Title: Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot, Part I
Fandom: Led Zeppelin
Characters: Peter Grant, Robert and Maureen Plant, John Bonham, John Paul & Mo Jones, Jimmy Page, Summer Davis
Word Count: 7429
Rating: R [nudity, language, adult situations, alcohol and drug use]
Warnings/Spoilers/Summary: Peter Grant hosts a his annual New Years Eve party, where naturally all of the band is invited. Oh and by the way, it's New Years Even 1976, the very same year Summer spends Christmas with Jimmy. Can booze, drugs, and merriment diffuse the tension?

Part II is not anywhere near being done. I hope to get it cranked out tomorrow, as a Happy New Year to all of you. I thought the least I could do is let you party with the band tonight. ;)



It had been three days since he spoke with Jimmy. His phone had rung a few times, but never had it been Summer. Had she decided that he was unworthy of her love – something he currently could not argue against? Or had Jimmy kept her from calling him? Had Jimmy even informed the girl that he called? He should call again. It had been three days, long enough for him to call again.

Once more sequestering himself in the guest room, Robert locked the door and then sat on the bed. His blue eyes focused on the telephone as he struggled to find the courage to pick it up. He just needed to speak with her, then everything would be fine. Worry could leave his mind and once more he could make plans to be with her. He just needed to talk with her.

And be assured she wasn’t fucking Jimmy.

With that thought in mind, Robert snatched up the phone. His finger quickly mashed the numbers to Jimmy’s London townhouse. He let it ring twice before hanging up. What was he doing? She clearly didn’t want him anymore. She chose Jimmy. She didn’t want him anymore.



Laying nude on a dark black velvet chaise, Summer idly dangled her leg off the edge. Shaking his head as he entered the room, Jimmy paused beside her, leaned down and kissed her mouth gently. She smiled as he scooted her over slightly so he could sit beside her. His pointer finger traced around each nipple thrice, finding pleasure in her kitten purr.

“Jimmy,” she breathed, sapphire eyes going to his, “when do I get to see the painting?”

“When it’s done,” he responded before kissing her again.

Grudgingly getting up, Jimmy darted behind the blank canvas. For the past two days he had been “painting” the pretty girl. Only he had yet to actually mark the canvas with anything. After hearing about his brief stint in art school from his mother, Summer had insisted he paint her. He only relented when she proclaimed she would pose for him nude. And so there they were, two days later, Summer posing nude, Jimmy not painting. Really he only managed about thirty minutes of this before pulling out his camera or plying her with champagne for other activities. Within two hours he was tasting her love, their lovemaking lasting hours. He completely understood Robert’s constant lust for the little woman. He never wished to be satiated himself. And it was lovemaking, not just sex, something foreign to Jimmy. As he stood there, gazing at her nubile body, paintbrush in hand, he knew she bewitched him forever.

“Still can’t decide what color I am?” she teased, rolling onto her side.

“I... no. I don’t think a color as beautiful as you has ever been invented,” he declared.

Summer grinned, “Then you can invent it, Jimmy.”

“I—”

His response was interrupted by the phone ringing. Summer remained where she was while Jimmy set aside his paintbrush in order to answer it. After the second ring, it rang no more.

“Huh,” he remarked, moving to sit on the chaise, his fingers going to massage her legs.

“Someone’s afraid to talk to you, Jimmy,” she winked.

“As well they should be. Interrupting my time with my princess is tantamount to declaring war,” he stated seriously.

“Oh really now?”

He nodded once.

“Hmmm,” she held his eyes, “if I’m your princess, does that mean what I say goes?”

Jimmy considered it for only a moment, “Yes.”

“Play your guitar for me, kind sir,” she requested, “and I will grant you... a kiss to change your life.”

“As you wish, milady,” he responded.

After Jimmy left the room to fetch his guitar, Summer got to her feet and pulled a short satin robe on, tying it tightly about her waist. The nearby phone rang again. With little thought as she often answered the telephone at the Joneses’, she reached for it midway through the second ring.

“Summer?”

For a moment her heart stopped, but she took a deep breath and replied, “Well hello, Peter. How was your Christmas?”

“Wonderful. Yours?”

“Jimmy has treated me like such a princess. I don’t believe I am going to give him back to you,” she proclaimed, sitting back down.

He chuckled, “Oh really now?”

“Definitely.”

“Well can I at least have a final good-bye?”

She sighed playfully, “I guess so. Hold on and let him put on pants.”

Peter laughed, “Pants not necessary. It is only a phone call.”

