Title: Almost Famous: The Huddle

Rating: R [language, drinking]

Word Count: 1060

Characters: Cameron, Summer, Will Crowe, Hayley Plant, and James Page, Jr, Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, Stone Gossard

Author's Note: This series is based on Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous. As the movie is autobiographical in nature, this series will gleam stories from the movies, based on real-life events and translate them into the world of DiF's epics. This one has a touch of Midnight Shift and Angels in a Cage. Completely canon with the epic and WILL contain MAJOR spoilers.

Summary: Cameron takes James to Lollapalooza.

Still high off the Singles premiere party, even if he had not been allowed to stay long, Jamie bolted out of bed at the crack of dawn.  The thirteen-year-old boy hurried down the steps, past his brother and sister’s rooms.  He skid across the kitchen tiles in his sock feet, practically colliding with the refrigerator.  Both Hayley and Will broke into giggles.

“Good morning, Jamie,” Summer spoke up, glancing over at the teenager a moment before he attempted to drink from the orange juice carton.

He stopped short of drinking from the carton, “Oh, hi, Mom.”

“Too excited to put on pants this morning?” she remarked, turning her attention back to the nearly-two-year old Will who was fighting her over breakfast.

His blue eyes glanced down at his dark blue boxers and he flushed slightly, “I guess.  Was the party rad last night?”

Summer looked over at him, “It was.  Both Pearl Jam and Soundgarden put on quite the show.  You’ll have to ask your dad when he gets up for more though.”

“How come?  Why’s he still in bed?” he lifted the carton to his lips again, apparently forgetting that he had just pulled a glass from the cupboard.

“James,” she warned, stopping his actions. “It was Cameron’s party.  He was more wrapped up in it than I was.”

Jamie scowled before filling his glass with juice instead of drinking it directly, “Did you hang out with Chris and Eddie and… and… and…”

“Morning, Cam,” Summer chirped, getting up from the breakfast table to approach her husband. “Did we wake you?”

He kissed her softly, “No, not really.  Besides, Jamie and I have to get going soon in order to be there before the bands start.”

She pulled away, “At least let me make the two of you breakfast first.  Oh and coffee is already brewing.”

Cameron pulled her back to him again and kissed her lips briefly, “You’re amazing.”

Within the hour, Cameron and Jamie loaded up in the small family car and headed down to Irvine.  Though he had been allowed to hang out with the band some at the movie release party the night before, the teenager was far more excited to be spending three days at the Lollapalooza concerts.  He still found it hard to believe that his parents allowed him to skip a day of school to do so, but he was not about to complain.  Sometimes it really was beneficial to have parents like Summer and Cameron.

They arrived at the venue and were ushered to park in the VIP section.  Jamie instantly began to get nervous and excited.  Even if he had spent time around the bands while Cameron filmed Singles, and even if he spent time with the bands the night before, he still could not believe he was going to hang out with them again.

“Hey, Dad?” he asked softly as Cameron led him back towards the bands.

“Yeah, bud,” he glanced at the teenager who fumbled with the backstage pass around his neck.

“Was this how you felt when you got to meet and hang out with your favorite bands?  Like Led Zeppelin?”

Glossing over the fact Jamie addressed Led Zeppelin as if he himself was not connected to the band at all, Cameron nodded, “I guess so.  Pretty excited?”

He nodded, “This is really awesome.”

He chuckled, “It’s not like this is your first time seeing Pearl Jam or Soundgarden play.”

“Well… I know, but still this is rad!” he exclaimed. “Thanks, Dad!”

Cameron glanced at his stepson, briefly thinking the boy was about to embrace him.  The boy just smiled.  They continued back to where the bands were hanging out.  Cameron shook hands with roadies as they passed until they reached Pearl Jam and Soundgarden.  Despite having Jamie with him, Cameron accepted a beer and fell into conversation with the musicians.

Without his dad paying much attention to him, Jamie wandered off.  He did not speak to anyone, but merely wandered around wide-eyed.  Even though he knew all the bands on the bill, and had met most of them before, he could not believe his fortune to be surrounded by all of them.  He watched the guys from Red Hot Chili Peppers smoke and play hacky sack before continuing on to see Ice Cube and Ice T arguing while drinking something from paper bags.  Slowly, Jamie made his way around the venue grounds, still not believing he could get anywhere just by showing his pass.

Eventually the teenager made it back to the main stage.  He began to worry some when he could not find Cameron.  While he wanted time to just absorb the scene himself, he did not want to lose his dad.  How would he get home?  What would Cameron tell his mom?

Seeing Chris, Jamie headed towards him, “Hey… uh…”

“Oh hey, dude,” Chris grinned. “How’s it going?”

“It’s cool, man.  It’s cool.”

“Good, good.  Uh…”

“Have you… seen my dad?” he asked awkwardly.

“Uh, yeah,” he smirked, motioning behind him. “He’s over with Ed.”

“Oh hey, thanks,” Jamie nodded and headed over to the other band.

Hanging back as he was unsure of himself, Jamie watched as the band circled into a huddle.  His eyes widened as Eddie broke the huddle and pulled Cameron into it.  Noticing the teenager, Stone did the same, pulling Jamie into the huddle.  Shocked he was included, he tried to mumble along with whatever they were saying.  He was in the Pearl Jam huddle.  He was.

The band broke the huddle and headed up to the stage.  Jamie stood there for a long moment, trying to process what had just happened.  A moment later, as the first song began, Cameron slapped his shoulder, bringing him back to the moment.

“Hey, let’s go watch the show, Jamie,” he stated.

Jamie grinned happily, “This is the best, Dad.  Thanks.”

With a smile, Cameron led his son towards the stage.  They stood in the wings, so very close to the action.  Chris joined them, intending to sing backing vocals on a couple of songs.  Jamie’s blue eyes flicked from the stage to the Soundgarden singer to his father.

It was the best night of his life… and the first of three Lollapalooza shows.  Nothing would ever be better than that.  He was certain of it.