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Chapter Four-Hundred-One



“Wi?” Kori asked curiously as she got to her feet and she took a couple of steps toward him before stopping. “What are you up to?” Wiley closed the big space between them then and he placed his free hand to her cheek gently caressing it.


“I’m sorry for being such a jerk last night,” he insisted softly and Kori shook her head out of protest as his hand was still cradling her cheek.


“You were just telling me how you felt…I…I was a bitch for even bringing up what I did. I’m the one who should be sorry.” She gazed up at him in silence for a few seconds. “What’s behind your back?” she questioned and Wiley brought his one hand out from behind his back to reveal a bouquet of red roses.


“Oh Wi…” Kori gushed, her eyes deceiving her and watering up – again. What in the world is the matter with her? Wiley slid his arm around her waist and pulled her near and he leaned forward so their foreheads touched and they were eye level.


“Do you like them?” he wanted to know.


“I love them they’re beautiful…and you are especially special for giving them to me,” Kori insisted and Wiley grinned slightly at being told he’s especially special while Scott was just sweet.


“And for the record love, I couldn’t pick just one favorite memory of you and me…because I treasure each and every one of them and they all bring a smile to my face. But if I had to choose one that really stands out it would be the day I met you. It was only your second day here and you were at the grocery store and an emotional wreck considering everything…you slipped on coupon lying on the floor with a bunch of groceries in your hands and went flying and I caught you.”


“And the chocolate pie I was holding landed on us and we were covered in chocolate and cream,” Kori added as tears rolled down her face. Ashley couldn’t help but snicker some.


“Why in the world were you buying a chocolate pie when you lived in a Diner with people who could make you one if you asked?”


“I didn’t want to trouble anyone, it was only my second night here and I still felt wary and slightly untrustful of everyone.”


“So then what happened after y’all fell?” Ashley asked, finding this story telling somewhat amusing and though she won’t admit it, kind of romantic.


“We laughed together, I asked I her I don’t know how many times if she was okay…I was sort of nervous and everything because I knew right then that I liked her…and then we cleaned everything up. She paid for her groceries, and I walked her back to her diner because it was nighttime and I insisted. Of course, at the time, I didn’t know her story so I didn’t realize how tough she was…but I probably would’ve walked her home anyway even if I did.”


“Of course you would,” Kori laughed. “You are too much of a gentlemen not to. But anyway, he ended up showing up here the next day ordering breakfast. Eddie made me cover for someone real quick even though I was in my pajamas and everything. I didn’t really care until I realized it was Wiley and then I turned and booked it up the stairs.”


After dropping the coffeepot in her hand mind you,” Wiley put in.


“The best thing was, Eddie didn’t even get mad at me for it like I’d expected him to” Kori added after lightly elbowing Wiley in the shoulder for laughing at her. “He ran up the stairs after me and was more concerned if I was okay or not and Id admitted the truth for my actions and he was completely understanding about it. Man, I loved that old man…”


“She never came down after that of course, she hid upstairs until I had eaten all of my breakfast, paid, and left. I stayed away for two days giving her time to cool down, and then came back and she was dressed this time and served me lunch. One thing led to another and then we were friends just like that.”


“That’s really cute,” Ashley replied, refusing to admit anything more for Scott’s sake but remembering also that she does need to keep her promise to herself about being supportive. Wiley kissed Kori’s forehead softly then before beginning to walk away to find her a vase. Kori not having this, reached out and grabbed his arm gently, whirled him around to face her, and cradled the back of his head before pushing his lips down on hers and claiming them for a deep kiss. Wiley taken by complete surprise slid his arms down and placed them at her waist as she stands in front of him on her tiptoes and kissed back as he still held the bouquet of roses. When she finally pulled back moments later she looked up at him as he staggered back slightly feeling light headed and speechless. She gently took the roses n her own hand then, grabbed his, and lightly tugged him toward the kitchen where they could find a vase together and be alone for a few moments. Ashley looked down at Bella in her arms then, and quietly turned her utmost attention on her instead.



~*~*~*~*~



“How long have they been sleeping?” Anna asked Brandon in a quiet whisper when she walked in and found the two most important people in her life asleep on the couch. Doctor Johnson is lying with Julie lying on her stomach on top of him and a blanket over them and they’re sound asleep. The moment Peyton and Anna walked in, they had to spend a moment gushing over it.


“About an hour,” Brandon answered softly as he carried the last of the bags in the kitchen and she followed him. She and Peyton watched as he automatically began to unload them, both of them noticing that he seems to really need something to do right now. Peyton walked up behind him and stopped him from pulling the milk out of the bag and slid her arms around his waist, rested her chin on his shoulder, and as he looked back at her she gazed at him concerned.


