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Enjoy =)
Chapter Three-Hundred-Eighty-Six



“Elenore Richardson, you give me the sai right now!” Kevin ordered when he found his daughter down in the living room protecting her toys with all her might. Upon hearing what he was going to take she dove out of her bed and grabbed her sai before he could and shot out of the room like a rocket.


“NO! They’re mine an’ you can’ts have them!”


“I can so have them, I am your father. I have a right to take them away from you if I should feel the need to. Now, if you don’t give them to me young lady, we won’t go over to Josh’s house for a sleepover tonight.”


“You do NOTS have a right to take them away!” Elenore wailed, suddenly breaking down into sobs upon his threat. “YOU are breaking Santa’s rules!”


“Give them to me right now Ellie, I mean it!” Kevin insisted tuning her tantrum out like a pro and he went on over and grabbed her up from behind the couch by the arm. Elenore shrieked so loudly that you would think he was beating her and she kicked him hard in the leg causing him to yelp and drop her and she scrambled to a corner of the room for shelter. Kevin leaped back at the horrible painful sound she’d made when he grabbed her and he stared at her with fear filled eyes for a moment as she grabbed hold of her arm and sobbed. He looked to his mother who came running out of the kitchen upon hearing the noise.


“What did I do?”


“I was just going to ask you the very same thing,” Ann replied while rushing over to her Granddaughter and taking her into her arms.


“I just went to get her from behind the couch how was I to know she was going to freak out?” He asked feeling hurt that his mother was giving him those looks – like he was a criminal. “I mean besides the obvious fact that I was going to take her toys away, but that shriek had nothing to do with it! What is wrong with her?”


“You just scared her is all…you should know better with her history.”


“No there is something you guys are not telling me and I would really like to know!”


“I am serious honey you just scared her. You ought to know by now that she is fragile, you can’t just grab her like that.”


“I was more concerned about her running away from me at the moment, I didn’t think.”


“What is going on?” Ann wanted to know. “What’s caused this?” she asked while hugging Ellie close to her.


“I told her I was going to take her sai, chipmunks, and TMNT figures away and she threw a fit and grabbed her sai and ran from me. That’s what happened.”


“He is breaking Santa’s rules!” Ellie whimpered.


“Isn’t there another toy you could take from her as punishment?” Ann tried to reason after a moment. “You can’t take her sai from her, remember? Santa promised they wouldn’t be taken from her unless she hits someone with them and she hasn’t done so therefore it wouldn’t be right to take them.”


“But her sai is most important to her.”


“I’m sure she has other toys that are important to her as well.” Kevin thought about it for a moment and then spoke up.


“Her detective kit she got from Detective Stabler. She treasures that thing almost as much as her sai,” he pointed out.


“NO!” Elenore pleaded tearfully as if she were proving his point.


“Yes,” Kevin insisted. “You can have it back in three weeks. Mom get her slippers on while I go get it and we’ll head to Brian’s,” he added and then he turned and headed upstairs while pondering what happened earlier when he grabbed her. He knows something isn’t right. He knows everybody is keeping something from him and he wants to know what it is. What really frustrates him about the whole situation though is, if it concerns his daughter then shouldn’t he be able to know? They get on him about not taking care of her or loving her enough and all of that but how is he supposed to do so if he doesn’t even know what’s going on with his little girl? And why did she shriek? Why did she cower away from him? There is nothing that pains him more then knowing he put that look of fear in her eyes when he swore he never would. He is supposed to be the one she runs to, not the one she runs away from…and what about all of the other things? Like getting her dressed, and giving her baths, and the fact that he is never left alone with her for too long? All he knows is, something is going on and if people don’t start telling him what it is soon, he’s going to get angry. After gathering her TMNT Figures, her Chipmunks, and her Detective Kit, Kevin carried it all to his room and placed it way up high in his closet before going downstairs where he found his mom had just finished calming Ellie down and putting her slippers on. Kevin went on over and despite her protests he gently gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead softly.


