- Text Size +
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Chapter Two-Hundred-Sixty-Seven



When Ashley went and saw AJ, she found him sitting on the couch talking to Brooke on the Web Cam with his laptop, and Riley rushing around getting ready for her date with Brian. Brian is spending a little time with Josh and Chris before bed while Jerald sat on the couch talking to what she assumes is either Tim or his mom on the phone in low voices, while Harry sat next to him listening in. All the while Elenore sat on the floor playing with Dakota who Nick gave permission to come play with her friend for a little while before bed. Ashley walked up to AJ, whom didn’t even notice her entrance, and she slid her arms around AJ from behind and peered into the webcam.


“Hi Brookie. Refusing to go a long with this little charade my brother and Kevin have going too?” she asked, and Brooke laughed as AJ jumped ever so slightly and looked up at her curiously.


“Yeah, I was just trying to talk some sense into him.”


“Well, good luck with that I’ve been trying to do the same thing but failed miserably. Maybe you’ll have a better chance at it.”


“Hey it’s Kev who needs sense talked into, not me” AJ insisted. Ashley rolled her eyes some.


Anyway,” she replied. “How about giving me that promise ring so I can be on my way?”


“Oh. Right. Be right back Brookie.”


“Okay,” Brooke replied, smiling in amusement at the bond that her boyfriend and his new sister have formed in such a short time and he got up and made eye contact with Jerald whom looked at him curiously.


“I’m gonna go get something from my room okay?” Jerald nodded, and AJ opened the door and walked out. Ashley sat down in AJ’s spot then and started a conversation with Brooke easily. When AJ returned he cleared his throat and Ashley looked up at him. He handed her the little box and she smiled, said her good byes too Brooke, and then stood up, and gave AJ a brief hug.


“Bye J. Do me a favor and don’t turn into Howie or something crazy like that while I’m gone okay?” She asked, causing Brooke to laugh and AJ to roll his eyes.


“You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll try my best” he replied sarcastically.


“Well, as long as you try,” she replied, and she kissed his cheek before going over and kissing Dakota on the cheek as well and she smiled up at her and watched as her Ashee left the room. Ashley went down the hall then to her own room and found her mom in there talking with Nick. She raised her eyebrow.


“I was just going to call you.”


“Nick beat you to it,” Denise replied.


“Where’d you go?” Nick asked curiously, as he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her near before planting a kiss on her nose.


“To talk to AJ.”


“You seem to be doing that a lot in the past couple of hours,” Nick pointed out amusedly.


“Yeah, but this was important.”


“How come?” Nick asked curiously, and he placed his forefinger and thumb to her chin before lightly pushing it back so that her brown eyes were connected with blue.


“Oh you know…brother sister thing…” Ashley replied, and she looked at Denise.


“So you’re going to watch the kids for us Momma Denise?”


“That’s the plan. Nick already told me everything I need to know. So you two can leave anytime you want I’m good.”


“Just a few minutes – just let me get ready,” She replied looking at Nick and Nick alone and she wriggled her eyebrows. Nick smirked and she turned around and darted for their room. Nick chuckled and he looked at Denise as he bent down and wrapped Sarah in his arms.


“She’s hiding something from me. I can tell.”


“Yeah, but just give her a chance. I’m sure there’s a good reason behind it. You would know if it were bad.”

“True,” Nick replied, and suddenly Ashley came out wearing her bikini and denim blue shorts and she slid Nick’s leather jacket on over it and was holding Bella. She walked over so she was standing next to her mom and she bent down and kissed Bella’s forehead softly, not quite wanting to give her baby up. This is really the first time she’s gotten to hold her all day.


“Shouldn’t you at least put a shirt on over that bikini until you get to the beach?” Denise questioned as she took a look at her daughter’s outfit. “You’re a Backstreet Boy’s girlfriend, that’s bound to catch attention.” Ashley shrugged.


“At this point I could careless.” Denise raised her eyebrow. “Well I don’t. Either they like me, or they don’t like me. I’m a good person and I’m tired of beating myself up over what the media thinks.”


