Chapter Three-Hundred-Sixty-Seven
“Did we just…make love on the kitchen floor?” Ashley asked softly, moments after their third round and she had managed to breathe evenly again.
“Yeah, What’cha gonna do about it?” Nick asked with a smirk and Ashley just giggled. She grabbed his face and brought his mouth down on top of hers before kissing it softly and he scooted down her body and rested his head against her stomach as he slid his arms around her waist. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head softly.
“I think we should take a little break,” She informed after a long while.
“Well, that makes one of us” Nick told her playfully and he buried his face in her stomach and placed soft kisses. Ashley smiled down at him amusedly for a couple of moments.
“I could really use a shower – and breakfast and stuff.” When he didn’t answer, she went on. “Oh how I wish someone would make me bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast…that sounds so good right now…” When he still didn’t reply, she went on adding a more dramatic edge to her voice. “Too bad…I guess I’ll starve.” Nick chuckled.
“Now do you really think I would let you starve?”
“I’m hoping not.” Nick blew raspberries on her stomach, making her squeal in surprise and giggle.
“Of course not,” he told her. “Go get in the shower and I’ll see what I can do about breakfast.”
“Yay!” Ashley exclaimed happily and she got to her feet causing Nick to do the same. She walked over to the counter, grabbed a pharmacy bag and pulled a circular package out of it. She opened up the cupboard, grabbed a glass and she headed in the direction of the bathroom. Nick reached out and smacked her bottom playfully causing her to yelp and run and next thing he heard was the bathroom door quickly shut behind her. Nick chuckled happily and got right to work on making his girlfriend breakfast knowing its what she wants very much right now and he lives only to please her.
~*~*~*~*~
“Kota?” Brian asked after sitting near by with Riley quietly watching Dakota just sit there staring off into space – as she had been doing ever since she got off the phone with Nick. She has a far away look on her face, like she is somewhere else.
“Hmm?” Dakota replied softly and she turned to look at her favorite Uncle and her soon to be Aunt who sat there cradling Bella and feeding her, her morning bottle.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Dakota answered quietly and then looked away again. Brian stared at her in silence for a few moments knowing perfectly well that she is lying to him.
“Kota” Sarah spoke up suddenly.
“What?” Dakota asked, not even looking at her.
“How about I take you upstairs and you can go through all of my clothes?”
“Why woulds you do that when you don’ts really want me to? Don’t pretend to be nice to me just cause you feel sorry for me.”
“I’m not pretending, I really want you to. Is it really so hard to believe that?”
“Yes it is because your stupid friends are all you care about these days.”
“That’s not true.”
“Is to,” Dakota snapped tearfully. “An’ I don’ts want you bein’ fake withs me,” she added and she got to her feet and stormed up the stairs feeling overly emotional, scared, and lonely. Sarah sighed and got to her feet too and she started for the stairs.
“Sarah,” Brian spoke up causing her to pause and look at him.
“Don’t you go up there if you are just going to start a fight.”
“I’m not,” Sarah insisted, and then analyzed her words. “I’m gonna try really hard not to,” She corrected herself, and then hurried up the stairs. When she got into the bedroom that she shares with her sister she found her lying on their bed hugging her teddy bear close to her. Sarah regarded her for a couple of moments, and then casually walked over to her suitcase pulling it open. She sat on the floor and began looking through it pretending to mind her own business. After a few moments, she pulled out one of her favorite outfits ever. It’s a velvour vest, which has a zip up front and a hood attached to it. It also has a red heart with a ribbon going around it that reads Love and it has pink roses behind it making it look very much like a tattoo graphic. It also comes with a leopard print ribbed cotton tee and a mini skirt with a drawstring waistline to complete the attire – both with matching tattoo-like graphics.
“Hmm…” She said out loud, managing to make it sound like she is talking to herself. “I sure would like to wear the outfit AJ bought me…” She continued on, looking down at her clothes. “Too bad my sister is angry at me though…I’ll look kind of lame without her beside me wearing the same matching outfit. I mean, after all, that’s kind of the point of him buying the outfits in the first place.” She paused then, waiting. Hoping for a response. When she didn’t get one she went on. “He hasn’t seen us in the outfits yet either,” She pointed out, once again making it sound like she is having a conversation with herself. “I bet it would really make him happy to see us in them. I bet he’s wondering why we never wear it. But, Alas, Kota is angry with me and therefore she will probably never agree to it. Oh well…poor Uncle Alex.” She heaved a dramatic sigh and then began rummaging around in her suitcase, pretending to be looking for something else. She heard the bed move slightly behind her as Dakota sat up and grinned slightly at the realization that she got Dakota’s attention. “Ah…my red low top converse shoes…Kota has a pair herself…that would’ve been really cute. I bet I could’ve done her hair up all nice too…and painted her nails…Dakota really loves that on days that we get a long.” She paused for a moment, and suddenly she felt her sister’s breath in her ear as she was suddenly hanging over the edge of the bed next to her causing Sarah to move slightly, turn her head to the side, and look up at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh hi Kota. I didn’t see you there.”
