Chapter Three-Hundred-Four
When Kevin had calmed Elenore down he stood up with her just on time for Tim, Ann, and Jerald to all three envelope him in their arms and hug him for finally doing what they all knew he would eventually do.
“It’s about time Bro” Tim commented. “Always have to be the last to do everything don’t you?”
“Yeah, yeah stuff it” Kevin replied, rolling his eyes at Tim’s jab at Kevin being the youngest. He is quite used to it. “Lets see you joke when you get the wrinkles before me, eh?”
“An’ the gray hairs” Elenore added while smiling tearfully. Everybody in the room laughed at this, as Tim just looked at her in mock surprise.
“Hey you little Rugrat, don’t forget who got you those Ninja Turtle action figures” He told her and he reached over and gently tickled her in the side making her squirm in Kevin’s arms and giggle. She reached for Ann then whom she’s grown to accept as Grandma the moment she was introduced to her. Ann gently took her from Kevin and snuggled her close to her as she hugged her tightly.
“Hey you...how about we go see what’s taking so long with the desserts hmm?” She asked and Kevin cleared his throat in protest but Ann ignored him as if he just has a bad cough or something as she walked into the kitchen with her brand new granddaughter who was now wearing a very big smile on her face at the sound of ‘desserts’. Brian chuckled before pulling his cousin into a hug next.
“Welcome to the world where Grandmothers have officially taken over, cuz.” Kevin scowled but returned his cousin’s hug nonetheless.
“Okay now I really have to ask. Have you been planning to adopt her on this day this entire time and really kept it secret from us all this time?” AJ spoke up.
“Mhm” Kevin replied amusedly. “Howie was the first to know of my plan, as he is the one who gave me the gentle push in that direction…and well you know I can’t keep anything from Brian.”
“And he of course he let Brookie know so that we wouldn’t have the same situation that Nick had with Dakota. Ellie was ‘put on hold’ so to speak so that no one would try to adopt her before Kevin” Howie explained. Nick sighed.
“Is anybody ever going to let me put that mistake in the past? I think I’ve redeemed myself pretty well since then.”
“Yes you have” Brian agreed while swinging his arm around Nick’s shoulders and hugging him close to him and Nick grinned, satisfied that someone is on his side.
“I just can’t believe you managed to keep it secret all this time even when the rest of us were on your case constantly” AJ went on.
“Not everyone sucks at keeping secrets like you do Aje,” Howie teased, poking his best friend lightly in the side. AJ scowled and punched him in the shoulder.
“Kev is a very strong-willed and stubborn man. He can do anything when he sets his mind to it” Jerald explained. Suddenly Jackie came out of the kitchen with a tray of cookies and Harry trailing behind her with the second tray while Ann had a tray of hot chocolate and Elenore carried the napkins and paper plates.
“Sugar Cookies and hot chocolate for everybody” Jackie announced while setting the trays and such on a big long folding table that Harold had set up in the living room just for Jackie’s treats. He had even gone as far as putting a Christmas tablecloth on it and making it look nice.
“YAY!” some of the children – and even the adults said in unison and they rushed on over to the table and lined up for Jackie’s famous cookies and hot chocolate.
“Mom you do know you’re spoiling us right? What in the world are we going to do when we have to go back to Florida and we don’t have you and your delicious treats?” Brian asked while sliding his arms around his mother and kissing her cheek affectionately.
“Well that’s simple baby duck, I will just send some back with you. The children and I made plenty” Jackie smiled and she returned her son’s hug. Brian chuckled.
“Dakota do you want some cookies?” Nick questioned suddenly as he grabbed up a paper plate and he looked at his two girls who were content in playing with their new doll houses and haven’t even made a move toward the cookies. Bella is lying on a blanket next to them and Sarah being the protective big sister that she’s become has been keeping a close watch on her since Ashley had gotten up and was doing other things.
“Yes daddy” Dakota answered while not even looking up from the dolls in her doll house that had fascinated her since the moment she unwrapped them.
“And Hot Chocolate too I assume?”
