The Elastic Heart Trilogy: Someday I Will Understand

Jen was nervous and she had no idea why. She'd been out to dinner with Brian countless times but this was their first date. A date she had been looking forward to since he asked her to go a few days before.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" Jen asked Riley who was sitting on another chair watching her put on her make up.

"Because I can?"

"Mmmhmmm." Jen put on a little bit of perfume before standing up. "Okay, how do I look?"

Riley smiled. "Beautiful."

"Thank you baby." Jen smiled at her.

"What time is Uncle Jimmy coming over?"

"He should be here.." She was cut off by the sound of the doorbell ringing. "Now."

"Can I answer it?"

"I guess but.." She trailed off when Riley ran out of Jen's bathroom. "Riley Jade!" Thankfully she hadn't put her shoes on yet so she was able to chase after her. She got downstairs just as Riley was opening the door.

"You're grounded."

"What did I do?" Jen and Riley asked Jimmy at the same time.

"You're fine Squirt." He answered looking down at Riley before looking up at Jen. "I'm not letting you out dressed like that."

She frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

"It makes you look too hot and I can't have that." He came over and pulled her into his arms to give her a hug. "I hope you know that I'm giving him the talk when he gets here." He whispered into her ear. She smiled.

"I had a feeling that you would." She pulled back to look at him and Riley. "I need to finish getting ready. Can I trust you both to behave while I'm upstairs?"

Jimmy and Riley looked at each other and smiled. "Yes Mommy."

Jen could only shake her head and headed back upstairs. She was only gone for a minute when the doorbell rang. Jimmy straightened himself up and yanked the door open. Brian was standing there with a single red rose in his hand. He was wearing a suit without a tie. He wasn't much of a tie guy and Jen didn't care if he wore one or not.

"Hey Jim, is Jen ready?" Brian took a step to walk in but Jimmy blocked his path.

"I think you and I should have a little talk first."

Brian raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Jimmy crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. "What are your attentions with my Butterfly?"

"You can't be serious?" He asked and looked at Riley who was giggling behind Jimmy. "Is he being serious right now?"

She nodded. "Yes Daddy."

Brian rolled his eyes then looked at his best friend. "I just want to take her out for dinner." He answered playing along with Jimmy's game.

"And you'll have her home by a reasonable hour right?"

"Yes."

"Good." He smirked. "Because I know where you live if you don't."

Brian was about to say something when he heard the clicking of heels on the hardwood floor. His mouth went dry when he caught sight of Jen walking toward him. She was breathtaking. Jimmy stepped out of the way allowing Jen to walk passed him.

"Hey." She said quietly.

"Hi."

"Are you alright?"

He nodded. "I just need a drink is all." He smiled at her. "You look beautiful."

"You don't look so bad yourself." She looked him over. "Is this new?" She asked referring to his suit.

"Nope. It's been sitting in the back of my closet for years. I'm surprised that it still fits."

"Oh please. Says the man that never gains an ounce of weight."

"Here Daddy."

Looking down Brian couldn't help but smile as Riley offered him a glass of water."

"Thank you Peanut." He drank it and handed the glass back to her. "This is for you." He said handing the rose to Jen.

She took it and smelled it. "Thank you."

He smiled and pulled her close. "God I could eat you up right now."

"Um Bri, there are children present."

Looking over her shoulder he saw Jimmy and Riley smiling at him. "Shit. Okay, maybe we should go."

Jen nodded and turned to look at Riley. "You be good for Uncle Jimmy okay?"

"I will."

"And you." She turned her attention to Jimmy. "Don't destroy my house while I'm gone."

"I'll be on my best behavior."

"You better be." She turned back to Brian. "Let's go."

Brian had reserved a table in the back of restaurant. He didn't want anyone to disturb them. He'd never admit it but he was just as nervous as Jen was. He'd been out with several girls over the years but none of them ever made him feel like this. He never cared where he took those girls but with Jen he was terrified. He wanted everything to be perfect.

"So um, did you put Jimmy up to that?"

"Up to what?" Jen asked confused.

"He went all Dad on me. Asking me what my intentions were and shit."

She giggled. "Does it really surprise you?"

"Not really." He chuckled.

As nervous as they were finding these to talk about was the easiest part. They never ran out of things to talk about during dinner.

