Always There, chapter 73
After the wedding, Billie Joe and Maria headed for a limo together as man and wife. The driver took them for a drive around the Berkeley and Oakland area before they headed over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge into the city where they were escorted to a club that had been rented out for their own private wedding reception. Other family and friends that couldn't make it to the actual ceremony showed up for the reception, bearing gifts for the newlyweds...and for the cake, of course.
As soon as Billie Joe and Maria arrived, The Transplants were set up on the stage, which was a surprise to the groom. With Travis Barker on the drums, he did a drum roll as Tim Armstrong announced the couple as they entered.
"The man and woman of the day, Billie Joe and Maria Armstrong. Let's hear it for the bride and groom!" Tim cheered, raising his glass of something alcoholic.
Guests congratulated the two of them and made small talk before everyone found a seat at a table where caterers appeared to take orders for dinner. And when the meal arrived, everyone took advantage of every chance they got to take their spoons or forks or knives and clank them against the glasses, signaling for the bride and groom to stop what they were doing an kiss.
And of course Billie Joe and Maria happily obliged.
Then there was the toast from Mike, as the Best Man. He stood up with his glass of rum and coke, and turned to the loving couple with a proud smile on his face.
"Fifteen years ago, there was a 20-year-old poor as all fuck guitar player who was pretty much as dorky as they come, yet also very kickass," Mike began with a smirk. "Now, unbeknownst to him, one floor up at this party he went to after playing a gig at 924 Gilman Street, there was this 20-year-old girl who was studious, yet wild. Beautiful and determined. As was the guy. By mistake, the dumbass that the guy was walked into the girl's room, thinking it was the bathroom. Because he was drunk. They ended up talking, and slowly, they hit it off. And then took a few hits."
Everyone cracked up at that, even Billie Joe and Maria, remembering that night clear as day.
"And so it seemed that every day after that night, the two of them were inseparable. Sometimes it was nauseating, and not because they were overly lovey dovey. But because everyone who looked upon this young couple was befallen with envy, wishing they were lucky enough to have what they had," Mike continued. "And of course, as life seems to go, all good things come to an end. But no story is ever completely finished. Because there's always sequels. Part twos. To be continueds."
Billie Joe looked at Maria, squeezed her hand and leaned over to whisper something in her ear that went unheard to anyone but her. She smiled at whatever he said and they both looked back up at Mike.
"They parted ways; she flew the coup, so to speak, and he walked a lonely road. But their bond produced a beautiful life, sort of like a souvenir. Sure, they continued on their separate paths, starting separate families, but when something's good, when something takes a hold of your heart, you can't walk away very far. It calls back to you and the only thing you can do is give in. When it comes to love, its all or nothing," Mike rambled, quite poetically. "Billie Joe, you're my best friend, and you have been for twenty-five years, and will be for another twenty-five and then some. Maria, you were always a beacon for Billie Joe. That light to call him home when fate saw it fit. I welcome you into our surrogate family with open arms, once again. And I wish you both the best the world can offer. I wish you health, more wealth and may you have a dozen more children."
"Oh God," Maria muttered with a laugh, covering her face with her hand.
"To Billie Joe and Maria," Mike toasted.
"Salud!" Tre added for everyone hear.
"Cheers!" everyone exclaimed, raising their glasses to the happy couple.
* * *
Not long after the toast, Billie Joe led Maria to the dance floor when Tim Armstrong announced it was time for the bride and groom's first dance together as a married couple.
As soon as they snaked their arms around each other, body pressed against body, The Transplants broke out into their own version of Puddle Of Mudd's 'Blurry.' They moved so fluidly together, as if they were literally one person, and not just metaphorically. He twirled her around, then leaned her back in a slight dip, leaning forward to press his lips against her throat and lay little kisses up her neck as he pulled her back up, settling with a kiss on the lips.
Pressing their cheeks together, they danced a little closer so that there was no room for sign of a gap between their bodies, as if they were welded together.
