FicWad

That first email started a back and forth between myself and the Wentz children. I know the first email was from Bronx and the littles because they signed off with the three of their names. But about a week later I got an email from a different account. It was from Pete’s email. Once again the littles wanted to check in and send me pictures. This one ended with ‘Hope we see you again soon. Pete, Saint, and Marvel.’

I answered them as always with a brief email and pictures of where I was. I had made it to Oregon and was visiting with some family there.

After a few weeks of emails I got a text message with a picture. When I could pull over and park, I opened it. It was a family selfie of all four of them. The message read ‘A big hello from the W family.’

My reply was a selfie of me and the cats. And the message was ‘A big hello back from me and the boys.’

I got an instant response asking if I was available for a call. I was and let them know. Almost as soon as I had sent it I got a FaceTime call. When I answered it was all of them. The littles had been wanting to talk to me and it seemed so did Bronx and Pete. We had a lovely conversation about nothing and everything all at once. They told me all about getting ready to go on tour with the band. How excited Saint was to see his friend Declan who was Patrick’s son. The two boys were close in age and were great friends. Marvel was excited to see Joe’s girls. Pete was just excited for the tour to start. He had high hopes for the tour and expected it to go well. I told them where I was. At that time I had made it up into British Columbia, Canada. I showed them where I was. It’s beautiful up there.

After that first call, we talked more that way than through emails. When they wanted to talk to me they would text first to see if I was available. Then we normally did FaceTime. Every few days we talked. And if we all had the time, the calls usually lasted an hour or more.

I made it up to Fairbanks before the 21st of June. I spent the Summer Solstice with my friends that live in North Pole. That was also the date of the first Fall Out Boy concert. A few hours before the concert in Wrigley Field I got a text asking if I was free. Bronx called me. I was talking with the kids when Pete walked into the room the kids were in. He was dressed for the stage and he looked good.

When he realized who the kids were talking to he came over to say hi.

“Grace! Hey, good to see you.”

“Good to see you too! You look good!” I told him. And he did too. He was in black leather pants and a black mesh top with red roses on it or a sash. Couldn’t tell from the angle of my view. His long blond hair was down and he looked hyped up.

He flashed his trademark grin at me. “Thanks! Feeling a bit keyed up. This is amazing. It’s fu, er, so awesome to be starting the tour here.” He said. It was obvious he was about to say something he didn’t want the little ones to hear. Bronx and I shared a giggle at the correction.

“Hometown opening! That is awesome.” I said, smiling at him. His grin was contagious.

We talked for a little bit longer. But the room they were in was starting to fill up and they needed to go. I told Pete to have a great time and told the littles to enjoy it too. We hung up after that.

I was having a great time in Alaska. I was actually looking at places to live while I was up there. I had been to almost all fifty states by this time. Hawaii was the last state I was going to visit. I had already decided that once I had made it to the forty-nine states I could drive to, I would fly to Hawaii and stay for at least a week in one of those fancy and expensive resorts.

Even after traveling all around the country, I still haven't found a reason to stop. I hadn't found a place or a person that made me want to give up traveling. I was starting to think I never would. That wasn’t a sad thought, and it didn’t really bother me. I was happy with how I was living. I have a freedom I’d never experienced before. I didn’t have to answer to anyone. I didn’t have to run an idea by someone else before doing it. I could do what I wanted when I wanted to for the most part. I had friends all over and enjoyed seeing them when I was in their part of the country. I went back to Georgia to visit my Mom when I wanted to. Or to New York to visit my other brother and his wife. I was living my life the way I wanted to and for the first time in over forty years, I was truly happy.

I turned forty-five while I was in Alaska. I didn’t have a party, I wasn’t with my friends. I was in the backcountry by myself. But the view I had of Denali was amazing. And I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I considered it one of my best birthdays.

One Sunday afternoon, about two hours after I had posted my video for that week, I got a request for a FaceTime call from Pete. I accepted it.

