The Past Recedes

[ladyfiaran22]

This is the prequel to Monarchy of Roses, where Nika comes to live with John

Chapter 1

John felt something tickle his face when he opened his sleepy eyes, smiling when he saw Gabriel nuzzling his face. "Good morning", he chuckled. The marmalade tom meowed and his green eyes looked pleading as John got up and stretched, glancing over at the clock on the nightstand. "Wow, it's late for me", he mused aloud.

Gabriel scampered off the bed as his other cat Bianca gave him a pitying look. "I know, I'm usually up at 6 but I wanted to sleep. Let me get you breakfast", he said.

John got their cats their food and went to take a shower. The sunlight streaming in through the the dining room windows filled the house through the open curtains looking down onto the city from the height of the Hollywood Hills. The view never felt old to him no matter how many times he'd seen it, remembering all-to-well the darkness which surrounded him less than three years earlier. Back then, it had seemed as though he lived in perpetual darkness, the sunlight a direct rejoinder to the darkness.

He plugged in his record player and went to the living room to find an album. While the living room was done in white with matching walls and carpet and the furniture was modern stuff from Ethan Allan, what was most striking were the piles of records and cd's. Along the perimeter of the room were shelves of cd's and records with more in piles on the floor which would would not fit on the shelves. Scattered among the cd's and records were notebooks of sheet music and songbooks with an acoustic Martin guitar resting atop the cream sofa.

John scanned the shelf and took out a vinyl copy of Rubber Soul as he went back to the kitchen. The opening notes of Drive My Car came over the speakers as the cats perked up and meowed softly. "You guys have excellent taste", he teased.

John was drinking coffee and was about to start reading when the phone rang. He frowned as he picked up the phone and turned down the volume. "Mr. Frusciante, sorry to bother you", said his lawyer.

"Is everything all right?", he asked.

"I suppose, depending on what you mean by all right. Mr. Frusciante, I have received a letter from another lawyer saying that Miss Zoe Lacroix has died and she named you as the father of her daughter. The Lacroix family lawyer has contacted my office, they want you to meet your daughter", said the lawyer.

John nearly choked on his coffee. "What? I haven't had sex or even dated since '94", he said in shock.

"The child was born on December 11, 1989 in Palm Springs", said the lawyer.

"Wait, we did a show in Palm Springs that March. There was a dark-haired woman there, an older woman, we hooked up but I never saw her again. Was that her?", he asked.

"It seems likely, according to her family Miss Lacroix had no other known partners and wrote in her will that you were the father of her daughter. It is likely you are the father", replied the lawyer.

"Shit", he muttered.

"The family will be in Los Angeles tomorrow to meet with us, it would be highly recommended you come", said the lawyer.

"All right, I'm just in shock, guys in this line of work get a lot of gold diggers seeking paternity suits. How old is the girl?" he asked.

"She is ten years old", replied the lawyer.

John's blood ran cold. "She is my daughter, I know it. It adds up", he said.

"You could ask for a paternity test, but it's up to you", said the lawyer.

"I'll be there tomorrow", said John.

He hastily finished his coffee and rinsed out the cup before putting it away. The news ruined his appetite and he was still numb, the idea slowly sinking in. The idea of having any sort of child never entered his mind since it had been so long he had sex or dated anyone. All those years of addiction had taken a toll on his health and he was sure he couldn't father any children, but now he had a daughter.

His cell phone rang and he picked it up when he saw the familiar number. "John, we got rehearsal, remember?", Flea reminded him.

"Flea, I just got a call from my lawyer. I have a daughter, her mother died and said I was the father in her will", he whispered.

"Holy fuck. Are you sure?", asked Flea.

"Yeah, she was born in December of 1989 in Palm Springs. In March, we played that club there", he said.

"Wow, that's crazy. But I gotta tell you, when you're a dad for the first time, that's the best feeling in the world. We'll be there for you, being a dad is the best feeling in the world. And we can be uncles, like you're Clara's uncle", said Flea.

"Thanks. I'm still in shock, it's been me and the cats for the last few years. I'm excited and nervous and anxious all at once", he babbled.

"I get it, this is a shock. But we'll be there for you, I imagine you'll have to fix up the spare room", said Flea.

"Yeah, since the only people who's been in are my parents", he said ruefully.

"I'll come over to pick you up in a bit, we'll get breakfast there", said Flea.

John changed into jeans and a Black Flag t-shirt as he combed his long curly dark brown hair. He wondered what kind of girl his daughter was, and how she would like living here. The only experience he had with children was occasionally babysitting Clara, and he knew he had to fix up the spare bedroom and had to tell his parents.

John made sure the cats had food and water when he heard Flea honk his horn. He grabbed his wallet and keys before leaving and got in the passenger's side of Flea's multi-colored Rolls Royce. "I know it's a huge shock, but we're behind you. When she gets settled in, you have to bring her over to meet Clara. And I can help with finding a school or to go shopping", said Flea.

"Thanks, I have no idea how to deal with kids, especially a little girl. I babysat Clara when she was little, but this is my own kid", said John with a sigh.

"Taking care of kids isn't rocket science, it just sounds like that. Just do your best, after you meet her, you have to tell your parents", said Flea.

"That'll shock them, they have a grandchild after all these years", said John.

"No matter what, we'll support you", said Flea reassuringly.

Flea parked in the lot of the band's rehearsal space, a former warehouse out in the valley. "Guys, John just found out he's a dad", said Flea.

Both Anthony and Chad did a double take. 'What? But you're celibate", blurted out the singer.

"I got a call from my lawyer. Remember that show we did in March of '89, in Palm Springs? I hooked up with that older dark-haired chick and she got pregnant, the lawyer says the family told him she never had another partner and she named me as the father in her will", said John.

"Whoa, this is heavy. Yeah, I remember that show. That girl seemed cold as ice and a bit on the plain side but both of you were drunk as fuck, maybe she was embarrassed she got pregnant", said Chad.

"Maybe, I'll find out more when I see the lawyer tomorrow. I never thought I'd have a kid, my doctor says all the shit I did may have permanently lowered my sperm count. But I'm glad, in a fucked up kind of way. I had a kid before all the shit permanently messed me up", he said in a dazed voice.

"We'll be behind you all the way, John. And we can be cool uncles", said Anthony as they all laughed.

[Tim]

Of course, Zoe isn't dead.  But they don't know that yet.

[ladyfiaran22]

Thanks Tim for the feedback

Chapter 2

Nika sat in the stuff high-backed chair in the lawyer's office, her feet dangling off the seat. The last few days since her mother's funeral had passed in a sort of unnatural haze, the talk with her grandparents still fresh in her mind. She wondered what sort of person her father was, why her mother had never told her she had a father like other children. Her thoughts began to run quickly and rushed together as she wondered if she could read one of the books on the shelf behind the lawyer's desk.

"You are going to meet your father, he seems like an interesting chap", said her grandfather Pierre Lacroix. The older British man looked dapper in his charcoal-grey pinstriped suit, his salt-and-pepper hair still thick and wavy.

"I hope you'll like father, I wonder why Zoe never told us about him", said her grandmother Maria. She wore a navy blue dress with a white Peter Pan collar and sensible black pumps, her wavy brown hair recently dyed a pleasant chestnut color and her large dark blue eyes looking kindly at her granddaughter.

The door of the office opened and a lawyer in a black suit entered, followed by a younger man in a black suit that was clearly just bought off the rack. Nika looked curiously at the other man and deduced this must be her father. He was slightly shorter than average and thin with long curly dark brown hair past his shoulders and a neatly trimmed goatee and mustache on his face. Nika felt an eerie sensation as she touched one of her own long dark brown curls, the same color as the man's. He looked in her direction and his hazel eyes widened in surprise when he saw her, his lips parted in shock.

Before he could say anything, another lawyer came in and sat at the desk. Nika sat in the uncomfortable chair and listened to the lawyer go over mother's will and the revelation that Mr. John Anthony Frusciante was her father. She was pleasantly surprised that her father was Italian and wondered if he had ever been to Rome and could speak Latin.

When the lawyer finished reading the will, the man looked shocked and amazed as he slumped in the chair. Nika slid off the chair and went over to hm. "Are you my father?", she asked.

"Yes, I am your father. I know this is a strange way of finding out, Nika", he said kindly.

"Mr. Frusciante, I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. I am Pierre Lacroix and this is my wife Maria. If you like, we can drive to Palm Springs and you can arrange for a U-Haul to bring Nika's things to your house", said the older man.

"Thank you, sir. I didn't drive here, though, my friend did. I don't drive", said John apologetically.

"Oh, we have room in the car. And you have a room in your house?", asked Maria.

"Yes, ma'am. I live with two cats and I have a spare bedroom, but I never have guests", said John.