“Fine, but for my sake could you put a shirt on until you get to the beach?” Denise pleaded. Ashley looked at her for a moment, and then gently handed Bella over to her before zipping Nick’s jacket up and she smiled at Denise sweetly.


“Thank-you my dear,” Denise replied satisfied. “And don’t you unzip it as soon as you walk out the door either. I’m a mother, I know how that works.” Ashley didn’t reply she only wrapped her arm around Denise and hugged her and even gave her a kiss on the cheek before pulling away and looking at Nick. The two of them said their good byes to Sarah, told her to be good, and then he took her hand and they walked out the door leaving Denise standing there gazing after them in surprise. She’s never gotten a hug or a kiss for lecturing her child before that’s for sure. She looked almost pleased to be lectured. Meanwhile out in the hall, when Nick and Ashley got out there, Marcus and Laney were standing there waiting on them.


“Ready to go?” Marcus asked grinning cheerily, and Ashley raised her eyebrow.


“I told you we would be fine Marcus.”


“I’m sure you will sweetie, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t coming with.” Ashley narrowed her eyes at him.


“All right fine, if you don’t mind watching us make out” Nick replied.


“We won’t watch you. We’ll stand a good distance from you and look the other way the whole time and talk quietly amongst ourselves. Keep watch of the beach. You won’t even know we’re there.”


“And besides,” Laney replied. “We’ve seen the two of you make out so much that we don’t really care.”


“Yup. Nothing new for us” Marcus added. “We’re used to your lovey doveyness.” Ashley continued to stare at Marcus through narrowed eyes, not exactly pleased with the security guard she has grown to love at the moment. Nick wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her near and he kissed her cheek softly.


“Don’t worry about it. The beach will have dark places; it’s nighttime. We’ll go where they can’t see us.”


“We have to at least be able to make out where you are” Marcus replied, avoiding Ashley’s eyes.


“On second thought, we just won’t go” Laney replied, and Ashley and Nick looked at him with raised eyebrows and Marcus glaring. “Go on ahead. You guys want your privacy. We’ll leave you alone.”


“Are you sure?” Nick double-checked.


“He’s sure Nicky, lets go before he changes his mind” Ashley insisted, and she took his hand and pulled him toward the stairs. Laney waited until they were out of hearing point and then he looked at a seething Marcus.


“Chill out,” he whispered. “Let her think we aren’t going. I have a feeling she’ll be uncomfortable the whole time if she knew we were there and that’s uncool. Just let her think we aren’t going and we’ll secretly trail them.” The look on Marcus’s face softened then.


“I have a feeling we should have done that in the first place.” Laney nodded, and the two of them leaned against two separate walls and looked toward the stairs and as Ashley and Nick were just about to go down it, Ashley looked back at them one last time making sure they aren’t following them. They made themselves look comfortable, like they’re just standing there guarding the halls and they each smiled and waved good-bye to her before Nick pulled her down the stairs with him. They waited a few moments until they were sure they had made it out of the hotel, and then they headed after them.


~*~*~*~*~


After spending awhile with his kids, Brian said goodnight to them each and sang to them in advance knowing it’s routine with Josh and he would be unhappy if it didn’t happen. After that he took hold of Riley’s hand and they left for their date after making sure Harry was ready to take over.


“Ellie,” AJ began, closing his laptop and looking at the girl he is currently responsible for.

“I am not going to bed,” She told him in a sing-song voice, as she sat there building blocks with Dakota and as if right on cue, Denise walked in with Bella and Sarah to collect Dakota and take her back for bedtime.


“Yes you are,” AJ replied in the same tone of voice. “Right now.”


“Nuh-uhs” Elenore challenged. Jerald rolled his eyes and got up then and he left the room. He swore to himself that he wouldn’t be apart of this.


“Kota come on sweetheart. Your daddy told me that you would want to watch Beauty and The Beast during bedtime. If you’re extra good I might throw in some popcorn with that” Denise spoke up, wanting to get Dakota out of the way before the battle begins. Dakota got up at once, as she was given orders to mind Denise tonight if she wanted to be Belle in the play and she said her good byes to her best friend before following Denise and her new sister out of the room. AJ stood up then.


