Six years. It was crazy to think that I had been Mrs. Carr for six incredible years; they had already been the best six years of my life without a doubt and the show was just getting started. "Pack your bags, Vix. We're going to Germany! Hope you like bratwurst!" Eric announced as he came bursting into the kitchen one morning. "I'm sorry...we're going where!?!" I yelped in surprise. "You. Me. Band. Schweinfurt. Monsters of Rock Festival...did I mention you and me?" he said eagerly with a wink, bouncing on his toes like the Energizer Bunny. "Why am I not surprised?" I giggled, rolling my eyes playfully. "Those other bands won't know what hit 'em! We're gonna rock, roll, and kick butt!" Eric said, grinning mischievously, with that wild glint of energy in his eyes that only appeared right before a concert. "At ease, Little Caesar! It's a festival, not American Idol." I said, giving him an understanding look. "Ma'am, yes ma'am!" he replied, saluting me with a kiss. Looks like the hottest band in the world is headed to Germany, ready or not!

Being married to the Fox came with an additional job description besides the delightfully obvious: I was also their assistant manager. "Ok, boys! Give me Deuce, Black Diamond and Tears Are Falling one more time, then we can call it quits for today." I said as the guys ran through the set for a final time before we left. "You heard the lady! One, two, one-two-three-four!" Paul counted off. "Another killer practice in the books, guys. Tears was flawless, Paul! You plus Bruce plus my Fox equals utter perfection!" I gushed approvingly. "Ahem! You forgetting someone, doll? Like...me!?!" Gene said in a tone of mock annoyance. "You rocked too, Gene, as usual!" I said quickly. "That's better." he said, with a wink and flick of the tongue. "Alright gents, let's get some shut-eye. We've got one heck of an early morning tomorrow." I said as we left the studio. 

"Man, I am SO glad we're doing a live performance of Tears this time, especially after that near-disaster of a music video! Seriously, Vix. You almost ended up with Fox en flambe thanks to that stupid volcano!" Eric snickered. "I know! I'm pretty sure your sticks were smoking!" I giggled. "Hard to believe what a total hit that sucker is, especially considering your...er...colorful costume choices, Paulie." I said, playfully poking him in the chest. "Honey, please! We looked and sounded flawless!" he whined jokingly, snickering. "Flawless? We all looked like freakin' Skittles up there, dude! Except for you, Eric. You dodged a MAJOR fashion bullet, man." Bruce barked with laughter. "And thank goodness for that! I look good in dark blue." Eric said, fluffing up his hair with a romantic pout. "Not as good as you do in black and orange." I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Oooh...I see..." he growled softly, pulling me closer. "Oh no, you don't, you two! Not here! Save it for Schweinfurt, Fox!" Paul said with a quick laugh, sensing Eric's desire. "Believe me, Paul. I will." Eric muttered indistinctly, his lips already glued onto mine.

"Wow! We're actually at the Monsters of Rock festival!" I exclaimed, looking around at the spectacle before me: hundreds of hard-rock fans were congregated in a large field near one of the biggest stages I'd ever seen. "Hey, Paul! Where are we in the lineup?" Bruce asked, giving his guitar a last-minute tuning. "We're on right after...ugh...Aerosmith." Paul groaned sarcastically, pretending to gag. "Of course we are." Gene muttered, rolling his eyes. "Those jerks just love to push our buttons. Typical." I came backstage to wish the guys good luck. "Play nice, Paul. You too, Gene." I chided them, giggling. "Don't worry about us, darlin; worry about your feisty little fox over here!" Paul said, grabbing Eric into a headlock and giving him a noogie. "Knock it off, you two! You're on in 5!" I said, rolling my eyes at Paul. "Knock 'em dead, my fantastic fox!" I exclaimed as they trooped onstage. "You know we always do, honey!" Eric cried, giving me a quick kiss as he left; the crowd roared as they launched into the opening riff.