“Do you want to tell me what’s troubling you?”


“Not really,” Brandon answered while looking away.


“Well too bad,” Peyton insisted. “Spill.” Brandon gently nudged her away and he walked over to the kitchen window, and stared out at it quietly for a long moment.


“I know you already locked yourself in your studio and wallowed about it for awhile, now it’s time to open up and get it all out. You know its not good to suppress things with work.” When he finally replied, it was to Annabelle as he turned and looked at her.


“Do you really believe that Kayline is watching over Steven or were you just being a good supportive girlfriend?”


“I really believed him,” Annabelle insisted seriously. Brandon studied her for a long moment, and then he looked away.


“Did something happen with Julie while I was gone?”


“Yeah…something that really confused the hell out of me.”


“What happened?” Peyton urged gently.


“Steve went down into the basement today after working so hard to avoid it,” Brandon answered softly. “I was outside with Julie pushing her on the swing…we were laughing and having a grand old time, and then all of the sudden, she jumps off the swing and runs in the house. I asked her where she was going, and she announced that ‘Stevie is sad’. I was wondering how in the world she could know that, and even asked her and she said she could feel it. So we went inside, and she ran straight down to the basement…again, how she could know he was down there while we were both outside, I don’t know. But she found him sobbing at the end of the stairs and instantly hugged him and started saying reassuring things to him. Things that couldn’t have been coming from her…but it’s…it’s impossible,” Brandon explained, and then met Peyton’s eyes in hopes that she would agree with him and reassure him.


“Why is it so hard for you to believe that it might be possible?” Anna wanted to know. “I mean look what happened with me in the coma…how do you explain that?”


“Maybe because I don’t want it to be possible” Brandon snapped somewhat. Annabelle just stared back at him quietly; not letting his tone of voice upset her. She can tell it’s not her that he is angry at. She has a feeling that he is angry at someone though.


“Brandon that’s not fair,” Peyton was the one to reply. “Lets talk in what ifs here…what if your sister is watching over Steve through Julie? Don’t you think that maybe he needs that right now?”


“Don’t you think that maybe I might need it too?” Brandon asked angrily as tears came to his eyes. “I’ll tell you what’s not fair. For my sister’s entire six years of life she has loved Steven more then me – never did she want me, oh no. She always wanted him. Even after she is dead. But I loved her…I’m grieving for her too, you know!”


“Maybe she’s tried,” Anna offered gently. “But you’ve been refusing to believe she is here so you’ve been missing all of the signs.”


“Yeah right. Why would she bother to reach out to me when she didn’t love me even when she was alive?”


“It is hard for me to believe that the sweet little girl I met in my coma could pick and choose who she loves. Steve told me you used to make her ice cream sundaes all the time and she loved them. And what about all of those times when you snuck out together? You are her brother there is no way she could not love you. Maybe you just feel that way because maybe a small part of you thinks you didn’t spend enough time with her when she was alive and you regret it…Steve told me you were at your rebellious stage back then.” Brandon crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. He doesn’t like how right she is. He doesn’t like hearing his inner demons from anywhere but in his own head.


“You said you were playing with Julie earlier right?” Peyton asked. Brandon nodded as he rubbed at his eyes.


“I showed her my art and pushed her on the swing for a bit…and she requested that I paint her a picture.”


“Maybe…if you let yourself be open to the idea…just maybe, a small part of that moment you shared with Julie had a bit of angel touch to it.”


“You just have to let go of your anger and believe…maybe she’s been trying to reach out to you all a long,” Annabelle added.


“I’m just so confused…” Brandon insisted and he leaned against the counter and rested his forehead in the palm of his hands causing Peyton to once again wrap her arms around him from behind and hug him. “Is it Julie that we have here…or Kayline?”


“Julie,” Annabelle insisted. “Its one hundred percent Julie, it’s not like she’s being possessed or anything, that’s ghost stuff – your sister isn’t a ghost.”


“Then how is Julie doing what she is doing? Singing Kayline’s old lullaby? Talking to Steve like she were Kayline?”


“Steve and I believe Kayline is a guardian angel…she hangs around Julie all day and inspires her to do those things. It’s all Julie doing it…but just with a little bit of angel touch. The way I see it…she’s using Julie to bring happiness back into her broken family’s life.”


“So…was it Kayline’s doing that Steven came home to me?”


“I don’t think so,” Annabelle answered and she smiled at Brandon some. “I think that was all Steve. He was just ready.”