"You have cats?", asked Nika.

"Yeah, Gabriel and Bianca", said John proudly.

"Okay. What should I call you then?", she asked.

"Uh, Dad. I guess", said John with a nervous giggle.

Nika just shrugged. "I want to know, since one is supposed call adults by a title", she replied.

"Yeah, I guess. But you can come with me soon, I need to get your stuff first. My friend Flea has a daughter your age and I used to babysit her", said John.

"What kind of name is that?", she asked.

"Actually, it's a nickname, his ream name is Michael. I don't think anyone except his mom and girlfriend call him Michael", he chuckled.

Nika was quiet as she followed her grandparents and John out of the office. Her father seemed nice but strange since he didn't drive and had a friend called Flea. The group got in Pierre's car with Nika and John in the backset as he turned on the engine and Charlie Parker came over the car stereo. "Sweet, Flea is a huge jazz fan. His daughter is obsessed with the Spice Girls and it drives him nuts", John laughed.

"I don't like the Spice Girls, Mom said they were stupid. I like Artie Shaw and Mozart", said Nika.

John raised an eyebrow, trying to recall who that was. "Uh, is that a jazz guy? I don't listen to jazz", he said apologetically.

"He was a famous clarinet player from the 30's and 40's, he did Begin the Beguine. He was Mom's favorite clarinetist, I play the clarinet", said Nika proudly.

"Okay, big band jazz isn't my thing. And that's cool you play the clarinet, I play guitar", replied John.

"Are you a rock musician? Rock music is for idiots", said Nika.

John frowned, not liking how she seemed to be parroting her mother's words. "Rock music is not for idiots, I play rock music and my band is very successful. The people I know in my band are very smart", he chided.

"Who wrote the Aeneid?", she asked.

"Uh, Homer?", he answered.

"Wrong, it was Virgil. He was Roman, Homer was Greek", she replied triumphantly.

"Nika, that isn't nice", said Maria.

"Where did you go to college? Mom had a doctorate from USC", said Nika.

"I didn't go to college, I dropped out of high school and got my GED", said John.

"Why? If you don't go to college, people will think you're stupid", said Nika.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Frusciante. Our daughter Zoe was too proud of her intelligence and I'm afraid she passed it on to Nika. Nika was homeschooled and Zoe didn't allow her to be around the neighborhood children", said Pierre.

"Because they're stupid, Mom said so", Nika cried out.

"It isn't nice to call people stupid, Nika", warned Maria.

"But they are stupid, they play with Barbies", said Nika defiantly.

John was starting to feel disturbed about how his daughter was talking. She appeared to have gotten her points of view from her mother since her grandparents seemed to be very pleasant people. He wondered if Nika would get along with Clara and hoped they did, and he mused on how one could teach a child social skills as they headed east towards Palm Springs.

[Tim]

So where is this story going exactly.  I mean we know how things turn out for Nika already. 

Just wondering.

[ladyfiaran22]

Dec 31, 2020 0:23:01 GMT -5 Tim said:

So where is this story going exactly.  I mean we know how things turn out for Nika already. 

Just wondering.

It’s about how she comes to live with John as a child and adjusts to living with her father and a new family. It’s more psychological and about character development compared to action, it’s mostly from a child’s point of view. Thanks for reading

[Tim]

Got it

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 4

"Remember Nika, you can call anytime and be a good girl with your father. We will send your things later this week", said Maria as she hugged her granddaughter.

"I will, Grandmere", she vowed.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. and Mrs. Lacroix", said John.

"No worries, John. And you're always welcome here, you are part of the family", said Maria, giving him a hug.

"I've never been on a train before, so this is a first for the both of us", said Nika.

"I don't drive, I'm just not interesting. We'll get a cab when the grain arrives and you can look around the house, you'll need time to decompress", said John.

"I don't want to meet new people, I don't like many people", said Nika matter-of-factly.

"I'm sure you'll like my bandmates, they're very cool guys. And I did call my parents, they want to meet you. They live in New York and they're coming to visit soon", said John.

Nika looked terrified, her bleu eyes wide and flat as buttons. "Are they nice?", she whispered.

"Of course, they're thrilled to be grandparents at last. I'm an only child and they never thought they'd ever be grandparents', he said.

"I suppose it would be nice to have other grandparents", she mused aloud.

John took her hand as they checked in at the train station and the porter took her suitcase. The train station in Palm Springs had none of the hurly-burly of LAX or even a Greyhound bus station, only a few passengers in the waiting room looking at the departure board. "Dad, do you have a lot of books?", she asked.

"Yeah, especially on spirituality and art. I'm a Buddhist and I've read a lot on it before I converted. And I love art, my favorites are the Dada guys like Duchamp and of the older artists, I love Renaissance stuff. Especially Da Vinci, he was a genius", said John reverently.

"Because you're Italian?", she teased.

"Hah, only on my Dad's side. I'm actually a quarter Italian and a quarter Puerto Rican on Dad's side, and through Mom I'm a quarter Irish and a quarter Jewish. But I got a really Italian name", he explained.

"I have a Greek first name and a French last name, but Pepere and Grandmere are British. I call them that since Lacroix is a French name", she said.

"I see, the both of us have mixed up genes. But seriously, I want you to feel comfortable in my home. You can go anywhere in the house but when I'm in the studio with the door closed, I'm busy", he said.

"You have a studio? What kind?", she asked.

"A music studio, I produce my solo albums there. I prefer to do it myself instead of telling a producer what to do, I'm my own boss", he replied.

"The Sunset Limited to Los Angeles is arriving on Platform 5, please be ready to board and show your ticket to the conductor", announced the PA.

John took Nika by the hand and led her over to the platform. They boarded the train and found empty seats with Nika taking the window seat as the car gradually filled up with people. Fifteen minutes later the train left the station and headed westwards towards the desert and then to Los Angeles. At first Nika was excited to be on the train but she quickly grew bored of the desert. She wished she had her books but they were all back in Palm Springs. Nika saw that John lay against the seat and had his eyes closed so she decided against asking him.

Nika mused at how strange the last 24 hours had been, finding out about her father and now going off to live with him in Los Angeles. She hoped his cats liked her and that she could look through his library. Ever since her mother had taught her to read at age three, books had been some of her favorite things and a comfort. She looked forward to perusing John's library and maybe the rest of the house would be as interesting.

Less than two hours the train arrived in Los Angeles. John took her hand and helped her get off the train, following the directions to the luggage claim. Nika found her bag in a pile as John picked it up and led her outside where the cab waited. John said something to the driver who placed their bag in the trunk and opened the door.

Nika looked out the window as the cag pulled away from the station. She was vaguely disappointed that the cab didn't go through Hollywood itself but was surprised when the cab climbed a road into hills that surrounded the city. The area had small copses of trees and scrubby bushes that provided a tawny contrast to the greenery, the sky above the typical hazy blue-gray of a sunny LA day.

The cab stopped in front of a low, modest white ranch house as John paid the driver. "This is my house, I bought it after I got sober and rejoined the band. I don't need a bigger house, it's enough", he said.

Nika's heart pounded in fear and her mouth was dry as John led her towards the house. John gave her a reassuring smile before he opened the door. Two cats immediately meowed loudly and padded over to John as he chuckled and stroked their backs. "Gabriel, Bianca, this is my daughter Nika. Nika, these are my cats Gabriel and Bianca, Gabriel's the marmalade tom and Bianca is the Persian", he explained.

The two cats glanced over at Nika and were still for a moment before going back inside. "They're not used to people, they only know Mildred, my parents and bandmates", he said.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Frusciante. Is this your daughter?", asked his housekeeper Mildred. She was a plump middle-aged woman with iron-gray hair in a neat bun and merry blue eyes above red cheeks, wearing a simple blue dress and an apron around her waist.

"Yes, this is Nika. Nika, this is my housekeeper Mildred. She makes sure everything functions smoothly", said John.

John was startled when Nika bent down and dropped into a deep curtsy. "Oh my, I haven't seen that since my childhood ballet class", said Mildred.

"My mom said that's what polite girls do, Madame", said Nika.

"Please call me Mildred, I've never been called Madame before", replied Mildred.

"Her grandparents are British", John explained.

"I see. I'm going to prepare lunch, is there anything in particular you like?", asked Mildred.

"I'm fine, whatever Dad has", she said.

"In the meantime, I'll show you around", said John.

What most impressed Nika about the living room were the piles of vinyl records on the floor and the guitar rack which held different sorts of guitars, both acoustic and electric. Around the perimeter of the room were shelves of vinyl and CD's arranged by genre and which surrounded a simple white couch and a big-screen TV. "I have more CD's and records in my room, I ran out of shelf safe. I don't really watch TV, but you can watch what you want", he said.