Pete’s face popped up on my phone. He put his finger to his lips to shush me. And then whispered. “I want to show you something. But don’t say anything right away.” I nodded and stayed quiet.

Pete was backstage at the venue they were at that day. He turned a corner and then showed me a large group of people sitting on chairs, the floor and I think an old couch. They were watching something on a large screen in the back of the venue. Pete was showing me this when I heard and saw what everyone was watching. It was my video I had just uploaded that morning. And then I actually saw who was there. It was everyone from the band, and their families. I covered my mouth with my free hand so I wouldn’t make a sound. I wanted to squeal like a little girl.

I couldn’t see Pete because he was pointing the phone away from him. But I heard him say, “Bronx, pause that for a second.” Bronx reached over and paused the video from his laptop. Everyone there looked over at Pete.

“Everyone, meet Moon. Moon this is everyone.” He said to the group of people.

I removed my hand from my mouth and waved at them. “Hello everyone.” I said.

I got a lot of waves and hellos. Marvel bounced up and ran to Pete to wave at me. “Moony! Moony! Hi Moony!”

“Hello Miss. Marvelous! How are you?” I asked her.

“We’re watching you!” She told me excitedly and pointed to the screen.

“I see that. Did you get everyone to watch my channel?”

She grinned at me and nodded her head. I realized she had her fathers grin. “Me n’ Bronx n’ Saint did.”

Pete interrupted her and told her he wanted to let everyone else say hi. He took the phone around and introduced me to each member of the band and their families. By the end of the call I had six little ones calling me Moony, and at least two adults too. Everyone else seemed to be happy calling me Moon. Pete was still the only one to call me Grace. I was ok with that. Over the past five years I’ve grown accustomed to being called Moon. It’s strange to hear my real name most of the time.

“So, Moony, are you going to get to join us at all this summer?” Meredith asked me.

“No, I’m going to be up here all summer. I’m not gonna be able to get down there in time.” I told her and the group.

“That’s a shame. I think the girls would really like to meet you and your cats.” Laughed Marie. Joe nodded his agreement.

“I know the boys would love to meet you and Fred and George.” Patrick spoke up.

“I’d really like to meet all of you too. And the boys would be thrilled to have so many playmates.” I told them.

“Where are you now?” Bronx asked me.

“I’ll show you.” I said as I turned the phone around. I wasn’t in a town, I was pulled over on a pull out along the highway. But the view from where I was was incredible. “It’s not named, but I’m on my way to Anchorage.”

“Oh my God, it’s beautiful.” Elisa said. “How come you guys never go up there on tour?”

“Too expensive.” Her husband answered.

“Maybe we could look into it on our next tour. If we started up there and did Fairbanks and Anchorage it might be feasible.” Pete said.

“Ending a tour up there might be easier. Something to think about.” Andy said with a shrug.

Pete turned the phone back around so I could see him again. He grinned at me and said, “I thought you’d get a kick out of that.”

“I did. Thanks.” I said grinning at him.

We ended the call not too long after that. I found it a bit surreal to find out that one of my all time favorite bands watched my show with their families.

I continued to talk and email and text with the Wentz’s on a regular basis. It was about every three days that we would talk. I sent them pictures of the places I was at, and told them about the adventures I was having. Hiking, rafting, seeing new places and meeting new people. They shared lots of pictures of the activities they did. From what Pete told me once, they tried to get out and do something during the day so all the kids wouldn’t be bored and restless. Like zoos, parks, aquariums, that kind of thing.

I got calls and texts from just Pete from time to time. We chatted about different things, not just the kids. We had our own grownup conversations. They were fun and friendly. He’s a decent guy and interesting to talk to. The first time he called me alone I was a bit surprised. I wasn’t expecting it as the kids were usually on the call with him. But it was a good surprise and I always enjoyed our talks.

As the summer went on, Bronx ended up calling me on his own to talk more. I got the feeling that he just wanted an adult that wasn’t a parent or stepparent to talk to. And someone that shared his interests. Kind of a mentor. I filled that need for him.

