didn't get pulled into a tight hug.

"Nothing, just that my mom said that if I didn't stop by the store today and get a box of condoms we couldn't see each other anymore." he told her honestly.

"Well then buy the condoms." She told him with a duh tone in her voice.

"But I shouldn't have to, we aren't going to do anything until you turn 16 remember."

"I know that, I know you know that but our parents don't believe us, they couldn't control their own bodies so they don't think we can. Just go buy the damn things."

"I will just to put her mind at ease I guess."

"Is it a problem?"

"Nothing that allows me to see you is a problem."

"Is there a reason you don't want to buy them?"

"It's not that I don't want to I just.... well I'm a little embarassed I guess."

"Try having to buy tampons and pads - now that's embarrassing or would you rather have to buy a pregnancy test?"

Chris' eyes widened at those last few words, he definatley wasn't ready for that yet so his decision had been made up right there.

"See you after class sweetie." Steph smiled

"Yeah after class." He kissed her on the cheek then walked to his class thinking about what she had said.

****


A few days later after having a talk with his mom and showing her the proof of his purchase that he made, she allowed him to go over to the Bongiovi house. He hadn't talked to Stephanie about it since that one day at school but she would know that he did when he knocked on her door today. Instead of having his mom take him over to the house, he just rode his bike over. Lucky for him the gate was open so he just rode on down into the driveway and parked his bike right outside the door. He walked over to the door and was getting ready to knock but Jesse opened it up before he had the chance.

"Just go in Steph is in the living room." Jesse told him as he walked out of the house.

"Thanks Jesse." Chris stated as he walked into the house. He went down the long hallway that led to the living room. When he got there he smiled when he saw Stephanie sitting on the couch reading. "If you're to busy reading I can go back home."

"Get over here you" She smiled putting her book down.

Chris grinned as he walked over toward her and sat down. "Why are you reading on the weekend anyway?" he laughed.

"Because my boyfriend wasn't here yet." She smiled.

"I think I would have found something better to do." he picked up the book on the table and saw it was a romance novel. "Can't believe your dad even let you read that." he joked.

"Like he's home." She laughed.

"He's gone right now?"

"Yes he's doing something to get involved with the schools." Steph didn't know exactly what her dad was up to but it left them alone right now so she didn't care.

"That doesn't mean he's gonna be at our school does it?"

"No he may have a doctorate but its only honorary."

Chris breathed a sigh of relief when she said that. "I like your dad and all but he makes me nervous." Chris leaned back into the couch letting his arm slide behind her back.

"And how is he a doctorate? I didn't think he went to college."

"Its honorary. He was awarded it from Monmouth University back in the mid 90's shortly after I was born." She told him.

"Oh that's cool."

Steph smiled to him. "So you're here I'm assuming you went shopping."

"Yeah I did."

"And how was that?"

"Steph I swear everybody there was watching me."

"And maybe they were but is the idea of protecting both of us embarrasing?"

"No it's not but we don't need them yet. My mom even made me bring one with me today."

"Boy our parents must have not been good at saying no, that's all I can think of with my parents giving me this ring and the promise thing and your mom making you have condoms with you."

Just as she said that, Jon walked by, all he heard was the part about Chris having condoms with him which didn't make him happy. But he promised to trust her so he continued walking, as far as he knew the two kids didn't see him walk by so he wouldn't be accused of spying on them.

"Did it not go well at school?" Dot asked as Jon walked into the kitchen with a scowl on his face.

"What?" The words he had just heard kept going around in his head. "Oh uh...no everything went fine." he told her as he grabbed a soda from the refrigerator.

"So what's wrong then?"

He shook his head from side to side as he took a drink then leaned back onto the counter. "Did you know that Chris was here?"

"No I didn't, I knew he was coming over but I didn't hear the doorbell. Maybe she met him outside."

"I walked by the living room and heard them talking."

"Accidently?" Dot smiled seasoning some steaks and looking up to Jon.

"Yes accidentally." he told her a little offended.

"I would have expected that from our daughter."

"Jon I know its hard for you, very hard for you to let her grow up she's always going to be your baby girl." She smiled. "You want peppercorn or garlic steak?"

He shrugged his shoulders while tossing the empty soda can into the garbage can. "Just so you know, Chris has a condom with him." Jon told her as he started walking toward over to the kitchen island to sit down.

"I'm glad he's thinking about protection." Dot told him, "What the hell is up your ass and why are you taking it out on me?" Dot asked him bluntly. She didn't like his little attitude and she knew she was the only person who'd ever call him on it.

