Richie spent the last couple weeks since Em left replaying their fight , Dammit did the drugs mean more to him than , a woman who showed him more love than any girlfriend he had in the past. Each night that passed , the lonelier he was . He tried to drown his sorrows into booze , drugs and women but non of that , replaced the ache he had in his heart.
They were on break for a couple days and he had tossed around the idea of showing up at her house and dragging her back. Na that wouldn’t work , she was too stubborn and would just fight him every step of the way . But if he did go and apologize , charm her and promise not to ever do drugs again. Could he do it though? Keep his promise ? . If he wanted her in his life , he is going to have to . What if she asks him to give up alcohol ? No way could he give it all up --
Before he could change his mind , he packed a bag , strolled over to Jon’s room and knocked on the door. He had to at least let him know . Doc on the other hand , he didn’t give a rats ass about if he knew or not .
Jon opened the door and looked at Richie with surprise. “Uh.. hey...” He frowned at the bag slung over his shoulder. “Goin’ somewhere?”
“Yea man , Gonna go see if I can get Em to come back “ Richie replied dejectedly “I miss her and I fucked up -- so I’m gonna go and kiss some ass , maybe eat a lil ‘ crow too “
Jon raised an eyebrow but hid his smirk. Richie was gonna grovel? This was good. He had no idea what happened but it must have been bad for Richie to resort to groveling. The man never groveled, not over women. “yeah? alright well... good luck, I hope it works cause frankly I'm tired of your cranky moody ass, you ain't as irritating with her around.” he chuckled.
“Go ahead and laugh, I’ll remember that when you do something to piss off Gia “ Richie grinned “I will be back before the next show with or without her ? Tell Doc I’m in my room and don’t wanna be disturbed , I’m so not in the mood to deal with his shit right now “
“Will do. Go work your magic man.” Jon nodded. “I got your back.”
“Thanks man , I need it “ He grasped Jon’s shoulder “See you in a few days and enjoy your time alone too “ Richie winked then headed down the hallway , towards the elevator.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later , the cab pulled up in front of the gates of the Caden Estate. He pressed the button . “OK fuckhead whatcha gonna do if she don’t let you in , Didn’t think that far ahead did ya ? “ He muttered to himself.
Emmie frowned at the gate buzzer and made her way to the window. She glanced out seeing a cab sitting there and a tall dark haired....Richie!... what was he doing here?? Her heart melted for a moment just seeing him even from a distance but then she frowned even more when all the hurt and anger came crashing back. She pushed the talk button, “I’m sorry Emmie isn’t available right now, shes sitting in her trophy case shining nice and pretty and oh so QUIET!” she growled out.
Richie growled “ Em yes you are , you just answered the damned thing “ he let out a deep sigh “ Please let me in ? If you don’t I will stand out here , giving out all details for the whole world to hear? “
Emmie smirked as she pushed the button to speak again. “THat might work with my mother but I couldn’t give a rats a--” Thunder rumbled loudly and her smirk grew into a grin as she peered through the curtain. “Hey Richie...is that leather your wearing?”
“Yes , so please let me in before “ He jumped back as the crack of thunder rumbled and a flash a lightening lit up the sky.
“Before it rains?” She stalled opening the front door and watching him from the safety and dryness of the doorway as the rain didn’t merely begin, the heavens opened up and the water poured down in a deluge. Waiting just long enough to ensure he was thoroughly soaked, she felt at least a little vindicated. She reached around to the box and hit the gate open button. Then the talk button “I guess you can come in, don’t want you getting fried by lightening do we?” her tone said exactly the opposite. She hoped it struck him right up his hind end.
“Mother fuck! “ he grumbled dashing back into the cab which drove him right up to the door. He stepped out , reached in paid the cab driver “Keep the change “ he muttered , grabbing his bag and marched up to the front door . His eyes flaring with anger , but kept his mouth in check it would just send him right on his ass if he didn’t “ Good to see you again Em “ he bit out
“Is it?” she smirked as she eyed his soaked leather pants and clinging tank top. She backed out of the door and allowed him to enter. “So, what brings you here? run out of other things to keep you busy?” She nearly spat. Three weeks! Three weeks it takes him to come see if your even alright?