Jimmy entered the room at that precise moment, just as fully clothed as he had been when he left the room. His eyes instantly widened upon seeing Summer on the phone. Quickly discarding his acoustic on the chaise, he crossed the room. With a sweet smile, Summer held the phone out to him.

“Your partner is on the phone. I told him it was over between you two but he wouldn’t listen to me. Tell him you only play for me. Tell him you’re mine,” she declared.

Eyes focusing on hers, her words rang in his head. But he certainly believed they were true. He would do anything she asked and Jimmy gave that kind of power and control tono one. He did belong to Summer body, soul, and heart. He would tell his partner – whom he hoped was Robert suddenly – that it was all over, that he was going to spend the rest of his days with Summer. He accepted the phone completely intending to declare it.

“Summer’s right,” Jimmy muttered.

“Hello to you too, Pagey.”

“Peter?”

“So I suppose this new life plan does not include bringing your princess to my New Years party?”

He looked to Summer, “It depends on what she wants to do New Years Eve.”

“Ooooooh!” Summer chirped. “Is Peter having a party? Are we going?”

Jimmy smirked, “We’ll be there.”



Pulling up in front of Robert’s house, Bonzo laid on the horn. Animals in nearby pastures lifted their heads but quickly decided to ignore the drummer. As no one had yet to even glance out the windows, Bonzo turned the hot rod off and climbed out. Pausing as he passed the hood, he wiped the left head lamp with a handkerchief and continued to the door. While he did knock, Bonzo didn’t wait for anyone to answer, but merely pushed the door open and strolled on in. As it would take a normal person around three hours to get from Robert’s Welsh estate to Peter’s house outside London, Bonzo had arrived to pick up the singer around seven o’clock, whether or not Robert thought he was going or not. It was time to break the singer out of his depression and that required him being whisked away from his family for a night of debauchery.

Pausing long enough to hear the sound of children, Bonzo headed towards the back of the house. Finding Maureen and the children there, he informed them he was taking Robert for the night and was promptly directed to the guest room Robert was currently holed up in. He knocked but received no answer. As the door was locked there really was only one solution to the issue: Bonzo threw his shoulder against the door, breaking it open. The singer’s eyes quickly flicked to the door and he scowled.

“What in bloody hell are you—”

“Get yer arse up, Percy,” he demanded. “We’re going to a party.”

“I’m not—”

“No choice in the matter,” he yanked his friend up. “But you do need to fucking shower. You have twenty minutes before I haul your arse out to the car, no matter what state you’re in.”

Knowing he could not fight Bonzo off, especially as he had that special gleam in his eyes, Robert sighed and shuffled out of the room, one last melancholic glance at the non-ringing phone. He lead the drummer back to his bedroom suite, one that he supposedly shared with Maureen. Bonzo headed directly to the closet to choose Robert’s attire as the blond singer headed to the shower. Opening the closet and ignoring Maureen’s clothing, he stepped in and looked over Robert’s garments. By the time he chose from Robert’s more fashionable attire, the singer stepped out of the bathroom, towel about his waist. Bonzo nodded once and held out the clothes.

“You got five minutes,” he declared.

“Bonzo, I don’t want—”

“And I don’t care,” he retorted. “Yer going. No choice at all. Ye need ta git out of this funk.”

“But, Bonzo, she hasn’t ca—”

“Git dressed. Now.”

Within few minutes, after Bonzo informed Maureen he was keeping Robert all night and likely all day the following day, the two men climbed into Bonzo’s sports car and headed towards London. For a long while neither spoke, Robert brooding on the very fact he had been forced into the car as it were, Bonzo focusing on speeding down the road. But the drummer could not handle the silence for more than twenty minutes before he reached over and punched Robert’s shoulder.

“Did ye call her?”

Robert sighed, rubbing his shoulder, “Yes. She’s with Jimmy.”

“Huh. Okay. And what did you two talk about?”

“I didn’t.”

“What? Why?”

Robert frowned, “She never called me back.”

Bonzo remained silent for a moment, “Mebbe she didn’t know she was supposed to, Percy. She wouldn’t not call you. She lurves you.”

He shrugged, looking out the window, “I don’t deserve her. That is very much clear now.”

“Oh fuck that, Percy. The two of you are perfect together. Ye just need to git yer head out of yer arse and do something about it,” he responded. “Starting tonight. Yer gonna pull yerself out of yer dark hole and conquer her again. I know ye can.”

