- Text Size +
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter. This one was written one father's day and it focuses mainly on Brian and Josh and Nick and Dakota.
Enjoy =)
Chapter One-Hundred-One



Kevin ended up getting Kori to take Elenore and Dakota to use the bathroom and he and Josh got out of the van and walked around to stretch their legs. Not even a minute after Kevin stepped out of the van did a protective Howie bombard him with questions.


"What happened in your van earlier, Kev? Ryan came storming over to mine, got in the very back next to Laila, fastened his seat belt and announced that he hates us all and wants his mom to come get him." Kevin sighed heavily.


"He and Josh got into a fight and I ended up yelling at them both. I told them that if they can't get a long then they need to put their seat belts back on and find something quiet to do."


"What were they fighting about? Last time I checked they were getting a long just fine."


"Ryan did the one thing that sets Josh off these days…he was being mean to Ellie. So of course Josh got protective of her and nearly jumped him in the van — he would have succeeded if I hadn't shoved him back into his seat," Kevin explained, managing to suppress the proud tone in his voice.


"Oh jeez…what did he say? Is Ellie okay?"


"Ellie was in the middle of throwing a tantrum…which I take full blame for and Ryan stated that only babies throw tantrums. Josh demanded he take it back and he refused. Josh went into a rant about how he has no right to call Ellie names because he doesn't know her. When Ryan wouldn't take it back…it happened." Howie sighed.


"I'll talk to him…" He promised, and he headed for his van. Kevin looked down at Josh, winked at him, and placed his hand on his shoulder.


"Come on buddy I'll buy you an ice cream bar, " he told him and he steered him toward the ice cream machine. Josh smiled up at him, and with Chance on his leash he followed Kevin to the ice cream machine.


"Brian will have a fit if I have ice cream before dinner," Josh pointed out, as he watched Kevin get the ice cream he pointed to — a drum stick with nuts on it. When the machine spit it out, Josh reached in and got it.


"What Brian doesn't know can't hurt him," Kevin told him.


"What can't I know?" Brian's voice was suddenly heard from behind them. Kevin flinched at the sound of his voice, and he and Josh turned and found him leaning up against a pole with his arms crossed over his chest, a smirk fixed on his face, and he's got his eyebrow raised at his cousin who is being uncharacteristically devious behind his back.


"Oh shit…" Kevin muttered, shocked that he'd been caught.


"Run kid, run!" he told Josh, and Josh did just that. He took a run for it to Kevin's van with Chance running after him barking excitedly. Kevin looked back at his cousin then, a smirk on his face.


"Who are you and what have you done with my cousin?" Brian immediately joked.


"You leave that kid alone, he deserves that ice cream."


"Why?"


"Because he stuck up for Ellie earlier when Ryan picked on her."


"So? He's always defending Ellie."


"Yeah…well…I thought it was about time he got rewarded for it. So you leave him alone while he enjoys that ice cream."


"Fine, but so you know, your going to be the one explaining to my mom why he didn't eat his dinner tonight." Brian replied, pretending to be the stern father, but really he is just amused with his cousin.


"Oh please…the moment he smells Aunt Jackie's cooking he'll have such a big appetite it would be like there were two of him."


"He better because you know mom, she's going to go all out for this entire week that we're visiting and I want my son to have an appetite for it."


"He's a little boy Brian, don't worry. He can eat anything."


"If you say so," Brian replied, as he watched Kevin get two more ice creams out of the machine.


"Buying Nick's daughter ice cream now, are we?"


"Well I have to since I'm buying Josh and Ellie some don't I? That's what uncles are for, Mister I'm-going-to-buy-her-a-puppy-behind-Nick's-back," Kevin replied. "And anyway, Nick would probably do the same thing," he added, and then he headed back to his van. Brian shook his head smiling, and then he followed. When they got back to the vans Brian reached into the back of his van and grabbed Laila's diaper bag. AJ looked at him curiously as he did


"My insane cousin bought my son some ice cream thirty-minutes before dinner. I'm going to need some baby wipes because things are about to get very messy," Brian explained. AJ laughed in amusement. When Brian found the wipes he pulled them out, set the diaper bag back in the van, and then he went to Kevin's van to find three happy children enjoying their ice cream and Nick looking at Kevin with new admiration — Kevin Scott Richardson bought the kids ice cream before dinner? It's unheard of! When Josh spotted Brian he looked at him innocently — chocolate face and all. Brian shook his head smiling, then he sat down on the floor in the van and he pulled Josh into his lap, hugged him close, and kissed his forehead.


"You are lucky that Kevin has a tendency to rub off on Nick when he wants to, kid," he told him. Nick laughed.


"It's not like you've never given Dakota ice cream before dinner before, Bri."


"Yeah, at the Orphanage, not when we're about to have dinner that my mom made." Riley who had joined them with Sarah cradled in her arms just laughed.


"You are such a momma's boy honey," she announced. "It's so adorable." Brian grinned and looked down at Josh to see that he had just finished eating his ice cream. He opened up the wipes, pulled out a couple and he began to clean him up.


