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Chapter One-Hundred-Twelve




When Nick, who is still playing hopscotch with the girls noticed Ashley headed for the gate in the corner of his eye, he stopped in mid-hop and turned to look at her.



"Ashley Elaine where are you going?" he demanded to know.



"Just right here, I want to get my puppy," Ashley answered while looking back at him. She turned and looked back at Abbie then, and she went over and scooped her up into her arms and she looked at her.



"Hey Missy, what are you doing over here by yourself? Hmm?" It was then, that she noticed that she is chewing on something. She raised her eyebrow.



"What are you eating?"



"Okay Ashley you've got her. Now please come away from there, I don't like you near that gate." Nick spoke up again as he stood there watching her nervously.



"Why? It's just a gate…" Ashley shrugged, and she walked away with Abbie, not worrying too much about what she was eating. She probably just caught a dead bird or something really gross like that. She went over to Nick and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her near protectively, as he had moved away from the hopscotch game so the girls could play.



"Yes well…just stay away from there…please? I can't protect you if you are way over there."



"Nicky I'm fine…what are you so worried about? We are in a protected yard with two security guards right here. What could happen?"



"You know damn well that anything could happen. You of all people should know that we can't underestimate Sean's abilities." Ashley rolled her eyes.



"I'm fine baby, I promise." She reassured him, as she set Abbie down and she bounded toward the girls.



"Abbie stooop you're in the way!" Dakota exclaimed, giggling a little. Ashley wrapped her arms around Nick in return and he rested his forehead against hers.



"I feel safe because you are right here and you know I feel the safest when I'm with you."



"Just humor me and don't go near that gate alone, okay? Please?"



"Okay baby," Ashley replied softly, and she rested her head against his chest. He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead softly as he rubbed his hand over her back.



"I just want to be able get to you if the unexpected should happen. I can't protect you if you are way over there."



"Do you really think Sean has followed us all the way to Kentucky?" Ashley asked softly and she looked up at him.



"I don't know honey, but you can never be too careful. If he did follow us, I want you near me at all times. We have less protection outside of the orphanage — and we don't have Detective Stabler either." Ashley didn't reply she only placed her hand to his cheek and pulled his face down to hers and she brushed her lips softly against his. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back, as he pulled her away from everybody else. After a few moments when he pulled away, she once again rested her head against his chest, as he leaned against the wall to the house and he looked down at her worriedly. If only she knew about the threat Sean left on that dead girl's body the other night. She has no idea what kind of trouble she is in. He still has yet to tell everybody else…he hasn't yet and he feels like shit for leaving them out of the loop but he's either been waiting until Ashley wasn't around, or things have been too chaotic. He hugged her close to him protectively as he placed soft kisses on her forehead. The two of them stood there in silence for a long time, Nick standing there watching the kids play. It wasn't long until Brian came outside and joined the kids. He noticed Josh sitting by himself over by his little drawing and he went and sat next to him and the two of them sat there talking quietly. After a half an hour had gone by, the gate opened. Nick raised his eyebrow and looked over at it just on time to see Harold and Jackie's van pull in. Tyke came running out of the house barking then and he ran on over to the driveway excitedly. Abbie, Chance, Lil Rok, and Lily were close behind him. Brian laughed.



"How nice, they get a parade of puppies to greet them when they come home," he commented, as he got up with Josh cradled in his arms and he went over to greet his parents and friends a long with everybody else.



"Hey mom, hey dad," he greeted, and he pulled them both into a hug.


"Hey son," Harold replied hugging him back.



"How was shopping?"



"Oh interesting, to say the least. I think Aaron starting the mob of fans was the highlight of it all." Kevin answered.



"WHAT?!" Nick asked, shock and bewilderment written on his face and everybody laughed as Aaron dove behind Marcus for protection.



"Aaron Charles Carter, explain yourself, now!" Nick demanded firmly.



"Don'ts put Uncle Aaron in time outs daddy, I'm sure he didn'ts mean it." Dakota spoke up and she went over to Aaron. Aaron smiled a little bit and scooped her up into his arms for a hug, as he knows Nick will never hurt him as long as he's holding his daughter.



"Yeah, he didn't mean it!" Aaron replied.



"I just want to know how you could start a mob, that's all. You had one security guard there, what if those fans got out of control and you got hurt?" Nick asked, calming down some now that Dakota is right there. He's been the bad guy in her eyes for the past month, and he's trying his very hardest to change that.



"Oh give him a break Nick. It's not like you've never started a mob over a pretty thirteen year old before," Howie replied, laughing a little. "Actually I think it's safe to say…he is exactly like you." He added and then he followed Kevin (who had picked up an excited Elenore) into the house. Everybody else followed leaving Nick, Brian, Ashley, Dakota, and Aaron still standing outside. Nick smirked a little and cocked an eyebrow at his little brother.



