Together Burning Bright

Andy smiled as he walked towards the bus-thankful that their interview was over early and the guys would have some time to chill out before the show that night. They were in the UK now-they had been for two weeks and tonight was thankfully the last show. Andy loved touring, but God was he ready to go home to his own bed and Dess’ cooking. Christmas was three days away and Andy couldn’t wait-he had all of his presents for Dess and their daughter ready, wrapped and sitting under their tree at home.

Andy laughed as he reached for the handle on the bus door-Dess had hired Trish, Brady and another girl to decorate their house and watch for presents while they were away. Which was nice as it meant that Andy and Dess didn’t have to rush around when they got home. The guys would all be coming with them-spending Christmas Eve, Day and his birthday in Virginia before flying back out to LA. Jake said Ella would be flying in and Andy knew his parents were looking forward to spending Christmas with he and Dess. Everything was falling in to place.

Andy walked up the bus steps, saying a soft hello to their driver as he sat behind the wheel and read his book. He only grunted in response and Andy smirked as he walked through the bus and realized that Dess wasn’t up front like she usually was. He looked around, smiling at how pristine everything looked-Dess was on a cleaning kick and she kept everything in order. That was such a change from how things had gotten over the summer, but then again Dess was battling an unknown illness and now…she was just battling her ability to get around with her growing stomach.

Andy smiled as he heard noises coming from the back lounge and he laughed as he heard Dess singing along to whatever movie she was watching. Quietly he slid open the door to the lounge and he couldn’t keep the concerned look from his face.

Dess was laying on the couch, dressed in a pair of maternity skinny jeans with a huge fluffy grey and red sweater covering her growing stomach, but it wasn’t the way that she was dressed that was concerning him. Dess was laying on the couch, watching the Frozen screener that a friend of hers had sent to them since they weren’t in the states to see it right now. That wasn’t his concern either-Dess was sitting there pigging out on a bag of potato chips.

It was so unlike her-Dess ate a lot, but usually it wasn’t a lot of junk food and that seemed to be all she wanted lately. Ice cream, chips, pasta and chocolate…so much fucking chocolate. Andy only smiled at her gently as he rested a hip against the door frame and smiled at her as he crossed his arms over his chest. She looked gorgeous and he only wanted to reach out and rub her belly while he kissed her lips, but he couldn’t keep the concern from his heart.


“Hey babe…” Andy said and Dess jumped at the sound of his voice and looked up at him with a smile on her face as she paused the movie and set the bag of chips down on the floor.

“Hey! How was the interview?” She asked as she sat up and held her arms out towards him. Andy only smirked as he sat down beside her and moved so that his head was resting in her lap. He sighed as her fingers combed through his short black hair, the newly shaven sides getting special attention from her fingers.

“Long…I love doing them, but sometimes they can be exhausting.” Andy said as he looked up at her and then placed a gentle kiss against the underside of her stomach. She grinned and then winced and Andy only smiled-little peanut must be in a kicking mood today.

“Aww you poor thing…Mr. Rockstar has to do interviews and then come on to his big Rockstar Bus…” Dess teased him as he only looked up at her and smiled. She was so gorgeous sitting there smiling down at him and quietly Andy sat up, taking her hands in his as he got a serious look on his face.

“Babe…I think we need to talk…” He said and Dess felt her heart stop as she looked at his face. Oh God-something had happened. The worst possible scenes passed through her brain and Dess tried to keep the tears from coming to her eyes-fucking hormones.

“Is everything okay? Are your parents okay?” Dess asked and Andy only smiled as he brought her hands up to his lips and kissed the tops of her knuckles gently. Of course her first concern would be for other people and that was something that Andy loved about her…among many other things.

“They’re fine-they’re doing some tour down town before the show tonight.” Andy said and he watched as Dess’ face relaxed slightly. She and his mother had grown close over their shared time together in the UK these past weeks and it made Andy happy to see that they got along so well.

“Good! Your mom and I were going to go shopping for a bit while you guys do soundcheck. She wants to find the baby some cute clothes before we head home.” Dess smirked, shaking her head slightly as Andy’s smile grew wider. Amy had really become a good friend to her, helping Dess out when she had questions about her situation and Amy gave her some great advice. Like how to deal with their daughter if she turns out to be anything like Andy when he was that age.

“Of course. No-I’m just concerned about something…” Andy said, his voice low as he reached down and grabbed for the half empty bag of chips. Dess looked from the bag in his hands to his face and Andy felt a blush creep across his nose. How to say this to her without her getting the wrong idea and freaking out?

“Oh? What about?” She asked as Dess reached for the bag. She had the worst cravings these days and she only hoped that with her sixth month coming in January that she would stop craving things and could start eating healthier.

“You’re eating habits…” He said, closing his eyes as Andy waited for the storm to come. Dess was incredibly sensitive these days and the littlest thing would set her off.

“Oh…what about them?” Her voice was steady, but Andy could tell she was holding back tears as he opened his eyes and looked at her. Dess’ bottom lip was trembling and her eyes were looking more and more watery by the second and he said nothing as he dropped the bag and grabbed for her hands.