“No,” Brandon shook his head. “That was Kayline. You were meant to crash in front of the hospital where Steve was so he could bring you in and work his medical magic on you so that you could go into that coma and make Steve feel again. So that way he could finally deal with his issues. She knew he wouldn’t so long as he had being a doctor to hide behind…so she thrusted you into his life and turned his safe world that he created upside down. He had no where to hide therefore he had no choice but to go through with the emotions that he suppressed. Then Kayline showed up in your coma and worked her angel magic on you. She helped you come out of your coma and allowed you to heal faster then you really should’ve and let you remember everything in your coma so that Steve would be even more drawn to you then he already was. You made him happy, he fell in love with you somewhere along the way, and you helped him heal. Because of that he felt compelled to come home. And that is why you are my favorite person.” Annabelle laughed.


“Well, I’m glad you finally see what Steve and I see,” She told him. She and Steve already had that much figured out, but she let him work through the puzzle for himself and catch up.


Your favorite person?” They heard Steve’s voice from the doorway of the kitchen and they whirled around to look at him to see him leaning against the doorframe listening to the whole thing. He walked further into the kitchen then now that he had their attention and he slid his arms around Annabelle before pulling her near and leaning forward to plant a kiss on her nose. “This here is the most important person in my life,” he insisted while hugging Annabelle closer and she nestled into him comfortably as she hugged him back.


“I heard what happened,” She told him while kissing his chest softly as he had no shirt on. “Are you okay?”


“I still won’t accept that there wasn’t anything I could do, but yeah I’m better now.” Annabelle reached up and cupped his face in her hands and she leaned up on her tiptoes so their foreheads were touching. Doctor Johnson chuckled.


“Shortie,” He whispered and then lowered his head some so she could relax and she made a face at him of playful annoyance making him laugh some more and he brushed his lips lightly over hers.


“Is Julie still asleep?” she asked quietly while lightly caressing the back of his neck.


“Mhm, out cold.”


“Do you think she’ll stay that way for awhile?”


“Oh yeah,” Steve answered when he noticed right off why she was asking. “For at least thirty minutes more. She’s been playing with Brandon all morning – he wore the poor girl out.” Brandon scoffed.


“I beg to differ. I think she wore me out more then I did of her.” Annabelle smirked and cupped his chin with her forefinger and thumb.


“Come outside with me?” she asked softly. “I think you should give me a tour of your cornfield…you can never be a true country person if you haven’t walked barefooted through a cornfield.”


“Ooh…you are right,” Steve agreed, the excitement very clear in his eyes at what she is really suggesting. “I think we need to give you the entire experience…city girl,” He told her while playfully lifting her up in his arms causing her flip flops to slide right off of her feet. He then turned and ran out the back door with her and Annabelle squealed in delight, held onto him tightly, and giggled amusedly as he ran through the backyard toward the cornfield. Peyton laughed and looked at Brandon who shook his head and tried to keep the mental picture out of his mind.


“And he lectured us for kissing on the front lawn,” he complained playfully as he pulled Peyton near and kissed the tip of her nose. “What do you say…you um…come join me in my studio, hmm?”


“As exciting as that sounds sweetheart, we have a six year old sleeping in the next room. Who would watch her, huh?”


“Kayline? And anyway, nothing ever happens here…she’d be safe.”


“I still think we should be where she can see us incase she wakes up. I’ll be your model later, okay? And I’ll let you do anything you want with me. Promise.”


Anything?” Brandon asked while wriggling his eyebrows and she smirked before turning around and walking into the next room in the sexiest way she could muster causing Brandon to instantly hurry after her. When he got in the living room he saw that she’d turned the television on and was standing at the love seat waiting for him to cuddle with her.



~*~*~*~*~



"Are they tight enough, Princess?" Kevin asked, for the second time. He'd already laced up one skate and was currently finishing up lacing the second.


"Yes," Ellie nodded. "An' no, they're nots too tight either, Daddy." She rolled her eyes slightly, then looked at Kristin, smirking. "Daddy asks too many questions sometimes."


"Yes, I can see that," Kristin agreed, smiling some herself as she nodded her agreement.


"Ganging up on me already, I see," Kevin commented, as he stood.


"That's our job, Daddy," Ellie insisted, as he helped her up. He'd already put his skates on beforehand, and left Ellie's for last.


"Just like it's my job to ask you a zillion questions," Kevin smirked. "All daddies ask lots of questions."


