March 2002

Sheffield, England

Sav stood in the dressing area of his master bedroom closet, checking his appearance in the full length mirror. His perfectly tailored black trousers and ice blue, brushed cotton button up shirt looked good together. Even after so many years since the onset of his illness, not to mention the years creeping up on him, looking in the mirror hadn’t been a pleasant experience. However, he had learned over the years to accept and deal with his condition and not to be so vain about his age. And the main reason for his triumph in both situations was in the next room getting dressed herself.

His wife Kate. His rock. His strength. The absolute love of his life. Sav had absolutely no idea what he’d do without her and her unfailing, unconditional love. She was the wall when he needed to lean and the shoulder when he needed to lay his head down and cry. Whether it was the devestation of his illness, the death of his father, the stress of writing and recording or the absolute physical and mental exhaustion of touring, she was always there without hesitation and complaint.

They had met after the Hysteria tour ended in October of 1988. Their record company had thrown them a huge bash to celebrate the end of the immensley successful tour and even more successful album. Kate was a relative of one of the bigwigs in charge of organizing the event and was there as his guest.

With three successful tours behind him, and slowly creeping towards the age of 30, Sav had decided it was time to think about his future in terms of a wife and children. All the other guys had their steady ladies and were seriously thinking of marriage as well, but Sav had no prospects – and certainly not any of the women he met on tour. You take those to bed – not home to mum!

However, when Sav walked into the party that night, his eyes immediately locked on an extrodinarily lovely American woman who was now his wife since 1992. Ten years today as a matter of fact, which was the reason he was getting dressed. He was taking his very special lady out for a very special anniversary dinner.

Just as he walked out of his closet, he heard the sound of two sets of sneakered feet running down the hall and into his bedroom. As Sav rounded the corner, the source of that noise ran smack into him.

"Richard! Kenny! What did I tell you lads about running in the house?"

"Dad!" 8 ½ year old Richard protested. "Kenny won’t leave me alone. He keeps bugging me."

"Am not," 6 ½ year old Kenny shot back at his older brother. "You’re such a bloody liar, Richard."

"Kenneth Steven Savage! What did you just say?"

Kenny immediately clamped his hands over his mouth at his father’s chastisement. "Um….nothing."

"Are you gonna stand there and lie to me, lad?" Sav challenged his youngest son.

Kenny looked down in defeat. "No. I’m sorry. Its just," he pointed to Richard, "he won’t give me a turn on the Playstation."

"Dad…. I’m trying to play Dino-Crisis," Richard pleaded. "He keeps bothering me and grabbing at the controls."

"Well I want to play too," Kenny shot back.

"You’re too little to play."

"Am not!"

Are too!"

"Boys… enough!" Sav said with exasperation. "Listen to me and listen good. The sitter will be here in about 15 minutes so your mum and I can go out tonight. I expect you to be on your exceptional behavior. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir," both boys said in unison.

"How long till we leave for the tour dad?" Richard asked..

"Oh lad…that won’t be till the summer when you’re out of school. Are you excited?"

"I am! I am!" Kenny exuberantly said.

"Yeah, me too. I can’t wait to see Rory again," Richard said. "And," he said looking to Kenny with cow eyes, "I’m sure you can’t wait to see your girlfriend Lauren Shane huh?"

Richard punctuated that remark to his younger brother by blowing kisses. Kenny retorted by punching Richard in the arm.

"She’s not my girlfiend. She’s only five. I’ll be seven soon. Besides, who wants a girlfriend? Yuk!"

Sav held down the laughter bubbling up inside of him. "Oh Kenny….in a few years you’ll be dying for one."

"No I won’t," Kenny vehemently denied. "I’m gonna be a professional soccer player and travel all over the world. I won’t need a girlfriend. I’ll be so rich and famous that I’ll have women throwing themselves at me. Just like they did with you dad."

"What?" Sav was absolutely dumbfounded. "How on earth would you know anything about that?"

"Well," Kenny sheepishly said. "Uncle Joe told me you used to……"

"…..you’re Uncle Joe is a dead man next I see him. Him and his bloody big mouth!"

"Dad! You said that word!"

It was Sav’s turn to clamp his mouth shut. Nothing like looking like a hypocrit in front of your kids.

"You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be talking like that. Now…I’m gonna go see whats keeping your mum."

"We passed by her on the way upstairs. She looks real pretty dad."

Sav’s insides swelled with pride. "I’m sure she does. Even better than the day I met her."

"Ewwww, dad" Richard cringed. "You’re getting that dopey lovesick look everytime you talk about mum. Crikey, that’s sooo gross!"

"Enough, Richard! Someday, you’ll eat those words. I guarantee it. Now, go back to the living room and behave till we come downstairs. And Richard..show a little patience and teach your brother to play Dino….whatever it is. Maybe if he knows how, he won’t bother you so much."

Richard twisted his mouth in defeat. "Alright. C’mon Kenny."

Sav watched his sons disappear down the stairs to the lower level living room. He then went to go seek out his wife.

"Kate, luv? Are you ready?" he called out, but there was no answer.

He walked out of his masterbedroom and down the hall. He saw the door to the spare bedroom, that’s used as an office, open. Inside, he found Kate sitting at the desk, her back to him as she looked out the window behind the desk. In her hands, she clutched something.

As Sav got closer, his footsteps became apparent which caused her to turn around.

And just like when he first laid eyes on her back in 1988, she took his breath away. He could only hope that he still continued to do the same for her.

"Rick," Kate said as she stood up. "What are you doing sneaking up on me like that?"

"I was coming to see if you were ready. The sitter should be here soon so we should get ready to go."

Sav then perused her body, still fit, firm and delicious after 37 years and two children, which was clad in a black knit wrap dress that showed off the efforts of her faithful workouts. Sav absentmindedly licked his lips at the sight of her. He was ready to curse dinner and lock themselves in their bedroom as soon as the sitter got here.

He knew there’d be time for that when they returned. He absolutely planned on it! Right now he was looking down at what was clutched in her hand.

"Whatcha got there, luv?"

Kate smiled as she turned it around for him to see. As he did, he was torn between warm emotion and sadness. He reached out and took it out of her hands for a better look.

He looked down at a beautifully framed picture of them on their wedding day. It was a month before the ‘Adrenalize’ tour started. Although Kate wanted to wait until after the tour was over so it would be less stressful, Sav wouldn’t have it. He had his mind set on Kate coming on tour with him as his wife. He wanted the whole world to know that this wonderful woman belong to him – body and soul.

His eyes wandered over to his face – which is where the sadness came in. "Crikey, look how young I was," he thought to himself. "Not to mention….."

He inwardly winced at the beginning of the thought. How was he to know that day that, one year and ten months later, he’d never look the same again. Oh, age was something he could deal with, especially if one does it gracefully. Plus, he knew it was something he couldn’t avoid. However, the effects of the paralysis from his initial onset of Bells Palsey still remained, although not as bad, 8 years after he first contracted it.

He then looked at Kate pictured next to him, looking like an angel in her beautiful white gown. He then looked up at her standing before him now, then back to the picture. Even though ten years had passed, she seemed to have gotten more lovlier, while he……

"Penny for your thoughts, baby," she tenderly said to him.

Sav looked at her with misty blue eyes. Kate noticed this and her heart caught in her throat. She knew very well what her husband was thinking – especially every time he looked at a picture of himself that was taken before……

"I was just thinking that you’re as beautiful now as you were back then. I just wish….I wish……."

"……..I love the color of that shirt Rick. It matches your eyes. No…I take that back. It magnifies them."

Kate wanted to cut off his thinking immediately. It never affected him on a constant basis – just once in a blue moon – no matter how much she assured him that she found him just as sexy and attractive today as she did back then. She often wondered if he truly believed her.

Sav blushed at her praise, even after all these years, before he remembered something.

"Oh…speaking of magnification," he said, scooping his glasses off the desk and perching them upon his nose. "There…now we won’t get into an accident on the way to the restaurant."

Kate’s heart began to race as soon as he did that. She slithered up to him and wound her arms around his neck.

"Wanna know what I wish?" she seductively whispered as she leaned into him.

Sav looked into her mesmerizing golden brown eyes that sucked him in the first night he met her.

"What luv? What do you wish?"

"I wish……the sitter would hurry up and get here so we can go out and get back home so I can get you in bed!"

As soon as she saw the lust shine in his eyes, she knew she succeeded in her mission. And…she meant every word of it. Yes, he was outrageously gorgeous when she first met him - a rich, famous, swaggering, pretty boy rock star who could have his pick of any woman. And, much to her disbelief, he picked her.

It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time. She knew that if she met Sav during the Pyromania tour or even at the beginning of the Hysteria tour, getting into a serious relationship and settling down would not have been on his agenda. She was lucky enough to have met him when it was. They both instantly clicked that night and never looked back.

Now here she is – this wonderful, beautiful man’s wife of the last ten years and the mother of his two sons. She couldn’t be more blessed in her life.

Sav looked deep into her eyes. "Hmmmm, someone’s feeling rather naughty, I fancy?"

Just then they heard the doorbell ring downstairs. Kate and Sav both had a look of relief on their faces.

"Yes, I am," Kate agreed. "Now that the sitter is here we can hurry up this evening so I can show you later exactly naughty I can be!"

Sav grinned at her wickedly as he allowed her to lead him out of the room and downstairs to head out to their anniversary dinner.

2

Sav and Kate sat in a candlelit corner booth of their favorite restaurant. The owner, Stan, had come over to personally greet them since they were regulars. Stan also explained that he had a new, young waiter on tonight and asked if they would mind if he assigned them to their table.

"Not a problem, Stan," Sav said. "Send him over. We’ll make him feel right comfortable."

"Thank you, Rick. The lad’s 25, but he’s been quite nervous about doing a good job. He knows who you are, and has been instructed not to bother you with questions or anything, but to wait on you just like any other customer here. I figured that if he waited on you tonight and got through it, then he’d get over his nervousness."

"Absolutely, Stan," Kate agreed. "Don’t worry – I’m sure my evil husband won’t chew him up and spit him out."

"Kate!"

Stan stood back and chuckled at this wonderful couple who’s been patronizing his restaurant for the last several years whenever they came to Sheffield. Now that they were living here practically full time, they frequented here more often. Stan smiled and left them to their romantic anniversary dinner.

Sav looked up from his menu and across the table at his wife’s face in the glow of the candle.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

Kate peered her eyes up at him from behind her menu and blushed like the 24 year old young woman she was when she first laid eyes on him back in 1988. No…she took that back. She didn’t blush when she first saw him. Her knees practically buckled as soon as her eyes feasted upon his gorgeous face.

And, ten years later, that face, those eyes, that voice, still had that effect on her.

"Yes, you did baby," she whispered almost shyly.

Just then, the young waiter that Stan had told them about came up to their table. He regarded Sav first.

"Good evening. My name is Nicholas. I’ll be your waiter this evening. Would either of you care for……."

Nicholas’ speech was temporarily cut off when he turned and regarded Kate. Sav heard his stutter and looked at the expression on his face. Nicholas’ mouth practically dropped open before he realized it and shut it. Sav then looked to Kate who was staring at the handsome young man who was captivated by her beauty.

"….for a drink before I take you order," Nicholas continued after composing himself.

"Um, yes. I’ll have a glass of White Zinfendel please. Sutter Home if you have it," Kate requested.

"Yes. Absolutely miss…..uh, I mean..ma’am," Nicholas said as he wrote down her drink order before turning to Sav.

"And you, sir?"

"I’ll have a glass of your best white wine, please."

"Very well. White wine and…."he turned to Kate with doe eyes again, "White Zinfendel for the lady. I’ll return momentarily."

"Thank you Nicholas," Kate said with a brilliant smile and a flash of her golden brown eyes.

With one last lingering look at Kate, Nicholas went off to fetch their drinks. Kate went back to perusing her menu, while Sav looked off at the departing waiter then back to Kate.

Even at 37, Kate didn’t look a day over 30. He couldn’t get over the smitten look on Nicholas when he first looked upon Kate’s face. Here she was – a 37 year old wife and mother of 2 and she had captivated a 25 year old!

He also saw how Kate smiled up at him as if…..as if she were flirting with him.

No. Sav waved it away. Kate was just trying to make him at ease since he was new. That was all. Still, it kinda bothered Sav that his wife could attract a much younger, not to mention very handsome, man. It filled him with a sudden insecurity that he didn’t like.

"What are you gonna have Rick?"

"Huh?"

"Dinner. Have you decided what you want?"

"Oh…oh, no, I haven’t. I haven’t been looking at the menu."

"What were you doing?"

"Thinking."

"About what?"

"Oh, just a bunch of things. So much is going on, ya know. My head still scrambles from time to time."

"Well, take your head off the band, off the children, off the tour and lets just concentrate on us tonight," Kate said.

