Chapter Two-Hundred-Sixty-Three
“I want a minute alone with you, J.” Kevin announced after setting Tyke and Lil’ Rok down and he went into the kitchen where AJ had placed Elenore on the counter and he was getting stuff to make cookies with. It just happened, that they were stalked up on eggs, because Kevin was planning on making scrambled eggs at one point for breakfast.
“Not now Kevin, if you can’t already tell, I’m busy.”
“Yes now, before I drag you.”
“Nicky,” AJ spoke up, not wanting to cause a scene and scare Elenore.
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you come keep an eye on Ellie for me while I talk to Kev?” Nick got up from the couch and carried Sarah into the kitchen with him and when he was standing next to him, he kissed Elenore’s cheek.
“I’ll be right back angel,” he told her and he turned and followed Kevin into his room shutting the door.
“What Kev? What is your problem?”
“Your behavior that’s what my problem is.” AJ blinked.
“Well, I’m not going to apologize for being the only one interested in keeping my future niece safe!”
“Your behavior was uncalled for AJ. He was just being nice. You hate him so much and want to get him in trouble so bad that you’re jumping to conclusions over everything.”
“Of course I hate him and want to get him in trouble! Don’t you remember what he did to our baby brother?!” AJ raised his voice ever so slightly, causing the yapping of Lil’ Tyke to begin outside the door as he could sense the stress even from out there.
“Of course I remember! But AJ that was years ago! He hasn’t touched Nick since, or anyone else for that matter! Believe me I understand your anger but you can’t jump to conclusions over every little thing!”
“No you don’t understand!” AJ shouted, tears falling from his eyes. “That bastard molested our little brother seven years ago and we didn’t do a damn thing about it because we were worried he would destroy us! That he would destroy the Backstreet Boys! How fucking selfish were we to not do anything? We watched Nick suffer all these years in order to keep our band together! He was so terrified that he crawled into bed with Brian or me every single night that Lou was with us, and he STILL does it! At the age of twenty years old he still snuggles up with us in bed at night! All because we didn’t do a thing and let that asshole stick around and control every minute of our lives! Well I’M SICK OF IT Kevin, I’m THROUGH! I’ve been carrying this guilt around for seven years and it’s KILLING me! I’m an adult now and I know better! I am NOT going to sit around and let him control us! Nor am I going to let him do what he did to Nicky to the kids or my sister! There’s no fucking way! You may have your head so far up his ass that you can’t see the bigger picture, but OPEN YOUR EYES, Kevin! If it weren’t for Tyke, your little girl would’ve been lured into his room just now by cookies and god only knows what the sick fuck was planning! It’s NOT going to happen! NOT if I have anything to do about it!” Kevin didn’t reply, as he couldn’t find a single thing to say in response to that. Because there isn’t anything. He knows deep down inside that AJ is right. “Don’t you feel guilty in the least bit for making Nick indure all that he did just to keep our group together?”
“Of course I feel guilty. Every single day but adults or not, he can still screw us over the way you treat him all the time with your attitude! I’m worried about him turning the tables on us. Like the way you grabbed him and pulled him into the other room the other day! You’re lucky he didn’t turn you in for assault! It would be exactly the thing he’d do.”
“Let him do it. He molested Nick.”
“Seven years ago. Nick can’t press charges on him anymore, it’s too late.”
“I’m sure Detective Stabler would be able to work it out.”
“He’s not going to be able to save our butts all the time Aje. Especially if you go assaulting the guy and landing yourself behind bars.”
“I’m not going to land myself behind bars.”
“Yes you will, if you keep your attitude toward Lou up. You narrowly escaped jail the last time you were in New York, I don’t think a fan will come to your rescue this time.”
“So what are you saying? That you don’t want me to protect Ashley and the kids And defend Nick who after all these years of suffering deserves it?”
“No that’s not what I’m saying,” Kevin replied while rolling his eyes some. “If the kids or Ashley are in dire need of your protection…by all means don’t let me stop you. But you need to keep your cool around Lou or you’re going to make things worse then it already is.”
“I am not going to just stand around and let him walk all over us either, Kev. It’s just not happening.” Kevin rolled his eyes.
“Just tune him out…ignore him. You’ve been doing it for the past seven years anyway.”
“I am onto him Kevin. I know he was planning on hurting Ellie. God help him if he does, because I am going to be RIGHT there to bust him for it the second he screws up.”
“As long as you’re onto him from a distance.” AJ rolled his eyes.
“Whatever. I’ll just take on the big brother role for now. You let me know when you’re ready to have it back” was all he said, and he placed his hand on the doorknob.
“You want the role Aje?” Kevin asked in half sarcasm and half amusement. AJ turned and looked at him, shrugging his shoulders.
“Have it. You wouldn’t last a day trying to be me.” AJ snorted.
“Yes, because being you is so hard.”
“Try taking on the responsibility of four Backstreet Boys – the Prankster one, the bitchy one, the goofball, and…well, Howie, plus a temperamental five year old for a day and you will finally begin to appreciate all that I do for you.”
“No one asked you to father us, you just do and it’s very annoying.”
