Meanwhile, upstairs, when BJ had all of the kids in Dakota’s bedroom with the door shut so they couldn’t hear a thing from the meeting, Dakota immediately suggested what they should do.
“Lets play dress up!” she exclaimed cheerily.
“Yeah!” Elenore replied beside her sounding just as excited as she is.
“Ew…dress up is for girls!” Josh insisted while making a face. Elenore narrowed her eyes at him.
“Well you don’ts have to play Joshua, you and Spencer can do your own stuff.” Josh raised his eyebrow.
“Joshua? You are calling me Joshua?”
“That is your name isn’t it?”
“I would prefer Joshy when it’s coming from you.”
“Since when?”
“Since you call me that all the time and it’s become my nickname – Joshua coming from you sounds like I am being scolded.” Elenore rolled her eyes in exasperation and she looked to Dakota.
"Boys…can never make up their mind, can they?"
"Not as much as a girl can't," Spencer spoke up. Elenore opened up her mouth to argue when suddenly BJ stepped in.
“Okay you three…As entertaining as the traditional boys vs. girls battle can be, why don’t we just end it now before it gets out of hand.” Elenore narrowed her eyes at Spencer and then turned and went to help Dakota get the dress up clothes out. Spencer just grinned after her in amusement and Josh raised his eyebrow.
“Are you asking for it or what Spence cause you never gang up on Ellie and Dakota.” He asked quietly.
“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Got a problem with that?”
“Hey you are talking to the king of ganging up on Kota and Ellie here,” Josh replied, holding his hands up in defense. “I’m just used to you running to their rescue is all.”
“Yeah, well, things change” Spencer replied while looking over at Ryan who was lying on the bed reading a book. Josh looked at him confused not having an idea what is causing the new Spencer. Spencer went over and grabbed Dakota’s Candy Land game board.
“Anyway, come play Candy Land with me.” Josh went over and sat on the floor in front of him as Spencer placed the game between them and Josh opened it up and began taking out the game pieces. As he did that he couldn’t help but suddenly notice Spencer’s eyes venture over to Elenore and he can’t help but notice a mixture of contemplation and fascination in his eyes and suddenly everything clicked. He’s teasing her for attention…because he like everybody else knows that Ellie craves trouble and it’s no secret that she has an interest in Ryan – he is jealous of Ryan. Why in the world he would be jealous of him Josh has no idea. He would never let Ellie near Ryan – not after what he did to her.
“Spencer is staring at’s you,” Dakota whispered softly to Elenore on the other side of the room.
“Yeah I know,” Elenore replied rolling her eyes. “Probably trying to think of another way to be a back stabber.”
“I don’ts think so.”
“What else would he be thinking about?”
“I don’ts know,” Dakota lied and Elenore looked at her to see her smiling. Elenore opened her mouth to interrogate when suddenly Dakota interrupted her.
“Auntie BJ will you puts makeup on us? Please?”
“I’m not sure about that Kota…my brother might kill me if I do that.”
“Aww come on we can’ts play dress up withouts make up,” Elenore insisted.
“Oh all right…” BJ caved. “But if Nick gets mad at me I am blaming you,” BJ insisted and she grabbed up her purse and began dumping makeup onto the bed. Dakota grinned excitedly and she and Elenore began picking out costumes – they plan on going downstairs and showing all of the grownups – and Ashley how pretty they look when they are done. Meanwhile downstairs when they finished their meeting everybody began to do their own thing. Ashley got up and went to get a Dr Pepper from the refrigerator and when she returned to the living room only Nick, Brian, Riley, Jackie, Harold, and Harry were in there. Nick who was lying sideways on the couch taking up the whole room looked at Ashley as she entered and right off he knew that something was bothering her. He has a feeling he knows exactly what it is too because he recognizes the signs.
“Baby? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine,” Ashley answered in a somewhat snappy tone.
“Okay…how about we skip the fight this time and you just tell me what’s wrong…so that I can make it better.” Ashley looked away from him stubbornly and he noticed her holding her stomach. Nick reached out and gently grabbed her hand and he pulled her close enough to him that he could pull her onto the couch so she lay beside him.
“Did you take Ibuprofen?”
“Mhm…”
“How’d you even know that was the problem?” Harry asked curiously.
“I know my girlfriend by now,” Nick explained.