Nika just nodded as she was impatient to see the library. He then took her upstairs to show her his room and her room and Mildred's room as she tried not to look bored. "These are my favorite rooms in the house, Nika. This is my studio", he said once they were back downstairs and he led her through a door.

The recording studio on the first floor was a smaller version of a professional studio but its main characteristic was that all the equipment was vintage from the 60's and 70's. "I don't like digital equipment, I did my last album in a modern studio and it sounded really clinical, plus the recording was clipped. I love the sound of vintage albums, my next album is gonna be made here", said John.

"You produce music?", she asked in awe.

"Yeah, it's not hard as it looks. I like to be in control", he said.

Nika followed him out of the studio and into his library as her eyes widened in delight. "You have free range of this library, Nika. I don't have anything weird or inappropriate for kids, but I do have a lot of books on religion and art", he said.

Nika could only nod as she slowly walked around the perimeter of the room. Unlike her grandfather's study, John's was light and airy with plenty of natural light coming through a large window to the right which showed off an excellent view of the hills. Sleek white metal bookcases held numerous books and magazines arranged in no particular order while a pale blond wood desk and royal blue cushioned swivel chair sat in the middle of the room. Atop the desk were the latest issue of National Geographic and a statue of a golden Buddha, shining in the light of the window.

"Can I stay here?", she asked.

"You can come here anytime you like, there's a stair step if you need to get something from the shelf. I'll buy another chair if you want. But when I'm in the studio and the light above the door is red, don't come in", he said.

"Okay. Do I have to eat lunch?", she pouted.

"Yes, otherwise you'll get a headache. If you skip meals, you'll get a headache. After lunch, I'm going to be in the studio working on a song. Tomorrow my friend Josh is coming over to help me with the song, he came up with an idea and it sounds awesome", said John.

"Is he a bandmate?", she asked.

"No, just a very good friend. He's over a lot since we collaborate on a lot of music, he's a good kid. Now let's get lunch", said John.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 5

Nika was anxious to see this Josh guy so she could back to her father's study. She had been reading a book on Hindu mythology and wanted to go back and read, but first she had to meet his friend. "Josh is a great guy, we met through Bob Forrest who helped me get sober. He plays in Bob's band, the Bicycle Thief and he plays a lot of different instruments", said John.

Nika just wanted this Josh guy to show up and go to the studio so she could read her book. Bianca gave her a sympathetic purr as she gently stroked the Persian's silky fur, her blue eyes kind. "Bianca is very affectionate, Persians have a reputation for being snobby but she's a sweetheart. And Gabriel's doing his business", said John as the marmalade tom used the box.

There was a knock on the door and John answered it. "Hey, how's it going? And is this your daughter?", asked a male voice.

"I'm good, and this is my daughter Nika. Nika, this is my friend and musical partner Josh Klinghoffer", said John.

Nika dropped a curtsy as Josh looked startled. "Wow, I haven't seen that except in old movies", he said.

"Her grandparents are British", John explained.

"Okay, I see. It's nice to meet you, Nika", he said kindly.

"And you as well, Mr. Klinghoffer", she replied.

"Call me Josh, Mr. Klinghoffer is my dad", he chuckled.

Nika observed Josh as she sized him up. He was taller than her father, skinny and pasty white, wearing baggy black sweatpants and a black t-shirt over a long-sleeved gray sweatshirt, a black beanie covering his straight light brown hair. She wondered if he was cold since she had yet to see anyone in southern California who dressed like this.

"So John, how did it feel to find out you had a daughter?", asked Josh when they were in the studio.

"Shocking, I barely remember anything from two years ago since I was so fucked up. But Nika is my daughter, she's a Frusciante. I'm taking a crash course in parenting", said John ruefully.

"Your parents probably went through the same thing, my folks too. But my parents don't have to worry about being grandparents any time soon, I'm single and don't intend to every have kids", laughed Josh.

"I thought I'd never have kids either, but it turns out I have a daughter. I got lots to learn, but I love to learn. Now let's get started", said John as he went to a mini-fridge and poured them each a glass of San Pellegrino.

Nika was glad to get back to her book, hoping her father and Josh stayed in the studio a long time so she could read in peace. She knew she would have to meet her new grandparents and his bandmates sooner or later, but the idea made her queasy. Being with new people made her anxious and nauseous to the point of fainting but so far meeting Josh didn't make her ill. He seemed nice but really young and she wondered why he wore such baggy clothes, but the thoughts away to continue reading.

Nika was disappointed when John opened the door. "We're taking a break for lunch, you need to eat", he said.

"Why, this book is awesome", she pouted.

"If you don't eat, you'll get a headache. Oh, I got that one from a New Age store in Venice Beach. It's pretty good, I have books on Buddhism if you're interested", said John.

"It is, maybe one day I'll read the real version of the Ramayana", said Nika.

"I'm still reading the book on Duchamp you lent me, and the Living Dharma book. I'll try to return them next week", said Josh.

"That's all right, take your time. I have so many books I don't have time to read, reading too fast isn't good", said John.

"Duchamp is ugly, Pepere says he was a fraud", said Nika.

"Wow, you've seen a Duchamp?", asked Josh in surprise.

"Yes, and his art was a fraud. A toilet seat is not art", said Nika primly.

"Everyone has different tastes, I love modern art. I love going to galleries since some of my friends are artists", said Josh.

"Art should look like things, I like ancient Greek art", said Nika.

"Oh, like sculpture and mosaics? Those guys were seriously talented, but Classical art isn't my thing. I prefer more modern stuff, if I ever get to New York, I'm going to see MOMA and the Guggenheim", said Josh.

"But modern art is ugly, it doesn't look like anything", she protested.

Josh laughed and bent down to her level. Nika smiled back and saw that his brown eyes were merry and had golden highlights. "Then I ought to show you my art, I haven't had any complaints that it was ugly", he teased.

"Okay, since Dad used to paint. Is it blobby stuff?", she asked.

"Depends, sometimes I do realistic stuff and sometimes I do abstract art. Maybe one day Bob or someone will hire me to paint their album art", Josh said.

The trio went to the dining room as Mildred prepared lunch. "We got the basic track down, we still have to add guitar", said John.

"Don't you record all the instruments at once?", asked Nika.

"No, since it's only two of us. First we do the rhythm tracks and then the guitars, then vocals. Plus the studio is sound-proofed", John explained.

"Okay, so who plays the drums?", she asked.

"I do, I also play bass. When we record the guitar parts, John plays the leads and I play the rhythm. He's more the flashy lead guy and I'm more the steady rhythm guy", said Josh.

"Okay", she replied.

"Maybe one day you can see us in the studio, it will make sense", said John.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 6

Nika tried to fight off the urge to retch as John got dressed. "We're meeting the band at the rehearsal space, they really want to meet you. You can bring a book if you want", he said.

Nika was speechless and her eyes wide in fear. "Don't worry, they're great guys. Flea and Chad have kids but Anthony is still single, it might be a while before he has kids", he said with a laugh.

John stood in front of the mirror and brushed his curly dark brown hair. It had grown back thick and lush after being dirty and unkempt for so long when he was addicted, now falling down to his shoulders and shining with auburn highlights. "Dad, I hate meeting people", she whispered.

"I'm shy too, and I'm a rock musician. It's funny, I go onstage and play in front of thousands of people but otherwise I'm shy. It's a performer thing", he mused aloud.

Nika thought for a fleeting moment about locking herself inside the library but thought better of it. She could still see the eyes of all those people at the studio as they gawked at her, the wonder child. She went over to the library and scanned the shelves to find something interesting, selecting a fat paperback edition of South of the Border, West of the Sun since it was by a Japanese author, reminding of her of great-uncle Jack.

"Cool, you like Murakami? He's brilliant", said John.

"My great-uncle Jack lives in Japan", she said.

"Wow, that's awesome. I've been to Japan with my bandmates, it has both good and bad memories", said John wistfully.

Nika wondered why her father wore a long-sleeved shirt but thought it would be rude to ask. She took the book and followed him outside where a black BMW was waiting. A man with curly light brown h air and bright blue eyes got out of the car and embraced John, before turning to her with a gap-toothed grin. "Hi, you must be John's daughter. I'm Michael Balzary, but everyone calls me Flea", he said.

"That's weird", she said.

"Hah, I know. Only my mom and my girlfriend call me Mike, it's a childhood nickname. And Nika is a pretty name, and unusual", he said.

"Thank you, Mr. Balzary. It means Victory in Greek, the feminine form", she replied.

"Cool, I didn't know that. Let's go before the others get worried", said Flea.

Nika got in the backseat and John got in the front. "Is there any particular music you like?", asked Flea.