Sav reached across the table, took her hand, lifted it and kissed it, at the same time, kissing off his silly, insecure thoughts. Just then, he saw Stan over at the bar talking to a soccer player that Sav knew well. He also knew that this soccer player just became a new dad.

"Luv, excuse me for one moment. There’s a Wednesday player talking to Stan. His wife just had a baby. I just want to quickly congratulate him."

"Okay, Rick. Don’t be too long. Nicholas will be coming back soon with out drinks and to take our order."

"Promise," he said with a wink as he slid over to the booth and went to the bar area.

While Sav was talking to the soccer player, he saw Nicholas return to the table with their drinks. Sav’s eyes flitted between listening to the soccer player talk about his new baby and Nicholas talking to Kate. He then heard Kate’s beautiful laughter over something Nicholas had said and wound up touching his arm in the process. The young waiter’s face was filled with enchantment and Sav was starting to get a little jealous.

When Sav finished his conversation, he shook the soccer player’s hand and hurried back to his table, cutting in on Kate and Nicholas’ fun, lighthearted talk. As he came up behind Nicholas, he put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn around and look rather guilty.

"Oh…sir…I’m..I’m here to take your order. Your um….lovely wife was just indulging me with some friendly conversation while we waited for you."

"Well, I’m back now. You can take our order."

Kate bristled a bit at Sav’s tone. It was a little frosty and it was aimed at Nicholas.

After dinner, they had tea and dessert. Kate noticed Sav flipping between being romantic, to being stern whenever Nicholas came to the table. Kate wasn’t sure why, but she noticed Nicholas getting nervous because of it and tried to soften it by being extra nice to him and offering him smile and a kind word.

After paying the check, Kate finally gave into her curiousity.

"Rick. What’s wrong?"

Sav looked up. "What? Nothing."

Kate knew he was lying and decided to wait till they got home. Maybe he’d open up there.

As soon as they got home, Kate checked with the sitter on how the boys were, who were sound asleep. Sav didn’t say a word. He just headed upstairs without so much as a thank you or a goodnight to the sitter.

After Kate let the sitter out, she headed upstairs to their bedroom. She walked in and heard Sav in his closet getting undressed. She opted not to ask him anything and, instead, just went to get ready for bed and some lovemaking that would clear his mind of whatever is bothering him.

She changed into a very feminine, cotton eyelet nightgown that rested just above her knee, and a matching robe. It was a sweet, yet sexy look that she always knew drove her husband crazy with desire.

She came out of the bathroom to see Sav, clad in a pair of blue and gray checked pajama bottoms and a gray t-shirt, getting into bed. She took a deep breath, slipped her robe off her shoulders, and climbed in next to him. As she went to reach for him, he turned on his side away from her.

Kate slowly pulled her arm back startled. Something was definitely bothering him. However, it wasn’t gonna deter her from ending their anniversary note on a pleasurable one. She slid her arm over his waist as her lips came down on his exposed neck where his soft blonde hair fell away.

As soon as her lips and arm touched him, he flinched, then took her hand away.

"No luv. Not tonight. I just want to go to sleep."

Kate was now very concerned. Here she was just talking about ravishing him when they got home, while they were in the office before they left. She saw the anticipation in his eyes, which matched her own. Now…now he was rejecting her.

"Rick? Baby, whats wrong? You’ve been like this all during dinner, not to mention barely saying a word on the ride home. Then, you walked in the house and went straight upstairs. First you’re rude to the waiter, then to the sitter…."

Sav turned his head and regarded her with heated, blue eyes. "Oh? Sorry if I wasn’t too nice to your little waiter."

Kate sat up and looked at him. "Just what is that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me?" he said, getting out of bed and standing to face her.

Kate got out of bed and walked around to stand in front of him. "I’d tell you if I knew what in God’s name you were talking about. Rick…just come out and tell me what’s wrong."

Sav regarded her hotly. "I’ll tell you whats wrong, Kate! I’m out to dinner with my wife, celebrating ten years together, and what does she do….right in front of me? She openly flirts with the young, good looking waiter."

Kate was absolutely shocked at what he said. "What? Oh my God, Rick! I can’t believe what you just said. You thought I was flirting with him?"

"Weren’t you?"

"No! I wasn’t," she said hotly. "You remember Stan saying how he was nervous. I was just being pleasant to make him at ease."

"Oh you made him at ease, alright," Sav sarcastically said. "Crikey, Kate. The lad was practically drooling over the attention you were giving him. He couldn’t take his eyes off you. And, if I probably wasn’t there, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off you!"

Kate brought the heels of her hands up to her temples and pressed in frustration. "I..I can’t believe what I’m hearing. After all the years I put up with hundreds of female fans screaming and grabbing for you, you have the audacity to stand there and accuse me of flirting with one waiter, which, of course, it wasn’t flirting."

"Oh, I’m soooo sorry that you’ve had to put up with me all these years, luv," Sav sneered. "I thought you did it out of love. I had no idea that it was out of tolerance."

"It was out of love. God, Rick…what is the matter with you? Why are you acting like this? You know you have no reason."

Sav raised a cautionary eyebrow. "Don’t I? Maybe you just liked the fact that you can get the attention of a good-looking guy who’s 12 years younger than you."

"You’re crazy, you know that?" Kate spat out. "I’m not even gonna indulge you in finishing this conversation, that’s how ridiculous it is."

Kate went to turn to walk around to her side of the bed before Sav grabbed her arm and turned her back to face him.

"C’mon, Kate. Admit it. You liked it."

Kate stared at him in shock, disbelieving the lie that fell from his mouth.

"How dare you? How dare you assume anything? I love you, dammit! I took vows with you ten years ago. Do you remember them Rick? For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer. In……"

"Yeah, go on…." he goaded her.

"In sickness and in health," she said with confidence. "You may not still believe it after all these years, but I meant every word of them. Why is this suddenly bothering you, Rick? You haven’t been this insecure in a long time. I don’t know why. I don’t give you reason. I love you no matter what."

"Yeah, well now that you know you can attract the attention of some young stud, maybe you might be rethinking spending the next ten years with your 41 year old ravaged husband!"

Kate turned on him. "The only thing ravaged about you right now is your outlook. Come to think of it, since I’ve known you, this is the ugliest you’ve ever been!"

Sav turned white as chalk as his hands shook at his sides.

"What did you say?" he seethed.

"I..I…was referring to your disposition……."

Kate didn’t have a chance to finish her sentence. Sav’s open hand connected with her left cheek so hard and fast she reeled back and saw stars. Her hand grabbed the wrought iron bedpost to keep herself from hitting the floor.

"I guess the truth is finally out, huh Kate?"

With that, he stormed out of the bedroom and slammed the door.

Kate stood on shaky legs as her left hand came up to sooth the stinging in her left cheek. He hadn’t given her a chance to finish what she was saying. But still….Sav had never been prone to any kind of violence. She didn’t think he even possessed a temper, he was so laid back. This behavior totally shocked her.

Her heart wanted to go after him, but her head told her to stay. Whatever was bothering him didn’t warrant this kind of response. She went to the bedroom door and turned the lock. If he was going through something, then fine. He’d have to think long and hard about what he did first. Alone.

She then crawled into bed, laid her sore cheek upon the cool pillow and cried herself to sleep.

"Happy anniversary," she sobbed to herself.

3

Sav stormed into the office and closed the door behind him. He sat on the couch, buried his head in his hands and thought about what he just did. And then he started to cry.

After his tears subsided, he wiped his eyes and knew that the first thing he had to do was go to Kate and beg her forgiveness. He only hoped that she would.

He walked out of the office to the bedroom and turned the handle. It was locked.

Sav let out a low, frustrated breath. He couldn’t blame her for not wanting him in there. He was disgusted with himself too. He turned to go back to the office to sleep for the night, hoping to smooth things over with Kate in the morning. As he did, Kenny came out of his bedroom, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Daddy? Whats wrong?"

Sav bent down so that he was eye level with him. "Nothing, little mate," he lied. "Why?"

"I…I..thought I heard mummy crying."

Sav felt like crying again himself. God, he hated lying to his kids. "No, Kenny. You must’ve been hearing things. C’mon, back to bed with you."

With that, Sav picked him up and swung him around which caused him to squeal a bit. Sav deposited him in bed, kissed his forehead then left. He re-entered the office and walked to the huge bay window behind the desk.

He looked up at the dark Sheffield sky. It was pitch black, with the exception of a single star in the sky. It looked so lonely up there by itself – just how he felt right now.

He knew he had absolutely no reason to be. The woman who was crying in the other room had been his life since the night he met her back in 1988. He’ll never forget that night.

The first thing Sav noticed about her was her hair. Figures he’d notice something like that first since he was so obsessive about his own! It went all the way down to the middle of her back and was a wavy mass of soft brown with tawny gold highlights.

His eyes then trailed down to her legs – long and shapely in a short leather skirt. His eyes continued up her body that was covered in a fitted, white lycra wrap top. When he got close enough, she turned her head towards him and his breath caught.

Her eyes were a hyponotizing shade of golden brown. He had felt as if all thought left his brain. With all the women he had cavorted with over the years, Sav thought he had seen just about every type and that nothing could reduce him to a pile of mush. However, this woman just did!

He had to get to know this woman and hoped that, underneath that breathtaking exterior, there was a heart and a brain. Physical beauty was one thing, but if Sav was gonna spend the rest of his life with one woman, he at least wanted someone he could talk to, laugh and cry with and who had a mind of her own. That, in itself, was exceptionally sexy.

When he worked up the nerve to finally introduce himself, he thought he’d die from the look upon her face. Yeah, he wasn’t naïve enough to think that he wasn’t considered good looking, but the look on Kate’s face was something that he’d always cherish. There were times that he wished she’d look at him that way now.

He found out her name was Kate, that she was American and the niece of one of the top brass in the record company. She was 24 years old, had just finished college three years earlier and her uncle was trying to sway her to come to work in their London office. All Sav could do was think how often he’d be able to see her if she did, especially now that the tour was over.

By the end of the evening, he was totally captivated by her and didn’t want her to go back to the States. He had convinced her to stay in London a little while until she was too attached to him to leave. She wound up taking the job with her uncle and, before they knew it, they were inseparable and in love.

Sav proposed to her at the end of 1989 and they shot for an early 1991 wedding. However all the stress of trying to record ‘Adrenalize’ ,with Steve in an dout of rehab, took its toll on the band, so they opted to postpone it until 1992.

After Steve’s untimely death in early 1991, they band had regrouped and finished the album for a April 1992 release date. Sav and Kate were married the month before. As much as Kate loved her job, she gave it up to go on tour with her husband. It was towards the end of the tour in mid-1993 that Kate found out she was pregnant with Richard. Two years later, Kenny came along.

All through that, she had withstood the pressure of touring and the countless fans, mostly female, groping after him. She was there to pick up the pieces when he first got sick in early 1994 and when his dad died in June of the same year. Through all of it, she had remained the foundation, when he felt like he was crumbling. If it wasn’t for her, his sons and the band, he didn’t know what he’d do.

And now here he was, just moments ago, questioning her feelings and loyalty to him. How could he do that – especially after all he just remembered about her?

Sav looked up at that lonely star. He suddenly felt like a lad when his mum taught him the nursery rhyme to wish upon a star. Ah, if only wishes could come true. He’d wish…..he’d wish……

He closed his eyes and softly spoke:

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what Sav wished for.

He opened his eyes and looked at the star. It twinkled, as if it heard him. However, he didn’t feel any different. Nor did he feel better about what just happened with Kate.

He let out a heavy sigh and went to make himself comfortable on the couch. After a million thoughts invaded his mind, he finally gave into a fitful slumber.

4

Sav opened his eyes the next morning very slowly. He saw the bright sunlight filtering through the office window and fumbled for his glasses to look at the clock. 10:30am!

He never slept this late, especially with two rambuctious boys in the house. But he knew they’d be off to school by now and that Kate was probably alone downstairs. He dreaded facing her after what happened last night, but it had to be done.

He sat up on the couch and put a hand to his lower back. He then removed his glasses and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Then he yawned. Then….something felt different.

He wasn’t sure what it was but he realized it as soon as he yawned. He made the motion with his mouth again and felt the right side of his mouth moving a little better. Well, a lot better. He didn’t think anything of it since his symptoms often fluctuated. Right now, his mind was on Kate.

He then heard her come up the stairs and go into the bedroom. He took a deep breath and went in there after her. As he gingerly pushed the door open, he saw she had her back to him as she was putting clothes away in the bureau. He softly called out to her.

"Kate?"

Sav saw her bristle and her back stiffen before she answered.

"Yes?" she blankly answered.

Sav came inside the bedroom all the way and began to walk towards her. She still kept her back to him.

"Kate. Luv, I..I want to talk to you about what happened last night. I..I’ve been sick to death all night. I could barely sleep. I….."