When the dance came to an end, they brought their kids out onto the dance floor; Olivia, Joey, Ben, Jakob, Nate and Hazel. With Hazel in Billie Joe's arms, they all danced in a circle to The Transplants' version 'Sweet Child Of Mine.' There was also the father-daughter dance with Maria and Enrique to which they danced to 'Daughters' by John Mayer, also covered by The Transplants. But it wasn't just Maria and Enrique on the dance floor. Mike was dancing with Estelle, Tre with Ramona, Catcher with Kelly, and of course Billie Joe with Olivia and Hazel.
Dancing continued on throughout the night, but there were breaks as well for things like the cutting of the wedding cake, throwing of the bouquet, which Claudia ended up catching, and throwing of the garter, which Tre caught...somehow with his teeth.
Then, finally, the night drew to a close.
Guests began to leave in clumps, but one person arrived that surprised the newlyweds a little.
Adrienne.
She sauntered into the club in a simple pair of jeans and a nice blouse. She'd cut off her dreadlocks and was sporting a pixie cut, which didn't completely compliment her face, but she was able to slightly pull off.
Walking up to Billie Joe and Maria before they left for their limo, she shoved her hands in her pockets and offered a smile.
"Congratulations," she said to them both.
After a quick moment of hesitation, Billie nodded and smiled a little in return. "Thanks," he replied. "It means a lot."
Adrienne looked Maria over and sighed. "You look very pretty."
That caught the bride off guard. "I do?" she questioned, unsure of Adrienne's motives.
"Yeah," Adrienne insisted. Holding out her hand she sighed once more until Maria took it. They shook and when Adrienne noted the questioning look on the bride and groom's faces, she shrugged. "I'm not gonna lie and say I'm completely happy for you two, but considering it's your special day, I'm not gonna be a bitch. I'm still bitter about all of this, and I'm not sure how long I will be, but I'm sure that over time, we can put this behind us and move on with our lives."
Billie Joe smiled and stepped forward, giving Adrienne a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Adi."
She pulled back and nodded. "You're welcome. I, uh...I saw your mom leave with your kids," she began, looking at Maria this time. "Hazel's getting big already. And, um, Olivia sure is becoming really pretty."
"She's gonna be in the high school next year," Billie Joe commented lamely.
"Yeah, I realized. And, uh...I know you said you planned on moving back to the area sometime during the summer and I was thinking that when you do, the kids are welcome to come over. I know Hazel's a little young, but if Olivia, Ben or Nate ever want to come over for a visit or even to sleep over with Joey and Jakob, I think that'd be nice. They all get along with each other really well."
"I think they'd like that. I mean, your sons and mine are stepbrothers now. It's all relative," Maria smirked.
"Yeah, well..." Adrienne trailed off a little. "I came to wish you well and to pick up Joey and Jakob."
"Oh, yeah. Alright," Billie Joe nodded. He called his sons over and gave them each a hug and a kiss, and they even did the same to Maria. As they began to leave with their mom, all three waved and walked out the front door, leaving the newlyweds to stand side by side.
"Huh," Maria muttered. "I was not expecting that in the least."
"Tell me about it. To say it was a relief she didn't rip me a new one is an understatement."
Maria smiled as she linked her arm through Billie Joe's resting her head on his shoulder. "So...can we go start our honeymoon now?"
* * *
The limo had taken Billie Joe and Maria to one of San Francisco's finest hotels for the night; sort of like a layover before they flew to the Kuaui for their actual honeymoon the following day.
And it didn't take them long to jump into bed, either.
As soon as they were in their hotel suite, Billie Joe pulled her dress off over her head with a fervor she hadn't seen before. And she liked it. Stripping her of everything she wore on her body, the punk rocker picked up his wife and tossed her into bed like a manly man.
"Time to consummate this marriage," he grinned.
"Please be gentle. I'm a virgin, y'know," Maria joked.