“And they got into a huge fight the last time this was the problem and she refused to confide in him – I’m sure he memorized the signs so he wouldn’t have to go through that again,” Brian added.
“Ashley and Nick fight?” Harry asked astonished.
“Only once,” Nick answered. “And Id like to keep it that way,” he added as he looked down at Ashley and rested his forehead against hers. She slid her arms around his neck and he bent down and placed soft kisses on her neck and shoulders.
“Hey – no making out – you’ll burn our eyes!” Riley protested playfully and she covered up her eyes. Nick smirked and grabbed up an extra pillow and without even having to look away from Ashley he sent the pillow flying toward Riley causing it to hit her right upside the head and Brian burst out laughing.
“Heeey!” she shrieked and she grabbed up the pillow again and threw it right back at Nick but he didn’t care he just let it hit him. Ashley giggled as the pillow bounced right off of him and onto the floor. He rolled his eyes some and finally stopped his kisses and laid his head against the pillow as he lay on the inside of the couch with her in front of him. She smiled and rested her head against his chest and he lifted her shirt up – without thinking, and he began to gently rub his hand over her stomach.
“Uhhh…Nick,” Brian warned, but it was too late. The one thing they had been trying to hide from Riley was now seen – by Riley herself.
“Nickolas Gene Carter!” Riley exclaimed going wide eyed. Nick flinched; obviously not knowing what he had done wrong.
“What? I’m not making out with her anymore!”
“What is that on her belly button, Carter?”
“Uh-oh…” Harry laughed. Nick’s eyes widened.
“Nothing – nothing at all!” he insisted and he covered her belly button with his hands so no one could see. Brian just sat there quietly not saying a word – fearing that Riley will round on him next because he’s known about this all along and didn’t tell her. Riley got up and went over and kneeled on the floor in front of them and she grabbed hold of Nick’s hands – which suddenly became very heavy in attempt to keep the navel piercing hidden and she pulled them away. When she saw the belly button ring she looked at Nick with narrowed eyes.
“It was her idea! All hers! I swear,” He quickly insisted.
“And who is the caregiver out of the two of you?”
“The caregiver side of me tried his hardest to say no, but then the evil boyfriend side to me caved and said yes – it’s like those voices inside your head you know? Your conscious! Well the boyfriend part of my conscious took over during that time.” Riley rolled her eyes and grabbed up the pillow from the floor and she whacked Nick upside the head with it a couple of times.
“Ah! Ah!” he yelled out each time the pillow came in contact with his head and he slid behind Ashley so she was sheltering him causing Riley to have to stop.
“Well that boyfriend side of you had better warn the caregiver side of you to keep that piercing better hidden around Brooke because she will have a much bigger hissy fit then I did.” She warned, still looking at Nick with narrowed eyes. Nick remained hidden behind Ashley until Riley got up and went over and resumed her spot next to Brian and she looked at him to see a look of relief on his face.
“Did you know anything about this?”
“Me? No…of course not!” Harry snorted and started a pretend coughing fit as he coughed out the word ‘liar’ in the middle of it all. Brian looked over at him.
“Man bro…you might want to take some cough medicine because that sounds bad.” Riley was now narrowing her eyes at him instead.
“Well hey, he’s my Frack…I mean what can ya do, right? It’s my job to back him up.”
“You’re lucky I don’t kick you out of your own room and make you sleep on the couch, Littrell.”
“And if she does ever do that son…there’s some extra pillows in the hallway closet,” Harold informed in that tone a father gets when passing down useful information to his son. Harry laughed.
“How would you know that dad?”
“Well because I’ve been there before, that’s why.” Harold answered simply.
“And he deserved it too,” Jackie insisted. Harold scowled at his wife and then looked back at Brian.
“Anyway…son…now you know. If you ever need them – that hallway closet is filled with pillows and blankets.” Brian smirked.
“Thanks dad – I’ll keep that in mind.”
“NICKOLAS GENE CARTER!” Kevin’s voice roared just after Brian had spoke and Nick flinched even more as that is ten times more scarier then Riley.
“Oh shit…now what did I do?” he moaned. Riley grinned amusedly at this and a second later Kevin came bursting out of the kitchen with his laptop in his hands. Howie was at his side ready to hold Kevin back if he should pounce.