Sav suddenly stopped talking when he realized something different again. It was his mouth. Both sides seemed to work in unison as he spoke making forming words more easily and his speech clearer. It took him a second or two to realize that he had total and complete feeling in the right side of his mouth – something he hadn’t had since he contracted his illness. He didn’t get his hopes up, though, figuring it may just be a temporary thing. He continued to speak to Kate.

"…….I…luv, I’m so sorry for what I did, and also what I accused you of. I don’t know, maybe its getting older combined with my condition..I…I know that’s no excuse, but….."

"You’re right Rick," Kate said as she contined to face away from him, her voice cracking. "It was no excuse. I did nothing wrong. I’ve never complained or wished I was ever with someone else. You hurt me so bad, emotionally and physically."

Sav started to softly cry. "Kate…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I know I hit you hard. I…..oh, luv, please….let me see your face. Did….did I bruise you? Please….Kate! Please look at me. I need you to forgive me."

Kate slowly turned around, her eyes cast down to the floor. Sav saw that her face wasn’t marked and for that he blew out a sigh of relief. He then waited for her eyes to raise up to his.

Once she did, they almost fell out!

Kate gasped in horror, covered her mouth with her hands and stepped back. Her sudden, shocked reaction claimed Sav’s worst fear.

"Kate? What? What is it? I..oh, no! No, please don’t tell me!"

Sav covered his face with his hands. "Kate, what? Tell me. How….how bad is it? I..I woke up and felt different, but it was a positive difference. Oh God, no! No, please…no more!"

Sav then felt Kate’s hands on his wrists, slowly prying his hands away from his face. When he allowed her to do so, he gritted his teeth as she perused his face. It was more shock than horror.

"Rick," she barely whispered. "Oh…my…..God! I…I don’t believe it. What….what happened?"

Sav couldn’t take it anymore. "What? Kate tell me!"

Kate then pointed a shaky finger towards their master bath. "G…go look in the mirror."

The time it took Sav to walk into the bathroom seemed like an eternity. Looking in the mirror was definitely not one of his favorite things to do, especially now…not knowing what he’d find.

He cast his eyes to the tiled floor and braced his hands on the vanity, and slowly looked up to see what caused his wife to look like she’d seen a ghost.

And when he did….he though he’d seen one too.

Staring back at him was the reflection of a 29 year old Rick Savage.

5

It was a good thing Sav was holding onto the vanity for he thought his legs would give out under him. He continued to stare, totally disbelieving what he was seeing. It was as if twelve years had erased from his face – along with the symptoms of his condition.

His hand cautiously lifted to his face to feel the outlines, the texture of his skin, his bone structure, which was a little more prominent since there was no more swelling from the paralysis. He looked at his eyes – both perfectly shaped and perfectly symmetrical. He then looked at his mouth, even as he moved it. It was a thin, straight line with both corners turned up. He then did the one thing it hurt to do sometimes.

He smiled.

It was a beautiful, even smile that lit up his gorgeous rock star face.

"This…this can’t be real," he said to himself.

He then rubbed both his eyes, thinking that his eyesight really went. However, Kate noticed it too. Sav then heard her come up behind him in the bathroom.

"Rick. Whats going on?"

"I..I don’t know, luv," he answered as he watched his reflection in the mirror as he talked. He had to make sure it was really him and not some figment of his imagination.

"Rick….I can see if it was just your symptoms that went away. But you look……..younger!"

"I know. I…I can’t explain it."

Kate placed her hands on his shoulders from behind. "Perhaps it’s a miracle of God."

"Perhaps," Sav answered before he suddenly remembered something.

The wish! The one he made last night on that lone star in the sky. He had wished that he looked like he did before he got sick. What he really meant was just that he wanted his symptoms to go away. He didn’t really mean that he wanted to be younger as well.

Or did he?

Perhaps the incident in the restaurant last night with the waiter made him subconsciously wish he were younger, when he was much better looking. He then remembered accusing Kate of tiring of him someday for a younger man.

Could…could that wish have come true? This was insane! Wishes don’t come true. Or do they?

He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes and shook his head.

"Kate…I don’t know what’s happening. Even though I look better, I’m….I’m frightened. Maybe because I don’t know what caused this. And maybe because it could all go away again. I…I don’t know what to think. I…God, I can’t remember ever looking like this. I’ve always avoided pictures of myself from that time. Its like time just went back twelve years."

"Yeah, but it only went back for you," Kate said with a hint of something Sav didn’t quite understand. "Rick…maybe you should go to a doctor. Maybe something’s going on inside of you that…..I don’t know, produced some sort of ‘fountain of youth’ effect."

"I don’t know, Kate. Like I said…I’m afraid. What if…what if something’s wrong with me that caused this? As much as I should be esctatic, its kinda creepy."

"Rick, whatever it is, you have to find out. Let me go downstairs and call the doctor."

Sav just nodded to which Kate just turned and went downstairs. He continued to stand there and stare in the mirror, rapidly blinking his eyes, wondering if each time he opened them he’d be back to his 41 year old self. But it didn’t happen. He stayed like that for the next half hour – just staring at his reflection, learning to like it again.

Downstairs, Kate was a jumble of nerves. She was worried that this miraculous change in Sav’s appearance may be due to something being dreadfully wrong with him. She hoped not. However, she was concernd about something else. Seeing him like that – the way he looked when she first met him suddenly made her realize that, although he had gotten younger, she was still 37 years old.

Although she took exceptional care of herself and paid close attention to her appearance, she was no longer 24 when Sav first met her. She wondered if this change in his appearance would change how he felt about her. She didn’t think he’d be that shallow, considering how she continued to love and desire him unconditionally through all the physical changes in his life.

However, she remembered how female fans went crazy over him back then – even recently too. If he was still like this by the time the new tour starts, she knew that there would be a fair share of twenty-somethings lining the front row. And they would no doubt go ga-ga over the new and improved Sav.

Would…would he cast her aside for a younger model, as he so accused her of doing last night?

She pushed her ridiculous thoughts aside. She would not accuse him of doing something that she didn’t like being accused of herself. Sav loved her the way she loved him – unconditionally and no matter what.

Just as she reached for the receiver to phone the doctor, it rang.

"Hello?"

"Ello there, beautiful. Hows the woman whom my best friend still doesn’t deserve after ten years of marriage?"

Kate smiled. "Hi Joe. She’s fine. And, well, as for who deserves whom…"

"What’s wrong, Kate?"

"Well, lets just say that your best friend just underwent a very dramatic physical change."

There was silence for a moment before Joe spoke. "Kate, what do you mean? He didn’t….he didn’t have a relapse, did he?"

"No, Joe. Quite the opposite."

"Huh?"

"Actually, telling you wouldn’t possibly describe it. I think you better get on the next plane to Sheffield and see for yourself."

"I’m on my way," Joe said without hesitation before hanging up.

*************************************

Later that evening, the doorbell rang at the Savage household. Kate told Sav about telling Joe about the change in him and that Joe was on the first plane here. Although Sav wasn’t really ready to share this with anyone, especially since it could all change back, he didn’t mind Joe knowing. He had always been the closest to him.

Kate opened the door to find an exhausted and out of breath Joe.

"Kate, I got here as quickly as I could," he panted as he came in the house. "You got me so nervous after I hung up. I….its awfully quiet in here. Where are those two rough and tumble sons of yours?"

"I packed them up and sent them off to Rick’s mum for the weekend. I…I wasn’t sure how they’d handle the change in him. We want to find out exactly what it is and what’s causing it before I let the boys see him."

"Kate! Bloody hell, please…..what’s wrong with him? Where is he?"

"I’m right behind you Joe," came Sav’s voice. "I’d turn around slowly if I were you."

Joe didn’t hear that last part in time. Instead he swung around as soon as he heard Sav’s voice.

And almost collaped to the kitchen floor.

Joe grabbed onto the edge of the kitchen table to steady himself as he looked upon his youthful looking band mate.

"Holy mother of God!" Joe exclaimed. "Sav, what….what…..w..w..wait a minute. This is a joke, isn’t it?’

"Afraid not, mate. I don’t think they sell 29 year old Rick Savage masks at the local costume shop."

Joe took a step closer to Sav, never taking his eyes of his face. The last time he remembered Sav looking like that was after the Hysteria tour ended. His facial features were more chistled and his skin was more taut. Moreso, the symptoms of his Bells Palsey were gone. His eyes were back to being their huge, blue selves and his mouth was even. If anything, Sav had to be happy about that. But…nothing could explain the disappearance of twelve years.

"Mate……what…what the hell is going on? What happened?’

"I wish I knew, Joe. Then again, part of me isn’t complaining. I haven’t felt this good about myself in 8 years, even though I’m a little scared. Kate and I visited my neurologist today and he almost fainted when he saw me."

"I don’t blame him. Crikey, Sav, you’re…..you’re pretty again!"

Sav rolled his eyes. " I thought I always was" he said to Joe, wiggling his eyebrows. "At least, that’s what you always told me."

"Oh stuff it, you little fairy. So…what did the doctor say?"

"Well, he’s sending me for some tests tomorrow. We’ll see then."

"Sav…if…if this is permanent, whats gonna happen come time to do the new album promo and the tour?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, c’mon. Its not like the change in your looks is subtle. We’re talking twelve years. Sav…people….fans are gonna think you went ’Michael Jackson’ on us and got all this plastic surgery!"

What Joe said sunk in. "I…I didn’t think of that," Sav said softly.

Hell, he wasn’t thinking at all when he made that wish last night. All he was thinking was about himself. He had no idea how the change in him would affect those around him or the questions they may raise. He was still the same person inside – he just looked like his ol’ young, pretty self on the outside.

"You…you don’t think it would cause any problems, do you Joe?"

"I don’t think so, but you know the media. They may have a field day with this, writing up all this stuff about you being vain about your condition and looks and went and had all this work done on your face."

"Well, we’re just gonna have to explain that it isn’t the case. Hell, I’ll publish my doctor’s report if only to squash a bunch of stupid rumors that’ll hurt our image."

"Yeah…I suppose so. Lets just wait and see, okay."

Sav was slowly beginning to regret that wish he made last night, if in fact that was the reason for his transformation. He then wondered if he should share it with Kate and Joe, but then decided against it. He’d look absolutely silly, not to mention they probably wouldn’t believe him.

Especially when he had a problem believing it himself.

6

The next day, Kate and Sav went for his tests while Joe stayed behind at the house. After several hours which included a comprehensive CAT scan and MRI, nothing notably visible showed up, however, Sav had a bunch of blood work done to detect something deeper. He wouldn’t have those results for a few days.

When they got back to the house, Joe was just getting off his cell phone.

"Sav, that was Peter. He was calling to remind us about the upcoming RIAA awards show. We’re scheduled to present – all of us."

"Damn…I forgot about that."

"Rick, you didn’t tell me about this," Kate said. "When is it?"

"Next Saturday. They decided to have bands that have won the award in the past be this years presenters. We won it for ‘Hysteria’ a while back. I’m sorry luv…it must’ve slipped my mind."

"Yeah, well, it didn’t slip Peter’s. Its being held in New York. We’ve got to book our reservations now. He’s calling the rest of the guys in California now. Crikey…wait till they see you."

"Joe….maybe I shouldn’t go. Maybe…."

"Sav…you have to go. You’re just as much part of this band as the rest of us. You’ll cause more speculation not being there. If this new image of yours is permanent, then people are gonna find out sooner or later. Maybe its best it becomes public now so everyone’s curiosity will die down by the time the album is released. If its found out then, all the media hype might hurt sales and the tour."

Here Sav thought that the improvement in his looks would change things for the better. Instead, it was causing some serious snafus that could possibly occur. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the band. He couldn’t shirk his responsibility and leave everything up to them while he hid. After all, he wanted to look this way again. At least….that’s what he wished for.

"I…I guess you’re right, Joe. I’m a little nervous about it. I just don’t want the band to get hurt over this."

"Sav, why are you feeling so bad? Its not like this is your fault. Even though I’m sure you’re happy about the results, you didn’t ask for this."

"Um, think again mate," Sav thought to himself.

"Rick, don’t worry," Kate assured him. "Remember, we’re here – we’re all here – for you. No matter what, baby. Young or old, sick or not, I love you and I’ll stand by you. You won’t go through this alone, just like you never had to with anything else in the past."

Sav looked at his wonderful, beautiful wife who still never waivered in her love, even after he struck her last night. His insides clenched when he thought about that. He raised his hand and tenderly caressed the cheek he struck last night, looking at her with lost eyes before turning to Joe.

"Okay. Lets make the reservations and get this over with."

****************************************

Later that night, Sav and Kate got ready for bed. Since the boys were still with Sav’s mum, and Joe wound up staying overnight with his parents before heading back to Ireland on the morrow, they were all alone.

