Gift of Song

Once inside the house, Andy set about introducing the guys, Sammi, and Logan to Marissa and Shelby, the latter of which had a hard time controlling her inner fangirl as she met the rest of her idols. Ash had disappeared upstairs with Rori, whom he said he was going to lay down for a nap after changing her Pull-Up. Jinxx, being the father figure out of the musical quintet, seemed to be appraising the young woman who’d likely end up being a touring babysitter for not only Rori, but Logan, too.

While the rest of the guys were getting acquainted with the nurse and her daughter, he dragged the shortest out of their group aside. He was nervous about what he’d been thinking lately, and he figured there was no one better to ask than the one known as Papa Jinxx on their tour bus. The twenty-two-year-old eyed him curiously, as he wasn’t used to seeing him so nervous, but didn’t ask a single question as they hid in their studio.

“I’m sure you can tell I’ve been pretty stressed lately,” Andy started.

“Yeah. I mean, recording and touring is getting to all of us, and trying to raise Rori and Logan in the midst of it all isn’t helping you, me, or Ash,” he agreed.

“Well, that’s not the only thing I’ve been stressing over,” he admitted.

Jinxx merely gave him a curious look, his eyebrow arched, but didn’t question him.

With a sigh, he unlocked the drawer of his desk and retrieved the box with the engagement ring in it. His friend didn’t say anything about the gun also laying in the bottom of it because he already knew it was there and why. He was just glad that he kept it locked up unless it was on his person since he had a little one running around that didn’t need to get her hands on it. Still, he kept silent as he waited for his friend to turn around and show or tell him what else he’d been stressing about because, if there was one thing he’d learned about him in the past three and a-half years, it was not to rush him and that he’d talk when he was damned good and ready.

“This is what else I’ve been stressing over,” Andy told him, tossing the box into his lap.

“Wha—” He started to ask him something, but shut his mouth as he opened the little black box, revealing the ring in it. “Unless I missed my mental mark, you want my advice on how to go about it, don’t you?”

“It would definitely be helpful,” the younger man admitted sheepishly, blushing a bit.

“Well, unless you’re planning on really dialing up the romance, which we both know Ash would love, why not do it at a time that feels right?” Jinxx suggested. “Like, I dunno, in the middle of something you both love doing. For instance, if you were both into hockey, I could see you dropping down to one knee in the middle of the rink and asking him like that.”

“Other than music, I’m not sure there’s something like that we both enjoy that would be over-the-top, yet still sweet and simple,” he said, looking thoughtful. “And I would ask him at the studio, but we both know he and I take turns with that so one of us is always with Rori.”

“Hmm… Think you can hold off till the start of the next tour?” he asked.

“Why do you ask?” Andy countered curiously.

“Well, it kicks off on March eighteenth at the House of Blues in Dallas. You two enjoy music and have been planning on coming out to the fans for months; why not combine those two big life changes by proposing to him on stage at the end of our set?” Jinxx suggested.

“Hmm…” he hummed thoughtfully, hiding the ring again before Ash could walk in and see it.

“And if you don’t wanna do that, come out to the fans early on in the tour, but save the proposal till, like, the very last show or something.”

“That actually doesn’t sound like a half bad idea either way,” he told him. “It’d be perfect!”

The multi-instrumentalist merely smirked at him, his arms crossed over his chest in an “I told ya so” kind of way.

“Now do you see why we always come to you for advice, Papa Jinxx?” Andy asked teasingly.

“Hey! Papa Jinxx exists nowhere except on the bus!” he said, laughter lighting up his own blue eyes.

“And, as we all know, what happens on the bus…”

“…stays on the fuckin’ bus!”

Both men broke down into laughter, which caused the younger of the pair to collapse into the other chair by his desk as he began to wheeze. Jinxx sobered up and clapped him on the back when he started coughing, knowing now that he really needed to cut back on his smoking. Once he could breathe well enough to speak again, he pulled out the wedding bands he’d bought the other night and asked his opinion on them. He honestly thought they suited him and his sweetheart perfectly, but a second opinion couldn’t hurt.

His friend took the wedding bands and studied them for a moment, then looked up at him with a grin splitting his face. He said that the tourmaline-embedded band perfectly suited the girlie side of Ash’s personality, as well as matched the engagement ring perfectly. He admitted to always thinking of Andy as a bit of a brooding man, given that he could sit alone for hours, lost in thought, before suddenly having a prophetic moment, especially when it came to his songwriting. The black suited the brooding aspect of his personality perfectly, as well as matched the Batman logo, since he was completely and utterly obsessed with everything Batman.