“Ellie, now.”


“I can’ts heeears you,” she tested, still speaking in that singsong voice.


“Well, you better open your ears then because if I have to go over there and help you clean up, I won’t be very happy.” Elenore went on as if she hadn’t heard anything and Harry got up and ushered the two boys into their room knowing it’s going to be a while before AJ gets Elenore in there. AJ rolled his eyes and he stood up and went over to Elenore and he grabbed her up gently by the arm before picking up blocks and tossing them into the container.


“NO!” Elenore shouted, and she yanked her arm free of AJ’s grasp and threw herself upon the floor before covering her face in her arms and she just lay there. When AJ got the blocks cleaned up, he reached over and placed his hands to her waist before hoisting her up in the air and he shifted his hands so they were underneath her arms. And with experience, he held her directly away from his body just as the little girl began kicking.



“NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!” she shrieked.


“Ellie, knock it off right now! I am not going to put up with this the way Kevin does,” he warned, carrying her over to the couch where her pajamas were at. He then sat down with her in his lap so she was facing forward with her back to him and he held onto her tightly as she wiggled about in his arms, flailing her arms everywhere as he attempted to pull her shirt up and over her head. After a few moments when he had her in just her Ninja Turtle Panties, she managed to slide down from his lap and take off running.


“ELENORE ELLERBEE, You get your little bottom back over here, RIGHT now!” he ordered. He got up then, and looked at her.


“You can’ts catch me, you can’ts catch me, Nyeah, Nyeah, Nyeah, Nyeah, Nyeah!” she sang out. He ran toward her then, and she darted under the table and came out the other side. He started for the right of the table, and she ran around to the left. He turned to the left, and she ran to the right. “Nyeah, Nyeah, Nyeah, Nyeah, Nyeah” she continued to sing.


“You are about to land yourself in time out.”


“I won’ts stay there,” she challenged.


“You will If I handcuff you down.”


“You wouldn’ts,” Elenore replied. “Kevy would be mad ats you.”


“Well it’s Kevy’s own fault for putting me incharge of you, isn’t it? And it’s not like I’m hurting you, I’m just making you stay put in time out.”


“Well it doesn’t matter because you’re never gonna catches me,” Elenore replied confidently, and as AJ made a bold move and dove under the table, Elenore climbed on top of it and climbed over it and jumped down as he stood up where she used to be standing.


“Damnit!” he cursed, and Elenore giggled and turned around before taking off running again. She ran straight for the front door and put her hand on the doorknob and she looked back at AJ daringly.


“Elenore don’t you dare open that door!” he warned. She smiled at him sweetly, before turning the knob and pulling it open. “Elenore, don’t you DARE go out into that hall!” She giggled again, before stepping casually out into the hall. He groaned and then darted toward her, and she turned around and took off down the hall like a rocket and she began making Tarzan noises as she ran being sure to be loud.


“ELENORE EDNA REENA IRENE ELIANA ELLERBEE, YOU KNOCK IT OFF RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY! DO YOU WANT TO GET US IN TROUBLE?” Elenore stopped yelling then, realizing he was right about that. He doesn’t want to get them in trouble because then she’ll feel bad. And the only reason she is doing this is because Kevin asked her to. So, instead, she began to do Ninjistu all the way through the hall, doing flips, cartwheels, and such. When she got to the stairs, she looked back at AJ, who was catching up to her somewhat.


DON’T you dare! You’re already in big enough trouble as it is!” He warned. Ignoring him, she turned and dashed down the stairs. AJ shook his head.


“OH…I am going to kill you Kev,” he muttered, before taking off after. When Elenore got down to the second to the last step; she did a flip in the air, before landing on her feet again and she darted through the lobby, not a care in the world that she was just in her underwear and socks.


“LOOKS OUT PEOPLES! RAPHAEL COMIN’ THROUGHS!” she shouted, as she pushed past people who were standing around in the lobby. She then noticed straight ahead two men walking her way with a wedding cake in their hands. Her eyes widened in horror.