Kate changed into her dressing gown and slipped into bed. Sav was still in the bathroom, probably still looking at himself in the mirror. She couldn’t begrudge him this. It was more a matter of awe than vanity. Even when he actually was 29 he wasn’t this preoccupied with his appearance, probably because he actually was 29 at the time and took his looks for granted. Now he was a 41 year old man with a 29 year old face. He’s probably reacquainting himself with…..himself!

Giving him whatever time he needed, she reached over and turned out the light on the nightstand. Several minutes later, she heard Sav emerge from the bathroom and felt him get into bed beside her.

And then she felt his hand slide up her bare arm in invitation. Now…it was her turn to flinch.

"Kate?"

"Yes?"

"Are you still upset with me about the other night?"

"No, Rick. You admitted you were wrong, you apologized and I forgave you. I don’t hold grudges."

"Then…then why are you denying me? Is it because I rejected your advances the other……?"

"No Rick, its not," she interrupted him. "I don’t play games, you know that."

"Then why? Baby, I want you."

She turned on her back and regarded his face, becoming almost breathless at the youthful sight of him. It would take her some getting used to as well.

"Do you really?"

Sav knitted his brows. "What? Of course I do. Why would you doubt it?"

"I don’t know, Rick. Maybe I’m getting a touch of what you had the other night."

"And that is….?"

"Insecurity," she flatly stated. "I guess the tables are turned now, huh?"

"What do you mean, Kate?"

Kate sat up in bed. "Rick, the other night you got upset because a 25 year old man was overly attentive to me at the restaurant. It wasn’t so much the fact you were upset because you felt I was returning those advances, but more because I was actually getting attention from someone so much younger than I. Or should I say…..much younger than you. Is that correct?"

Sav cast his eyes down and didn’t answer. Kate didn’t need one. His silence was her answer.

"I…I guess maybe now I understand what you may have been feeling, though I never in our entire marriage gave you reason for you to doubt my feelings for you. However, your insecurity over it didn’t warrant you hitting……"

"…..baby, I’m sorry," Sav pleaded again, taking her in his arms and hugging her.

Kate cautiously put her arms around his waist and pulled him close to her. As soon as she breathed in the scent of his hair and skin, she was lost. She began to hungrily kiss his neck and face inbetween her words.

"I know…..baby I know….I forgive you….I do."

Sav head spun as he returned the kisses all over her face as he spoke. "Then what else is bothering you luv? Tell me, please. I….I don’t want this animosity between us. Christ, Kate…I want to make love to you so badly!"

She took his face between her hands and sat back and looked intently at it. She never forgot how she reacted when she first saw that face when it walked into the record company bash twelve years ago. Her heart didn’t think it would survive the sight and it was having a hard time keeping calm now. But, 29 or 41, he still made her heart race. And his admitted desire for her, even though she was now 8 years older than him on the outside, banished all her fears.

She began to feverishly kiss him again. "Nothing, baby. Its nothing. I…I was just feeling foolish. As long as this change in you doesn’t change your feelings for me, then nothing else matters."

"Of course it doesn’t change anything, Kate. Why would it?"

"Because….because now I’m 8 years older than you on the outside."

Sav tenderly stroked her face. "Luv, you still don’t look a day over 30. And you’ve got a body that a 25 year old would die for – even after two children. You’re as beautiful and sexy to me as ever."

"Then how come you wouldn’t believe me when I said that about you?" she asked. "You doubted me – and the fact that I got attention from a 25 year old made you think that maybe that’s what I wanted. Now…now that the tables are turned, Rick….I’ve got to trust that you’re feelings are unchanged."

Her words made Sav feel very foolish for what he felt the other night. And even more foolish about that stupid wish. It had to be the reason for the change in his appearance. So far, the doctors couldn’t find anything.

Kate was absolutely right. She loved him no matter what, and he would do the same. He wouldn’t let her experience the same insecurities he did because of the change in his appearance.

He gave her a deep, lusty kiss to which Kate responded back with fiery passion. He leaned her back on the bed until he was on top of her, running his hands up and down her lucious body through the tantalizing fabric of her dressing gown.

His hand wandered down to the hem of her dressing gown and pushed it up to her waist. He then fumbled with the drawstring of his pajama bottoms. He then leaned into her and whispered in her ear.

"I could tell you how much I love you, but right now I’d rather show you!"

7

The following morning Kate woke up with a smile of satisfaction on her face and a cold space beside her. Sav was already up. She wondered where he got the strength.

Since they didn’t have to worry about the boys barging in on them, they were up making love till 2am! Although he had never failed in that department, even as the years got on, he seemed to have exuded the confidence he had when he was…..well, when he was 29! And he made her feel like she was 24 again.

She lazily got up and immediately took a shower. Instead of getting dressed, she threw her robe over her naked body and went in search of her husband, possibly for some morning fun before his mum brought the boys back. Today would be the day for Sav to face his mum and sons with his new face. Well…..actually…his old face!

She entered the kitchen and found it empty. She saw the mandatory pot of coffee that Sav always put on for her and poured herself a cup. She then heard faint flipping noises coming from the den and followed them. There she found her husband, sitting in a chair with a stack of photo albums on the floor beside him. He sat there gazing intently at one particular one.

"Morning baby," she seductively said.

Sav looked up at her face and afforded her a smile that sucked the breath from her lungs. Although she had gotten used to his lopsided smile, even found it irresistably sexy, she had forgotten what a full blown Rick Savage smile looked like – not to mention what it did to her! And what she wanted to do right now was him!

"Morning luv," he said back. "You seemed to have taken advantage of a childless house by sleeping late."

"Well……something, or should I say….someone wore me out last night!"

Sav answered her with a charming blush that undid her every time. She walked over to him to see what he was looking at. It was a picture of the band taken backstage before one of the shows of the final leg of the Hysteria tour.

"What’s going through your mind, baby?"

"A million things, Kate," he responded. "I was looking at this picture and comparing it to how I looked on the VH1 special on the ‘Pyromania’ album. I’m…I’m beginning to think about what Joe said about people’s reaction and possible speculation."

"Rick, don’t worry about it. If anything, you’re probably a medical miracle. You didn’t cause this to happen on purpose."

"But I think I did," Sav thought. "I wished it two nights ago, thinking it would make me feel better about myself. So far, I still feel the same, but I don’t know how its gonna affect everything else."

"Well, I’ll find out for sure on Saturday at the RIAA awards. Um…are you gonna come? We can leave the boys with mum."

"No, that’s okay. You’re only gonna be gone the weekend. Plus Richard has a soccer game Saturday morning. I want to be there for that and your mum wants to go too."

"I forgot about that. Damn, just like I forgot about the awards. I guess I let all that foolish insecurity cloud my thinking."

"Rick…tell me. Now that you…you know…look like you used to, are these insecure feelings gone?"

Sav should automatically have answered ‘yes’. This was what he wanted – to look like he did before he got sick. To not have to worry about his wife’s eye possibly straying or someone tempting her away from him. Maybe even to keep the fans still interested. Even though all the guys kept themselves in great shape in their 25 year career, they all looked great. Lets face it – no one likes a fat, old rock star!

"I guess I could say that they are luv," Sav replied. "I..I feel more confident than secure."

Kate ran her hand through his hair. "Mmmm, I know. You demonstrated that last night. But Rick….you always satisfied me in that department. You satisfy me in every department. If this change were to be temporary, and you went back to what you looked like two days ago, you’d still do it for me."

"I know that, baby. I mean….I know that now. Two nights ago…..I..I couldn’t believe it. I just hope that this change in me doesn’t cause problems. If anything, it should be for the better, but, somehow, I feel that something’s gonna go wrong."

Kate removed the photo album from his lap and then straddled it. When she did, her robe parted by her thighs and Sav sucked his breath in when he saw that she was naked underneath. Her heated eyes met his lust-filled ones.

"Here, baby," she whispered into his mouth. "Let me take your worries away."

Kate then took his mouth in a deep, sensual kiss as Sav wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands then ventured to where her robe parted and slid up her long, silky legs till they reached her curving bottom.

He instantly pulled her close, grinding her naked center against the growing hardness in his pajama bottoms. Their mouths and tongues devoured each other as their hands roved over each others bodies, readying to tear each others clothes off.

Just as the doorbell rang.

Kate reluctantly broke the kiss and stared at her husband’s beautiful, aroused face. "Its your mum with the boys."

Sav leaned his head back in frustration as Kate slid off his lap. She then looked down at the evidence of their little morning snog-fest.

"Um, Rick….you better go upstairs and, um…calm down. I don’t think you should greet your mum in this state."

Sav turned pink and dashed upstairs for a few moments while Kate adjusted and tightened her robe before answering the door.

*****************************************

Sav came down the stairs prepared to face his mum and sons for the first time since his face changed. He knew that Kate had briefly explained what happened to his mum and the boys as well. She only hoped that they could cope with this.

As he entered the kitchen he announced himself.

"Ello, mum."

Sally Savage cautiously turned around and then…..gasped. Richard and Kenny stood there by Kate, looking at Sav as if he were a stranger.

"Dad?" Richard and Kenny both said.

"Richard," his mum whispered softly.

"I take it that Kate briefed you on what happened."

Kenny slowly walked forward towards his father, a look of uncertainty on his face. "Dad…is….is it really you?"

"Yes, Kenny. Its me. I just look different."

Just then, Richard stepped forward and carefully studied his father’s face. "Dad…what happened? Your face looks so different. Its….its thinner."

Sav smiled at that to which Richard’s eyes widened.

"You….you smile different too."

Sav sat down and drew both his sons to him. "That’s because whatever happened erased the signs of my medical condition. You remember me telling you about that when you got old enough. Its as though it never happened. I’m not quite sure what caused this, but I had some tests done to see if its anything medical. You boys are okay with this?"

Richard and Kenny looked at each other before turning back to Sav and nodded.

"Um, yeah sure dad," Richard said. "Why wouldn’t we be? You just look different. You’re still the same person, right?"

Sav was hoping the same too. "Right."

"You still like the same things, right?" Kenny asked. "You’re still gonna play in the band?"

"Of course! Uncle Joe was here yesterday to see me and everything seems to be okay."

"You still like soccer, right?" Richard asked. "You are gonna come to my game on Saturday?"

Sav bowed his head a bit. "I’m sorry Richard. I forgot about that. Well, actually I didn’t. I forgot that I had a band commitment that day. We all have to go to the States. We’re presenting an award in New York. I have to leave Friday night and won’t be back until late Sunday."

Richard looked down at the floor dejected. Sav put his hands on his shoulders and raised his face to his.

"I’m sorry Richard. The awards show slipped my mind. But, you know that if I was here I’d be there. The day you were born I dreamed about watching you play soccer just like I did when I was a lad. Kenny too. I promise – as soon as I return we’ll do some practice in the yard. How’s that?"

Richard smiled a bit and nodded his head in agreement. Kenny did too.

"Good. Now, go on upstairs and put your things away. I need to talk to mum and granmum alone."

Sav gave them each a hug before they disappeared upstairs. He then turned to his mum who just continued to stare at him.

"Well mum?"

Sally walked towards him, her eyes never leaving his face. When she got close enough, she cupped his face in her hands.

"Richard….the first time I saw this face was when the doctor put you in my arms after you were born. It’s enchanted me ever since, no matter what you look like. I…I don’t know what happened, but I just hope that there’s nothing wrong and that you’ll continue to be the same wonderful person you’ve always been."

"Of course mum. The change in my face isn’t going to change who I am."

"That’s the only important thing, Rick," Kate added.

Sav looked at her and smiled. "Right."

8

The following Friday night, Sav and Joe’s flights arrived in New York around the same time. The guys from California would be arriving separately a little later on. Sav and Joe decided to head on to the hotel instead of hanging around and waiting for them.

When they arrived at the hotel, they checked into their rooms before heading down to the dining room for a late dinner. The dining room had been closed, but the manager, who was a long time Def Leppard fan, opened it up for the famous rock stars.

The manager greeted them when they came into the dining room, eyeing Sav cautiously. His eyes flitted back and forth between him and Joe before they finally settled on Joe and extended his hand.

"Mr. Elliott….it’s a pleasure to have you here as a guest this weekend," the manager said.

"Please, call me Joe," Joe said as he saw the questioning look in the manager’s eyes as he looked at Sav before extending his hand to him as well.

"Mr……..Savage?"

Sav shook his hand, preparing himself for the barrage of questions. "That’s right mate. Rick, please. Thanks for opening up the dining room for us this late."

"N..n..no problem. Um…I’m…I’m sorry. Forgive me but….I don’t know…maybe its my eyes, but……you look different. Much different than on the ‘Pyromania’ special I saw on tv last week."

Joe rolled his eyes, wondering how this was all gonna go. This was only gonna foretell how all future encounters Sav had would go. Joe inwardly hoped that this wasn’t gonna cause all the speculation he feared.

"Um, well yeah, I do look different," Sav said sheepishly. "Medical reasons, you know?"