“Well someone has to, otherwise nothing would ever get done.”
“I’m sure we would all go just fine without you constantly on our cases about EVERY single thing we do.” Kevin shrugged; keeping a straight face and acting unfazed by AJ’s words.
“Fine. I won’t get on your case anymore.” AJ raised his eyebrow.
“You wouldn’t be able to last.”
“I bet I could. Let’s switch roles Alex.”
“You’re kidding me…”
“No, I’m serious. Since being me seems all milk and cookies to you…try it. I dare you.”
“But…we have a concert tomorrow night! And…Laila would never go for this!”
“Neither would Ellie,” Kevin replied with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’m not doing this. I won’t make Laila suffer.” Kevin rolled his eyes.
“Fine. Use Laila to cover up your fear for all I care,” he shrugged.
“I’m not covering up fear! I am not scared.”
“Yes you’re. You’re chicken shit. You know you would never last a day being me so you’re using your kid to cover up for it.”
“I can too be you. It’s easy as 1, 2, 3.”
“Then do it.”
“Fine. For how long?”
“For the rest of the day and all day tomorrow until after the concert.”
“After the concert? Wait a minute. Define that.”
“What do you not understand?” Kevin asked simply, as if AJ were asking him to add up one plus one.
“Do we have to be each other during the concert?”
“That’s the idea…”
“That would confuse the hell out of our fans. Plus, you don’t have the voice to sing my parts Kev.” Kevin narrowed his eyes at him.
“I’ll be able to pull it off. And if all else fails, I could just act like a horny freak and hump the stage. That will cover up for everything.” AJ scowled.
“OH yeah? Well I think I’ll request to be able to go out and sing Nobody But You and then I will act like ghetto Kevin and do moves like this,” AJ replied, dancing just like Kevin does, shaking his ass and clapping his hands together above his head.
“Whatever floats your boat,” Kevin shrugged. “Now get out of my room. I have some stuff I need to do to get ready to be AJ McLean.” AJ raised his eyebrow.
“Don’t you mean my room? Yours is down the hall with Howie.”
“Oh that’s right. I get to share a bed with my new latin lover, just like AJ.”
“No…just Laila. And she tends to wake up at three in the morning crying for Brooke. So ya know.”
“At least she sleeps,” Kevin replied sweetly, and with that, he opened up the door and walked out of the room. AJ rolled his eyes and he followed him, deciding he would bake cookies with Elenore like he promised, and then he would go raid Kevin’s wardrobe so he can portray the killjoy known as his older brother. When they got into the other room, AJ scooped up Tyke, who was lying in front of the door with his nose underneath the door and they looked at the four curious eyes that were suddenly on them.
“Since I have your attention…” Kevin began. “I would like to introduce you to the new Kevin Richardson,” He added, pointing to AJ who was giving and receiving kisses with Tyke. “If you have any questions or concerns about our group…arguments to resolve…or any issue of the sort, he’s your man. Got it? Good.” Brian raised his eyebrow, half-amused and half-confused.
“If he’s Kevin Richardson…who are you?”
“AJ McLean,” Kevin answered simply. He looked at AJ then. “The irresponsible know it all,” he added, and with that he walked out of the penthouse and headed for AJ’s. Brian stared after Kevin for a few moments, and then he looked to AJ confused.
“What the hell did you do to him?”
“What I do best. I pissed him off,” AJ shrugged.
“Do you want to translate what he just said to us in English by any chance?” Howie spoke up.
“Basically…we switched roles until tomorrow night after the concert. He’s me, and I’m him.”
“What the…” Nick trailed. “Huh?”
“What about Laila?” Howie replied, understanding what AJ said and picking up on why this is happening, no explanation needed. AJ has finally pushed Kevin too far, and he knows AJ is in for a rude awakening. AJ looked over at his angel, who still lay snuggled up against her teddy bear sleeping.
“You’ll have to be there for her D, because by switching roles, we’ve switched kids too.”
“Are you two our of your mind?” Jerald demanded, looking over at his future niece fearfully.
“Nope. Just AJ,” AJ replied, indicating in the direction of his penthouse where he knows his bandmate had gone. “Now if you all will excuse me, I have some cookies to bake” he added and he went into the kitchen where Nick was still standing while Elenore still sat on the counter. When he got in there, Nick walked out of the kitchen still holding Sarah. He then continued to get everything out, and Elenore sat on the counter staring at him, not knowing what to make of this. They’ve got to be kidding right? They must be. She’ll go along with their little joke…and then by bedtime her Kevy will be there. She’s sure of it. Jerald stared at AJ for a few moments, and then he turned and headed out of the room deciding he would go knock some sense into his brother. He’s pissed that’s all. That’s nothing new that’s how he usually is when dealing with AJ and his temper. He just needs some cheering up. When he got down the hall to Howie and AJ’s Penthouse, he opened the door and walked in to find Kevin dressed in one of AJ’s wife beaters, and yellow pants and some sunglasses. He put gel in his hair and made it exactly like AJ’s style and was in the process of getting ready to go somewhere. Jerald took in his younger brother’s new appearance, and it took everything in him not to laugh.