"I have something for you."

Brian dug around in the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small box.

"Chanel?" She asked taking off the lid.

"Thought I'd go for something a little different this time." He said before taking a sip of his drink.

Jen gasped. She was expecting a pair of earrings or even a brooch but not a ring.

"I know this is only our first date and all but I want you to have this." He took the box from her hands and pulled out the ring before slipping it onto her middle finger on her right hand. "I'm not sure if this is an actual promise ring or not but it is now." He paused as she smiled. "It's my promise that no matter what happens that I am here for you. That my love for you will never die."

"It's beautiful Brian. Thank you." She smiled taking his hand in hers.

"You're welcome. I wasn't sure if you'd like it or not. I figured since I've bought you Tiffany in the past for birthdays and Christmas that this ring should be different. Special."

"It is special but I feel bad that I didn't get you anything."

He shook his head. "You being here is all I need. So um.. Jimmy said I should have you home at a reasonable hour but.. I'm not ready to take you home yet."

"Well, did you have something in mind that you wanted to do?"

He licked his lips and smirked. "Well I'd probably get us banned from the restaurant if I did you in here so.. I think I'll play it safe and ask if you'd like to take a walk on the beach?"

"I'd love to."



Jen couldn't believe that she and Brian had been together for two months and she couldn't be happier. Riley just had her ninth birthday the week before and kept asking when she was going to get a siblings. Right now Brian was on tour and Jen was busy working while Riley was at school. She had a photoshoot set for that afternoon and was waiting for the client to show up. A knock on her office door caused her to look up from her laptop.

"Come in."

The door opened and it was her assistant Karissa. "Hey Jen I'm sorry to bother you but there's a guy here to see you. He says it's important."

"Okay, send him in."

Karissa left and not a second later Mike walked in.

"What are you doing here?" Jen asked watching as he shut the door behind him.

"We need to talk."

"About what?"

"Us."

She sighed and got up to walk around to the front of her desk. "There is no us Mike."

"But there could be. Jen I swear I've changed and I'll never be able to apologize enough for the way I treated you and Riley. I want another chance. I want a chance to be her Dad."

"What you did to me really hurt Mike. I told you that before but I can't be with you again. I'm with Brian now."

Mike stared at her. She had to be lying. There was no way they could be together. "Since when?"

"Two months ago. Riley's first day of school actually." She couldn't help but smile at the memory. It was nothing like she had ever experienced before.

"I still love you Jenna. We have a child together.. she deserves to have both of us."

"And she can if she wants but not the way you want. I'm sorry Mike but I don't love you that way anymore. My heart belongs to Brian."

"There has to be something I can do to prove to you that we belong together."

"I think you should leave." She walked towards the door but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. He kissed her hard and held her tight so she couldn't get away.

"What the fuck?"

Mike pulled away only to see who had interrupted. Jen used that opportunity to push him away and wiped her mouth.

"Cali? What are you doing here?" Mike asked as Chester walked in.

"It's a photography studio Monkey. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out." She answered.

"Oh so you can forgive her for fucking around with Chester for three years but you can't forgive me?" He asked turning to Jen.

Jen didn't get the chance to answer because Cali did it for her.

"I wasn't the one that walked on her when she was pregnant for one. I also talked to her already. She knows I love Chester and why I did what I did. You need to fucking leave her alone Monkey. She's with Boogie now. You lost her when you dumped her."

Without another word Mike walked out of Jen's office.

"I'll make sure he leaves." Chester said and walked out.

"Please tell me you didn't kiss him?" Cali asked. Jen shook her head.

"I told him to leave and he grabbed me."

"I won't tell Boogie as long as it doesn't happen again."

"Trust me it won't."

Cali smirked. "Good. Sorry we're late. We stopped by Jamba Juice after we took Draven back to his Mom's."

"It's alright. I wasn't really doing anything. It's been pretty slow today."

"So.." Cali paused to sit down on the couch in Jen's office. "How long do you think it will take?"

"The photoshoot? Well that depends on--"

"No no." Cali cut in. "I remember how long you and Monkey boy were together before you got knocked up. I'm wondering how long it'll be before it happens with you and Boogie."

"We're.. being careful." Jen answered not really wanting to talk about her sex life with Cali.