The manager got very apologetic. "Oh…oh, I see. I’m…..I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. If…if you don’t mind me saying so, you look……well….younger."

Sav tried hard not to smile, if only to avoid a haughty attitude. "Yeah, well for some reason, its given that sort of affect. No worry though, I’m still the same bloke I always was."

"Sure….of course," the manager nervously said. "Well, gentlemen…sit where you’d like. There’s menu’s at the table. I’ll be back to take your order."

With one last glimpse at Sav, the manager walked into the kitchen. Joe and Sav then took a table and opened their menus.

"Well, that sorta went well," Joe said.

"Yeah, I guess," Sav said with reservation. "I..I really didn’t think it would be that noticable. Especially to a guy!"

"Well, he obviously was a fan who was familiar with what we looked like. Don’t forget Sav….that special on ‘Pyromania’ just aired about a week ago. A lot of people probably saw it. You gotta admit – your face looked drastically different in the special than it does now."

"Drastically bad, you mean?"

"No, you moron! Don’t put words in my mouth. C’mon, mate. We’re in our 40’s. Everyone changes over the years, not just you."

"Yeah, but my changes have been different, Joe. Crikey, I know the camera adds 10 pounds, but my face did look mite swollen. The paralysis does that. And now….now I can see my cheekbones!"

Joe smirked. "Yeah, you’re gonna make us all look bad come the tour."

Sav glanced at Joe with a worried look. "Joe…you don’t mean that seriously, do you? You….you said that you didn’t have a problem with this."

"I don’t. Like I said last week, it’s the media’s reaction I’m concerned about. You’ve been through enough with them after you got sick. I’m just wondering what they’ll print about this."

Sav was really starting to worry. If only the symptoms of his condition disappeared, and not the effects of his age as well, it would be a more explainable situation. He knew that the media could either be your best friend or your worst enemy. He didn’t care what they said about him – he just didn’t want the band as a whole to suffer for it.

"Well, like you said Joe. Maybe this appearance tomorrow night will satisfy everyone’s curiosity. I’ll answer whatever questions there are just so there’s no speculation. There’s really no rock bottom answer, only that it’s a medical mystery."

"Hopefully, everyone will have it out of their system by the time the tour starts in the summer. Then we’ll know that people will be coming to see us and not the oddity bass player."

"Okay, stop," Joe said. "Enough talk about this. Lets order, I’m starved."

Inside, Joe hoped that what Sav said turned out to be true.

After dinner, the manager came over to their table.

"Excuse me, gentlemen. But um…well, there’s a couple who’s staying in our hotel with their daughter. The husband and wife are fans of yours going all the way back to the 80’s. They saw you come in and they wanted me to ask your permission if they can get your autograph."

Sav and Joe shrugged before Joe answered. "Sure mate. Not a problem. Send them over."

Joe looked at Sav. "Well, here’s round 2. Lets see the reaction you get from them."

"Joe…stop! You’re making me feel awkward now."

Just then, a man and a woman, who looked to be in their mid-40’s, and a young girl, who looked to be around 18, approached them. The man extended his hand first.

"Hi…my name’s Mark and this is my wife Diane and our daughter Heather. We’re big fans of yours going way back – well, my wife and I are, although Heather here was kinda forced because we played your music so much around the house."

Joe chuckled and shook Mark’s hand. "Well, its nice to reach the next generation. Pleased to meet you Mark. I’m Joe Elliott and this is Rick Savage."

Mark turned to Sav with a quizzical look and shook his hand. "Yes, of course. Nice to meet you Rick. My wife Diane and daughter Heather."

Sav extended his hand to Diane first who looked at him with eyes that shone with astonishment.

"Its….its nice to meet you, Rick," Diane stammered. "M…my husband and I have been fans for so long."

Sav then turned to Heather who was staring at Sav with the same eyes as her mother, however, they had a hint of something else behind them.

"And what about you, Heather? Your mum and dad brainwash you with our music or do we have to play second fiddle to…..who are they….N’Sync?"

Heather extended her hand to Sav and shook it. Her thumb purposefully caressed his hand as her eyes bore into his.

"No, Rick. I don’t care for those bubblegum boy bands. I um…much prefer….men!

Sav felt her thumb caressing the back of his hand and wisely released it. Her eyes, nor her mother’s, however, never left his face.

Sav then cleared his throat. "Well, I’m glad to hear that," he said as he took an extended pen and scribbled his autograph. "Hopefully your parents will take you to a concert if we come to your city."

"Oh, we absolutely plan on seeing you guys when the tour starts," Diane said emphatically as her eyes continued to rove over Sav’s face.

"And I absolutely plan on coming with them. Maybe we can get a head start on obtaining a backstage pass, huh?"

Sav gulped as Mark spoke up.

"Heather! Mind your manners, will ya? You don’t go asking for things that aren’t offered to you. You’re 19, not 12. You should know better."

It finally dawned on Joe that Heather never even looked his way. Her eyes were glued on Sav the entire time. Not that it bothered him, well, maybe deep down inside it did. That sweet 19 year old lass looked as if she wanted to devour Sav. Nineteen!

Joe decided to finally speak up. "Oh, that’s okay. It never hurts to ask, Heather."

Heather never even acknowledged Joe. She just continued to stare at Sav. "That’s right," Heather purred as she looked at Sav. "Forgive me, Rick?"

Sav eyes couldn’t avert her young, firm 19 year old body unless they were plucked from his head. The lass was coming onto him in front of her parents. Crikey….she was only 19!"

"Um…yes, of course. Forgiven."

They both finished signing their autographs before Mark and Diane said their goodbyes, practically having to drag Heather away from Sav. As soon as they were alone, Joe regarded Sav’s face which was flushed pink.

"Well, I guess there are some perks to looking 12 years younger, mate."

"W..w..what do you mean?"

"Sav…that sweet young thing would’ve been all over you if her parents weren’t standing there. Come to think of it, if Mark wasn’t there, I think you would’ve had your own personal ‘mother/daughter’ team."

Sav waved it away. "Joe…you’re exaggerating."

"No I’m not. She didn’t even look at me. Come to think of it, neither did her mother."

"They probably noticed the change in my face, that’s all, and they didn’t want to seem rude by asking anything."

"Well, they made up for it the way they stared at you. And….it wasn’t with curiousity. And you’re eyes didn’t stray either."

"Crikey, Joe…what’d you expect? Her bleedin’ breasts were practically in my face. I know I’m married, but I am a man after all!"

"And a much younger looking one to boot!"

"Joe, please. You’re making too much of this. They just noticed the change, that’s all. Plus….nothing would’ve happened anyway. I’m a married man, for God’s sake. Happily married! Those days of accepting propositions are long gone."

"Yeah, well I guess its just nice to know that you still can get propositioned, even by a teenager!"

"Joe? You’re….you’re not jealous, are you?"

"What?"

"Well, it kinda sounded like it……."

"….what kind of a flippin’ remark is that? What do I have to be jealous about?"

Sav was startled by Joe’s reaction. "N..nothing, Joe. I didn’t mean…..what I’m saying is that, well, you sounded kinda slighted that they were staring at me and not you."

Joe stood up and threw his napkin down on the table. "Well you’re wrong, Mr. Pretty Boy….I’m not! Look Sav, I’m happy for you that your symptoms are gone and that you’re feeling good about yourself, but don’t be getting all high and mighty and start treating us like decrepit, old fossils."

"What?"

Sav’s dumbfounded statement was never answered as Joe stormed out of the dining room and headed to the elevator.

He then thought about what he said and realized that he didn’t say anything wrong. Joe was the one that pointed out that Diane and Heather didn’t even look at him. Sav was only joking around when he asked Joe if he was jealous. He didn’t think Joe would make a big deal about it.

Hell, over the years, the two of them were always competing over women, but, back then, there were so many willing bodies that it didn’t matter how many you gave up to the other. But there was no reason for Joe to feel that way now, especially since he’s been with Bobbi these past 6 years.

However, it was Joe’s comment about getting all ‘high and mighty’. Sav never portrayed that kind of attitude, even when he actually was younger. Did Joe sense something that he, himself, did not? Was…was he possible experiencing an internal change due to his exterior one?

"What am I thinking?" he asked himself. "I’m still the same bloke inside. My looks aren’t gonna change that."

That last line suddenly hit him. Why couldn’t he have taken that attitude after he got sick? If he felt that what was on the inside was all that mattered, why did he make that stupid wish? Already the wish caused his wife to doubt his attraction to her and cause Joe to think he was getting too full of himself.

His first instinct was to go upstairs and apologize to Joe. As he headed out of the diner, he ran smack into Heather.

9

"Oh…ex..excuse me," Sav stammered. "Ah….Heather, correct?"

Heather regarded Sav with languid, dangerous eyes. "That’s correct, Rick. My um….parents just headed up to their room for the night. I’m not tired yet. I came down to poke around. I saw your friend get on the elevator so I figured you’d still be down here – alone."

If she were any closer, her breasts would be brushing up against his chest. Sav had nowhere else to look except down at her face, which was upturned. Her teenage skin was porcelain perfect and her lips were plump, pink and parted in anticipation.

"Uh, yeah well, I was just headed upstairs myself."

"Really? Gee, that’s too bad. I was hoping we could have a drink together and, you know, fill me in on all the years I missed out on being a Def Leppard fan back in the 80’s."

Sav tried backing away without seeming rude, but he was stuck.

"Well, Heather…first of all, you’re too young to drink and, secondly, I’m surprised your parents haven’t filled you in."

Heather’s eyes roved all over his face as her tongue sensually licked her lips.

"Well, I don’t have to drink alcohol. I’ll settle for a club soda. And…as far as being filled in on past Def Leppard history, lets just say that my mom told me some very interesting stories. One especially about you."

Sav felt like he was made of stone, he couldn’t move. He was totally hypnotized by her face and voice, not to mention curious about this particular story.

"W..what story?"

Sav was absolutely stunned. This girls mother – who was married at the time for God’s sake – was a groupie who…who….

He was suddenly very uncomfortable with the topic of conversation, not to mention the look in her eyes.

"Um, Heather….I..I don’t think we should be discussing this. That was a long time ago when I was young and irresponsible."

"Young? Gee, Rick…how much younger were you? You don’t look a day over 30. Which reminds me – my parents and I saw your VH1 special on the making of the ‘Pyromania’ album last week. That must’ve been taped a long time ago because you look so much different. Either that, or the camera did you absolutley no justice. Come to think of it, my mother had shown me her collection of old Metal Edge magazines a while back. You actually haven’t changed much at all."

Sav knew that the change in his face wasn’t subtle enough to go unnoticed. And this girl – this…this child, noticed it and was looking at him like he was dessert. As soon as he felt her run her finger tips up his arm, he gathered his wits about him.

"Heather…look. I..I appreciate your compliment, and your invitation, but I really must get back upstairs."

Just then Heather slid her hand up his arm until her hand cupped the back of his neck. She then leaned in and breathlessly whispered.

"Actually Rick, the invitation just wasn’t for a drink and conversation. I was wondering if you were willing to find out if the um…oral talents are passed down from mother to daughter?"

Heather didn’t give him a chance to answer. She pulled his head down and hungrily kissed him.

Sav’s immediately reaction was to pull away, but as soon as he felt her silky tongue enter his mouth and her firm breasts crush against his chest, he went instantly hard. It was as if he had no control over his body or his thoughts. What in bleedin’ hell was wrong with him? He was a married man.

That last thought scrounged up the only thread of control he had. He put his hands on Heather’s waist and gently pushed her away from him as he broke the kiss.

When he did, he looked up past her to see Joe staring at him from the recently opened elevator doors. The only thing he caught was Joe’s enraged look and sneer of disgust before he pushed the button to head back up.

He immediately brushed past Heather to go up after Joe. He had to explain. But…not before Heather snared his hand.

"Where ya going, baby? That was just a preview."

Sav pulled her hand off his. "Heather, this was way out of line. All of it. I’m a married man, so its safe to assume that I will not be taking you up on your offer. I’m not interested."

Heather’s eyes raked down his body until they fell upon the hardness behind the fly of his trousers.

"Hmmm, could’ve fooled me," she said, eyeing his erection.

Sav didn’t have to look down to see where she was looking. The only thing he was concerned about was getting out of there fast.

Without another word, he left Heather there and took the elevator up, dreading to face Joe.

As soon as he got off, he went down the hall and knocked on Joe’s door. There was no answer. Sav figured he was giving him the cold shoulder. He pounded on the door again.

"C’mon, Joe. Open up. I know you’re in there. Where else would you go?"

Just then, Joe angrily yanked the door open from the other side.

"What do you mean, ‘where else would I go’? Whats the matter – think I’d be too old and tired to venture out after 10:30pm?"

"That’s not what I meant…"

"….you seem to be saying a lot of things you don’t actually mean, Sav," Joe interrupted him. "Or…..did snogging a little 19 year old clog your brain?"

