Chapter Two-Hundred-Thirty
The next day, bright and early, but not too early, A.J., Ashley, Kevin, Ellie, & Q. all decided to go shopping. Ashley and A.J. because A.J. had promised his sister, and Kevin and Ellie because Ellie wanted to get a present for Kota since she was feeling sad lately. And Q. because, well, they did need security after all. The five of them left pretty much right after breakfast, so that they could shop until they dropped - or until lunch or a little after - whichever came first. Upon reaching the mall, they all split up - A.J. and Ashley going one way, and Kevin, Ellie, and Q. in the other. Q. Would’ve went with Ashley and A.J., but A.J. insisted he could take care of his sister himself, and that Ellie needed an extra set of eyes to watch her, as she liked to take off if she found the opportunity to do so.
"Kevy, can we goes see Santa?" Ellie asked hopefully, as they walked along hand-in-hand. They'd been walking for about ten minutes or so when she asked.
"Santa's coming to the Orphanage soon," Kevin replied. "Can't you wait until then?"
"No," Ellie answered with a small pout. "I wanna goes see him now."
"Ellie...."
"Please Kevy?" Ellie pleaded. "I gots to asks him something now." Kevin sighed somewhat and glanced at Q. to see what he thought.
"Hey, the kid wants Santa, let her see Santa," Q. stated, shrugging somewhat. "You can't exactly argue with that. It's not like she's asking for sai again." Kevin gave him a Look.
"Don't go giving her any ideas. It's bad enough those are at the top of her Christmas list as it is."
"Well, who was the one who told her to ask the big guy in red and white?" Q reminded him. Kevin rolled his eyes a little, then smiled down at Ellie.
"Alright Princess, we can go see Santa." Ellie cheered.
"YAY!"
"Provided we find him," Kevin added. "This is a big mall after all." Ellie nodded, knowing
they’d find Santa - if not, she'd throw a tantrum - maybe her biggest yet. Maybe. They walked for a bit, until finally they spotted Santa Claus.
"SANTA!" Ellie shrieked delightedly, jumping up and down and pointing excitedly. She'd never been to visit Santa before, as her parents had never celebrated Christmas with her. Though, her father had given her a toy once - just once, in order to silence her pleas. He was mostly mean, and evil, and all that jazz, but he had his moments - very rare moments, but he still had his moments of brief kindness. "LET'S GOES!" Ellie insisted, attempting to drag Kevin over towards the line-up of kids waiting to see jolly old Saint Nick. Kevin stifled a chuckle, as he allowed Ellie to 'drag' him over to where she wanted him to stand with her.
"Would you like a picture with him, Ellie?"
"Really?" Ellie asked, her eyes lighting up in delight and surprise.
"Yes, really," Kevin smiled. "Santa takes pictures with anyone who wants a picture with him."
"Okay!" Ellie chirped, grinning up at Kevin excitedly. Soon enough, it was Elenore's turn to sit on Santa's lap. She made her way up the winding path that would take her to Santa - only children were allowed on this path, no adults except for Santa himself. Elenore glanced back at Kevin occasionally, to ensure it was indeed okay for her to be going up there alone. Kevin's re-assuring smile was enough for her to continue on her way to the old man in red and white awaiting her arrival. She finally reached Santa and eagerly climbed up into his lap.
"Hiya Santa!" She chirped cheerfully. Santa eyed her a moment, before speaking in a deep voice. "And what would you like for Christmas little one?" Elenore thought for a long moment, wanting to word her request just right. "For my Daddy to leaves me 'lone an' lets me stays withs my Kevy forevers an' evers. An' fer some sai, so I can be Raphael betters. He needs his sai, yanno." Santa nodded slightly.
"I see. Sai, you say?" Elenore nodded in return. "Uh-huh. Kevy saids you'd brings me some, ifs I promises nots to hits nobody no mores withs the lights sabers Joshy gots from Brian. Brian an' Kevy gets mad when you hits people withs 'em. An' I don'ts wanna hits Kota no mores; it makes me sad an' I don'ts likes to be sad, an' I don'ts wanna makes her cry no mores." Santa nodded.
