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Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Chapter Two-Hundred-Seventy-Five



The next morning bright and early, Elenore woke up and crawled out of the bed she was sharing with Kevin, and she padded into the other room to see Jerald, Brian, and Kevin all sitting around the table eating breakfast. Kevin and Jerald looked as if they were in the middle of a heated conversation about something. Not liking the looks of it, she went over and crawled into Kevin’s lap, making the conversation come to an abrupt stop.


“Morning Kevy, Morning Jerry” she greeted them, giving them both a I know you’re fighting and you had better stop it right now look.


“Good morning baby,” Kevin replied, leaning down and kissing her forehead as he snuggled her close. “How are you feeling?”


“Better,” she answered, nestling her head into his chest.


“Good…I’m glad,” he told her sincerely. “Are you hungry? How about some captain crunch for you and Mr. Lil’ Rok here?” he asked while gently petting the pug that Elenore held close.


“Okay,” she replied, looking up at him with a weak smile. He stood up and sat her in the empty chair next to him and he set off to make her a bowl of cereal. When he returned with it, he set it in front of her and sat back in his chair again and she dug right into her breakfast eating quietly. Brian, Jerald, and Kevin sat there in silence too, the tensity between the three of them still weighing heavily around the table. Jerald and Kevin are fighting over the incident that had happened last night, and Brian was playing referee and failing miserably. Jerald sat watching his future niece in silence for awhile, and as he did he noticed that something seems to be on her mind because she is staring off into space.


“Ellie?” he asked, causing the five-year-old to snap out of it and look at him.


“Hmm?”


“Whats on your mind sweetheart?” he asked her, causing Kevin and Brian to look at her curiously as well. She looked at him for a few moments, and then looked straight ahead again, before continuing to shovel captain crunch into her mouth.


“Ellie?” Kevin asked this time, and he reached over and gently rubbed his hand over her back. She looked up at him this time. “What is it sweetheart?”



“Kevy will you teach me how to read and write?” She questioned and she asked the question so randomly that it took Kevin a moment to comprehend. He had been expecting an entirely different response out of her. Not something as normal as wanting to learn how to read and write.


“Well sure, but what brought that on?” He asked curiously, a little concerned with her behavior. She just doesn’t seem herself. Elenore shrugged.


“Just because…I can talk to Sarah then…” Elenore answered with a far away look on her face and she went back to paying attention to her captain crunch. Occasionally she would leave some dry cereal on the table for Lil’ Rok to eat up, Kevin ignoring with great difficulty that she is feeding her puppy human food, and letting him lick it off the table where people eat at. Jerald raised his eyebrow and looked at his brother and exchanged curious glances with him. Neither of them believing that Sarah is the real reason why Ellie wants to learn how to read and write. It may be a small reason, seeing as how the kid only talks to Dakota and she might be feeling a little left out, but both of them have a feeling that there is more to this request then what she is letting on.


“Okay, well I’ll teach you then…it’s high time you learned anyway.”


“Thanks Kevy,” Elenore replied, no emotions on her face what so ever, and Kevin frowned with worry.


“Learned what?” Ashley questioned, as she suddenly walked into the kitchen with Dakota rested on her hip, and Bella just chilling in the baby carrier on her back. She has on a pink tanktop, a pair of Nick’s boxer shorts, and socks. She also has crazy bed hair, which is evidence that her and Nick actually went to sleep last night. Which is shocking, because they spent hours in the back room together once they made up.


“How to read,” Brian answered after chuckling slightly, and he got up and rushed over to her and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.


“You look like you have your hands full this morning. Is Nick still sleeping?”


“Like a log. Nudge him and he doesn’t budge.”


“That’s usually how it is after a long night like we had last night. Would you like me to take someone?”


“Nah, I’m good. Thanks though,” Ashley smiled, and she carried Dakota over to the freezer and she pulled out her Rocky Road ice cream. Dakota gaped at it in surprise and looked at Ashley.


“Don’t tell your daddy,” she told her, placing her finger to her lips to indicate that this is a secret and Jerald laughed.


“Ice cream for breakfast honey?”