Sav took a deep breath, prepared to defend himself. "It isn’t what it looked like."

Joe folded his arms and regarded Sav with mockery. "Oh Sav, c’mon. Since I’m soooo old, I guess it means I’ve been around long enough to know what two people kissing looks like."

"I can do without the sarcasm, mate," Sav hotly said. "She came on to me."

"Sav, she was coming on to you when she came in with her parents asking for an autograph. As soon as you saw her you should’ve run in the opposite direction."

"Joe, I was very uncomfortable. However, she had my back up against the wall. I was trying to excuse myself without being rude."

"Was that before or after you kissed her?"

"Dammit, I didn’t kiss her! She kissed me!"

Joe threw his hands up in surrender. "Oh…so sorry. My mistake. I should’ve been able to tell the difference. Must be my eyesight in my old age!"

"Joe, you’re asking for it……"

"Hey Sav, if I were you, I wouldn’t be making any empty threats. You may look younger, but I do believe that body of yours is still 41. And…I’m still taller than you. I could whoop your arse if I wanted to. Matter of fact, I really should, considering what you just did."

Sav ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "I just got finished telling you, Joe…I didn’t do anything! I pushed her away."

"Yeah, I saw. But not fast enough. Guess the thought of your beautiful, loyal wife and two children back in Sheffield wasn’t enough to make you resist."

Just then, the elevator doors down the hall opened and out of them came Viv, Phil and Rick – just in time to see Joe and Sav tearing into each other..

Sav’s eyes glared at Joe. "Who the fuck do you think you are saying that?"

Joe stepped out into the hallway. "No Sav. More like…who the fuck are you? I’d never thought the change in your face would change you. So far, you’ve taken an attitude, gave into a 19 year old little sex kitten and now have the audacity to stand here and make me out to be the villain because I’m trying to point out that you’re heading down a dangerous road there, mate."

The sound of three clearing throats disrupted Joe and Sav’s screaming match. They both looked down the hall to see their newly arrived bandmates. Sav cursed under his breath, knowing they heard everything Joe just said.

Little did Sav know that, across the hall in another room, was a music journalist in town to cover the RIAA awards ceremony who heard every single word as well.

Phil, Viv and Rick walked down the hall towards their two embattled bandmates before Phil noticed Sav’s face first. He stopped short and dropped his luggage, only to cause Rick to almost trip over it.

"Crikey, Phil," Rick exclaimed. "What are you doing dropping your luggage like that?"

Phil was too stunned to hear Rick’s complaint. Viv looked at Phil and waved his hand up and down in front of his face before looking to see where Phil was. And his mouth dropped open as well.

"Jesus God," Viv whispered. "S…Sav? Is that you?"

"That’s what I’ve been thinking," Phil finally spoke.

Their comments caused Rick to look up at Sav who did a double, then a triple take. He then looked around him then looked back.

"Uh, okay…is this some sort of trick, Sav?" Rick asked.

Sav stared at Rick and spat out in frustration. "Do I look like a bloody magician, Allen?"

Rick was taken aback by Sav’s tone. Even since he joined the band at the tender age of 15, Rick had never known Sav to exude sarcasm.

"Okay mates," Phil said. "Whats going on? Why are you screaming like banshees at each other in the hallway? And Sav….what happened to your face?"

Sav should’ve felt good knowing that Phil’s question about his face was because of a positive change and not due to a relapse of his condition. However, Sav felt anything but good right now. He felt like cursing that friggin’ star he wished upon last night.

"I’m not quite sure, Phil," Sav lied, not divulging the bit about the wish. "I woke up last Friday morning like this. I’ve had blood tests, CAT scans and MRI’s and nothing could be detected."

"Wow," Viv exclaimed. "You mean you woke up and found yourself more than ten years younger? I’m thinking its more than ten years because you look younger than you did when I joined the band back in 1991."

"Sav, you look like you did after the Hysteria tour ended," Rick added. "What were you – 28…29?"

"That’s right," Sav added."

"Well, how do you feel?" Phil asked. "Do you feel the same?"

"Actually, I do. I think my body is still 41, but my face just changed. I can’t explain it."

Actually, he could, but he thought the guys would have him committed for thinking wishes could come true.

Rick, Phil and Viv just stood there in awe, getting used to the change in Sav. It was after a few moments that Phil realized that Joe was just standing there in the doorway, silent and angry.

"Joe, what were you guys arguing about?"

Joe rolled his eyes to Sav. "Go ahead Sav. Tell them all about the wonderful appeal your face has."

"Shut up, Joe!"

"Whoa, whoa, settle down guys," Viv said. "Wait….what did we overhear Joe saying about some 19 year old?"

"Oh, it seems that Sav here is trying his pretty looks out on some smitten teenage lass who was snogging him in the dining room."

Sav lunged at Joe before Phil acted quickly in pulling him back.

"You bloody, sarcastic bastard! I told you what happened. It wasn’t my fault. Why are you insisting on making me look like a moron?"

"Because you’re acting like one, that’s why!"

Phil, Viv and Rick looked on in shock. In the entire time they’d known Joe and Sav, they’ve seen their share of friendly arguments, but what permeated from the two long time friends right now looked like nothing but pure hatred.

"Hold on a moment guys," Phil wisely said. "Lets take this inside before we’re overheard."

The five of them filed in through Joe’s open door before Phil closed it and then made Sav face him.

"Sav…is what Joe is saying true? We’re you with some 19 year old?"

Sav regretfully repeated the entire scenario to the three of them. They seemed to have understood and knew that Sav was too happy and in love with Kate to jeopardize his marriage by cheating on her.

Rick whistled low. "Wow, 19 huh? And, her mum was one of your conquests way back when?"

"Talk about your mother/daughter teams," Joe sarcastically snarled.

Sav looked at him with livid eyes. "Joe, end it, alright. I’m not gonna explain myself again. I’m sorry, alright. Crikey, do you know how I felt when I saw you watching from the elevator?"

Joe took a deep breath as his temper began to calm down. "Yeah, well the reason I came down was because I felt bad about storming out like that. When the doors opened and I saw that young lass kissing you….crikey, I thought you really got too full of yourself with your new look and decided to see how far you could go."

"Joe, I would never do that to Kate and the kids. That woman’s my life, you know that. This change in my appearance isn’t going to change who I am."

"Yeah, well, I just gotta say that I don’t like what I’ve seen so far, mate," Joe said with concern. "You’re saying its not gonna change who you are, but in the course of this one night I’ve seen changes in you that I’ve never seen these last 24 years. There’s probably gonna be more than one ‘Heather’ that you’re gonna wind up encountering, not to mention all the questions. I just want to be confident that you're gonna be able to handle it."

Even though Sav knew he didn’t encourage Heather’s behavior, he knew that the change in his looks probably invited it. Although it wasn’t his fault, he understood the concern. Even he was surprised at himself for becoming enraptured of Heather and not pulling away from her kiss immediately. It was almost as if….as if he enjoyed it. Not that any man, married or not, wouldn’t enjoy a 19 year old girl kissing him, but that still didn’t make it right.

Joe was right – this wasn’t like him. He had to get a tighter grip on this outward change before it affected him internally.

"Guys, I promise. This is not gonna change me or how I handle things. I just got a little goofy before with that teenager. Crikey, what was I thinking? If it was Kate that walked in on that……."

Sav cut himself off at the thought of his wife, who, just days ago, was questioning her appeal to him. He couldn’t imagine what being caught kissing a 19 year year would do to 37 year old Kate.

A hand on his shoulder broke his thoughts. "Mate, its okay," Phil calmly said. "This is quite a shock to all of us. We’ve been through bigger obstacles than this. There’s nothing that can’t be thrown at us that we can’t handle."

Sav looked to Phil and smiled. "Thanks mate."

Rick and Viv stepped forward and gave Sav a comforting pat on the back before he looked up at Joe.

The other three guys noticed the look between them and Rick chimed in to loosen things up.

"Alright. C’mon you two. The lovers quarrel is over. Just kiss and make up."

Sav rolled his eyes to Rick as Joe made a gagging sound, which got Viv’s attention.

"I wouldn’t knock the idea Joe," Viv said. "Sav looks too scrumptuous to pass up."

"Out! Out of my room, all you fairies!"

Joe’s booming voice caused the other four to quickly file out and into their separate rooms. As soon as all five doors closed, one very slowly opened to survey the hall. The man looked one way, then the other, grinned an evil grin, then crept back into his room.

11

The following night, all five Leps appeared onstage to present an RIAA award to a band who’s album had sold at least 10 million copies. Everything was fine before and during the show. However, afterwards, backstage, the band took some questions.

Although Sav wasn’t asked flat out about the sudden difference in his looks, he certainly felt the stares and knew that the change in his appearance would prompt some interesting writing. He decided not to worry about it, or draw any unwanted additional attention than necessary, and put out any fires later.

All he wanted to do was get back home to his wife and children and put the disastrous scene from the night before out of his mind. On the ride back to the hotel that night, Sav felt confident that, other than what happened last night, all was gonna be fine in the future.

Joe had put their differences from last night aside as well, although still had an uneasy way about him. He sensed all the staring as well, although he was grateful that none of the reporters covering the even weren’t tacky enough to ask him, or any of the other guys, questions about Sav.

Sav arrived back home in Sheffield late Sunday night. He called Kate from his cell phone when he landed to say he was on his way.

Kate put the boys to bed well before she knew her husband’s flight was to land to be sure they were sound asleep by the time he got home. She had some serious reuniting in mind!

When he came through the door, he noticed a single light on inside the house coming from den. Sav dropped his bag in foyer and followed it to find Kate curled up on the sofa, clad in her robe, sound asleep. A cup of tea rested on the end table beside her.

He heard a buzzing coming from the CD player. He walked over and noticed it was on. She must’ve been listening to it while waiting for him to come home. He turned it off, the ejected the CD and smiled when he saw it was ‘Hysteria’. She always had a fondness for that album since it was the era that she had met him.

He walked over and gently shook her awake, careful not to startle her.

"Kate..Kate. Wake up, luv. I’m home."

Kates eyelashes fluttered before they slowly opened. Her beautiful face lit up at the sight of her breathtakingly gorgeous husband. She sat up and threw her arms around his neck as Sav sat down next to her.

"Hey baby," she sleepily said. "I’m so glad you’re home. I’m so sorry I fell asleep. Its been such an exhausting weekend."

Sav breathed in her delicious feminine scent as her silky hair tickled his nose, both sensations causing him to harden instantly. He was suddenly disgusted with himself that he had become aroused when that 19 year old kissed him, especially when he had this wonderful, beautiful woman waiting at home for him.

"I’m so glad to be home, luv," he whispered in her ear as he rubbed her back. "I missed you and the boys. How was Richard’s game yesterday?"

Kate pulled back and proudly looked at him. "He set up the winning goal. Although another boy scored it, he was so happy that he had a part in it. He said he used a strategy that you showed him."

Sav beamed with pride before hugging her again. "Damn, I wish I could’ve been there."

"How was the ceremony? Did…did any questions about your appearance arise?"

"Actually, just the manager of the hotel we stayed at. He saw the ‘Pyromania’ special last week, as did probably a lot of people and, well, the difference in my face is dramatically different. Fortunately, no one at the awards inquired about anything, probably out of courtesy. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if speculation shows up in the media coverage of the awards. Lord knows, there were enough journalists and reporters there. You think it was the Academy Awards for God’s sake!"

Sav wisely made no mention of the couple and their daughter – especially the daughter – who asked him and Joe for autographs.

"Well, lets just wait and see," Kate said. "No sense worrying over something that may not boil over. How did the rest of the guys react?"

Sav chuckled. "Once they got over the intial shock, they were fine. We all agreed that we’re just gonna stand strong and shoot down any negativity that may come from this."

Kate tipped her face up till her lips were a whisper away from her husband’s beautiful ones. She leaned in and lightly kissed him. The teasing gentleness of her kiss inflamed Sav and caused him to deepen it. All he wanted to do was wash away the memory of that disastrous kiss from Heather.

He then broke the kiss and looked into his wife’s beautiful, loving face and stroked her hair.

"C’mon, luv. Lets go upstairs. First I’m gonna take a shower to unwind after that long flight, and then I’m gonna come to bed and devour you!"

The lusty couple chased each other up the stairs. Sav was relieved to have put that horrendous weekend behind him. He put that and that silly ‘wish’ business behind him.

However, by this time tomorrow, Sav’s probably gonna wish that he never got up that morning!

12

The following morning, Sav got up early with Kate to spend some time with the boys before sending them off to school. He reassured both Richard and Kenny of his promise to practice some kicks in the backyard once they got home.

Sav and Kate then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together before deciding to head out to do some early shopping before the boys got home from school. As they headed out, Sav grabbed the newspaper that was left in the box outside their front gate and flung it in the backseat of the car before they took off.

