Together Burning Bright

Andy listened as he zipped up his duffle bag and he could faintly hear a two year old Cammy giggling from downstairs. It was fall which meant a few things-schools were starting, the leaves were changing and Andy was leaving his family for the first time. The band was going on a short tour before the holidays around the US and Andy was having to leave his family behind because Arabella, now seven years old and very serious about herself, would be going into the first grade. He and Dess had homeschooled her through preschool and kindergarten, but they wanted Aria to go to school-make friends and be normal.

He felt like crying in that moment-Andy didn’t want to leave his family behind but he had no other choice. The thought that he wasn’t the only one leaving loved ones behind made him feel better and Andy only smirked as he thought over the other guys. Jinxx had a son, Edmund who was now three, while Jake and Ella had their two kids, Henry who was six and being home schooled and Margaret who was only four. CC and Christy had Anthony, almost three and Potter who was one and a half-not to mention that Christy was pregnant again. Finally there was Ashley and Kit with their son Pierce who was Cammy’s age and just as crazy as she was. Kit was pregnant as well-with twins and ready to pop at any moment.

All in all their little family had grown, but it was sad to see the families being split up. Andy smirked as he moved his duffle bag off the bed, Crow grumbling as the aging cat jumped down and wove around Andy’s ankles. This had been his first child-along with Dove-and Andy couldn’t help but feel sorry for the old boy. Aria loved animals and she loved taking care of them, but she also fancied herself a vet-which she was going to be when she got older…mark her words-and she loved to ‘take care’ of Crow, Dove and Winnie. It was all in good fun, but Andy still pitied the animals. Suddenly there was a loud shout from down the stairs and Andy only smirked-Dess was at it again.


“Babe?!” She called up at him and Andy only smirked as he walked down the hall and began to walk down the stairs. His wife-wonderful as she was-sometimes got a little stressed with three kids running around her feet.

“I’m coming!” Andy shouted and then laughed as he finished walking down the steps and came face to face with Dess. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head, her baggy gray sweater was hanging off one shoulder and Cammy, blonde hair in her blue eyes and marker all over her face, was literally clinging to one of Dess’ skinny jean clad legs.

“Need some help?” Andy asked and Dess only smiled as she watched her husband set his bag down by the front door and then bend down to take their youngest in his arms. The little girl giggled as Andy pressed a kiss to her cheek and blew air out softly. The small girl, with her blonde hair, blue eyes and happy demeanor, reminded both her parents of a certain Aunt that she would never meet.

“Thanks. Have you seen Arabella? Her school bus is almost here and I can’t find her anywhere.” Dess asked and Andy bit down on his lower lip. Ah his eldest-she hadn’t been in her hot pink or lime green room and that meant she could only be one other place.

“I haven’t, but I’m pretty sure I know where to find her. You gonna be okay if I leave this one with you?” Andy asked and Dess only smirked and nodded her head. Cammy jumped into her mother’s arms and Dess only shook her head as she carried the wild girl back in to the kitchen where Oli was coloring quietly at the table.


Andy only smiled-he was going to miss this chaos while he was away, but with a new record out they had to tour to make money, there was no other way. Andy sighed, running a hand through his light brown hair as he opened the front door with his free hand and a gust of wind smacked him in the face. Looking around, Andy smiled at the changing leaves that were drifting across the lawn and he knew that Dess would have help this year raking since Aria was now old enough. Their kids weren’t spoiled-they earned an allowance and it would stay that way. They wouldn’t want for anything in life, but they would earn things if they wanted them badly enough.

As Andy walked across the lawn, the dried leaves crunching under his boots, he pulled his leather jacket around his shoulders more. It had taken him a long time to get used to this cold and whenever they left Virginia for warmer climates Andy always had a hard time adjusting when they got back home. Walking across the yard, memories flashed before his crystal blue eyes and Andy couldn’t help but smile at the thought. The first time he had ever seen this yard had been in the summer time and a black haired, green eyed girl had come running towards him-Moira.

