*~*Sixteen Years Later*~*

December had brought a record-breaking snowfall and the lowest temperatures of the last five years. The Bryan Family mansion in Colts Neck was blanketed in fresh snow, multi-colored lights for the holiday season strung along the rooftop and chimneys.

The sound of Christmas music could be heard ringing in the air before opening the front door. It was an open door policy this Christmas. Any of their family or friends that wanted to visit could and stay for as long or as little as they wanted to.

Aside from the handsome marble mantelpiece with its Hanukkah decorations, the largest Christmas tree ever seen in the home stood floor to ceiling, ornaments from both families gracing its branches.

I see you thinking twice

Wish I could read your mind

Move up or out of line

Too late for praying

Laughter and screaming kids filled in any noise gaps. The smell of Christmas dinner from earlier and baked goods wafted from the kitchen, two of the three ovens keeping leftovers warm and the timer beeping on the third.

"Cookies are done!" Arielle exclaims and ruffled her 11-year-old son's shaggy hair. Ethan watched as his son unwrapped a new gaming console while his twin sister opened a brand new guitar. His youngest son, who was only six, played with the latest robot sensation.

Wrapping paper was tossed in every direction, the adults dodging massive bows and empty envelopes. Away from the fray were the two sofas, pushed towards the fireplace. Julie and Jon occupied the one furthest from the fire, their grandkids piling up their presents next to them.

The house was full of kids and grandkids from both clans. The Bongiovi boys were with their wives; Jake's wife was pregnant with their first while Jesse's three were hanging off him trying to wrestle him to the ground, his wife was in the kitchen helping Stephanie clear up from dinner.

Romy and his wife had been unable to conceive as of yet but found solace in their family dog. Colton was helping by staying out of the kitchen after being banished by Steph after one too many suggestions on how to do things.

Colton and Stephanie's twins and their boyfriends, along with Janelle and her husband were watching the latest horror movie trying to keep their minds away from the somber and bittersweet mood of this Christmas. Lily and her partner had disappeared after eating to her old room citing exhaustion from travelling as their excuse.

Richie, Becca, Ava and her two sons had arrived earlier on their way to visit Richie's parents graves. The three bandmates spent quality time together, reminiscing over their times together. Everyone seemed to know to give the three older men time alone.

Colton, Jesse, Jake and Romy challenged the kids to a pool tournament in the games room, giving the women time to do their own version of grieving. Julie supporting Leesha as they cried and laughed with the next generation of Bon Jovi women.

A sandy blonde teenager bounded into the room, headphones covering his ears, notebook in his hand and sat at his Dad's grand piano to pick out a tune and scribble a few notes on the page.

"Sam? What are you working on?" Jon asked the oblivious teenager.

Jon stood and hobbled with the help of his cane, something he'd hated since his accident but it'd become a necessary evil as the years wore on. Making his way around the various family scattered throughout the living room to the piano, he looked over the boy's shoulder at his notes. He picked up the pencil and made a few adjustments, "Try that, Sam." He kissed the top of the boy's head and patted him on the shoulder.

Sam looked at the additions, picking them out and was able to play the tune seamlessly, turning to smile at Jon. "Thanks, Papa."

Sam had inherited drive, talent and good looks from both fathers. Biologically or through love and care, it didn't matter. He was a talented pianist and budding songwriter, always willing to learn more.

Leesha and David, who was wearing a baseball cap, were snuggled on the couch closest to the fireplace. David was the frailest one of the four. Even the most aggressive treatment had been unable to stop the cancer cells from overtaking his body.

I know we might lose our breath

We might be scared to death

This chance is like a step

Just gotta take it

His remission had lasted nearly two years before the cancer returned and he started to rapidly decline. His once strong jaw and broad shoulders were now thin, hunched, and sunken in. The stomach cancer was at Stage Four and doctors didn't give him longer than Christmas to live.

Leesha rubbed her husband's hand between hers and laid a blanket over him. Chemo marks now decorated his neck and arms, but it never stopped her from seeing the handsome man she'd fallen in love with. She kissed him before going to get him something warm to drink.

"Hey! We're finally here," Sammy called from the front door as she and her fiance shook off the snow from their jackets. "Sorry we're late. Had a GSW come in. Who the hell would shoot someone on Christmas Eve?"

