Chapter Eleven:
After Riley, Brian, and Nick talked to Brooke they went back to the cafeteria where they were just finishing up on setting it up and it was just ten minutes before the kids would be let in. Dakota was the first to notice them come in.
“Daddy!!” She exclaimed happily, and she got up from her chair beside Ashley and ran over to Nick. Nick grinned and held his arms open just on time for the little girl to come flying into them. He lifted her up and kissed her cheek affectionately and he hugged her close.
“Hi baby…do you know how good it feels to hear you call me daddy?” Dakota smiled up at him and she rested her head against his shoulder as she slid her arms around his neck. He then looked over at Ashley and saw that she is sitting next to AJ who kept a close watch on her just like he promised. He rested his forehead against Dakota’s as he brought her back over there and he sat down in what used to be Dakota’s chair.
“Hey Ash…are you okay?” he asked gently. Ashley nodded.
“Then why are there tear streaks going down your cheeks?”
“They’re from earlier,” AJ answered for Ashley and Nick scooted closer to Ashley and wiped away her tears with his finger before cupping her cheek in his hand and gently caressing it.
“I’m sorry I was a little grumpy toward you earlier… I was just frustrated. It frustrates me that I don’t know what’s going on. I want so badly to protect you but I don’t know what it is I’m protecting you from and sometimes it makes me feel so angry.” Nick suddenly noticed slight fear in Ashley’s eyes and he realized he had said the wrong thing. “Not at you…I could never be angry at you. I mean the people who are hurting you…” He immediately added and he brushed some of her hair from her face before tucking it behind her ear and she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder as Dakota is no longer in his lap. She had crawled out of it and went to go see Brian. Nick wrapped his arms around her in return and hugged her close as he gently rubbed his hand over her back.
“Just answer me this…okay? What was that blood stain on your bed sheet from? Is there an injury on your body that I don’t know about?”
“He cleaned it up…” Ashley answered softly. It was the first question of Nick’s that she’s answered all day. She then lifted her hand and pulled the sleeve to her hoodie back and she showed him the cut on her hand that’s been bandaged up.
“He attacked me and I got in the way of the knife in his hand when trying to push the medicine he was giving me away.”
“That was a very big blood stain though… that couldn’t have all been from your hand.” Ashley suddenly pushed her hair off of her neck and tilted her head to the side so he could see a cut mark a long the side of it. He winced at the sight of it.
“Jesus…” AJ trailed off as he had looked too.
“He forced me to put the hoodie on so that you wouldn’t see…”
“Are there any more hidden scars I don’t know about?”
“Just the ones you’ve already seen…”
“What else did he do? Please tell me….”
“I can’t…I-I’m scared.” Nick didn’t say anything else, he only again pulled her into a hug and she once again rested her head against his shoulder. He raked his fingers through her long black hair as he looked at AJ who sat there in silence just listening to him and Ashley. AJ gave him a reassuring look silently telling him to not push her and she will eventually speak up when she’s ready. Having been AJ’s friend and band mate since he was 13 he understands all that without him having to verbally tell him. He sat there holding her close to him for the remaining ten minutes, then when it was time to let the kids in, Riley did so and Nick looked down at Ashley.
“Are you hungry sweetie? I can go make you your plate if you want me to.” Ashley nodded. “Alright, stay right here and I will be right back.”
“Kay.” He then got up and went to get Ashley’s plate and AJ stayed right at her side to look after her until Nick gets back.
“Is she okay Nick?” Riley questioned, as she came up beside him and was making her own plate. She over heard their conversation.
“As far as I know yeah… but she’s still hiding stuff from me so I don’t know.” When he finished making both his and Ashley’s plates he brought them over to their table and sat them down in before looking at AJ.
“Go make your lunch Aje, you’ve been sitting here for a long time. I will take over if you will help Dakota make her plate for me.”
“Okay,” AJ replied, and he got up and went off in search of Dakota. Nick sat down and looked at Ashley and she went right to eating. He sat there watching her for a couple of minutes, than he began to eat too. Eventually Riley, Howie, Brian, AJ, and Dakota joined them with their own food. They sat there eating in silence for five minutes, than suddenly Kevin walked in holding Elenore on his right hip and she has her arms wrapped around his neck and her head rested against his shoulder. He spotted everybody and brought them over to the table.
