Chapter 56 - You And Me, We're Invincible

Half way through dinner, Jon excused himself from the table, kissing Beth on the top of the head.  "Abby is waiting for me, I need to go get dressed."

She grabs his hand and grins, "Abby is here, where?"  Beth takes a quick look around, "Is she in the back?"

"Yeah, she got here a few minutes ago."

"Why didn't you tell me she was coming?  She needs to come eat with us."  Beth tells him, slightly miffed that he treats her that way.  Granted, Dawn may find most of his clothes, but it's Abby that throws him together and makes him the sexy man that he is on stage.  From your basic black t - shirt, to a sleeveless shirt and even a camo shirt - Abby pulls it all together and makes the girls go crazy.

"I need to get ready.  My show starts in 20 minutes."

"It can wait.  Please go get her and have her come join us."  Beth pleads with him, she loved Abby and would love for her to join the extended family that was at their table.

He sighs, "Okay, I'll be right back."  And he disappears to find Abby.  Beth looks out at the crowd, recognizing some faces and she sees that there are a few tables that are there just for Jon.  Yes, the money that they spent for entry went to charity, but they really didn't care what one.  It was an opportunity for them to see Jon in a non traditional setting. 

She could see that they were in a frenzy  because he disappeared, she knows that they are thinking that the show was about to start.  She has to giggle at it, because many years ago she felt the same way about the man.  Just the mere sight of him made her giddy and tingly, but that was before they lived through the hell that they did.

A few minutes later he reappears with Abby, Jon's magic woman and a member of staff behind them, carrying a chair for Abby.  She gets tucked in between Jon and Beth for a few minutes, giving Beth and Abby a chance to catch up.  They hug and Abby tells Beth, "You look phenomenal.  How are you?  How are those babies?"

Beth looks around to see if she can see Lupetta, who is in charge of the babies for the night.  "They're around here somewhere, I'm good.  How are you?"

"Great, just great." 

Beth looks to Jon, "Babe, can you get her a drink?"

He nods and asks Abby, "Pick your poison, Abs."

"Beer?  Is there beer here?" she laughs, feeling totally out of her element and like she is a little on the spot.

"Yep.  Be right back."  Jon says and trails off to get Abby a beer.

Abby focuses her attention back to Beth and tells her, "I found a dress for you when we were in Turkey.  When I seen it, I had to get it for you.  It's in Nashville, but now that I know you're here, I'll send it up."

"What kind of dress?"

Abby jokes with Beth, "When I seen it, I pictured you on a beach, getting married."

"What?"  Beth chokes on her champagne.  "Married?"

"Beth, it's gorgeous and it's you."

Beth smiles at her, "He mentioned getting married."

"You two need to just do it and get on with it."  Abby shares her opinion, "You know that you belong together."

"Where's your other half?" Beth inquires, they are usually side by side and inseparable.

 

"He's home taking care of the dogs, this is only for one night.  I can manage."  Abby chuckles, "This is a one wardrobe change and I'm on the next chartered plane out of here."

"You can't stay the night?" Beth would love to catch up with Abby and have a little girl time, but Abby has to get back to Nashville. 

Jon gets back with her beer and hands it to her, "Is everything laid out?"

"Just like you like it - from the deodorant to the shoes and socks."

"What did you bring?" he wonders, "Nothing to stuffy I hope.  This tux is killing me." he winks at Beth.

"Stop it, you look great Jon."  Beth says, looking him up and down again.

Jon scans the crowd and tells the ladies, "I see everyone is finishing with dinner, I'm going to go change."  He leans over and kisses Beth again, turning to walk away, he looks at Abby, "Ten minutes."

She nods, "Rob is back there waiting for you."  Rob is Jon's trainer that will run him through some stretches before he goes on stage, loosening him up and saving him from any injury that could occur. 

Jon is always one that believes in better safe than sorry and when it came to his health and livelihood, he never scrimped or forgoes.  He makes his way back stage, passing Pete on the way, she has the twins with her and Romeo close behind.  He stops and talks with them for a minute, kisses the twins and heads backstage to start his ritual. 

Abby hangs with Beth for a few more minutes, Beth agrees to take the dress from Abby and promises to show it to Jon.  Abby has to get to work, so she gets up and hugs Beth, "It was great to see you, I wish I had more time to stay."

"I'll come see you, soon." 

Abby stops and says hello to the family as she works her way backstage, thinking to herself, "What a great family."

The lights go off and suddenly one spotlight snaps on and is focused on the white microphone stand that appeared out of no where.  After a few minutes of loud applause and blood curdling screams, a shadow appears from behind a curtain.  As soon as he's seen, he starts strumming his guitar with the softness of Amen.  The fans go crazy! 

He gets through his version of Amen and then thanks everyone for coming.  Further explaining, to those that didn't know what their foundation does and why they started it.  There is not a dry eye in the room.  He even gets a little teary eyed when he looks to his right and sees tears in Beth's eyes. 

He then goes into a mellow version of That's What The Water Made Me and was quickly joined by Richie.  No one knew that Richie was there and the whole place went nuts.  Half way through the song, the curtain behind them drops and the whole band is there. 

Jon had secretly worked this out with no one but the staff at the Met, being made aware.  It went from a private JBJ event to a small scale Bon Jovi show.  The set list was amazing, as they played song that they haven't played off their latest album.  With These Two Hands and Beautiful World were hits with the whole place.  The fans loved hearing them and the non fans thought they were great songs. 

With the vibe being one of high energy, Jon gave the quick speech about donating and then he went into another song.  This one he planned for Beth, the song that he sang her many years ago and hasn't sang it since.  When she recognized the tune, she smiled at him and never took her eyes off him.  And his were fixed on her.  Thank You For Loving Me was Beth's favorite song and for him to play it for her tonight made her night even more amazing.

Bon Jovi played a few of the hits and then threw in one more curve ball, for the fans that did attend.  Captain Crash was a fun song and whether you were a fan or not, you couldn't stop yourself from swaying back and forth with everyone around you. 

The impromptu Bon Jovi show was over and after Jon made the introductions, the guys left the stage and hung around backstage for a while.

The fundraiser was successful, as everyone knew it would be.  This time around, they ended up raising more than 5 million dollars for the March of Dimes, and that made everyone involved happy.  Stephanie was the one that was to give the MOD their large cardboard check and she was pretty excited.  She was to present that to them outside, as the family left the event.

When they left, they paused so Stephanie could put the exclamation mark on her first event success.  She handed Jennifer Howse, the MOD President the huge cardboard check and posed for paparazzi, with a huge smile on her face.  After Stephanie's moment was over, the whole family posed with the check and then they got into their waiting cars and left the Met.  The kids were with Carol and Pete, Jon and Beth had to stop off at a friends house before they headed back to New Jersey.