"Nothing." He sighed resting his face in his hands.

"Ok so if you want to talk about it let me know and you're getting peppercorn steak because you didn't answer me." She said just as coldly as he was being.

"That's fine baby." he told her as he watched her cooking.

She got done seasoning the steaks and put them back in the fridge. After washing her hands she wrapped her arms around Jon. "Why are you being so aggrivating?" She asked wanting to string him up.

"I'm sorry Dot, everything lately has been annoying the shit out of me and when I over heard their conversation that topped it off."

"Wow and it only took 2 months." She smirked and walked away from him.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're getting cabin fevor. You always do normally its before now." Dot explained to him what he hadn't yet realized.

"Maybe you're right but I think it's more than that."

"What else do you think it is?"

"If I knew I wouldn't be so miserable." he told her honestly. He hadn't told her that he had went back to the doctor just a few days ago over his knee and found out he would have to get surgery again. SO that was added stress of having her bitch at him when he did tell her.

"Jon your eyes are clouding over, you know whats pissing you off so why don't you tell me." Damn why did he make things so difficult.

"Because then you will be mad at me for not telling you in the first place."

"And you don't know by now you should tell your wife what's going on rather than lie to her?"

"No I've learned that lesson." he joked. He could tell by the look on her face she was tired of playing games and she wanted the truth. "I went back to the doctor the other day over my knee."

"And?" She asked already knowing from that and his temperment that he's have to have surgery again.

"I gotta have surgery." he sighed. "Damn I don't want to do that again."

"Well you wont' wear the brace like they told you too in Hawaii so you've probably done even more damage."

"I wear it occasionally."

"Obviously that isn't good enough huh?"

"Guess not." he smiled at her. "Why didn't you make me wear it?"

"Cos I'm not your mother Jon." She smiled at him.

"Hell somebody needs to be." he laughed. He actually felt a little better after he told her the news.

"I find it much more entertaining being your lover."

"Glad you enjoy it." he smirked.

"So when is surgery?" She smiled.

"He can't get me in until 3 more weeks."

"So you'll be using your brace?"

"Yeah because I don't want to screw up anything any more than it is."

"good call." She smiled.

"If I'm not wearing it give me a good kick in the ass." He smiled knowing that she was the one person that would actually make him do something.

"Ok," Then she turned around and looked for the kids, not seeing any of them she smiled, "How about when you are wearing it you get a reward."

"Incentive program?" His brow arched curiously.

"Well sure, you reward your best employees right? I'm thinking my husband obeying the doctor deserves a reward too."

"What kind of reward are we talking? Get out of doing the dishes or get a free pass if Michelle Pfeiffer comes to town?" he smirked. He had always had a thing for the actress and his wife always teased him about it.

"Oh this isn't worth a free pass but you might get out of dishes one or two nights." She laughed, she swore one day she was going to string him up for that.

"I can handle getting out of dishes." he laughed.

"Whats something else that would motivate my sexy husband?" Dot smiled.

"Anything that requires you completely naked."

"Oh really??

"Absolutely baby. Just thinking about it get's me motivated."

She reached down to touch his knee not feeling the brace. "Guess you dont' want that reward tonight huh?

"I'll go put it on."

"Thats what I thought." Dot laughed. "And when you come back will you start the grill. I'm gonna ask Chris to stay for dinner." Dot kissed him and then walked out of the room towards the living room.

He got up out of the chair and went up to the bedroom to grab the knee brace. He slipped off his jeans then put on a pair of shorts because there was no way he was wearing it under jeans. It was so uncomfortable on him but he had to wear it to prevent any further damage. "What I won't do to get laid." he laughed as he walked back down stairs then went to the back deck to start up the grill.

"Daddy what wrong?" Romeo pointed to his knee, he was outside playing in his sandbox.

Dot walked into the living room to see the kids kissing, "Ok come up for air."

Jon explained to Romeo that he had just hurt his knee and lucky for him no more questions were asked at least for now.

****

Meanwhile back inside, Chris moved away from Stephanie then looked over toward her mom. "Hi Mrs. Bongiovi."

"Its Dorothea or Dot Chris. You don't have to be scared or kissing Steph, we expect that much now."

Chris blushed a little then turned back towards his girlfriend with a small smile.

"What's up mom?" Steph smiled.

"Chris have you had dinner yet? We're about to throw steaks on the grill and I need to know if you like peppercorn or garlic better?" Dot asked.