“LOOKS OUT PEOPLES, LOOKS OUT!” she shouted, realizing that in her socks and the speed she was going in, there was no way she was going to be able to stop. But then it dawned on her. Socks! She is in socks! She can slide. As she approached the two men, whose eyes were widened in fear, she ducked and slid right underneath the cake and she let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t make them fall or drop the cake or anything. She wouldn’t want to ruin anyone’s wedding. When she got to her feet she turned her head to check on AJ and saw that he was ganging up on her. She turned around and started to run again, when suddenly she saw someone standing there in front of her. Before she even had time to look up and see who it is, a pair of hands grabbed her up and she yelped, and suddenly realized exactly who it is. Her jerry!


“All right Ellie, THAT is enough!” he insisted, feeling extremely bad for AJ.


“No it’s not,” Elenore insisted. “It nots over till Big Bird sings!” Jerald shook his head and he carried her over to AJ, closing in the three steps between them, and he handed her over.


“Come on Aje, let’s get her upstairs and I’ll help you get her in bed.” AJ nodded gratefully, and he turned around with Elenore and headed for the stairs.


NO BED! NO BED! NO!!!” she shrieked and she began kicking her legs and punching AJ in the chest as hard as her little hands and strength would allow, as she tried to squirm her way free. “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!” AJ started to pull her away from his body, when she suddenly kicked him right where it counts and he whimpered in pain and nearly dropped her. Jerald grabbed onto her legs before he could as AJ held tightly to her arms, but not tight enough to hurt her and the two of them began carrying her up the stairs as she struggled with them and cried out no bed repeatedly. Neither of them noticing the familiar man known as Lou sitting at the milkshake counter watching the show. Mostly keeping his eyes on Elenore intently. When they got upstairs and headed down the hall for their penthouse, Elenore yelled out in annoyance.


“YOU BIG OLE’ JERKS!! LETS ME GO!”


“No way Ellie. You’re grounded tomorrow. GROUNDED. Do you hear me?” AJ asked frustratedly.


“Oh no I am nots!”


“Yes you’re. Not only that, you don’t get to play with any of your friends either. And I am taking all of your toys away.”


“Except her Donald Duck,” Jerald jumped in warningly.


No all of them.”


“Trust me Aje, you don’t want to take that away. We’ll have a repeat of this.”


“Well maybe it would teach her not to throw tantrums like this. This is just ridiculous.”


“Just trust me on this man. Donald Duck is too important. Like security blanket important. You can’t take that away. And anyway, she’s usually not this bad” He replied, giving AJ a hintful look. AJ narrowed his eyes.


“You mean Kev set me up?” Jerald nodded.


“Of course he did.” AJ groaned.


“I’m gonna kill that asshole.”


“My Kevy is nots an asshole, you are! Why do you thinks he’s being you and you him?” Elenore asked angrily. “All your faults!”


“Do not say that word Ellie,” AJ warned.


“I’ll say whatever I wants to say, Jacksass.” AJ didn’t say another word, he and Jerald only silently continued their way through the hall. When they reached their Penthouse, they carried the little girl into the room and AJ took Elenore away from Jerald completely and he looked at him with a raised eyebrow when he noticed he wasn’t taking her to her room.


“Where are you going?” he asked.


“To end the cussing once and for all,” AJ replied. He took her into the bathroom then and Jerald and Harry exchanged curious glances before following him. When they got in there, he set Elenore on the counter, opened up the cupboard and he reached in and got out a box of soap. He opened it up, took the bar of soap out and she suddenly knew what was coming next. Kevin had threatened to do this.


“NO!” she shouted, and then clamped her mouth shut.


“See this soap Ellie?” He asked, and she nodded. “Say another cuss word at all while I am incharge of you, and this will go in your mouth. I am dead serious. I will put it in your mouth for five minutes. Do you understand me? After what you put me through tonight, I am not afraid to do it.” He told her. “Do you understand me?” Elenore nodded quietly.


