Long Live Us

"Matt, can you please just pull some strings and try to get everything set in stone? I'm losing my mind, here."

"Dude, I love you," Matt placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "But I'm not their manager, you can't expect me to do everything for them. Tom knew what he was getting into when he signed the contract. If you want the kids to come with us, you need to beat it into Tom's head that it's his job to keep up with tours."

I sighed to myself. Today, Stella and Tom were turning sixteen. They'd been treating themselves like adults since the tour ended, which was fine, except they still expected Jules and myself to do everything for them. It was hard being back home with my kids after we've just come from tour. I had to push them aside for Noelle and Liam, because they needed Daddy, too. Then I had to make time around all for of them for Jules, which was incredibly hard since she didn't trust either of our oldest kids alone with their friends anymore. We were trying to get everything done for their party and plan out the final details of our next tour.

"He's still learning the ropes, though," I shot a hopeful glance to my own manager. "Just show him how it's done, okay?"

"Are you guys talking about me?"

Tom stepped in the room just as I was putting out the snacks and drinks for their birthday party. Normally, Jules would be doing this, but she was trying to get Liam and Noelle dressed and on their best behavior for the party. I flashed him a soft smiled and nodded my head.

"We've got the plans set in stone for All Time Low to tour after the Holiday's.. Naturally, you're expected to join us, but the final decision is on you as the manager."

"Yeah, I'll get right on it," Tom smiled brightly. Always so happy about everything. "Dad, you don't always need to do things for us. Just give me a heads up about tour next time and I'll have it set up when Matt does."

"You're a good kid, ya know that?" I smiled. "Now go check on your mom. Noelle has been cranky all day."

Just like he always does, Tom left on my command. It never failed to amaze me, how good of a kid he was. I could imagine Noelle growing up to be just like him. She became moody at times, like Stell, but she was more like him. Liam would be a handful, just like his big sister. The cycle would never end.. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Baby?" Juli poked her head in the door, wearing a gorgeous navy blue dress with Noelle by her side, wearing a yellow sundress. The two of them had declared us being home 'their vacation' since they didn't get to go on tour with us. "I think the kids are starting to get impatient, mostly because all the parents are out there with them. Can I tell them it's time to eat?"

"Absolutely, my love."

In no time, my own band our Sirens piled into the kitchen. Everyone seemed so happy, just like a big familiy, as they grabbed plates and drinks. Stella and Tom turning sixteen was a big deal. I knew they wanted to spend time relaxing at home with their mom and siblings, but I honestly felt bad that we hadn't done more for them. My only hope to make it up to them was, during one of our days off, we could turn the kids loose in an amusement park or something. After all, we would be in the UK, so it'd be a lot more fun than it was when we went to visit family.

Shortly after the food was eaten and conversation began, Juli decided it was time for the kids to open their gifts. At this point, Jasmine had decided to take the younger children into the living room to open their own 'gifts.' Which was really just a bunch of toys they hadn't played with in a while, so they wouldn't get jealous of Stella and Tom and ruin their party. Oh, I was thankful for her brains. Together, the kids went through their gifts, loving each one and thanking the person who gave it to them, until it came time to open what Juli and I had gotten for them.

I sucked in a sharp breath as the kids simply eyed what appeared to be cards. Jules flashed me a smile and nodded her head, knowing the kids would love it, even if it didn't seem like much for the time being. Together, they both slid out their cards and scanned the words, but it was when a sheet of paper fell out of the cards that they really started to become excited.

"Dad.. What in the..."

"Mom, is this real?"

"What you are holding," I stepped forward with my beautiful wife, "is just a piece of the money we've been saving for you guys since you were born. We always dreamed that you would go to college, get a great job and have a normal life.. But now that you've been signed, you're going to have to start branching out on your own. You won't be able to tour with us forever. You're going to have to create merch, hire a crew, invest in a tour bus that makes all of you feel at home. Being in a band requires a lot of work. So happy birthday, guys."

Stella jumped straight into my arms, laughing like she'd lost her mind from joy. She had been given a check for 10,000 (as had Tom) and a set amount for how much she could spend working with a company to create merch for their band. Tom was given the full details of this contract, since he was the manager, and it'd be his job to keep track of their spending and earning.

My children turning sixteen absolutely broke my heart, which I realized even more when they blew out the candles. I'd known for a while they were growing up and I was losing my grasp on them, and even though they were still technically under my control, they'd already started their adult lives and careers. They were one step closer to no longer being my babies, which meant I had to let them go. Seeing them starting their lives by my side made it easier for me to stand back and watch them grow, but for Juli, it wouldn't be so easy. Together, we would have to let our children roam free.

On their sixteenth birthday, I knew my twins were ready to fly away.

Notes