Chapter 63 - Anything But Gray

The flight to California was a great one.  It was just Jon and Beth on the plane and it was obvious that they have missed one another.  And their date night just confirmed it. 

They sat close on the plane, played kissy face and did everything but have sex.  Jon would have made love to her on the spot, but with the new pilot, Beth wasn't comfortable.  Jon could see it, so he pushed the boundary and apologized when she slapped his hand and called him a bad boy. 

The love that they had, prior to all of their problems is slowly resurfacing and they had no problem showing anyone that watched.  Jon was proud to be back with such a smart and beautiful woman and Beth was just happy to be with the man that loved her regardless.  He was the one for her and even though it took her some time to realize it, Jon is the one for her and she isn't letting him go again - for anything!

They arrive at LAX and jump into the car that was waiting for them.  The driver knew where to take them and they were off.  In the back, Jon asked, "Are you ready for tomorrow?" with his hand tucked between her legs.

She leans over and rests her head o his shoulder and says, "As ready as I'll ever be, but scared."

"Of?"

"Seeing the asshole.  He has put me, put us through hell and who's to say that this isn't part of some big master plan?"

"Beth, it will be okay.  I promise, we will get through it together."

"I know, it's just one more of those things that normal people don't have to deal with."

He kisses her forehead, "It will be over before you know it.  We'll get in and out and put this all behind us."

She smiles at him, "I hope you're right and I hope it's that easy."

He puts an arm around her and pulls her close, "We got this and when he's taken off to prison again, we know that he's gone and we can put a period."

Beth is quiet for a few minutes as she's lost in the scenery from the car, suddenly she mumbles, "He raped me and did very little time, what do you think he'll get for the assault?"

Jon made a move that she didn't know anything about and he knows that he has to tell her before they appear in court tomorrow.  He's worried that she might be upset that he didn't share it with her, but she'll see that he did it for them.  "Babe, I sent a letter to the judge and asked that if he was found guilty to please throw the book at him."

"You did?" she asks, very surprised that he would do something like that.

"Yeah, I explained that he had assaulted you before and did the minimum and then he stalked you and assaulted you again.  I continued to tell him that I thought he would be a menace to us and society and that I think he needs to go away for a long time."

"Let's hope he agrees."

Jon takes her hands, kisses her fingers and says, "When this is behind us, we need to plan a wedding."

"First we need that date.  Our schedules are pretty full."  She jokes, "What season do you have in mind?"

"Honestly?"

"Of course."

"I picture us getting married in the fall, at the house." he admits and feels a little silly that he has those kinds of thoughts but he really wants to marry this woman and all she has to do is pick a day and he'll be there.

"That would be nice.  Our wedding, at our house." she smiles a big smile and adds, "That's a great idea."

"So pick a date."

"Jon....."

"What?" he chuckles.

Beth smiles and winks at him, "We need to pick a date.  Together."

"Okay.  Once this trial is done, we will pick a date and announce it to the world."

"Deal." she holds out her pinky, "Pinky promise?"

They lock pinky's and Jon says, "Pinky promise."

After a few more minutes, they arrive at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles and check in.  Someone knew that they were coming, the paparazzi was everywhere, and that pissed Jon off like never before.  They did another mad dash from the car and made it into the hotel where they were safe.  At check in Jon made it perfectly clear that the room number or even their floor number was confidential and if anyone found out, he would hold them personally responsible.

"Mr. and Mrs. Bon Jovi, we have you in the Presidential Suite for your stay.  I'm sure that the accommodations will be more than adequate, if you need anything - please call the front desk and we will take care of it immediately."

Jon takes the room keys, looks back at the hotel clerk and reiterates, "I mean it, no one knows where we are."

"Yes sir."