“I’m sorry baby, daddy didn’t mean to frighten you okay? Sometimes I forget to think…” he told her gently while snuggling her close and despite how much Ellie wants to be angry at him she returned his snuggles because the one thing she’s learned out of this whole Summer situation is that snuggles from Kevin are precious.


“What abouts Lil’ Rok?” she asked him weakly as he followed his mother out of the house. “I wants Lil’ Rok.”


“Jerry has him at Brian’s honey, you’ll see him when we get there” Kevin promised as he locked up the house. Soon enough they were all in the car and as they drove out of the driveway and down the street, Ann noticed Laney and Drew waiting for the right opportune moment to pull their car into the driveway. They’ve come to set the cameras up for tomorrow.


~*~*~*~*~



Meanwhile, after putting the children to bed Nick headed downstairs where he found his girlfriend still doing the dishes and she was rocking out to Guns N Roses all at the same time. He smirked to himself and stopped in the doorway to the kitchen just to watch her for a few moments. The album is currently starting up on the song Sweet Child O’ Mine, the one song that he knows just happens to be her favorite for two reasons. The first one being that it’s filled with some of Slash’s best solos and two, simply because Nick sings it to her sometimes. He watched her in amusement as she grabbed up a wooden spatula to use as a make believe guitar for Slash’s beginning solo and then as soon as Axle began singing she brought it up to her mouth and instantly turned it into a microphone. She turned to Bella (who had some how been moved from the playpen to her vibrating chair and placed up on the counter so she was closer to Ashley while he was upstairs) and began lip syncing to her. As she did this, she mocked Axle’s dance moves that she’s seen him do in the video more then Nick has managed to keep track.


She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
It takes me away to that special place
And if I stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry

Woah oh woah sweet child o' mine
Woah oh oh oh sweet love of mine…



Axle’s voice rang out through the speakers of the stereo right before the song went right into guitar break and the spatula became her guitar again. He stifled a chuckle as he watched her go into the exact same position that Slash stands in when playing the guitar as she pretended to play her make believe one right a long with him. When the guitar break was nearing an end she got right back in position in front of Bella again and brought the spatula back up to her mouth again.


She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I'd hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me
Of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain to quietly pass me by

Woah oh woah sweet child o' mine
Ohhhhh oh oh oh sweet love of mine



Axle sang out and then Slash went right into his all time amazing solo that always manages wow Ashley to no end no matter how many times she hears it. As if it were too good for her to mock it, she simply kept the spatula in the microphone position and she began to dance around the kitchen with it mocking Axle as if she were picturing his moves inside her head. Bella watched in complete and total awe, even going as far as squealing for her in approval – her number one little fan. He watched her as she danced a long and lip synced through the whole song and when the song came to an end, not being able to hide his appearance or his amusement any longer, Nick broke out into applause. Ashley whirled around to look at him in surprise then and saw him entering the kitchen further.


“Bravo, bravo” he told her and her entire face turned bright red.


“How long have you been standing there?” She asked while tossing the spatula in the sink as if she were trying to rid herself of the evidence. Nick chuckled amusedly and gathered her in his arms before reeling her in close to him.


“Long enough to realize that my baby girl has got some pretty good moves.”


“I do not,” Ashley insisted while blushing an even deeper shade of red. “I was just messing around – for Bella. I thought she was the only one watching.”


“Well, Bella loved it therefore there is no way you can argue your way out of it – its unanimous,” Nick insisted while lightly rubbing his nose over hers and tightening his arms around her. “You lose, sweet love of mine.” Ashley narrowed her eyes at him and he leaned forward and claimed her lips for his own. She turned him around and lightly pressed his back up against the running sink that she’d forgotten to turn off during her little performance and kissed him back. Nick moaned softly as she instantly went into her mind boggling kisses that always seem to captivate and paralyze him no matter what and she slid her arms around his waist. She waited until she knew she completely had him and when his eyes were closed, she crept her hand to the sink sprayer, pulled it out and around in front of his face, and she pressed down on the button instantly causing water to spray out at him.


