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Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Five




When Kevin and Jerald arrived at their mother's house Jerald parked the van in the driveway and the two of them got out. Kevin opened up the back door where Elenore is and he got her out carefully as to not wake her up. Just as soon as he turned around the front door opened and Tim came out quietly. He had seen in the window that his future niece is asleep.



"I see someone had way too much fun at the Carnival," he spoke quietly.



"Jer wore her out," Kevin stated in a matter of fact tone as he received a brief hug from his brother.



"Mom and I have the couch already set up so you can just go and lay her down. Some how she just knew she would be asleep."



"She's always been good at that kind of stuff," Kevin smiled, and he carried Elenore into the house. When the three of them got in there he went over and lay her on the couch so her head was rested on the pillow and Jerald covered her up with the blanket.



"Kevy? Kevy?" Elenore whimpered as she felt Kevin's touch go away and she opened her eyes slightly and found herself in a new place.



"Shhh…" Kevin soothed, and he sat down on the edge of the couch facing her and he combed his fingers through her hair.



"I'm right here Ellie…and I'm not going anywhere. Close your eyes okay? Go back to sleep," he told her gently, and he untied her shoes and pulled them off of her feet. She lay there looking up at him for a few moments with tired eyes and then finally closed her eyes and went back to sleep. He kissed her forehead softly and then got up and went into the kitchen to find his mom already in the kitchen cooking. He went up behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind and he kissed her cheek before looking at what she is making.



"Mmm…Chili my favorite," Ann laughed a little and turned around and hugged him. "I figured you would've already eaten dinner by now, it is pretty late."



"We waited for you and Jerald to come home. I knew after spending all that time at the carnival you would be hungry."



"Yeah I want Ellie to eat something real, she's been eating junkfood all day."



"I figured that too," Ann smiled and Kevin grinned a little and gave her one last hug. "Is she sleeping?"



"Yeah I'm sorry, Jer wore her out."



"I did no such thing," Jerald replied as he and Tim walked into the kitchen. He went over and kissed his mother on the cheek and then he went over and grabbed a handful of cheese that she had just grated and he began to eat it. Kevin rolled his eyes some.



"I'll wake her up when the chili is done though. I would highly suggest letting her sleep for the time being though because she can be a holy terror when she's lacking sleep."



"That sweet little girl? No-ooo…" Jerald replied disbelief etched into his voice.



"You met her on a good day," Kevin replied. "She was behaving for you because you were giving her everything she wanted."



"I don't believe you. Ellie is a good girl," Jerald insisted.



"Okay, yes she is. She's my angel but sometimes she can be a bit temperamental…especially with lack of sleep."



"Because of her father right?" Tim asked with a hint of anger in his voice. Kevin had explained to him Elenore's story and he just feels sickened by the whole thing.



"Yeah, that's a huge reason," Kevin nodded. "But she is also five years old," he added. "That's how most kids are…except Kota…though lately Ellie has been quite an influence on her…"



"Well I can't wait to meet her," Ann spoke up with a proud smile on her face. She, Jerald, and Tim met her on the day they arrived in Kentucky of course but they all are just aching to spend sometime with her. Kevin smiled a little.



"So Tim, where are you taking her? Jer took her to the Carnival."



"I have no idea yet, I was hoping you could help me out there. What does she like to do?"



"She'll enjoy pretty much anything — she's never been anywhere before unless the guys and I have taken her there so it'll be like a new adventure to her no matter what you do."



"Take her to ride go-karts," Jerald suggested. "And quads — she'll like that. And what kid doesn't like going to the toy store?"



"Go-karts will be fine…I'm not so sure about the quads though," Kevin replied protectively.



"Aw come on bro, it could be fun. I won't go too fast with her and we'll both wear helmets." Kevin narrowed his eyes at him for a few moments and then gave in.



"Alright…as long as I'm there with you though."



"Sweet!" Tim cheered, though he made sure to stay quiet as to not wake the little one in the next room. Unlike Jerald he believes Kevin when he says she needs her beauty sleep.