“Hey Kevin…how is Elenore?” Howie asked curiously, as Kevin sat down in the one empty spot left which was on the right side of Dakota as Nick sat on the left.
“She’s a lot better now. The doctor says that almost all of her bruises will heal.”
“That’s great,” Howie replied while grinning at Elenore and Elenore smiled back shyly. Suddenly Kevin remembered Dakota and he turned his attention on her as she sat there looking at the girl in Kevin’s arms curiously. She had seen her earlier in the lobby and how mean her mommy was, but she was curious on why she was now sitting in her uncle Kevin’s lap.
“Uncle Kevy…who is that?” She asked him.
“This is my new friend Elenore. She’s staying here in the Orphanage now. Elenore this is Dakota - Nick’s daughter the four year old I was telling you about earlier. Remember?” Elenore looked up at him and nodded before looking back at Dakota and she eyed her cautiously. “You two are about the same age…Elenore just a year older then you’re Dakota. I thought maybe you two could get to know each other and maybe become friends.” Dakota smiled up at Kevin suddenly and Kevin grinned back.
“I’ve never had a friend before… I’ve always wanted one.”
“Well then it’s perfect baby. Elenore doesn’t know anybody here… maybe you would be the perfect one to make her feel right at home.” Nick replied, also smiling. He’s happy that Dakota might finally get to have a friend for the first time ever in her entire four years of living. Dakota ate, quietly watching Elenore, who just sat clinging tightly to Kevin and not eating - she seemed too scared to eat. "What do you likes to do?" Dakota asked her suddenly, deciding she'd best make conversation. "Do you likes to plays dolls or cars or Barbie’s or tag or hide n seek?" Elenore shrugged slightly.
"I dunno. I never hads any of that stuffs. I likes to color - it's fun - 'less you color what you're not s'pose too....." Dakota looked shocked. Despite the fact she'd always lived in the Orphanage, she'd always had toys to play with and call her own.
"You never hads even one?" Elenore shook her head.
"No....only good peoples gets toys....." Dakota frowned, not understanding completely, but also not liking the sound of her new and first friend not having any toys.
"Uncle Kevy? Can we goes an' gets Elenore toys after lunch?" Kevin, who'd been listening in on their little conversation, smiled at hearing his niece’s suggestion. "
“I think that's a wonderful idea, Kota. Maybe we should see who else would like to go shopping, then we can all go together."
"Okay!" Dakota chirped, as she loved to shop! Dakota quickly turned to look at Nick.
"Daddy! Daddy! Can we go shoppin' with Uncle Kevy to gets Elenore some toys? Please, Daddy?" Nick turned and looked down at his baby - he knew he'd never get sick of hearing her call him Daddy - not ever.
"Yes, Baby. We can go, as long as Ashley comes with us."
"Of course she come withs us!" Dakota exclaimed. "Ashee gots to comes too! She gotta helps me finds pretty jewelry!" Nick chuckled.
"Well, you'd best remind her of that, Honey." Dakota leaned forward onto the table, practically standing on her seat. "Ashee! You comes shoppin' withs us? Please?" Ashley smiled some, watching Dakota and seeing her enthusiasm.
"Okay," she said softly, though she was still very scared she'd end up hurt - or worse, dead.
"Don't worry," Nick whispered assuringly. "We'll bring security. We have to anyway, as malls are crowded." Ashley nodded, though she still wasn't so sure. Eventually, they were all finished with lunch - Elenore still having had touched hardly any of hers, which concerned Kevin - but for now, he didn't comment on it.
"Ready to go shopping?" Kevin asked Elenore, as he stood up with her still in his arms - not that she'd been willing to let go of him at all anyway. Elenore shrugged quietly, still not quite able to believe that the man she'd deemed her protector was really going to buy her toys that she could actually call her own. Nick stood up too while lifting Dakota from her chair and he offered Ashley his hand. She took hold of it and allowed him to help her up. He then looked at Brian and Riley.
“Are you two coming?
“Yup.” He turned and looked at Riley. “Right? It’s the afternoon, we’ve got break now.”
“We’ve gotta inform Brooke where we’re taking Elenore and Ashley at first.”
“okay well you two do that then and I’m going to take Ashley upstairs so she can get ready. She’s still in her pajamas. Kota also needs to change clothes and put on some shoes and socks.”