“AHHH!” Nick cried out in surprise as his eyes flew open and Ashley giggled hysterically. He reached behind him and grabbed the other sink sprayer, yanked it around in front of him and he pressed down on the button sending water after her. Ashley shrieked playfully and dodged for cover behind the island.


“I see how it is…you are getting really good at that surprise attack there – I guess I should be so lucky that it isn’t pepper spray huh?” he teased. Ashley poked her head out from behind the counter and stuck her tongue out at him playfully and he pressed down on the trigger to the sprayer sending water at her face once more and Ashley squeaked and jumped back behind the counter again. “What are you going to do now baby huh? I have both sprayers,” he challenged. Ashley sat there hidden behind the counter thinking about just that. What is she going to do? She started this water fight and now she doesn’t even have a game plan to back herself up. Think Ashley, think, she silently coached herself. Detective Stabler told you to always have a plan. The two main things he was very big on teaching her is to (A) Always have a plan, even when you aren’t under attack and (B) anything can be used as a weapon.


Ashley looked around the house critically. what can be used as a weapon in a water fight though? she pondered. She can think of something. She has to think of something. She has the upper hand in this situation even if it doesn’t look like it, she does. She knows this house better then Nick does. After thinking about it for a few moments, she smirked and quietly crawled toward hers and Nick’s bedroom in the hallway except instead of going inside it, she went the other way to the bathroom. When she got there she crawled inside, opened up the cupboard under the sink and she grinned with pleasure as she saw that not only are her bag of water balloons that she’s had since she was eight still there, but they were resting next to two squirt bottles.


She moved out of the entrance to the bathroom and she quietly pushed the door shut before pulling out the water balloons and squirt bottles. She then began arming herself for attack. Meanwhile upstairs, Dakota lay in her bed with Lily lying across her stomach for a few moments as she listened curiously to all of the noise that was going on downstairs. The music, the laughter, the shrieking...what in the world? After a few moments of lying there pondering about it, she couldn’t take the mystery any longer. She rolled out of bed, whispered to Lily to stay, and then crept out of her room and across the way to Sarah’s. When she crawled in there she saw that she was lying in her bed happily content in watching Nick at Night. Dakota rolled her eyes. How can she be lying there watching television when there is obviously a party going on downstairs without them?


“Sarah”


“What? What are you doing in here?” Sarah asked curiously and Dakota crawled into bed with her sister.


“Don’t you hear what’s happening downstairs?”


“No, daddy told me to turn my TV on. He doesn’t normally give me permission to do that these days when we have to wake up early so I was taking advantage of it.” Dakota rolled her eyes and grabbed Sarah’s remote before pressing the mute button on the television and suddenly the noise was very much audible in her room. Sarah raised her eyebrow curiously.


“Aren’t you in the least bit curious on what’s going on?”


“No, I already know what’s going on” Sarah answered matter of factly and Dakota looked at her confused. “The fun always starts once we go to bed, duh.”


“Well, I’m gonna goes an’ see what they are up to.”


“Oh no you’re not.”


“Who are you to try an’ stops me?”


“Your big sister that’s who.” Dakota rolled her eyes.


“Whatever.”


“Kota come on. Daddy obviously wanted us to have our television on for a reason, whatever party is going on down there is not kid rated.”


“Either you are withs me or against me big sis, but I am going either way” Dakota insisted and she crawled out of Sarah’s bed, crept out of the room, and headed down the stairs.