“What? What did I do wrong now?” Nick asked, looking at Kevin’s rage-filled face and suddenly feeling the need to jump up and run. He sat up in his spot on the couch and pulled Ashley into his lap knowing Kevin won’t dare attack him with her there. Suddenly all three bodyguards AND Denise were walking downstairs looking worried.
“Here D…you give him this…I’m afraid if I come near him I won’t be able to control myself.” Howie nodded and grabbed up the laptop from Kevin’s hands and he brought it over and handed it to Ashley. Ashley sat it in her lap and rested the back of her head against Nick’s shoulder as the two of them look to see what’s got Kevin so angry. The moment they did they understood. There on the computer screen were pictures of Nick and Ashley sitting on the bench in the mall. Ashley has her arms wrapped around Nick’s neck and their foreheads are touching as they discuss Nick’s problem about letting Dakota get her ears pierced. There are also other pictures of them holding hands while walking through the mall, and a picture of the two of them watching Dakota get her ears pierced. Ashley was holding Nick’s hand for support.
“These are all innocent pictures Kev…”
“Yes, I see that Nick. But read the article.” Nick looked back down at the article that Ashley had already started reading and Brian came up behind the couch and began reading it over his shoulder.
Backstreet boy Nick Carter out with his girlfriend, Ashley Mortenson. She’s the girl Nick introduced the world too last month on the Ellen Degenerees show, by saying he was her caregiver and that she's a child from the orphanage where he works. Well, she is a child folks - a seventeen-year-old one. Ashley is due to turn eighteen next February, but until she does Nick Carter is robbing the cradle. And robbing the cradle is statutory rape, because for sure he is sleeping with her. After all, he IS Nick Carter and he is known for dating lots of girls who are trying to break out into Hollywood. You can bet Ashley is probably trying to do the same thing, sleep with him to further her career. Besides, a picture is worth a thousand words and they sure look pretty cozy in these pictures. Rumor even has it, that Carter’s daughter; Dakota Ann has even started calling Ashley, Mommy. Will Ashley be the first Mrs. Carter? Or will Nick just break her heart, like he's done to all the others? Stick around a few months and we shall see - though, Carter may just end up doing jail time for this latest dating fiasco.
“Oh shit…” Nick muttered when he had finished reading.
“Yeah. Any ideas on how you are going to fix this one?”
“I have no idea Kev…what am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know – I asked you to be careful but you didn’t listen to me.”
“Kev lay off.” Brian demanded lightly as he could see Nick was upset enough as it is.
“Well I did, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did. So much that it grew tiresome. But what’s done is done…maybe you should keep the I told you so’s to yourself and help your baby brother through this mess.” Kevin grumbled. He was about to open his mouth to respond when suddenly his cell phone rang. He pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID and he laughed – but it was not at all an amused one.
“Guess who it is Nick…” before waiting for Nick’s answer he turned his phone on and placed it to his ear.
“Hey Lou…how is your holiday?” He asked, trying to sound cheerful as he walked into the kitchen and shut the door. Nick looked up at Brian and Brian could see him trying his very hardest to hold his tears back. Brian sighed and walked around the couch and he sat next to him before wrapping his arms around both Nick and Ashley.
“We’ll fix this buddy I promise…we’ll find a way.”
“To further my career? What career? I’m an orphan in an orphanage,” Ashley spoke up suddenly; as the shock was wearing off and she had managed to find her voice to speak.
“It’s the media honey…they make assumptions…it’s their job,” Jackie answered. Meanwhile in the kitchen, Kevin was pacing back and fourth, as he just knows Lou is going to yell at him.
“Nevermind my vacation!” Lou barked angrily. “Have you seen the news lately?!”
“I know Lou…I know Nick messed up – and I’m talking to him right no—“
“Nick? What did Nick do? I’m talking about AJ!” Lou snapped.
“AJ? Oh god…what did AJ do?” Kevin asked, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples as he could feel a huge headache coming on.
“Go turn your TV on and find out! What the HELL is he doing in New York anyway?”
“Visiting Brooke…” Kevin answered, and walked into the living room and went and turned on the TV.
“What channel?”
“I’m on TV too?” Nick asked worriedly. Kevin shushed him sharply and then turned his attention on the television as Lou answered his question.