"Yes I am," he admitted when he was finished and he shifted Josh so he is cradling him and Josh snuggled close to him, as he is still a little sleepy from his nap. "And she and my dad were great parents so I take pride in being their baby. I just hope I can be half as great as them with my own son."


"Well you are well on your way sweetie," Riley informed him, as she patted his leg. "Look at all you've achieved with Josh. Only you could get through to him and as much as he tries not to admit it, he loves you." Brian smirked.


"He doesn't have to tell me if he doesn't want to. He knows that I know he loves me," Brian replied, and he looked down at Josh who had been quietly listening, his Donald Duck now clutched safely under his arm. "Though it would feel good if one day he surprised me." Josh closed his eyes comfortably and Brian sat there playing with his hair. Josh lay there thinking about how right Brian is. He does love him very much and he is happy that it was him who adopted him. Its going to take some time before he will be able to admit it though and he doesn't know when he will be able to call him dad either. The word 'Dad' to him just brings back horrible memories. 'Dad' to him, is the man who killed his mother. He doesn't want to call Brian that horrible name. Until he can learn to erase his biological father from his mind, he can't bring himself to say the word. Brian will just have to remain Brian for now because it makes him smile at the sound of that name. It makes him feel safe. Josh opened his eyes then and he looked up at Brian to find Brian's loving smile as he gazes back down at him in return.


"Are you riding in this van again or do you want to come with me?"


"I'm not going anywhere near Ryan," Josh insisted bitterly. "I want to ride in this van but I want you to stay with me."


"There is no room for me buddy…"


"Wiley and I can go get in the other van if you want," Kori offered, as she can tell Josh really wants his father with him right now. As a mother she can sense that he's got something painful on his mind.


"If you really don't mind…"


"Of course not. Wi, Spencer, and I don't mind at all. There will be room for Sarah also if she wants Nick and Ashley," Kori replied, as he watched Kevin hand Sarah a drumstick too. He had run back to the ice cream machine and bought her one also when he realized his mistake. Brian looked at Riley then and he placed his hand to her cheek and gently rubbed it.


"Do you mind if I ride with my son? It'll only be thirty-minutes that we'll be apart."


"Not at all honey. Josh wants you. I'll be okay without you for thirty minutes." Brian smiled at her and he leaned over and brushed his lips lightly over hers as his hand is placed on her cheek. When he pulled away he looked down at Josh who now had a hold of Brian's cross necklace and he is tracing the outline of it. That's another thing he likes about Brian. Going to church and the very thought of God was everything his biological father was against. He always said there was no such thing. But Brian believes…so that must mean he does exist.


"Brian?"


"Hmm?"


"Can I have a cross necklace like yours?"


"Maybe I will get you one for Christmas," Brian answered while tucking a strand of Josh's hair behind his ear. "You like this one don't you? I catch you looking at it a lot."


"It's nice," Josh replied softly, as he continued to trace the gold cross.


"Do you want to wear it?" Josh looked up at Brian a little shocked.


"Really? You'll let me wear it?"


"Of course…if you want to. It's pretty special to me, but I know you will keep it safe right?" Josh nodded eagerly.


"I will I promise." Brian grinned and then took his necklace off of him and he put it on Josh. The moment he did, Josh took it in his hand and eyed it appreciatively. By the time it was time to head out on the road again Sarah had finished her ice cream and was all cleaned up and everybody was back from doing their own thing. Sarah insisted that she wanted to stay with Riley in the other van. Brian kissed Riley goodbye, than he got in the van with Josh.


"Do you want to sit next to me buddy, or back with Dakota and Ellie?"


"Back with Kota and Ellie. But stay near please?" Josh asked, and Brian raised his eyebrow as he too was starting to sense that something is bothering Josh.


"Okay…I'm not going anywhere I promise," he answered, and he sat in what used to be Kevin's seat. Kevin is now driving. When Nick had Dakota and Elenore buckled back into their booster seats he went and sat in the very back next to Ashley who had fallen asleep.


"I suppose Kori and Wiley could've still rode with us," Kevin announced when they were back on the road again. "We miss-calculated the seats."



"Yeah," Brian agreed. "I'm sure the other van would've been better for poor little Spencer though. He has more room to stretch out."



"Oh yeah that's true."



"Is Spencer going to be okay?" Elenore asked worriedly.



"Yeah honey he'll be fine. He just gets a little sick when he has to be in a car for a long period of time. He'll be fine as soon as we get there," Nick reassured, as he was leaning against the back of the kids seat. He has Dakota's hand in his because she wanted to sit in his lap but Nick insisted that it was much safer for her to be in her booster seat.


"I cant's wait until we gets there," Dakota announced excitedly. She absolutely loves the Littrell family — go figure right? She's also excited that she will get to see Angel, Leslie, BJ, and Aaron too as she's been waiting for a very long time.


"Well we will be there in thirty minutes sweetie, can you wait that much longer?" Brian asked, smiling a little.


"If I musts," Dakota replied, heaving a deep sigh for dramatic effect and Nick and Brian both laughed at her.