"So…when are you going to adopt her?" Ann suddenly asked, and she looked over at her youngest son with a small smile on her face.



"That's exactly the same thing I was wondering. You all should've seen the way he is with her…he would be a perfect father to Ellie." Jerald replied. Kevin went over to get a water bottle from the refrigerator so his back was turned to them.



"Now what makes you all think that I was?" He questioned, and he couldn't help but smile since none of them could see it.



"Well you brought her to meet us, didn't you?" Ann interrogated.



"Yeah…and I was watching you with her at the Carnival Kev, you would make a great daddy."



"I'm her caregiver…I'm supposed to be that way with her, Jer."



"What you have with Ellie isn't a caregiver connection little bro. You are like 'daddy' in her eyes."



"Yeah well…that doesn't mean I would make a good one," Kevin shrugged and Ann could hear the insecure tone in his voice.



"Why not?"



"I nearly lost her to her father at Disney World not too far back. How am I supposed to be a father to her if I can't even protect her?"


"That was one mistake Kev, one."



"Yeah well, I can't afford to make those kind of mistakes. Ellie is way too important."



"Brian told me all about what happened that day…it wasn't all your fault, you all should have been watching them more closely," Tim insisted.



"It doesn't matter…she was my responsibility and I blew it. My whole life all I wanted was to be a great dad like ours was…and then that happened and told me that I can't be."



"Do you know how many mistakes your father made with you three in the past?" Ann spoke up, and she put the spoon that she was using to stir the chili with down, before going up beside Kevin. She placed her finger to his chin and gently turned his face so he is looking at her. "He's made plenty…just like any other human being but he loved all three of you very much and that's what made him a great father. You three meant the whole world to him."



"And Ellie is my whole world too…but I can't afford to make mistakes like the one I made, she is too important and I can't lose her."



"That is why you learn from the mistakes you make bro," Jerald spoke softly. At the mention of his father he felt a pang of sadness inside him though he managed to stay strong. Kevin was about to respond when suddenly he heard a shrill scream from in the next room.



"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEVY STOPS THEM!!!! DON'T LETS THEM TAKE ME!!!!!!!!" Kevin dropped his water bottle and immediately dove toward living room with Jerald, Tim, and Ann right behind him. The moment they got in there though, they realized that the little girl was not really in trouble, but only having a nightmare. She is tossing and turning, kicking and flailing her arms about and screaming repeatedly for Kevin, though all the while she is still asleep. Kevin rushed over, sat on the couch and he immediately gathered Elenore into his arms.



"Shhh…Ellie! Ellie wake up baby, wake up" When Elenore felt Kevin's touch and heard him talking to her she immediately stopped struggling with him and her eyes immediately shot open. She clung tightly to him and sobbed.



"It's okay…you are safe baby…shhh…"



"Don'ts let them takes me Kevy, don't lets the mean guys in the bushes takes me…"



"It's okay honey…shhh…Kevy's got you. I'm not going to let anybody take you. You are safe…" Kevin reassured, and he rocked her gently in his arms. Jerald, Ann, and Tim exchanged knowing looks with each other as they stood there watching. They just know he's going to adopt her sooner or later — despite all of his doubts.



~*~*~*~*~*~



Meanwhile, at the Littrell House, it is now a little after dinner and everybody was sitting around in the living room when suddenly Dakota came downstairs with Josh at her side.



"Daddy…"



"Yeah baby?"



"Can we goes to the park again? Withs Joshy and Spencer this time?" She pleaded in a bored tone.



"I just gave you a bath!" Nick replied incredulously, though he was smiling at his daughter.



"I wont's get dirty again…I promise."



"Yeah, right…and Justin Timberlake and I are best friends," Nick laughed. Dakota's mouth dropped in shock and she looked at Nick with excitement.



"Really daddy?! Can I meets him pleeeease?" Nick raised his eyebrow and Brian, Howie, Riley, and everybody laughed.



