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Chapter Two-Hundred-Sixty-Six



“Switching places with Kev, J?” Ashley asked, as the two of them were left sitting alone in the two chairs in the far back of the auditorium while everybody else went off and did their own thing. Ashley sat sideways in her chair hugging her legs as she faces him and he sat in the same position in his own chair holding her hands.


“Believe me…it wasn’t my idea.”


“It’s a ridiculous idea. If you think I am going to play a long, you’re sadly mistaken, bro,” Ashley insisted. “I love Kevin and all…but I just can’t pretend that he is my brother, there is no way. I look at him as more of the fatherly figure I never had.” AJ chuckled.


“Don’t let him hear you say that. He gets pretty bitchy about that lately. Which is what landed us in this situation.”


“Is that right?” Ashley asked amused.


“True story,” AJ insisted.


“Are you sure your big mouth didn’t have anything to do with it at all?” AJ gasped in mock surprise.


“Why sis, I can’t believe you’d say such a thing.”


“I say it because I know you Alex. You irritated him enough this time that it pushed him over the edge. Didn’t you?”


“Well…maybe a little…” Ashley raised her eyebrow.


“Okay, a lot…” Ashley nodded, satisfied that he admitted that he was wrong too.


But,” AJ began. “I’m not the one who suggested that we switch places. That was his own crazy idea.”


“Well, maybe Kevin actually knows what he’s doing after all,” Ashley replied.


“Personally I think he’s lost his marbles.”


“Personally, I think you have some growing up to do.”


“Interesting how that’s coming from my younger sister of all people.”


“Well, maybe you’ll actually hear it for once then.”


“I do hear it Ashley. Every single day and quite frankly I just wish it would stop.” Ashley rolled her eyes.


“Yes, Kevin can be pretty hard on you sometimes, I agree. But did you ever stop to think that he only does it because he cares?”


“He just needs to lay off a little bit and everything would be good.”


“Well then why don’t you just tell him that instead of disrespecting him all the time? He does a lot for you and this band and all he asks for his a little respect.”


“No one asked for him to be the fatherly figure, he just does it.”


“Well gee. It must be nice to have a fatherly figure around to take care of you just because he loves you Alex, huh?”


“Ashley I—“


“—I wish I could have that. I’ve always loved and respected Kevin because in my eyes he’s been like a fatherly figure to me ever since I let the five of you into my life. And I’ve really needed that. He takes care of everyone and everything and doesn’t ask for anything in return except for some respect. And all you do is criticize him for it. Yes, he’s hard on you…he’s hard on Nick too a lot of the time but I think if you talked to him about it, he would do his best to change. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the past couple of months is if you want something, all it takes is communication. And I’ve been trying my hardest to do that. Maybe you should too.” She sat there looking at him for a couple of moments as a lone tear rolled down her cheek and when he didn’t reply, she got up and walked past him and down to join the rest of the group. AJ hugged his legs to his chest as he watched his sister go, wondering when she managed to grow up so fast. Was his eyes closed or something? She has definitely changed a lot since the day they met her. And has become very smart too – not that she wasn’t before, she’s always been smart, but just never so outspoken. Her confidence is definitely growing. The tables have definitely turned, that’s for sure. Usually he is the one giving her the advice and he’s not used to it being the other way around. He remained in his seat for the rest of sound check, completely blowing it off and receiving glares from Lou because of it too. Howie took charge of the situation since Kevin refused. By the time it was all over, Howie looked up at AJ.


“Will the real AJ McLean who is pretending to be Kevin, please come down here now? It’s time to go.” AJ rolled his eyes and got up and he walked down the few steps to join his bandmates.


“You might as well call me AJ and him Kevin,” he replied. Howie raised his eyebrow.


“You aren’t pretending to be Kevin anymore?”


“There is no use in confusing people. Even I am starting to be confused. I’ll play my role with my own name, thank-you.”


“Your role as Kevin?”


“Yes.” Howie shook his head in amusement, and he made sure he had Ryan, before heading toward the door. Everybody else began to follow and Nick grabbed up Bella’s carseat with Bella inside and took hold of Dakota’s hand. He made sure Ashley had Sarah, and then followed suit. Ashley began to follow also, when suddenly she felt arms wrap around her waist from behind. Knowing that they’re AJ’s arms, she allowed herself to lean back into him, though he could see that she is still somewhat angry with him.


“You’re too right for your own good sometimes,” he whispered softly in her ear, not wanting anyone else to know that he is admitting that he was wrong. His sister can know, but nobody else.