After that it was a blur of memories-all good, but a few were sad. That very first Thanksgiving he had surprised Dess in this yard-watching her rake leaves and talk to herself. That had been when he had surprised her the first time-the second had been not even a month later with his showing up the day after Christmas. That day had been magical-that night even more so and Andy only smiled as he rounded the corner and came face to face with his studio. It had once been the garage and the memory of he and Dess clearing it out made him frown. That was not such a happy memory, but it was there and it always would be.

Finally Andy came to look at the side yard and there sat his daughter-all dressed for her very first day of school. Andy couldn’t believe how big she was-she was going to be tall like him and yet curvy like her mother and to Andy she was the most beautiful thing in the world. He hadn’t known when she had been born what was going to come into her little life, but as he held her in his arms and looked down in to her eyes for the first time, Andy had fallen hard. She was his first little girl-she was his mini-me in so many ways and as Andy approached his daughter, he could hear her sniffing loudly.

Great, he knew this was going to happen and Andy had tried to avoid it, but his leaving on the same day that Arabella started school was not something they could change.


“Sitting out here all by yourself?” Andy asked as he came upon his daughter, her purple tights bright against the wood of the tree. She was sitting in their old tire swing-the one he pushed her in for hours when she had been four and the one that she still loved even now.

“Better than being inside.” She mumbled, her chin resting on her arms and she refused to look at him. Her bottom lip was sticking out, trembling as she held back tears and Andy knew that look-he had worked that look himself when he had been her age.

“Now why do you say that?” Andy asked as he placed a hand on the rope of the tire swing and pushed gently. He looked down and smiled-Aria’s blonde hair was down around her face, just like her mother’s and her blue eyes held that mischievous look in them…just like his always did.

“Just cause.” She said, her bottom lip still sticking out and Andy just smiled. She was mad at him-she had every right to be-because he was leaving for tour. Arabella had always been on tour with him and her Uncles and of course she was probably feeling left out.

“Well I guess it’s a good thing you won’t have to be home today…it being your first day of school and all.” Andy said as he stopped pushing the swing and then moved to kneel before his eldest. Her blue eyes, filled with tears that only dared to spill over, locked with his and she smiled. She had his smile-that lopsided smirk, but she also had her mother’s dimple.

“Do I have to go?” She asked, her chin still resting on her arms and Andy smirked as he held out a finger and swiped the hair from her face.

“Yes Arabella-you have to go to school.” Andy said his voice sad. He wished they could home school Aria like Jake and Ella were doing for Henry, but she needed to go to school…to have a normal childhood.

“Why can’t I be homeschooled-like Henry?” She whined and Andy only sighed. He knew this was coming and this was truly one of his worst fears.


When Arabella had been born- even when Dess had been pregnant with her-Andy had worried that his daughter was going to hate him for leaving her. The couple didn’t know then how many kids they would have-whether she would be their only or if they would have more-but they did know that sooner or later Dess was going to have to stay home and be a mom. The kids would go to school, Andy would tour, but hopefully most of the touring could be done over the summer so that they could go as a family.

Andy smiled-his kids loved every aspect of touring and to them it was like an adventure. Arabella, by the time she had been two years old had been all over the world and Oliver seemed to love being in faraway places like Japan and Australia just like his mother. Cammy wouldn’t see much touring, but the small girl loved running around on the bus and playing with her best friend Pierce. All of the Band Kids-their collective nickname-loved being together and the families loved making it happen. They now had two busses, Andy and Dess along with Kit and Ashley on one. Jake and Ella, CC and Christy and finally Jinxx and Melissa rode around on the other one. It was great because the kids all had someone to play with and that made it easier on the tired parents.


“Because you’re my daughter and I want you to go to school.” Andy said his voice strong. They didn’t have time for this-Aria had to catch her bus and Andy needed to get to the airport so he could fly out to LA.

“I hate school though! I want to go on tour with you and Uncle Ash!” She had crossed her arms over her chest, that bottom lip trembling and Andy only smiled as he placed a hand against her pink cheek. So much like him…she was painfully like him in every way.

“You aren’t the only one missing out this time around babe. All of the moms and kids are staying home.” Andy explained and he knew it was going to be hard on them all to leave their families behind. Especially for Ash and CC, whose wives were both pregnant.