“Okay,” Riley replied and Nick looked at Ashley.
“Ready?” Ashley nodded and he began to bring her upstairs as he carried Dakota under one arm and held Ashley’s hand in the other. Howie grinned as he watched the three of them disappear from the cafeteria.
“I bet you all ten dollars that he’s dating her by the end of this month.”
“By the end of this month? I give him two weeks.” AJ replied.
“Really? You’re willing to bet on it?”
“Yeah because I’m going to win.”
“We’ll see about that.” Riley laughed a little and shook her head.
“Men…” She mumbled and she walked off to go talk to Brooke dragging Brian a long with her as she had a hold of his hand. He didn’t see her start to walk because he was busy watching Howie and AJ’s little competition and he stumbled backwards and barely caught himself.
“Hey!” he whined.
“Well pay attention,” Riley laughed.
“You could have at least warned me.”
“Ugh…and I thought Nick was the whiner.”
“Hey - HEY! I object to those kind of comments” He shot back defensively and Riley just laughed as the two of them continued to walk out of the cafeteria together.
~*~*~*~*~
Once upstairs to Ashley’s room she went to her dresser to look through her clothes. She doesn’t have very many to choose from seeing as how he-who-she-refuses-to-name never let her leave the house to get anything she wanted or needed. She sighed sadly as she looked at the small amount of clothes in her dresser. Nick who was watching her and seemed to have read her mind went up behind her and slid his arms around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry…I’ll buy you some new clothes how’s that?” he asked gently, and she leaned back against him and looked up at him.
“I couldn’t ask you to do that Nicky…”
“You’re not asking, I’m offering.” Nick smiled. Ashley looked up at him, resting the back of her head against his shoulder and she couldn’t help but smile back - the first real smile he’s gotten out of her all day.
“Don’t you dare think you’re leaving that mall today empty handed young lady. Cause I won’t have that.”
“What if I refuse to let you spend your money on me?”
“It’s my money and I can spend it on who I want to, and when I want to. You can refuse but you will find I can be very stubborn. I will just start buying you things at random if you don’t tell me what you want.” Ashley giggled.
“You’re impossible you know that?”
“You better believe it baby,” he replied as he lightly caressed his thumb over her cheek.
“Daddy an’ Ashee sittin’ in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G” Dakota’s taunting voice was suddenly heard from the doorway. Ashley giggled again and Nick smirked and turned his head to look at Dakota to find her standing there smiling real big at watching the two of them.
“Didn’t I tell you to go get dressed little one?”
“Maybe…” Nick smirked and turned around.
“Well I may just send the tickle monster after you if you don’t get moving!” He threatened playfully. Her eyes grew big as he pretended to go after her and she screamed.
“I’s goin’, I’s goin’, no tickles!” she insisted as she turned and ran out of the room giggling. Nick chuckled and turned his attention back on Ashley who had picked a red Ramones t-shirt and blue jeans and she grabbed underwear and a bra and went into her walk in closet and turned on the light before shutting the door so she could get dressed in privacy. When she was dressed she came out wearing red converse shoes and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
“Ready?” He asked her with a grin and she nodded quietly as she suddenly felt very shy around him. Dakota’s little taunting made her feel very shy.
“Come on then,” he replied and he walked out of the room and went next door to his and Dakota’s and she followed behind him. They found Dakota just now finishing up on getting dressed too. She has on an outfit Nick had bought her awhile back ago. A white Nirvana t-shirt, some black jeans, and she’s wearing little blue converse shoes.
“Ready Kota?”
“Yup!”
“Okay, come on then.” He replied and she followed him and Ashley downstairs where they were to meet the rest of the group and go shopping. When they got down there they found Kevin and Elenore waiting in the lobby.
“Where is everybody?” Nick asked curiously.
“Howie and AJ went outside to wait - they’re in the middle of some competition of some sort…” Kevin explained, knowing exactly what the competition is but he knows AJ and Howie would kill him if he told.
“Brian and Riley are still talking to Brooke and here are me and Elenore,” He answered, looking down at Elenore.
“Are you anxious to go to the mall Elenore?” Nick asked, grinning at her and Elenore returned a weak smile.
“Yeah I guess…never been to the mall befores.”
“Well today is your lucky day,” Kevin told her and he hugged her close. He really does care about the little girl a lot.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