“Does that mean you’re going to end this silly charade?” She asked quietly, as she noticed Nick stop in the doorway when he realized his girlfriend wasn’t behind him. He knows she is going through some argument with her brother. She didn’t tell him about it, but he knows her well enough to know that when she came down from talking to him, she was not happy. Though he was concerned, he stayed out of it. He knows he doesn’t always like when the boys butt into his arguments with his sisters, and they respect that. So he tries to respect it too. Girlfriend or not. Now if she should decide to tell him about it, that’s a different story. But she didn’t.


“It ends when Kevin says it ends. It was his idea.”


“You could always apologize.”


“I just admitted to you that I was wrong and that alone was a big step. So can you just be happy for me about that and not fight with me anymore? It breaks my heart to fight with you.”


“Fine,” Ashley replied softly, and he looked down at her, leaning over her shoulder so he could see her face. “I don’t like fighting with you either,” she admitted stubbornly. AJ chuckled and kissed her cheek and he guided her toward the door, as she held Sarah who was rested on her hip. When they met up with Nick at the door, Nick gave her a curious look, and she looked back at him with an ‘I’ll explain later’ kind of look before resting her head against his shoulder as the three of them walked out the door.


“There you are! What’s taking you three so long?” Howie questioned.


“Chill Howie. Don’t get your panties all up in a twist, we’re coming” Nick replied. “If I didn’t know any better I would think you were the one taking Kevin’s place.” Ashley cleared her throat, and he looked down at her and she gave him a disapproving look.


“What?” he questioned.


“I think Kevin’s role is an admirable position to take on,” she replied. Kevin who was standing behind Howie smirked at this and he gave Nick and AJ both ‘listen to your girlfriend and sister’ looks. She carried Sarah onto the bus then, and Nick looked at AJ curiously. AJ waited until she was all the way on the tour bus, and then explained.


“Careful what you say. She’s in defending Kevin mode right now. That’s how I got in trouble.”


“Ah,” Nick replied, understanding completely why this is. He has always known of her admiration of Kevin without her even telling him. It’s just something he picked up on. The two of them saw Howie poke his head back out of the bus then, and hurried up and joined him before he could complain again. When they were on the bus, the bus driver closed the door behind them and drove off toward the Hotel and Ashley went up to AJ and took his hand and pulled him away from Nick before leaning up on her tiptoes and whispering into AJ’s ear.


“Do you still have that promise ring you helped me get for Nicky?”


“Mhm. Do you want it now?”


“Yes and I need a baby-sitter too.”


“Don’t look at me. I have Ellie to take care of and she’s enough to make three kids.”


“Speaking of…I haven’t heard a peep out of, or seen her since I arrived and that’s unusual,” Ashley replied. “Where is she?” AJ looked suddenly taken aback and alarmed. Come to think of it, he hasn’t heard a peep out of, or seen her since he sent her off with Jerald and Harry before Sound Check started. He looked around the room and when he saw every single kid in the room except the one he is currently responsible for, his heart began to beat rapidly. He didn’t leave her behind did he? They wouldn’t dare let him. Especially not Kevin. Would they?


“Jerry?”


“What?” Jerald asked curiously.


“Where is Ellie?”


“Q has her in the back. He is reading her a story. Why?” Jerald asked, and he looked at AJ concerned as he could see the panic on his face. AJ let out a breath that he didn’t realize he was holding then.


“No reason…was just curious, that’s all” he replied innocently, and Kevin narrowed his eyes.


“Scared you left her behind, Aje?”


“No, no. I just haven’t heard from her or seen her in awhile, I was just wondering where she was.” Jerald raised his eyebrow.


“Aje, do you honestly think I would let you leave her behind?”


“You can’t not forget Ellie,” Harry replied. “She’s an unforgettable kid.”


“But obviously AJ did,” Kevin replied. “What’s the matter Aje? Responsibility getting to be too much for you?” AJ glared at him. He looked at Ashley, and she just stood there staring back at him. He scowled and looked back at Kevin.


“No it’s just fine thank-you,” he replied, and he stormed off into the other room. Ashley shook her head and looked at Kevin who rolled his eyes after AJ. She then walked into the kitchen, muttering to herself; the only words anyone could make out were ‘ridiculous’ and ‘Dr pepper’.


“At least someone agrees with me that this fight between the two of you is ridiculous,” Jerald replied, looking at his brother. Kevin shrugged.


“When AJ learns his lesson tomorrow night, we’ll work everything out.”


“In all honesty, I think you both have a lesson to learn,” Howie replied.


“Hey Rok, keep an eye on Bella for me will you?” Nick questioned.


“Sure thing Nick,” Brian replied, and he reached over and gently rocked Bella’s carseat while Nick got up and went into the kitchen. When he got in there, he walked up behind Ashley as she stood facing the counter drinking a can of Dr Pepper with her back turned, and he slid his arms around her and kissed the back of her neck softly.