Richie thought for a moment , Because I can’t live without you is what he wanted to say but instead he said “ I was in the neighborhood , thought I would drop by “ . He clinched is eyes What the fuck is that ? Smooth move ex-lax . He sauntered inside the forye , shaking off the excess water as he shucked off his leather jacket. “May I have a towel ? Please ? “
Emmie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, I kinda think the drowned rat look suits you.”
Richie furrowed his eyebrow , Damn she wasn’t gonna make it easy , was she ? “Please, I don’t think your mother will want me ruining her cherry wood floors? “
“hmph!” Emmie disappeared for a few moments then returned tossing a towel none too lightly in his direction.
He quickly caught the towel then briskly rubbed his hair and dabbed the excess water of his shirt , shaking his head there was no hope for the demin that clung to his legs. Once he was a little less wet , he handed her back the towel. “Em , I ‘ pausing to find the exact words to say to her . Just say your sorry you fuckhead . “Look I came to see you because I -- well I fucked up and I’m sorry “ Richie replied , his eyes darting to the floor while he waited for her response.
Emmie stood leaning on the kitchen counter-top and watched him silently. He was sorry? She watched as he stared intently at his shoes. “Richie...” She sighed. She didn’t know what to say. She’d thought long and hard about him, her--them. Maybe before a sorry would have been good enough but now? Not now. “look, maybe...maybe people are right. We’re just too different.. I--I can’t do what you do, live like that. Have to worry night and day if something you do or take is gonna--”She shook her head. “I just can’t.”
Richie felt his heart plummet to the pit of his stomach , She can’t forgive me I fucked up that bad, how can I get her to give me another chance ? “Em, please I can and will give it up if you come back to me at least the drugs anyway . Can’t you just give me another chance ? “ Richie said practically begging -- never had he begged for anything in his life -- other than when he was a young boy but Em - He needed her , wanted her in his life and she was worth groveling for .
Emmie ran a hand through her hair in frustration. When she’d first come home she’d played this scene over and over in her head. He’d come for her, he’d apologize, he’s say he’d never touch the stuff again and they’d live happily ever after. But, that was all before. She knew now she couldn’t take a chance. It wasn’t just about her anymore. “Richie...it’s just not that simple anymore.” She turned and padded over to a chair and slumped down in it with a heaving sigh. “God I wish it was.”
He silently followed her to the chair then crouched down , his gaze bore into hers. “Yes it is that simple , just come back with me and I will do whatever you ask of me . “ He reached out for her hands taking them into his.
The touch of his hands on hers was just about her undoing. So gentle, his thumb swept back and forth against her skin. She wanted nothing more than to slip off the chair and into his embrace and forget the world. But, she didn’t. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and said quickly, quietly, “Richie, I’m pregnant.”
Richie’s eyes widened in shock , he started to stand but his legs gave way and fell right on his ass. “Preg- nant “ he looked up at her searching her eyes , seeing the truth there , his whole body shook , he was stunned, He never thought that would come into play , he was always careful - Wasn’t he ? Shit with being drunk and high - Who the fuck knows? You can’t even remember getting into bed some nights FUCK .
Emmie almost chuckled looking down at him sitting on his ass in front of her chair. Thats exactly how I felt when I took the test. “Yeah, pregnant.” She said nervously. “Look, I know it’s not anything you expected to have to deal with and I’m ok with that, but you gotta understand Richie, no matter how much I...I --love you, it’s not just about me anymore ok?”