"Yeah, that's true," Ellie nodded. "Nicky sure asks Kota an' Sarah lots when he wants to knows somethin'. He can be awful nosy, Daddy. It's hard to keeps secrets." Kevin paused a moment then, to eye her warily.

"You're not keeping anymore secrets from me, are you? Because if you are Ellie, I want to know them right now. I don't want to be the last to know anymore. We've talked about this plenty now."


"No, I'm nots keepin' any, Daddy," Ellie assured him. "I gots no more to keep - I ran outs."


"Promise me, Ellie," Kevin insisted.


"I swears Daddy," Ellie promised. "Nobody gots none left."


"Good," Kevin sighed in relief. "Now, let's ice skate shall we?"


"Yeah!" Ellie exclaimed excitedly. The three of them carefully made their way out onto the ice, with Kevin and Kristin each taking hold of one of Ellie's hands. They skated around the rink a few times, laughing and talking, and plain old having fun - though, being careful to be wary of Ellie's bruised body. "Daddy, I wanna skates likes that!" Ellie insisted suddenly, letting go of Kristin to point over at a young girl whom was doing twists and turns and such things.


"Baby, that takes a whole lot of practice," Kevin responded. "She's probably in figure skating classes."


"What's figure skating?" Ellie wanted to know.


"It's where you get to dress up in pretty outfits, and do fancy twirls, and such like that girl's doing," Kristin explained.


"Daddy, I wanna do that’s! Please?" Ellie pleaded, looking up at him eagerly. Kevin smiled down at her eager face.


"We'll see, Ellie. I know there's a few other things you want to do as well."


"I wanna do 'em all, Daddy!" Ellie stated firmly. "I wanna be a horse-ridin', figure skatin', thief catching ninja!" Kevin chuckled, as Kristin gave a small, soft laugh.


"Princess, we'll see what we can do once you're feeling better, alright?"


"Okay!" Ellie exclaimed, her hopes soaring and her face looking ever so excited just at the mere prospect of it all. They continued skating around the rink for a bit, when suddenly Ellie leaned majorly forward, her hands slipping from both Kevin and Kristin's. Kevin and Kristin both instinctively reached for the little girl between them, trying to catch her before she fell - only she darted away from them quickly, as though she'd planned that move all along. With Ellie no where within their grasp, they crashed into one another and fell to the ice in a heap. Ellie turned to see if her plan had worked, and laughed merrily when she saw that it indeed had! Oh, what fun! She couldn't wait to tell her Uncle Jerry and everyone else about this! She was still ninja! Hurray! Kevin and Kristin both apologized to one another at once, as they tried to get up again, only to fall once more - causing the little one watching to giggle even more. They eyed one another for a short moment, before one finally spoke.


"I've never been known to fall for a lady over five, but I guess there's a first time for everything," Kevin winked, smiling as he did so.


Kristin blushed slightly. "Well, I've never been known to fall for just anyone." She paused a moment. "Well, okay, maybe I have. I tend to trip a lot over my own two feet sometimes."


"That's okay!" Ellie chortled. "Daddy does too!" Kevin rolled his eyes playfully.


"Yeah, keep laughing it up over there Princess. You'll get what's coming to you." Ellie froze suddenly, her eyes going big and round. She grew silent, as she stared at Kevin with fear suddenly in her eyes. Kevin glanced back over at her when he heard her stop laughing, and felt his heartbreak for the zillionth time since he'd found out what Summer had been doing to his baby. "Ellie?"


"I'm sorry, Daddy," Ellie whispered softly, her eyes filling with tears. Kevin sighed heavily, slowly managing to get up and go over to crouch before the little girl watching him fearfully.


"Baby, I'm not angry. I was teasing you," he explained. "You know Daddy would never intentionally harm you. I love you too damn much."


"I loves you too damn much too, Daddy," Ellie whimpered, placing her arms about his neck as she buried her face into him. Kevin hugged her close gently, kissing the top of her head, as he rubbed her back soothingly.


"Hey, hey, no tears," Kevin soothed, deciding to let her language slip just this once. "We're all having fun here, remember? C'mon now, don't you want to be my beautiful little figure skater?"


"I wanna be your horseback ridin', figure skatin', crime solving ninja, Daddy," Ellie reminded him through sniffles, as she glanced teary eyes upon him. Kevin smiled, kissing her nose gently.


"Yes, I haven't forgotten, Baby."

"How about we take a break and get some hot chocolate?" Kristin suggested when she felt she wouldn't be ruining a father/daughter moment. "I know they sell some here, and it's rather good."


"I likes hot chocolates!" Ellie smiled, as Kevin wiped her tears away with his thumbs.


