A/N: This is my first fanfic...well, technically it's my second. I started writing one about Robert Downey Jr a few years back, and it was actually going quite well until my computer crashed and I lost it all before I had posted it anywhere...but anyway...so please be nice ^_^
I haven't written anything other than this prologue. I've worked most of it out in my head, so I know where it's going, but I'm not the greatest writer in the world (and I totally suck with sex scenes...I've never actually written one before, so don't expect too much in that department
), so I just hope I can get my vision across properly.
So, without further delay...
----------
JUNE 2007
He stood watching her through the kitchen window as she moved boxes from her car to the garage. He couldn't really see her face for the shades she was wearing, but she was gorgeous, he thought. She looked to be in her late 30's, shoulder length blonde hair, petit build, long slender legs, and all the right curves in all the right places. He smiled to himself, he definitely wanted to meet this girl. He had just come home from what seemed like a lifetime in the UK, though it had only been a few days, to find he had a new next door neighbour. He didn't even know the place had been for sale. That didn't surprise him though, everything had been so hectic these last few months and he'd hardly spent any time at home, there was probably lots going on around him that he hadn't really noticed.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a car horn, followed by the woman yelling "Sam!". He looked back out to see a little boy, no older than 7 or 8, running from the car and into the house, figuring he was probably her son.
Great, he thought,
I guess that means she's taken. He sighed and made his way out the door, deciding it was time to meet his new neighbours.
As he came to the boot of the car he could see she was struggling with a rather large box, "Need a hand there?" he asked as he grabbed hold of one side. She hadn't seen him coming, and she still couldn't see his face over the box, but she thanked him graciously as they moved to the garage. They placed it on the ground and she took off her shades to greet this friendly stranger. She seemed surprised at first, which he was used to, but then he saw confusion, and even a little fear, "Ri-Richie?" she asked nervously. He smiled and extended his hand, "Richie Sambora..."
So she knows who you are...she probably knows how screwed up your life has been lately too. "I live next door, just thought I'd come by and welcome you to the neighbourhood".
The look on her face had gone from confusion and fear to amusement, she smiled and took his hand, "You don't recognise me, do you?". Now it was his turn to look confused, "Sorry darlin', should I?". She pretended to look hurt and took a step toward him, "I would hope so! Giants Stadium, June 11th 1989, I was in the front row and you winked at me..."
Oh, right, he thought, looking less confused,
why are the beautiful ones always crazy? "...didn't you feel the connection then?" she took another step toward him so they were just inches apart, "Don't you feel it now?", "I sure feel something" he laughed to himself. As much as he wanted to turn and run, he couldn't tear his eyes away from hers, there was something so familiar about them.
She threw her head back and laughed, "Richie! It's me, Rose..." she said shaking her head in disbelief at the fact that he hadn't recognised her. "Rose?" it took him a second, "Rosie! Jesus, how long's it been? 20 years?" he wrapped her in a big hug. "Not quite..." she laughed, "...more like 15, I think". "I'm sorry I didn't recognise you, you look so different with that" he looked at her hair. As far as he knew, she was a brunette. "Oh yeah...just wanted to try something different, but I'm not so sure I like it anymore". "It looks good, you look...really good" he said, looking her up and down. Rose rolled her eyes, "I knew someone was checking me out through that window". Richie shrugged his shoulders and grinned, "If I'd known it was you I would have come over sooner too".
"So..." he began, "...looks like you've done pretty well for yourself" he had finally taken in the full view of the house. It was pretty magnificent. She laughed again, "I wish I could say I'd worked hard for it. Truth is, there was a nice big trust fund waiting for me when I turned 21...it's pretty much been sitting there this whole time". Richie wriggled his eyebrows, "Politicians aren't so bad afterall, huh?", "Oh, I wouldn't go that far..." she smiled, "...he deserved more credit than I gave him though, I know that now...but try telling that to a stubborn 17 year old", "I did, a few times actually", "Yeah, yeah".
"Do you want to come in for coffee?" Rose asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. Richie frowned, "I can't, I've got to be somewhere in..." he looked at his watch,
fuck, "...2 minutes ago, Jon's gonna kill me", "Some things never change" Richie smiled, "Why don't ya come, I know he'd love to see you too, and he might not be so pissed", "You know I'd love to, but I can't, I've got..." she looked back into the house "Your son" he finished for her. "How'd you-" "I saw him when he honked the horn...where's his Dad?" Richie asked, not sure what kind of answer he was looking for. "If I ever find him, I'll let you know" she answered in an almost nonchalant way. Richie gave her a questioning look, "He took off when Sam was born..." Rose explained "...I've heard from him once or twice, but I haven't seen him in almost 8 years. His parents have really been there for Sam though, I don't know how I would have coped without them".
Richie felt a combination of anger and guilt. He wasn't sure where the guilt was coming from, but he knew exactly where the anger was coming from. "It was Jack wasn't it, that son of a bitch", "Rich, don-" "I knew he wasn't good enough for you" he realised where the guilt was coming from,
I should have never let him take you away from me. "Richie, please...", "I'm sorry, he just...that guy really got under my skin" Rose raised her eyebrows, "And everybody knew it".
"You should get going, or Jon might kill you for real this time...and we wouldn't that", "Definitely not" Richie paused for a second, "What are you doing later?" Rose looked at all the boxes in her garage, and then at the few that were still taking up space in her car, she put her arms out, "This...unpacking, for the next year or so, by the looks of things". Richie chuckled, "How 'bout I pick you up for lunch, we'll go somewhere, catch up?" Rose looked back at the house again, "Wha-", "Bring Sam too", "OK" she nodded. "Great, I'll be back around 1..." he started down the driveway, "Rich" Rose called after him, "Yeah?", "It's really good to see you again". He smiled and made his way back to her, "It's really good to see you too..." he leaned down and kissed her forehead "...Miss Rosie...I'll see you later".