Billie Joe laughed as climbed onto the bed and threw off his tuxedo jacket, undid the cummerbund and tie, throwing all to the floor. Maria sat up to help him out of his dress shirt and to undo his pants, her fingers fumbling with anticipation.
It was exciting.
Sure, they'd probably had sex a thousand and one times by now, or more, but this was different. This would be their first time together as husband and wife.
Foreplay and the actual act of making love took all but a half hour but it felt like an eternity to the two of them. A wonder eternity. And when it was over, they'd never felt so relaxed in their lives.
When Maria collapsed onto his chest, she laid her head on his collar bone and let out a satiated sigh. "Married sex is just as fun."
"If not funner."
"More fun," she corrected.
"Mmhmm..." he smiled. They let a moment of silence wrap around them as they laid there, feeling each other's heart beat through their chests. "Maria?"
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering..."
"About?"
"I know you don't want me to bring up Mitch now of all times, just like I don't either, but given his condition and whatnot...I, uh...you know I love your boys like my own, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well...I was thinking that maybe I could adopt them as my own. I mean, that's if you think it's okay, and if they want me to. They should have a say in it. But Mitch won't be here for them for at most twenty years. And I'm pretty much gonna be their dad anyway now...so, I was just---"
"I think that'd be wonderful. I could get in contact with Mitch and talk it over with him," Maria said with a smile in her voice. "He'd have to understand."
"I hope so. But, um...whatever happens with that, I did something for them...or for you. Or me, even."
"What'd you do?"
Gently rolling Maria off his chest, Billie Joe sat up and pointed to his right and left ankles where their was a single wing on each one, similar to that of Hermes, the mythical messanger to the Greek gods and goddesses. The wing on his right ankle had the name Benjamin written inside, and the wing on the left ankle had the name Nathan written inside.
"Oh, that's so sweet."
"I had it done two nights ago when Mike and Tre 'kidnaped' me," he said, making air quotes with his fingers and smiling.
Maria smiled back and scooted up to him, sitting in his lap; wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
"I got a surprise for you, too."
"Ooh, you do?" he asked as she nodded. "What is it?" he wondered, rubbing his nose against hers.
Hesitating with an impish smile, Maria leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I'm pregnant."
As soon as Billie Joe and Maria arrived, The Transplants were set up on the stage, which was a surprise to the groom. With Travis Barker on the drums, he did a drum roll as Tim Armstrong announced the couple as they entered.
"The man and woman of the day, Billie Joe and Maria Armstrong. Let's hear it for the bride and groom!" Tim cheered, raising his glass of something alcoholic.
Guests congratulated the two of them and made small talk before everyone found a seat at a table where caterers appeared to take orders for dinner. And when the meal arrived, everyone took advantage of every chance they got to take their spoons or forks or knives and clank them against the glasses, signaling for the bride and groom to stop what they were doing an kiss.
And of course Billie Joe and Maria happily obliged.
Then there was the toast from Mike, as the Best Man. He stood up with his glass of rum and coke, and turned to the loving couple with a proud smile on his face.
"Fifteen years ago, there was a 20-year-old poor as all fuck guitar player who was pretty much as dorky as they come, yet also very kickass," Mike began with a smirk. "Now, unbeknownst to him, one floor up at this party he went to after playing a gig at 924 Gilman Street, there was this 20-year-old girl who was studious, yet wild. Beautiful and determined. As was the guy. By mistake, the dumbass that the guy was walked into the girl's room, thinking it was the bathroom. Because he was drunk. They ended up talking, and slowly, they hit it off. And then took a few hits."
Everyone cracked up at that, even Billie Joe and Maria, remembering that night clear as day.
"And so it seemed that every day after that night, the two of them were inseparable. Sometimes it was nauseating, and not because they were overly lovey dovey. But because everyone who looked upon this young couple was befallen with envy, wishing they were lucky enough to have what they had," Mike continued. "And of course, as life seems to go, all good things come to an end. But no story is ever completely finished. Because there's always sequels. Part twos. To be continueds."