“I’ll wear the matching outfit,” Dakota informed her, ignoring her sister’s lame attempts at being subtle all together and Sarah smiled some.
“Really?”
“To make Uncle Alex happy.”
“Is that right?” Sarah asked seeing the thrill in Dakota’s eyes telling her that she is using AJ as cover up.
“Yes its very right,” Dakota replied while rolling off the bed, going to her suitcase, and pulling out the outfit that she had brought – unaware of course that Sarah had packed the exact same one and she turned and looked at her.
“Cause I’m still angry withs you,” She added stubbornly and then whirled around and stormed out of the bedroom headed to the bathroom. Sarah rolled her eyes amusedly, muttered kids to herself and then got to her feet and began to get dressed as well after shutting the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at Ramsey, when Doctor Johnson had Julie situated with Donovan and Cyndi’s reassurance that she would check up on her every once in awhile he made his way to the Orphanage Cafeteria. When he walked in he discovered Jennifer sitting at the one table that was left set up after breakfast cleanup by her request. She had a cup of coffee in her hand and she was eyeing the door with doubt written all over her face – she didn’t think he would come. Crossing the cafeteria to the coffeemaker he poured himself a cup and grabbed some cream before joining her at the table.
“Well I’m impressed,” She told him not even looking at him as she idly stirred her coffee with a straw.
“With what?”
“That you managed to find some time out of your busy life to have coffee with me. You looked like you didn’t want to.”
“I’m sor—you just caught me off guard is all…” Jennifer looked up at him quietly, speculation written all over her face. “We just had a huge fight…I didn’t know what your intentions were…if you were coming into the room expecting another one or what? I didn’t want to fight in front of the kids” he explained further.
“I don’t want to fight.”
“Then what is it exactly that you do want Jen?” Doctor Johnson asked gently. “Cause it clearly hurts you to be around me like this and I don’t like hurting you.”
“I accept that there is no chance in hell that things could still work out between us in the way I wanted it to,” Jennifer began softly, the tears building up in her eyes but she willed them not to fall, relieved that they obeyed. “I know you love her, I understand that. But we were once really good friends.”
“I know that, I remember” he agreed. “But I just don’t know if now is a good time to try and get that back.” Jennifer gazed down at her coffee, avoiding his eyes in hopes that it would help keep her tears at a bay – no such luck. “I just mean that I don’t know if you are ready. I think you need time to get your feet back on the ground.”
“I want to try.”
“Jen…”
“…Please.” Doctor Johnson stared at her in silence and she reluctantly met his gaze showing her tears. “I don’t want things to be bad for us…I don’t want to divide the building up – you on one side, and me on the other I don’t want it to be that way. If being friends with you is the only way to have you in my life then so be it.”
“I just don’t want you to suffer,” he insisted sincerely.
“It’ll be tough I won’t lie about that,” She admitted softly. “But, somehow I think I’ll make it through this” she added, her eyes wandering discretely over in Jaime’s direction who was helping Brooke finish up on breakfast cleanup. She can tell he is listening to them more then cleaning though.
“How?” Doctor Johnson wanted to know. “As much as I want to believe that, how? Just last night you were an emotional wreck.”
“I’ll just take it one step at a time…” When Doctor Johnson didn’t reply, she continued. “I need to know that I have your support in this. That you still care about me and want to try and make our friendship survive this.”
“Of course I care about you,” he reassured, reaching across the table and lightly resting his hand on top of hers. “You’ve gotta know that I deeply regret hurting you…I always will.”
“No regrets,” Jennifer insisted, shaking her head and she lightly pulled her hand away when she realized just how wonderful it feels for him to be holding it. Its not her hand to hold…it never was. The sooner she gets used to that the better. “Everything happens for a reason. If we were meant to be it would’ve worked out.” The two of them sat there in silence for a few moments, sipping on their coffee and stuff.
“I would’ve made a really good girlfriend though…just so we’re clear on that,” She told him and she looked up at him with a small smile. Doctor Johnson chuckled softly.