Unable to help the grin that split his own face, he wrapped his arms around Jinxx in a tight hug of thanks before tucking the wedding bands back into his private drawer with the engagement ring. Sure, he still had quite a bit to think about, in regards to actually popping the question, but at least now he had some good ideas to work with. He just hoped his efforts wouldn’t be in vain.


After putting their daughter in her crib for a nap, Ash headed back downstairs to the living room, where everybody was getting acquainted with one another. The first thing he noticed was that Sammi looked somewhat bored since nobody was signing what was being said to her, although he wasn’t exactly sure why, and she clearly wasn’t making the effort to read lips right now. The second was that his lover and Jinxx were nowhere to be seen. It was like the pair had been sucked into a worm hole or disappeared into thin air, and he wondered where they could’ve run off to.

Trying to make sure he didn’t scare the young woman shitless, he walked over and tapped Sammi’s shoulder to get her attention. Of course, she still looked a bit startled, slapping a hand to her chest as her mouth opened in an O of surprise and she looked up at him, but she calmed down relatively quickly once she realized who it was. Being a deaf-mute must really be harder than she or Miss Amy made it look.

Where are Andy and Jinxx? he signed.

I guess they’re in your little studio working on something, Sammi responded with a shrug. Andy pulled him down the back hall after he introduced everybody, but I haven’t seen them since.

Hmm… I thought he got everything done that he needed Jinxx’s help with the other night?

I guess not. And anyway, where were you guys this morning? You had us worried sick.

Rori’s fever got too high last night and we had to take her to the hospital. He smiled at her reassuringly. She’s fine now, thankfully, but we didn’t have time to let anyone know what happened, and she was released so suddenly that we figured we’d just tell you when we got home.

So where’d you meet these two? She gestured to Marissa and Shelby.

Marissa— he pointed to the nurse –was one of the nurses who was caring for Rori this morning. Shelby— he pointed to her daughter –is Marissa’s daughter. He had to finger-spell both their names.

So why are they here? No one’s taken the time to sign anything, and they were all talking so fast that I gave up trying to read their lips, Sammi signed, looking depressed.

Shelby was able to make Rori laugh, and you know how rare it is to find someone outside our social circle who can do that, Ash explained. Marissa said she had to drop out of school due to beatings and bullying and needed a job. Since we need a touring babysitter, we offered her the job, so long as her mother agrees and she’s up for the challenge. That, and we’ll base it on how well she does with her here at the house.

Would she be able to help out with Logan, too? I mean, I do everything I can for him, but being a deaf-mute and raising a child is hard.

I think that was part of the plan, Sammi. We’ll see how things work out, though, okay?

His friend’s fiancé grinned at him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, which made him laugh.

“What the heck was that all about?” he heard Shelby ask. He hadn’t even been aware that everyone had stopped talking and was watching their exchange.

“Were you signing to her?” Marissa asked, eyeing him curiously.

“Yeah. Kinda have to,” Ash admitted. The rest of the guys, including Andy and Jinxx, who’d suddenly reappeared while he was talking to Sammi, nodded their agreement.

“Can all of you sign? Or is it just Ashley that knows how?” the teen asked curiously.

We can all sign, Jake started, and he knew they would all finish bits and pieces of the sentences.

Jinxx started to learn because it was easier to communicate with her, CC added, grinning like a fool.

But when Andy started school with us, he already knew how because his mother’s a deaf-mute, as well, Ash continued, smirking.

He was actually the one who found out she was a deaf-mute, too, and offered to help us, me in particular, learn how so we could communicate with her easier, Jinxx said, smiling at his fiancé proudly.

The first day we met, I took them over to my house, where my mother and I helped them out a bit, Andy signed, grinning at how good they’d all gotten.

And ever since that day over three years ago, everybody but Andy, Miss Amy, and I have improved drastically, Sammi finished.

“What the heck did you guys say?” Shelby asked, amazed. “And were you finishing each other’s thoughts?”

“We can all sign,” Jake repeated, starting back at the beginning.

“Jinxx started to learn because it was easier to communicate with her,” CC said, having the ball passed to him, so to speak.

“But when Andy started school with us, he already knew how because his mother’s a deaf-mute, as well,” Ash continued, still smirking.

“He was actually the one who found out she was a deaf-mute, too, and offered to help us, me in particular, learn how so we could communicate with her easier,” Jinxx explained.