"Anything else?"
"Fer Ashley an' Nicky to gets backs together, so Kota can haves her Mommy backs," Elenore replied. "Buts mostly I wants Daddy to lets me stays withs Kevy, likes I saids before, Santa."
"Well, I don't know about Ashley and Nick getting back together," Santa replied. "But I can maybe promise you sai, and I can definitely promise you, that your Daddy will let you stay with Kevin." Elenore looked up at the man in red and white questioningly.
"How do you knows that? He tries to takes me once befores. An' dats almost mades Kevy leaves me - I can'ts lose my Kevy, Santa." Santa frowned a moment.
"Well, like I said, I can promise you Kevin won't leave you, Elenore." Elenore's eyes went a little wide as she stared up at the man whose lap she currently sat in.
"You knows my name? Buts...how?" Santa gave her a Look - one she knew all too well. Elenore's eyes went even bigger than, as her mouth dropped open in fear and shock. "Daddy!?" She gulped, as she cast a nervous glance back in Kevin's direction.
"Hey, you look at me, Young Lady," Sean stated firmly. "You give them any hints that it's me, and I'm getting up and running out of here, taking you with me, understood?" Elenore nodded, starting to feel a little scared.
"Buts...you saids I could stays withs Kevy..."
"Yes, I did," Sean answered. "You can stay with him for as long as you'd like, so long as you don't let anybody know it's me. Got it?" Elenore nodded once more. She'd wondered briefly why Santa had gotten up to go potty before her turn, only to return ever so quickly. Now she knew - because her daddy was playing Santa. Least, he was for her anyway. "Now, listen to me carefully, Elenore," Sean ordered, looking down at the little girl he'd help create. "I'm letting Kevin keep you. And I'm promising not to go after you again. But if he ever harms you in any way, I will hunt him down and make him pay, got it?"
"You can'ts hurts Kevy, Daddy," she spoke softly. "I needs him. He keeps da monsters away, withs Joshy's help."
"Just make him understand he is not allowed to hurt you, and he will be fine," Sean replicated.
"Kay," Elenore whispered.
"Any more requests before that ridiculous Elf snaps a photo of us?" Sean demanded.
"You leaves Joshy an' Ashee be!" Elenore insisted. "An' Brian an' his family an' everybody else, an' Lil' Rok."
"Lil' Rok?"
"My puppy, Daddy," Elenore reminded him. "The pug that you tries to run overs da other day."
"Ellie, you understand this, Young Lady," Sean began, eyeing her warily. "I may've hurt you in ways I probably shouldn't have, but I would never have you killed. Ever. If you could read, you'd know my number one rule, which is for no one other than me to lay a finger on you. You remember that, no matter what happens, understand?"
"Kay," Elenore replied softly, eyeing him warily in return. "Buts I can stays withs, Kevy...rights, Daddy? I loves him lots an' lots...he makes me a Princess!" Sean nodded.
"Yes, you can stay with that blasted Backstreet Boy you've been infatuated with since day one. I should've never given you that CD to begin with, but I had to shut you up somehow!" Elenore smiled up at him, stifling a small giggle that wanted to escape.
"Smile!" The Elf exclaimed, turning to them with a camera in hand. Elenore beamed as she hugged 'Santa' tightly and kissed his cheek, while 'Santa' hugged her in return - he had to play the part after all. Once the photo had been snapped, Sean eyed his little girl one last time.
"You be good, Elenore Ellerbee. And always remember, Daddy has always loved you...no matter what he may've done."
"Love you, Daddy," Elenore smiled, knowing for once she couldn't be smacked for it, and that it was safe to do so. Sean swallowed the slight lump in his throat. Who knew it'd be so damned hard to let the blasted little one go? He sure as Hell didn't, that was for damn sure.
"Go on, Ellie," he urged, setting her down upon the floor on her feet. "And remember, tell no one that it was me, until I'm long gone."