“Kota!” Sarah called after her in a quiet yet urgent tone. When Dakota didn’t respond she growled in frustration and gently placed Abbie to the side, before crawling out of bed herself and she hurried after her. She could stay in bed and let her get in trouble all on her own, but then their entire drive to Jersey tomorrow would be Dakota whining and complaining about whatever punishment their daddy lays on her. So now she has to go and save her butt - again. But before she could make it out there to drag her butt back in her room, she realized it was too late. Dakota had made it downstairs and from where she was standing upstairs she could see her crouched between the couch in the front room and the wall and she was peering into the kitchen curiously. Heaving a sigh of annoyance she crept her way down there too and when she made it to the couch Dakota yanked her down just on time for Ashley to come out of the bathroom. She was armed with three water balloons and a squirt gun and suddenly it all made sense on why her daddy was standing in the kitchen armed with the sink sprayers. They’re having a water fight! Dakota’s eyes widened in excitement and she watched in excited anticipation. Ashley suddenly went running through the dining room and charging into the kitchen and as soon as she did she threw two water balloons at Nick catching him completely off guard and soaking him. Nick yelled out in surprise and fired back with his sink sprayers only to catch her in the back before she dove behind the table.


“Holy cow Ashley!” He exclaimed in surprise only to have her giggle at him as she crawled under the table and revealed herself just briefly as she gently grabbed Bella’s chair. He allowed her to take her out of harms way where she would stay completely dry and not feel intimidated before crawling back into position.


“The few most important things Detective Stabler drilled into my head,” Ashley began as she threw another balloon at him only to have him jump out of the way and the balloon to hit the cupboard instead. “Was (A) Always have a plan, (B) Anything can be used as a weapon, and (C) Learn your surroundings. Well baby, I believe I am very much on common ground here.” Nick feeling very proud that she is using this opportunity as practice just scoffed at her.


“Oh yeah? Then why are you hiding?” he asked egging her on. “If you are so armed and dangerous, why don’t you come out and fight me huh?” Ashley rolled her eyes playfully as she watched him walk around the kitchen turning this way and that as he tried to find her. She waited until his back was turned and then sprung out from behind the counter at him and she threw her last balloon at him hitting him point blank in the back. Nick whirled around and instantly began spraying her with the sink sprayers while Ashley retaliated with her own squirt bottles and the two of them broke out into a full on war. The war went on until Ashley simply ran out of water ten minutes later only to be left defenseless. She looked down at her two empty squirt bottles in surprise as if she hadn’t expected this to happen and Nick smirked, laughed amusedly, and looked at her challengingly.


“What are you gonna do now baby?” he wanted to know. Ashley stared at him for a moment, and then abruptly charged at him catching him off guard. He hadn’t expected that. He thought she would run away and think of some other plan, but not come right at him. As she ran across the wet slippery floor, Ashley lost her balance suddenly causing her eyes to widen in surprise and she went sliding across the floor. Nick seeing this happen jumped out and grabbed her only to slip himself and fall flat on his back on the floor pulling her with him and she landed on top of him with a loud oomph. The two of them erupted into a fit of laughter then, the two of them doing this until their stomachs hurt and they no longer could and then Nick gently grabbed her chin and brought her lips down onto his for his own deep and captivating kiss.


Ashley gently cupped his face in her hands as she moved so she was sitting up beside him never breaking their kiss once. He gently slid his fingers through her hair as it hung down over him acting as a curtain and blocking the view of their two unknown spies in the next room. Dakota watched with stars in her eyes as she fought very hard to stifle her giggles. She’ll never get over seeing her daddy and Ashley kissing, it will always be exciting and romantic in her eyes, the very thing that makes her believe in love and all of those mushy fairytales and happy endings. No other couple can do the trick, just her daddy and Ashley because she believes in them the most and their relationship is the one that’s most like a fairytale. Sarah on the other hand shook her head smiling at her sister’s excitement and she brought her hand down and covered her eyes.

“Sarah,” She hissed quietly. “I wants to see.”


“You’ve seen enough. Now come on, let’s get upstairs before they catch us” Sarah insisted and she got up, grabbed her sister by the hand and pulled her up too. She began to quietly lead her up the stairs leaving their daddy and future mommy completely alone. Well, almost completely alone aside from the baby that was in the next room but happily content with her lullaby music and toys to really care.
Chapter End Notes:
The song "Sweet Child O'Mine" belongs to Axl Rose from Guns N Roses, not me =)