“But—”

“Nope. Yer gonna do it, Percy. And I’m gonna help ye. Git the flask out of the glove compartment and we’ll git working on yer courage right now.”



Crossing her legs, Summer adjusted the cherry red silk chiffon skirt. A red polished toe peeked out her black velvet stilettos. Her heavy kohl-lined eyes glanced to the stairs, wondering how many more glasses of champagne she was to drink before Jimmy would be ready to go to the party. She brushed a soft curl from her shoulder and leaned back in the chair, casually adjusting the neckline of the dress, making certain it covered her breasts. Sighing her eyes drifted to the Christmas tree still standing with the shiny ornaments winking at her. Just gazing at the tree that had only been there for a week filled her with warmth and happiness. While Robert had certainly loved her, something she would never, ever doubt, though she did wonder how he felt about her now, hehad loved her though, the way Jimmy treated her was far different. He seemed to center his world around her. He had blown off so many people in the week and a half she had been there, just to be with her. And despite the fact she felt he still kept something from her, Summer also believed Jimmy had let her in far more than any other had before. He made her feel more special than anyone ever had before and that wasn’t because of the diamonds she wore now or the other things he had bestowed upon her. Jimmy just treated her differently than anyone else ever had. And he spent far more time getting ready than she had.

The sound of an acoustic guitar being strummed perked her attention. Sitting up straight in the chair, her blue eyes cast around, looking for Jimmy and his guitar. A smile curved her ruby lips as he entered the room, strumming his guitar. He wore all black, a silk black collared shirt peeking out of a black jacket, topping black slacks. A fashionable scarf looped around his neck, black with shiny red stripes shooting through it. Before Summer could comment on how perfectly they matched, Jimmy opened his mouth to sing, something she could never recall him doing before.

“She's got everything she needs, She's an artist, she don't look back. She's got everything she needs, She's an artist, she don't look back. She can take the dark out of the nighttime and paint the daytime black,” he sang, eyes locking with hers.

Oh she knew the song, knew it from the melody alone. While she found it odd that he would choose a Bob Dylan song of all people to sing to her, she found herself oddly delighted by his little performance. Perhaps because of the rarity or perhaps the meaning of “She Belongs to Me” touched her, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was as soon as he played the last note, she jumped up, threw her arms around him, and kissed his mouth.

“Does this mean we’re going to go to the party now?” she asked, arms still looped around him.

“Hmmmm,” his eyes looked into hers, “it would be a shame to not show the world how beautiful you are tonight. So I suppose we shall.”

Summer shook her head and kissed him again, “Why that song, Jimmy?”

He winked, “Because of something I have for you.”

“Oh Jimmy, you really need to stop—”

He kissed her to interrupt her words. Extricating himself from her, he set his guitar down and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. Pulling out a small box, Summer’s breath caught in her throat, knowing quite well what ring boxes looked like now. Shaking her head, she stepped away from him, not at all ready for whatever the box contained. Even if she thought Jimmy was wonderful to her, she didn’t think it warranted that.

“Princess?” he looked at her in concern as she retreated.

“No no, Jimmy. No rings.”

His eyes fell on the box in his hand, “But, baby, this one calls for you.”

“No rings.”

He looked back at her face, seeing clear panic reflected in her sapphire eyes, “Summer, princess, it is only a ring, a gift from me to you. No strings attached.”

“Rings always have strings attached.”

“Not this one. I promise you.”

“No, Jimmy. You cannot keep spending your money on me like this. I won’t—”

“What good is all my wealth if I don’t have someone to share it with? I promise this is the last for awhile,” he held the box out. “Please.”

“Jimmy, I—”

“Please.”

Sighing she stepped forward and accepted the small box. Cracking it open her eyes went to the golden ring nestled inside. A large, oval-shaped white gem sparkled, flanked by two deep blue sapphires. The setting was reminiscent of a lotus flower, no doubt the reason Jimmy had sung of a song including lyrics about an Egyptian ring. Though she wanted it not, after all she had only stopped wearing Robert’s ring a week prior, it was very beautiful. He had assured her that no strings were attached to it, that it was a mere piece of jewelry. Choosing to trust his word, she plucked the ring out, letting him take the box from her hand again. Testing her fingers, she found it fit her middle finger on her right hand best and oh how it sparkled.

“See,” he tossed the box on the couch, reaching for her hand, “it was made just for you.”

Her eyes rose to meet his again, “Jimmy, this is just a ring, nothing more.”

“I agree,” he responded, lifting her hand and kissing the ring. “Shall we head to the party now, my princess?”



