Chapter 76

After the show on Wednesday he was once again on his way home, his short week had gone fast and he was glad the entire band was joining him in Los Angeles this time. From Anaheim to their hotel would be about an hour's drive but Richie wasn't planning on staying at a hotel with everyone else while he had his comfy bed and family to go home. It'd be a little further away but he was doubtful that would be an issue.

The van stopped at a large Los Angeles hotel and he said his goodnights to everyone when they got out of the vehicle. It was getting late and just like everyone else, he was ready to be in his own space and go to bed.

After his band members headed into the building, Richie walked towards his own rented car with a driver, he wasn't going to bother the band's drivers by driving all the way to his house and back to the hotel they were staying at. It'd be a waste of two hours for him, which wouldn't be fair.

They'd have tomorrow off and perform on Friday night. He was excited to have Sarah come to a show again as well as Noah and Ava. It had been a while since they had seen him perform. It was always something he wanted to share with them. Especially for Daniel, although he wasn't sure if Sarah wanted him to come to this show. He hadn't been to any of their shows yet and did he really need to expose his little boy to all the loud noises?

He was even happier Sarah and Daniel would join him for the rest of the tour leg as of this weekend. It would only be two weeks but it would definitely be worth it to have her there with him. Daniel would eventually be there for a concert and they'd see how he liked protective headphones. He'd be happy to see how Daniel reacted to a concert and to have Sarah see him perform again. If not only so he didn't have to worry about her getting sick again with morning sickness. Having to take Sarah to the emergency room to find out she was pregnant was scary enough. Even worse that she had to be admitted so she could have IV fluids. He didn't want a repeat of her last pregnancy.

Years ago, before Ava even started school, she would come on tour with him as well and he loved having her there with him even if she didn't come to every show. It just made him happy to have her there with him although his solo tours around that time were short, they were more special to him and it meant all the more to have had her there with him those times.

With Sarah, he had so much happy tour memories already, even if it had only been two years since they met and started their relationship.

When she had joined him for their last European tour, their relationship had really blossomed. Being so close to each other all the time was exactly what their relationship had needed to make it as strong as it was right now.

Those months showed them how to trust each other and take care of each other. He knew it meant a lot to Sarah back then how he had treated her with such patience, she was entirely worth it to him. He would have done anything for her, still would.

Not just her, he would do anything for his sons as well. Right now, he would do even more for his expecting baby.

The thought of another baby made him happy. He always thought having one boy and one girl was just perfect, it was what most people imagined a family should be like. For a long time he thought the same thing but after a few years into his first marriage it was clear that wasn't going to happen. Luck just wasn't on their side in that regard. At the time it made them very sad that it had been so difficult until they were able to accept it and make peace with it just being Ava for them.

Having a new relationship with stepchildren was always an option but after turning 50, he hadn't expected to become a father himself again and here he was, 54 and ready for another baby.

Daniel needed a sibling, he knew that too. As a child himself he always imagined what it would be like to have a sibling to always have by him. A friend to turn to in need or in boredom. Then he'd see his friends argue and fight with their siblings and was glad he didn't have that issue.

Now, he knew it would be good for a child to have a sibling around their own age to grow up with. To build that strong bond with. He wasn't able to give that to Ava but if he could for Daniel, he would.

Before he got home, his thoughts made him drift off to sleep.