“Uh-huhs.” Nick began to put a few cookies on the plate for Dakota and as he did this he spoke again.
“Sarah do you want cookies too?” He questioned while not even looking up from Dakota’s plate.
“Yes daddy” a familiar voice – but one they don’t hear too often answered. Nick nodded and he grabbed another plate after putting Dakota’s down and started to reach for more cookies when suddenly he realized what he just heard and froze, as did everybody else in the room. The whole living room went utterly still. He turned and looked at his two girls to see Dakota staring at Sarah with wide eyes.
“Kota baby?” Nick asked softly. “Did you speak for her?” Dakota shook her head, still not taking her eyes off of Sarah.
“Sarah?” Nick asked softly as he felt the tears coming but he tried with all his might to keep them at bay.
“Hot chocolate too daddy…please” she told him quietly. That did it. The tears Nick had been holding back welled up in his eyes and one lone drop managed to escape and roll down his cheek. He’d been waiting for a very long time for Sarah to talk to him. A very long time but he never dreamed that she would call him daddy when she finally did. Setting the plate in his hand down he crossed the living room to Sarah and he gathered her into his arms, dropped to his knees and hugged her close to him as he tried so hard not to cry. Sarah slid her arms around him and hugged him back as a single tear rolled down her own cheek.
“I love you so much Sarah Lynn Carter…and this is the best Christmas present you could ever give me.”
“I love you too daddy” she whispered. Nick sat down on his bottom then shifting so he is sitting indian style and he continued to hug Sarah close to him as he buried his face in her neck and he silently sat there rocking her. Completely oblivious now that there is anyone else in the room let alone watching him.
“Can this Christmas get anymore miracle-filled?” Howie whispered to everyone else standing around the table as they watched the scene before them. Brian grinned a little.
“Don’t question god yet when he could just be getting started.”
“I second that” Jackie replied and she and Riley made brief eye contact. Ashley grabbed up Dakota and Sarah’s plate of cookies and she continued to fill Sarah’s up before getting them each hot chocolate as well and she brought it all over to them. She handed Dakota her plate and hot chocolate before leaning forward and kissing the top of her head and then the she went over to Nick and Sarah. Sarah looked up at her and took her plate of cookies and her hot chocolate from her and before Ashley could walk away Nick took her hand and gently pulled her down into his lap as well and she too enveloped Sarah into her arms and hugged her.
“I love you Ashee,” Sarah told her quietly.
“I love you too sweetie” Ashley smiled. Everybody hung out for awhile, and then suddenly Brian went over to Riley who was quietly talking to Jackie and he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her near before resting his forehead against hers.
“What’s up Mister?” She asked while smiling up at him.
“I was hoping maybe I could steal you away for awhile. I want to take you somewhere special.”
“Yes please” Riley told him softly as she was just waiting for the right opportunity to tell him about the baby. Thankfully he unknowingly found that opportunity for her. He brought his arm down under her legs and with one swift movement he lifted her up so he is cradling her and he carried her on out of the house without another word. He had already said his good byes to the boys and told them to mind what Kevin tells them. The moment he stepped outside and the door was closed he turned around and found a Horse and Carriage waiting for them with a driver intact and everything. Riley looked up at him while smiling some.
“Another carriage ride Brian?”
“Mhm, but this one is going to be more special” he promised as he brought her over to the carriage and helped her into the back before climbing up and sitting next to her and the driver took off without having to be told where to go. He already knows. Meanwhile back in the house, Ryan went over to AJ who was lying on the floor on his stomach playing hot wheels with all of the boys.
“Hey Ryan, what’s up? Want to join us?” he asked curiously as he sent a car zooming across the room to Chris. Ryan shrugged and sat down on the floor next to the tattooed man while hugging his legs to his chest and completely oblivious to Howie’s watchful eyes.
“I just wanted to tell you thank-you for all of the notebooks” He told him quietly.
“No problem buddy. You just promise me you’ll work real hard on your writing and that some day when you become big and famous with your first novel you put me in your thank-you’s for providing you with all of the notebooks – in which you would never have finished said novel without.” AJ teased and he winked at Ryan who grinned a little in amusement.
