The Laws of Man and Nature

“Okay are you two okay to leave?” One of the policemen asked after ten minutes of waiting for a strategy to be put in place.

Nick nodded on behalf of both of us, still angry at me and himself. He held out his hands for me and pulled me up, as soon as I was visible the flashes began again. He pushed his fingers through mine as we stepped inside the circle of connected policemen.

They all walked forward together, constantly yelling ‘keep moving forward’ to one another. Everything seemed to be in slow motion although it was moving ten times faster than ever before. Press were falling over backwards in attempts to get pictures, it was insane. Nick was still unamused once we were all in the car. Silence over took the car, his family stayed quiet in the hope we would talk.

But we didn’t. We sat as far away from each other as the backseat of the people carrier would allow and completely ignored each other.

“Can we stop for Starbucks?” Kevin asked quietly, he still had Lily asleep in his arms.

“No.” Nick said glumly. “We’re not stopping, we have an army of paparazzi behind us.”

I rolled my eyes. “I want a frappachino, Kevin wants a coffee and I’m sure other people within the confines of the car would like a drink or something to eat. We can stop.” I argued, the car slowed down and halted outside of Starbucks.

“Hand Lily to me, I’ll stay with her.” Denise offered. We filed out of the car quickly while Denise and Kevin tried to move Lily into Denise’s arms.

Nick stuck close to me as the paparazzi pressed their cameras against the windows. Staff took quick action to close the shutters considering we were the only people left in the café. They took our orders happily and we took pictures with them willingly. I sat down with Joe and my frappachino while the rest of the clan all ordered.

Joe stared at me with a smile, “What?” I asked, wiping my mouth of cream to find there was none there.

“You amaze me.” He chuckled and left me on the table alone.

I watched him walk over to his family and I shrugged. I opened the internet on my Blackberry to the JB website and smirked when I read the headline.

Iowa show back on!

It was always good when I got my own way and as soon as he hit the stage he’d realise that I did this for him. Nick looked over to me, still frowning and stressed. I smiled slightly at him and jerked my head, hoping he’d come over. He sighed and ran a hand through his messed up curls. He excused himself from the conversation and came over to me.

“I’m sorry.” I told him as he sat down beside me. “Peace offering?” I tilted the straw of my plastic cup towards him and moved it around in front of his mouth.

He placed his lips around the straw and drank some, a sign of a shared peace again. Quickly he leaned forward and kissed my lips. His were still cold from the drink leaving behind a tingling sensation on my lips, I smiled at him and wiped some cream from the edge of his lip. He smiled at me and ducked his head bashfully.

“Come on kiddies! Time to be going!” Paul shouted and everyone began to file back out of the store and into the car.

Nick and I dawdled behind. I looked into his dazzling eyes hoping to capture a moment and pressed my lips to his softly. He gently placed his hand on my cheek and nuzzled his nose against mine. “I love you, so much.” He whispered into my ear and kissed my cheek.

“I love you too.”

We laced our fingers together and walked out of the café, passed the flashes and into the car. When we arrived to the hotel we were shocked to find a large group of fans waiting outside the hotel even though it was almost midnight.

I wrapped a blanket around Lily who was still sleeping in Denise’s arms and then climbed out the car. The boys headed to sign things for the fans while I helped get suitcases and baby bags out of the car with security and hotel staff. I walked past Joe who was taking pictures with fans, a girl in front of him was crying her eyes out, her mouth covered over by the camera in her hand.

“Aw, don’t cry. Come here.” Joe said smiling at her with open arms. He gave her a tight hug and rubbed her back.

I couldn’t help but smile at him and her, she grinned back at me and waved. I waved back and quickly rushed into the hotel behind Denise. I got our key from the reception and went up to our suite.

The hotel suite was familiar, I’d been in many so I knew the layout well. I dumped my case on the bed and set up the travel cot, I could help but be slightly bored but I knew that tomorrow I would be so excited and happy; even if Nick wasn’t. Once Lily was peacefully asleep in the cot I climbed into bed with Nick who had entered the suite while I settled Lily for bed.

I cuddled up to his chest and pressed my cold toes against his warm legs. He flinched but stayed still for me. In the dark room I couldn’t see his face but he gently stroked my cheek letting me know he was still awake. I sighed contently and kissed his skin, enjoying the feeling of just being around him.

Maya and I sat on the front row while Paul and Denise had a granddaughter – grandparent’s day with Lily. I jumped over the barrier and onto the stage, the venue was a large stadium so they broke out the World Tour 2009 stage to make it easier for the fans to see them and for the fans to see them too.

I’d dressed pretty well today. I wore a white vest tucked into a royal blue skirt and some maroon Louboutin shoes. A faded blue cardigan dandled over my shoulders and my wedding ring shone on my finger making me smile whenever I caught a glimpse of it.

“Julia, wanna sing that new song?” Joe shouted throwing me an electric guitar.