He gave me a call one afternoon when they had a rest day and were staying in a hotel. The family had a suite and he had his own room. As per usual, we talked about a bunch of different things.

Then he hit me with a question I wasn't expecting. “Would you ever date a man with kids?” He asked me.

“Sure, if I met the right guy and the right kids.” I answered.

He looked thoughtful and then said, “Um, I think Dad likes you.”

“I like your Dad. I mean, I consider him a friend.” I answered.

“No. I mean. I think Dad likes likes you. You know, like in a girlfriend way.” He said earnestly.

Although Pete and I had conversations without the kids, I didn’t get the feeling that he had any feelings for me except friendship. I was just someone that he and his kids liked and they all enjoyed watching my channel.

“I don’t get that feeling. Honestly, if you kids didn’t like me so much, I doubt your Dad would talk to me.” I told Bronx.

He had a frown on his face. “That’s not true. He told me he thinks you're great.”

“You can think someone is great and not have any romantic feelings for them.”

“I know. But, Moon, you don’t understand. This last year, it's been hard on him. I’m worried about him and the kids. They like you. They really like you. And so do I.”

“Bronx, I adore you and your brother and sister. I like your Dad, I think he’s great. But I can’t date him just because you kids like me. That’s not how it works.” I said. “Besides, I don’t really live a life where dating is something that would work out. I’m traveling all the time.”

“But you can go where you want. If you wanted to, you could stay in one place. Don’t you like us?”

“It isn’t about liking you. Not at all. It’s about how your Dad and I feel about each other. And he has never given me any reason to think he has romantic feelings for me.” And if I was being honest with myself, I didn’t have those feelings for Pete. I liked him, but I hadn’t thought more about it. We’d never flirted.

“I think you could make him happy.” Bronx said after a brief moment. He didn’t give me a chance to answer him. He said good night and hung up.

I sighed and set my phone down. I was afraid I had messed up with Bronx.

My phone rang not more than fifteen minutes after Bronx hung up on me. It wasn’t Bronx, it was Pete.

I answered the FaceTime call. “Hey. What’s up?”

“What did you say to Bronx? He just came in here all upset, and said he had to talk to me. Told me I was an idiot and was fucking things up. That I needed to get my shit together and figure out what you are to me. He’s never talked to me like that before.” He sounded exasperated.

“You know your son is trying to set us up, right?” I asked.

“I, wait, what?” I couldn’t keep up with the different expressions that crossed his face. But shocked was the one that he ended up on.

“Bronx wants us to date. He’s worried about you and thinks I’d be good for you. You and the littles.” I told him.

“I, oh.” He looked down and frowned a little. Looking back at me he asked, “He’s worried about me?” He seemed very concerned.

“Yes, he is. He knows what you’ve been going through. He just wants you to be happy. He wants the kids to be happy. And he thinks I could help with that.”

“I’m sorry if he upset you with that suggestion.”

“There isn’t anything to apologize for. I’m not upset. I was just…surprised?” I took a breath and then said, “It’s just, I haven’t really thought about it. I told him I didn’t get the feeling you thought about me that way.”

He was quiet for a second. “Would it really be that hard to believe that I do have feelings for you?” He asked.

“I, huh? Do you?” I was confused. Maybe I was just so used to not looking for anything romantic with anyone I just hadn’t seen it.

“Would you believe me if I said I don’t know?” He asked. “I mean, of course I like you. But I don’t know how much. Or, I, I don’t know.”

“I think that’s fair.” I sighed and set my phone on my tripod so I didn’t have to hold it. I rubbed my face with both hands to give myself a moment to think.

“When my divorce was final, I wasn’t in any hurry to get back into dating. I figured, been there, done that. Didn’t need to do it again. I’m so used to not looking for anything from anyone.” I looked into my phone and said, “I have no idea how to feel about this.”

“Me either. But I’m gonna have to talk to Bronx about this. I wish he had talked to me.”