Samara Bongiovi had kept her promise to Jon and started studying medicine. She completed her internship at the same hospital that took care of her father, receiving her PhD just after turning 28. Her fiance, Michael, had been a patient's friend that had made an impression straight off. He'd show up at the hospital, persistently asking her out until she agreed. They'd been together since that first date.

"We were wondering if you'd make it," Leesha smiled and hugged her niece tightly. "Food in the oven is still warm. You two hungry?"

"Thanks, Auntie. We'll eat soon," Sammy replied, "How is he today?" Michael had slipped into the living room to greet everyone.

Leesha hesitated and forced a small smile. "It's taking every ounce of energy he has to be down here," she said, looking at David. "I wasn't sure he'd make it to this point."

Sammy drew her aunt into her arms, hugging her fiercely. "He's a stubborn old devil, that one." She tried to lighten the mood a little, hoping her aunt wouldn't dwell too much on what was fast approaching.

"He'll be happy to see you. You always did bring a smile to his face on the darkest days." Leesha took the warm glass of brandy in her hands and tweaked her niece's nose.

"Shh don't tell Uncle Mookie, but Uncle Lema is my favorite," she winked at her aunt and followed her back into the living room.

Using all her professional knowledge and persona, Sammy schooled her face into a happy smile before entering and being swamped by family. She waved to her parents but knelt in front of David first, taking his hands in hers and kissed the paper thin skin. She smiled up at him and saw the familiar twinkle in his eyes for her.

Hold on tight, slide a little closer

Up so high stars are on our shoulders

Time flies by, don't close your eyes

"How you doing, old man?" Sammy winked and poked her tongue out at him.

David slowly reached out a trembling hand to touch her warm cheek, his voice a quiet rasp. "Sammygirl."

"Do you need anything?" she asked quietly, "How are your meds holding up?"

"I've got everything I need now you're here," he whispered.

Sammy dropped her head to his knees before he could see the sheen of tears form. She kissed his knuckles quickly and blinked them away before looking up at him again and nodded. "Are you up to our usual challenge this year, Lema?"

"Uh...I think your Aunt finished off all the whiskey a week ago...or are you talking about the one where you get beaten by an old man?" David chided, managing a wink.

"Damn shame! I reckon I would have beaten you this year," Sammy chuckled.

"Not on your life, kid."

"Hey, stop hogging my girl," Jon groused with a grin and beckoned Sammy over, "Don't you have enough of my daughters?"

David looked over at Jon and smiled. "Told you, Jon. The ladies would come to me first even on my deathbed." Leesha rolled her eyes and Julie shook her head. Leave it to David.

A single piercing whistle broke the air and, as pre-arranged, the living room filled with every member of the family as they settled in and around the elders. Colton and Gabby stood in front of everyone and Colton held up his hands to quieten everyone down.

David and Leesha, Jon and Julie looked at each other in surprise not having any clue about what the eldest of the Bryan children were up to. Colton cleared his throat and Gabby reached for his hand in support as this presentation was going to be a difficult one.

"Dad," Colton started, "we've got one final present for you and we've deliberately left this till the end so that everyone you love and hold dear could be here to witness it. As much as we'd all like to deny the fact that every day with you here is now is a miracle, we know those miracles are slowly diminishing."

Gabby took over as Colton struggled with his words, "We know your body is failing, even though we know your heart is as strong and stubborn as it always was. We're not so sure about your memory though?" She smiled at the lame joke cursing that her pithy humour was sadly lacking right now. "So...shit you know I'm horrible with mushy stuff, Dad...but you've been the glue that held us together in the toughest times. In the shittiest moments of Jewness and a lifetime of dodging Herpes better than I could, what I'm trying to say is...we love you, Dad, and...and...ah fuck it..."

With the last words, Gabby broke down completely. She turned and welcomed the embraced from Leesha, showing emotion that none of them thought was possible from the thick-skinned comedian daughter.

She let her stepmom lead her over to the couch where David lifted his blanket and sniffled quietly as his eldest daughter curled up next to him. Colton followed on his Dad's other side and opened a flat, velvet-lined jewelry box.

Inside was a white gold circular pendant with diamonds along the rim. The initials DBL were engraved in the very center, surrounded by the names of every child and grandchild. But the one that caught David's attention was the very last name...

