Chapter One-Hundred-Sixty-Two
After deciding on which kind of candy he should get Stacy and deciding on a bag of Hershey Kisses (which was Ashley’s suggestion), Aaron allowed his anxious niece to lead him in the direction of the jewelry. When they arrived there, the two of them broke out into a lengthy conversation on what charm bracelet would suit Stacy well. Deciding that Dakota could handle this one well enough on her own BJ linked her arm with Ashley and looked at Nick.
“Hey bro, do you mind if I borrow your girlfriend for awhile and we go look at makeup and all that jazz?” she pleaded and she gave him her most innocent puppy dog eyes.
“Take Marcus with you,” Nick answered as a small smile formed on his face as he is happy to see his siblings finally interacting with Ashley. He knew they accepted her well enough but he noticed they were keeping their distance. He has a feeling that the big age difference factor is what made them skeptical and his girlfriends in the past haven’t exactly been the greatest. But he was also bombarded with numerous questions about how you act around a rape victim. Nick told them to just act normal and be themselves, but he didn’t push them. He knew it would take time for them to get used to her. He’s just happy to see it’s finally happening. Ashley went over to him and he kissed her cheek.
“Are you taking Sarah with you?” he asked as he kissed Sarah’s cheek too while Ashley stood there holding her.
“I was planning on it. Is that okay?”
“Yeah it’s fine. She seems pretty content with you anyway,” Nick answered. “If you need me for anything I’m only a phone call away.”
“Kay,” Ashley nodded and she turned her attention back on BJ and allowed her to lead her in the direction of makeup and Marcus followed dutifully. Nick turned his own attention on Aaron and Dakota. After finally deciding on the perfect charm bracelet Aaron put all of his things in the shopping cart that Nick had smartly gotten and he looked up at Nick who patted his shoulder.
“She’s going to love all of this Aaron, I promise. How about we go take over the electronics section? Just you, the munchkin, and me” he suggested as he lifted Dakota up and placed her in the back of the cart.
“Okay,” Aaron agreed, managing to sound casual and hide the excitement in his tone. He is happy to finally have some time alone with Nick. They may have Dakota with them and all, but he can live with that. Nick took hold of the cart then and he looked down at Dakota who was standing up in the back looking around.
“Sit down baby or I’m going to make you sit up here with the seat belt on.”
“No daddy I likes it back here better,” Dakota protested and she sat down after moving some of Aaron’s stuff over so she’d have some room.
“Thank-you baby,” Nick told her satisfied and he began to steer the cart in the direction of the electronics with Aaron at his side. Meanwhile, when BJ and Ashley had arrived at the cosmetics and such they found Angel and Leslie already there and Denise across the way looking at hair products.
“Where do you think the lipstick that we came here for is located at? Have you found it yet?” BJ asked Leslie, as she picked up various lipsticks and looked at them.
“No we haven’t found them yet. We’ve looked at all of these already.”
“Q hinted to me that the ones that they have on display by the cashiers was more my color,” Angel replied. BJ raised her eyebrow.
“That man scares me sometimes…how in the world would he know anything about makeup?”
“Maybe he has a feminine side to him underneath all of that toughness,” Ashley mused as she picked up different colors of eye shadow and tried to determine which would be more her color.
“Maybe,” Leslie replied amusedly and she looked over at what Ashley is looking at.
“I’ve always liked the purple and blacks on you…your make up is always really pretty.”
“Yeah, how’d you learn to do your makeup like that?” Angel agreed.
“My mom taught me,” Ashley answered with a small smile on her face. “A month before she died she caught me sneaking through her makeup and experimenting with it. I looked ridiculous of course because I was only twelve and I didn’t know anything about that stuff so she told me to wipe it all off and she ended up showing me how to do it the proper way.”
“Your mom sounds like she was really nice,” Leslie replied.
“She was…she and I were pretty close…not as close as I was with daddy, but pretty close.”
“Does it hurt to talk about them? We don’t have to if you don’t want to…”
“No It’s fine…unlike Kori I need to talk about them.” BJ nodded and while her sisters and Ashley looked at makeup she turned to have a talk with Marcus when she suddenly saw a couple of teenage girls looking her way while whispering and making disgusted faces. BJ followed their gaze and realized they were staring at Ashley. She also notices that Marcus had spotted them too and had suddenly moved closer to Ashley protectively. BJ went over and stood between Ashley and Leslie and she whispered so quietly that only they and Angel could hear her.
“Don’t look now…but there are a couple of girls staring at Ashley and making faces…something tells me they’ve seen the article.”
“Oh boy…I could take them. Want me to beat them up for you Ashley?” Angel asked as she had looked at the girls through the mirror of the compact disk that she was holding.
“No thanks, I have a better idea.” Ashley replied. “And the last thing we need is another Carter in trouble,” She added and she looked over at the hair products to see that Denise was still over there. She grabbed up all the makeup products that she decided she just had to have and she went across the way to the hair product aisle. She walked up behind Denise and wrapped her arms around her.
“Hey Momma Denise, What’cha looking at?” she asked casually as if it’s a normal thing for her to be calling her mom but loud enough for the two teenyboppers to over hear her. Denise who understood exactly what is going on without having to ask played a long.
“I thought I would put some blonde highlights in my hair…what do you think?”
“That would look great. But how about we go and get it done at a beauty shop together? And get a manicure and pedicure too! Just us girls tomorrow…mother daughter outing.”
“That sounds like fun! We’ll do it.” Denise smiled and she turned around and lifted Ashley’s hand that she is holding the makeup in.
“What’s all of this?” she asked curiously.
“Just some makeup I want to get.”
“I’ll buy it for you,” Denise insisted.