Richie nibbled on his bottom lip, She’s right its not about him or her anymore , Time to grow up Sambora He exhaled a deep breath “ You’re right Em its not , So please come back and I promise things will be different . “ he gazed up at her “ Come back let me take care of you and our baby “ his eyes pleading with her. “ I can’t promise it won’t be easy but please give me a chance “
She fell silent. His words were so smooth, so soothing. She’d been worrying and worrying about what to do. How she was going to handle it all alone. How her family, especially her father would take the news. She’d given herself a pep talk every night on how she could do it on her own, how she didn’t need him for anything. She’d been lying to herself though. She was scared to death and honestly didn’t think she was ready for such a responsibility but she had no choice. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to believe he’d be there for her, for the baby. “Richie, you... you can’t even take care of yourself right now.” She sighed and reached a hand out to brush a lock of dark hair from his eyes. Eyes shadowed with not enough sleep, his face shadowed by at least 2 days worth of unshaven stubble. “Look at you...when’s the last time you slept? hmm? Ate? When’s the last time you had a drink? You still smell like bourbon you know.” She let a tear roll down her cheek as she bit her quivering bottom lip. How could she possibly believe him, trust him when he obviously came straight from the mayhem without even trying to hide the
Richie eyes filled with guilt Shit why couldn’t he have at least tried to look presentable . “I just had to see you , I thought I could go on without you . Hell Em I was angry , very angry in fact . I never had anyone especially a girlfriend try and change me . I hated it , almost hated you for it cuz I didn’t think I had a problem . But when you left and I dove deeper into the darkness, drowning my sorrows in booze and “ he swallowed hard “ women . it would help me forget you but it didn’t . and before you ask I didn’t sleep with anyone else I tried though but-- “ he dropped his gaze to the floor once again.
Women? He’d tried to....Emmie closed her eyes and willed the images of Richie smiling and flirting and paying attention to other girls from her mind. How hard did he try? How far did he go? Do you really wanna know Emmie? She thought hard before she spoke again. “But don’t you see, I don’t want you to change I just....You are still you, the drugs, the alcohol, that doesn’t make who you are, that isn’t who you are, that’s simply something you do. Why do you do it? It’s not you, I met YOU in the Bahama's and that wasn’t the Richie I met. I just... didn’t want you to, go to far and and end up.....dead.” she couldn't keep the worry and love out of her voice.
Why did he do it ? Good Question “I guess its just living in the fast lane - Hell I don’t know Em . you know sex drugs and rock and roll “ He chuckled a little “ OK I know that's lame but its the only explanation I have really “ he admitted reluctantly.
Emmie simply nodded. it was lame, very lame but even so she understood. Peer pressure and just going with the flow. Hell, she’d done the same before, in school, around her mother and her mothers friends. Just did what everyone expected you to do. “ I guess we’ve all done that before.”
Richie raised up on his heels , grasping her hands into his again . “ I know its not a good excuse in fact I don’t have any but if you come back with me . I will make things right “ He softly smiled “Not just me who misses you “
“I...I’ll” she frowned. was she really thinking about going back with him? Going back into the lions den? “I’ll think about it......when... when do you have to go back?”
“I have a few days before I have to go back . Doc doesn’t know I skipped out “ Richie grinned sheepishly
She groaned at his mention of doc. She really disliked the gruff, authoritative little man. “Good... you need a shower.. and some sleep and a good meal or 3.” She stood pulling him with her. “Come on.” She led him through the large house up the enormous stair case and to her room that was more like a suite. “ In there.... take your time, I’ll go make you something to eat ok?”
Richie smiled and with a nod took off into the bathroom Maybe this was a good sign , she didn’t kick him back out . IF you don’t screw it up again Sambora . he berated himself while he quickly showered and changed into a tshirt and jeans then made his way back down to the kitchen “Smell better ? “ he asked hopefully
Emmie merely grunted his direction as she waved a potholder at the smoking stove. Of all the days to tell the staff to take a day off! How the heck was she supposed to cook him a decent meal when she couldn’t even manage to turn the stove on without burning the place down. “I don’t suppose you know how to cook?” she asked half heartedly.
“Yes, a matter fact I do “ His voice tinged with amusement “It’s one thing my ma made sure I did learn . “Richie started to rummage through the fridge , pulling out various items “Can you make a salad? “ he asked while he headed towards the cupboard , crouching down for a couple of pans then strolled to the pantry for spaghetti sauce and noodles.
A few moments later, the spaghetti sauce simmering and pot of water set to boil.
Emmie shrugged and gathered the stuff for a salad. She could manage that much. She cut lettuce and chopped vegetables slowly and carefully as she watched Richie move comfortably around the large kitchen. She never would have guessed he could cook. It was a stark contrast to the party guy she’d come to see him as. He even hummed as he worked. She had to smile, he seemed so relaxed almost happy. The shadows gone from his eyes and he hadn’t even slept yet. He was a strange strange man.