Though he had not been his usual social self upon arriving at Peter’s party, Bonzo had kept the liquor in Robert’s glass always full, slowly changing his interactions with people around him. A few snorts of the circulating white powder and Robert was nearly back to his normal, chatty self. So much so he had nearly forgotten about Summer and was about to accept the offer of some girl to alleviate his sexual frustration. But everything changed the moment he saw her across the room. His heart completely halted, his tongue failed to utter any words. Even if she hadn’t been his One, Robert would not have been able to look away from the beautiful girl for a moment. She wore a one shoulder asymmetrical dress with a Flamenco style ruffled border along the neckline and skirt hem. The soft silk fabric clung to her curves, swaying gently as she moved through the partygoers, apparently seeking someone out. Snapping his gaze away from the red dress, he looked to her face, hoping to catch her eyes from across the room. Her lips were a glossy red, her eyes rimmed with dark black. Her long blonde tresses, darker than he remembered, had been pulled from her face in a messy array of big curls. A glittering tiara of sorts seemed to be holding back those very curls, the sparkle of which drew his attention to the diamond necklace shimmering about her throat. Though she was beautiful, regal even, Robert found it odd that she would wear such things. He never thought Summer to be the kind of girl who would care for such things. Is that how he went wrong?

Just before he was certain their eyes would meet, John Paul stepped up to her, cutting off Robert’s view of the young girl and her of him. Frustrated he began to get up, intending to interrupt whatever and sweep her away. However Bonzo approached him, slipped another drink into his hand, and told Robert to sit back down. He wanted nothing to do with what the drummer said, would much rather go through with his initial plan, though it was ever so sketchy. But Bonzo did not back down, practically pushed Robert back onto the couch.

“But she’s—”

“Right, mate. I know,” he nodded, taking a long drink from his beer. “But you see, yer gonna stay right here and I’m gonna go git her in a bit. Yer not going ta carry her off ta yer cave just yet, Percy.”



“Beautiful,” John Paul commented as he embraced Summer. “Now I don’t feel quite so bad about Jimmy taking you away from us. For awhile I was a bit concerned that he would not take care of you properly. But I can see that is not the case. You are radiant, my dear.”

“Thank you,” she flushed slightly. “You are rather dapper looking tonight yourself, John. I trust you didn’t come alone. Where is Mo?”

“Sadly without our favorite nanny around for the girls...”

“No!” she gasped, covering her ruby lips with the hand bejeweled with the ring.

John Paul instantly reached for her hand, “What is this?”

Summer pulled her hand free, “Just a ring, nothing more.”

He eyed her warily, “Summer.”

“It is. I swear it is. Ask Jimmy!”

“Oh I most certainly will,” John Paul replied, releasing her hand. “And anyways, Mo is here. Her parents are watching the girls for the night. She is just – oh here she is.”

“Summer!” the older woman grinned as she approached her husband and the young woman. “Don’t you look quite the princess tonight?”

“Thank you,” she flushed again, glancing at Mo’s deep blue dress. “You look smashing tonight, Mo.”

“Why thank you. Where has your dashing date gotten off to?” she questioned.

“I... I don’t know. He didn’t say anything but kissed my cheek and walked away.”

“Typical Jimmy,” Mo shook her head. “Let’s get you a drink.”

“Already taken care of,” Jimmy declared as he joined the three, holding out a glass of bubbly champagne to Summer before kissing her cheek again.

“Thank you,” her eyes went up to his and she pushed up further on her toes to kiss him.

Jimmy didn’t hesitate to loop his arms around her, deepening what was likely to be a chaste kiss. Squeaking some, she wrapped her arms around his neck, Mo barely grabbing the glass of champagne from her hand to keep it from splashing all over Peter’s slate floor. Summer’s right foot kicked up, lifting her skirt slightly as she was consumed by the kiss. Pulling out of it finally, she accepted a cocktail napkin from John Paul and wiped Jimmy’s mouth, removing the red gloss.

“So I can see the two of you are getting along well,” John Paul stated wryly.

Jimmy kept one arm around Summer’s waist as she pivoted away and accepted her glass from Mo again, “You can say that.”

“Summer,” Mo held out her hand, “why don’t you come with me for a bit? Leave the men to their manly conversations.”

“I—”

“I insist,” she grabbed the young woman’s wrist.


“I’ll be back,” her eyes met Jimmy’s.

He nodded once, slipping her glass from her fingers as Mo tugged her away, “I shall miss you.”