I quickly caught it, almost dropping it. I was out of whack with the whole stage antics. I put the guitar around me and smiled, we’d become accustomed to playing and singing our new songs in front of each other. They were always the first people I went to with new songs, ones about them and not about them. Either way they always tell me the truth.

“Whoa oh?” I asked him and he nodded. Nick went behind the drums and counted us in with beats on the cymbal.

I cleared my throat as I played the introduction to the song.

I candy coat and cover everything that I'm still hiding underneath. It's been a long time. It's been a long time.
A thousand faces looking up at me hands are pointing ceiling oh what a feeling.
I've got friends in highly low places
I'll stand up push it and push it up, can't afford to lose now.
I've got friends in highly low places
I'll go inside when I wanna party, grab a girl and dance (don't touch me).

Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
Why do I put myself in these situations
Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
I keep pushing myself even though I can't take it at all

Boy, who taught you how to move like that?
At this pace your at you're going way to fast.
I, I saw you from across the room
It's me versus every girl it's your choice you choose.

I've got friends in highly low places
It's been a long time, it's been a long time
and maybe baby you can rise above the rest and meet me yeah

Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
Why do I put myself in these situations
Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
I keep pushing myself even though I can't take it at all

Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
Why do I put myself in these situations
Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
I keep pushing myself even though I can't take it at all

You're worth losing my self esteem
Your clever words mean nothing more to me than a lot I've heard in a movie
you're worth losing my, losing my, losing my self esteem
you're not worth putting myself in these situations

Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
Why do I put myself in these situations
Whoa oh whoa whoa oh
I keep pushing myself even though I can't take it at all….

I high fived everyone then jumped off the stage back to the front row. I pulled out my phone and read through some emails. “Nick!” I shouted, quite angry at an email I had received. They all stopped playing to listen to me, “You cancelled your speech and walk for diabetes tomorrow?”

“You’d been kidnapped, I wiped everything.” He chuckled shaking his head at me.

I smiled. I was going to try and push my luck with him a bit. “Nick!” I shouted again, using my hopeful voice.

“Yes darling.” He sighed into his microphone.

“I wanna get some exercise, how about a walk in DC?” I bit my lip and crossed my fingers.

He let out a long breath into the microphone as the whole crew and family members grinned at me and him. They all found my escapades amusing, but I took them quite seriously.

To my surprise, a full crew of two cameras, two camera men, two sound men and one host; Ellen Degeneres came down the stairs of the arena. “Now, now children…” She shouted.

I stood up and jumped onto the stage, then ran to the opposite side where we stood in a line looking at her. She attempted to climb over the barriers then hoist herself onto the stage, but she was failing. Joe and Kevin quickly rushed to the edge of the stage and pulled her up.

“Thank you boys.” She smiled, brushing down her waist coat.

I leaned forward and hugged her tightly. “No one told me you were coming!” I exclaimed excitedly.

“Yeah well, they knew!” She argued with a smile. “So what are we doing?”

“We’re rehearsing.” Joe replied simply.

“Where’s my god child?” Ellen asked and I grinned as she looked for my six month old baby.

I chuckled. “She’s out with her grandparents.”

“Oh well, show me the stage. I’m excited. I brought Momma and Portia along.” Ellen walked off with the three men while I wandered back down to my bag and Maya.

Maya and I wandered out into the lobby where I watched the doors for Denise and Paul to arrive with my child. Maya went to the bar for some food and drinks.

“Want a drink?” Maya asked from the bar, I nodded to her.

“Diet coke please.” I called.

I finally saw my mother and father in law coming up to the doors of the venue with Lily; carrying her again. It was starting to bother me that even when I told them to let her fall to sleep in her push chair they carry her, she’d started to get too spoiled and expected to be rocked to sleep in someone’s arms.

“Hello! She just woke up.” Denise smiled handing her to me.

Lily rested her small hand on my neck and laid on my front. I held her under her bottom and let her relax on my body, she took a while to wake up. I walked back into the venue with Lily and my plastic cup of coke. The boys were still all on the stage with Ellen and the camera crew, I walked the long way around to the steps with Lily then handed her to Ellen with a smile.

Lily whined a bit but settled down, “She’s just woken up.” I explained as Ellen wandered off with her. “Nick can I speak with you?” I whispered to him.

He nodded and laced his fingers with mine then led me to the side of the stage. “What’s up?”

“You’re mom is letting Lily sleep in her arms again. Can you have a word… again?” I sighed folding my arms over my chest.

Nick smiled and pulled me into a hug. I refused to hug back and kept my arms crossed, he kissed my head and held me tighter. I unfolded my arms and hugged him back just as tight. “I will do, peach.”

I grinned at him, leaned my head up and gently kissed his nose. “Thank you. I love you.” I told him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“I love you.” He repeated to me, kissing my nose then my lips. “Good job we’re married then isn’t it?” He joked.

I giggled at him and kissed his lips once more, relishing in the taste of orange juice that remained on them. “You low?” I asked him and he nodded.

“I’m okay now.” He assured me.

I patted his chest. “Good job young ’n.”

