“How was hanging out with your sister?” Wiley questioned as he wrapped his arms around Kori and looked into her eyes curiously.
“Good, I had a lot of fun. We really got to talk about things you know?” Kori answered while smiling some. Wiley gazed into her eyes and immediately could see something was on her mind.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.”
“Kori…” Kori sighed and looked away from him. Wiley rolled his eyes and placed his hand to her cheek making her look back at him again.
“What’s bothering you? You know I know you better then anyone else so telling me everything is fine is not going to cut it with me.”
“My sister is just frustrating me that’s all…”
“Why? I thought you said everything was fine when you went out.”
“Yeah…it was…that’s not it.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Wiley asked concerned.
“I’m just sick of her blaming the whole situation with Sean all on her…I hate that she feels responsible.”
“I think it’s more then that…I think she has it in her mind that it should have been her and not your parents.”
“Well I wish she wouldn’t.”
“Easy for you to say…she had to watch them die.”
“All I’m saying is that it makes me angry that she feels responsible…the only person she should be blaming is me.” Wiley didn’t reply he only hugged her close to him and kissed her forehead softly.
“Let’s just not think about this right now okay? Why don’t we go for a walk?”
“I don’t feel like going anywhere,” Kori answered, and she went over and sat on the couch. Wiley went over and sat next to her and he wrapped his arms around her causing her to lean over and rest her head against his chest.
“So you just want to be mopey then?”
“Yes…I’m entitled to be mopey every once in awhile.” Wiley bent down and kissed the top of her head and he rubbed his hand over her back deciding there is nothing he can do but be here for her right now. That’s all he really can do when she is in one of her moods. He watched her as she snuck a glance over at AJ who was still sitting on the floor playing with Laila. She sat there watching him quietly until AJ suddenly felt her eyes on him. He looked up from Laila’s toys and over at Kori and Kori immediately darted her eyes away from him. AJ raised his eyebrow and then looked back at Laila and began playing with her once more. Wiley stifled a laugh as he had witnessed the whole thing and was suddenly reminded of the first grade when kids used to play the look-away game with their crushes. In his opinion he thinks Kori and AJ are being stubborn and should just apologize to each other already. When Kori was sure that AJ wasn’t paying attention to her anymore, she looked back over at him. After awhile though he began to feel her eyes again and he shook his head smiling. He turned and looked at her again and she darted her eyes up pretending to suddenly be so interested in the ceiling. AJ smirked and looked back at Laila again. He’ll catch her. Kori waited a couple of moments and then looked back at AJ and just as she did AJ whipped his head around and looked at her too right at the same time and Kori’s eyes went wide and she looked over at Howie and Denise and AJ and Wiley laughed.
“You know Kor…I’m afraid you’re going to eventually burn a hole through my head.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kori insisted.
“You’re almost as bad as Ashley when it comes to lying. Why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind instead of sitting there staring at me?”
“Oh don’t flatter yourself McLean…not every girl is staring at you, even though you always seem to think so.”
“Why would I care if girls are staring at me when the one girl I’ve been after for years is my girlfriend?”
“Because that is just you. You’re AJ McLean…you love the attention.”
“I’m a Backstreet Boy…I would be in the wrong career if I didn’t appreciate the attention.”
“Yeah, well, I hope Brooke knows how much you enjoy that attention.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I see the way you look at girls…always checking them out, always flirting with them – even more then you should.”
“I’m glad to see you pay attention to me that much.”
“It’s hard not to.”
“Because you care about me right?” Kori raised her eyebrow.
“No I don’t. You annoy the crap out of me.”
“Oh yeah, I can just feel the hate” AJ replied sarcastically.
“I never said that I hate you. I said that you annoy me. There is a difference.”
“Hmm…well you see that just confuses me little sis.”
“I am not your sister,” Kori insisted stubbornly.
“Oh yes you are. Whether you like it or not you’re infact my sister. You’re Ashley’s sister and mom adopted her therefore that makes you my sister too.” Kori crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from him stubbornly.
“And I guess Nick was right. Sisters are confusing sometimes.”
“What is it that is so confusing about me? I think I am pretty easy to figure out.”
“Well to be honest, I don’t get the feeling that I ‘annoy’ you at all. Because you see, if I annoyed you, you would ignore me entirely – but you don’t do that. You like to stare at me when you think I’m not paying attention and point out my mistakes. I think you secretly like me and don’t want to admit it.”