As he had been heading towards Summer, Bonzo halted when Jimmy joined the three, waiting to see how things played out. His eyes widened as he watched the bejeweled girl kiss Jimmy, practically feeling the heat from the pair the meters away he was. This clearly complicated matters, but as he noticed Jimmy kept a glass of champagne in the girl’s hand, perhaps it wasn’t as dire as he was thinking. As he watched Mo pull the girl away, Bonzo figured that was his moment to whisk her away himself or speak with Jimmy about the nature of their relationship. Or maybe to down another drink and wait it out a bit longer. While the last option was the most appealing, the first was the most practical, and so he trailed after Summer and Mo.

Just as he rounded the corner where the older woman had lead the golden girl, he halted, just in time to hear Mo ask Summer if she was using protection.

The blond looked to her feet, “Jimmy says—”

“I don’t care what Jimmy says. You need to be responsible, Summer. Do not let him touch you without—”

“But Jimmy and I aren’t like that,” she insisted.

“Bullshit, Summer. I knew the moment he came over to you that the two of you are fucking,” Mo argued. “Jimmy doesn’t look at anyone like he does you that he’s not sha—”

“Summer!” Bonzo interjected, spreading his arms to embrace her. “I have been looking all over for you, sweet pea.”

“Bonzo!” she quickly leaped into his arms, ecstatic for the interruption.

“Hey there, sweet pea,” he kissed her cheek loudly, twirling her about. “I have missed you!”

“I’ve missed you too! But you know, Bonzo, it’s not like I’ve been that far away. You could have come and see me at any time,” she declared.

“Well I went by Jonesy’s the other day and you weren’t there,” he frowned deeply.

Her eyes looked into his, “You did?”

He nodded, glancing to Mo, “So don’t tell me I could visit you any time.”

“Well I’ve been with Jimmy the past week or so,” she responded softly. “I’m sorry, Bonzo.”

“Well then, sweet pea, you’re going to have to spend some time with me tonight. That okay with you Mama Mo?”

“Bonzo, I—”

“Fabulous. I’ll have her back to... whoever in awhile,” he proclaimed, still holding the girl off the ground.

“Are you seriously going to carry m—”

“Nah,” he finally let her heels touch the ground again. “Unless you refuse to go with me.”

She nearly argued that she needed to at least tell Jimmy where she was going or who she was going to be with, but instead she kept quiet. He folded his hand over hers, tugging her away from Mo. Weaving through the party goers to the table of food, Bonzo made a very circuitous route back over to the couch where Robert sat. He casually picked up a plate and filled it with random treats before grabbing Summer’s hand and leading her to that very couch to sit.

“Oh, hello, Robert. Fancy meeting you here,” Bonzo remarked, feeling Summer’s hand slip out of his as she stopped.

“Summer,” Robert breathed, slowly getting to his feet.

Her eyes locked with his. Her body completely tense in an internal battle of fight or flight. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him until they needed to breathe. Part of her wanted to scream at him for making her feel like nothing, for abandoning her, for making her believe that his love was fake. Part of her wanted to merely slap him and run back to Jimmy, hiding behind the dark guitarist. But as she looked at the golden man who wore a powder blue silk shirt, half-unbuttoned, underneath a navy blue jacket, she found herself unable to think, to act, to speak. All she could do was stare at him.

“Baby, I...”

“No,” she managed to mutter. “No baby.”

He reached for her, “Summer, you look... you look amazing.”

Across the room, Jimmy instantly tensed, his eyes finally finding his absent princess through the thick of the party crowd. He downed her glass of champagne still clutched in his hand, absently setting it on some random sculpture, and stepped towards the living room, intending on interceding the conversation between his Summer and Robert. But before he could take two steps, John Paul stepped in his way and immediately directed his attention to Peter gesturing to him from the other room. His dark gray eyes darted between the pretty girl and the burly manager.

“Jimmy,” John Paul warned, “let her ha—”

“Oh bugger off,” he shrugged off the bassist’s hand on his arm, but turned and stalked into the other room.

“Summer, can we maybe... maybe go some place to talk?” Robert asked softly.

“Here is fine,” she responded, folding her arms across her chest.

Bonzo collapsed in the center of the couch, “Nope. No room.”

“Bonzo,” she sighed.

“Please,” the singer breathed.

“Fine,” Summer responded, sending a quick glare to Bonzo before turning and looking around for some safe place for the two of them to talk.