"Listen Jenna. I know how much Brian loves Riley but I'm not stupid. He wants a child of his own and I know he wants it with you. You do want more kids right?"

"Of course I do. I've always wanted Riley to be a big sister."

"Well then give him one. You already know how he is with Riley so you don't have to worry about any of that shit."

Jen raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you could handle another baby being around?"

"As long as it doesn't have Riley's smart mouth than yeah." The heiress shrugged.

"You know she's only like that with you." Jen sat down beside her. "You're a bad influence."

"I am not!" She said defensively. "Well.. she is with me a lot so.."

Jen smiled then changed the subject. "As soon as Chester gets back we can get started. Did you have any shots in mind?"

Cali grinned. "I have several."



"Okay Peanut. You gotta keep this a secret okay? Mommy can't know anything about this." Brian said as he and Riley stood in the entry way waiting for Jen.

"Don't worry Daddy. My lips are sealed." She smiled.

"Good girl." He kissed the top of her head and looked up when he heard Jen's heels walking towards them. Brian was taking them out for a special dinner. Date night with his two favorite girls. "Judas Priest." He mumbled when Jen came into view.

Riley giggled. "I picked Mommy's dress."

"You picked that? Are you trying to give Daddy a heart attack?"

"Nope. I thought it was pretty."

"Hey you." Brian smiled once Jen was close and gave her a kiss. "Why are you carrying two purses?"

"I'm not. You said this was a special night so I thought Riley should have one too." She told him and handed Riley her Louis Vuitton Monogram Mini Pochette. "You remember what I told you right? You can't just toss that around like one of your stuffed animals."

"I know Mommy." She rolled her eyes. "I promise I'll take care of it."

"Alright."

Brian had been planning this night for months and he'd made Riley promise countless times that she wouldn't tell anyone about it. Jen was allowed to know anything until he was ready to tell her. He was even more nervous now than he was on their first date. While that night had gone off without a hitch he was afraid that something would happen tonight. If it didn't go perfectly he didn't know what he would do.

He was jittery most of the night only calming down when Riley would kick him under the table. He'd glare at her and she'd just smile. Jen knew something was up and set her fork down on her plate.

"Alright what's going on?"

"Nothing." Riley mumbled and focused on her dinner.

Jen sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "Riley Jade, what aren't you telling me?"

"I made her promise not to tell you." Brian chimed in not wanting Riley to get into trouble.

"What's going on Brian?"

He set his fork down on the table and picked up his napkin to wipe his mouth. He tossed it down onto his plate and turned his chair so it was facing her.

"Well I wasn't planning on doing this until dessert but I guess now is a good of a time as any." He paused and reached out to Jen's hands in his. "Jen.. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone and over the last eight months my love for you has grown more than I ever thought it could. You're the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think of when I go to sleep. When I'm on tour and you're not with me all I want to do if get on the first flight home so I can be with you. You're my other half, my soulmate and.. I want us to be a real family not just two people raising our amazing little girl."

Riley smiled at him and watched as he dug the box out of his pocket.

"The last time I gave you a ring it was from Chanel and.. while it was special I felt like Tiffany would be best for this. Jenna.. I want you to be with me forever. To be my one and only." He opened the box and presented her a beautiful engagement ring. "Will you marry me?"

"Say yes Mommy!"

Jen chuckled softly as a few tears fell from her eyes. "Yes Brian. I'll marry you."

He smiled and carefully slipped the ring onto her finger. "God I love you." He mumbled pulling her to him and kissing her deeply.

"I love you too." She said once they broke apart.

"Any chance we can get in the car and go to Vegas right now?"

Jen shook her head. "Not a chance Haner."

He chuckled. "I didn't think so." He turned to Riley who had a huge a smile on her face. "Get over here Peanut."

Getting out of her chair Riley ran around the table and jumped into his arms. "Thank you Daddy."

"Don't thank me. Mommy's the one that said yes."

She let go of Brian and hugged Jen. "Thank you Mommy."

"Thank you."

"What did I do?" She asked confused.

"Well I think you're the reason that any of this was even possible. I don't think either of us would have had the guts to tell each other how we felt if it weren't for you."

Riley smiled. "Oh, well then thank me"

Brian and Jen chuckled.

"I guess we have a wedding to plan." Brian said.

Jen smiled. "I guess we do."