“The first day we met, I took them over to my house, where my mother and I helped them out a bit,” his lover told them, his basement-deep voice sending shivers down his spine. “And Sammi said, ‘And ever since that day over three years ago, everybody but Andy, Miss Amy, and I have improved drastically’.”

“Who’s Miss Amy?” Marissa asked curiously.

That would be me, the woman in question signed as she entered the room from her office. She’d moved to LA and came on tour with them at her son’s insistence since he didn’t like leaving her alone.

“Marissa, Shelby, this is my mother, Amy,” Andy said, introducing them. Mama, this is one of the nurses who took care of Rori, Marissa, and her daughter, Shelby.

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Amy signed. Thanks for helping Rori last night at the hospital.

“What’d she say?” Marissa asked.

“She said, ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for helping Rori last night at the hospital’,” he translated. Mama, Shelby might just be our touring babysitter, depending on how well she does here at the house.

That’s great, son. Sammi and I could use the help with Rori and Logan since we’re deaf-mutes.

Well, she made Rori laugh earlier, and you know how hard it is for someone outside our little group to do that. She needs a job, and we need a touring babysitter. So long as her little trial, if you will, works out, she might just have the job by the time our next tour starts next month.

Ash’s attention was turned to Jinxx at that point as he tried to figure out what on Earth he and his sweetheart could’ve been doing in the studio. He knew damn good and well that Andy would never cheat, whether it be with a guy or a girl, and the multi-instrumentalist was entirely too happy with his own fiancé to cheat, as well. And if they weren’t working on something band-related, given that he hadn’t heard anything musical coming from the studio, what could they’ve been doing?

Shortly thereafter, Jinxx and Sammi talked them into going on a double date, which meant someone had to babysit Rori and Logan. The multi-instrumentalist said that it was the perfect time to test Shelby and her babysitting skills, and he agreed. Marissa, Amy, Jake, and CC all agreed to stay at the house with her and stay in the background to keep an eye on things and judge how she did.

Both of them knew that Amy, Jake, and CC wouldn’t lie to them about the teen’s performance, and it was doubtful that her mother would, either. He was still a bit worried about leaving the kids alone with a complete stranger, but at least there would be others, two of whom could hear, at the house with them in case anything went wrong. He took a deep breath as Andy grabbed their keys, phones, and wallets, then grabbed his hand and led him out the door. He knew that he had to grow to trust this girl within the next month if she was going to be their touring babysitter since their next tour started in mid-to-late March. And besides, Papa Jinxx was right; it was the perfect time to try her out and start judging how they thought she did.

In Jinxx’s car, they all discussed and agreed upon an Italian restaurant, as they were all in the mood for Italian at the moment. It was strange, as all five of the guys and any significant others Jinxx, Jake, and CC might have at any given time could agree on one place to eat most of the time. After entering the restaurant, one that knew about his and Andy’s relationship, they talked about plans for the upcoming tour while they waited on their orders to be served. Ash could sense an unspoken conversation between his lover and Jinxx, but decided that a public place wasn’t the best place to ask about it.

Their food was delivered to their table, along with refills for their various sodas, in a short amount of time, which was surprising, considering how busy the place was at the moment. Even with rock star status, they weren’t used to being served so quickly here, but decided not to say anything, as it would likely be the only time such a thing ever happened. The meal was passed mostly in silence as they stuffed their ravenous faces, but they did engage in a bit of small talk as they ate. He still couldn’t help but feel like there was an unspoken conversation going on between the multi-instrumentalist and his lover that he was being left out of, and he could quickly and easily say that he didn’t like it one bit. However, he was willing to be the bigger man and keep the peace by not starting a fight with his lover over something petty.

“Ready to go back and see how Shelby did?” Jinxx asked. It was obvious that he’d been nervous about leaving his son with a girl he didn’t know, but had hidden it quite well.

“Yeah, we’re ready,” Andy answered. “I can tell Ash is about to drive himself up the wall with worry.”

“You’re damn right,” he agreed, glaring a bit. “I mean, we just met Shelby this morning; can you really blame for worrying about our daughter?”

“Not in the least, mio deviante,” his lover assured him. “We offered her the job, and all of us knew she’d have to be tested out sooner or later. Maybe it was a good thing Jinxx suggested this double date.”

We all really needed it, and besides, it’s not like she was left entirely alone the first time, Sammi signed in agreement.

“That’s true,” Ash agreed. “And we know Miss Amy, Jake, and CC aren’t going to lie to us.”