"I like jazz and Mozart", she replied.

"Wow, that's awesome. I love bebop, I prefer Dizzy Gillespie since I play the trumpet. Let me see what what I got", he muttered as he rummaged around in the glove compartment. "Ah, here's some Dizzy", he said, shoving a CD into the player as Gillespie played over the speakers.

The drive towards their rehearsal space was a pleasant one as Dizzy Gillespie blared from the speakers. Flea hummed along to the trumpet lines and Nika was concerned he was going to crash but he drove through the suburban streets of the valley, the bebop blaring from the speakers causing a few curious stares. Flea pulled into the parking lot of a nondescript gray warehouse and John opened the door for her. Nika smoothed out the skirt of her navy sailor dress and made sure her hair ribbon was in place before she followed them inside.

A muscular man of average height with short bleached blond hair was talking with a very tall muscled man in a Detroit Tigers baseball cap when they entered. 'Hey, you must be John's daughter. I'm Anthony, I'm the singer", said the man with short blond hair.

"And I'm Chad, the drummer", said the tall man.

Nika dropped into a curtsy as the men looked startled. "I am very glad to meet you, sirs", she said solemnly.

"Wow, I haven't seen that since my sister's ballet class", said Anthony in surprise.

"Her grandparents are British", John replied.

"Maybe, but I agree with Anthony. I've never seen that except for really old movies", said Chad.

"It's not a bad thing, just different. We were startled, that's all", said Anthony.

Nika just nodded and hoped they would leave her alone. "Mom said ladies always curtsy when introduced to people", she said.

"Oh, but in the US it's seen as a little weird and formal. You can do it, but people will think it's weird", said Chad.

Nika was silent and just wanted to start reading her book. Fortunately for her, the band found their instruments and started a jam. At first she thought the music was too noisy but got used to it as a sort of white noise as she began to read.

Two hours later, the band took a little break. Anthony handed John a bottle of water. "John, your daughter acts far older than she is. Is she all right?", he asked.

"She was raised by her mom and grandparents, they're very British. But she hasn't cried for her mom, I'm concerned", said John.

"Maybe she's still in shock", Flea suggested.

"I don't know, she's very stoic. Should I take her to a therapist?", he asked.

"Give it time, she's lost her mom and is living with her dad she barely knows. If she continues like this, then maybe", said Chad.

John drank his water and watched Nika. She was perched on a wooden stool and reading quietly, her curly hair falling around her slim shoulders. Unlike other children he knew, she didn't squirm or fidget or get bored but calmly read the book. It reminded him of himself when he was a child reading a good book or into his meditation, a smile forming on his lips.

She looked up from the book. "Dad, are you all right?", she asked.

"Yeah, but you're very still for a child", he said.

"It is, and Mom said ladies don't fidget. Girls got more self-control than boys", she replied.

"I guess, I was a quiet kid. We're about to order lunch, is there anything you'd like?", he asked.

"Whatever you want", she answered with a shrug.

"Do you want pizza, burgers, that sort of thing?", he asked.

"I don't eat junk food, Mom said it's bad for you", she said.

John was concerned by her robotic answer. "Uh, okay. But what about what you want for lunch?", he asked.

'Whatever you want", she repeated.

John sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "One moment", he said.

He looked through a drawer and found a menu for a Middle Eastern place and showed it to her. "Order whatever you like", he said.

Nika looked at the menu and nodded. "I'll have the tabbouleh salad with mineral water", she replied.

"Are you sure? Most kids don't like that", he said.

"I do", she replied coolly.

John just shrugged and wrote down her order on a notepad. He got the rest of the orders and called the restaurant to order the food. "So Nika, what kind of music do you like?", asked Chad.

"I like Mozart and jazz", she replied.

The group exchanged looks. "My daughter likes the Spice Girls", said Flea.

"So does mine", said Chad.

"The Spice Girls have no talent, Mom said it was junk", said Nika.

"Nika, you can't call something junk because your mother said so. You have to make up your own mind about what you like and don't like", said John.

"But what if it's worthless junk? Pop music and cartoons are junk", she replied matter-of-factly.

"A lot of fun stuff is junk, we all grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons and eating cereal with marshmallows", said Anthony as the others nodded.

"I don't watch cartoons, I like PBS and BBC. Cartoons make you stupid", said Nika.

"Nika, it isn't nice to call things stupid", said John.

"That's what Mom said", she said.

John gave his bandmates a helpless look. "Give it time, she needs to adjust", said Flea.

The band did more rehearsals after lunch until four that afternoon. "We'll see you guys tomorrow", said Anthony.

"Yeah, we're going to sound awesome on tour", said Flea.

"Nika, it slipped my mind but in two weeks we're going on tour. You're staying with Mildred, but I'll call each night", he said.

"All right, where are you going?", she asked.

"We're going to play some shows in the Midwest for two weeks. We take a week off and then we go back on tour for two weeks, next we go to the East Coast. We finished our West Coast tour two weeks ago", said John.

"Okay. I hope you have a nice tour", she replied.

John frowned at her indifferent reply, a heavy feeling in his heart. Flea put an arm around his shoulder and gave his friend a reassuring smile. "Give it time, John", he said.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 7


Chapter Text
"You've never been to a shopping mall before? This is going to be fun", said Clara happily.

"Okay, but what's the big deal about shopping? Everyone needs clothes", said Nika.

"But it's fun to shop, malls are fun. You're really going to like it", said the red-haired.

Nika smiled wanly at her. They were at Flea's house getting ready to go shopping at the mall for new clothes. John was reading from a book of Buddhist proverbs from Flea's bookshelf he waited. He wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and Nika wondered if he was always cold. "Nika, you can get anything you want. Anything", he said.

"It's not nice to be greedy", she replied dubiously.

"You're not being greedy, you're my daughter and I want to buy you nice things. Just get what you want", said John.

"All right, let's go", said Flea.

The group got into his black BMW and the radio was tuned to Clara's favorite pop station which played Wannabe by the Spice Girls. Nika tried not to look aghast since it wasn't polite, but she thought the song was horrible and wondered how a smart girl like Clara could possibly listen to this rubbish. "Dad took me to see them at the Forum last year, it was a great show. And we got to meet them, they were nice and so British", said Clara.

"Remember the time we dressed up as the Spice Girls for your birthday?", teased Flea.

"Ohh, that was awesome! Dad, Anthony and John dressed up as the Spice Girls. Dad was Baby Spice, Anthony was Posh Spice and John was Sporty Spice", said Clara.

"Yeah, there was no way I was wearing a dress and makeup, so I was Sporty Spice in a tracksuit. You girls were screaming", teased John.

"Yeah, because you were guys in dresses made up like the Spice Girls. We thought we were going to see the real group", said Clara.

"If you dressed up as a woman, are you gay?", asked Nika.

Both Flea and John burst into laughter. "Haha, no. I was married and have a girlfriend", said Flea.

"And although I'm celibate, I know I'm straight since I've had girlfriends. And trust me, Anthony is not gay at all", said John as his face was still red from laughing.

"Okay, but it looks weird", said Nika dubiously.

Flea parked in the lot of the mall as Nika looked on with wide eyes and her hands trembled when she saw all the cars and people. John smiled reassuringly at her and took her by the hand. "I used to be scared of big crowds too, which is why I had trouble when the band got really big", he said.

Nika still felt terrified even though she held his hand hard. The sheer number of people threatened to overwhelm her as the group went inside the mall. "We're going to buy some clothes first, that's the most important", said John.

Their first stop was dELiA's as Nika looked on in distaste. The store with it's brightly colored clothes and loud pop music made her cringe as Clara eagerly went inside. "I love this place, the clothes are amazing", she said happily.

"I hope they have clothes in dark colors", said Nika, looking at the bright colors in disgust.

"Buy what you want, Nika", said John.

Nika was disappointed and upset that all the clothes were brightly-colored and sparkly. "You like dark colors? I can see why, you look like Snow White", said Clara as Flea paid for her things.

"Really? I never had anyone tell me that before", replied Nika.

"You do look like Snow White, dark colors would look good on you. I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up, Mom says I have an eye for clothes", said Clara.

The red-haired girl smiled at her and Nika returned it tentatively. "You might prefer the Gap, the clothes might suit you better", said Clara.

Nika was grateful when they went to the Gap and she saw the neutral colors and heard the soft electronic music on the speakers. "This is so not punk rock", joked Flea.

"Pick whatever you like", said John.

Nika felt more at ease here as she quickly picked out some dark blue and black pants, neutral-colored shirts and dark skirts. "Anything else you want?", he asked.

"I'm good, Dad. Is there a bookstore here?", she asked.