“I have no doubt about that. You are going to make someone very happy some day Jennifer Tavaris. I hope you find someone so much better then me…who wouldn’t dare break your heart.” Jennifer smiled at him weakly and rubbed at her eyes. The two of them sat and kept up small talk until both of them were finished with their coffee, and then Doctor Johnson excused himself with the fact that he had a seven year old to get back to and check up on. After giving her a very long and meaningful hug and then a kiss on the cheek, he turned and walked out of the cafeteria. Jennifer got to her feet herself, threw her cup in the garbage and then eyed Jaime briefly – long enough for him alone to notice and then she walked out of the cafeteria.
“Weell, Brookie since we’re about done here do you mind if I go outside to play with the kiddies for a bit? Its such a beautiful day out there…”
“In a minute,” Brooke replied raising her eyebrow suspiciously at her brother. “First you are going to tell me when beautiful made it into your vocabulary…and why you are so chipper. You are never chipper. That’s Peyton’s job. She’s the chipper sibling.” Jaime shrugged.
“Is it such a crime for me to be in a good mood for once?”
“Jaim you didn’t even throw a fit when you walked in on Alex and me. For all you know we could’ve been getting ready to have sex.”
“But you weren’t,” Jaime insisted.
“And you are so sure of this because…”
“Because you’ve told me you are nowhere near ready for that, and I believe you – and trust you,” Jaime informed. He gave her a brief hug then and turned and walked out of the cafeteria. Brooke stared after him in complete shock, the dirty spoon in her hand falling to the floor in a loud clatter. When the door closed behind him, she turned and looked at Jonathan, a caregiver.
“Jonathan…I think there’s been an alien invasion. They’ve stolen my brother and exchanged him with someone else.” Jonathan chuckled amusedly.
“What? I’m serious here. It’s the only explanation,” Brooke insisted defensively.
~*~*~*~*~
“Hey Cyndi…how are the kids?” Doctor Johnson questioned the receptionist once he made it back on the other side.
“All is well. I went and checked up on them as promised and they were sitting in there playing video games. Donavan seems happier then usual too. I think his little visitor should come by more often.”
“I agree,” Doctor Johnson grinned, and then he proceeded on his way back to Donavan’s room. Once in there, both kids looked up at him as the video game was paused.
“Hi Stevie!” Julie exclaimed happily upon seeing him and he chuckled.
“Hi sweetheart,” He replied and she crawled out of her chair and ran on over to him. Doctor Johnson waited until she was closer and then swooped her up in his arms hugging her close to him.
“Thank-you for being a good girl and staying in this room for me pal,” he told her gently. “That means a lot.”
“No problem,” she told him leaning up and kissing his cheek softly. “I want mommy to keep you around. So she’s not allowed to get mad at you.” Doctor Johnson chuckled and sat right where he is in the middle of the floor indianstyle with her in his lap.
“That’s good to hear…your mom tells me you used to sabotage her dates. What makes me so special eh?”
“You kept my mommy from leavin’ me,” she answered seriously. “You’re my hero.”
“Well, I’m honored to be your hero,” Doctor Johnson told her softly as he gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“An’ you know what else?” She asked anxiously.
“What?”
“My new friend says your somethin’ special.”
“Oh yeah? Whats your new friend’s name?”
“Cant’s tell you that.”
“Why not?”
“Cause, it’s a secret.” Doctor Johnson raised his eyebrow.
“What kind of person keeps their name a secret, eh?”
“This one. She doesn’t like for people to know her name. I don’t even know it.”
“Would this friend happen to be an imaginary one?” he asked amusedly.
“No…I see her in my dreams.”
“Oh, I see…” Doctor Johnson replied, intrigued. “What does she look like?” Julie opened her mouth to respond to that when suddenly Cyndi came rushing in the room.
“Doctor Johnson you’re needed out in the lobby quick. I just got a call from the paramedics and they’ll be here shortly with a toddler who had a climbing accident in her home.”
“Oh boy,” Doctor Johnson replied, knowing that it must be pretty serious since he can see other doctors already rushing out there. He kissed Julie’s forehead softly, got to his feet, and sat her down.
“Julie stay in here, don’t leave” He ordered. “I’ll be back for you in a little while,” and with that he and Cyndi ran out of Donavan’s room.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at Brian’s, when Sarah came walking downstairs after getting dressed and doing her own hair she spotted Dakota already down there in her matching outfit. She is sitting on the couch snuggling up against Josh and they were watching cartoons. Jackie and Riley were nearby with baby Bella quite comfortable in Riley’s arms and they were talking quietly. When Brian, who was sitting on the floor playing Sorry with Chris caught sight of Sarah coming down the stairs, and the outfit she is wearing he smirked.
