*~*Bat Mitzvah Party*~*

"Ladies and gentlemen, B'nai Mitzvahs and all those in between...A vision of teen beauty is walking the red carpet. I wanna hear you all scream for the newest Bat Mitzvah...Janelle Chya Rashbaum!!"

Everyone cheered and the bright lights danced over the entrance. Smoke machines created columns on either side and Janelle entered on her Dad's arm. Her shoes with black and pink skulls of David's choosing, the dress a black rhinestone bodice with a knee-length pink tulle and chiffon skirt.

David, looking dapper in a black tux with a pink vest and tie, spun his daughter down the glittery pink runner that was laid out to the dance floor.

David Bergman snuck through the crowd, snapping photos as David and Janelle danced to an instrumental version of I Got the Girl from Bon Jovi's Crush album. David provided the lyrics, singing to his youngest while Janelle danced around him.

The crowd clapped along and a few chuckled at David's attempt at dancing at 64. As he sang, "But the queen of hearts will always be a five-year-old princess to me," David knelt down and slipped a pink diamond and platinum tiara on Janelle.

She sat on her Daddy's knee and hugged him tight when the song was done. "Thank you, Daddy," she said into his neck.

"Love you, Princess. Now go have fun with your friends," David whispered back and kissing his daughter's cheek. Everyone snapped photos and cheered loudly, the two taking a bow and the DJ launching into a playlist of Janelle's favorite songs.

Leesha handed David a drink when he flopped into his chair, taking off his jacket and tie. She smirked and undid the first three buttons of his black dress shirt. "Much better," Leesha said with a wink and scratched her fingers through David's chest hair, which was slightly greyer these days.

"Feeling a bit puffed there, old man?" Jon ribbed his friend, "Nice dancing by the way."

"Fuck you. Last time I checked, your moves were depleted," David threw back, sipping the Fireball Leesha gave him.

Ari looked over at Ethan who had been allowed a glass of wine. "What about you, Shaggy? How are your dance moves?" Leesha and Julie noticed the girl's eyes flit down Ethan's chest and shoulders then back up with a smile.

"Better than my old man's," Ethan scoffed, "C'mon Scooby, I'll show you." He held out his hand to her and led her out to the dancefloor.

"They look pretty cute together," Jon smiled benevolently. Julie threw her hands up at her husband's blinkered eyes when it comes to his daughters.

David snorted into his drink. "Bout fuckin time." Leesha smacked her husband's chest. "Damn woman, you wanna get rough this early in the evening?"

"Rockstar, where have you been the last, what six months?" Julie asked David, "I swear your gray hair is affecting your brain."

"All I know is that one daughter has already been seduced by the Bryan Charm. They look cute...it doesn't mean I want them together," Jon commented.

"Honey, I hate to tell you this, but I think Ari's crushing hard on Ethan," Julie stroked her husband's cheek fondly. She watched him as the cogs fell into place. He sighed and shook his head.

"What's wrong with my charm, fucker?" David asked, setting his drink down. "We Bryan men know how to court a young lady...then cuff her to the bed and spank her ass until she agrees to go on a date." Leesha averted her eyes at the words and innocently sipping her martini.

"Watch it, motherfucker," Jon bristled, "that's my family you're talking about there."

David straightened up in his seat and turned to Jon. "Were you trying to imply my son isn't good enough for your daughter?"

"David, behave," Leesha cut in and David relaxed back in his chair.

Julie and Jon blinked at the shift in David's demeanor. "Now I see what he was talking about...that is strange to watch," Julie said quietly.

David perked an eyebrow at Julie. "Who was talking about what and when?"

"Ah... nothing," Julie shook her head at David, cursing herself for saying anything out loud, "I was talking to myself." Julie shot a quick glance as Leesha before turning her attention to the dancefloor.

"DB, could you be a darling and go get us drinks?" Leesha asked, stroking his cheek and brushing their lips together. He nodded and left the table. Leesha slid into his chair next and leaned into Julie. "Jules, the fuck is going on? Who was talking about what? And don't give me that nothing bullshit."