"Yeah, on the third floor. Let's do a bit more shopping and get lunch, then we go", said John.

Nika tried to be patient as the group went to a few more stores. "John, the management is going to send out a press release about Nika, so people don't get the wrong idea", said Flea.

"Good, I don't want anyone to think ill of Nika. Even though she was conceived while I was drunk, she is still my daughter", replied John.

"Of course, but she still needs time to get adjusted to be used to you. Just be patient, and if you have any questions, just let me know", said Flea.

Nika was still impatient when the group went to the food court for lunch. "Wow, you really want to see that bookstore", said Clara.

"I love to read, my books haven't arrived yet", said Nika as they stood in line at the Chinese booth.

"I prefer art and drawing, art is my favorite class at school. It might be genetic, since Dad is a musician", said Clara.

"I could read by the age of three", said Nika.

"Awesome, I learned when I was four cuz Dad taught me", said Clara.

The girls got their food and found a table with their dads. "We can go to the bookstore after lunch", said John as he set down his plate of vegetables and tofu.

"Thanks, I want to see if they have any more books by Mr. Murakami, I liked the book", she said.

"A lot of his work really isn't appropriate for kids", he warned.

"The Iliad and the Odyssey have a lot of sex and violence", she said matter-of-factly.

"I have no idea, I haven't read either of them in so long, they were the kids' versions", said John.

"In the Iliad, Achilles kills Hector and drags him being his chariot to avenge his boyfriend Patroclus and he takes Briseis as his slave", said Nika as she ate her lunch.

The absurdity of the situation registered to John as very darkly comic. Nika was a child in her prim navy blue sailor dress telling him about the sex and violence in the Iliad. A squeaky giggle escaped his throat as he held a napkin to his mouth to hide his guffaw. "I'm sorry, but that is funny. You're a kid, Nika. You shouldn't be talking about that, he chided as he regained his composure.

"I have an IQ of 135", she replied coolly.

"Really? But you should be a kid, have fun", said John.

"It's fun to read books", she replied.

John decided to let the matter drop but resolved to find a therapist for his daughter. "Dad, you read a lot", she said.

"Yes, but I do other things. Sometimes I go to dance clubs, I love acid house and jungle. I don't take Ecstasy or drink, but I love the music", said John.

Nika's eyes went wide and then crinkled at the corners when she smiled as John was nearly taken aback. When she smiled, her face lost its usual seriousness and seemed much younger, purple highlights glowing in her dark blue eyes. "I love dancing!", she exclaimed.

"That's great! What sort of music do you dance too?", he asked.

"Motown and Northern Soul, my cousin runs a Northern Soul club in Tokyo. It's my reward if I do well in my coursework", she said.

"Nika, dancing should not be a reward for good grades. Dancing is supposed to be spontaneous and fun", said John.

"But what if I do poorly in my studies?", she asked.

"When you go to school, you'll see how you're doing with grades", he said.

Nika nodded and vowed that she would get nothing but A's. She figured that would be easy since her mom had said that dumb kids went to school, and if they picked on her it was because of jealousy.

She was relieved when lunch was over and the group went up the third floor to the bookstore. Nika's face broke into a grin when she saw the shiny displays of books, as she darted around glancing up at the placards with the sections. "Whoa, you almost knocked me over", teased Josh as she came to a halt.

"Sorry, Mr. Klinghoffer. Do you know where I can find Mr. Murakami's books?", she asked.

Josh raised an eyebrow. "Please call me Josh, Mr. Klinghoffer is my dad. I suppose it's either in the general fiction, or maybe the Japanese section", he replied.

"Hey Josh, normally you go to the used bookstores", said John.

"I know, but Bob asked me to find a pregnancy book since his girlfriend is due in two months", said Josh.

"Okay, I suppose a used bookstore wouldn't be the best place for that. Tell Bob congratulations, I wouldn't know what to do", said John.

"Who's Bob?", she asked.

"He's my boss, he's the lead singer of Bicycle Thief. I play guitar and other stuff, whatever Bob needs", replied Josh.

"Bob is a great guy, we've known each other since the early 80's. He helped me through a rough time", said John.

"Okay, I think this is the section for pregnant ladies stuff", she said, showing him the Pregnancy and Obstetrics section.

"Thanks, Nika. And I'll try to find you Mr. Murakami's books", he said kindly.

Flea and Clara had gone over to the YA section as Josh quickly placed some books in a green mesh bag. "I don't want people to think I'm the one with a pregnant girlfriend", he explained.

"Do you have a girlfriend?", she asked.

Josh blushed as he adjusted the black beanie on his head. "Uh, I'm single. I busy recording with your dad and Bob in Bicycle Thief, plus I got a lot of shows around the area or art galleries. Maybe later", he mumbled.

John clapped the younger man on the back. "Same here, I don't date either. I used to be a jerk towards women and this is my atonement", he said.

"In my case, I'm busy and I'm not the best-looking guy out there", said Josh ruefully.

"You're not ugly", Nika blurted out.

Josh giggled and turned the color of pickled beets, a deep purplish-red. "Uh, thanks", he mumbled. Josh wore his usual black sweatpants and an orange t-shirt underneath a black cardigan, a black beanie perched atop his head. The baggy clothes had the unfortunate effect of making him look even skinnier than he was, the dark colors also accentuating his pallor and the beanie his long nose.

"My friends says I shouldn't wear baggy clothes all the time, but I like to be comfortable. And my parents don't mind anymore since I'm getting paid regularly and Bicycle Thief is starting to become popular. I live with my parents in the valley", he explained.

"Plus Bicycle Thief is opening up for us on the next tour", John reminded him.

"I know, I'm excited. I've been to New York to visit relatives, but otherwise I've never been out of California", said Josh.

"Hey, I've gotten used to touring. I don't hate it anymore, enjoy it while you can", said John.

They found Murakami's novels in the Asian fiction section as John placed them in a green mesh bag. He kept a close eye on Nika as she darted between the aisles, pausing at the fantasy section when she saw a large coffee table book on a display table opened up to reveal a scaly green dragon breathing fire. "This looks cool, do you want it?", asked John.

Nika hesitated. The book with the dragon looked gorgeous but she didn't want to seem greedy for wanting such a beautiful, frivolous book. "Nika, I'll get it for you, I have plenty of money", said John.

"Really, I don't want to be greedy", she protested.

"You are not greedy, I like spoiling my daughter. Let me get it for you", said John.

Nika gave her father a smile. "I'm going to pay for these nd hopefully the cashier doesn't give us funny looks", said Josh.

"Don't you want more books?", she asked.

"Yeah, but I have too many books in my room at home. I have more books than clothes, plus they're cheaper", he chuckled as John gave him a knowing look.

"Josh, you know where I can buy Northern Soul albums?", asked John while waiting in line.

"Oh yeah, at used record shops or anyplace that specializes in British imports. CD's suck for that kind of music", replied John as he filed away this information for later use.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 8

"I'm going to do some shopping with Josh, so behave yourself with Mildred and the cats", said John.

"All right, Dad. I'll be in the library", she replied.

Bianca and Gabriel glanced up from the water dish and padded over to the TV. "They like to watch PB, especially the nature shows", he explained.

Nika turned on the TV and changed the channel over to the local PBS affiliate. The cats sat on cushions in front of the TV and watched a rerun of Nature about lemurs. She quickly grew bored with the show and saw that John was still there as she went up to her room to get a book. Her furniture had come in earlier that week and had already been set up, the daybed covered in a purple quilt leaning against the wall. Two of the other walls were lined with shelves bursting with books some piled on top of each other because of the lack of space. On top of the low shelves was a vinyl record player with an antique horn in a brilliant deep blue. However, the room did not have any records since her mother had kept them and they still had not yet arrived.

Nika scanned the shelves and found her new Murakami book as she headed downstairs. "I'll be back later, I have to pack for the tour. Don't worry, I'll call and send postcards, if you want", he said.

"Okay, have fun", she replied.

John tried not to be upset by her coolness as he left, seeing Josh's beat-up pickup truck on his street. "Maybe at the end of the tour, I can finally get a new car. It's being held together by bailing wire and chewing gum", said Josh as John got in the passenger's side.

"You will, this is a major tour. What kind of car do you want?", asked John.

"A Volkswagen Jetta, since Beetles aren't made anymore. Or a Volvo, something European but not expensive. American cars suck and Japanese cars are boring", replied Josh as he shoved a Radiohead cassette into the player.

"And get one with a CD player", teased John.

"Hah, I think new cars have them. I still have a lot of cassettes, maybe I can have both. But even better would be a vinyl player, but they haven't invented that yet", he laughed.