She headed towards a corner that looked fairly ignored. As she passed the door to the outside patio, Robert’s hand reached for hers. His other hand reached for the door handle and he pulled the young blond outside. Without even a thought, he removed his navy blue jacket and looped it over her shoulders before guiding her to a patio chair. For a moment Summer refused to sit, but his pleading eyes begged her to acquiesce.

“Baby, I don’t know where to start.”

“By not calling me baby,” she retorted. “You gave that up a long time ago.”

Robert sighed, reaching for her hands. At first Summer evaded his grasp, but finally relented. His eyes went to hers once they touched, but only briefly. Glancing back down at her hands, he noticed the slight ring imprint on her left hand, where his ring used to be, before focusing on the sparkling ring now decorating her right hand. He had no doubt that Jimmy had gifted her with it. It made him insanely jealous, but he also couldn’t really fault Summer. He had disappeared from her life without a word and then appeared later with his wife on his arm. He could only imagine how much that hurt her and was likely the leading cause as to why she had chosen to re-appear in his life on Jimmy’s arm. But he could not fault her. It was all his fault. He knew that.

“I wish there were proper words for me to convey how very sorry I am, Summer,” he ventured to look up to her eyes. “I have been a massive wanker and there really is no excuse for it. I am sure you thought... you thought I left you, that I—”

“Abandoned me again? After promising me the last time it would never, ever happen again? I don’t think you have any idea what you’ve done to me, Mr. Plant. I gave up my entire life for you nearly two years ago. My entire life. And you keep fucking around with me. I shouldn’t even give you the fucking time of day,” she seethed.

“I understand that, Summer. And I wish there was something I could say to take away all of your pain. I wish there was some way I could undo all the harm that I did. I wish... dammit, Summer, I love you. I love you more than I can ever, ever tell you. I love you more than... I love you more than everything you can name.”

“Than your wife?”

He flinched slightly at the acidity of her tone, “Far more than my wife.”

“Why are you with her and not me then?”

“Because I am a coward,” Robert responded instantly. “Because every time I try and break up with her, she throws something back in my face. But mostly because I am a coward.”

Her angry eyes looked into his, “Why the fuck should I spend another moment of time or affection on you if you cannot even respect me enough to be with me only?”

He sighed, “I love you, Summer. But I can’t just sever ties with Maureen easily. We have kids together.”

“We almost had a kid together,” she retorted, making him flinch again.

“Baby, Summer, I want to be with you. I will be with you. You just have to give me a chance.”

“Give you a chance? Give you a fucking chance? Why the fuck would I do that? I have been in this bloody country long enough to lose my tan and pick up a slight accent. And where the fuck have you been? Certainly not with me. You never even fucking called me,” Summer argued.

“You... I called a few days ago.”

She didn’t even pause to think about his statement, “I’ve been here for months, Mr. Plant. Months. And you haven’t done a bloody thing about it.”

“Baby, Summer, please just...” he dropped his hands and head in defeat.

“Just what?”

He tentatively lifted his eyes to hers, “Do you love me?”

“With all my heart,” Summer responded. “But I love me more than enough to deal with your treatm—”

His eyes dropped down to her hands before he interjected, “When did you stop wearing my ring?”

“When you stopped caring.”

“I never stopped caring.”

“Bullshit.”

“Summer, what would it take for you to believe me?”

Her eyes wavered slightly when he once more looked to hers. She could not answer that question, at all. She didn’t think it was possible to believe him any more. Believing him would once more open her up to such great hurt that it wasn’t worth it at all, especially since Jimmy had taken such good care of her in the past week. She could not be fooled again into loving Robert, letting him into her life like he had been before. She just could not do that.

“I don’t know that I can,” she finally stated.

“But you love me.”

“That has never waned or faded and clearly never effected how you feel about me, treat me,” she argued. 

“I love you, Summer. I need you with me. I need to be with you. I am nothing without you. Hell even my daughter noticed how sad I have been without you,” Robert proclaimed. “Please, baby, give me another chance.”

“I don’t know that I can,” she repeated.

Robert lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, “Please, baby. Please.”

“Robert, I...”

“Please,” he muttered again, his tears dripping onto her fingers.

Feeling his tears, her heart jumped into her throat. She had brought him to tears. She never wanted that, never ever wanted that. His tears were not something frequent, but she had experienced them a few times before. And to know she was the cause behind them or at least connected to the cause made her heart ache. She needed to save her resolve though, to remain strong, to not cave in to him. Just because he was pleading and crying did not mean...

“Look at me,” she requested softly.