“I think you’re out of your mind and are full of yourself,” Kori insisted, and with that she got up and disappeared into the kitchen. AJ chuckled.
“I love you too sis!” he called after her. Denise who was sitting there with Howie listening to the entire thing raised her eyebrow and she looked at Howie who just sat there amused by the whole thing.
“Look at that, they’re already fighting like siblings” Howie joked. Denise shook her head and looked over at AJ.
“Hey – I was being nice! It was her who was being mean. If you’re going to lecture anyone it should be her!”
“I still haven’t heard you apologize to her for upsetting her earlier – it was uncalled for Alex.”
“You always taught me to mean it when I apologize. If I apologize for that I won’t mean it.” Denise narrowed her eyes at him.
“Alex! What you said to her earlier was completely uncalled for and not a way to welcome someone into the family!”
“I don’t care. I meant what I said.”
“Alexander James, if you don’t apologize to her so help me…”
“What mom? What are you going to do? Put me over your knee and spank me?”
“You’re acting like you’re five years old.”
“I am only doing what you taught me, mother. You told me to always mean it when I apologize. Therefore I can’t apologize to her because I meant every word that I said. I was sticking up for Ashley and I am standing my ground. I am twenty-two years old you can’t make me do anything anymore! I will go as silent as Sarah if I have to!” AJ insisted and he shifted himself so he was lying on his stomach on the floor and he continued to play with Laila. Denise rolled her eyes and she grabbed a couch pillow before getting up and going over to him. When she got to him she whacked him upside the head with the pillow.
“Hey! Momma!” Denise couldn’t help but laugh a little and she lightly kicked him in the bottom as he continued to lie there before lying down on the floor next to him and he narrowed his eyes at her stubbornly.
“Why do you have to be so stubborn?”
“Cause that’s the way I am. When I’ve made my mind up about something I stick to it.”
“Yes, but Alex she hasn’t even been your sister for a day and you’ve already upset her. It was really unnecessary for you to say those things. Whether she was putting Nick down or not.”
“It had to be said sometime,” AJ replied while shrugging his shoulders. “It might as well have been then while I was already arguing with her.”
“Don’t you think she’s already in enough trouble as it is with Ashley?” AJ shrugged. “I mean I don’t get why it’s so hard for you to get a long with her when you seem to love Ashley to death.”
“Ashley didn’t get involved with a dangerous man, piss him off, and then run away from home and let her parents get murdered for her mistakes. She’s suffered so much because of her and I hate it that she can’t face it when Ashley has and has suffered because of it.”
“She’s doing the best that she emotionally can right now. You’ve gotta give her a little break AJ…”
“Did Ashley get a break?”
“No but…”
“I don’t get the feeling that she is trying at all. All she is doing is running away from it and it’s pissing me off.”
“At least she is here trying to make it right with Ashley again and trying to catch Sean…you’ve gotta give her credit for that.”
“Only because if she doesn’t Detective Stabler will arrest her. As soon as Sean is caught she’s not going to stick around here, you’ve heard her. She’s going to run off to Jersey again when Ashley has made it perfectly clear that she needs her here because she can’t handle the pain.”
“Her and Ashley have talked about it and everything is okay now.”
“Do you really believe that mom?” Denise shrugged.
“She seems fine about it now to me.”
“Because she loves Kori and knows what Kori wants is to live in Jersey. But deep down inside it still hurts her. She wants her sister here I can see it everytime she looks at her.”
“So I am never going to get you to apologize to her then, am I?”
“Not for that. No. Everybody else may be willing to give her a break, but I’m not. Until she faces her demons like Ashley I can’t have pity for her. I’ll be nice to her and be her brother but I won’t apologize for what I said and if she pisses me off I am going to be down right honest with her.”
“What if she does face her demons and still wants to live in New Jersey when Sean is caught? Are you going to continue to hate her forever?”
“I don’t hate her. I never said that I hate her I just hate that she can’t face her demons. If she does and still wants to go back to Jersey fine…I can’t stop her. But at least it’s not because she can’t wait to get away from here but because she likes the place. But that is the only reason she wants to go back there – she can’t face what happened here.” Denise was about to open her mouth to reply when suddenly Brian walked in pulling the wagon behind him with all of the kids sitting inside it holding the red roses. AJ got up from lying on the floor and dutifully went over to help.
“Where are Nick and Ashley? Ashley isn’t going to walk in here and see these anytime soon is she?” Brian questioned cautiously.
“She is still upstairs with Nick. I think you’re safe.”
