3

Jon needed to get away, he needed to reboot and just be Jon.  He didn't want to be identified as Beth's husband, didn't want to be identified as Jon Bon Jovi.  He simply wanted to be a dad and to spend time with his children.  All 6 of them.

The tour ended on a high with sold out show after sold out show.  Bon Jovi went out on top like they always do, but Jon and Beth's divorce managed to snag all the headlines.   They are fighting over everything right down to the ownership of certain properties, household items and even visitation over the twins.  It's finalization is just a few weeks away.  

Jon planned a trip for himself and all of the kids.  Stephanie and Jesse didn't want to go, they couldn't miss that much school.  So, Jon takes Pete and goes without them.  He needs some beach time, so he booked the private island in St. Bart's, has his flight plan filed and away they go.  Jon, Jake, Romeo, Brianna, Jon Spencer and Pete on their way to St. Bart's while Beth plays with grapes in California. 

Entering the bungalow on the island, Jon takes out his phone and sends Beth a text.  We made it.  He was just letting her know that they arrived and that they were all safe.  That's something that they agreed to in mediation, keeping one another abreast of what's going on with the kids.  He presses send, tucks his phone back in his pocket and helps Pete with the kids and the bags.  Their communication has been almost non existent unless it involved the children.  Most of it was done through text or with quick phone calls.

After they unpack and gather beach things, that's exactly where they go.  He needs sand between his toes and warm salt water on his face.  He needs something to wash all of his worries and cares away.  He's struggling with the divorce and fears the outcome but he knows he's doing the right thing.  

As they walk down the driveway of the bungalow Jon sees a couple of paparazzi at the end.  He knew it was inevitable, he just didn't want them hounding the children.  Paying for a private island only meant that there wouldn't be hundreds of fans and even more paparazzi following them.  The price of the island's privacy was well worth it in Jon's mind.  

Pete takes the kids and goes ahead of Jon.  They only need to walk down the driveway and cross the street to get to the beach.  It was so close, but so far away.  Pete gets the children passed the paparazzi, without incident.  Jon lags behind, making sure that their focus was on him, that's what they wanted.

He hears one of the paparazzi say, "Jon is your wife okay?  We heard the crash was pretty bad."

Jon stops and thinks for a minute, having no idea what the guy is talking about.  "What?" he asks with an anger like fear in his voice.

"Beth, is she okay?  We heard the accident was pretty bad."

"What accident?" he hates to ask, but has to know.  Jon doesn't like learning anything from the paparazzi.

"She was in a car accident in Napa."

"When?" he's digging his phone out of his pocket, thoughts all jumbled in his head.  Without waiting for an answer, with his bag over his shoulder, he crosses the street to find Pete.

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He finds his loyal friend sitting on the edge of the water watching the twins play.  They are splashing each other having a great time.  Jake and Romeo are out on surf boards paddling their way away from shore.  "Hey." he says to Pete, not wanting to startle her as he walks up to her.

"Hi." she smiles, looking up at him.

"When is the last time you talked to Beth?" his thoughts are even more scrambled.

Pete thinks about his question, "Yesterday I think, why?  Is she giving you trouble?"

Jon shakes his head no, "The rat squad just said that she was in a terrible car accident and now she's not answering her phone."

Pete jumps to her feet, "Is she okay?"

"I don't know."  his attention goes back to his phone, attempting to call Beth again.  "They said it was in Napa and it was bad."

Pete can see that he's scared, she can feel his tension.  She reaches over and rubs his arm, "She's okay Jon, if she wasn't someone would have called you."

He continues to call Beth.  His calls go right to voicemail.  "I don't know what to do." he simply states.  

"You need to do what you know you're going to do." Lupetta knows him like she would know her own father or her own brother, she knows exactly what's going to happen.  She's going to be with the kids on vacation in St. Bart's, without Jon.  

"We're almost divorced.  It's not my thing anymore."

"But you still love her, Jon."

Jon looks up at her, inhales deeply and says, "I do, but I can't keep running to her Pete."

"This isn't one of her antics, she's been in an accident."  His heart is beating and his hands are getting sweaty.  His memories throw him back to the accident in the Bahamas, the accident that they were in in New Jersey and the trauma that was inflicted on her at the hands of Dalton.  What if she hurt?  What if she needs him?  "The plane is here Jon, just go."