"No I haven't had anything yet." What kind of choices were those for a young couple who enjoyed kissing? Chris sat there then finally told her that he would just take a steak with nothing on it and hoped that she hadn't already fixed any other ones.

"Its ok Chris, Steph will have just as stinky of breath. Trust me after you've been kissing your partner for a while, you don't notice the breath as much. I'll even kiss Jon after a cigerette just don't ever tell him that."

While he still wasn't completely sure what Dot was telling him was the truth he turned to Stephanie and asked what she was having.

"Garlic, its my favorite." She smiled, "I also have gum for after dinner honey." She laughed.

"Okay." he laughed. "Then I'll take garlic on mine to."

"Great as soon as Jon gets the grill nice and hot we'll all go out back and enjoy the last of summer."

"Do you want to go on out Steph?"

"Sure baby but you better go wipe my lipstick off your lips." Stephanie laughed.

"Good thinking." Chris stood up off the couch then walked over toward the door. "I need to use the restroom anyway."

"Ok, want me to wait in here for you or meet you outside?" Steph asked after Dot turned to go back into the kitchen.

"Just wait, I wont be to long."

After Chris finished up in the bathroom he double checked to make sure that there was no sign of kissing left on his lips because the last thing he wanted was an angry dad. He walked back out and went back down the hallway where she was waiting on him. "I'm ready now."

"Ok. Wanna kiss?" She smiled knowing for some reason he still was scared of her dad. Uncle Tico is the one he should be scared of in all honesty not dad.

"I just wiped away all the evidence of before." he laughed.

"Not proud to be with me?"

"Very proud but your dad's outside and I don't want to piss him off."

"Dad isn't an issue, its Uncle Tico to worry about."

"Geez do you have an entire family of mobsters?" Chris laughed.

"ha ha, no just Italians."

"Just as bad." Chris took her hand then kissed her on the cheek. "See why I need to stay on their good side."

"Silly man." She laughed and walked out holding his hand to the back yard.

Jon was talking to Dot when the young couple came out. "I hope you put extra garlic on their steaks to make them think twice about kissing."

"Just as much as on yours." Steph laughed.

"What the hell does that mean?" Jon asked looking over towards his wife.

"I think our daughter thinks we kiss a lot." Dot laughed.

"Not enough if you ask me." He flipped the steaks on the grill then pulled down the hood letting them cook a little longer.

"Come here sexy." Dot pulled Jon into her arms for a kiss.

"If you two kiss like that in front of us does that mean it's okay for us to do it?" Chris asked curiously.

"Yes Chris you can kiss Stephanie in front of us." Dot smiled, the poor boy was way to scared of them for her comfort.

Jon still had his arms around his wife but leaned back to look at her. "Did you just give them permission to kiss?"

"Yep." Dot smiled. "They are gonna do it anyway but its not quite as fun when its not forbidden."

"Just like when your parents said you couldn't have sex but -" he stopped suddenly then remembered the kids where still there. It never failed he always ended up with his foot in his mouth.

"Really dad do tell?" Stephanie asked.

"I was just going to say that her parents told her no sex and she respected that rule until she was over 18. Now she's glad she did." Jon told her hoping that she would buy it.

"Mom?" Steph asked Dot for the truth.

"Jon tell her." Dot didn't want to contradict him but she wouldnt' lie to their kids.

"Fine." He sat down on the bench just a few feet away from the grill and the kids as well as Dot followed him. "Your grandparents didn't want your mom to be with anybody until she was married but when they told her that it made the temptaion worse."

"Dad can I ask you something?"

"Yeah I guess so."

"Does this ring mean anything to you?" Steph showed him her promise ring.

"You know it does Steph." He answered unsure of where she was going with it.

"Then why is your first instinct to lie to me? If you want me to follow through on my promise do you think thats a good example?" Steph called him out she was pissed that he lied.

"I don't exactly lie, I stretch the truth. Besides I didn't want you to know that your mom gave into another guy." He cringed knowing he was going to get smacked by somebody. "I really need to work on this thinking before I speak thing."

Dot smacked him upside the head. Then she looked at Steph. "Tell him how you feel honey, never let anyone disrespect you and lieing is disrespectful." Dot told her, looking at Jon like you stepped into this one buddy.

"Yeah what your mom said." Jon rubbed the side of his head where she smacked him but even he admitted that he deserved that one.

"Dad I dont' think its fair that you expect me to hold true to a promise when you don't even care about me enough to be honest with me."

"I do care about you Steph you know that."