I read your mind like an open book

You lost the fire in your eyes

You turn to me with a different look

And then it's raining, looks like it's raining

Oh no, tears are falling

Oh no, tears are falling

Oh no, tears are falling

Something is wrong as I hold you near

Somebody else holds your heart, yeah

You turn to me with your icy tears

And then it's raining, feels like it's raining

Oh no, tears are falling 

Oh no, tears are falling, whoo oh

Oh no, tears are falling, whoo oh

(I see you cry)

And now it's raining (yeah)

Looks like it's raining (someone stole your heart)

And now it's raining, feels like it's raining

Oh no, tears are falling 

Oh no, tears are falling, whoo oh

Oh no, tears are falling, someone stole your heart

Oh no, tears are falling, they're falling from your eyes
Oh no, tears are falling, (Oh no, no, falling from your eyes)
Oh no, tears are falling
(Oh no, no, falling, oh, they're falling from your eyes)
Oh no, tears are falling (Oh no, no, falling from your eyes)
Oh no, tears are falling

Whoa! This is even better than the practice run! Eric sounds like a beast! The crowd erupted again as the song ended. "Oh, man! What a rush!" Paul said breathlessly as they came backstage afterward. "You guys absolutely killed it! That practice run was the warm-up, but this was the big leagues! More importantly, who is this absolute monster, and what has he done with my husband? Eric, that was awesome! I had no idea you could sing like that!" I exclaimed, giving Eric a saucy grin. "What, you didn't know about my inner beast?" he teased, trapping me in his arms with a suggestive growl. "Oh, you know I do! Your voice was great, too!" I giggled, giving him a meaningful wink. 

"Quite the pretty little comedienne, ain't ya?" Bruce laughed. "Whew, Vix! After that little clambake, I could use a breather!" Eric said, breathing heavily, his usual cloud of fluffy brown hair drenched with sweat. "You good, dude? You were pounding the crud out of those skins like nobody's business!" Gene asked, placing a hand on Eric's shoulder. "Yeah, I'm good, man. Just gotta get my second wind...literally. Guess I'm just young and wasted!" he said with a weak laugh. "Are you sure you're ok, Eric? You don't look so good." I said quietly, trying to keep the concern out of my voice. "I'm fine, mi amore, really! Let's just get back to the hotel and chill out for a while." Eric said, giving me his famous smile. "When we get back stateside, I'm making you a doctor's appointment. You've really been pushing it lately and I'm worried about you." I said quietly, looking deeply into his eyes. "Ok, honey. If it'll make you feel better, I'll go. But only to prove to you that I'm healthy as a horse...or fox, for that matter!" he laughed, planting a kiss on my forehead.

Sure enough, once we got back, Eric was off to his appointment before he could say "Black Diamond". "Everything will be fine, sweetheart. I'm sure of it." he said reassuringly, kissing me gently as he headed out the door. Please let everything be ok...please let him be ok. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally came back; he smiled at me, but I saw a look in his eyes that wasn't his same usual spark of energy. He plopped onto the couch. "C'mere, my pretty little vixen." he said quietly, patting the couch beside him. I sat down and he pulled me closer than he'd ever done before. "Suzy, honey...I have no idea how to say this...it's cancer, baby. Heart cancer. That's why I've been feeling so wrecked lately. I nearly passed out from shock when they told me." Eric said slowly, lifting my chin so I was looking into his eyes. No...no...NO!!! "It-it can't be! You're lying! Eric, please tell me you're lying!" I whispered, half screaming. 

"You have no idea how badly I wish I was lying to you, sweetheart, but I'm not." he said in a heartbroken voice; I saw a look then that I'd never seen before on his face: fear and desperation. "They say I've got about a year, maybe less. I never knew...I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so, so sorry." he said in a broken whisper. I buried my face deep into his chest, shaking with sobs; he clung to me like we were drowning. "NO! I can't lose you! There's got to be something, anything they can do! We were meant to be together. We found each other for a reason. I love you more than anyone in the world, Eric! Please...don't leave me...not like this." I whimpered. Every shaky breath I took felt like a punch in the gut. "The guys don't know yet. Will you come with me?" Eric asked gently as I tried to steady myself. "Of course I will. They're like brothers to you, Eric." I replied, tears streaming down my face.

Paul, Gene, and Bruce were just getting ready to practice when we walked in. "Uh, guys...could you sit down for a minute? I've gotta tell you something..." Eric began slowly. Paul and Gene had to hold Bruce up to keep him from hitting the floor. "No! There's no way, man! There's just no freakin' way. You're my best friend! You can't bail out on me like this! You just can't..." Bruce cried in disbelief, grabbing Eric by the shoulders and shaking him slightly. "Eric, if you're lying to me, I swear, man..." he sobbed. "I know. It majorly sucks, but we still gotta do that music video for "God Gave Rock and Roll To You", and so help me, it's gonna be the best darn video we've ever done!" Eric said triumphantly, his classic spark lighting up his face. "Darn right it will, Little Caesar! But, dang, man..." Gene said in a surprisingly soft voice. He might be the Demon, but he is human, after all. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's make ourselves a video, people!" Paul exclaimed, nonchalantly wiping away a few tears.