"Well, let's go get some then," Kristin smiled in return.


“Yes, that sounds really good actually” Kevin insisted and he reached his hand out to help Kristin up as she still sat on the ice. She took hold of his hand allowing him to help her to her feet and the two of them each took hold of one of Ellie’s hands and they set off on a hot chocolate hunt.



~*~*~*~*~



“Well, this is definitely different” Doctor Johnson insisted as the couple lie together in the grass of the cornfield after making love and Annabelle placed her hand to his cheek and brought his lips down on hers in a soft kiss. “I’ve never done anything like this before. Usually its Brandon who takes his girlfriends into strange places.” Annabelle laughed.


“But never a cornfield right?”


“Nope, this is an original. I can officially say I’ve outdone him.” Annabelle giggled and brought her lips down on his neck and shoulder where she placed light feathery kisses.


“I love you Doctor Johnson,” she whispered softly in is ear as he tightened his arms around her some and took in her kisses. Doctor Johnson smiled pleasantly upon hearing his formal name being said with such affection. Normally he would scoff and insist she call him Steve, but if he gets to hear her say his professional name like that every day…well, it just might be enough to drive a man crazy. That’s all.


“I love you too, my beautiful Annabelle,” he managed to whisper and he rolled over so that she was sitting up on top of him causing her to lean forward and graze her lips over his in the lightest of kisses. His black leather jacket that she’d been lying on earlier remained draped over her shoulders as she wore nothing else and he cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her back fervently as he slid his fingers through her curly hair. “You make me want to do crazy things.” Annabelle lay her head comfortably against his chest as she settled herself on top of him and he kissed her forehead softly before beginning to lightly tickle her back with the pad of his finger as he gazed up at the sky contentedly. The two of them lay there in comfortable silence for a long moment and then Annabelle spotted some dark clouds coming in.


“Looks like we might be getting some rain,” She murmured softly and he followed her gaze and upon seeing the clouds he stared at them warily. After a long moment, he sat up.


“With that being said…get dressed baby, okay? I think we should go inside now.”


“Why?” Annabelle asked curiously, not thinking clearly at all as she is still trying to get over the bliss of making love to her handsome doctor. “It’s just rain…”


“I just…would really like to check on Julie okay?” Annabelle gazed into his eyes then and saw the fear in them and finally realized what was making him so distressed. Without saying another word, she got dressed and he did as well. Once the two of them were finished, she took his hand, gently squeezed it in attempt to calm him and he brought her inside the house. When they got in there, he hurried into the living room and was relieved to see his little angel snuggling up with Peyton and Brandon on he couch watching Bugs Bunny with them. Her whole face lit up upon seeing Steve though and she reached for him.


“Stevie, hi!” she greeted and he gently took her into his arms and hugged her close to him protectively.


“Hi sweetie,” He greeted her gently, and Annabelle kissed the back of her head softly causing her to turn slightly, wrap one arm around her too, and pull her near so she could have them both.


“Bran, turn the television to the weather channel please,” Doctor Johnson requested.


“But we’re watching bugs bunny” Julie protested somewhat.


“We’ll turn it back in just a minute angel, I promise” Doctor Johnson insisted and Brandon eyed him curiously for a moment, but eventually did as he requested of him. They sat there watching the news for a few moments, and when there wasn’t any signs of bad weather – that they couldn’t tolerate anyway, Annabelle gently rubbed her hand over his arm and looked up at him.


“There see? I told you there was nothing to worry about. Its just a normal rain storm coming.”


“Yes but honey, in Oklahoma, what seems like a very tame rain storm can get out of control in a matter of minutes.”


“Steve, come on now it—“ Brandon started but Doctor Johnson snatched the remote from him and made it so the television had the weather channel in a small square in the corner of the screen so that it was on mute. After doing that, he turned it back to Bugs Bunny so that it had the bigger part of the screen and had volume so that Julie could watch it.


“Keep watch Brandon, I mean it” he ordered, managing to keep his voice even for the sake of Julie.


“If anything worse were to happen, wouldn’t we get a big old warning at the bottom of the screen anyway?” Peyton asked.


“Yes, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep watch” Doctor Johnson insisted and he kissed Julie’s cheek and set her back down in Peyton’s arms before turning around and heading toward the garage.


“Where are you going?” Brandon wanted to know.


“To get some wood and some tools so I can block that window in the basement. Even if I am just being paranoid, that window doesn’t belong down there anyway.” Annabelle sighed and followed after him to make sure he doesn’t work himself up again and have another breakdown.