"Bryan Irwin?" David read through tears and looked up. From across the room, Janelle kissed her husband and stood. She walked over to her Dad, kneeling at his feet and rest her head on his knee.

"Merry Christmas, daddy," Janelle whispered and kissed his knuckles on the closest hand. "Or should I say, Saba." She reached up and turned the pendant over, revealing an ultrasound photo framed within it.

Colton and Gabby each took a side of the chain and looped it around David's neck, watching as he bent his head to kiss it. "I'll always keep this close to my heart," he whispered. "...And you..." he looked down at his youngest, "You are going to be a wonderful mother."

*~*Later*~*

"Babygirl, can you help me upstairs? I need to lay down and sleep," David whispered to Leesha. The family had been watching a video Romeo had created...both sets of parents over the years from dating to marriage and all the times in between. Birth video snippets of Ethan and Ari being delivered followed by a pregnant Leesha and Julie demanding David to "hurry the fuck up". The footage went on and on as the parents curled up and held hands.

Leesha nodded Julie over with a small smile. "Hey, would you mind locking up? I'm gonna get David his medications and get him into bed for the night. Do you mind having Sam? You can leave the video going also."

"Of course," Julie replied, hugging her best friend tightly. "I'll call you when we get home, yeah?" Each of the kids stopped to hug and kiss David and Leesha, words of love and warm tears being shared.

Kiss by kiss love is a thrill ride

What goes up might take us upside down

Life ain't a merry go round

Leesha helped David to stand and led him upstairs one step at a time. Their footsteps made no sound down the carpeted hallway. As David disappeared into their bedroom, Leesha took one more look over the banister at the home that had seen fights and kisses, heartbreak and makeup sex.

Two mixed up families that had been woven so deep into each other's lives, none of them could have asked for anything better. She lowered the lights from the wall panel and listened to the TV, their daughter calling for her Daddy and her sweet giggles mixed with David's low chuckles.

She closed the door behind her, listening as giggles gave way to silence. It would be the last time that door would be closed...the last time they would enter this bedroom...the last for everything.

"Would it be inappropriate to say Merry Christmas?" David asked through the darkness.

"Not at all," Leesha replied, preparing and handing David the triple dose of medication he'd requested that morning. She dimmed the lamps to a soft orange glow they always enjoyed for the more intimate moments and pulled out another pill bottle with David's name on it.

Can't lie and won't pretend

I know what's round the band

Too late to start again

Won't take it slower

It would hurt their kids enough to lose one parent, but they were grown and she didn't want to live without her soulmate. Many would call it selfish but she'd been called worse.

So for the last week, as agreed between them both, David had endured far more pain than was necessary just to ensure his wife would be able to follow him. Sam, the hardest one to say goodbye to that night, would be safe and completely loved with Jon and Julie.

Julie was in their kitchen one day after tidying up some last minute business before the Christmas break when Leesha walked in with a handful of glassware for the dishwasher. She made it as far as the sink before hurling it into the bowl in anger.

"Honey, what's up?" Julie asked.

"I...I can't do it," she cried, "How am I going to do it?"

"Do what?" Dread filled her every fibre.

"Live without him. He's my everything. I don't want to live either if he's not here." Leesha looked pointedly at Julie. "Sam..."

Julie inhaled sharply at the realisation of what her lifelong friend was silently telling her. She understood though, after enduring Jon's accident all those years ago, she'd had the same thoughts. Blinking away the tears, she pulled Leesha into a strong embrace, "You do what you need to do, honey. I'll stand by whatever you choose to do," she whispered, "Just remember I love you both, always remember that, honey." She released Leesha and walked briskly from the room in tears.

She'd explained the situation to Colton, Gabby and Ethan when all three asked why David was refusing his pain medication. None of them agreed with the idea, but understood and swore to keep the family together when the time came.

With that comforting thought, Leesha pulled out a letter to the family, written and signed by both of them along with two framed photos and placed them on the neglected white piano. David had lost the strength to play but would often lay in their bed and request Leesha to play for him.