“Well, don’t you and your sister look adorable. It’s nice to see you matching your sister again Kota.”
“I’m not matching her, she’s matching me,” Dakota insisted stubbornly. “I packed this outfit first – I knows I did because she knew I hads it with me an’ everything.”
“Well, then, maybe you will get a little taste of your own medicine” Sarah told her simply before climbing up the back of the couch. Before Brian could open his mouth and tell her she shouldn’t do that, she’d already done it and slid down so she was sitting behind her sister. She shifted so she was seated in her lap, and before Dakota could complain, Sarah began to gently run a brush through her soft blonde hair.
“Be that as it may,” Brian began, replying to Dakota’s comment after watching Sarah’s sneakiness with amusement. “You still look adorable.”
“Sarah looks adorable because I do,” Dakota replied, holding onto her stubbornness with a firm grip. She is not ready to be reasonable at all. She can’t deny that Sarah playing with her hair makes her feel loved but she won’t admit it. Not that she really has to or anything; it’s easy to see. Brian watched her as she closed her eyes comfortably and relaxed for the first time all morning. Sarah shook her head at her comment before beginning to french braid her hair touching her hair with care, being extra careful not to hurt her.
“When are we going to the beach?” Sarah asked after a couple of moments.
“As soon as Jerald calls us and tells us that they’re ready to meet us there. They’re being a little slow though because he dragged your Uncle Kevin to the store with him and he’s being about as stubborn as your sister.”
~*~*~*~*~
“Damnit Kevin, come on! Have we reverted back to five now?” Jerald complained as he walked through the store dragging his brother a long.
“I still don’t see why we couldn’t bring Ellie along,” Kevin whined as he purposely drug his feet. Jerald rolled his eyes.
“I told you. Mom wanted to give her a bath.”
“Which brings me to my next question…”
“Yes?” Jerald asked, letting go of Kevin’s arm to grab a pack of cookies and toss it into the cart.
“Why you wouldn’t let me stay there and have a bath with her. I would think you would promote that since she loves bath time with me and I owe her and everything.”
“Cause…the Grandmother had her heart set on it. What did you want me to do, say no? You can’t deny a woman of her Grandmother rights.”
“So then…why did she wait until I left the house?” Jerald was silent for just a moment too long and Kevin raised his eyebrow suspiciously.
“She didn’t. You are reading too far into things.”
“Am I? Then why was it such a life or death situation that I come with you?”
“Because I love my brother and miss spending time with him is that such a crime?”
“How could you miss spending time with me when I see you every day? We live together now.”
“Because its not the same as actually spending time with you. Yeah, I see you every day but you are usually too busy with Summer to care about what I’m doing, what I’m feeling, or even if maybe I want to watch a football game with you every once in awhile or something.” When Kevin didn’t reply, Jerald looked back at him and saw that he was standing behind him quietly playing with an item on the shelf and noticed the sadness in his eyes. “I moved here to be closer to you but you just seemed to become even more distant. If it weren’t for Ellie, I would be all alone. And I would so be on my way back to Kentucky right now.”
“I’m sorry…” Kevin replied softly.
“Oh Kev…” Jerald sighed. “You say that all the time and I still don’t see it,” he replied and then walked off ahead of him pushing his cart. Kevin lingered in the cookie isle for just a moment longer as he stared after his brother while a great big whirlwind of guilt consumed him. It wasn’t until he heard Jerald yell “Kevin!” from three isles away before he snapped out of it and hurried after him. When he caught up he was scowling at his older brother irritably.
“Will you keep it down on the K word, eh? What are you trying to do cause a riot of Backstreet Fans in the store?” Jerald rolled his eyes as he walked through the isle getting things.
“Anybody could be named Kevin in this store.”
“Yeah. Until they see you genius.”
“I think you are safe bro, relax.” Kevin was silent for a couple of moments.
“I’m gonna go do something. Is that okay with you big brother Jerald or should I stay here and hold your hand?”
“Mom told me to keep an eye on you.”
“Whats the worst thing I could do? Call Summer? A little impossible when she took my cell phone from me. And you have the car keys so its not like I can up and leave you here.”
“You might use a pay phone…you’re certainly desperate enough.” Kevin scowled and pulled his wallet from his pocket, grabbed Jerald’s hand, and placed it inside it.