He grinned at me as I skipped back into the middle of the stage and stood in the middle of the JB logo. As it rotated I imagined the stadium full with people, all screaming as I rose up from the middle of the stage, ready to sing a song with the three people I love the most in front of the fans that mean so much.

That was one more reason I was looking forward to tonight. Tonight was the official launch of my come back, I was going to be performing ‘Battlefield’ with my boys on stage and no one knew. It was all planned out, rehearsed and ready. Now all I had to do was wait for my moment on stage. Nick would be on drums, Joe singing back up as well as Kevin but Kevin was also on guitar.

An epic entrance was ready. The circular screens would come down onto the stage and it would be filled with smoke, Jack and Garbo on the rotating part of the stage with snare drums. Violins playing eerie but inviting music… just thinking about it made me smile.

Maya and Coach K looked after Lily in the dressing room while I watched the boys perform later in the night. I was exciting and exhilarating to see them all back on form again, Nick didn’t even fall when it came to his flips.

Half way through the set I was dragged backstage where I changed into a hot pink dress that gripped my torso and fanned out, I wrapped a golden tiered necklace around my neck then tightened my black cut out heeled sandals.

“Julia we need to move!” Jen, the stage director, shouted to me.

We practically ran to the under of the stage where someone handed me my Swarovski crystal microphone that I hadn’t used for years and I smiled. The middle of the stage had been lowered and I climbed onto it. The smoke was pouring into it and the blue lighting shone down onto my. I could hear the screams and the drums mainly, the violins got louder and louder.

Hair and make up messed with me for one more second then I heard it. My cue.

I brought the microphone to my mouth and took a deep breath. “Why does love always feel like a battle field?” I belted out.

I stood up straight as the screens were lifted up into the air and bit by bit I was revealed. I continued to belt out the song to the best of my ability, but the crowds were louder than my microphone. I grinned as I began to rotate.

As I sung I took in my surrounding. Nick was on drums, occasionally looking behind to me with a smile on his face. Joe and Kevin had joined me and were rotating in the opposite direction with grins on their faces as they mouthed the lyrics.

“Both hands tied behind my back for nothing.” I sung to Joe who ruffled my hair.

I stepped out of the middle of the stage, finally able to move, and wandered towards Nick. I touched his neck then went to stand in front of his bass drum. “You know I never wanna hurt you. Don’t even know what were fighting for. Why does love always feel like a battlefield?”

I turned away from him and ran down the catwalk, touching people’s hands as I went. Once I’d been down that catwalk I did the same for the other then went back into the middle of the stage.

“We could pretend that we are friends tonight, and in the morning we wake up yeah we’ll be alright. Cos’ baby we don’t have to fight. Cos’ I don’t want this love to feel like a battlefield!”

Joe and Kevin stood opposite me as I belted out the last line. “Why does love always feel like, a battlefield!”

I dropped my arm to my side and tried to grasp my breath. Joe and Kevin engulfed me in a hug, I quickly turned my microphone off to avoid annoying noises while I hugged everyone. Nick left his drum set and walked quickly over to me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he picked me up then spun me around, I grinned madly and happily.

“You were amazing. Are we still bringing Lily out?” He asked me.

I nodded furiously, I wanted the fans to see her and get to know her. She’s a Jonas now. I turned on my microphone once more and held it up to my mouth.

“What’s up Iowa?” I shouted getting wall of screams thrown at me.

“We have another surprise for you.” Nick said to them. I wandered back to the middle of the stage that began to lower where I would receive Lily. “We need you to do one thing for us. Not scream. I’m serious, okay? Promise?”

Mixed shouts of ‘promise’ came from all the people in the crowd. I was handed Lily who wore some specially made ear muffs and a cream dress which had flowers on it. She smiled at me and happily laughed at my crouched position.

As the stage rose, Lily and I became visible and a chorus of gasps were heard and excited talk began but no one screamed. No one. I smiled as Lily looked around the large venue at all the people, she quickly hid her face into my neck and grabbed onto my necklace. Everyone went ‘aw’ in unison.

“That was weird.” I said into the microphone chuckling.

The flashes in the crowd must have been was made her hide, she was used to hiding from paparazzi so I guessed this is what she thought it was. I walked over to Nick and handed her to him, she reached for him and wrapped her small arms around his neck.

“This is the newest addition to our family, she’s called Lily.” Joe told everyone. “She’s Nick and Julia’s daughter.”

Lily peeked away from Nick’s neck and finally sat upright. She gave a small wave and a smile to the audience who became a bit louder. She giggled near Nick’s microphone which picked it up, I smiled at everyone in the crowd who were completely mesmersized by her.

But as I stood there, looking out into the crowd, looking at my family, my baby, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fulfilment. I was finally in a serene place where I belonged. All the fights, break ups and troublesome times that we’d gone through together as a couple didn’t matter. It all led up to this moment… the moment where everything was right and nothing can touch us. Our battlefield had settled down and we’d come to a truce with the world.

The war had ended.