Together Burning Bright

“So how do you and Andy make everything work on the bus with two kids?” The interviewer, Dess was pretty sure she said her name was Jill, asked over the phone and Dess only smiled. After their crazy summer, it was now fall and Dess, Andy and their children were back home.

“Well thankfully Oliver, our youngest, is still pretty contained in his swing or his seat, although he has started crawling. Arabella on the other hand is full on wild and Andy really has more of a handle on her than I do.” Dess laughed again as she thought back over the summer tour they had just gotten home from.

“How do you balance so much? Being a mom, an artist, a business woman-how do you do it?” Jill asked and Dess sighed as she ran a hand through her short blonde bangs and thought things over. She had always been able to multitask, but having two kids and a career had proved to be pretty rough.

“Andy helps a lot. When the guys aren’t on stage or in interviews he’s usually watching the kids so I can get some work done. I don’t think I would be able to do it without him.” Dess confessed and both women laughed as they continued their conversation.

“Is he a very hands on dad? Does he change diapers-does he do bath time?” Jill asked and Dess only smiled softly as she thought back to the night before.


Andy had agreed to give Arabella a bath, promising that he would actually bathe their daughter this time and not just play with her in the bubbles. Dess had relented-she desperately needed to get some work done and not having to fight a two year old to get in the tub would be a big help. Dess had been down in her lair, Oliver there with her and Dess remembered how mesmerized he seemed to be with all of the art lining the walls. His big green eyes were just looking around as he sat there quietly and gurgled to himself.

Finally Dess had noticed that Andy and Aria had been gone for a long time-too long. Dess got the baby and together they made their way up to the main level of the house and then Dess had smiled. She could hear Aria laughing and talking loudly to someone and Dess knew that they were still playing in the tub. Once she got up and poked her head into the bathroom, Dess felt her heart melt. Andy was kneeling at the side of the tub, his sleeves rolled up and there were bubbles all over the sides of the tub and on top of Aria’s head. The little girl was splashing and playing and Andy was just sitting there, watching his daughter take her bath.

It was such a precious and peaceful moment that Dess never wanted to see it end.


“He is incredibly hands on, especially with Arabella. He loves to feed her, bathe her and they watch movies together or read before she goes to bed. I couldn’t have asked for a better father for my children.” Dess said as she smiled and looked around. Speaking of her family-where were they?

“That’s so great. So what do you think is important for you to do as a mom?” Jill asked and Dess thought it over for a moment. She had never expected she would be talking to a national magazine about Parenting, but Andy’s publicist had called her and told her to take the interview because it would be a positive one to have.

“Be there for my kids. Andy works a lot and while right now we can go out with him and the band on tour, there is going to come a time when myself and our children have to stay home. It’s hard to think about-Aria is only two and Oliver isn’t even a year yet, but they are going to grow up before we even realize it.” Dess said and she smiled as she finally heard some giggling coming from the den.

“What about when the kids are older? How do you and Andy plan to raise them-should we be expecting a band of little rockstars coming at some point?” Dess laughed, running her hand through her hair as she looked around. Her eyes focused on one picture that was hanging by the back door and she smiled.


Halloween had been a few weeks ago-Thanksgiving was only a week away-and this year had been Dess’ favorite. The small family had dressed up as four members of KISS-with Andy dressing as Paul Stanley and Aria they had dressed as Gene Simmons. They had gone trick-or-treating this year and everyone had loved their costumes-baby Oliver’s especially. Now it was almost time for the holidays and Dess couldn’t wait because everyone was coming to their house for Thanksgiving-including a once again pregnant Ella, CC and his wife Christy, Ashley was coming solo and Jinxx was bringing his fiancée Melissa. It was bound to be loud and crazy-but that was their life.


“Andy and I have talked about it a lot and we do want our children to pick at least one instrument and spend three years learning how to play. But that’s more because it teaches them patience and responsibility. Andy does see our children as being little musicians, but we both know that they are going to be who they want to be, no matter what.” Dess said and she felt proud in that moment. She and Andy had always talked about having kids-they just never thought others would look to them for advice on raising those kids.

“That actually sounds like a pretty solid plan. Has your daughter shown an interest in music yet?” Jill asked and Odessa only laughed as she thought about Arabella. The small girl did love music-she loved to dance and she would sing along with Andy in the car whenever they went anywhere, but she seemed to be developing a different interest, but it was still pure Andy.

“She loves to sing and her Uncle Jinxx got her a child’s piano for Christmas, which she seems to be interested in, but actually her real passion seems to be for animals.” It was true-Aria loved animals and always asked if she could have one. A tiger in a movie-can I have one? A picture of a bear in a book-I want one. Aria had her father’s love of animals and it was obvious by how much she loved to take care of Winnie, Crow and Dove.