Let's slip right off these tracks

We'll fly or we might crash

Don't look down, don't look back

'Cause it ain't over

One frame held a photo taken by David Bergman on Jon and Julie's wedding day. Both couples holding each other and smiling for the camera, their bright faces shining with love and happiness. The second frame was of David and Leesha the first night they'd met backstage, snuggled up for the camera and blissfully unaware of what their future had in store.

Leesha swallowed the pills after helping David with his and crawled into that big bed together one last time. She pulled the covers over them and cradled her husband in her arms, stroking his pale cheek.

"Alicia?" David whispered, calling his wife by her birth name for the first time in decades.

"Yeah?"

David clutched the pendant around his neck with as much strength as his body could spare. "Did I ever tell you that when I first saw you, I fell head over heels in love with you?" His eyes sparkled up at her.

Hold on tight, slide a little closer

Up so high stars are on our shoulders

Time flies by, don't close your eyes

Leesha's hot tears streamed down her cheeks. "N..no..."

"I knew that night I wanted you in my life and I've never been wrong." David's body shook with his own silent tears, his thumb running along the engraving of his children and grandchildren's names. "Through everything...I never stopped loving you, woman..." His voice was slowly getting quieter and weaker.

"David, I love you...I'm scared..." Leesha cried as her chest started to tighten, starting to feel drowsy. "My soulflame...my forever...Don't leave me..."

David looked up into his wife's eyes, welcoming one last deep kiss from her trembling lips. "Don't be afraid, my love. I'll be waiting for you on the other side. You'll know where to find me...you always have. I love you so much...to the moon and back."

His eyes slipped closed and Leesha held him as she sobbed, the last ghost of David's breath on her neck as her world slowly slipped into the warm, comfortable embrace of nothingness.

Kiss by kiss love is a thrill ride

What goes up might take us upside down

Life ain't a merry go round

Final Scene

Letter being read voiceover style by L&D

Start at Master bedroom...Leesha and David laying lifeless with each other

View sweeps around the room from piano to dresser, showing L&D's wedding photo

Pan out to the hallway and show family photos

Down the spiral staircase into the lounge

Tv playing video of family at pool party

Pan into the kitchen, echos of the family laughing

Echos of David's piano playing

Out the front door into overhead vision of mansion

Master room lamp goes out

House is dark, view pans away to show the thick forest surroundings

Snow starts falling heavier and swirls with the wind...Loud roll of thunder

Fades to black

*~*~*

To our family...Bryans, Bongiovis and Samboras

Well we made it to Christmas Eve. It was touch and go for a while, but we grit our teeth and got there.

We know this isn't the Christmas present you were expecting but we wanted to leave with happiness and love in our hearts and treasured memories in yours. You've made this final night beautiful beyond compare.

Please know that this is the hardest thing we've ever had to do! Here goes....

To our dear friends, Richie and Becca, please know we've appreciated your love and support all these years. We're asking you to extend that love and support to our families now. They will need your strength over the next few days.

Becca, you've been the best thing to come into Richie's life and we love you for pulling him together when he needed it the most. You've both created a beautiful family.

Richie, my brother, even though we didn't always see eye to eye over the years, I know you've had our backs when we've needed you, as I have had yours. Stay strong, my friend....D.

To the children...know that each and every one of you were loved from the moments you blessed our lives. You've made us the proudest parents, aunt and uncle, grandparents... ever to have lived. We love you in eternity and will be watching over you until the day we meet again.

To Jon...My brother and best friend...You've been there through heaven and hell. Even though we've had moments of betrayal, anger, and sadness, somehow we made it through. We know you'll look after Sam and guide him on the path of life.

To Julie...My dearest sister...tell the kids about how we used to be. Happy and healthy, a couple of strong women that loved adventure and weren't afraid to fight for them. Share with them the tears we shed and great times we had.

Share with Sam about David's legacy and how he wanted that legacy to continue. Enclosed is our joint Last Will and Testament. Please ensure our wishes are carried out. We also had a new birth certificate issued for Sam under Samuel John Bryan Bongiovi. Both David and Jon are listed as the Fathers.

We do this final act as one, with open hearts and sound minds. Tell the authorities and the world we went peacefully and together.

We love you all. Please forgive us.

David and Alicia Bryan

December 24, 2043

PS We'll say hi to Hugh, Alec and Tico for you, boys. Just listen for the thunder....