“Don-don’t you think maybe you should be eating a little bit healthier?” Andy asked softly and Dess felt her blood begin to boil as she looked at him.


Really? Was he really bringing this up right now? Dess looked from his face down towards the bag of potato chips and for some reason she became incredibly angry. She was pregnant-what was he expecting? What was he saying? Was Andy telling her that she was gaining too much weight? Was he saying that she was getting too fat for him? Was he going to start looking at other girls now?

Dess felt the tears come to her eyes and she hastily wiped them away as she looked away from Andy and off towards the television. Her good friend Audra had sent over a Frozen screener because she had known that Dess wanted to see the film but that she would miss it due to being on tour. All Dess had wanted to do today was to sit back, relax and watch this movie. She had seen the chips sitting on the counter and they called to her, so she grabbed them and a bottle of water on her way back to the lounge.

Dess had thought she was doing fairly well with this whole keeping her weight down during pregnancy-she had only gained fifteen pounds and that, according to her books, was normal for someone who was five months pregnant. Dess sighed, her tears running trails down her cheeks but she avoided Andy’s gaze. Maybe the people online were right-she was just a fat cow who would soon find herself alone.

Andy would never want her after the baby was born…he would leave her. Dess felt a wave of emotions over take her as she sat there and soon enough she found herself sobbing as Andy rubbed her back soothingly. Why was he comforting her? Shouldn’t he be out finding some new hot piece of ass that didn’t look like a beached whale?


“Dess…come on I didn’t mean anything by it. I-I just want you to be healthy is all…” Andy said quietly and as he watched her cry with her head buried in her arms against the back of the couch, he felt like the biggest tool ever.

“Oh sure. Eating healthy-like I don’t already. I’ve cut out so much…coffee, soda, tea, sushi…you don’t fucking understand what I’m going through right now!” She sobbed and Andy felt powerless as he just sat there and watched her cry. What could he do? What should he say?

“I know and you’ve done so well. I just think maybe you should cut out the junk food as well. Are you hungry? I can run down the street…there’s a small café and I can get you a salad or something…” Andy said and suddenly he realized that this was a big mistake. Dess whipped around, her green eyes wide and angry as she looked at him like he had just slapped her across the face.

“A salad? Is that what you think I should be eating?! Huh?!” She said, her voice growing higher and Andy knew then and there that he had made a very stupid mistake.

“I-I mean…” He stopped talking as Dess stood up quickly and began to rush around the room. She turned to him then, her hands on her hips and he couldn’t help but smirk at her-she looked so cute standing there with her little belly sticking out and a very determined and pissed off look on her face. She looked like a mother…

“No! I know what you mean. I’m just a fat cow carrying your fucking child and I have to remain beautiful and perfect in order for you to still be interested!” Dess yelled and Andy only shook his head. He stood up and walked towards her, but Dess pushed him away gently as she placed her hands against his chest and looked him right in the eye.

“I never said that…” Andy defended but Dess was hearing none of it. Of course Mr. Rockstar…always so perfect and loved by all…

“No-you don’t have to. Your fucking fans say it for you every fucking day! I can’t do this anymore Andy! I can’t live with your fans constantly judging me and calling me names…I can’t be perfect like you!” She yelled, her tears getting the best of her and soon enough Dess had collapsed against his chest. Her sobs wracked her tiny body and Andy only rubbed her back softly.

“I know it’s hard and I am far from perfect. Look how they treat me when I cut my hair or when I’m so sick I can hardly stand straight! They call me a pussy and claim that I only care about myself and money…how do you think that makes me feel? How do you think it makes me feel to see you like this? Sobbing and crying because they’ve gotten to you? Pissed the fuck off is how I feel right now…” Andy said, his lips resting against her hair. He wanted Dess to calm down-she needed to calm down to keep from hurting herself or the baby.

“Dess-I need you to calm down okay? You’re shaking and it’s kind of freaking me out. It’s okay-I love you, I will love you whether you are a hundred and forty pounds or two hundred pounds. I love you even in the morning when your hair is sticking straight up. I love you when you cry and I love you when you smile. I just love you…from your blonde head down to your pink painted toes. Nothing is going to change that…” Andy said softly against her hair as the two of them sat down and he pulled her until she was sitting on his lap.

“Then why do you want me to watch what I eat? If it doesn’t matter…” She stopped as Andy sighed and kissed her neck gently. Dess had her arms wrapped around his neck and Andy only smiled at her as he kissed the tip of her nose and thought about his answer…carefully.

“While I don’t care if you have a craving for chips or ice cream-I do want you to still eat healthy. I want our baby to be healthy and I know that you want that too. If you want some ice cream babe then please tell me and I will get you some…just don’t go crazy with it.” Andy laughed as he ran a thumb over her lips and felt her tug that perfect mouth of hers into a slight smile. Dess blushed as she looked into his crystal blue eyes and Andy knew he was forgiven.

“You’re right. It’s just so hard because we are on the road and I can’t cook the way that I want to, but I guess all that will change after tonight.” Dess said, her voice back to normal which Andy was grateful for. He loved Dess-loved her more than anything-but these mood swings were really getting to him.