"I won'ts," Elenore promised, though she'd a feeling Kevin was going to be mad at her for this. "Just don'ts hurts Kevy, Joshy, Jerry, Lil' Rok, Kota, Brian, Tim, or anybody else, Kay? An' Spencer! Please don’ts hurts Spencer, Daddy! I loves him!" Sean grimaced slightly, but made the promise nonetheless - no matter how much he wanted to hurt Kori, he just couldn't hurt his little girl anymore.
"Fine. But no promises on any of the others. The 'anybodies' don't count."
"Buts - " Ellie tried, only to be shoved along by 'Santa' as he stood up and announced he'd be right back. She watched as her father disappeared behind the curtain, where Santa got changed, before glancing over to where Kevin now stood waiting for her. She smiled some upon spotting him. He was hers now, so long as he adopted her. Oh, how she hoped! Santa poked his head out of the curtain then and waved her over quickly. Elenore frowned, but obeyed quickly, not daring to do otherwise.
"And Kevin will adopt you Elenore, if he knows what's good for him," Sean told her, before giving her a very brief smile and a shove towards the blasted Backstreet Boy that stood at the exit gate waiting for the little girl. Elenore stumbled slightly, but caught herself and ran for Kevin all smiles.
"Kevyyyyyy!" Kevin laughed and scooped the little one up just as she reached him.
"Well? What did Santa have to say?"
"I'm gettin' sai!" Elenore grinned, giggling somewhat. Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, well, I may have to talk to Santa about that."
"Nuh-uhs," Ellie insisted, shaking her head. "I been a goods girl. I haven't hits nobody withs anything! Nots since lasts times."
"Yes, I know," Kevin smiled. "I'm very proud of you for that Ellie." Ellie giggled as Kevin rubbed his nose against hers for an Eskimo kiss. "What else did Santa say? You talked to him for quite a bit, Missy."
"It's a secret," Ellie replied. "I can'ts tells you 'till laters."
"Okay," Kevin smiled, thinking nothing of it. The man was Santa Claus after all.
"Hey, here's your picture," Q. piped up suddenly, as the Elf had handed him the snapshot. "Ooh. Very cute, if I do say so myself." Ellie grinned when she saw the photo - finally, she'd have a picture of her and her Daddy. Finally.
~*~*~*~*~
“So who’d you get to baby-sit Bella for you?” AJ asked curiously, as he and Ashley walked into Kay’s Jewelry.
“Nick,” Ashley answered simply and AJ looked at her curiously. “He begged me to let him do anything I wanted him to do for me today, so I said ‘okay well how about you watch Bells for me so I can go shopping with Alex’ and he did with no complaints.”
“Well that was nice of him,” AJ replied, not being able to hide the fact that he is impressed. Ashley nodded quietly.
“He really is trying…I’ll give him that. This morning I woke up to rose petals spread out all over my bed and a note on the nightstand that read ‘good morning baby. I love you’ on it.”
“Wow…”
“Yeah…it took everything in me not to go running back into his arms…it was a very sweet gesture.” AJ sighed softly and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“I’m for one, very glad that you didn’t. I know you love him sweetheart and I do too – he’s my baby brother after all…though I try my very hardest to deny that fact as much as I can. It was a very loving gesture, and he should no doubt get kudos for it. But you need to stand your ground…if you forgive him so easily he’s not going not going to learn his lesson. Let him be afraid for awhile…that way he’ll never think about hurting you again.” Ashley didn’t reply, she only rested her head against AJ’s shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her back as he kissed the top of her head. When the lady behind the counter finished helping the other people before them, she turned her attention on Ashley and AJ. After spending some time looking at all of the men’s jewelry, Ashley picked out a blank silver ring and requested to have it engraved so it would say ‘my friend, my love, my soulmate’. The lady told her it would take a day to do, so they paid for it in advance and said they’d be back the next day to pick it up and they left.
“Where to now?” AJ asked curiously. Ashley didn’t reply, she only grabbed him gently by the arm and she led him through the mall knowing exactly where she wants to go. When they arrived at her destination, she pulled him into the tattoo store. AJ raised his eyebrow.
“What are we doing here?” he asked warily. Ashley smiled up at him innocently and he picked up on the look right away.