John hoped that Josh did get a new car since the old truck was a piece of junk the younger man had bought for $500 from an ad in the newspaper. The interior was strewn with fast food wrappers and boxes, empty cigarette boxes and spent butts in Styrofoam cups, the trash giving off sour, smoky aroma. While the exterior had gotten the minimum car wash, the fender was dented and the paint job had dulled to a dark blue-gray whose edges were rusty. A glance at the odometer showed that the truck had nearly 300,000 miles on it after 15 years of services as it steadily made its way downhill.

John was relieved when Josh pulled in the lot of Poo Bah's used record store. "They got the best selection of vinyl in the Valley, especially British stuff", he said enthusiastically.

The store was half-full with the usual sorts who came to vinyl record stores: hipsters, college students, hippies young and old, punk rockers, suburban teenagers and a few bewildered preppy types. Josh made a beeline towards the UK imports section and scanned the placards until he came to the R&B and soul section. "Knock yourself out, I'll be looking for some Japanese imports", said Josh.

John flipped through the vinyl compilations of Northern Soul and wondered where to start. Each of the albums seemed to have cover photos of attractive women in mod clothes dancing and he could only recognize some of the songs and artists. "Do you need help?", asked one of the clerks, a young man with long brown hair who spoke with a Scouse accent.

"Yeah, I'm looking for Northern Soul albums for my daughter", he replied.

"Ah, my Dad used to go dancing at the Blackpool Mecca back in the day and I grew up hearing it. This just came in, it's part of a set that came in", he said, handing him a vinyl.

"Do you have the others in the set?", asked John.

"Let me see, we ordered several sets of these from a UK exporter since they're so popular", replied the clerk.

The clerk went behind the counter and dug through a milk crate of shrink-wrapped vinyl. "Oh, here they are", he said, handing him three other similar albums in different lettering.

"I'll take these", said John.

The clerk nodded as he rung them up and placed them in a canvas bag with the store's logo. Josh was behind him with an armload of vinyl as set down on the counter. "Royalty check", he explained.

Josh beamed like a kid on Christmas morning as he picked up the bag of vinyl and led them out the door. "I paid Mom and Dad rent last week and my share of the groceries, I got something left", said Josh.

Both men got in the truck as Josh turned on the engine and drove a bit until they reached the library. "I ordered some books and they always have good stuff on sale", he explained.

John followed him inside the library as Josh went up to the front desk and showed his card while the librarian handed him a small stack of books which he placed inside a plastic shopping bag. He then went over to the used book section and scanned the shelves of paperbacks, children's books and encyclopedia volumes until he found large coffee table books of Impressionist art for a dollar each. Josh paid for the books and both men carried them back to the truck. "Where do you put all this stuff?", John wondered aloud.

"My room, I have a lot of shelves. What doesn't fit I put in my closet or the basement shelves. It's cheaper than being hooked on anime or buying antiques, plus it doesn't rot your brain like video games. Besides, one of the books is for Mom", said Josh.

"Yeah, your parents are coming around?", asked John.

"Yeah, especially since Bicycle Thief is starting to get popular and we're going on tour with you guys. Having your son be a high school dropout at 15 isn't exactly cool", said Josh dryly.

"Of course not, but you weren't meant to be in high school. I wasn't meant to be in school either, both of us are born musicians", John mused aloud.

Josh drove back into the Hollywood Hill just before rush hour was about to start. "Josh, do you want to stay for dinner? It'll take forever to drive back to the valley during rush hour", said Josh.

"Okay, but I need to call Mom and Dad", said Josh.

Josh pulled into the driveway of the house and the men carried the bags inside. When John opened the door, the cats immediately scrambled off the couch and meowed loudly as they greeted him. "Whoa, one moment guys", he teased.

"The cats just watched PBS and were quiet. Did you have a good time?", asked Nika, putting down her book.

"Yeah, this is for you. Josh helped me pick it out", said John as he handed her the bag of vinyl.

Nika accepted the bag and looked inside, her eyes going wide in delight. "Ohh, thank you!", she exclaimed.

"The clerk at Poo Bah's helped me out, it's a set of Northern Soul albums and each is a music from a certain club", he explained.

"I'll go listen to them later after I finish reading", she said.

"Why don't you listen to them now?", asked John.

"I haven't gotten good marks yet, Mom said I couldn't listen to music unless I got good marks and did everything correctly", she replied.

"Okay, but this is summer and there's no school", said John in confusion.

"I was homeschooled, I had lessons everyday", she explained.

"Okay, what sort of lessons?", he asked.

Nika set down her book and cleared her throat before reciting something in Latin. John was dumbstruck and in awe as she spoke Latin from memory, his jaw nearly on the ground as Josh looked just as amazed. "What was that?", he asked in shock.

"Book I of the Aeneid, which tells about how Aeneas and his family tried to escape the sack of Troy. Do you want to hear more?", she asked.

"Uh, I'm good. Now you can put on the record", said John.

Josh snapped out of his trance to quickly call his parents, still shocked that a little kid could speak Latin. John unwrapped a record and set up the record player before placing the album on the turntable and dropping the needle. There was a slight hiss and then bass-heavy, Motown-type music came over the speakers.

John stood and watched as Nika started dancing in a sort of shuffling, free-form athletic style. After a moment, he joined her and started dancing as Josh looked on with bemusement. John danced awkwardly as he flailed his arms and legs, his long curly hair bouncing around his shoulders.

The record ended as both father and daughter laughed with flushed faces. "Let me catch my breath", he panted.

"Josh, why don't you dance?", she asked.

"I got a trick knee, skateboarding accident. I wear a brace and I don't want to blow out my knee", he explained.

"Dad, we can listen to the rest later. I'm only supposed to listen to one record a day", said Nika.

"What, did your mom tell you that? Nika, you can listen to as albums as you want", he said in shock.

"Really? Am I being greedy?", she asked warily.

"Nika, you can listen to as much music as you want. You can listen to my albums too, I'll show you how to load the record player and use the the CD player", said John.

"Wow, that's crazy. My parents let me listen to as much music as I wanted, as long as it wasn't offensive. You're not greedy at all", said Josh.

John's hands were steady as he lifted the album off the turntable and placed it back in the sleeve before adding another one, but his mind was troubled. the way Nika spoke about her mother made him think his daughter had been abused in some way, not physically but mentally. He vowed to find her a therapist once the tour was over as he dropped the needle on the record.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 9



Nika watched as John closed the suitcase and took the bags by the door. "Have a safe trip, Dad", she said.

"I will, I'll be back in two weeks. Is there anything in particular you want?", he asked.

"No, I'm good", she replied very quickly.

"Nika, I'll get whatever you want. Don't worry", said John.

"Just some books on ancient Egypt, I'm trying to learn more about them", she replied quietly.

"Okay, I'll get you some really good books on ancient Egypt. Not kiddie ones, good ones", promised John.

"Thanks, Dad", she replied shyly.

"No problems. Just be a good girl and listen to Mildred, Mom and Dad are flying in on Tuesday. They're staying for a week", said John.

Nika nodded as her heart pounded in fear. "Relax, Nika. Mom and Dad are thrilled to meet their new granddaughter, they never thought they'd be grandparents. They're great people", he said kindly.

Nika said nothing but the idea of meeting new people made her stomach churn and bile rise up in her throat. She resolved to be on the absolute best behavior so that John's parents would not be ashamed of her. She was startled when a car horn honked outside and the cats yowled. "Oh, that's Flea. Goodbye Nika, Bianca and Gabriel", he said. Nika stiffened when John hugged her and she thought he frowned but it quickly vanished to be replaced by a smile.

John took his suitcase and placed it in the trunk of Flea's car before getting in the passenger's seat. "Nika looked terrified of meeting my parents", he said.

"She's met a lot of new people, give her time to adjust. She's only been living with you for a few wees and recently lost her mother", Flea reminded him.

"I'm worried because she's so calm otherwise, I wish she would get mad or cry or something. I don't think normal kids are that calm" said John.

"Her family is British, they're not exactly the sort to let it all hang out", said Flea.

"Says the wild and crazy Australian. But seriously, I'm concerned since kids aren't supposed to be like that", said John.

"Give it time, her and Clara get along really well", said Flea.

"I'm glad, I don't think Nika even had much contact with other children. It seems as though she was mostly around grownups, her grandparents are nice but very proper and British", said John.

John had to chuckle when he saw the eager look on Josh's face when they arrived at the airport, looking out of place in his baggy black sweatpants and black oversized t-shirt. "The more you tour, the more you'll get used to it", teased Anthony.