“I will since you take such great care of my sister and all.”
“Well thank-you,” AJ replied, slightly taken aback at the kindness he is receiving from Ryan of all people. “Are you sure you don’t want to join us in a game of cars?” Ryan nodded.
“I’ll just watch.”
“Well okay, but I’ll save this red Porsche for you if you change your mind. It totally looks like your kind of car” AJ promised as he grabbed the red Porsche – which technically belongs to Josh from his pile of cars that he was sending back and forth across the room and he set it to the side.
“Thanks. I think the yellow Lamborghini fits you pretty well” Ryan informed.
“You think so? I’ve always wanted one of those” AJ informed as he grabbed up the Lamborghini and sent it flying across the room to Chris. Kevin chuckled.
“If you get one of those you will pretty much be screaming LOOK AT ME FANS, ITS ME”
“Well at least none of them would be able to catch me in my super fast sports car would they?”
“Don’t underestimate them” Ashley laughed. “The fans can do anything they set their minds to - and they will too.”
“They’d probably hide in your car when you’re gone and not reveal themselves until you’re already driving off” Kori agreed.
“That’s why you stick Marcus on one side of the car and Laney on the other and have them guard the doors with their life” AJ smirked.
“And what happens with your life while we’re doing that?” Marcus asked amusedly.
“Doesn’t matter. My Pretty Sports car would be safe.”
“Will you takes me for a ride in this yellow Lamborghini when you gets it AJ?” Elenore spoke up suddenly.
“Absolutely Babe” AJ winked at her causing her to instantly swoon. “Soon as I buy one.”
“You’re not going to buy a Lamborghini Alex” Brooke replied amusedly. It wasn’t really a demand; it was more of a question.
“Watch me.”
“Oh don’t underestimate him Brookie. You tell him that and he’ll have one the very next day” Howie laughed. Brooke rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Men and their cars.”
“I’ll take you for a ride in my yellow Lamborghini too baby and you won’t be rolling your eyes then.” Everybody was silent for awhile, AJ going back to playing cars with Chris and Spencer. Josh had gotten up and followed Dakota into the kitchen and unknown to the grownups they were sitting under the table munching on a cookie despite the fact that they were told no more.
“Did you like your Christmas present Kota?” Josh wanted to know as he reached out and gently took the silver heart necklace with the shiny little diamonds that he had gotten for her for Christmas into his hand as she wore it.
“Uh-huhs its pretty Joshy. Thank-you” she beamed.
“Good” Josh replied satisfied. He had looked real hard for just the right gift for her and had finally settled on a necklace since jewelry is her passion. “I was a little worried that you wouldn’t.”
“I loves Jewelry Joshy, you knows that.” Dakota told him with a big grin on her face and looking at him like she was thinking ‘duh’. “Specially the ones you give me.”
“You should open up your own jewelry store when you get older” Josh told her as he felt his cheeks grow warm and he looked away from her instantly embarrassed that he is blushing.
“I plan to” Dakota informed him with a small grin.
“You could call it Captain’ Kota’s Treasure Chest” Josh teased. Dakota giggled.
“How come?”
“Cause you like pretty and shiny things…like pirates do.”
“Do you want some Dr Pepper while I am in there Ash?” they suddenly heard Nick’s voice right outside the door. Dakota’s eyes widened in horror as she looked down at the half-eaten cookie in her hand that she is not really supposed to be eating and then at Josh.
“Crap!” he muttered.
“What do we do Joshy?” Dakota asked panicky. “If daddy sees I didnts listen to him I’m in trouble!” Dakota whispered.
