Chapter Text
Blake and Gwen sit on the couch and enjoy a slow evening. Just them two. He cradles her hair and breathes in her scent.
"Did I ever tell you that marryin' you, was the smartest thing I ever did?"
"Blakey, that's so sweet."
"I mean it."
"I mean, I feel the same but how come you're so emotional today?"
"Having had my last The Voice recording yesterday really brought up some memories, I guess. Having spent almost 10 years on that Set, I just remembered what that Show has given me. You were the first thing that came to mind. It's crazy to think we first met 5 years ago. It's still crazy to me you ever talked to me in the first place. I was such an asshole and you were that wonderful person that you are."
"You were the only bright light in my life during that time. And you continue to bring me light every day, Cowboy."
Gwen starts crying. Asking herself how she deserved to have such a caring human being by her side.
"You and the boys, you guys are the best thing I got out of that show, by far. It destroyed my life first to afterwards show me how beautiful it can be again."
"And now you're our Cowboy and we get to live our simple kind of life that we dreamed about."
"I just hate that we didn't meet sooner. I could and would have wanted to be that person for you as early as possible."
"You needed time to grow first, I needed time to understand. God has his magical ways but you better believe he's there."
"I love you, pretty girl."
"I love you, too."
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"Blakey, I want to watch some old Videos. Like Youtube or something!"
"What do you mean?"
"Music Videos. I want to watch your work. Show me something we haven't watched yet."
"Believe me, you don't wanna see all of that. We watched what's needed. The rest is just..."
"Blakey, I know... we both were different people, but I would love to see your face and listen to Baby Blake serenade me."
She knows, Blake feels a bit of dicomfort watching back his own music Videos. Especially from the time during his divorce with Miranda. But she knows it's a lot of work and greatness he put into it. And she loves to see his older work. Imagine what it would have been like if they met sooner in life.
"Fine...you choose."
....
"Never thought I'd make out to my own discography one day."
"I can't stop myself, you're just so hot."
"Well, I used to be sexiest man alive three years ago."
"Still sexy, Mr. Stefani."
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"If I ever were to loose ya, I think I wouldn't make it."
"Don't say something like that! Blakey, I love you so much so that I'm confident to say, you'll never loose me. I will always be your friend. I'll always be there for you. You can't Lose me - and since I am a package deal with 3 young boys, you won't Lose any of us."
"Let's make a date night tonight. I'll pick up Zuma and King from school, ask your parents if they can take the boys and we'll head out for dinner. I want to show people what we did last weekend. I wanna call you my wife out there."
"I'd love to."
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"Ms. Stefani, Mr. Shelton, nice to welcome you in our house this evening. We would like to present you with a bottle of wine on the house if that's okay."
"That is very nice of you, Sir. I'll take that offer. Please also bring us a glass of sparkling water and a Sprite zero. Thanks."
...
"There we are. Some wine for you, too, Mr. Shelton?"
"Ehmm, I..."
"He'll take the Sprite. The wine is all mine tonight."
His heart was beating 200 miles an hour. Still unsure how to react in situations like that. He's sober now. But in situations like that it feels like he's cheating on his sobriety. Because he feels how good it would be to say 'yes' to a glass of wine. Or beer for that matter.
"All right, have a nice evening then. Tell me when you're ready to order."
"What's going on, Honey?"
"I... I don't know. I hate these situations. I feel like I made a mistake whenever someone mentions it. Like I ordered the Liquor and suddenly get seen."
"But you didn't order it. Haven't for 4 years."
"I just don't wantcha to get mad, thinkin' I ordered it behind your back or something."
"Baby, I know what you went through. Like, I've seen it, too. Felt it... nobody would hate you more than you'd hate yourself if that Version of you made a reappearance."
She is sure of that. Because she saw first hand how hard it was for him to quit. His environment back then also not being too stable. He's an addict. She knows it. She also knows that he hates that side of him more than anybody else.
"Thanks for talking me down and havin' my back just there, pretty girl."
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GWEN AND BLAKE - DID THEY TIE THE KNOTS!?
IN THEIR LATEST OUTING THE TWO LOVEBIRDS STRUTTED THROUGH THE STREETS OF ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA AFTER AN ROMANTIC DINNER.
GWEN APPEARED TO HAVE WORN A DIAMANT RING ON THAT! FINGER. WHILE BLAKES HAND FOUND PLACE IN HIS POCKET WE COULDN'T CONFIRM WHAT EVERYBODY IS THINKING BUT IT LOOKED A WHOLE LOT LIKE THE PAIR FINALLY SAID YES TO EACH OTHER.
THESE NEWS COMING JUST A WEEK AFTER BLAKES EXIT FROM THE HIT TV-SHOW "THE VOICE" ON NBC. SEEMS LIKE HE WANTED TO FIND SOME TIME IN THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES TO LIVE OUT THEIR DREAM WEDDING.
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"It's been hard lately, man."
"What do you mean?"
"Just everything. I left the voice to have more time for writing and making new music, to Tour more than I did before, to follow my own projects. But it feels like I left the only reason why people even knew my name and listened to ma music."