Okay then. We’re going to put your pajamas on now and get in bed, and you’re not going to give me any more trouble. Unless you want to test me on that time out.” Elenore shook her head quietly. He put the soap back in the box then; not leaving it out as it has to be clean if he is going to put it in her mouth. He knows she is going to slip up again. If Kevin put her up to this, there are going to be more fights tomorrow and he will go through with his threat if pushed. When the soap was put away, he gathered her up in his arms and carried her out of the room and an amused Jerald and Harry followed him. He carried her over to the couch and sat down with her in his lap and he dressed her into her pajamas. When he finished doing that he got up with her and took her into her bedroom and he went to go lay her in her bed when she clung tightly to him.


“I sleeps with Joshy,” she told him softly and politely so he wouldn’t think she was just fighting with him. It’s the truth. AJ looked at Jerald then, and Jerald nodded.


“She does. Another security blanket matter.” AJ set her down in her bed then and he pushed it toward Josh’s so that it was connected and Josh reached over and took her hand. AJ sat down next to her then and he brought her blanket up and covered her up.


“Will you sings to me like Kevy does?” Elenore asked softly. “Or do you hates me for bein’ a bad girl?”


“I don’t hate you Ellie,” AJ reassured. “I don’t want you to ever think that. I adore you to pieces whether your behavior is bad or not. I know you’re getting something out of this so it’s not entirely your fault. Kevin lectures me for being immature, when this alone; telling you to give me problems is beyond immature. I would never do something like that to him.” He gently rubbed the backs of her hands then.


“What do you want me to sing?”


“Don’t wanna lose you now,” Elenore answered softly.


I never thought that I would lose my mind…
That I could control this
I never thought that Id be left behind…
That I was stronger then you

Baby girl if only I know what I’ve done
You know, so why don’t you tell me?
I would bring down the moon and the sun
To show how much I care…



By the time he was finished singing the entire song, Elenore had fallen asleep with Josh’s hand held tightly in her own. AJ sighed in relief and he stood up and turned to find Jerald standing in the doorway. He followed him out of the room and they shut the door just a crack.


“God that was…crazy.” Jerald nodded.


“That may not be her usual tantrum, but Kev still goes through a great deal trying to get her to bed. What he usually goes through is trying enough,” Jerald explained.


“I’ll bet…” AJ replied understanding completely.


“It really takes a lot out of him sometimes,” Jerald replied, looking AJ in the eyes seriously. “And it frustrates him because he knows she is acting out. Sean messed her up so bad and he’s aware of that and it breaks his heart because sometimes he doesn’t know what to do, where to turn and he gets really stressed.” AJ nodded, as he’s seen just exactly how stressed he gets. “He has to watch himself a lot of the time. He has to make sure he doesn’t get too stressed out because when he gets too angry with her she gets scared. She’s not an easy kid to take care of at all. But he loves her with every ounce of his heart and would do anything for her. He loves to make her happy and he holds onto that everytime things get hard. That little girl makes him happy.”


“I bet it’s not any easier when the four of us just add onto his troubles…” AJ replied softly, as he sat down on the couch. Jerald nodded slowly.


“But he doesn’t regret any minute with the four of you, you have to know that.”


“Yeah…I know…but he wasn’t too slow on the idea of giving his role as the oldest up, was he?”


“He was angry. And upset. You said a lot of hurtful things Aje…and I know you were angry and upset too and didn’t mean it but it hurt him. He just needed you to see that. To understand that. All that effort he puts into this group…he does it because he loves the four of you so much. You’re like family to him. But it would be nice if he got a thank-you every once in awhile…you know?” AJ nodded quietly.

“And no, it wasn’t the best idea to tell Ellie to be a brat for you and believe me I tried everything I could to talk him out of it. But in his own little way, he was just trying to get you to see what he goes through.”


“Well…it worked…” AJ admitted, looking everywhere but at Jerald.


“This situation could easily be ended. You could go talk to him at anytime, and knowing my brother, I bet he would listen. No matter how angry with you he is.”


“Yeah…” AJ replied softly, and he hugged his legs to his chest, rested his chin on his knee and he sat there thinking it through.