"Damn it, please don't back me into a corner?" Julie said, "If Ethan needs an adult to talk to other than you guys, you can't make me go back on my word. Please?"

"Ethan?" Leesha's eyes darted around for a moment, recalling their conversation from earlier. "Oh fuck...no..."

Jon looked between the two wives, completely lost on the conversation and what exactly was going on. "Please just drop it for tonight, Leesh," Julie pleaded, "Tonight is all about Janelle. We'll discuss Ethan later."

Leesha whimpered and slid back to her seat, grabbing Jon's wine and downing it as well. "Don't tell David. He'll be mortified."

"I won't and I promise we'll talk but not tonight," Julie said, "Let me see if I can run it by Ethan first, okay?" Leesha nodded and watched Ethan and Ari on the dance floor. Both were laughing and having a great time, Ethan spinning and twirling her.

David set two drinks in front of his wife and went over to the table where their kids were all sitting, pigging out on sugary sweets and buffet food. "I'll take these off your hands," he said, scooping up Zoe and Isabella. Neither Stephie or Colton complained, both letting out a sigh of relief.

"Savta!" Zoe cheered and reached out for Leesha.

"Petite lune," Leesha cooed in French, taking her granddaughter.

"C'mon Rockstar, let's leave the girls with the other side for a bit," Julie stood and held out her hand to Jon, "We had our cuddles earlier, and I promised you a dance." She chuckled when her husband leaped up quickly.

"Let's go," Jon grinned, kissing the girls on the head as he left. Julie led him out to the dance floor and moved smoothly into his arms as they swayed together amongst all the youngsters. "Care to tell me what that was all about, baby?" Jon asked his wife.

"Not yet, honey," Julie sighed sadly and kissed Jon, "Not here anyway."

"Mmm, you're right. Not here." Jon pulled her toward the bar and grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses then headed toward David's studio. He opened the door, allowed his wife to enter then closed it off to the rest of the world.

"Now, before I call you out on your promise of a dance, wife," Jon said as he poured the wine, "you're gonna tell me what the fuck's been happening under my nose recently."

*~*Arielle and Ethan*~*

"Your moves are just like your dad's, Shaggy," Ari teased. She laughed as Ethan flailed around like a fish out of water.

Ethan put a hand over his heart and gave her a wounded expression. "Ooh I'm wounded, Scooby," he said with a pout. "How about we go grab a drink? It's a little hot in here." He didn't wait for her to answer, taking Ari's hand he led her off the dance floor.

He stopped briefly at the table where his nieces were gettings quality time from his parents. Ethan removed his vest and tie, draping them over his chair. "You two behaving?" David asked him.

"More than you and mom," Ethan retorted and walked over to the drink bar with Ari.

"Is everything okay between you and your Dad?" Ari asked.

Ethan shrugged and pulled Ari from the party room when his parents weren't looking. "Good as it can be, I guess," he responded, slinking down the hallway and through the rec room.

"I thought we were getting a drink?" Ari questioned, looking back at the kitchen.

"We are," Ethan answered and pushed the white sliding doors open. "No better place for a drink than the bar. I just never specified which bar." He gestured for her to enter and locked the doors behind them. "Dad keeps the good shit in here."

"Ethan, we shouldn't be in here. What's gotten into you?" Ari watched him find two glasses and place them on the wooden bar. He pulled bottle after bottle down and sniffed each one till he found one that he liked the smell of and poured half a glass each.

"Scooby, my Dad's been a complete fucking asshole lately. That's what has gotten into me. He's pressuring me with sports, college...and just an all-around asshole," Ethan confessed. "Then last night the fucker tried choking me against the wall."

"What? Why?" Ari gasped, "Why would Uncle Lema to that?"

Ethan shrugged and pushed a glass to Ari. "Dunno. Mom told him to stop in this weird tone and suddenly Dad's her bitch. All I know is when I'm 18, I'm out of this fucking house." He unbuttoned all except the bottom two buttons of his shirt and drank from his glass.