“Channel 10.” He grabbed up the remote and switched to the channel 10 news and just as he did there on the TV was a replay of his fight with Mark and Aiden in Panda Express and then of the three of them being escorted out of the place by police. There is a reporter telling the TV watchers all about it.
“Oh no, Alex…” Denise was the first to speak as she now had her full attention on her son.
“Are you watching it?”
“Yeah…I had no idea it happened Lou…but I promise you he will get an ear full.”
“What is going on with Nick?” Lou demanded.
“Nothing…It’s just a misunderstanding – nothing that can’t be fixed,” Kevin insisted.
“Kevin I want to know what’s going on right-“
“-I don’t have time right now Lou I have two bandmates to take care of,” Kevin interrupted and before Lou could say anything else he hung up on him. A second later though his phone rang. Kevin looked down at the caller ID and saw it was Lou calling back. Kevin rolled his eyes and turned his phone completely off before tossing it aside and he looked at everybody else.
“Okay…this buys us some time to come up with a plan,” he announced and Brian nodded.
“Glad to see you are finally willing to help.”
“Well we are definitely going to need to do another interview…or a press conference…or something to set these rumors straight,” Howie spoke up.
“Yeah, but I have a feeling even if we go and tell them Nick is not dating Ashley some people are not going to believe us – and we need to protect Ashley. There are going to be fans all over her now.”
“What if…” Denise began, causing everybody to turn their attention on her. “What if I adopted Ashley…would that help?”
“It would most certainly help Nick from being in danger of going to jail,” Howie replied, suddenly looking hopeful and he looked over at Nick and Ashley to see Ashley looking at Denise curiously.
“You wouldn’t even have to adopt her,” Kevin spoke up. “What if we just say you did in order to keep the police off?”
“Detective Stabler will still want to see the papers,” Riley replied. “He will want proof. So she would have to fill them out anyway…so she might as well just adopt her.”
“I am more then willing to adopt her,” Denise insisted. “I mean I know we haven’t really spent much time together, but I know I’m a really great mom,” she added while looking over at Ashley with a look of reassurance. “I mean I’ve raised Alex haven’t I?”
“You are a really great mother,” Ashley agreed softly. “But…I’m not sure if I’m at the point where I’m ready to give mine up. No one could ever replace her…”
“I could never ask you to,” Denise reassured. “I know your parents are very important to you and they always will be. You don’t even have to call me mom unless you feel comfortable doing so. But you will no longer be an orphan and your relationship with Nick would no longer have to be a secret either.”
“It would be nice to have a motherly figure to turn to…” Ashley replied and she looked up at Nick as if asking him for approval.
“I think you should agree to it baby. Denise is a great mom.” Ashley looked over at Kori who was sitting next to Wiley on the couch. They had rushed downstairs along with Denise and the bodyguards as soon as they heard Kevin yell.
“It’s either her or me sis…we have to keep Nick from being arrested – but I would think you would like me better as a sister instead of your guardian.”
“Okay…” Ashley replied looking at Denise. “But can I still live in the Orphanage with Nick and Dakota? It’s sort of my home…”
“Yeah of course, I can come to the Orphanage and visit every day. I’m going to have to if I am ever going to see Alex seeing as how he is turning into Nick, Brian, and Kevin who never want to leave the place.”
“So it’s settled?” Kevin asked, looking over at Ashley. Ashley nodded smiling a little.
“Cool…we’ll need to have Brooke send the papers back with AJ.”
“And we’ll have to make it seem like Denise adopted her before we came here on vacation so that we can ensure Nick is totally safe from going to jail. They could do something so unfair like say she adopted her after they were caught at the mall…or something,” Brian added.
“And Nick, yours and Ashley’s relationship as girlfriend and boyfriend did not start until this vacation,” Howie added.
“But I never slept with her…they can’t arrest me unless I’ve actually slept with her could they?”
“No, but they could take your job away if they know you’ve been dating her all this time Nick. You need to play it out like it just started AFTER Denise adopted her,” Harold insisted. “I know you love that job just as much as you love being a Backstreet Boy – we don’t want you to lose that.”
“Yeah you’ve got a point…” Nick replied.
“I’m going to call AJ,” Kevin announced and he grabbed up his phone and turned it on. As soon as it was turned on he glanced down at it and noticed four voicemail messages and he rolled his eyes.
“And Lou…” he added, and he got up and went back into the kitchen closing the door behind him.