“Come here” he whispered back before taking her hand and he crawled out from under the table. She followed him as he made a mad dash for the pantry. He pulled the door open and held it open and he looked at Dakota who needed no explanation. She dove under the bottom shelf and he followed her closing the door behind them just as the kitchen door opened and Nick walked in. He went over to the refrigerator and he opened it up and got out a coke and a Dr Pepper. When he had them he closed the door behind him and started back for the living room when he suddenly saw crumbs on the floor under the table. Nick raised his eyebrow. Jackie is a very clean woman who likes her house to be freakishly clean so why would there be crumbs under the table? Especially since he watched Brooke sweep the floors before they opened presents. He looked around the room and suddenly noticed more crumbs leading toward the pantry. Nick smirked. Could those crumbs by any chance be cookie crumbs? Could there be little rebellions in this house this very moment? Well if there is, he is going to find out. Smiling evilly he walked over to the kitchen door and opened it.
“I got your Dr Pepper Ash!” He called to her and then shut it again and quietly looked back at the pantry door. After a few moments the door opened just a crack and a pair of eyes that he knows belong to Josh could be seen. They widened in surprise and then the pantry door slammed shut again. Nick laughed hysterically. He crossed the kitchen to the pantry and he opened it up to find Josh and Dakota sitting side by side under the bottom shelf with cookies in each of their hands.
“AHA! I caught you, you little cookie monsters!” he smirked. Suddenly the kitchen door opened and a curious Ashley, Kori, and Kevin walked in and Nick looked back at them.
“What’s going on Nick?” Kevin asked curiously.
“We have a couple of cookie bandits among us you guys. There were cookie crumbs under the table and knowing full well that Brooke had cleaned the floor before presents I knew something was up. So I looked around and saw more cookie crumbs leading directly to this pantry. So I decided to trick them into thinking I had left the room again and suddenly Josh opened the door and revealed only his eyes to see if I had really left. When he saw me looking at him, he slammed the door shut. I came over here and opened it and discovered him and Dakota trying to be oh so sneaky with cookies that they know they aren’t supposed to be eating.” Kevin and Ashley laughed as Nick had opened the pantry door some more so that they could see.
“Well what do you have to say for yourself munchkins?” Nick questioned.
“They’re good cookies?” Dakota asked innocently. Nick laughed.
“That may very well be but you weren’t supposed to have them, now were you?” Dakota and Josh each stared back at Nick innocently, their little matching red converse shoes swaying about in unison as they each sat under the shelf with their legs stretched out. Kevin laughed amusedly.
“Oh where is the camera? This is just too adorable.” Ashley handed her camera over.
“I’ll give you copies if you want” she told him.
“Yes I do. I plan on putting it in their childhood memories for all to see on their wedding day – you know those then and now photos they show of the bride and groom? That’s classic right there. Caught sneaking cookies together would be the caption” Nick chuckled amusedly as Kevin took the pictures. He is surprised at how understanding he is being about this. If it were Ellie she would for sure be in trouble. When he finished and handed the pictures back to Ashley Nick looked at the kids.
“You two can come out now and clean your cookie crumbs off of Jackie’s used to be clean floor. Come on now, hop to it.” Josh groaned and Dakota whined.
“Buts daddy…”
“Now young lady you are lucky that it’s Christmas Eve and that this is extremely cute or you would be in trouble.” Dakota scowled and she and Josh crawled out from under the shelf. They were holding hands but Josh instantly pulled it away when he noticed Elenore and Chris standing at the kitchen door. Kevin handed Josh the broom and Dakota the dustpan.
“There you go cookie monsters get to it.” The two of them began cleaning up their mess and everybody except Ashley, Nick, and Kevin went back into the living room to tell the story to everybody else. When they finished Dakota and Josh made a run for it to the door incase they decided to change their minds and punish them after all. When they were out though, they stood just outside the door behind the wall and Elenore scowled at Josh.
“Sneaking cookies an’ you didnts even invite me to join you?” she teased.
“You’ll get over it” Josh promised. “You aren’t the only one who can cause a little trouble every now and then Ellie.” Elenore stuck her tongue out at Josh.
“You just didn’t invite me because you two were probably making kissy faces in there.”
“We were not!” Dakota protested her face becoming a crimson red.
“Maybe not, but now you have to” Ryan replied.
“And why would that be?” Josh asked masking his irritation. He told himself he would be nice to Ryan from now on so long as he was nice to everybody else.