“It’s been a stressful week,” was all Ashley said, and she opened the refrigerator and pulled out a can of Dr Pepper before closing it again. She got out two spoons and set Dakota on the counter before opening up the carton and the two of them began to share ice cream for breakfast. Brian snickered.


“Nick is gonna kill you, just so you know.” Ashley shrugged, smiling a little.


“Bring it on,” was all she said. “Did Kori and Scott ever talk with Spencer?” she asked after a few moments, changing the subject.


“Nope, not yet. She promised Scott that as soon as we get back to Florida, the two of them are going to take him out for lunch and they’re gonna tell him then.”


“What do Kori and Scott gotta talk to Spencer for?” Elenore spoke up suddenly, looking around at them all curiously.


“You’ll find out soon enough,” Kevin answered gently.


“Why can’ts I know now?”


“Because…it’s only right that Spencer knows before you. I promise you will find out as soon as he tells you. Okay?”


“Is it bad?” Elenore asked worriedly.


“No sweetheart, it’s not bad. Just don’t worry about it okay? Everything is fine I promise,” Ashley reassured gently.


“Kay,” Elenore replied, and she went back to picking at her cereal. Just then a groggy Nick walked into the kitchen, and Ashley looked at him innocently, as Brian, Kevin, and Jerald looked at him ready for him to react. Nick took one look at his daughter, saw the evidence all over her mouth and he chuckled sleepily.


“Dakota Ann Carter…what kind of breakfast is that?”


Good breakfast,” Dakota answered innocently.


“It may be good but it’s not good for you.”


“Ashee gaves it to me.”


“I see that,” he replied amusedly and he went up beside her, slid his arms around her waist and kissed her forehead softly.


“You’re gonna corrupt my daughter.”


“As far as I’m concerned, she is already corrupted. I’m just adding to it,” Ashley smirked and Nick laughed.


“Brat,” he whispered, before leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over hers.


“Butthead,” she replied, mumbling against his lips and he grinned in between kisses.


“Mmm…that is pretty good ice cream,” he announced when he pulled away and he licked the chocolate that rubbed off on his lips from their kisses and she giggled some.


“I know right?”


“But I still feel like I should make the kid some pancakes.”


“Chocolate chip pancakes daddy?” Dakota asked hopefully.


“Don’t you think you’ve had enough chocolate little miss chocolate face?”


“No ways,” Dakota answered, shaking her head and Nick rolled his eyes playfully.


“Okay, chocolate chip pancakes it is. But you have to stop eating the ice cream first.” Dakota set her spoon down obediently and he went up behind Elenore, gently wrapped his arms around her from behind and placed a kiss on her forehead.


“Want some sweetie?” Elenore nodded.


“Yes please,” she answered softly, and she smiled slightly at the hug.


“Okay,” he replied, and he kissed her forehead one last time, before turning around and going off to make pancakes.


“Sarah still asleep?” Ashley asked, even though she already knows the answer.


“Mhm. As you know she’s been pretty restless through the night. I don’t think she’ll be waking up anytime soon.”


“Poor baby,” Ashley sighed.


“Yeah.”



~*~*~*~*~


Later on after breakfast after everyone including Sarah was awake and just hanging out and doing their own thing, Kevin and Elenore got into their bathing suits and he took her into the bathroom and set up a bubble bath with toys and such. They had been sitting in the tub playing quietly for twenty minutes, when Elenore suddenly spoke up. Kevin had been sitting there eyeing her carefully, as she still wasn’t saying much and that isn’t like her.


“Kevy?”


“Yeah baby?” She grew quiet again for a couple of moments, as she sat there making ‘Ronald’ the duck swim around idly in the water.


“Ellie honey you’re worrying me.”


“What is the name of our President?” she asked abruptly. Kevin raised his eyebrow.


“George W. Bush. He was just elected in November…”


“Oh.”


“Why did you want to know?”


“Is he a nice guy?” she asked evasively.


“I would imagine so…”


“Is he understanding?” She asked, looking up at him in the eyes, her desperate need to know that answer evident in her eyes.


