Chapter 54 - We Kinda Held On

They wasted no time getting her and the kids packed up and out of California.  It was not soon enough for Jon. 

They handed the vineyard over to Gloria, with Tony as acting manager until they were able to find a suitable replacement for Beth.  Beth hated to leave, hated to leave what she had worked so hard for, but she decided that she needed to put the same amount of energy into making her family work.  Her stubbornness and her unwillingness to bend were no longer working for her and the twins.  

As she laid on the floor of the parking garage after Dalton assaulted her again, her only thoughts were with her babies and of Jon.  She needed  Jon.  She needed him to go home to and take care of her, but he wasn't there and that was her fault.   For weeks she tried to move on and put him behind her, but she was never able to let him go.  He was her first thought in the morning and her last thought at night.  And every time that she held the twins close, mostly when she fed them, she was reminded of where her heart was and that they were in Napa alone.  Tony was close and she had friends up in Napa, but there isn't anyone that could take the place of Jon and his children.  She misses the kids, she misses his parents.

On the plane, from what Jon tells her, "This is the last trip from Napa to Jersey for you, for a while."  He looks to his right, to the woman that is once again safely fastened into his private jet, "You aren't coming back out here for a while, right?"  He winks at her as he leans over and kisses her cheek.

"Last one without you."  She affirms, leaning into his kiss, soaking it up. 

"Tony will take care of the vineyard, don't worry about that, okay."

"I'm not worried about it, I'm just sad to leave it.  I put so much of myself into it.  Blood, sweat and many tears."

"I know, babe.  I know.  Maybe you can find something on the east coast to do to occupy your mind and your time?" he tells her, in a way that let's her know that there is no pressure, she can do whatever she needs to do to get herself readjusted, back in the Bongiovi groove.

The twins are nestled in their car seats across from them, Beth gets up and rechecks their safety belts as they start to taxi down the runway, looking back at Jon she tells him, "Last night when I was talking to Rose, she suggested that I have a fundraiser for our foundation.  What do you think about that?"

Jon smiles at that, "I think that would be a great thing for you and Stephanie to do.  What did she have in mind?"

Beth takes her seat, back next to Jon and says, "We didn't really toss around ideas, I think that she just wants to do something with me."

"That's possible.  I know they all miss you."  he takes her hand and kisses it, "Romeo asks about you all of the time."

The name makes her smile, as she remembers all of the fun times that she had with the little guy.  The little guy that's not so little anymore.  She hasn't seen the boys since the twins were born, and she was ready. 

The plane speeds up and they are off the ground.  Beth looks out the window and can't help but feel a little sadness, but with his touch she is quickly reminded of the new life that she is about to embark on, with the love of her life.  She's ready for her do over.

The family trip back to New Jersey was a good one.  Jon and Beth were able to have a conversation that benefited them both.  All of their cards were on the table, they promised their promises and agreed to be open and honest from this point forward.  The only rough spot was were they were going to live. 

The only real estate that Beth had on the east coast was her office, she had sold her apartment right after she decided that she no longer would need it.  The office had living quarters if she had ever needed it.  Jon sold his apartment as well, along with the New Jersey mansion.  His new house on the other side of the Navesink was ready for her and the twins and it has been for a while. 

Once his divorce was final, he decorated and furnished his new house just as he thought that Beth would want.  It has a classic feel with a touch of Tuscany, the style that she loves the most.  He drew on memories of the times that they went to Italy and toured Greece.  He wanted their home to be perfect, because he knew she would be back. 

"The house on the river is ready." he tells her.  "I'm the only one that has slept there, ever.  The kids haven't even stayed their yet."

"Why?"

"Schedules.  School and my tour schedule, it just hasn't worked out."

"Where is it on the river?" she wonders.

"It's out toward Barley Point Island, a new house on a big lot."

"Nice neighbors?"

"There are no neighbors, as of right now."

"Is it secluded?"

He laughs, "No, it's just our house out there right now.  I had to get special permission to build, after I had to pull teeth to buy.  It's a historical location, but I guess I was a sweet enough talker."

"Oh.  So, it's brand new with no neighbors?" she gives him a look, "Is there a lot of land?"

"Yep."

"Enough for a vineyard?" she giggles. 

He leans over again and whispers, "Haven't you had your fill of grape vines and wine bottles?"  She softly shakes her head no, with her sweet innocent smile.

Everyone adjusted to the new life quite easy.  The biggest adjustment was for Beth, being back in New Jersey surrounded by his family and friends.  She loved it, she enjoyed having them over and she appreciated the help that she gets from Mrs. B and Lupetta.  The Bongiovi/Adams clan was back together and to the untrained eye, they were stronger than ever.

The Until We Meet Again Foundation is hosting a fundraiser at the New York Metropolitan Museum, Jon Bon Jovi with much protest, has decided to perform.  Not because Beth asked, but because  Beth and Stephanie asked.  The two of them have put several weeks of preparation into this and he could see what it meant to Stephanie, telling him that he will put his game face on and give the attendees a great show.  It was after all, a foundation that he and Beth started after losing the twins.