“You are standing under a mistletoe that’s why” Ryan explained with a small smirk on his face. Josh and Dakota each looked up at the green plant hanging in the doorway which had a red ribbon on it. Josh narrowed his eyes at Ryan.
“What exactly is a mistletoe and why would we have to kiss just because we’re standing under it?”
“Because that’s what mistletoe is for” Ryan replied. “It’s the Christmas tradition. When a couple is caught standing under it they have to kiss – no way out. So lets see it.” Abruptly both Josh and Dakota jumped apart from each other so they were standing on either side of the doorway and no longer right under the mistletoe.
“No way!” they refused in unison and Elenore just giggled in amusement.
“You have to” Chris replied.
“We do not, we aren’t standing under it anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter. You were a moment ago it’s too late.” Howie chuckled.
“Ryan that’s enough. Dakota and Josh it’s not a matter of life or death, you do not have to if you don’t want to” he promised.
“But they dooo want to” Elenore replied in a teasing tone. She knows Dakota is going to kill her later, but it will be worth it – and she’ll forgive her eventually – she always does.
“Shut up Ellie” Josh warned.
“Sha la la la la la my oh my looks like the boy’s too shy ain't gonna kiss the girl...” Elenore sang suddenly.
“I mean it Ellie!” Josh replied.
“Sha la la la la la ain't that sad? It’s such a shame too bad... you're gonna miss the girl” Elenore continued, doing a little dance as well. Josh scowled at her. “Go on and kiss the girl!”
“Now’s your moment…floating in a blue lagoon boy you better do it soon no time will be better she don’t say a word and she won’t say a word until you kiss the girl…kiss the girl…” Not being able to take it anymore and knowing he will be in big trouble if he hurts his cousin but not knowing what else to do to shut her up, Josh reached over and grabbed Dakota by the arm. He gently pulled her near and planted a kiss right on her cheek. Elenore, Chris, and Spencer cheered in unison at the sight and when Josh let Dakota go she stumbled back slightly, finding it very hard to keep her balance as even just a little simple kiss on the cheek had given her major butterflies. Which makes her wonder just what she is going to do when she has to really kiss him in their play when she plays Belle. Can she get away with kissing him on the cheek then too? The thought suddenly frightens her and gives her an entirely different case of butterflies.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile Brian and Riley had taken a carriage ride all through town and were now at the park. The two of them are wrapped up in a couple of blankets and they’re just enjoying the Christmas lights – except now with the special effect of snow. Riley normally isn’t very fond of snow, as she had grown up where it snows all the time but she has to admit that this moment, this night is extremely romantic and she doesn’t want to be anywhere else. As they were riding through the snow Brian looked down at Riley anxiously as he knows they are getting much closer to his surprise. He sat there watching her enjoy the lights for five minutes and then suddenly they came across flashing red and green lights that read RILEY WILL YOU MARRY ME? Riley gasped and she turned to look at Brian and saw him looking at her with a small smile on his face and questioning eyes and he was holding an opened box with the most exquisite ring she has ever laid eyes on.
“Oh my god…Brian!!” she exclaimed as tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks. Brian set the box down on his knee and he cradled her face in his hands and looked into her teary blue eyes.
“I have loved you since the first day I met you Riley. Since the moment I laid eyes on you I knew that I just had to spend forever with you…and now that I get that chance baby I have to ask. Will you spend forever with me? I promise you with all of my heart that you won’t live to regret it.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” she told him and she threw her arms about him and hugged him tightly. Brian grinned and returned her hug. Tears fell from his own eyes as he has been waiting for a very long time for this. When he pulled back he took her hand into his and slid the ring on her finger and he placed his hand to her cheek, tilted her head back, and he leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly over hers. When he pulled away Riley wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder, as she cannot believe what a Christmas Eve this was. Ellie adopted and Sarah talking, Brian proposing…and her pregnant.
“Brian,” she whispered after a long while.
“Hmm?”
“I have something important to tell you.” Brian pulled back and looked into her eyes curiously.
“What is it baby?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