“Why do you have to leave me?” Aria was crying now and Andy couldn’t help but feel his heart break as he looked at his little girl. This was his biggest fear come true-she hated him. He moved to take his daughter in his arms and soon enough she was sitting on a bent knee, her pink sleeved arms wrapped around his neck.

“I don’t want to baby…I promise you I don’t want to leave you.” Andy said in to her hair and Aria cried, her tiny chest heaving against his own.

“Will you come back?” She asked and Andy only laughed his tears away as he pulled back from her and stared his daughter down. She was crying, those blue eyes red rimmed and sad and he had never wanted to see her like this…ever.

“Of course! Who else am I going to play checkers with?” He laughed and she giggled. Her tiny arms were wrapped around his neck again and Andy smiled as he moved away from his daughter and pulled something from inside his shirt.


In his hand Andy held something that had always been special to him-his ANDY dog tag that a fan had given him early in his career. It was one of the only pieces of jewelry that he hardly ever took off and Andy knew it was time to pass it down. Aria’s blue eyes got huge when she saw what was in his hands and Andy only smiled as he pulled it over his head and then gently placed it over his daughter’s blonde hair. Maybe this would make her feel better-maybe it would show Arabella that he meant what he said when he told her he would come back. Silently the two got up and hand in hand they walked towards the front of the house.


“You know you’re going to be the big girl in the house and I need you to take care of mommy, Oli and Cams while I’m gone.” Andy said as the two of them came to a stop at the beginning of the driveway. The whole family would walk Arabella down to the end of the drive to catch her bus and Andy could see Dess in the doorway, fighting Cammy to get a coat on.

“What happens if the monsters come and get me in the night?” Arabella asked and Andy only smiled. She had been having trouble sleeping-begging to sleep with him and Dess and they both knew it was less about monsters and more about not wanting to sleep in her bed alone.

“Remember the song I taught you? Remember how to growl?” Andy asked as Dess finally appeared and they all began to walk down the gravel driveway. The wind was blowing and Andy felt sad as he held his daughter’s hand, but he knew this wouldn’t be goodbye forever.

“I do! Mommy loves that song…’Here’s to your perfect weapon! Go!” She growled at him and Andy only laughed, throwing his head back and he could hear Dess chuckling from behind him. His wife had their youngest in her arms, bundled up in a black coat and hat. Oliver was walking along, kicking rocks with his tiny leather boots and Andy knew he would miss them all.

“Very good. Now, I want you to be good today and I will call mommy later so we can talk about your first day, okay?” Andy said as he got down on one knee. They had reached the end of the driveway and they could all hear the bus coming up the road.

“But what if I don’t make any friends?” Her voice was sad and Andy couldn’t blame her. He had never had many friends in school, but things were different now-he would make sure things would be different for his daughter.

“You will, plus you Band Kids will always be friends. I-I love you Bells…be good.” The bus had stopped in front of their driveway and Andy watched as Aria moved to hug her mother and then Oliver. The little boy laughed as she threw her arms around his neck and it made Andy happy to see them getting along for once.

“I love you daddy!” Aria said as she hugged him and Andy grabbed for her hand and slowly they walked towards the bus doors. The driver, an elderly lady with a bright smile, waved hello and introduced herself. Andy quickly walked back to the driveway and looked up as he heard Arabella giggling.

“Rock on daddy! I’ll miss you!” She had opened her window and Andy only waved as he looked at his daughter-she had her hand up with a pair of horns and her bright blue eyes were finally happy.

“I will…for you, baby girl…for you…” He said quietly, fighting back his tears as the bus pulled away and he watched as his first born went off for her first day of school.


Andy felt Dess come up beside him and he smiled as Cams reached out, wiggling her fingers towards him. Andy only smiled as he took his baby in to his arms and Oliver then placed a hand in his. Together the small family walked up the driveway and they all knew that things were changing…they always would.

Notes

The kids are growing older and so are Andy and Dess. You know what that means-times almost running out. I'm sad that this hasn't gotten the love I feel it deserves, but ohwell. <3 you guys.

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