Family Ties

Chapter 1
New Jersey-- Early Summer 1985

Elizabeth Rashbaum sat on her front porch steps, a warm evening breeze blew her riotous curls awry as she smiled at the man sitting beside her. He was leaning back casually and smoking a cigarette while stretching his long black clad legs out in front of him. He sighed contentedly whisps of grey smoke slowly pouring from his full lips as he spoke. "Damn, it sure is good to be home Lizzie" he said slinging one solidly toned tan arm around her diminutive shoulders. 

Richie had just gotten home two days ago from a tour in Europe opening for the Scorpions and he hadn't seen Lizzie in almost 8 months. Lizzie grinned and relaxed against him as she rolled her sparkling blue eyes, "Right Rich!" She said with playful sarcasm, "you'll be bored in 3 days and jonesin' to get back out there!" She knew from experience that it was impossible for Richie, or any member of Bon Jovi to sit still for more than 10 minutes at time, let alone for any of them, her older brother David included, to be completely content sitting at home for months. Richie though, was the worst. He always had to be moving, fidgeting, busy. That's the main reason she always had to hang around with him when her brother and the band were home. Never a dull moment with Sambora! 

Richie threw his head back and laughed, his deep timbre echoing in the falling night "you know me too well my little darlin'" He squeezed her shoulder gently and glanced down at her. 

At 12 years old, his friend David's youngest sister, Elizabeth was only now starting to show signs of budding into a young lady. She had extremely thick curly blonde hair, like her brothers only much lighter, and it was very long. She wore it tied back at the nape of her neck and little curls framed her porcelain like face. She had bright inquisitive blue eyes that never failed to get whatever they wanted from him. Come to think of it, she got just about anything she wanted from David as well. He had met her when he had joined the band two years ago and she had been attached to hip anytime he was around ever since.He didn't mind at all, she was a really sweet kid. 

Someday she's gonna catch some lucky guys heart and the man will never even stand a chance.... 

She broke his reverie by socking him soundly in the shoulder and saying " So Sambora! everything set for this weekend?" 

"OW!!!! Damn it Liz... one of these days......." he pouted a bit and rubbed his shoulder in mock pain. No matter how hard she tried she could never beat him at any physical games, she was a delicate little thing, no bigger around than a stick and her head came not even to the center of his chest when they stood. " What makes you think We are doing anything this weekend little miss?" He teased and ruffled her hair a bit which made her grimace and jerk away. 

She set her pretty face in a scowl and whined "cause' you promised!! you and Dave both! and HE already kept his promise!! The same day he got back as a matter of fact!" She gave him the most petulant stare no backing down for one moment as she awaited his excuse.

It took all his might to keep his face straight. He got such a kick out of harrassing Lizzie. She got so indignant when he did that he just couldn't resist pushing her buttons " yeah... I know but... see I met this chick and .. Lizzie.. shes really ... ya know... " he wiggled his eyebrows which made Lizzie scowl even more. " I though of maybe callin' her up and asking her out fri....OW!!!!!!!!! ELIZABETH!!!!" he yelped when she reached over and pinched his side. It had actually hurt that time but he couldn't help laughing at the utter astonished and angry look on her face. Her blue eyes flashed and her face was pink.

Lizzie was very angry, she had been waiting months and months to be able to go out hangin' around with Richie like always, He was her best friend! Well, besides Amy Donovan who had been in the same class as her since kindergarten. And Richie had promised as soon as they got back from Europe he would take both her and Amy to Six Flags Virginia Beach. The girls were both very excited about it. Not only would Amy and Lizzie get spolied rotten by Richie, but Lizzie would also be able to finally see and spend time with her other best friend Bethany Valdez, Beth was the cousin of Tico Torres, the drummer in the same band as her brother and Richie. 

Tico was right now either in New York with Jon, the bands singer waiting to pick up Bethany, or on thier way back to the house. Her flight in from Arizona should have arrived 15 minutes ago, and Lizzie hadn't seen Beth since last summer vacation and if Richie did something to mess up her plans...... 