Jon and Beth led the bell hop to the private elevator and took their bags up with them.  As they made their way through the lobby and into the elevator, Beth could see that this Four Season was a little outdated.  It still had corded phones on random tables, the flowers were fake and had a thin layer of dust on them.  The carpet was worn and as they got into the elevator, Beth tells Jon, "I hope this makes it to the top.  It's pretty janky."

He starts to laugh, "Janky?"

"Yeah, for the Four Season, this is a shame."

The bell hop is tipped and he leaves the Bon Jovi's room.  Beth started to unpack her bags and hang the clothes that needed to be hung and then she did it with Jon's things.  Court is at 8:00 am and she wants to look like a million bucks and Jon has to too.

Jon grabs his messenger bag and reaches in and pulls out his private stash of cigarettes and takes his leave - out onto the deck.  He needed to call Paul and let him know that he was in LA and that when he gets back they will pencil in those show dates that he requested Jon to play.

As he's out there, he can see even more paparrazi on the property and that enraged him.  He should be used to it by now, it's been 30 years, but when it comes to private and personal matters - they had no business being in his business.  On the phone with Paul, he yells to a few that are on the street, "Get real fucking jobs, you assholes."

Beth hears that and hurries out onto the deck.  She looks over the edge and grins.  "It's about time that someone does this.  They always cross the line and they get further and further over it."

"Paul, I have to go.  I'll call you later." he presses end.  With his phone in his hand, he walk over to the room phone and calls the front desk.  When the call is answered, he tells the front desk clerk, "I need you to get additional security here and you need to do it fast.  The rotzi and getting worse and  am concerned about our safety."

The inexperienced clerk asks Jon, "Who would you like me to call for you, sir?"

"WHAT?  You need to provide your guests with security that is adequate for their safety, I am a guest and I need more security.  Make it happen." and he slams down the phone.

Beth hears that and is slightly turned on, she's never heard him talk that way about security, and even more - she's impressed.  "I'm glad I wasn't on the other end of that conversation."

"It fucking pisses me off.  They can see them and they know why they're here, why should I need to point it out, specially when we pay what we pay to stay here."

"I get your point.  Are you hungry?" she hops over to him and jumps up on him.  He grabs her and holds her close, "I would love something light, I'm not all too hungry."

"Room service, or do you want to go out?" she knows the answer, but she likes to give him options. 

"Room service.  I'll order it, what do you want?"  Beth is still in his arms, with her legs wrapped around his waist.

"I'll have whatever you're having." she tells him, except I don't want any red meat."

"How about we order pizza?" he asks her, liking the idea.  Pizza sounded good to him.

"Okay."  she kisses his lips and unwraps her legs, slowly sliding down his body.  "I can order it, what would you like on it?"

"The usual."  Jon says as he walks to his duffle bag.  He reaches in and pulls out a small box, and hands it to Beth.  "I bought this for you."

"Oh, Jon."  she reaches up and takes the gift.  "What is it?"

"Open it." he tells her with his million dollar smile on his face. 

She slowly pulls the paper off, after unwrapping the ribbon.  Gently she lifts the top of with the expectation that it was jewelry.  But it wasn't.  She takes the gift out of the box and holds it up.  "What is this for?"  It's a key unlike anything she has seen before.

"That, my love, is a key to your own private plane."

"MY WHAT?"

"I bought you a plane, that comes equipped with an experienced pilot."

"Why do I need a plane and a pilot?"

He places his hands on her shoulders and sits her on the couch, "Over the last few days, I have watched you nurture the grape vines that you planted at home.  While I could see that you were at peace when you were playing, I felt bad for taking you from here and your vineyard."

"Okayyy, but why the plane?"

He leans in and kisses her lips, and still lip to lip her tells her, "You are free to go back and forth if you want, but there are conditions."

She rolls her eyes, "Oh dear, what are they?"

He has always found her eye roll sexy and kind of cute, so with a smile on his face, "You will need your pilot and around the clock security."

"NO!"

"Then you don't go back.  End of discussion, I guess." he states, leaving that conversation OVER.