"Blake, you've been Well known not just in the country music Industry way before The Voice started. Man, just cause I didn't know who you were doesn't mean Millions of others didn't."
"Well, but that's not all..."
"Blake, what's going on. Are Gwen and you having troubles this shortly after the Wedding I wasn't invited to?"
"Oh, come on man, I told you it was just family. But, no, that's not it. Gwen is great. Amazing, actually. Maybe even too nice!?"
"What do you mean, Capt'n Country? I don't get it."
"I mean, I've been to the meetings. I did random stuff, I even started working out more. All the tricks a the tree. But I'm thinking about it, Adam. After everything, I still think about having a drink."
"What did Gwen say?"
"I didn't tell her yet."
"She should know about this. You'll need help to get through those thoughts and just that Phase in General."
"I know. I just. I can't hurt her. I can't drag her along through this again."
Gwen would be scared. Gwen might leave him.
"She is your wife now. She knows you. She knows the old you. She'll understand and she'll help, but for that she needs to know that something isn't right."
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"I don't know, Jen, he's ... different? Like, I know and feel he loves me, he Shows it, too. But he's a bit weird and uneasy and tries to distance himself from the boys even. Maybe that last thing is just in my head but he's just... it's different."
"Marriage gitters? I mean he's done this, twice and it never worked out for him. Maybe he's a bit anxcious and uneasy cause he's scared."
"We talked about that, he said he's fine and just happy to have found us, cause he can feel it's different with us. And I believe him."
"How so?"
"I... Like I can't put my finger on it, but when his marriage with Miranda ended he was like a different person. He was a shell of a man. Lonely, dark, depressed even. In over his head and it took a looooong night of talking for him to open up even a little bit. He was pessimistic, had unhealthy habits and a bad mood almost all day long. NOW... it's different. Like he has a secret he wants to tell but won't share for whatever reason."
She feared she knew what that secret was. But someone else had to say it out loud. To make it real. A possibility of the life she knew slipping away.
"A suprise secret or like a bad one?"
"To be honest, I don't know"
"Talk to him. Ask him directly."
"What am I supposed to ask?... what, why are you looking like that?"
"Blake... are you drinking again?"
"He wouldn't..."
"Gwenny, it's better you ask and know than to stay quiet and worry. I know it's what you're wondering about."
It is. But she knows it shouldn't be. She should trust in him. He'd been good for over three years now. And he'd tell her if something wasn't right.
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"Wow Zuma, you really are strong and quite fast, I can't keep up with you, buddy."
"Wanna see how fast I can go? Let's race each other"
"Oh, dang, no."
"Come on Blake, pleeease!"
"Alright, but I'll get a head start, you're too fast for me."
"Fine. The looser has to cook moms favourite dessert tonight."
He loved cooking for her. He knows she loves his homemade Tiramisu. Losing it is then.
...
"How old did you say you were? 50?"
"Hey, young man, it's bad enough your mom has to eat ma cookin' tonight, don't hit me where it really hurts."
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"Boys, what's that?"
"Tiramisu!!"
"Hey, what did I say about using the kitchen when I'm not home!?"
"You told Blake the same thing as us? But mom, he's old."
"What?"
"Blake did this. He's upstairs putting on nice clothes for you."
"Oh... Let's not tell him that the dessert looked like you guys made it, okay?"
"Alright mommy."
"Thank you, Pollo."
...
"Mr. Stefani, you look handsome!"
"So do you, Mrs. Shelton!"
...
"The Tiramisu was delicious."
"Thank you, but really thank Zuma. I lost a bet so I had to cook it."
"What did he beat you with?"
"Oh, don't laugh. We made a foot race against each other. That boy is fast, I tell you that."
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"Blake?..."
He was sitting out on the front porch. A book in his hand but she could tell he wasn't reading. He was daydreaming.
"Ah, gosh. Dang it."
"What's going on?
"You surprised me, that's all."
"Why are you sitting out here? Everything all right?"
"I don't know."
"You starting to worry me, here, babe."
"I know. ... I'm sorry. I was... thinking about some lyrics. But I feel empty lately. Nothing left to give to the industry."
He always had trouble putting his thoughts into Songs. He's such a good writer although he never realises it. So much potential but never put to use because of all his doubts.
"That's not true."
"Feels like it. I'm losing my passion, pretty girl. Nothing you can help me with."
"It scares you, doesn't it?"
"It does."
"Blakey... are you alright? You stress me out a bit lately."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to. It just... it triggers something. I can't even set foot into a studio."
"Is that why you were at home with the boys today? You had a session scheduled before. You didn't go?"
"Didn't feel like it."
"That's okay, but... it's a bit...."
"Mirandaesque"
It's weird to hear her Name out of his mouth. However the distopian mood he's in puts it quite right.
"I wouldn't have used that wording but... like, if the shoe fits. It does remind me of a couple years ago."
"Yeah, me, too. But I don't wanna go there again. It brings the devil, too. Right now, all I need is you."