"Honey…you will be lucky if I agree to even let that man in the same building as you." Dakota scowled.



"But I needs him to sign my Nsync CD!" Nick turned and narrowed his eyes at Brian.



"Maybe you can get your Uncle Brian to take you to get it signed, since he is the one who bought it for you and all."



"Hey I can't help it! She did the pout!" Nick shook his head and then looked back at Dakota again.



"Can we pleeeease go to the park daddy?"



"Oh I guess...if everybody will agree to come a long." When everybody did, Nick got up and scooped Dakota up into his arms and he kissed her cheek.



"Should I dress her into some clothes or leave her in her pajamas?"



"Leave her in her pajamas," Dakota answered, talking in first person. Ashley giggled a little.



"At least put her shoes, socks, and hoodie on her though — it's chilly out." Nick nodded and carried Dakota up the stairs to do just that. When he returned everybody was ready to go so they headed to the park with Laney, DC, and Q. Howie even managed to coax Ryan into coming a long — Jackie, Harold, Denise and Harry are even coming a long. When they arrived at the park Josh grabbed both Dakota and Sarah by the hand and made a run for it to the play structure. Dakota grabbed hold of Spencer as she was being pulled away causing him to yelp and follow, as he was in the middle of day dreaming when she did. Q followed close behind them and everybody else made their way to the Ramada where they sat down. Just as Aaron was about to sit down he heard a familiar laugh. He looked to where he heard it from which was over at the basketball court and to his surprise, he found Stacy over there with the same girls from Wal-Mart, and a few boys their age. Aaron stared at them in shock for a few moments and everybody looked at him confused.



"Aaron?" BJ asked curiously, but Aaron didn't reply, he only turned and headed for the swings instead.



"What in the world?" Leslie asked, Nick sighed and shrugged his shoulders.



"I'll go talk to him," he replied, and he got up and went after his little brother. Angel on the other hand turned her head toward the basketball courts and she rolled her eyes at the sight of the girl from Wal-Mart.



"Great…and I was this close to persuading him to forget about her." Everybody turned their heads to look and realization suddenly hit them.



"Ohhh so I take it mystery girl is over there?" Brian guessed.



"Yeah," Angel replied grudgingly.



"Which one?" BJ asked interestedly, and she looked the four girls over with a curious smile on her face.



"Airboy described her as a blonde to us remember? So that must be her," Howie replied, motioning toward the girl with the blonde hair with the pink strip in it. She is wearing a purple tank top, a blue denim jacket, and a blue denim skirt and she is barefoot. BJ stared at her for a few moments just studying her.



"You know…she does kind of look familiar…"



"How?" Leslie asked curiously.



"I don't know…she just does. What'd Aaron say her name was?"



"Stacy," Angel answered.



"Shhh…not so loud, she'll hear you." Brian reminded.



"Hmm…" BJ replied, and she remained quiet for a really long time as she watched Stacy discreetly from under the Ramada. Meanwhile, over on the swings, when Nick got over there he sat down in the empty swing next to Aaron and he sat there looking at him curiously.



"Okay…what's up now?"



"Look over at the basketball court Nick…see those kids over there?" Nick looked over there curiously and then nodded.



"Yeah, what about them?"



"See that blonde with them? That's Stacy…"



"Ohhh…" Nick replied, and he looked back over at them and tried to look closer to see if he recognizes her at all. No such luck…but it doesn't really help much that he is so far away from her.



"Why don't you go say hi?"



"Are you kidding me? And risk getting my head bit off? No way…she might even sick her boyfriend on me too."



"Who says that she has one?" Aaron looked at Nick with a 'duh' expression on his face and Nick rolled his eyes.



"Just because she is hanging out with a few boys it doesn't necessarily mean one of them has to be her boyfriend."



"Whatever…it would still be suicide to go over there…" Aaron replied bitterly, and he looked down at the sand as he quietly shuffled his foot through it.