"A pretty thirteen year old huh?"



"I honestly don't have any idea what Howie is talking about," Aaron replied unconvincingly, and he crossed his arms over his chest.



"Is that so? No idea huh?"


"Nope, none."



"She was a blonde — and she helped Aaron get away from the fans," Angel suddenly spoke up as she came skipping out of the house. Aaron shot her a glare and she smiled at him innocently. Nick grinned.



"Ohhhh I see. So she's blonde, pretty, and a hero. Yup that's definitely worth starting a mob over." Nick replied sarcastically, though everybody standing there can tell that he is amused. He does remember doing the exact same thing when he was thirteen and all five of them had to pay for it. Aaron scowled.



"Angel and Howie are delusional. They are making up stories," he insisted, and with that he walked away with Dakota. Angel rolled her eyes.



"Well that's good, because she seemed like she had an attitude from where I was standing. You are better off," she announced.



"She did NOT have an attitude!" Aaron demanded, turning around to look at his twin angrily, even though he knows she's right. She did have an attitude…she was completely rude to him. But maybe that's why he's so drawn to her…"She was beautiful and perfect…and had such a gentle touch!"



"Ah, so there was a girl then?" Nick spoke up again, smirking.



"No…I'm mean…I…NO just leave me alone, okay?" Aaron asked irritably, and he turned and continued to walk off completely unaware that his niece was looking up at him with knowing smiles. Nick laughed.



"I think someone is crushing big time here."



"Well he shouldn't. I honestly don't see what the fuss is about…" Angel replied, shrugging her shoulders. "She's just another fan, he'll be over her by tomorrow when he meets the next pretty one." Brian laughed.



"Protective much Ange?" Angel shrugged.



"I can't help it if I don't think anyone is good enough for my brother." Nick opened his mouth to reply, but was suddenly interrupted when he noticed Kevin, Howie, AJ, Riley, Kori, Wiley, BJ, Leslie, and all of the kids come out of the house. He, Brian, and Angel looked over at them curiously.



"We are going on our walk around town now," Kevin announced. Nick looked over at Aaron then, who is sitting on the railing of the porch with Dakota in his lap.



"Aaron, either hand over my daughter, or come with us. We are going for a walk." Aaron slid down from the railing and Dakota wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder as he carried her back over to Nick.



"I am going with." Nick nodded and wrapped his arm around his little brother as he followed everybody out of the yard — all of the puppies on leashes, and bodyguards close incase needed. Laney is walking next to Ashley as she has her arm linked with his and her head rested against his shoulder. She really has become close to him and Nick loves it. As soon as Brian closed the gate with the remote that he has, he placed it in his pocket and attempted to follow everybody toward town, but Tyke had other plans. He abruptly stopped walking and began sniffing around the gate area and bushes, causing Brian to have to stop. He turned to see what his dog is doing and he rolled his eyes.



"Lil Tyke Thomas Littrell, what are you doing? Come on you crazy pup!" He demanded, and he gently gave the leash a tug, but Tyke ignored him.



"What is with these puppies and that gate?" Wiley muttered, as Brian shook his head exasperatedly and went on over to retrieve the small dog. When he got over there he scooped him up and carried him over to everybody else.



"You are acting very weird lately." He told him, as he followed everybody into town.



~*~*~*~*~



Meanwhile, in New York, It's eleven in the morning and Brooke had just woken up. She trudged down the stairs, her eyes still bleary from sleep. Her older brother by three years, Jaime noticed her coming down the stairs in the corner of his eye as he was standing in the living room talking to their sister Peyton. He turned and looked at her and he couldn't help but laugh a little.


"You are just now waking up? How late did you stay up last night?"



"Until two thirty in the morning," Brooke yawned. "I was talking to a friend for part of it, and then I had stuff on my mind and couldn't sleep for the other half of it." She told him as she made her way toward the kitchen for some very much needed coffee. Peyton and Jaime followed her in there. Peyton is younger then Brooke by two years. She has short chin length blonde hair and green eyes. She's tall and thin…but not too thin, and she has on a black My Chemical Romance T-shirt, black jeans, a red belt, and some red converse shoes. Jaime is a little taller then Brooke and has shoulder length black thin hair which is left down and messy at the moment. He's wearing gray From First To last T-shirt, blue jeans and he's barefoot. Brooke glanced over at them and noticed Peyton watching her curiously.


"What?"


"Who's the guy…?" She questioned, wiggling her eyebrows, and grinning as she dragged out the word 'guy' in a taunting way. Brooke raised her eyebrow.



"Who said anything about there being a guy?" Peyton rolled her eyes.



"No girl in the Morgan family stays up half the night talking on the phone unless it's a guy. Besides, you smiled when you said you were on the phone with a friend and you don't smile like that unless you are in love — trust me, I know you. So who is he?"