“They won’t sugarcoat shit, either,” Jinxx said. “I know for a fact that Jake and CC live by the old adage, ‘Polish a turd, and it’s still a turd’.”

“CC definitely does,” Andy laughed. “I prefer the saying ‘Tigers don’t change their stripes’.”

“Same difference,” their friend laughed, his arm around his fiancé’s shoulders as they walked back to his car.

“So, depending on how she does over the next month or so, you agree to let her help out with Logan on the tour, too?” Ash asked.

“It’ll definitely help Sammi out,” he answered. “I mean, she does pretty well, all things considered, but I know she’d enjoy having someone who can actually hear to help her.”

You’re damn right I would. And you know that if she does something wrong with either of them, I won’t hesitate to tell the three of you the second you’re off stage, the little she-demon confirmed.

“Well, that’s definitely reassuring to know, Sam,” his lover sighed.

It wasn’t long before they arrived back at their house, already relieved since they didn’t see any smoke and flames or emergency vehicles out front. Since the house was still standing upon their return, they figured that, if anything had gone wrong at all during their absence, it wasn’t major enough to need help from EMS or the authorities.

Ash still held his breath as they walked in the front door, greeted by Shelby sitting in the living room, talking to her mother. Jake and CC were nowhere to be found, which wasn’t unusual for them, and Miss Amy was just coming down the hall from the room she used as an office for her work as a graphic designer. She smiled when she saw them, immediately enveloping the quartet in a hug before asking how their double date went. Her smile turned into a grin when they told her that it was awesome, and that they’d missed getting to do such a simple thing since their album’s release the previous summer.

The first question out of Ash’s mouth and Sammi’s hands were about the kids, such as where were they, had they given her any trouble, and what were they doing? Chuckling, the teen told them that they hadn’t been any trouble at all and they were napping, although she’d had to put them both in Rori’s crib since she didn’t know where she could put Logan for his nap. Both mothers sighed in relief, their lovers wrapping their arms around their waists from behind.

“So they were perfect little angels while we were gone?” Andy asked as the mothers headed upstairs to check on their babies, Jinxx at his side.

“Perfect angels. I couldn’t have asked for better babysitting charges,” Shelby answered, grinning.

“They really were. I’ve never seen two more well-behaved children of their ages,” Marissa said. That meant quite a bit, considering all the children she came into contact with on a daily basis, due to the nature and location of her job.

“That’s good to know. Logan can be a bit of a brat when he’s tired,” Jinxx said with a sigh.

“He gets it from his daddy,” his friend snickered, grinning as well.

“There’s no way I’m really that bad,” he said with a frown.

“Dude, you’re like Voldemort on crack when you have to run on little to no sleep,” Andy laughed, tears running from his smarting eyes.

“Seriously? Jeez, I know I can get mean when I don’t get enough sleep, but I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“Am I supposed to take heed of those words and steer clear of Jinxx when he’s tired?” Shelby asked, a look that was a cross between amusement and fear on her face.

“That would probably be a good idea.” They turned to see Ash and Sammi coming back down the stairs. “He’s so bad when he’s tired that he scares me, and I’m the one out of all of us that likes the goriest horror movies, if that says anything.”

“You? The girliest member of the band? Likes gory horror movies!” She mocked a gasp. “Never!”

“Believe it, girlie. He’s picked some of the most insane horror movies just to watch us stab our claws into the ceiling of the bus like Tom from Tom and Jerry while he just sits there and laughs,” Jinxx grumbled.

“Now tell me something…where the hell are Jake and CC?” Ash asked curiously.

“I thought they went to the studio in the back a while ago, but since I was busy with Rori and Logan, I didn’t pay much attention,” the teen answered.

“Good to know you were focusing on the kids, and not those nimrods,” Andy said, heading back to their studio. “I swear, if I have to clean up bodily fluids again, I’ll kill them.”

Shelby just gave a confused look to the remaining members of the band.

“The last time they got drunk over here, they took a pair of one-night stands to the studio and got it on,” the multi-instrumentalist explained, refusing to go into much detail. “Needless to say, there was a huge mess that poor Andy got stuck cleaning up since Ash was dealing with Rori while nursing a hangover, and it wasn’t pretty, by any means.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” she said, shuddering at the mental image. “I feel sorry for Andy, though. You, too, Ashley, even though you brought the hangover on yourself.”

“I hadn’t partied in forever and felt the need to let loose,” he said defensively. “Guess I took it a bit too far.”