“Have any of you been up to check on them? They’ve been separated from each other for most of the day…who knows what they’ll do.”
“No, its Kevin’s job to be the bad guy not mine. Both Kori and I have already threatened him plenty I think he’ll behave himself.”
“Well since I’m here with the roses, should we go up there and ask Nick if he’s coming with us to set things up at the restaurant?”
“Nah, you and I will just go. I think it would be best if he stayed here and distracted her.”
“Okay,” Brian nodded. “Good point. He’s been whining so much about being away from her I don’t think I would be able to coax him into coming with us anyway.” AJ went over and scooped Laila up into his arms then.
“Alex, why don’t you leave her here and I will baby sit for you?” Denise suggested.
“No momma I would miss her too much.”
“It’s just a couple of hours…”
“That’s too long,” AJ insisted and he grabbed up Laila’s blanket, placed it over her and she snuggled into him before resting her head against his shoulder and popping her thumb into her mouth and he walked out of the house before his mother could protest. Denise sighed and looked at Brian worriedly. Brian patted her back gently and then grabbed hold of the wagon handle again and he began pulling the kids back out of the house with Laney at his side.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile upstairs Nick still lay on the bed with Ashley lying ontop of him with her head nestled comfortably against his chest and he is still rubbing his hand over her back. Abbie lay next to them half-asleep while Ashley lightly stroked her back and watched her relax.
“I can’t believe she is still up here,” Ashley spoke softly. “And lying still…she usually likes to be downstairs where all of the action is at. Are you sure she is okay Nicky?”
“Mhm she’s fine baby I promise. I’m sure she is just tired and wants to sleep right now. Plus her mommy is up here. Every baby likes to be near their parent when they’ve been hurt or if they’re sick. She ran straight for you when you walked in the door you know. Not Kori, not Laney…you.”
“It just makes me sick that my puppy got hurt…this could so easily be you next time Nick…”
“It’s not going to happen.”
“How do you know? I hate it that you and Kori both think you’re invincible.”
“Because I am going to be very careful that’s how I know. I’m not going anywhere honey, my place is right here with you and my daughter.” Ashley didn’t reply she only hugged him closer and he titled her chin up and bent down and brushed his lips lightly over hers.
“Lets not think about it right now okay? Why don’t you close your eyes and take a little nap? I will be right here holding you the whole time.”
“I don’t want to. If I close my eyes I won’t be able to see you.”
“That’s not true…I’ll be in your dreams.”
“What if I have nightmares?”
“You won’t because I’ll be right here watching you and will scare them away.” Ashley couldn’t help but smile up at him some.
“You would lay here all this time and watch me sleep?”
“What makes you think It’s not a daily ritual for me?”
“Really?” Ashley asked softly and he caressed her cheek with his finger.
“Mhm.” She was quiet for a few moments as she lay there looking up at him and when she spoke again she reached up and raked her fingers through his hair lazily.
“Will you sing me something? It might help me fall asleep better.”
“Of course. What do you want me to sing?”
“Something different…not one of your Backstreet Songs. Something you’ve never sang before to anyone else.” Nick lay there watching her for a couple of moments as he thought things over. When he thought of something he spoke up again.
“Okay…I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this yet…but I think I will give it a try. I’ve been writing you a song…” Ashley’s eyes lit up at these words.
“Really Nicky?”
“Mhm…no one has heard it yet. I haven’t even written the lyrics down on paper yet or anything, I’ve just been developing it in my mind. Would you like to hear it?”
“Yes I would…sing it to me please?” She begged and Nick smiled down at her as he lightly caressed her cheek with his finger and he kissed her forehead before singing softly in her ear.
”When I see your smile
Tears roll down my face
I can’t replace.
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul,
And I know I'll find deep inside me, I can be the one.
I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all, even if saving you sends me to heaven…”
As Nick was singing he noticed a tear drop escape her eye and slide down her cheek and he lightly brushed it away.
”It’s okay…
It’s okay…
It’s okay…
Seasons are changing and waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and night’s grow shorter…
I will show you I can be the one…
I will never let you fall
I’ll stand up with you forever.
I will be there for you through it all,
Even if saving you sends me to heaven.
Cause you're my
You're my, my
My true love
My whole heart
Please don't throw that away.
Cause I'm here, for you
Please don't walk away and
Please tell me you'll stay, stay…
Use me, as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill and
I know I'll be okay though my skies are turning gray.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven.”
