The Rock Star's Babysitter - A Slash Fanfiction

Chapter 12 - Stay

7 days till Perla came back.

Slash was currently floating through his day, walking about in a bit of a daze, acting like he was alright for the kids.

6 days till Perla came back.

Slash kept counting, knowing that soon he would have to come to terms with it. He didn't want to face her, didn't want to talk to her. That would knock down all the walls that he'd just tried so hard to put back up.

5 days till Perla was back.

Jen had come to watch the boys that evening so that Slash could "practice", but really he just couldn't keep his mask on, and had a meltdown by himself in his practice studio.

While wiping the tears from his eyes that night, he heard Cash and London's joyous squeals as they laughed at something upstairs. He went back to playing his acoustic, preferring the warmer sound and a slow melody to help him mourn his marriage falling apart.

The brunette girl had parked the boys in front of the tv after feeding them dinner, she knew something was up with Slash, and she wanted to help, even though it probably wasn't her place.

She made the trek downstairs, making sure to step lightly so as not to disturb him. She stood outside the door for a second, fist hovering close to the wood since she wasn't brave enough to knock.

She waited until there was a pause in the music, and then decided to knock.

There was a pause, and then she heard Slash clear his throat.

"Come in."

Jen twisted the knob lightly, gently entering because she was worried about whether this was overstepping boundaries.

"Hey Slash." She sat down cross legged on the floor across from him.

"Hey Jen." He gave her a small smile and then looked down. "Why did you come down here?"

His voice was gentle, she knew he didn't mean that in an offensive way.

Jen smiled nervously, was this a horrible idea? She felt her heartbeat speed up. I mean, she was just concerned.

"I- well, Slash, um, to tell you the truth you look really upset about something. I'm just worried."

The guitarist froze a little, his fingers choking the melody that he had just been creating so flawlessly. "How can you tell?"

"I can't explain it, you just are not acting the way you usually would, you are acting off. Is something going on?"

Slash was impressed, no one else, not even Duff, their producer, Izzy or Steven saw through the facade he had kept up. Only her.

He looked behind him to make sure the door was locked and the boys wouldn't hear. She gently placed her hand on his thigh.

"Slash, they are watching Dragontales and I just fed them. We have a couple minutes to talk I swear."

The older man took a deep breath in, questioning whether he should tell her. On one hand, it would help him feel less alone, but on the other, would that take this past a business relationship?

Oh hell Slash, you kissed her the last night she was here, get over it.

He did feel alone and Jen was looking at him with big green eyes that were full of understanding.

"Fine. Jen, the truth is I was married to Perla, who is London and Cash's mother, for four years. A couple of nights ago she called me and announced she wanted a divorce and that she had been seeing someone else."

Jen nodded sympathetically. "That must be hard, I'm so sorry Slash. You can talk to me if you need anything."

"Thank you." The guitarist exhaled, he already felt better letting someone know what was going on.

"You're still wearing your ring?" Jen pointed at his left hand a little questioningly.

"Yeah, I mean I still love her I guess? I don't know what I did wrong and keeping the ring is a false sense of security that everything will be alright."

"That's so sad, I hope everything works out. I'll always be here to talk and watch the boys. Take as much time as you need."

"Thank you Jen. And it wasn't a mistake to kiss you last time you were here, that wasn't just a slip-up, it was perfect."

"Really?" The twenty-one year old raised one eyebrow, feeling a little bit of a flutter in her chest. "I'm glad."

Slash smiled, already feeling his mood lift as he went back to playing.

She stood up, flashing him a small smile and then hurried back upstairs to make sure the boys hadn't died upstairs.

The babysitter was back just in time, she saw London raise his arm to punch Cash.

"Hey, no more fighting!" Jen broke up the boys.

"But he called me Onion!! That's not my name" London whined.

Cash stuck out his tongue at his older brother as Jen sighed and sat between the two of them. It was definitely time for bed.

Slash emerged from the practice room just as Jen was carrying a half asleep Cash on one hip, and walking London upstairs with her other hand.

The boy's father scooped up London and walked with Jen up the stairs.

She tucked Cash into bed, leaving a kiss on his forehead. These kids truly felt like hers now and they were so cute!

"Want me to read you a story?"

Cash nodded sleepily, and he started dozing off halfway through the Berenstain bears book that Jen was reading.

Slash had put London to bed already, he was easier because he was quieter, and also because he was older. The guitarist stood at the doorway, watching Jen close the book halfway through.

"Goodnight Cash."

"Goodnight Jenny."

Jen melted a little, he was so cute. She suppressed a squeal by bringing her hands to her mouth.

She saw the same reaction on Slash's face, his silhouette illuminated by the light from the hallway.

Jen curled up on the couch under a white throw blanket.

"You don't have to stay." Slash looked amused, his curls covered his face, so the younger girl couldn't read his expression.

"I know but I want to stay."

The guitarist looked curious. "Why?"

"This is embarrassing but I'm too exhausted to drive home. I stayed up late last night and the boys tired me out."

"You can stay as long as you like, we have a guest bedroom upstairs." Slash laughed for the first time that day. Why did he think she was adorable?

"Well I have classes tomorrow in the late morning so I'll have to go by then. Thank you for letting me stay." Jen nodded her head graciously, before turning back to the show that was playing on the screen.

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Let me know if i'm dragging this out too long, I just want it to be more realistic! what do you think of the plot so far??