Considering how late it was getting and that Marissa likely hadn’t had sleep in forever, he offered to set up the guest room for them. There was no way in hell he was letting her drive home right now, and Shelby didn’t have a permit or license, so he definitely wasn’t letting her drive. The guys were all going to have to leave soon, and he and Andy didn’t like driving other people’s cars, if they could help it, so they didn’t wanna take the pair home and be stuck taking their car back for them.

The nurse fought off a loud yawn as she asked if he was sure, considering that they’d just met that morning, and she doubted she’d invite anyone she’d just met to spend the night at her house less than twenty-four hours later. He assured her that it was no problem, trying not to snicker when he heard a surprised yell from down the hall where their little studio was and hoping it didn’t wake Rori and Logan.

She told him that if he was sure they could spend the night that she didn’t mind, but doubted she’d let it happen again. It was obvious that she felt like she was imposing on them and didn’t like it in the least, so Ash assured her that it was fine. After all, they hadn’t made sure they’d have a guest room in their house when they bought it for nothing. He smiled as he led Shelby down the hall toward the guest room, Miss Amy’s room and her office, and the studio, cringing at the yelling coming from the last room. He could tell that Andy was both surprised and pissed, but the explanation would have to wait till later.

With a little help from the teen, he quickly had the guest room set up and said that he’d look through some old clothes of his to see if there was anything they could sleep in and wear the next day. As he exited the guest room to let his lover know they were spending the night, he saw him step out of the studio behind Jake and CC, who were slinking up the hall like scared puppies with their tails tucked between their legs. He cocked an eyebrow at him, but he merely shook his head, silently saying that he’d tell him later. He shrugged indifferently, passed on the necessary information, and headed up the stairs. He could sense Andy hot on his heels and figured he’d probably look through some old clothes of his, as well. It didn’t really bother him, and besides, once they got done seeing to their guests’ needs, he planned on having a bit of a romantic evening with his lover.

Ash quickly sifted through his old clothes and found a couple old shirts he’d worn while pregnant with Rori. They were bigger than the shirts he wore now, likely ones he’d worn around seventeen weeks, since he’d had a bit of a baby bump and was starting to develop breasts that were once again toned pecs. He figured they’d be perfect for the two women, who weren’t very big in the chest, if one caught his drift, and waited to see if his lover turned up anything. Luckily, he found a pair of gym shorts for both of them that weren’t too big or too small, so he gave him a quick kiss before going back downstairs. Shelby answered the guest room door and thanked him, saying that her mom was showering before they turned in.

“Andy and I will be upstairs if you need anything,” he told her. “Our bedroom door is always shut, while the rest of the doors on the second floor are open. Should be pretty obvious which one it is, if you need us.”

“Thanks again, Ashley,” Shelby answered, hugging him. “I never thought that I’d get to meet you guys, or the rest of BVB, much less that you were this nice.”

“It’s no problem, girlie,” Ash chuckled, returning the hug. “Now, I’m gonna jet before Andy starts wondering where I am. He can get a bit overprotective sometimes because of my past.”

“See ya in the morning, Ashley,” she said, waving.

“See ya then. Your mom, too,” he answered, returning the wave as he started off down the hall.

“They all settled in, mio deviante?” Andy asked when he got to their room. He was already stretched out on their bed in his favorite Batman boxers.

“They most certainly are, mio profeta,” he answered, closing the door behind him before ripping his shirt off.

“Gah, you frickin’ tease,” his lover groaned.

Ash merely chuckled as he realized why he’d said that and made sure their door was locked.

“Why must you effect me like this?” He closed his eyes as if trying to will away his arousal.

“And you think you don’t effect me the same way?” he asked, crawling over top of him. “Besides, maybe I wanted a night of romance with the love of my life.”

“We’ll have to keep it down,” Andy said, groaning as he ground their hips together. “We don’t wanna wake Rori, nor let our guests in on our private lives.”

“I think we can manage that,” he agreed, gently biting his neck. “Remember that position we used when I was around seventeen weeks?”

“Yeah. You were face-down, ass-up, but not quite on your hands and knees,” he answered.

“As long as we use that position, I keep my face in the pillow, and you keep your own volume down, I think we can get away with a bit of romance tonight, mio profeta,” Ash told him, licking a trail down his chest.

“Okay, that’s it. Get ready for the night of your life, mio deviante. I’m gonna make sure you don’t forget it.” And with that, the romantic night in was well underway.

Notes