Hello, Lovelies, 

Thank you so much for reading Jaded.  It's the holidays here.  Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate.  I won't keep you long but I do hope you enjoy this chapter.  If you do, please let me know.  I adore you all.  

-XXXX Amanda 

**********

October 3, 1981

I stood in the room I had rented for Tammy's viewing. Even though it was only me and my band members who would come pay their respects to my sister, I was determined to give her a proper funeral. I wanted to give her one fucking thing that proved that her life was worth something to someone.

I swallowed glancing around the room, noticing the tears of my friends. They loved her to and somehow, that made me feel better. She was loved by more than me. I was loved by more than her.

Still, I was bitter from having my blood family ripped from me. In that, I was alone and there was no fixing it. I turned back to Tammy, her face pale in sleep and exhibiting more peace than she ever hand in life.

I leaned over her casket a tear dropping onto her cheek but I didn't remove it. She couldn't cry anymore so I would cry for her. My lips trembled as I kissed my fingers and then pressed it to her lips, realizing how they felt like plastic. It was that which broke me because I realized she was no longer there. She was gone.

Sobs broke through me bursting from my chest as I trembled. There was no one who shared my blood on this earth. In that, I was alone. Micah's arms moved around my shoulders.

"It's okay, Tommy," He whispered, his voice hoarse with his own tears, "You aren't alone. We're here and we aren't going anywhere."

I raised my head, meeting his eyes. Micah had been alone. The only people in the room who shared a familial link were Kevin and Dave. I swallowed as I nodded my head, thankful for them more than I could express. Without them, I would be utterly and truly alone.

"You're our family, Tommy," Kevin said, his eyes dark with pain, "So was she. Maybe we don't share the same blood but we share loyalty and love. That's more than many people who share blood."

"I know it is," I said, because I knew what hell Dave and Kevin had been through to end in foster care. Jax and Micah hadn't had any better, "You are my family. You are the only family I have left."

"One day we'll have wives and children of our own and they'll be a part of our family too," he said, his eyes shining with the only hope in this room.

I sighed, hoping he was right and one day I would get that blood link back in the form of my own children but even when that happened, Micah, Kevin, Dave and Jax would always remain my family.

*************

November 3, 1982

Liza and I had boarded a plane to Georgia to meet with her brother, Nicky at the same group home I had stayed in. Mrs. Jones met us at the door, a smile moving over her face.

"There's one of my boys," she said, her eyes twinkling as I hugged her. She pulled back to pat my cheek, "I'm proud of you and the other boys too."

She turned to Liza, her smile becoming even brighter, "Aren't you a pretty one?" she said, tilting her head, studying her face, "I can see the resemblance between you and Nicky."

"Is he okay?" Liza asked her voice trembling as I gripped her hand tighter in mine, trying to give her comfort.

Mrs. Jones smile faltered, "He's been through a lot," she said, glancing at me as I worried my lip afraid he had been hurt the same way I had...the same way Liza had, "Physical and emotional abuse. He's just starting to come out of his shell. He is looking forward to meeting you. Don't be surprised if he's a little skittish."

"Which room did you put him in?" I asked, curious about his interests.

She smiled, "Music," she said, sighing, "He picked up the same guitar Micah played."

"Micah will be happy to hear that," I said, rolling my eyes, "He'll be his favorite uncle."

Mrs. Jones chuckled, "I'm so glad you boys are still so close," she said, glancing toward Liza, "Are you ready to meet Nicky?"

Liza nodded, a tremble sliding through her, "More than ready," she said, her blue eyes wide with fear and hope.

"Follow me, Sweetheart," Mrs. Jones said, leading us down the familiar corridors to the room I once shared with boys that later became my band and my family. Mrs. Jones knocked on the door and a blond headed boy with Liza's blue eyes opened the door. He raised one eyebrow but I noticed his hands shaking.

"Nicky, this is your sister, Liza," Mrs. Jones said, softly. Nicky's eyes moved over her, nodding once.

"I really don't know what to say," he said, shifting, "I mean...Do I say nice to meet you or do I say hi? What do I say in this situation?"

Liza shook her head as a grin slid over her face, "I don't know," she said, her eyes losing some of their fear, "We'll start with hi."

"Hi, I'm Nicky Tate," he said, giving her a relieved smile.

"Hi, Nicky," Liza said, putting out her hand, "I'm Liza...Liza Tate and this is my fiancé, Tommy Slasor."

Nicky's eyes moved to me again, "You're from Jaded mind, right?"

"That's my band," Tommy said, nodding.

"Man, they rock!" he said, glancing at Liza, "And you're going to marry him."

"Yes," Liza said, smiling, "And we want to adopt you."

He swallowed as he glanced back at the two boys sitting on the bed, "I-I want to, but I can't leave James and Zac. They're like my brothers."

I glanced at Mrs. Jones and I tilted my chin toward the hallway to speak to her. She grinned, a knowing glint in her eyes, "You knew."

"I know they need a family just like you did," she said, sighing, "And unfortunately, the state is shutting down this home. Those boys will be separated anyway but Nicky is determined to keep them together."

"Are they all up for adoption?" I asked, raising my brows.

"They are," she said, glancing at me with hope shining in her eyes.

"One moment," I said, turning to Liza, "Liza, can you come here for a moment?"

She nodded, walking toward me, her eyes dark with distress, "Nicky won't leave without the other two boys," I said and she nodded, tears gathering in her eyes, "So, I guess we'll have to take them with us."

She blinked, "What?"

"Unless you don't want to adopt them?" I said, but she threw herself into my arms.

"I do," she said, turning in my arms to face the boys.

"Nicky, we still would like to adopt you but now, we would like to adopt James and Zac too," I said and Nicky nodded.

"I would like that," he said, frowning, "But won't it be hard to adopt us all."

I shook my head, "Mrs. Jones will help us but I think it will go smoothly."

"Thank you," Nicky said, his eyes wide as the hope the world tried to extinguish lit back into his eyes.

**********

Liza was quiet as we made our way to the airport, her brows furrowing as she took in the landscape. I reached for her hand as worry gnawed through me. She turned to me, blinking.

"What's wrong, Liza?" I asked, frowning as I took in her face.

"Nothing is wrong," she whispered, "It's just...I know that we can't adopt them until we're married. So, I wondered how we were going to do that so soon."

I smiled, "How sure are you that you want to marry me?" I asked, my lips twitching.

"I'm positive," she said, her brow raising.

"Well, We have a show in Las Vegas in a week," I said, waiting for her reaction. Slowly, a smile spread across her face.

"You want to marry that quickly?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"Well, it's not quick in Vegas," I said, chuckling, "Some people marry after twenty-four hours of meeting there."

She nodded, "Are you sure?"

"I am more sure that I want to spend my life with you than anything else in my life," I said, caressing her cheek, "It's up to you."

She kissed me before staring in my eyes, "Then, let's get married in Vegas."