“You look ridiculous.”
“That’s the point.”
“Going somewhere?”
“Yup. I have some fake tattoos to buy.”
“Kev, stop this.”
“No. I’m having fun.”
“You have a five year old who isn’t going to like this very much when she realizes who is going to be tucking her in tonight.”
“That’s the point too.”
“You want to upset Ellie?”
“No, I want AJ to realize that being me isn’t all milk and cookies and stuff.”
“So, when Ellie cries for you…you’re just going to ignore her?”
“Yes, because until tomorrow night I am no longer Kevin. AJ is. Until tomorrow night, my only responsibility is Laila.”
“I can see why you’re pissed off at AJ, but Ellie does not need to suffer because of it.”
“I’ll make it up to her.”
“There’s gotta be a different way for you to teach AJ a lesson, Kev.”
“No. It’s gotta be this. I want him to finally appreciate me.” Jerald rolled his eyes.
“He does appreciate you. He’s just too hot headed to admit it.”
“No I don’t think he does. Not really. He is always bitching and moaning about the way I do things, he’s always whining about how I am on everybody’s case all the time…well, he’s going to take a walk in my shoes and see what it’s like.”
“I refuse to go along with this. I refuse to call you AJ,” Jerald replied stubbornly.
“And I’ll just refuse to answer to Kevin. So, if you want me to respond, you best cooperate big brother.”
“I think Ellie deserves to be told what’s going on before you do this. You at least owe her that.”
“We all ready did. I’m sure Kevin explained the whole thing.”
“From her Kevin.”
“I’m sure he’ll do it if you go ask him.” Jerald sighed heavily.
“From her AJ then. There. Happy? ”
“Chipper,” Kevin grinned.
“So, will you go talk to her?” Kevin thought this over for a couple of moments. After a few moments of thinking about it, he decided he could work this to his benefit.
“Fine…go get her.” Happy that he had won…somewhat, Jerald turned and walked out of the room and Kevin sat down on the couch and waited. A few moments later, Jerald walked in with Elenore rested on his hip. He carried her over to Kevin and sat her in his lap. She shifted so she is straddling him, and she stared up at him confused, and somewhat amused.
“Kevy you looks silly.”
“That’s the point,” Kevin replied grinning, and he leaned forward and rubbed his nose lightly over hers and she smiled up at him some. “
“What did you wants to talk to me about? AJ an’ I were just abouts to put the cookies in the oven.”
“Things are about to get a little confusing around here baby…I just want to talk to you first and make sure you understand what’s going on,” Kevin began gently.
“I already do,” Elenore replied.
“Yeah? Tell me then.”
“You’re gonna be AJ for the day, an’ he’s gonna be you…an’ then at bedtime you’re gonna switch back and tuck me in.”
“No princess…I’m not,” he told her gently, causing her to frown up at him.
“I’m going to be AJ until tomorrow night. He is going to tuck you in.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to teach him a lesson.”
“Buts Kevy…you always tuck me in.”
“I know honey…but things are going to be a little different – just for tonight. And I need your help okay? Can you do that?” Elenore continued to stare up at him skeptically.
“I need you to throw the biggest tantrum you’ve ever thrown tonight.” Jerald scowled upon hearing this and Kevin carefully avoided his critical eyes. Elenore stared up at him as if he has two heads.
“You’re giving me permission?”
“Yes I am. This is a one time only thing. I will not allow this any time afterwards, you understand?” Elenore raised her eyebrow.
“You really wants me to throw a tantrum.”
“Not just a tantrum. The biggest one you’ve ever thrown. Scream, cry, kick, bite, cuss…give em hell, kid.” Jerald cleared his throat.
“Okay, okay. No biting.”
“Kevin—“
“—And if you do this for me, if you put on a great show, I will buy you a new toy.” Elenore’s eyes widened in excitement.
“Kevin Scott, if you reward her for being bad I will call mom!”
“What’s mom going to do about it? She’s in Florida, I’m here” Kevin shrugged. Jerald scowled.
“Think about what you’re teaching her here!”
“Shh, Uncle Jerry! I'ma gets to be bad just once an' Kevy's nots gonna be mad ats me fer its!"
“Yeah, well, he should be stuck in time out for this behavior.” Kevin shook his head and looked back down at Elenore.
“So, Princess…do we have a deal?”
“Uh-Huhs!” Elenore replied excitedly, and Jerald sighed.
“Well, you have one kid cooperating with you. Laila will not understand” Jerald replied confidently.
“I have that taken care of, don’t worry.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
“Laila loves M&Ms. It’s her favorite. I’ll just feed those to her and she’ll have the time of her life – we’ll play all sorts of fun games. It’s exactly what AJ would do. And when the sugar rush runs down…she’ll go right to sleep, and then when she wakes up in the middle of the night…I’ll let her talk to Brooke on the webcam. It’s all good.” Jerald stared at his little brother, completely scandalized. Who is this man, and what has he done with his responsible brother? And how is AJ going to act…is he going to turn into Mr. Responsible on everybody? Boy…is their world really going to be turned upside down.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