Bob Forrest came over and handed Josh a cup of tea. "This is an upgrade, I started touring out of a car with Thelonious Monster", he said. Even though he was the same age as Anthony and Flea, Bob looked much older because he was two years sober after being an addict for over fifteen years. His weathered face was lined and deep crow's feet stood out at the corners of his eyes, accentuated by his oversized glasses. He wore a long sleeved red t-shirt whose sleeves went past his wrists to cover up his track marks, his shoulder-length hair dyed a vivid red to hide the gray.

Bob sipped his own tea. "If you need any advice about your daughter, let me know. The same thing happened to me, my ex was pregnant when we broke up and she didn't tell me about our son until I got sober", he said.

"Thanks, Bob. I'm just concerned that she's so reserved and quiet, I know she lost her mother and her family is British, but something seems off", said John.

"Elijah acted weird like that when I first met him, his mother's new boyfriend didn't want him around.. You have to be patient and show that you're not going to abandon them. My son thought I was going to dump him in foster care if he misbehaved, that's what his mom said", Bob replied with an edge in his voice.

"Whoa, I'd never do that", John exclaimed.

"I know, you got a big heart. But really, just be the best dad you can be for your daughter", said Bob.

John became thoughtful and followed the group as they boarded the charter plane. He recalled when he'd just met Bob's son Elijah, how scared and bewildered the boy was. His mother had practically dumped him on Bob and he was understandably wary. He mused that if Nika was still timid and nervous after a month, then he could find a child therapist.

"So John, are charter planes faster than regular planes?", asked Josh.

"Oh yeah, since they're smaller. We'll fly into St. Louis downtown airport in Cahokia, Illinois where the bus is waiting. You and Bob are on our bus since it's only you two, the crew gets it's own bus", replied John.

"I can't wait", sighed Josh.

"You are going to get sick of that bus, Josh. but I understand, I was excited for my first tour too", said John in understanding.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 10

Nika's hands shook as she smoothed down the pleats of her skirt while Mildred brushed her hair. "Mr. and Mrs. Frusciante are very kind people, Miss Nika. They will be delighted to meet their granddaughter", said the older woman.

"But what if I'm a disappointment? I hate meeting new people", she muttered.

"You won't be a disappointment, you're their only grandchild", said Mildred.

Nika smiled wanly at the older woman and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She wore one of her new Gap dresses, a navy blue sailor dress with white trim. Matching knee socks with red cherries and red and white stripes on the hemlines added contrast. A navy blue bow perched atop her dark curls and her new black patent leather shoes shone in the sunlight.

There was a knock on the door and Nika immediately stood up straight and her heart beat furiously in her chest. Mildred went to get the door and an older couple entered the house. The man was of average height and stout with curly salt and pepper thinning hair on top of his head. The woman was the same height as the man with wavy dark brown hair and warm brown eyes. "Hello Mildred, we can't wait to meet our granddaughter", said the woman.

Nika took a deep breath and came forward and dropped into a curtsy. "Ohh, how sweet!", exclaimed the woman.

Nika slowly rose from the curtsy and gave them a little smile. "Hello, I am Nika Lacroix, Mr. and Mrs. Frusciante", she said solemnly.

"My goodness, you look just like John with those curls. Please call us Grandma and Grandpa, or Nonna and Nonno, it's Italian", said the woman.

"Grandma and Grandpa is fine. I'm sorry Dad can't be here, he's on tour", said Nika.

"We know, we saw the band on the last tour when they played Madison Square Garden. Maybe when we can see them on this tour, either in LA or New York", said the man.

"I would like to see New York, I want to see the Metropolitan Museum of Art", said Nika.

"Maybe when you come and visit us. But we are going to relax first, at our ages flying nonstop across the country is tiring", said her grandfather John Sr. ruefully.

"All right, your room is upstairs. Dad and Mildred fixed it up, I hope you will like it", she said.

"Nika, you are very formal for a little girl", said Gail, her grandmother.

"My mother's family is British, that is how I was raised", she replied.

"It's cute, but we're Americans. I suppose you're still getting used to losing your mom and living with John", said Gail kindly.

"I am getting used to these new arrangements", said Nika.

Gail and John Sr. exchanged a concerned look. "Nika, we'll rest up and after lunch we'll go out somewhere. Do you want to see a movie?", asked Gail.

"Yes, thank you", she replied.

Nika showed the older couple upstairs to their room as the cats followed. "This one is my room and Dad's is at the end of the hallway", she said.

"We know, Nika. We're first going to rest and then we have lunch and take you to the movies", said Gail.

Nika closed their door and went back downstairs followed by the cats. She turned on the TV and put on PBS for them and found the morning's newspaper, opening it to find the movie listings. She frowned when she saw the G-rated and Disney films but her eyes lit up when she saw that several local movie theaters were showing Gladiator. The idea of watching a film about ancient Rome excited her as she decided to continue reading Mr. Murakami's book.

The hour passed pleasantly as she read and the cats watched PBS. "Miss Mildred, did I behave well with my grandparents?", she asked.

"Yes, but you shouldn't be so formal with them. They are your grandparents and very nice people", the older woman chided gently.

"But Mom always said to be polite to older people", she protested.

"That's if you're dealing with people who aren't your family. Mr. and Mrs. Frusciante are lovely people and they must be thrilled to meet their granddaughter, since your dad is an only child and they never thought they would be grandparents", said Mildred.

"All right. They seem nice, like my other grandparents Pepere and Grandmere. I'm not good at meeting new people", she said.

"Not everyone is outgoing. But believe me, your grandparents are very nice people and they must be thrilled to finally have a grandchild", said Mildred.

Nika nodded as she became thoughtful. She wondered if her grandparents read a lot of books like Pepere and her father, and if they wouldn't mind seeing Gladiator. The idea of seeing a kids' movie revolted her because of their general silliness, the sensation as though her brain was being sucked out.

"Hello, Grandma and Grandpa. Are you feeling better?", she asked when John Sr. and Gail entered the kitchen.

"We're feeling better, Nika. I was thinking, we could go to the mall for lunch and watch a movie. What do want to see?", asked John. Sr.

"If it's no problem, I want to see Gladiator. I love ancient Rome and I hate children's movies", she explained.

"Oh, but that's a grownup movie", said Gail dubiously.

"I like grownup things. I'm reading a novel by Mr. Murakami", said Nika, showing them the book.

"Wow, that's amazing. All right, but there might be scary stuff in it", warned John Sr.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 11

Nika followed her grandparents to their rental car outside. "It's been so long since we thought we were going to be grandparents, John had so many problems. It's great to see that he's doing so well with the band, we were so worried", said Gail as John Sr. opened the door.

"What happened to Dad?", she asked.

"Oh, I want John to tell you. But I will say that John had a lot of problems from where he was to where he is now, it's like night and day", said Gail.

Nika was thoughtful as they got in the car. She wondered what exactly her father had done since he seemed like a kind gentleman. She knew she would ask John when he came back from touring, as she did not want other people to overhear on the phone. "Your father will tell you later, but he was in very bad shape. He's lucky to be alive", said John Sr.

Nika mused on this new information and wondered if he had cancer or was injured in some way. She had to smile when John Sr. put on an oldies station and the Beach Boys sang I Get Around, the music appropriate to the warm sunny day. Soon they were on 1-10 heading east into Orange County as John Sr. followed the signs towards Anaheim. "This part of LA reminds us of New Jersey or Long Island, with all the suburbs and malls", said Gail.

"I know, but with palm trees. If we ever did move out here, this is where we'd go", said John Sr.

They parked in the enormous lot of the shopping mall that Nika didn't recognize. She smiled shyly at her grandparents as they held her hands and led her inside. The malls was fuller than normal with kids out during summer vacation and accompanied by parents and teenagers by themselves. The PA played the latest pop music as the saccharine pop echoed off the walls, much to her dismay. The clothing stores were the same as the ones at the other mall as she found the directory and looked at the stores. "I want to see the bookstore", she declared.

"John said you love to read, he loves reading and was always either reading or playing guitar", said Gail.

Nika led them towards a music store. She dismissed the pop and rock CD's as s he made a beeline for the classical section, scanning the racks before finding Mozart. "Magic Flute is so lovely, I've seen it on PBS", she said, holding up a CD of the opera.

"Oh, Mozart. Okay then, is there anything else you want?", asked Gail.

"I also like 60's pop and jazz. I heard some of Dad's band's music, I went to their rehearsal. It's very loud, but the slow songs are nice", said Nika.

"Do you know the name of John's band?", asked John Sr.

"No, but they seem nice", she replied.

Gail and John Sr. exchanged a look. They took her over to the front of the store and pointed out the big cardboard cutout of the Californication album cover.
"That is Dad's band?", she whispered.

"Yes, that's their latest album. It's already gone triple platinum", said Gail.

It finally hit her how big a band her father played in. Now Nika felt guilty for not liking his music, wondering if she was disloyal. "Wow, I had no idea. I don't listen to pop music", she whispered.