"Then why do you lie to me?" She called him out again and squeezed Chris' hand harder.

"Look I've made mistakes, your mom has made mistakes." he told her honestly. "Some I'm not proud of and I dont' want you to know."

"Do you not remember anything we've talked about?" She says more than pissed and gets up and runs away from the group towards the river.

Chris watched as Stephanie ran away then he turned back towards Jon and held up his hands. "I'm not even getting in the middle of that one, but I do know that you are on her shit list now." Chris told him without even thinking about it.

"Jon should be familiar with that look by now, I've given it to him a few times." Dot laughed.

"Steph told me." Chris laughed.

"Does everybody know when I screw up?" Jon asked.

"Only when you do it and it affects others." Dot told him.

"I guess I should go talk to her huh?"

"If you want her to ever talk to you again." Dot told him.

"Ill watch the steaks."

"I'll be back." Jon sighed. He had a general idea of the spot she was in so he walked down toward there then finally spotted her. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

"What's the point? You feel like lieing to me about something else?"

"Steph that's not fair."

"Why?" She looked at him with tears in her eye.

"Why do you hate me so much anyway?" Jon questioned. It seemed like no matter what he did lately she didn't approve.

"Because you don't listen to me and you don't follow through on your word. You promised me and broke that promise."

"I mean well it just doesn't come across that way sometimes."

"Stop lieing to me dad. You don't even remember what I'm talking about do you?"

"You mean about the one day that we were talking and I promised to be honest with you no matter what?"

"And if you didn't want to tell me something all you had to say was Steph that's private. Thats it did - thats all you had to do and you fucking lied to me again!" Steph turned to him with tears streaming down her face. "How am I supposed to come to you and trust that you'll give me help and advice to help me when I can't trust you?"


"You can trust me honey." Jon was being completely honest with her. "Ask me anything right here and right now and if you want to ask your mom if I lied then you can." He was willing to do anything to regain her trust.

"no I'm done trying with you dad." Steph then did the one thing she knew would get to him. She took the promise ring off and handed it to him. "This means nothing to me if I can't trust you to honestly help me make the right choices, since I can't trust you at all right now I'm done."

Jon didn't accept the ring and he wasn't going to, not right now. "That's your's I'm not gonna take it until that day you bring it to me because you were with Chris."

"Then you won't see it on my finger and you'll never know." She stands up to walk away from him.

"Will you sit back down please?"

She turned to look at him. "Why?"

"Because we aren't finished talking. Number one rule in this house is that we don't walk away mad."

"Just walk away."

"No we talk things out." He told her a little fed up with her teenage attitude.

"Whatever." She said and sat down looking away from him.

"What can I do?" Jon asked.

"You can't do anything, you told me it was my choice to wear the ring, I'm choosing to no longer wear it. I can't trust what you tell me so there's no reason to believe in it."

"To hell with the ring Steph. What I mean is what can I do to get you to trust me?"

"Stop fucking lying to me." She told him bluntly.

"I'm trying and watch your language."

"No I'm tired of listening to you. You lie."

"Have you never lied to me?"

"Not since I promised I wouldn't."

"But you have?" Jon questioned. "We all do it Steph, it's not the best thing to do but it happens."

"Whatever, I have a guest, I'm going to go eat dinner with him, I'm not going to be rude." She said cold and detached.

"Dinner can wait, right now we need to fix this. I'm sorry that I lied to you alright, I just didn't know what else to tell you."

"That some things are private, pretty fucking easy dad, you and I talked about this not more than 2 weeks ago."

"And I've had a bad couple of weeks to."

"This is not something you write off because you had some bad weeks. I'm your kid I'm supposed to be able to go to you and trust you, thats whats parents are for."

"I understand that and I should have kept that on the top of my list instead of the doctor moving ahead of it. I want you to trust me and talk to me about anything."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"What do you mean what am I talking about? You and your brothers should always be my top priority."

"Doctor?"

"Oh that, I have to have knee surgery on my other knee now."

"Dad why do you keep breaking yourself?"

"Because I don't listen to the doctor?"

"Mom's gonna gonna kick your butt."

"Believe me I know." he laughed.

"Dad lets go back to the house."

"Only if you promise to give me another chance." He would have gotten on his knees and begged but that would not have ended up well.

"I can't promise you dad you have to earn it."

"Thats good enough for me." He smiled then stood up and held out his hand to his daughter.

Steph took his hand to get up but didn't hold it back to the house. She moved and sat down net to Chris the first chance she got.