"I'm just excited uncle Brian. I wanna sees Jackie an' Harold — an' Ann too!"


"Well they are all just as excited to see you baby."


"Have you told your parents you adopted Josh yet?" Nick asked curiously.


"Yeah I called them the night I got Josh back from Sean. I asked them if I should do it and they were all for it. They are excited that they have a new grandchild and they can't wait to meet him," Brian answered, as he looked back at Josh who is petting Chance. He can tell that he is very nervous — he doesn't even know the beginning of it though.


"Have you told your brother and sisters about Kota?" Kevin spoke up from the drivers seat.


"Um…no…" Nick answered, a guilty look written all over his face. "Not yet…"


"Nickolas!" Kevin scolded exasperatedly.


"What?! You know how long it's been since I've seen my siblings? Its not exactly easy to talk to them…"


"Well you have to tell them sometime. What were you planning to do when Kota went up to them and addressed them as her aunts and uncle?"


"Smile big and say surprise?"


"Oye vey Nick…you are something else." Brian replied, shaking his head. Nick rolled his eyes.


"Well thanks, I think."


"Seriously, and you are starting to influence your daughter too."


"Influence her in what way?" Nick asked, playing dumb even though he knows full well what he taught his daughter.


"She is turning into a conniving little sneak…just like her father."


"Not my fault she wants to do everything her daddy does," Nick replied, shrugging his shoulders.


"Yeah well, for your information," Brian began as he looked at Dakota, playfully narrowing his eyes. "She and her sidekick over there put it into Josh's head that I was going to marry Riley."


"I did no such thing!" Dakota replied, pure shock written all over her face and she really looks innocent too — father like daughter. "And for future reference uncle Brian Ellie is nots my sidekick. She's my partner."


"Fine then, your partner in crime. But the point is, you both are guilty and I know it."


"You cant's prove it," Elenore replied, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at Brian with the same narrowed eyes.


"Egg-actly! Joshy's word against ours isn't enough proof!"


"Nuh-uhs" Elenore agreed, "How do you know Joshy isn't just sayin' we dids it?"


"Well it's simple really. Josh has never lied to me before - even when the two of you bombarded him in the air vents at the orphanage when Ellie was supposed to be in her room. We can't prove it, but I know you did it."


"Joshy was lyin' abouts that too! We were playin' Candyland the whole time."


"I'm sorry honey but I don't believe that," Brian laughed. "Josh has no reason to lie to me — ever. He knows that too because I'm very fair and understanding


"Yes I knows that, your my uncle after all. Buts you still don'ts have proof," Dakota replied stubbornly. That was a very great prank she put together and she is not about to ruin it by admitting that she was the mastermind behind the whole beautiful thing.


"That's okay you keep pulling your pranks. But one of these days Josh and I are going to work together and catch the two of you red handed. You just watch Dakota Ann." Dakota stared back at Brian with a bored expression on her face. Let him try an' catch me she thought to herself. But Uncle Brian will soon realize that a true Carter never gets caught pulling a prank. Especially when their daddy is the king of pulling pranks. He taught her everything she knows and half the time he doesn't even realize it. Nick who was sitting there listening quietly the whole time smiled proudly at his daughter as he still has her hand in his. She may not be his kid by blood, but she is definitely a true Carter at heart. He knows she will never forget the number one rule that he told her in secret one day: A true Carter never gets caught — unless of course you pull a prank on a fellow Carter, then you are screwed. He knows she pulled that prank on Josh in the air vents too. He knows if somebody hadn't come a long and put more trash into that garbage can, unknowing to them that they were covering up evidence, he so would have had her. You can pull a prank on anyone in the world and if you are skilled enough...maybe even get away with it. But you can't fool Nick Carter no matter how hard you try — especially if you are his daughter. Nick gently squeezed Dakota's hand to let her know he's on her side and she looked up at him. He brushed her bangs to the side, than placed his hands to her cheeks, made it so her lips are puckered, and Dakota giggled as he leaned over the seat and kissed her.


"She may be a conniving little sneak, but she's my conniving little sneak, and I love her oh so much," Nick announced as he kissed her again and when he pulled away he looked at Brian who was rolling his eyes smiling.


"Yes, we all love her, but one of these days she's going to get caught if Josh and I have anything to do with it."


"I highly doubt that. She's been trained very well," Nick joked. Just as Brian was about to open his mouth to reply, Kevin cut him off from the front seat.


"As much as I'm enjoying this little competition between the five of you, Nick you might want to start waking Ashley up because we will be there in five minutes."


"YAY!!" Dakota and Elenore both cheered excitedly, as they have been waiting all day to finally get there. Josh however, continued to sit there quietly as he looked out his window to check out what he knows is his Brian's hometown. Knowing that they were five minutes away from his new grandparents house, he became even more nervous then he already is. I hope they like me…please like me… He thought to himself, and he hoped with all his might that he could be a good boy the whole time that they are there. He doesn't want to act up and give his new grandparents the impression that he's a very bad boy and that Brian should take him back to the Orphanage right away. He has a feeling that Brian would do it too if they said so. He did say that he was a momma's boy, after all.