Liz was still scowling and Richie still laughing when David walked up, took one look at his sister and friend and grinned " Is she giving you problems already Rich?" 

"Ya know Dave, sometimes I wonder why I even....OW!!!!!!! LIZZZZIE!!!!" he yelped again and laughed even more as he got up and took off in the front yard calling over his shoulder " You wanna go to that damn amusement park ya gotta catch me lil' bit!!" 

David watched in amusement as his sister growled and took off after Richie, knowing full well she would never catch him unless he let her, which he eventually would. 

David sat on the steps in the spot now vacated by the playful pair and watched. It was so good to see Lizzie up and running and looking healthy, his mother had worried him this past winter and spring. Liz had been sicker than normal. As long as David could remember she had seemed to catch anything that was going around the flu, a cold, and this year even pnemonia had given them all a scare. But now watching her chase the long legged guitarist around the vast front yard, seeing her face full of color and life, her smile wide as she laughed breathlessly with his friend he felt reassured that her troubles were over. She was growing up and growing stronger and he had to chuckle a bit as she almost caught Richie once, getting faster too. 

David relaxed and leaned back against the porch knowing those two would run and dodge each other until Jon and Tico got back with Bethany. 

An hour or so later, David was still lounging on the steps , watching his sister and Richie just chase each other around . Wondering how Richie had the energy considering the grueling schedule they just gotten done with. He looked up to see Tico and Jon arriving with Bethany, It was hard to believe she was now 15 time was going by so fast these days. 

Bethany stepped out of the car. She hadn't changed much since last summer, she was still a bit short, granted, she was taller than Lizzie, but not by much and her 'baby fat' was still hanging on. Her maturing body didn't help matters much there. She was showing alot of womanly curves now and with the 'baby fat' it made her appear a bit chubby , though to hear Bethany tell it, she weighed a ton. 

Even last summer everyone had tried to tell her she was in the middle of a growth spurt she would shoot up and fill out in the right places but Bethany being Bethany, she didn't want to wait. Everyone knew, when those braces came off, She finally got the contacts she'd been saving for and the body changes were all said and done that Beth was going to be one hell of a looker. So she was going thru an akward stage right now... Sure she had plenty of friends, but boyfriends were certainly lacking. That fact was one that was just fine with her cousin. Tico acted more like he was her big brother than her cousin. 

Lizzie stopped chasing Richie the moment she saw Bethany it had been so long since she saw her best friend . She took off in a mad dash and literally attacked Bethany with a crushing hug. 

"Bethy!!!!!! Its been so long!!!! " 

"Yes it has " She smiled so glad to see her best friend again. She hugged her tightly. 

"So I see still pestering Richie as usual" Bethany teased 

"Wouldnt be normal if I didnt ? Now would it?" Lizzie laughed " besides... HE started it!" 

The girls laughed when Richie screwed up his face and stuck his tongue out at Lizzie in a very childish retort to her exclamation,

The girls broke apart and made their way up the steps and into the house, dismissing the guys without even one backward glance.They proceded to ramble on about everything from school, how it was living in Arizona now , to boys, to what their plans were for this entire summer. 

Jon hung back with Tico, he was a bit worried about Bethany she had been very quiet the whole ride back from the airport. Tico had told him that she was a bit more reserved lately, partially due to her looks, which Jon didn't think was such a bad thing at all. So she wasn't what she thought was perfect. She was a teenager and going through all the growing pains of it right now that was all. Jon knew it would all work itself out sooner or later. He hated seeing the normally bubbly and animated Beth so introverted and unresponsive. 

He smiled a bit as he watched her disappear into the house with Lizzie. Thats the Bethy he knew and loved so well. Smiling and laughing, her warm brown eyes shining with excitement of things to come. This is what she needs, he thought to be around the gang again. He nodded to himself and walked over to join his good friends congregated on the porch relaxing and chatting. finally home again, surrounded by family.