“He has to be pretty understanding to be the president honey.” Elenore nodded quietly, before going back to playing with her rubber ducky. Kevin sighed quietly as he watched his little girl worriedly. He would ask her where her sudden interest in the president is coming from, but he has a feeling he would only get an evasive response or no response at all. But obviously something has her worried and he wishes he could get to the bottom of it and reassure her.


“Kevy?” she asked softly after a long while, not even looking up at him this time.


“Hmm?”


“I loves you.” Kevin noticed a tear drop roll down her cheek and he reached out and gently pulled her into his lap, hugged her tightly to him and he rocked her in his arms slowly.


“I love you too princess…and I really wish you would talk to me.” Elenore rested her head against his chest and he sat there trying to think of a way to cheer her up. He has to cheer her up, because this is just depressing him. "You know," Kevin spoke after another moment of silence. "Elliot will be super proud of you, for protecting Kota and Sarah."


"An' he'll be mads that I gots them to goes somewhere we shouldn't haves to begins with," Elenore countered.


"Ellie, I assure you, Elliot will be very happy that you saved your friends once you realized what was going on," Kevin stated firmly. "Even the best detectives get into bad situations by mistake sometimes. You can even ask Elliot about that if you don't believe me."


"Kay," Elenore said softly, sighing slightly as she made Ronald go under the bubbles for a bit.


"I owe you toys, don't I?" Kevin tried then, after yet another silence enveloped them.


"Don'ts worry 'bout its...I don'ts need any," Elenore replied quietly, her head hung some.



"I promised you toys, Baby," Kevin argued. "And from what I heard, you threw the best tantrum yet, while A.J. was in charge."


"An' almost gots soap in my mouth," Elenore scowled, making a disgusted face. "That would've been yucky."


"Believe me, it is," Kevin chuckled.


"How do you knows?" Elenore demanded, looking up at him curiously.


"Because my Momma did it to me when I was young and decided to say bad words," Kevin answered her. "And I'll do the same to you, if you keep saying bad words."


"No you won'ts," Elenore stated. "All I hafta do is cry, an' you'll puts the soap away." Kevin chuckled.


“We’ll see about that,” he told her, before bringing her hands down to her waist and playfully tickling her and she shrieked and writhed and giggled in his arms.


“KEVY! KEVY! THAT TICKLES, THAT TICKLES!” she shrieked, and Kevin grinned suddenly, loving the sound of her giggling.


“Stop it Kevy, that tickles that TICKLEEEEEES!” Kevin laughed, and finally stopped, and he leaned forward and placed his lips to her neck before pretending to ‘eat’ it and make animal noises and she giggled even more. When he finally stopped she lay in his lap smiling up at him and he smiled back lovingly, before leaning forward and kissing her cheek.


“We’ll go to the mall when we get back to Florida. The very first thing we get back. I promise…okay?”


“Kay,” she replied softly, and when he noticed the frown starting to form again, he grabbed a handful of bubbles and placed it on his chin making himself look like Santa Claus causing her face to light up in a smile and she giggled some more. This went on for an hour, him trying to find the littlest things possible that would make her giggle or smile. The more he tried, the better at it he got and she soon forgot about the depression that she was under and was happy again and started to really play with him. After an hour long bath, he unplugged the drain, and got out before grabbing up her towel, wrapping her in it, and gathering her into his arms cradling her and he carried her out of the bathroom. He got her dressed letting her pick out whatever she wanted to wear, and then he took her into the kitchen and proceeded to make her a very big ice cream Sundae. It is completely out of character of him, and it definitely earned him weird and curious looks, but at this point he doesn’t care. He’ll do anything to make sure his little girl smiles for the rest of the day. Even if it means spoiling her. That’s better then having the sad depressed little girl he’s had all morning, that’s for sure. Eventually though, every kid on the bus including Laila were sitting around the table expecting ice cream, and Kevin just beamed and made each and everyone of them one, exactly the way they wanted it not missing a single detail. He even went as far as conducting silly songs with them, and the rest of the boys, Ashley, Wiley, Kori, Riley, Scott, and Denise all watched him in amazement. But he didn’t care, because Elenore was grinning widely the whole time and that was all that mattered to him.