Billie Joe looked at Maria, squeezed her hand and leaned over to whisper something in her ear that went unheard to anyone but her. She smiled at whatever he said and they both looked back up at Mike.
"They parted ways; she flew the coup, so to speak, and he walked a lonely road. But their bond produced a beautiful life, sort of like a souvenir. Sure, they continued on their separate paths, starting separate families, but when something's good, when something takes a hold of your heart, you can't walk away very far. It calls back to you and the only thing you can do is give in. When it comes to love, its all or nothing," Mike rambled, quite poetically. "Billie Joe, you're my best friend, and you have been for twenty-five years, and will be for another twenty-five and then some. Maria, you were always a beacon for Billie Joe. That light to call him home when fate saw it fit. I welcome you into our surrogate family with open arms, once again. And I wish you both the best the world can offer. I wish you health, more wealth and may you have a dozen more children."
"Oh God," Maria muttered with a laugh, covering her face with her hand.
"To Billie Joe and Maria," Mike toasted.
"Salud!" Tre added for everyone hear.
"Cheers!" everyone exclaimed, raising their glasses to the happy couple.
* * *
Not long after the toast, Billie Joe led Maria to the dance floor when Tim Armstrong announced it was time for the bride and groom's first dance together as a married couple.
As soon as they snaked their arms around each other, body pressed against body, The Transplants broke out into their own version of Puddle Of Mudd's 'Blurry.' They moved so fluidly together, as if they were literally one person, and not just metaphorically. He twirled her around, then leaned her back in a slight dip, leaning forward to press his lips against her throat and lay little kisses up her neck as he pulled her back up, settling with a kiss on the lips.
Pressing their cheeks together, they danced a little closer so that there was no room for sign of a gap between their bodies, as if they were welded together.
When the dance came to an end, they brought their kids out onto the dance floor; Olivia, Joey, Ben, Jakob, Nate and Hazel. With Hazel in Billie Joe's arms, they all danced in a circle to The Transplants' version 'Sweet Child Of Mine.' There was also the father-daughter dance with Maria and Enrique to which they danced to 'Daughters' by John Mayer, also covered by The Transplants. But it wasn't just Maria and Enrique on the dance floor. Mike was dancing with Estelle, Tre with Ramona, Catcher with Kelly, and of course Billie Joe with Olivia and Hazel.
Dancing continued on throughout the night, but there were breaks as well for things like the cutting of the wedding cake, throwing of the bouquet, which Claudia ended up catching, and throwing of the garter, which Tre caught...somehow with his teeth.
Then, finally, the night drew to a close.
Guests began to leave in clumps, but one person arrived that surprised the newlyweds a little.
Adrienne.
She sauntered into the club in a simple pair of jeans and a nice blouse. She'd cut off her dreadlocks and was sporting a pixie cut, which didn't completely compliment her face, but she was able to slightly pull off.
Walking up to Billie Joe and Maria before they left for their limo, she shoved her hands in her pockets and offered a smile.
"Congratulations," she said to them both.
After a quick moment of hesitation, Billie nodded and smiled a little in return. "Thanks," he replied. "It means a lot."
Adrienne looked Maria over and sighed. "You look very pretty."
That caught the bride off guard. "I do?" she questioned, unsure of Adrienne's motives.
"Yeah," Adrienne insisted. Holding out her hand she sighed once more until Maria took it. They shook and when Adrienne noted the questioning look on the bride and groom's faces, she shrugged. "I'm not gonna lie and say I'm completely happy for you two, but considering it's your special day, I'm not gonna be a bitch. I'm still bitter about all of this, and I'm not sure how long I will be, but I'm sure that over time, we can put this behind us and move on with our lives."
Billie Joe smiled and stepped forward, giving Adrienne a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Adi."
She pulled back and nodded. "You're welcome. I, uh...I saw your mom leave with your kids," she began, looking at Maria this time. "Hazel's getting big already. And, um, Olivia sure is becoming really pretty."