“Now I can’t. Satisfied?” Jerald shook his head as he eyed his brother warily and then sighed and gave in.
“Don’t worry Kev. We’ll cure you from this ludicrous spell that the deranged psychopath has put you on somehow. I promise you – you will be saved.” Kevin rolled his eyes.
“You already have mom here controlling my every move like I am five years old again, and you’ve somehow managed to get me banned from Summer for four days. If you really love me at all, the least you could do is refrain yourself from making snide remarks about my girlfriend. Because that is what makes me not want to be anywhere near you.”
“If you would stop acting like a tortured kid for five minutes and open your eyes Kev, you would realize that its because I love you that I make snide remarks. Not that it makes much of a difference anyway. Go on, do whatever you want. Hurry though please, cause the faster I get home the faster I can get rid of the responsibility of you.”
“Well then, I will be sure to take my precious time,” Kevin informed him stubbornly, towering over Jerald with anger in his eyes and he whirled around and stormed off. Jerald glared after him for a few moments until he disappeared around the corner and then he growled, turned around and slammed his fist into the nearest item in sight – a cereal box causing it to go flying off the shelf and onto the floor. Everybody around him paused to look at him warily then, and Jerald stared back at all of them defiantly.
“What? Haven’t you ever seen a grown man lose his mind before? Mind your own business people” He snapped irritably, the anger and frustration he’s been holding in for far too long consuming him. People gave him dirty looks and muttered things unintelligible under their breath that Jerald couldn’t quite pick up, and walked off going back to their shopping. Jerald heaved a heavy sigh, rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair out of frustration, and then walked over and picked up the cereal box as his eyes prickled with tears. Why did he even bother pouring his feelings out to Kevin when he knew it was just going to go through one ear and out the other? How dense could he be to even think that his loneliness would mean a thing to him? Nothing matters to him anymore except that stupid girlfriend of his and Jerald can’t take it. There is nobody out of the whole Backstreet Family – aside from Ellie who is suffering from this more and everybody can see it. They know he is taking this hardest since him and Kevin used to be so close. He would like nothing more then to up and leave – to go back to Kentucky but he knows that’s not an option. Ellie, Jerald…You have to tough this out for Ellie he silently reminded himself. He would rather cut off his own arm then leave her here to deal with this on her own. Jerald stood there silently waiting for his temper to pass, and when it finally did he kept moving on.
Meanwhile, Kevin walked through the store concentrating on the mission he has made for himself in a failed attempt at pushing his thoughts of Jerald out of his mind. This is the most he has ever fought with his brother in years. Not even the time when he was disappointed in him for not being responsible enough with Ellie compares to this. And what bothers him the most is every word he said to him earlier when he was telling him how he feels hit him like a knife stabbing him in the heart over and over. He knows without a doubt that he doesn’t think he heard him, but he did. And he even knows he was right too.
How could he let himself get so disconnected from his brother? The one person – aside from Brian of course, that he’d always been close to. And Ellie…why can’t he figure out what’s going on with his little girl? He knows its something, he just can’t figure out what. And that’s never happened before either. As he was pondering desperately on the subject he turned the corner entering the magazine, books, and toys isle and just as he did, something fell off the shelf and right onto the floor in front of him. Kevin looked down in surprise and discovered a magazine lying there. It had opened up to a page of a little girl cowering in the corner of a room and the headline above the picture read You can put a stop to Child Abuse. Kevin raised his eyebrow and reached down to pick the magazine up. He closed it and put it back on the shelf and started to walk again, when he heard another loud clatter on the floor behind him as it fell again.
“Okay, what the hell…” he muttered quietly before turning to pick it up again when he saw that this was a completely different magazine and it fell open to another article – this particular heading reading Child Beaten to Death by Man’s Girlfriend. Kevin stared at it in confusion for a couple of moments, before leaning over and picking it up. He closed that one, placed it back on the shelf, and then backed away from it slowly as if it were possessed and he began to make his way toward the toys. When he managed to make it there without knocking anything off of their shelves he looked them over indecisively. After a few moments of looking, he decided on the biggest teddy bear there – one that is almost as big as Ellie herself and it’s holding a big red heart in its hands that reads I Love You on it. He grabbed it off of the shelf and carried it off in the direction he last left his brother in, only to find him standing near the cash register with a full cart waiting on him patiently. When Jerald caught sight of the teddy bear in Kevin’s arms, his mouth dropped open in surprise.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