"Most kids your age don't listen to rock music, that's all right. Their music is all over the radio and MTV, and John wrote much of their music", said Gail.

"You must be proud of him", she commented.

"We are, especially now that he's better and successful", said John Sr.

Nika insisted that they get all the band's CD's as they went to pay for them. "I want to hear all their music", she explained.

"He only did three albums with them, they had other guitarists. We were so proud of John when he had his first success with the band, but he didn't handle it well. Now he's much better", said Gail.

Nika was more intrigued and wanted to know exactly what her grandfather meant. She wondered what it meant that he couldn't handle success, if that meant h e was doing silly things or hated being famous, spending money too much. They had lunch at the food court and then went to the mall's movie theater as they got in line to get tickets. After getting the tickets, her grandfather bought a large tub of popcorn and three sodas before going to the theater. "You can't go to the movies without popcorn", he joked.

The mound of yellow glistening popcorn looked so tempting as Nika gingerly took a small handful and ate a little more as her grandparents smiled indulgently. "Just don't spoil your appetite", teased Gail.

After a few commercials and upcoming previews, the film started. The dirt and grunginess of the Roman encampment and the gladiator barracks was in stark contrast to the lush decadence of Commodus' palace, in contrast to his noble father Marcus Aurelius' humble tent. The horror of Maximus' family being slaughtered and of him being forced into fighting as a gladiator to his ultimate triumph on killing Commodus before he himself was killed made her thoughtful.

"Marcus Aurelius didn't want to turn Rome into a Republic, the Senate would not have allowed that after Julius Caesar. And there was no real Maximus, plus there's a lot of inaccuracies, it didn't even use real Latin", said Nika once the movie was over.

"Really, I didn't know. Do you speak Latin?", teased John Sr.

"Ita, ego sare Latine, avus. I can read it too", said Nika.

"Wow, that's amazing! All I know is English", said the older man in shock.

"Latin is fairly easy if you know a Romance language. I know how to speak French and Spanish", said Nika.

"John has to find an appropriate school, since your academics are far more advanced than other kids. Who taught you?", asked Gail.

"Mom and Pepere, my other grandpa. She was a professor of Classics and Pepere is a professor of Byzantine history, he's written a lot of books", she replied.

"I'm afraid we only graduated high school, I do sing in my church choir but I'm not sure exactly where John got his musical talent", said Gail.

[ladyfiaran22]

Chapter 12

"When I went on tour for the first time, I never thought I would be doing this", said Josh with a laugh.

"What did you think was going to happen on tour? Sex, drugs and rock and roll? I don't do the first two, but there's plenty of the last one", teased John.

"Hah, I meant it would be a little more eventful. I mean, it's cool to go on tour and see all these different places. But I like it, I've been all over LA and New York but I've never been to the Midwest, I've just flown over it", said Josh.

"This is the best bookstore in Chicago, I try to find used bookstores or record stores in each place we play. I might need to get an extra room for books and vinyls", said John.

"Same here", agreed Josh.

John adjusted his sunglasses and black beanie hat before he led Josh inside Myopic Bookstore. The massive used bookstore in Chicago was spread out on three floors with shelves nearly up to the ceiling stuffed with books. Josh's eyes went wide in delight and he immediately knew he was going to be buying something. "I was the same way when I first got here, the first tour we did after we got sober. When I was a younger guy, every tour stop I'd be trying to hook up with girls", he said ruefully.

"Girls are not interesting in my pasty, skinny self. Oh well", said Josh with a shrug.

The men grabbed plastic baskets and stalked the aisles. "I'm going to find a good book on ancient Egypt for Nika. I know she's not going to like some kiddie book", said John.

"Yeah, she seems like a very smart girl. I wouldn't have liked reading a kiddie book on Egypt either", said Josh in agreement.

The two men went over to the ancient history section and started browsing. While many of the books were about ancient Greece and Rome, the store did have a sizable amount of books on ancient Egypt. John could only shake his head when he scanned the back cover of a book which claimed that aliens built the pyramids. "Oh yeah, I read that one, I got it at a flea market. It's crap, aliens didn't built the pyramids, slaves did. And some of my ancestors might have been among them", Josh quipped.

"Hah, maybe some of mine too since Mom is half-Jewish. But really, someone's watched too much Stargate", said John.

"This looks like a good one, it's an Oxford book", said Josh.

"Yeah, it does. And it's in British English, her grandparents are British", said John as he placed the book in the basket.

"That is awesome. I'd love to be part-British, maybe one day I can visit England. That's been my dream since I was a kid", sighed Josh.

"England and the UK in general are too cold and rainy for my tastes, I've lived in California too long. Plus the food sucks, it's bad for my system", said John.

"I love British food and I like the rain and chill. I can wear baggy clothes all the time and not look like a weirdo", Josh laughed.

"You were born in the wrong state", teased John.

"I know, I'm not a California guy at all. Maybe I was British in another life, but then again, my Mom is Irish", said Josh with a shrug.

"I'm a quarter Irish, my family's all mixed up", said John.

"Maybe one day I'll get to see England, I want to go someplace cold", said Josh.

John had to smile when he saw Josh half an hour later with his basket laden with books, the skinny young man barely able to carry it. "You'll have to stash it under the bunk", he remarked.

"Yeah, I have too many books at home. But my parents are glad that at least I don't drink or take drugs. Plus used books are a reasonably cheap hobby, and they don't rot your brain like video games", said Josh.

John nodded in agreement as he took the books out of the basket and the clerk rang them up, the Oxford history book and several books by Buddhist writers. "No wonder you're so chill", teased Josh.

"Yeah, I got all the partying and craziness out of my system and depleted my interest in ever doing that shit ever again. It was kind of a fucked-up learning experience, but a learning experience nonetheless", said John.

Back at the hotel John put away the books and took out his Nokia. He hopped up and down on the balls of his feet as he called the house and waited for someone to pick it up. "Hello?", said Nika.

"Hi Nika, it's Dad. We're in Chicago for the show tomorrow", said John.

"Nice, what's Chicago like?", she asked.

"Windy, big. Josh and I went to a used bookstore and bought lots of stuff", he replied.

"Ohh, that sounds fun! I would buy lots of books if I had a job", she said excitedly.

"I know, I've never seen a kid who reads as much as you do", he teased.

"I like to read, I want to know many things. Grandma and Grandpa took me to the mall and got me all your band's albums", said Nika.

"Really? Did you listen to them?", he asked.

"Some of them, I don't like the older older. They're very noisy and Anthony sings all weird", said Nika.

"Uh, we were much younger and I wasn't in the band yet. Did you like our other albums?", he asked hopefully.

"The new one is nice, the one with the red swimming pool. I liked that Scar Tissue song and Road Trippin;", she replied.

John couldn't help the smile on his face." Thank you so much! I was concerned you wouldn't like our stuff", h e said.

"It's not bad, just not to my taste. It's cool, are you on MTV?", she asked.

"Yeah, we're on MTV. Why don't you watch some?", he suggested.

"Maybe, I don't want to watch a lot of dumb videos", she said dubiously.

An idea suddenly came to him. "I got an idea, Nika. But say Hi to your grandparents for me", he said.

"Okay, Dad. See you soon", she replied.

John put on his jacket and went downstairs to ask the concierge something. Soon he was at a local Blockbuster Video, having rented a VCR and bought a blank VHS tape. "That's a great idea, John!", said Flea when John told him what he wanted to do.

The two men hooked up the VCR to the TV and turned on MTV. Luckily MTV was playing a block of rock videos and they managed to tape several of their videos, followed by their Making the Video for Around the World. "You can show it to Nika, or do you want to mail it?", asked Flea.

"That sounds like a great idea, I'll mail it", agreed John.

Both men went down the street to the post office, clad in baseball caps and sunglasses. John placed the tape in a sturdy box and added the address to the top as the man behind the counter added stamps for next day delivery. "I understand why she didn't like the early stuff, Clara things our early stuff sucks too, kids don't seem to like it much. But at least she'll see what we do live", said Flea.

"I want my daughter to like our music, is that strange?", John asked.

"No, it's only natural. You're still new to this whole dad thing, it'll get more natural as time goes on and you get experience", said Flea.

"Does it get easier?", he asked.

"No, since being a parent is always an adventure. It doesn't get easier, but it does become more natural", said Flea.

"I guess. Do you think I should start dating again, Nika might need a mother figure", said John.

"Be careful, you have to make sure she likes your new girlfriend. If Clara doesn't get along with girls I date, then we break up. I don't want to have my daughter feel she comes in second, she's the main girl in my life now", said Flea.

"I guess you're right. I have to concentrate on my daughter right now", agreed John.