His teary eyes slowly rose to meet hers. As she searched his blue orbs, Robert fully unveiled his emotions to her. She held the gaze for a long moment, ever aware that his cheeks continued to become streaked with his emotions. Pulling her fingers free from his, she reached up and wiped away the moisture with her thumbs as her hands surrounded his face. His pain was so palpable, something she could wipe away, something she could identify with. And it was in her power to take away his and her pain. With that realization, Summer quickly came to the decision. Leaning forward as she wiped more tears with her thumbs, her ruby red lips gently touched his. The familiar spark that lit her soul quickly engulfed her heart with their simple kiss. As much as she didn’t want to give in to Robert, Summer realized she could do nothing else. And that kiss declared such loudly.

Pulling out of the chaste kiss, Summer’s eyes went to his, “I swear to you now, if you hurt me again, I will—”

“I won’t. I promise you. I won’t.”

Her hands remained surrounding his face, “I am only giving you another chance, Robert, because I love you. But—”

“I’m not going to blow it. Starting right now,” he proclaimed, looping his arms around her, pulling her into his lap.

Summer’s hands dropped to his chest, pushing herself out of his lap, “No. I came with Jimmy. I will leave with Jimmy. This is merely me saying you have another chance, not that I am ready to just pick up where we left off.”

His eyes darkened at her mention of the guitarist’s name, “Why Jimmy? Why the fuck are you with Jimmy?”

She quickly moved out of his reach, getting to her feet, “You don’t get to have an attitude about him, Robert. He has been doing all the things that you should have been doing. Don’t you dare—”

“Everything I should have been doing?”

Her eyes quickly narrowed, “You just blew your chance, Mr. Plant.”

He jumped to his feet, cutting off her dart to the door as she threw his coat to the ground. Positioned between her and the door, Robert swooped in and kissed her glossy red lips. Her hands went to his chest, attempting to push him away. He did not relent, did not let up on the kiss. The longer he held her, the less Summer was able to resist him. He pulled slightly back from the kiss, his arms still around her waist, and looked down at her eyes. Summer looked up, meeting his gaze. He didn’t hesitate to dip down and kiss her once more. Again he was met with resistance, but she soon melted into his arms, her lips parting. His tongue tasted hers ever so briefly before he pulled out of the kiss.

“I’m not going to leave with you, Robert,” she muttered. “I am not leaving Jimmy alone. And besides where would you take me? Home with your wife? Remember that she told me to never set foot anywhere near your home after I visited her and the kids after the accident? I came with Jimmy. I will leave with Jimmy.”

“I... okay,” he gave in, seeing no other option in her description as it were.

“Good. I’m going back to Jimmy now,” she proclaimed, but kissed him quickly again. “You should wipe the lipstick off your mouth.”

Releasing her, he smirked and muttered, “I love you, Summer.”

“We’ll see about that,” she replied and re-entered the house.

A few steps into the house, Bonzo pounced on her. He pulled her aside, turning her towards a mirror to fix her appearance, and whispered in her ear. She smiled while the drummer talked about how beautiful she was, how much more beautiful she was with Robert’s love. Leaning back on his chest once the smudged makeup was corrected, she tilted her head back onto his shoulder to look into his eyes.

“You did this, didn’t you?”

“Ye belong wit him, sweet pea,” he declared softly. “I know ye’s been missing him fer a long time now. He’s been missing ye too.”

“Then why didn’t he—”

“Because he’s stupid, that’s why,” Bonzo interrupted. “Ye belong wit him, Summer.”

“I don’t know that anymore,” she responded. “And besides I’m with Jimmy now.”

“No, ye ain’t. Yer wit me,” he grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist. “And I’s not goina let ye go.”

“I beg to differ,” a steady soft voice interrupted.

Summer quickly pulled out of the drummer’s arms. Without a word, her arms slipped around the one whose words released her from Bonzo. She didn’t even pause before pressing her lips to his, her fingers digging into his dark curls. His right arm snaked around her waist, holding her close as her tongue invaded his mouth. His left hand slipped between them, found the edge of her dress, and began to tug the fabric down, intending to expose that breast to his caress.

Pulling out of the kiss quickly, her right hand dropped down and covered his wandering hand, “Not in front of everyone, Jimmy.”

“But, Princess, I—”

“Not in front of everyone,” she repeated. “Where’s my champagne, Jimmy?”