“Yeah-this time tomorrow we will be on a plane headed home.” Andy smiled at her before he pressed his lips to hers and then he heard footsteps. Andy and Dess pulled away just as his parents peeked their heads around the half open lounge door and Andy noticed that his mother looked incredibly happy once she saw them.


Andy loved his parents and he was happy to have them around for the two weeks that they were in the UK. He missed them a lot when he was on the road and he was eternally grateful to them for always being his biggest supporters. The fact that they both embraced Dess almost instantly also helped matters-his mother never usually accepted Andy’s girlfriends in the past, but she loved Dess almost more than she loved him.

Andy and Dess quickly stood up, kissing one another as Dess and his mother took off for some last minute shopping before the show that night. Andy and his father walked towards the front of the bus, his father resting his arm around Andy’s shoulders as the two exited the bus and headed in to the venue. Tonight would be the last show for atleast a little while and while Andy loved touring and performing, he was ready for Christmas and a break from the chaos.




Dess laughed as she and Amy stood at the side of the stage and watched as the guys preformed their last show on this tour. Everything seemed to be going well-the guys had been able to incorporate their fire pieces once again, something that they hadn’t been able to do on the tour with Bullet. Andy was currently running around like a mad man, holding the mic out to the crowd and smirking as his tongue fell out of his mouth and he just kept that goofy grin on his face. Dess loved this-she loved watching him on stage because there was just something so magical about seeing him like that.

They were currently playing Fallen Angels and then the show would end with an encore of In The End and that would be that. The tour would be over and as far as Dess knew they didn’t have plans until almost the end of February. She was excited for that though because they would go to Australia-somewhere that she always wanted to go. Dess smiled as the guys finished Fallen Angels and then Andy ran off the stage for a minute, kissing her on the lips before quickly running back out.


“He loves you so much you know…” Amy said beside her and Dess had to move in close so that she could hear what her mother in law was saying to her.

“I know. Sometimes I wonder why he picked me of all people. He could have anyone…” Dess said and she smiled as Amy looked at her with soft tears in her eyes. Having Amy around these past weeks was like having her own mom around and suddenly Dess couldn’t wait to get home to see Rose Montgomery.

“You complete him! He’s always been so stubborn in what he wants for his life and it drove him nuts when you didn’t give in to him right away. He used to call me saying that you were the hardest challenge he had ever been given.” Dess smiled and then placed a hand on her stomach as she felt a soft kicking sensation. This little girl loved watching her father and uncles perform and Dess couldn’t wait until she was old enough to see it from outside the womb.

“I just never wanted to give in easily. I think I always loved him…I just wanted to make sure he loved me in return.” Dess said and she and Amy both grew quiet as Andy addressed the crowd.

“I just wanted to give a big thank you not only to everyone in this audience, but to all of those kids in Germany, Italy, France and all of the other places we’ve been to on this tour! You guys are the reason we are up here and the UK especially has been very kind to us. You guys are the ones who go to the shows, buy the shirts and the CDs! Without you we would not be here and we are eternally grateful to you all!” Andy said in to the mic and Dess only watched in awe as the crowd went wild. They all truly loved these five guys before them and Dess knew that these kids would easily fight to the death for this band.

“Thank you guys so much! We are the Black Veil Brides and we hope you all have a Happy Christmas and we will see you again sometime next year!” Andy said and Dess could only smile widely as she and Amy clapped along with the rest of the audience.

“Merry Christmas guys!” Ashley said as he wiped himself with a towel and then threw that along with four of his pics out in to the crowd.

“Have a good Holiday! We love you!” Jinxx said as he tossed his own pics into the crowd and then began to walk towards the side of the stage.

“Stay awesome UK!” Jake smiled at the crowd as he did the same as his bandmates and CC said nothing as he moved to the edge of the stage and tossed out a few of his drumsticks.


Dess only watched with a gleeful smile on her lips as the guys walked towards her. They looked tired and sweaty, but there was a satisfaction on their faces as they knew that this had been one of their best tours to date. There had been no fighting, everything had gone smoothly with all of their interviews and the best part of all-it was over and they could all have a much needed break.

As Dess watched the guys come forward, her smile grew as she caught site of Andy. He had painted a black stripe across his nose and his blue eyes were tired but still filled with excitement and joy as he laid eyes on her. He wiped his brow with a towel and Dess melted against him as he came to her and wrapped an arm around her slim shoulders. He kissed the top of her head-he loved seeing her there on the side of the stage every night waiting for him.


“You ready to hit the road babe?” He asked, his low voice gravelly and almost nonexistent from all of his singing and screaming.

“I am…I am so ready to get home.” Dess said softly as the two of them walked back into the dressing room.


There would be minimal partying that night as they had an early flight, but Dess enjoyed watching the guys do their traditional end of tour toast. They all were smiling and laughing and Dess knew that this was bound to be one wild and crazy Christmas with this group…and she absolutely could not wait for it.

Notes

Looks like Dess is feeling a little bit of pressure on her shoulders. What else could go wrong?

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