Millicent watched the boy, his clothing was worn but of good quality. His eyes were clear, but his hair overly long. She wouldn't have..."What is it that you do, Mr. Sambora?"
"It's Richie or Richard ma'am. I'm a guitarist in a band, ma'am."
The intake of breath was startling as the room went completely silent.
"He's an amazing guitarist in a band Mother. He's being modest." Elena smiled and moved closer to Richie.
"Can you provide for my daughter, Richard?"
Richie held out a hand. "Why don't we sit down Mrs. Masters? I can more than provide for your daughter, you shouldn't worry about that."
"And how do I know this?" she asked, her voice clipped and her shoulders square.
"Mother, I didn't marry him because of money." Elena's brow wrinkled into a frown, "Not everything is about money."
"No, it's also about status," Millicent said plainly. "You're too young to understand about that."
Elena smiled that prim properly brought up young lady smile. "And some of us don't give a shit about STATUS mother."
"Elena! Language like that doesn't suit a lady. I'm simply looking out for you as a mother should. Love fades, but status and security is forever."
Richie's mouth dropped open. "I promise that I'll be able to take care of her Mrs. Masters, but the only thing that is absolute is the love and security your daughter feels when she's with me."
Elena glanced up at Richie with a smile before turning to her mother, her smile fading. "The only thing that IS forever is our love. I'm sad for you Mother, status can't keep you warm at night."
"Don't be sad for me, Elena. Of course if you were thinking about me at all you wouldn't have married a man..." she blinked and glanced at Richie. "Without your family's consent," she finished with a voice that would give a PC rep a wet dream.
"Well if you had to live with him, sleep with him or make love to him I MIGHT have considered asking your consent. I happen to be an adult Mother." Her back stiffened as she looked into eyes that were so like her own yet held flickers of total contempt while looking Richie’s way.
Richie knew when he was being talked down to and when he was being ignored and that didn't bother him overly much. People tended to think he was far less intelligent than he actually was. It worked for him for the most part. People didn't expect much out of him besides his music and that's the way he liked things. But here and now, watching the woman he loved fighting for him, he knew he was going to have to step it up. He laid his hand over Elena’s to quiet her.
"Mrs. Masters, you may not like me, actually you may never like me, but I love your daughter. I married her, not her family. I could hand over my portfolio. I could call my lawyers and my accountant in here to prove that I'm good enough for her, but in the end it really doesn't matter what you think. Elena thinks I'm good enough for her and that's the bottom line. I'm hoping to create a good relationship with you and Mr. Masters as the years go by, but at this very moment I could care less if you are even part of our lives.”
“Our home will be filled with love, laughter, and respect. Whether it's in a mansion or a tiny townhouse in south Jersey, it will always be filled with respect. You can choose to be a part of that and I'll welcome you into our home with open arms, but I won't have you speak to Elena like she's a bargaining chip. That won't be a part of our life."
Her eyes began to twinkle as she twisted to face him, her hand reaching up to caress his face before turning to stand in front of him facing her mother square on. "And that's that Mother."
Millicent stood, her spine ramrod stiff. Her daughter was throwing her life away. "There's nothing left for me to say, Elena. I'd appreciate if you would wait for your father to explain your...Situation. I'm going to go lie down." She turned to leave, stopping at the door. "I only want what's best for you, Elena."
"He is the best Mother." She watched as her mother once again in her life turned her back to walk away from her, leaving her feeling as if she'd never be more than a speck of dust to be rabidly dusted away.
Richie stood behind her, gathering her back to his front. "I'm sorry, Baby." he slid his arms around her, banding them at her waist as he pressed a kiss to her neck. "Thank God you have me now."
She took a deep breath and smiled as his heat and strength surrounded her. "I guess told ya so would seem pretty mute about now?"
"We'll stay long enough to talk to your father and head back out tonight. We'll find somewhere cozy and warm." He glanced around the room, twirling her around so she could see his eyes. "We'll spend a few days alone. No parents, no Jon and Kate, no one but you and me."
Her arms wound around his neck as a honest smile lit her eyes. "I’d like that." She tilted her head as a softly evil giggle escaped her, "Maybe you should have worn the sparklies after all."
"Oh yeah, that probably would have been worth the price of the cold dead stare."
She lay her head on his chest and started to laugh, as the visual of that played in her mind. "It would have been something else to be sure."
"Not entirely sure how your pops will react. Is he like your mother?"
Elena shook her head, "Well he’s as status driven, but he has a tiny soft spot for me I think. Mother was dead set against me going to school anywhere but Ivy League. When I chose SUNY she nearly disowned me. Father did send me money though. But he’s like her in the fact that he thinks no one but who he choses for me to be best for me. Guess we'll see big guy."
"Well I'm definitely not Ivy League educated, but I actually do have a few years of college in me."
She leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "I wouldn't care if you had never gone to college or finished high school." She winked, "I fell in love with all of you education not withstanding."
"Good thing, I was kind of a crappy student. Studying wasn't nearly as interesting as playing guitar." He bumped noses with her. "Think Martha would take pity and feed us?"
She laced her fingers with his and laughed. "Let's invade her kitchen, she'll just LOVE that"
"Maybe my dimple will work on her," he said with a grin.
She started walking towards then kitchen laughing. "Martha's not as starched as her uniform lover, she'll totally love ya."
And sure enough, Martha did love him. Between the fawning and the food, the laughter in the kitchen and the irreverent teasing Richie had her in the palm of his hand within the hour. They spent a lazy few hours walking the grounds and filling up on Dagwood sized sandwiches a la Martha.
He looked down at Elena when she grabbed his arm to check his watch. "What's up, Lains?"
She huffed softly. "5:30 on the dot, Father's home."
"You ready to face the firing squad?"
She shook her head quickly, "Not really, but if it means getting you to myself sooner than later then hell yes."
Laughing, he linked his fingers with hers. "Well c'mon then. I've been fed, I'm as strong as I'm going to be."
She laughed and led the way back to the house and in towards the den, where she knew her father would be partaking of his favorite after work activity, martinis Masters style. "Hello Father."
He stopped mid shake as pale grey eyes swept over the twosome at the door. His pretty little Elena her hand firmly clasped around the hand of some long haired ruffian. "Elena. What brings you home? Did the gold card break?"
Elena sighed, "Father I rarely use that thing, you know that. I came today because I had some news to share with you. Mother, well, she said to tell you."
Lawrence's eyes went beady as he took in the stiffness of his daughters back. "And the news young lady?"
Elena smiled and tugged Richie forwards, "I'd like you to meet Richie Father, Richie Sambora. My husband."
"Your what? You were set to marry late next year." His eyes grew shrewd as he studied this new husband. "We'll just have to arrange for annulment. You aren't pregnant?"
Richie's eyes widened and looked down at his wife. "You were supposed to get married next year? Did we do it too early?"
Elena glanced up at Richie. "We did it right on time." She turned to look at her father her frown growing. "I told you I would never agree to that arranged marriage Father. I meant it. I wanted to marry for love so I did."
Lawrence shook his head and frowned. "You're a Masters, you do as your told young lady. I'll call my lawyers in the morning, no sense in wasting time."
Richie stepped forward. "You'll be doing no such thing, Sir. It's legally binding and the only way you'll end this marriage is if I'm in the ground."
He looked up at the young man who towered over him and wondered if it could be arranged, then frowned. "This was arranged before you were born boy. She is set to marry someone who can take care of her, as well as advance our position in the state. She knew all of this."
Elena's gaze went cold. "It’s also why I left home to go to SUNY father."
Richie looked from Elena to her father and back again. "I thought arranged marriages went the way of the middle ages. I'm sorry to disappoint you sir, but she's married to me and married to me is how she'll stay." Sucking in a calming breath, he stepped forward. "I find it insulting to me and to Elena that you'd use her like she's a chess piece."
A patrician brow arched. "That's what she is son." He chuckled softly. "And just how does such a one as you, a long haired hippie for god sakes, think you can even provide for her in a style she was brought up to understand?"
Richie's brow beetled. What sort of parents had she come from? "She's a PERSON, not a pawn. It's ridiculous and so laughable it should be a Sunday night movie the way you're going on and on about this status thing. I'll provide for my wife, don't you worry about that. The length of my hair has nothing to do with my earning power, nor does Elena give a.." He paused and contemplated the use of profanity then mentally shrugged, "rat's ass about money. We love and respect each other and that's more than enough."
"Then I'm sure she won’t mind returning that precious piece of non important plastic gold will she?" Lawrence turned to his daughter, his look chilly. "After all, he can support you."
Elena started to laugh, she’d known he’d do that, so had prepared. Her eyes brightened as she slipped her hand into her pocket. Walking towards her father, her back ramrod straight she placed the card carefully on the bar, making sure he got a good glance of her wedding rings. "Ya know, as an investment banker, you shoulda played nicer FATHER." She turned to walk back to Richie, head held high. "But get your damned people to check out Bon Jovi and eat shit while you do." She reached for Richie's hand and smiled. "Let's go find us that quiet place babe. I've done what needed doing here."
Richie nodded curtly to the man. "You're losing out. Elena's beautiful inside and out. The fact that you don't see any of that is beyond sad," he said quietly as he gathered her close to him.
Without a backward glance they walked to the front door and out into the waning light of winter. He looked down at her. "I love you Elena, remember that. You'll never have to go back to that as long as I'm alive."
She pressed closer to him and smiled. "I'm not worried one bit love. I have a precious Pony to carry me through."