“That’s so cute. She’s a daddy’s girl right?” Jill asked and Dess only laughed as she looked up and noticed that Andy was in the doorway of the kitchen. He had Oliver in his arms, the small boy smiling and clapping his hands. Aria was now crawling around on the floor, barking like a dog and this only proved Dess’ point even more.

“Totally-even in the womb she was Andy’s girl. I would stand on the side of the stage when I was pregnant with her and she would just kick and punch constantly. She’s Andy’s mini-me, except she’s way cuter.” Dess stuck her tongue out at Andy and he only blew her a kiss and moved to the fridge.


Odessa kept talking to Jill and Andy only smiled as he listened to her conversation while he got Oli his bottle and Aria wanted a snack. Their little family-he was completely happy with the life they had right now and Andy couldn’t even think about doing anything else with his time. The band was on a pretty long break for the Holidays, which everyone was thankful for as the past summer had been a long one. Running after a two year old while trying to watch an infant had been exhausting and Andy didn’t know how Dess did it every day. Andy was happy though-they were starting to work on their fifth album and all was in the works for another tour after New Year’s.

Everyone in the band was settling down, which was strange to Andy as just a few years ago they had all been wild, crazy and out of control. But with settling down came a new outlook on life and their music was reaping the benefits of it. The guys were more focused, they worked on things more and drank and partied less. Andy and Dess were married with kids-Jake and Ella were married and had baby Henry and were expecting another baby in the spring. Jinxx and Melissa were getting married next fall, while CC and his wife Christy were talking about starting a family. Ashley still had someone in his life, but the bassist was keeping it very hush hush.

Andy laughed as he got Oli his bottle and he kissed the small baby on the side of his tiny head while Aria scooted her butt around their kitchen. Dess was just finishing up her interview and Andy was so proud of her in that moment. She had come a long way-she was Odessa Montgomery-Biersack and Andy was happy that Dess had kept her identity because there for a while it was questionable about whether that was going to happen or not. His wife had a booming clothing business that now included an online store and tents at every major music festival in the United States. Trish-who was a full partner and their saving grace, had completely taken over the business side of things, giving Dess time to work on designs and raise a family.

Andy owed everything to that wonderful girl and he knew that she would always be a part of their family.


“Thank you so much! Yes-yes tomorrow at nine at Bower Studios in Arlington. Yep the kids will be there…Andy will be too. Thanks so much Jill! Bye…” Dess was finally finished with her phone conversation and Andy only smiled as he walked over to sit at the kitchen table, Oliver still in his arms.

“Good interview?” Andy asked as he sat down and Dess reached out a hand to touch Oliver’s reddish hair. Green eyes and reddish blonde hair-Oliver looked like Dess in almost every single way and they learned that more and more.

“One of the better ones I’ve had in a long time.” Dess said as she looked down and noticed that Aria was sitting quietly under the kitchen table petting Dove. The small white cat was very patient with the two year old and thankfully Aria had Andy’s absolute love for animals.

“Good-what do you want to do for dinner?” Andy asked, his short brown hair glinting in the sunlight coming from the kitchen window and Dess only smiled at her husband. He was sitting there with Oliver sitting in his lap, the bottle forgotten and on the table as their eyes met.

“Doesn’t matter-if you want to watch the two rascals I can make something…” Dess said as she stood up but then placed a quick kiss to Andy’s lips before moving around the kitchen. Dess smiled as she heard Oli giggling from Andy’s lap and she wondered silently how she had gotten so lucky with a guy like Andrew Biersack.

“I can watch them sure-we were just going to go watch a movie. Oli-Oliver! What were we going to watch Oli-boy?” Andy was bouncing his knees up and down, the small baby giggling and clapping his hands as he smiled.

“Three guesses as to what it’s going to be…” Dess smiled as she turned around and looked down over her little family. It was almost too perfect the way everything worked out for them and Dess wondered when the axe was going to fall…it always did.

“Come on Oli…what are we going to watch? Batman! Can you say Batman?” Andy was chuckling as Oliver turned to face his father and got a very concentrated look on his tiny face. He was only ten months old-way too young to be saying something as long as Batman.

“Honey…you know he can’t talk yet.” Dess laughed as she crossed her arms over her chest and walked over to where her husband and baby were sitting. Oli was still looking at the two of them, a concentrated look on his furrowed face as Dess stuck her tongue out.

“He’s been trying…” Andy said and they both grew silent as Oliver opened his mouth and tried to form words. It was mostly just babble-Bap, baw…things like that, but Dess found herself fascinated as Oliver tried and tried until finally he gave a little huff and looked right in to her eyes.

“Ba-man…Baman!” Dess felt her jaw drop as her son said his first word and Andy looked like he wanted to cry.


It wasn’t the perfect first word, but as the little family sat in that kitchen they knew that it was good enough for them.

Notes

Of course Oli's first word would be Batman-Dess wouldn't have it any other way. Sorry I've been absent guys-life kind of just got in the way there for a week or so, but I'm back and we are getting closer and closer to the end of not only this story...but this series.

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