Together Burning Bright

Dess looked out the bus window and smirked-it was snowing slightly in New Jersey, which is where they were on whatever day of tour they were on. She was dog tired-all of the guys were and there was a small bout of sickness going around amongst the crew and some of the band members. Dess had had to stay clear of the sick ones-being five months pregnant did not make her invincible and she couldn’t risk anything right now. She rubbed a hand over her stomach, smirking to herself as she thought about the appointment she had just gotten back from.

She had found out what the baby was going to be and as she looked at the cupcake container sitting on the small kitchen table she couldn’t wait till Andy came in from soundcheck. She knew what they were having, but Dess wanted Andy and the rest of the guys to be surprised, so she had gone to a nearby bakery and asked them for a dozen vanilla cupcakes with the appropriate colored frosting. Now she was just waiting for the guys to come in from their soundcheck and Dess felt her heart beat quicken as she heard voices approaching.

Dess stood by the window, her arms crossed over her chest and she smiled as she noticed that her stomach was growing bigger. She could hardly fit in to any of her old clothes anymore, which was depressing but she knew it was for a good reason. The guys all walked on, CC followed by Jake and Jinxx, Jon and finally Ashley came on the bus with Andy lagging behind him. All of them looked tired and she knew it was because they were all exhausted and feeling under the weather. These California boys weren’t used to the cold weather of the Northeast and so they were all bundled up with hats and scarves and Andy had on his huge winter coat that she had gotten him last winter.

The guys all acknowledged her, but they remained quiet as they took seats or traveled back towards their bunks. Dess approached Andy as he sat down on the couch and she noticed that he looked pale and his hair was sticking to his forehead because he was sweating so much. She knew he had started feeling sick the day before, but she didn’t expect him to look this bad. Dess only smiled as she reached for the white box that sat on the table and held it out towards Andy.


“What’s in the box babe?” Andy croaked-his voice was almost gone and while she knew he lost his voice sometimes after a long soundcheck…this seemed different. He broke out in to a coughing fit and Dess winced as she watched him heave out a breath.

“Well I had my appointment today and I found out what this little nugget is going to be. So instead of just telling you-I thought I would get cupcakes with the frosting colored appropriately to celebrate.” Dess explained as she handed over the box and watched as Andy just sat there and stared at the lid.


Andy looked down at the white box in his hands and he could feel his fingers shaking. He felt terrible-he had been feeling bad for the past few days, but this morning he had woken up and felt like death warmed over. He had talked to Jon about going to see a doctor, which Jon thought was a good idea and so they were going to head out and do that. He had completely forgotten that Dess had her appointment today and as he looked down once again at the box in his hands Andy felt his heartbeat quicken. What was going to be in this box?

He wanted a girl-so badly it almost made his heart ache. Andy could never really explain it, but he just felt it deep down that Dess was going to give him a daughter. He couldn’t wait though-even if it was a boy Andy couldn’t wait to hold that baby in his arms and love it with everything he could. He was scared-sure, but he knew that in the end this baby was going to be something special…it would be the greatest thing he would ever do in his life.


“Babe? Andy?” Dess said as she stood over him and noticed that Andy was just sitting there staring down at the box with a soft smile on his lips. She could tell he was really not feeling well and thankfully she overheard Jon say something about going to the doctor.

“Wha-Oh…oh yeah…” He smiled up at her, but even his smile was weak and Dess felt someone come up behind her, placing their hand on her shoulder. Ashley. Even he looked concerned as he looked down at Andy and Dess knew that if Ashley was concerned, then they all should be.


Andy took in a deep breath as he slid his fingers underneath the lid and let out a puff of air as he lifted the lid and looked down. His eyes filled with tears and he sniffed loudly as he looked up at Dess and saw her wide smile. He looked back down at the cupcakes in his lap and a million things ran through his head. Pushing his child on that old tire swing in their front yard. Watching them as they learn to walk and talk for the first time. Would that first word be ‘daddy’? Andy wanted to cry and he knew that tears were running down his cheeks, but he didn’t care.

All he could do was stare down at the box in his hands and think of everything he would do with this child that would be his all too soon. Watching them grow and learn. Hopefully there would be more-a brother or a sister, but all Andy could do was look down and keep that goofy grin on his lips. These cupcakes…they were everything to him. Andy lifted one up and reached out to lick the frosting off first, smiling as the sweet taste met his tongue.

Pink. The cupcakes were pink and Andy couldn’t be happier in that moment.


“A girl! Congrats Dessa!” Ashley said as he reached out and wrapped his tattooed arms around her neck, but all Dess could do was focus on Andy.

“Babe?” She said lowly and Andy only looked up at her, pink frosting sticking to his lips as he smiled softly. He had wanted a girl-he had always said she would be a girl and finally they had their answer. They were having a girl-Dess was going to be the mother of a little girl and she couldn’t wait.

“What are you going to name her?” CC asked from the kitchen table where he was sitting with Jinxx and Jake. Dess only smiled as she took the cupcakes from Andy’s lap and placed the box on the counter. All of the guys converged on the box, but Dess couldn’t help but notice that as Andy tried to stand he had to quickly sit back down and close his eyes.

“I think Ashley is a lovely girls name…” Dess rolled her eyes as she looked at Ash, who was still standing beside her with an arm thrown around her shoulders.