Ari took a tiny sip, screwing up her nose at the taste and felt the burn down her throat before the warmth flooded her, "Ugh! You can't leave, Shaggy. What will I do?"

Ari took another sip, slightly more this time. If Ethan can do it, so could she. The warmth was spreading throughout her body. She couldn't tell if it was from what was in her glass or the fact that Ethan's shirt was giving her flashes of his chest. She tried to peek again.

"Come with me. We'll go to college together and say a big Fuck You to our parents who treat us like garbage." Ethan grabbed the bottle and sat down on the floor behind the bar, undoing the remaining buttons and gulping from the bottle. "Back here. Nice and cool," he said.

Ari knelt down opposite Ethan, watching her best friend drink from the bottle again. "Shaggy, please don't drink so much. Talk to me? Ethan?" She knew if she used his name instead of their usual nicknames, he would know she wanted to be serious.

"Have you ever wanted to switch lives with someone? Anyone?"

"What? Like have I ever wanted to be...Chelsea? Maybe."

Ethan looked away embarrassed. "No, not like her. Just someone without the Bryan or Bongiovi name? I feel like that's the only reason girls wanna go out with me. Coz of Dad's name and money."

"Seriously? You have a problem with all the girls at school hanging off your every word?" Ari scoffed, "It sure looked like a problem last night."

"Do you have an issue with girls hanging off me? Sounding more like a jealous girlfriend right now."

"I- I just want you to be happy, Ethan," Ari said, "I'm- I'm sorry for caring." She sniffed and started to stand.

Ethan reached out and took hold of Ari's arm, stopping her movements. "I'm sorry, Scooby." He swallowed thickly at her glare and added, "Please don't leave. No more talk about the other girls."

Ari eyed him suspiciously but sat back down, throwing her right leg over his. "You know you inherited the stubbornness and temper from Uncle Lema," she said, reaching out to take the liquor bottle from Ethan. "Only made worse with alcohol."

She replaced the cap and haphazardly placed it back on the bar. Ethan pulled Ari closer and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Can you keep a secret?" He asked.

Ari nodded, her heart thumping hard in her chest. Ethan had held her before either playfully or if she needed a shoulder to cry on, but something about this felt...different. Her arm against his bare chest, his warm breath on her neck. "Of course, Ethan. Always."

"I'm not completely sure just yet, but I asked Auntie J earlier and...I think mom and dad are hurting each other. Physically. Last night after Dad and I fought, mom sent me to my room. But I came down a couple hours later, you know to apologize to Dad and be the bigger man. I went to his office and heard him yelling out in pain from the next room. I think mom was getting violent with him. Maybe she's just had enough of his shitty attitude," Ethan confessed, tightening his grip around Ari's waist.

"Ethan, you know your parents love each other," Ari said, reaching up to tangle her fingers through Ethan's hair. "You can't think like that plus you don't know for sure. Why don't you sit down and ask them?"

"What would I do without you, Scooby?" Ethan asked and gave her a warm smile.

Ari looked into Ethan's eyes and tweaked his nose. "It would be such a cold empty life," she giggled and her breath caught when he pecked her lips softly. They stopped and looked at each other for a moment, moving back closer and closer...

"Ari? Ethan?" David's voice called out.

"Shit my Dad's coming," Ethan said, their lips so close. Ari sighed and stood up, straightening her dress. Ethan buttoned his shirt and quickly put the glasses in the washer. He took Ari's hand and as he was reaching out for the door handle, it slid open to reveal David and Leesha.

"What are you two doing in here?" Leesha asked, bouncing Zoe on her hip.

Ethan held tight to Ari's soft hand. "Just needed a quiet place to talk."

David perked his eyebrow when he smelled the cinnamon whiskey on them both. "How much did you drink?"

"A half glass, I promise," Ari replied quickly. David handed them both breath mints.

"Just return to the party and no I won't tell your parents, LadyBug," he said kindly. The couple smiled knowingly at each other and watched as their son and best friend's daughter walked back to the party.