“Oh no. Absolutely not!”
“Aw come on Alex, please?”
“Ashley you’re seventeen years old.”
“So? You’re an adult – you can give them consent.”
“Mom will kill me.”
“She’ll get over it…she did when you snuck off and got your first tattoo.” AJ scowled.
“I’m not letting you go through with that kind of pain. You’ve suffered enough.”
“Exactly so one little tattoo isn’t going to be that big of a deal.” AJ sighed, and looked at her with disapproval.
“Come on Alex, please?” She pleaded while taking his hands into hers and looking up in his eyes with hope. “If you can have all of these tattoos on your body, why can’t I have just one?” She pouted.
“Because you’re my little sister that’s why. I don’t want to be responsible for your pain. Id rather do damage to any bastard that so much as looks at you wrong.”
“Please? This means a lot to me Alex…” he looked at her for a few moments and then sighed.
“Fine. But only on one condition.” Ashley raised her eyebrow.
“You don’t get Nick’s name on your body.”
“But-“
“No.”
“But that just ruins everything!”
“Ashley it’s a bad omen to put your boyfriend or girlfriend’s name on your body. The moment you do that things in your relationship will go horribly wrong.”
“He just broke my heart Alex, things can’t get any worse at this point.”
“That’s my rule and I’m sticking to it. I’ll go back there with you and make sure you obey me too, don’t think I won’t.” Ashley glared at him for a few moments and then her face suddenly lit up as she found a way around the rule.
“Fine, fine…I won’t put his name on my body.” AJ narrowed his eyes at her.
“May I do it?” he eyed her warily for a few moments and then nodded. Ashley beamed excitedly and threw her arms about him for a hug and she kissed his cheek before going up to the front counter. AJ sighed and then followed.
“What can I do for you?”
“Hey Carlos, it’s me” AJ spoke up and the guy named Carlos looked at him for a the first time and suddenly looked surprised.
“AJ! Hey man, how’s it going?”
“Pretty good, you?”
“Good, good. Here for another tattoo already?”
“Nah, not this time. I’m actually here to supervise my sister while she gets one.”
“You have a sister? Since when?”
“Since the beginning of Thanksgiving. My mom adopted her.”
“Ah…so she’s just a child?”
“Seventeen. But I’m an adult, I can give consent can’t I?” Carlos eyed him warily for a few moments and the nodded.
“I don’t normally do tattoos for under aged people…my own personal rule, but I’ll make an exception for the little sister of AJ McLean.” AJ grinned.
“Thanks man.”
“I’m not going to get into trouble for this, right? You know from your mom?” AJ shook his head.
“I’ll take full blame if she should ever find out.”
“Okay. What kind of tattoo do you plan on getting?” Carlos questioned, turning his attention on Ashley.
“The date November 1st 2000 in a circle…with flames…it could be sort of like a Ring of Fire.” AJ made a small noise of disapproval and she looked up at him innocently.
“What? You told me I couldn’t put his name on my body. You never said anything about the date he walked into my life.” AJ scowled but otherwise remained silent.
“Where do you want it at?” Carlos asked somewhat amused over the fact that she had out-smarted him. He then began to lead her to the room he does the tattoos in.
“My back – on my left shoulder blade.” Carlos looked to AJ.
“That okay with you?”
“I have a feeling my opinion doesn’t matter. If it were up to me she wouldn’t even be having the tattoo at all but she has me wrapped around her finger.” Carlos chuckled and he indicated for her to lie down on the chair that he had made flat and Ashley did just that. AJ sat down in a chair next to her and took her hand into his and laced their fingers together. When Carlos started doing the tattoo, AJ expected her to show pain, or to cry but she did none of the above. She sat there and acted as if she were still waiting for him to start. He sat there watching Carlos carefully as he did the tattoo. It’s not that he doesn’t trust him, because he does. He’s known Carlos since forever and he’s done practically all of his tattoos. But he knows Ashley is sensitive about strange men touching her after her being raped. He doesn’t understand why she is being so brave now. Maybe its because she knows he is there and wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her. Who knows.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