They arrived back around 1:30. Kenny needed to be picked up up at 2:00 while the bus dropped Richard off around 2:30. Kate went to pick up Kenny while Sav waited at home for Richard.

As soon as Kate left, Sav went to check the answering machine. There were several messages on it. He pushed the button to play them. The first one was from his mum.

Sav was instantly concerned by the sound of his mum’s voice. He wondered what she was talking about and realized that the newspaper was still in the backseat of the car where he tossed it this morning and Kate had already left in it.

The next message was from Joe. His voice was urgent and none too pleased.

Sav ran his hands through his hair as his heart began to pound. What the hell was written in the paper? Probably what Joe surmised – that Sav went and had plastic surgery out of vanity. However, that wasn’t bad enough to warrant the kind of tone Joe took or the sound of nervous concern from his mum.

The next message was from Richard’s school.

Sav immediately grabbed his keys and left to pick up Richard, not even bothering to hear the next message.

When he arrived at Richard’s school, he immediatley went to the principal’s office. The secretary said that Richard had been waiting in there with him and was shown in.

There behind the desk was the principal. Off to the side, sitting in a chair, head bent down, was Richard.

"Richard? Lad, are you alright?"

Richard raised his head and Sav gasped at the beginnings of a black eye. What disturbed him even more, was the look of disgust that his son gave him.

"Please, Mr. Savage…sit down."

Sav took a chair as Richard bowed his head again. The principal began to explain what happened.

"Mr. Savage, it seems that Richard got into a verbal dispute with another boy, Michael, during recess earlier. It escalated into a fight. I’ve already admonished Michael who was already picked up by his father. However, both boys wouldn’t say what the verbal argument was about that led to the fight. It doesn’t matter what it was over now, but I do wish Richard, as well as all the children, to understand that, although its okay to disagree, physical violence is not condoned."

"Yes, I understand," Sav answered. "I’ll speak with Richard about what happened when we get home. Unless….." he turned to Richard," he wants to tell me now."

Richard kept his head down as she shook his head back and forth.

"Very well, lad. We’ll discuss this at home. And, trust me, you’re not getting off easy on this. I do not like fighting in the least."

"Well, that’s all we can do here," the principal said. "You can take Richard home now. I had the school nurse apply an icepack on that shiner he’s got there, however, I believe he’ll need more when he gets home."

"Of course. Thank you. C’mon Richard. Lets go home."

Richard quietly got up and walked out the door, followed by his father. He was the quiet the entire ride home, keeping his head down. Sav decided it was not the right place and time to discuss this. He’d wait until they were in the house.

When he pulled in the driveway, he saw that Kate had returned from picking up Kenny. Before he went into the house, he looked into the backseat of her car and saw that she had remembered to take the paper in.

He and Richard walked inside the house to find Kate by the counter, listening to the messages on the answering machine, all the while intently reading an article in the paper. The look on her face caused Sav to turn pale.

The message from the school had just finished playing when the final message began to play.

Sav made it to the counter in 3 long strides before he slammed the button on the answering machine to stop it. He looked to Kate who was too engrossed in the article to even notice.

"Kate….Kate, luv. W..what did they say about me? Its okay, luv, whatever it is, we’ll squash it immediately. I don’t think rumors about alleged plastic surgery will….."

Just then Kate folded up the paper and smacked Sav in the chest with it as she raged at him through her tears.

Kate gave Sav a shove with that last line and ran out of the kitchen, up to her bedroom and slammed the door.

Sav stood there shaking like a leaf. Standing on the other side of the kitchen was Richard, who saw and heard the whole thing. He was trembling and had tears in his eyes. Sav immediately went to him.

"Richard, its alright, lad. I…….."

"….NO! Don’t come near me," Richard screamed as he began to cry. "Its true then. What Michael’s father told him was true."

Sav pulled back at his son’s rejection of him. "What did Michael say his father told him?"

Richard was crying so hard he was almost hyperventilating.

"He….he said there was an article in the paper this morning about you and some teenage girl. He…he called you a..a..a.. ‘dirty old man’ and a…..a….’cradle robber’. I..I..I.. got into a fight with him because of that and here it was true. I..I..defended you. And…and now mum’s upset. How…how could you dad? I..I…I… hate you!"

Richard then fled the kitchen and ran upstairs to his room.

Sav stood there completely motionless, totally disbelieving what just transpired. He walked on shaky legs over to the fallen newspaper and flipped the pages to the article in question.

Sav let the newspaper blindly fall to the floor as he leaned up against the counter for support, buried his ‘youthful’ face in his hands and cried.

The careless wish that he had made, hoping to make him feel a little more secure about himself, had just ripped his life in two.

13

Sav didn’t know where to turn first. He had his mother to calm down, Joe to deal with, Kate to explain to and Richard to reassure. He quickly phoned his mum, saying that, although he couldn’t go into detail about what happened, he assured her that it was all a big misunderstanding and blown heavily out of proportion. He then told his mum not to worry and that he’d call her later.

He decided that Joe could wait. He had his own damage control to take care of in his house. He immediately went upstairs to Kate. And, as suspected, the bedroom door was locked. He knocked on the door softly, not wanting to upset Richard anymore or startle Kenny by pounding on it.

"Kate…Kate luv, please. Open up. We have to talk about this. What you read was not what you think happened. Luv, please…I’m….I’m begging you."

Sav’s voice had cracked as he fought back more tears. Ones of fear and of regret. When the door didn’t open, he softly knocked again, this time letting the tears come as he quietly sobbed.

Kate didn’t open the door, but Sav heard the sound of the lock being turned back on the other side. He turned the knob with a sigh of relief and entered the bedroom. As he shut the door, he turned to Kate.

"Kate, please listen…."

"……..just tell me one thing, Rick. Did you or did you not kiss a nineteen year old girl?"

Sav grabbed his head in frustration and pressed his temples. "Kate, this isn’t a situation that can be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Please, let me explain the chain of events……"

"……….Yes or no, Rick?"

Sav hung his head, knowing what his answer would do. "Yes," he softly whispered.

Kate came after him, grabbed the front of his shirt and started shaking him back and forth with all her might.

"You lousy son of a bitch! How could you? How could you do this to me and the children? Now that it got in the paper, how do you think that’s gonna affect our lives? How could you humiliate me like that? This is exactly what I feared, Rick. How ironic, isn’t it? Just last week you got jealous when a 25 year old waiter was attentive to me and accused me of flirting with him. And the next morning you wake up, miraculously looking about 12 years younger, and already attracting the attention of sorority girls."

Sav gently grabbed her upper arms to keep her from shaking him or hurting herself.

"Kate….please….calm down…please. Let me explain. Its not what you think….."

"……you have no idea what I think. Nor how I feel. What I feel like now is a 37 year old woman who doesn’t do it for her husband anymore!"

"How can you say that after what we shared last night? All I thought about on that plane ride home was walking through that door, throwing you down and ravishing you."

"Why, Rick? Was it because you truly wanted and desired me, or was it your guilty conscious needing to be wiped clean of that nineteen year old tramp?"

"Kate, listen. She came on to me. I did not go after her. I have been faithful to you since the day I walked into that record company party back in 1988 and laid eyes on you. That’s the God’s honest truth. That girl was at the hotel with her parents, who happen to be fans. They asked Joe and I for autographs and, all the while, their teenage daughter was making advances – right in front of her parents. Joe wound up going up to his room before me. By the time I went up, this girl came down and found me alone. She started coming on to me – big time, but I did everything to dissuade her. Finally, she just threw her arm around my neck and pulled me down to kiss her. I’ve got no idea who saw, but that’s what happened. I pushed her away and told her I was married and that I wasn’t taking her up on any offer. For the love of God, Kate…I swear that’s what happened."

Kate stood still as she allowed her husband to explain himself. When he was done, she thought about it some more.

"Rick…what did that article mean about you and Joe fighting over the incident?"

"Well, as this girl kissed me, Joe happened to come back down to the lobby. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he saw. I saw that he noticed, pushed the girl away and went up to explain to him. He laced into me pretty good, which I probably deserved, even though I didn’t invite it. There must’ve been a reporter in town to cover the awards staying on the same floor as us and overheard everything because we were arguing pretty badly in the hall about it. As we were, Rick, Viv and Phil arrived and heard everything as well. Kate, I swear to you, on God, on our marriage, on those two children of mine in there…that’s the truth."

Kate pulled away from him and backed away a bit, not looking sure as if she should believe him or not.

"I..I..I don’t know, Rick. I..I..want to believe you. Its just….this change in your face. This nineteen year old is just the beginning. Now that its out, Lord knows who’s gonna come out of the woodwork now."

"Kate, I don’t care. Luv, we’ve gotten through a lot together, we’ll get through this."

"Judging from the message from Joe, it sounds pretty bad," Kate said.

"I haven’t called Joe back yet to find out what he heard. I’m gonna do that right now. Kate…..luv, please…you…you do believe me, do you?"

"I…I…y.y.yes," she stammered. "I can see how this could be misconstrued. I’m….I’m just worried about what’ll happen in the future and how it will affect the children. Speaking of which, what happened with Richard at school? What was he fighting over?"

Sav let out a long, frustrated breath. "Well, it seems that the father of one of the boys in his class read the article this morning and made some choice comments about me. This boy went to school and got in Richard’s face about it. Richard was just…..I guess…..defending my honor."

"Oh God," Kate began to sob. "Rick, what are we gonna do? Now that this is public, those two boys are gonna be crucified for it in school. Maybe I should keep Richard home for a few days, maybe till this dies down."

"That might be a good idea," Sav agreed. "Anyway, let me go downstairs and call Joe back."

Sav and Kate left the bedroom together. Kate went to check on Richard and Kenny while Sav went downstairs. As soon as he did, the intercom leading to the front gate buzzed. Sav went to answer it.

"Who is it?"

"Its me Sav," Joe said. "Open up."

"Joe? What are you doing flying all the way over….."

"Just open the gate! I can’t wait for you to call me. We need to talk…now!"

Joe’s sharp tone startled him. He pushed the buzzer and then opened the front door for Joe to enter. As soon as he did, Joe stormed into the kitchen where Sav was waiting for him.

"Joe…why did you have to fly to Sheffield for? I was just gonna call you."

"I couldn’t wait. This thing is getting out of control. I received a call from Peter not too long after I left a message on your machine. Seems this ‘reliable source’ who overheard our little argument in the hotel wound up tracking down that Heather girl. I guess the little teenage tramp decided to cash in on the incident. Peter called to tell me he got a call from an attorney representing her."

Sav knitted his eyebrows. "For what?"

"Sexual assault!"

14

Sav thought he’d choke. "What? Sexual assault? If anything, I should be going after her! Besides….nothing happened except a kiss!"

"Yeah, well from what Peter said, it seems that she’s looking for a payoff to keep her mouth shut. If not, she already got an offer from the London Mirror, not to mention all those pathetic rags in the States. Mate….gossip like that is fine for someone like Tommy Lee or Bobby Brown who’s careers are pretty much washed up, but mate….we’ve got our tenth album due to be released soon, not to mention a tour. This kind of scandal can squash any and all interest."

Sav pressed his temples, shaking his head back and forth. "This can’t be happening? This bloody crap can’t be happening?"

"Rick…whats wrong? Joe….what are you doing here?"

Kate’s voice caused Sav to look up. Sav then saw Joe warily look between him and Kate and Sav knew what Joe was thinking.

"She knows, Joe. She knows all about it. So does my son’s school. The poor lad got into a fight today with another boy over it. Now this!"

"Rick….what?"

Sav looked at his wife, who’s emotional state was very fragile after what just transpired. He dreaded telling her this.

"Luv…this nineteen year old girl got an attorney and is going after me for sexual assault."

Kate’s golden brown eyes bulged. "What? But…but the article said that all you did was kiss."

"That is all that happened," Sav retorted.

"Yeah, well obviously it was enough for her," Joe added. "We weren’t just talking a peck on the cheek here."

"Joe!" Sav scolded him.

"W..w..what do you mean, Joe?" Kate asked. "Rick said you saw him kissing that girl when you came down in the elevator. Was there something more?"

"Kate! I just told you upstairs that it was nothing and that I pushed her away. You said you believed me. Why are you questioning Joe about it?"

Sav was furious that Kate didn’t believe him enough that she had to get a second opinion from Joe.

"Well, Joe. Was it as innocent as I was told it was? Did my husband push her away as soon as it happened?"

Joe looked from Kate, to Sav, then back to Kate again. "Um, well, I went down in the elevator and, as soon as the doors opened, I saw Sav and that girl kissing. I must’ve been standing there for about 10 or 15 seconds before I saw him put his hands on her waist and push her away."

Sav’s mouth dropped as Kate’s shot him a look he didn’t like. "Ten or fifteen seconds? You…you had to kiss her that long before you realized you were, uh…..married."

Sav turned to Joe. "Whats wrong with you? I didn’t kiss her that long!"