“You okay?”


“Yeah…fine. I’m just a little stressed…the fan incident upset me, and then I find out the two people I care deeply about are fighting and it just bugs me.”


“Don’t worry about it…they’ll settle it soon enough. Just let them work it out on their own okay?” Nick asked gently, and he tightened his arms around her, pulled her back into him lovingly.


“They’re both behaving childishly.”


“I agree with you,” Nick replied, gently turning her around to face him so her back was against the counter and he took her Dr Pepper and set it down before resting his forehead against hers. “But sometimes you have to stand back and let them figure that out on their own.” Ashley shrugged.


“Don’t worry about it. They’ll work it out soon enough,” he repeated gently. “Lets just concentrate on you and me,” he added, leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over hers. “We haven’t done that in awhile.” Ashley smiled up at him some, and she slid her arm around his neck.


“No we haven’t,” she agreed. “Which is why I think we should get a baby-sitter tonight.”


“Yeah?”


“Mhm.”


“Who’d you have in mind?”


“Brian?”


“He’s taking Riley out.” Ashley thought about this for a few moments, as he leaned forward and placed soft kisses on her neck and shoulders.


“Momma Denise,” She suggested softly, managing to still concentrate on the subject, though it is hard.


“That’s a possibility…and what are we going to do once we get this baby-sitter? Hmm?” he asked, knowing he is driving her crazy, which only makes him want to do it more.


“Go to the beach…” Nick smirked, as his mouth was still against her neck.


“Will there be a bikini involved?”


“Kind of cold for a swim, don’t you think?” she asked, managing to find some strength in her.


“I’ll keep you warm,” Nick insisted.


“And what about my broken arm?” She pointed out amusedly.


“Hey, if I can give you a bath without getting your arm wet, I think we can make out in the ocean without getting it wet too.”


“But the ocean has waves.”


“We’ll stay where they aren’t so high.” Ashley narrowed her eyes at him and he chuckled.


“What? Don’t get mad at me just because you can’t come up with anymore ways to play hard to get.”


“You suck,” Ashley insisted, and he smirked before capturing her lips with his for a deep kiss and she moaned softly before kissing him back.


~*~*~*~*~*~



When they arrived at the hotel, everybody gathered up their kids – AJ making a show of being very responsible with Ellie in front of Kevin, and they all got off the bus and headed into the hotel. When they were up in their rooms, Nick got Dakota and Sarah dressed in their pajamas and Ashley with one hand changed Bella’s diaper, got her in her pajamas, and when he walked in the room and saw her zipping it up he raised her eyebrow.


“Honey you should’ve told me to come help you with her, I cant believe you did that all on your own,” he lectured gently. Ashley shrugged.


“It’s all good, I’m becoming a very skilled handicap I’m telling you.” Nick chuckled and leaned forward and gave her a quick but sweet kiss before going over and grabbing up a bottle and the formula and be began to make Bella her bottle knowing she was going to get fussy pretty quick here. Ashley leaned forward and kissed Bella’s forehead softly, and sat there watching her lovingly for a couple of moments and then she looked at Nick.


“I’ll be back baby. People to see things to get. You know, the works.” Nick chuckled.


“Okay,” he replied and she got up and left the room. She went out into the hall and ran right into Marcus – almost literally.


“Whoa sweetheart, where is the fire?” he asked, catching her before she was knocked off balance.


“No fire. I’m just in a hurry.”


“For yours and Nick’s late night stroll on the beach?”


“You can call it that if you want,” Ashley smirked. Marcus chuckled.


“Honey, I don’t think you two should be wandering off on your own.”


“We’ll be fine.”


“Take a look at your arm and then tell me you two will be fine. I know Sean’s cronies are following us, I feel their presence. I didn’t make a big deal of it though because I didn’t want to alarm you, and they aren’t harming us but that doesn’t mean they won’t.” Ashley leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.


“We’ll be fine,” she insisted stubbornly, and with that she let go of him and went off to talk to her brother, whom she knows is in what is supposed to be Kevin’s room. Marcus shook his head and turned and looked at Laney.


“Get ready, we’re going to trail Nick and Ashley.”


“You heard the girl, I think she wanted her privacy.”


“And we’ll give her as much privacy as we can, but we are not leaving them completely alone either. They’re going to the beach Lan. No one will see anything happen there. It would be the perfect place for them to attack. We have to go with them.”


“Okay, okay. But you’ve been with her all day, are you sure you don’t want to take a break? Maybe Drew and I could go.” Marcus shook his head.


“I’m not leaving her.”