Sitting on the couch once more, drink in hand, Robert watched Summer dance. She sparkled and giggled and he felt happier than he had in months, just being in her presence. He could nearly forget the fact that Jimmy joined her dancing every now and then. Perhaps forget was not the best choice of word, forgive was better. She looked happy and radiant and he was certain he would think so even if he hadn’t been drinking for hours.

“Ye better git yer arse over there,” Bonzo said, pushing Robert’s shoulder.

“Why?”

“Because it’s almost midnight,” he said. “Go git her.”

“She’s with Jimmy,” Robert argued.

“Go git her,” he repeated.

Giving in, likely because of the alcohol and drugs coursing through his veins making him far more impressionable than normal, Robert got to his feet. Taking a moment to find his balance, he headed over to where Summer and other partygoers were dancing. As he neared her in the crowd, the music stopped while the catering staff bustled about trying to get a glass of champagne in everyone’s hand. Accepting a glass, he moved closer to Summer, his eyes briefly meeting Jimmy’s as he nudged her from behind. The blond girl turned, threw her arms around him, and kissed his cheek. He hadn’t the chance to capture her in his arms before she pulled back and accepted a flute of bubbly from Jimmy. The young woman was stationed between the two, Jimmy on her right, Robert on her left. The men seemed to be staring each other down, challenging the other to reach for Summer at the stroke of midnight. Though not oblivious, Summer chose to ignore their antics, and instead bubbled about how 1977 was going to be a better year than 1976 was. Quickly the girl was caught up in the excitement of the final minutes of 1976, practically jumping up and down.

“Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!” the crowd counted down.

The moment fireworks went off and balloons and confetti rained down from Peter’s ceiling, both men pounced on Summer. She leaned back in just the right moment, making Jimmy and Robert kiss each other instead of her. Giggling as the two men scowled, she quickly kissed each of them, leaving red marks on both of their mouths. She barely finished her glass of champagne before Bonzo came barreling through the crowd and scooped her up, twirling her about. When he set her down, her stiletto heel popped a ballon and she stumbled backwards into Jimmy’s arms.

“Where’s Jonesy? I need to wish him happy new year too!” Summer proclaimed, leaning on Jimmy.

Seeing the bassist and his wife across the room, Summer slipped one hand into Jimmy’s and the other into Robert’s. With a tug, she headed towards the Joneses, Bonzo close behind. Only releasing Jimmy and Robert to embrace John Paul and then Mo, Summer giggled when yet another glass of champagne was offered to the group. Surprisingly the girl shook her head at the offer, though everyone else accepted champagne. Bonzo quickly down his glass and picked up Summer again, breaking her contact with the singer and guitarist, and carried her bodily back to the dance floor with a proclamation that he got her first dance of the year.

An hour later, the young woman sat on the couch between Robert and Jimmy. The rest of the band and Peter were also sitting nearby, drunkenly making some sort of world domination plans. Having refused any drink after midnight except water, Summer had already come down from her giggly high. Because of this, her head leaned on Jimmy’s shoulder, her shoes removed and her feet nestled in Robert’s lap. The singer idly rubbed her dainty feet while he attempted to remain a part of the conversation.

Instead Robert was replaying the night’s events in his head. He had arrived full of so much angst but now he sat around, sharing Summer with Jimmy. While he was still jealous the guitarist was getting any of her attention at all, he also found himself oddly all right with it, but maybe that was the drugs and alcohol; he wasn’t sure. Maybe there was some peace in knowing she was not as far away as he thought, that she did want him in her life. Maybe he needed to stop thinking things over and just accept how they were currently.

“Jimmy?” Summer spoke up when a lull in the conversation allowed her soft voice to be heard.

“Yes, Princess,” his dark eyes went to hers, his fingers playing with her soft curls.

“Can we go home now?”

“Why, baby?”

She sighed, “I’m tired and I’m ready to go home.”

Robert tensed at her statement. She wanted to go home with Jimmy. He knew there was no place he could take her, other than some hotel, but her statement didn’t make him feel any better about it.

“All right,” Jimmy agreed, shifting on the couch to help her up before getting up himself.

“And Robert’s coming with us,” Summer declared.

For a moment Jimmy merely held her eyes. He could not believe that she would tell him that Robert, of all people, was coming home with them. While he understood that she and the singer had mended fences or something along that line, that did not mean he had to invite the lion into his den. But as Jimmy looked at Summer, he knew he could not tell her no, did not have it in his heart to tell her no. If she wanted to bring Robert home with them, they would do so. He only hoped she didn’t ask him to allow her to sleep with Robert that night...