“He loves you so much. He’s a good kid.”

Pete smiled and said, “He really is.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. He’s only trying to help in his own way.”

“I won’t be. I should go talk to him.”

“Yeah, I think you should. Let the kids call when they want. We’ll talk in a couple of days.”

He nodded and said goodbye. I didn’t hear from any of them for a few days. When I did, it was just the kids. Saint and Marvel did most of the talking, Bronx didn’t engage much.

A few weeks after the convention with Bronx, the band was done with the North American leg of the tour. They were going to go home for just a few weeks and then they were going to Japan for a short tour over there. Just a few shows really. Bronx was going to stay with his Mom since school was going to start for him soon. And he missed his Mom and his siblings on her side.

Pete and the littles kept calling me as normal. Even the two of us were doing alright. We talked more just trying to figure out what it was we wanted in our relationship. It was nice just talking with him. I didn’t get any calls while they were in Japan. Time difference was too much. But I did get lots of emails from the kids.

Bronx and I started talking again. He apologized for the way he acted. I told him he didn’t need to apologize for how he felt. He had valid feelings and was only trying to help his Dad. I assured him I wasn’t upset at all, just a little surprised. We were back on good terms.

After the band got back from Japan, Pete called me up one evening after the kids were in bed.

We talked for a little bit about how the tour of Japan went. Then he got to the point of the call.

“When will you be back in California?” He asked me.

“I’m usually in California in the spring.” I told him.

“You won’t be back until then? Where are you now?”

“I’m in British Columbia about a day's drive from Vancouver.”

“You know, the kids would really like to see you again.”

I looked at him through the phone and asked, “Just the kids? Are they the only ones who want to see me?”

He smiled a bit shyly at me and said, “No, not just the kids. I’d like to see you too.”

“When will you be free?” I asked with a smile.

“We’re home until October.”

“Have you ever been to Pismo Beach?” I asked him.

“No, I haven’t.”

“It’s a sleepy little surf town about halfway between L.A. and San Francisco. I can be there in two weeks. Hold on, there’s a campground that’s right next to the beach. I can make a reservation online.” I told him as I opened my laptop and got online. “Looks like they’ve got lots of open slips. Want me to go ahead and grab us two? Will you be able to get the boys out of school that week?”

“They’re both doing online school this year. It’s easier with my schedule. Book the sites. We’ll be there that Saturday. Send me the address.”

I opened my email and sent him the information.

“Thanks, just got it.” He opened the email and looked it over. Then he turned his attention back to me. “This is gonna be fun. At the beach for a week. I don’t think I’ll tell Saint and Marvel. They won’t be able to focus on anything until we leave if I do. I’ll let it be a surprise.”

“I won’t say anything either. Are you gonna let Bronx know?”

“Yeah, he can keep the secret from the kids. And I’ll probably need his help to get everything together.”

“This will be fun. I think the kids will have a good time.” I said.

“Me too. I’m looking forward to seeing you.” He told me.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you too. You and the kids. I think...” I didn’t finish my thought.

“You think what?”

I smiled at him and shook my head. “Nothing. Just really happy about seeing you guys.”

He flashed me his grin and we said goodnight.

I did have some things to do before I headed to California. I had a few things I needed to pick up at my Aunt’s house in Oregon. I was starting a Merch store and had some samples coming to me. I wanted to try them out first before letting people buy them. One of the items I was having made to sell were plush versions of Fred and George. And I thought Marvel and Saint would be good testers. I also have some shirts, hats, hoodies, and stickers being made up.

I decided that I was going to spend the week with the Wentz family as a vacation. I worked overtime to get some videos ready to upload that week so I could just enjoy being with them. All I would have to do is upload the videos on Wednesday and Sunday. I wasn’t going to film anything while I was with them either.

I made my way south to Pismo Beach and ended up there the day before we planned on meeting up. I was able to get into the campground that night. It was nice to have time to set up everything before Pete and the kids arrived.

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