"She's gonna be in the high school next year," Billie Joe commented lamely.
"Yeah, I realized. And, uh...I know you said you planned on moving back to the area sometime during the summer and I was thinking that when you do, the kids are welcome to come over. I know Hazel's a little young, but if Olivia, Ben or Nate ever want to come over for a visit or even to sleep over with Joey and Jakob, I think that'd be nice. They all get along with each other really well."
"I think they'd like that. I mean, your sons and mine are stepbrothers now. It's all relative," Maria smirked.
"Yeah, well..." Adrienne trailed off a little. "I came to wish you well and to pick up Joey and Jakob."
"Oh, yeah. Alright," Billie Joe nodded. He called his sons over and gave them each a hug and a kiss, and they even did the same to Maria. As they began to leave with their mom, all three waved and walked out the front door, leaving the newlyweds to stand side by side.
"Huh," Maria muttered. "I was not expecting that in the least."
"Tell me about it. To say it was a relief she didn't rip me a new one is an understatement."
Maria smiled as she linked her arm through Billie Joe's resting her head on his shoulder. "So...can we go start our honeymoon now?"
* * *
The limo had taken Billie Joe and Maria to one of San Francisco's finest hotels for the night; sort of like a layover before they flew to the Kuaui for their actual honeymoon the following day.
And it didn't take them long to jump into bed, either.
As soon as they were in their hotel suite, Billie Joe pulled her dress off over her head with a fervor she hadn't seen before. And she liked it. Stripping her of everything she wore on her body, the punk rocker picked up his wife and tossed her into bed like a manly man.
"Time to consummate this marriage," he grinned.
"Please be gentle. I'm a virgin, y'know," Maria joked.
Billie Joe laughed as climbed onto the bed and threw off his tuxedo jacket, undid the cummerbund and tie, throwing all to the floor. Maria sat up to help him out of his dress shirt and to undo his pants, her fingers fumbling with anticipation.
It was exciting.
Sure, they'd probably had sex a thousand and one times by now, or more, but this was different. This would be their first time together as husband and wife.
Foreplay and the actual act of making love took all but a half hour but it felt like an eternity to the two of them. A wonder eternity. And when it was over, they'd never felt so relaxed in their lives.
When Maria collapsed onto his chest, she laid her head on his collar bone and let out a satiated sigh. "Married sex is just as fun."
"If not funner."
"More fun," she corrected.
"Mmhmm..." he smiled. They let a moment of silence wrap around them as they laid there, feeling each other's heart beat through their chests. "Maria?"
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering..."
"About?"
"I know you don't want me to bring up Mitch now of all times, just like I don't either, but given his condition and whatnot...I, uh...you know I love your boys like my own, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well...I was thinking that maybe I could adopt them as my own. I mean, that's if you think it's okay, and if they want me to. They should have a say in it. But Mitch won't be here for them for at most twenty years. And I'm pretty much gonna be their dad anyway now...so, I was just---"
"I think that'd be wonderful. I could get in contact with Mitch and talk it over with him," Maria said with a smile in her voice. "He'd have to understand."
"I hope so. But, um...whatever happens with that, I did something for them...or for you. Or me, even."
"What'd you do?"
Gently rolling Maria off his chest, Billie Joe sat up and pointed to his right and left ankles where their was a single wing on each one, similar to that of Hermes, the mythical messanger to the Greek gods and goddesses. The wing on his right ankle had the name Benjamin written inside, and the wing on the left ankle had the name Nathan written inside.
"Oh, that's so sweet."
"I had it done two nights ago when Mike and Tre 'kidnaped' me," he said, making air quotes with his fingers and smiling.
Maria smiled back and scooted up to him, sitting in his lap; wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
"I got a surprise for you, too."
"Ooh, you do?" he asked as she nodded. "What is it?" he wondered, rubbing his nose against hers.
Hesitating with an impish smile, Maria leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "I'm pregnant."