"Uh, yes you did. And, also….I thought it was she that kissed you?"

Sav shook the cobwebs from his brain. "She…she did, dammit. Why are you turning this around? Joe…how could you tell Kate that/"

"Because it’s the truth, mate. She asked me a question, and I told her."

"I guess what you told me upstairs wasn’t the entire truth, Rick," Kate sneered at him. "Yeah, you said you pushed her away, but you didn’t say after how long. Christ, as soon as she pulled you down for a kiss you should’ve pushed her away. Must’ve felt too good to stop, I bet. Well, was it Rick? How did it feel to cuddle a little college co-ed?"

Sav was absolutely dumbfounded. "I..I…I don’t believe what I’m hearing. You’re both making too much out of this. I did nothing wrong!"

"Sure doesn’t sound that way, Rick," Kate said. "Tell me….is this sexual assault accusation a lie to, or are you forgetting to tel me something else?"

Sav’s head spun. "What? I did not do anything of the sort with that girl!"

"Can you answer for your whereabouts after we all went to our rooms after our little spat?" Joe asked.

"That’s exactly where I was – in my room – alone!"

"Can you prove it?"

"You…you don’t believe me," Sav seethed at Joe. "Why are you questioning me like this, Joe? And…why are you feeding my wife with doubts about my faithfulness to her?"

"Because, mate, for years I always jokingly told Kate that you never deserved her. However, inside, I wasn’t joking."

"Now I’m beginning to think that Joe was right all along," Kate added. "Maybe ten years of loyalty, following you all over the world on tour, putting up with all the screaming women wasn’t enough for you to realize my worth. And now…now that you have the face you did back when I first met you, its like you want to re-live that part all over again – you know, having all the young girls swooning over you. What a stroke of luck for you, Rick, to wake up and find yourself looking twelve years younger. I bet its exactly what you wished for, huh?"

Kate’s words shook him to the core. This was getting out of control. His life, his already perfect life before he made that stupid wish, was starting to come apart. His wife didn't believe or respect him, his best friend was turning on him and his son hated him. He had to explain. He had to come clean.

"You’re right," Sav said hotly. "I did wish for this. Not just blindly either. The night of our anniversary after I left the bedroom……"

"………after you hit me," Kate reminded him.

"What?" Joe said incredulously. "You hit your wife, you stupid, bloody idiot?"

"It…it was a big misunderstanding. I..I was feeling insecure and vulnerable about something and I…I just thought that maybe I’d feel better about myself if I looked the way I did before I got sick. This may sound silly, but I made that wish upon a star that night. And the next morning – voila’"

Joe and Kate began to laugh hysterically. "Oh mate….you’re kidding, right? You wished upon a star? Oh…oh…wait, don’t tell me. Did you do the little ‘star light, star bright’ rhyme?"

Sav folded his arms and regarded Joe sarcastically. "As a matter of fact, I did."

"And you think this is the reason for the change in your face?" Kate asked.

"What other reason is there? All my tests showed nothing wrong. Blood test, CAT scan, MRI – nothing! What are you gonna call it – a coincidence?"

"Well, whatever it is, mate, since its happened, your life has turned upside down."

Sav looked at Kate who didn’t look too pleased. "Kate….I didn’t ask for this, but in a way I did. I never thought I’d be younger, just…you know…no more symptoms. I had no idea it would cause all this."

"Yeah, well it has, Rick! How could you do this? Our lives were perfect – absolutely perfect and you had to……oh, God, I’m talking as if I believe it was the wish that did this!"

"It was! I’m telling you…it was!"

Joe and Kate looked at Sav a little nervously. "Rick….maybe you should go see the um…doctor or something."

"I’ve already had enough bloody tests, Kate!"

"Um….not that kind of doctor. Maybe a …uh…psychiatrist."

"What? You think I’m crazy?"

"I..I..I. don’t know, Rick. All I know is that you’re scaring me. I..I think maybe its best if I leave with the boys for a while."

"W..w.what do you mean, leave? Kate, you can’t leave. Don’t leave me. I’m telling you the truth."

"Like you did with kissing that girl, Rick? How…how can I believe someone who believes in……wishes coming true? I think there’s something wrong with you in the head."

"Kate," Sav pleaded. "Please…you must believe me. Joe, tell her. When have you ever know me to be like this. I’m serious, mate, and I’m friggin’ scared."

"Well, that makes two of us Sav, cause you’re scaring me. I agree that Kate and the boys should take off for a while while you find yourself."

"I don’t need to bloody find myself! And who are you to suggest my wife take off with my sons?"

"Um, she suggested it first, mate. I’m just agreeing with her."

"I’m going upstairs to get the boys and make flight reservations."

Sav took two long strides and grabbed her arm. "Kate, you’re not leaving."

"Yes I am, Rick. I’m…I’m scared. Right now, you’re someone I don’t know. I’m getting the boys and we’ll go stay at the Dublin house. I’ll call the schools and tell them I’m taking the boys out for a while."

"Kate, you can’t do this."

"I can Rick. Please, don’t stop me."

"I’ll make sure he doesn’t stop you," Joe said.

Sav turned flaring eyes at Joe. "Who the hell are you saying that? She’s my wife and this is my house. And right now….I want you out of it!"

Just then, Richard and Kenny appeared in the kitchen together.

"Mummy, daddy…whats wrong? Why are you fighting again?"

Little Kenny’s voice broke through and silenced them. Richard stood there frozen and pale. Kate immediately went to them.

"Go on outside boys. Go wait by the car. The two of you and I are going to Ireland for a little bit."

"Is daddy coming?" Richard asked.

"No, Richard. Daddy isn’t coming. Just the three of us."

Richard looked at his father with triumph. "Good!" he said before running out the front door to the car.

Sav wanted to move, but couldn’t. He felt as if his feet were nailed to the kitchen floor as he called out after Richard. Kate then picked Kenny up in her arms.

"C’mon, we don’t need anything here. We’ve got clothes and such at the Dublin house. I..I just want to get out of here."

"C’mon, Kate…I’ll drive you to the airport," Joe said. "We’ll all fly to Dublin together. I’ll watch over you and the boys while you’re there."

"What? N..n..no!" Sav screamed as they headed for the door. "Kate…come back. Boys!" He then grabbed Joe’s arm as tears filled his eyes. "Mate…why are you doing this to me?"

Joe yanked his arm away and looked at Sav without any remorse. "I’m not doing anything, mate. You did it to yourself. You and that silly wish. Ha! Wait till the rest of the guys hear this!"

Joe left the house and let Kate and the boys into the car. All Sav could do was stand in the doorway, motionless as he watched his best friend, wife and two sons drive off and out of his life.

16

Sav ran out the front door, screaming after the car as it rolled away.

"No! No! Please! Come back! Please come back!"

However, the louder he tried to scream, the more muffled it became, as if his throat was closing up on him.

"Kate," he hoarsly whispered. "Kate, luv. Please, come back. I’m sorry…I’m so sorry."

As the car drove away, Kate turned around to see Sav doubled over, as if he were in pain. She quietly whispered his name.

Sav’s ears rang, as if he heard her calling him. He called out again, begging her to come back.

"Kate…Kate, please. Come back. Don’t leave me. I want you. I’ve always wanted you. I don’t want anyone else. Please, bring the boys back….please!"

Kate turned around in the front seat, unable to look upon him, as she covered her mouth with her hand and cried.

Back at the house, Sav continued to call out to her. "Kate…Kate…", but his voice was disappearing. However, he kept hearing Kate’s voice calling out to him, louder and louder.

**********************

"Rick? Rick, baby wake up. Wake up."

Kate gently shook her husband’s shoulder as he tossed and turned on the office couch, still calling out her name.

"Rick…please, wake up. Baby, please."

Sav bolted up with a start which caused Kate to jump and pull back. He was breathing rapidly and his face and body was covered in sweat.

"Rick," Kate whispered. "Are…are you alright? Baby, you must’ve been having a nightmare."

Sav sat there shaking like a leaf before he took in his surroundings. He was in his office room, on the couch, where he fell asleep after….after….making that wish!

He jumped off the couch like lightening, causing Kate to teeter back. He immediately turned the lamp on and looked into the framed oval mirror on the wall.

Staring back at him was the reflection of a 41 year old Rick Savage, crooked smile and all.

It was the most beautiful site he ever saw!

When he turned to look at Kate, he immediately took that last thought back. She was the most beautiful site to his sleepy eyes right now.

"Rick? Are you okay? You had me so worried. I..I was tossing and turning for the last two hours after……after you left our bedroom. I..I..couldn’t sleep, thinking that something was bothering you. I got up and went downstairs to see if you were on the couch. I then came up and heard you crying out from the office. You had me so scared. I..I was trying to wake you up without startling you. You just kept calling my name over and over….."

Kate was cut off when Sav fled across the room to her, dropped to his knees, wrapped his arms around her legs and laid his head on her lap. He then began to sob.

He looked up from her lap to see her left cheek which was red and swollen from where he slapped her. He gingerly raised his right hand and gently cupped it. Kate’s eyes instantly filled with tears as she leaned into his caressing hand, like a kitten begging to be pet.

"Oh God! Baby, I’m so sorry. Please, oh please forgive me. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was such an idiot! A vulnerable, foolish, insecure idiot who couldn’t realize how fortunate I am. Sometimes I find it difficult to believe that you still love and desire me after…..after…..it…it doesn’t matter. I know now. It…it took a nightmare for me to realize it. Kate, on my life, I swear to you…I’ll never doubt your feelings for me ever again!"

Kate didn’t want to know what the nightmare was about that caused this revelation in her husband. She didn’t care. She was just relieved that he was alright and, whatever it was that was bothering him, had passed. For good this time.

She put her arms around his neck and dropped to the floor with him. "Its okay, baby. I forgive you. I knew something was bothering you. You’d….you’d never do something like…….anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you’re alright. I love you Rick. I love you so much. And…I’ll never stop……..no matter what!"

Sav pulled back and looked at the wonderful, beautiful woman who was his life. That horrible nightmare only solidified the fact that he could not do without her. He had to let her know. No….he had to show her. He turned around and glanced at the clock then turned back to her and wickedly grinned.

"Luv…its ten minutes before midnight. Technically, its still our anniversary. I believe you um….were going to show me how naughty you could be before we left for dinner this evening."

Kate matched her husband’s wicked grin, stood up and extended her hand. "C’mon…lets go back to bed."

Sav took her hand and pulled her back down. "No. Right here. On the floor!"

Kate’s face glowed at the spontanaiety of the situation and gave in. She didn’t care if they were in the loo of the airport. She’d make love to him anywhere!

They desperately wrapped their arms around one another and hungrily kissed, all the while running their hands all over each other’s bodies – searching for skin. Neither one could wait.

Sav leaned her back on the plush carpet as he pushed her nightgown up to her waist. Kate’s fingers worked the drawerstring of his pajama bottoms and pushed them down before wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Oh, you’ll have me, luv," he whispered back. "Tonight and always!"

He punctuated that last statement by burying himself deep inside of her. Kate gasped at the welcoming invasion.

Sav continued to thrust in and out of her, all the while whispering words of love the entire time. He suddenly felt his body begin to tighten as the beginnings of his climax came up on him.

"Kate…oh, luv I can’t wait. You feel too good. Are you ready, luv? Please…."

Sav’s orgasm consumed him as he poured himself into her, just as he felt her tighten all about him.

They laid there for a few moments recovering from their frenzied joining, feeling like naughty teenagers. He then looked down at her beautiful love-filled face.

"God, I’m so lucky to have you. So damn lucky!"

"No Rick," she answered. "I’m the lucky one."

He kissed her nose and rolled off her. She immediately got up. "I’m gonna go back to bed. How about joining me for round 2?"

Sav grinned wide. "You may regret saying that woman. I feel as randy as a …….as a 29 year old! I may just keep you up for a few hours!"

"I’ll hold you to that," she said before dashing out of the room.

Sav got up off the floor and walked over to the window behind the desk. There, in the sky, was that blasted star, still all alone, and still twinkling at him as if it knew what had just occurred.

Sav regarded the star. "So….I think someone up there was trying to teach me a lesson. Was it you dad? Or did Steve put you up to it?"

Just then, the star twinkled – twice!

"So…it was both of you together, eh? Well, you both taught me a lesson, good and proper. No more feeling insecure about my looks, my age, my wife’s feelings for me – nothing. I’m still the same bloke you remembered, Steve and dad….I’m still the son that you left. I’ve never changed – not inside. I…I guess that’s all that matters, right?"

Again, the star twinkled.

Sav then closed his eyes and repeated the nursery rhyme:

"What did you wish for, baby?"

Sav turned around to see Kate in the doorway. He blushed thinking she heard him making that wish.

"I wished…..I wished to be as happy the rest of my life as I am right now."

"Now that’s a wish I can life with," Kate said.

"Me too, luv. Me too!"