“Christina is also awesome…” CC said from the kitchen table and Dess only laughed as she turned to the drummer and flicked him off.

“What about Moira?” Jinxx asked and everyone got dead quiet, except for Andy, who had burst out into a coughing fit as Jon moved to help him up from the couch. Dess watched as Andy stood and then immediately turned green and looked like he was going to pass out.

“N-no. We already decided that if it was going to be a girl that Moira would not be up for suggestion. Ar-are you okay babe?” Dess asked, her voice soft and worried as she watched Andy walk towards the front of the bus, Jon under one arm and Yannie, their security guy, holding up the other.

“I’m going to the hospital. Hopefully they can give me some meds and we can just go on late tonight.” Andy said as he looked behind him and watched as fans began to line up around the corner to get in to the venue. The last thing he wanted to do was to cancel their show, but he felt worse and worse the more he sat around and he knew he wouldn’t be able to perform to the best of his abilities.

“Oh-okay. Well let me get my coat and I’ll meet you guys at the car.” Dess said, smiling softly but she stopped as Andy held out a hand and grabbed for her arm. His skin was cold and clammy and Dess shivered as she looked at him and saw his face. He was pale and sweaty looking, his eyes ringed in dark circles and she could hear his labored breathing.

“No. You can’t come…if-if I’m really sick you could catch it and that can’t happen. Stay here…the guys will keep you company.” Andy said as his hand left her arm and rested on her belly. His fingers rubbed her shirt covered skin and Dess knew that he couldn’t kiss her right now, so this was the best she was going to get.

“But…” Dess stopped as Ashley pulled her over towards the couch and soon Dess was watching Andy’s back as he made it towards the front of the bus and turned around.

“I love you Dess…I’ll be back soon.” He blew her a kiss, his blue eyes tired and sad looking as she returned his kiss. Andy smiled softly at her gesture and soon enough he had walked down the bus steps and was out of sight.


Dess sat on the couch, her head still facing the bus door and she was trying really hard not to jump up and run after Andy. She was worried about him-he had been sick in the past, but she had never seen him this sick before and it was making her feel really scared. Fuck-here came the waterworks. Dess sniffed, her fingers wiping at her face as she tried to hold her tears in but it was no use. What if Andy was really sick and she never got to see him again? What would happen to the show tonight if they had to cancel? So many fans had come out to see the guys and Dess knew how much they hated disappointing people. She cried with Ashley sitting beside her, rubbing her back but Dess couldn’t help but feel devastated.

She wanted to be there for Andy-she wanted to be the one to take care of him and she couldn’t and in that moment she felt helpless. She cried even harder when Dess looked up and noticed that Jinxx was making her Green Tea-the only tea she could drink at this point. Jake was also walking towards her with the comforter from her bed and CC had Winnie in his arms. The small dog looked at her and immediately jumped from CC’s arms, jumped in to her lap and settled. Jake spread the blanket on top of her and Ashley moved from the couch and walked over to the DVD storage shelf.


“Okay-Classic Batman or New Batman?” He asked as he held up a few DVDs in his hands and Dess only laughed as she sniffed the air and noticed that there was a slight scent of popcorn wafting towards her.

“We don’t have to watch Batman…I know you guys are tired of seeing all of them.” Dess sniffed and then she laughed as Ashley only grinned at her and moved to place the original Batman in to the player. The bassist soon joined her on the couch, pulling her feet up into his lap and Dess only smiled at him gratefully.

“We’re here for you Dess. We can tell how scared you are right now…not being able to be with Andy and everything.” Jinxx said as he approached her and passed her a steaming cup of tea. Dess only smiled a watery smile at the guitarist as he smirked down at her before taking a seat in one of the recliners.

“Yeah-we want to see you take care of yourself and we know you’re only going to worry more if we leave you alone.” Jake said as he handed her a small bowl of popcorn and took the other recliner. Winnie stirred in her lap, looking up at her with those big eyes of his and he gave her a swift lick to the chin.

“We’re here for you D…besides I know Andy will be okay. Now just relax…” CC said as he came out from the back and proceeded to make a little pillow nest for himself on the floor right below her. Dess felt her emotions kick in and she knew it was just her hormones getting out of whack, but she still felt incredibly loved in that moment.

“I love you guys…thanks for being my Andy fill-ins until he gets back…” She said and they all smiled at her as the movie began to play and Dess noticed that Jake had leaned over to dim the lights slightly.


Dess tried to focus on the movie that was playing, but she had so many things running through her head in that moment that she knew she would not be able to enjoy it. What was going on with Andy? He had felt sick, but he seemed to get worse and worse in such a short time. It scared her, but as she looked around and took all of the guys in-Dess knew that they would take care of her and her daughter no matter what happened.

Ashley was such a great guy-he always made her feel better much like Andy could. Jinxx was so sweet-he always listened to her even when he had his own problems going on. Jake always gave her the best advice, even when it was something that he knew little about. CC-well he just made her laugh all the time and that’s what she needed. Dess looked around at her little family and she knew that she and Andy were giving their child the best thing in the world-a family that would love her forever.

Notes

Looks like it's gonna be a girl!
So I wanted to let you guys know that this story is going to move very fast-jumping from month to month. Then from year to year and so on.
Want an update one wednesday instead of thursday?

Review<3

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