"I was not smiling," Brooke stubbornly insisted, as she poured the store bought mocha frappuchino into a cup that she had filled with crushed ice, and she got out the whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

<BR>
"You were so! Jaime back me up here! Tell her she was so smiling." Jaime rolled his eyes and chuckled a little.



"You were smiling pretty big for being sleepy sis. I have not seen you smile like that since freshmen year when you first laid eyes on Thadius." Brooke stiffened slightly at the mention of that name, but she ignored it nonetheless with great difficulty. The last thing she needs is for them to start questioning her about that. She would rather deal with the endless taunting about her being on the phone with AJ all night. Peyton rolled her eyes.



"No…this is nothing like her Thadius crush. She's definitely in love with this guy…" Brooke shook her head and rolled her eyes.


"Oh yeah I missed you two so much," she told them sarcastically. Peyton grinned childishly, and she ran around the counter and threw her arms about her sister for a hug. Brooke let out an "oomph" as she did.



"You know you did big sister," she informed her.



"You are squishing me Peyton." Peyton just smirked and gave her a wet slobbery kiss on her cheek.


"You and me are going to the mall today."



"Really now?" Brooke asked, eyeing her sister warily when she had finally pulled back from her and took a sip of Brooke's coffee.



"Yes because we have some serious sister bonding time to catch up on and you are going to tell me all about this guy that you are in love with."



"I am not in love with anybody!" Brooke insisted for the hundredth time.



"Are sooo," Peyton's voice rang out in a singsong tone. "You have an hour big sister," she informed her, and then she skipped on out of the room. Brooke rolled her eyes and looked at Jaime.



"Is it just me or has she gotten even perkier since the last time I've seen her?"



"She's just missed you a lot that's all. And you know I can't help but think she's right with you blushing over there."



"Where is mom and dad?" Brooke asked, hoping to get the subject away from her.



"Peyton says dad is at work and I ran into mom on the way in the house when I got here earlier. She went to the grocery store."



"What time did you get here?"




"About thirty minutes before you woke up. I've been driving all night." Brooke walked around the counter then and she pulled her brother into a hug.



"Well now that Peyton has woken me up all the way…I guess I can give you a proper greeting. I have missed you big brother…" Jaime wrapped his arms around her in return.



"I have missed you too. It's hard being so far away from you…I hate not being able to protect you." Brooke laughed softly and pulled away.



"Well don't worry I am fine," she told him, and she turned her back on him to go look in the pantry for something to eat so he can't see that she is lying.



"And you know, if Peyton is right about you being in love you know I'm eventually going to have to meet him right?" Brooke laughed a little and turned to look at him as she now has the bag of bagels out and cream cheese.



"Don't worry, you will be one of the first people to meet AJ if we should start getting that close," she told him quietly, and she winked at him.



"AJ? As in that Backstreet Boy that works at your orphanage?"



"Well he just recently started working there, but yeah him." Brooke replied, and he noticed that same smile from earlier creep back onto her face. He doesn't think she even realizes that she's doing it. "He was the one I was on the phone with. It was Riley at first, but then Aje wanted to talk to me…little did I know we would end up talking half the night." Jaime smiled a little bit.



"Peyton is going to kill you for telling me first you know."



"She's not going to find out about it. I will give her all of the details — well as much as I feel comfortable revealing that is, at the mall and she will hopefully be satisfied."



"Well you better get upstairs and get ready if your going to be leaving in an hour," Jaime replied. Brooke nodded.



"I will after I finish making my bagel."



"Here, I'll do it for you. I want one also," Jaime volunteered, and he went around the counter and gently moved her over so he could take over. Brooke smiled a little to herself as she watched him for a couple of minutes. She loves it that her brother always has to take care of her. Out of both of her siblings, it is him that she is the closest with. She knows he would kill for her if he found it necessary to do so. She wonders what he would do if she tells her deep dark secret to the family. He and Thadius used to be best friends and she knows he still lives in the same place and him and Jaime hang out every once in awhile. What would he do if he found out what he did to his baby sister? What will her entire family do? The thought scares her to no end. Jaime looked at her curiously as he suddenly noticed her change in moods. The big-ass smile on her face had so suddenly gone to a frown.



"Are you okay Brookie?" He asked, shaking her out of her thoughts. Brooke looked at him a little surprised to find him still standing there, as she was so into her thoughts she started to forget.



"Oh…yeah…mhm I'm fine." Jaime raised his eyebrow and reached over and rubbed his hand over her back.



"Are you sure?"



"Yeah…I was just thinking that's all. I was just thinking about how great it is to have you around now," She told him, and she managed to flash him a convincing smile. Jaime grinned back.



"It's good to have you back too," he told her. "But Peyton is going to kill you if you don't get a move on. So go!" he told her.



"I'm going, I'm going," Brooke smiled, and she turned and rushed out of the kitchen.