“Cool thanks,” Ashley smiled happily. She glanced at the two girls in the corner of her eye to see them standing there gaping at them with identical shocked expressions. After a few moments they seemed to realize that they were staring and suddenly came back to planet earth. The red head girl grabbed the blonde’s hand and they walked away talking quietly to one another – probably expressing their shock. Ashley grinned and looked at Denise. Denise shook her head smiling.
“You realize there is no turning back now…right? Right now it’s two fans that know the news…but in just five minutes the whole world will know about it. You’ll find that Backstreet news travels fast.”
“I don’t want to turn back. I really think I could get the hang of the whole two moms’ thing…”
“And I could really get the hang of having a daughter. Are we really going to get our hair and nails done tomorrow or was that just an act?”
“Of course we are going. I have to spend time with you and get to know you after all…” Denise smiled.
“Alright then, we will go right after breakfast.” Ashley nodded and she suddenly heard BJ calling for her as she, Leslie, and Angel are still over in the makeup.
“Ashley, Sarah wants you.”
“I better get back to the girls before Sarah throws a tantrum in the middle of the store. She doesn't exactly take to being away from me or Nick for too long.” Denise nodded.
“I’ll be here if you need me.”
“Kay,” Ashley replied and she walked across the way to the makeup aisle. When she got there she discovered BJ holding Sarah who has her lower lip sticking out in a pout and looking like she's about to scream.
“Alright sweetheart I’m here, I’m here…” Ashley reassured and she gently took the six-year-old from BJ and held her close. Sarah slid her arms around Ashley and buried her face in her shoulder. Ashley, BJ, Leslie, and Angel looked at the makeup for a few minutes more. When Ashley decided on the two lipsticks that she wanted the three of them went off in search of Nick deciding they would get the special ‘lipstick’ on their way out since it’s by the cashiers anyway. Meanwhile, in the toy section, Elenore was trying to convince Kevin to buy her some ninja turtle’s weapons.
"Please Kevy?" Elenore begged, giving him her best pout.
"Ellie, I don't think you deserve anything remotely close to weapons today."
"Buts Kev-y!" Elenore whined. "Please!"
"Ellie, I said no, and that's final," Kevin answered. "Find something else, or you can forget about getting any toys today."
"Buts why nots?" Elenore demanded to know.
"Elenore, you attacked Dakota earlier with a light saber," Kevin reminded her. "What's to say you won't go and poke somebody's eye out with a sai?"
"Buts I won’ts! I promise!" Elenore exclaimed.
"And didn't you promise Brian you wouldn't hit anyone with the light saber?" Kevin countered.
"Buts that wasn'ts my fault!"
"Oh, really now? Then do you mind telling me just whose fault it was?"
"Ryan's," Elenore replied simply. "He tolds lies 'cause he knews I'd gets in trouble!"
"That may be so, but Ryan wasn't the one hitting people with the light saber, now was he?"
"That's nots fair!" Elenore argued. "I can'ts be Raphael withouts weapons!"
"You've done just fine up until now, I'm sure you can still be him just fine without the weapons."
"No I can'ts!" Elenore snapped.
"Elenore," Kevin said in a warning tone. "Cool it or you can go home with nothing."
"Buts - !"
"No," Kevin repeated, giving her a stern look. Elenore huffed and scowled up at him. "Yer no fun," she told him.
"You may not think so right now," Kevin told her. "But maybe if you asked Santa for them, you'd get them for Christmas."
"Really Kevy?" Elenore asked, her eyes lighting up some. "Santa will bring me sai?"
"If you're really good and don't hit anybody with light sabers or any other object again, he just might," Kevin replied, smiling some.
"I won'ts! I promise!"
"Well, then you had best keep that promise, hadn't you Little Miss?" Elenore flashed him a grin, then eagerly grabbed up the Cowabunga Carl's Party Van for her Ninja Turtles.
"Can I gets this Kevy? Please?"
"Sure, Baby," Kevin agreed, taking it from her since it was much too big of a box for her to hold. "What else do you want?"
"More coloring books!" Elenore exclaimed, leading the way with Kevin right behind her. Kevin chuckled and followed after her; relieved she wasn't going to throw a huge tantrum over the toy sai she had wanted.
"How about some regular books too?"
"Okay!" Elenore agreed readily. She grabbed up Pigs! By Robert Munch as well as a couple other of his books. She also grabbed a few Little Critters and Berenstein Bear books as well. "Looks Kevy! They're fightin' likes Joshy an' I!" She pointed out, showing him a picture of Brother and Sister Bear fighting, in Berenstein Bears Get in a Fight. Kevin shook his head in amusement.
"Yup, that they sure are." Elenore giggled.
"I thinks Joshy's gonna like that’s one lots." Kevin laughed, and helped her pick out a couple more, shaking his head everytime she'd mention Josh or Dakota possibly liking a book she had chosen. They spent a little while longer in the toy section and then Kevin placed the new toy and books that Elenore had chosen into the cart along with Elenore and he began to just wander around the store for awhile with no real destination. The only real reason they are there is so Aaron could get what he wanted and the girls could get Q’s new secret weapon. Everybody else only decided to go along for the ride so they’d have something to do.
“Have anything in particular that you want to look at Q?” Kevin asked, turning his attention on the bodyguard who was walking dutifully at his side.
“Nope. Nothing that I can think of,” Q shrugged his shoulders.
“Yeah me neither,” Kevin agreed. “I hope Nick and Ashley have Laney with them…I’m sure the news is spreading around rapidly as we speak. It always does when it’s about Backstreet Boys…”
“I’m sure he is,” Q reassured. “In fact I think they have Marcus with them too.”
“Good…because I’m worried about Ashley, you know? She’s not exactly accustomed to fans approaching her…especially angry ones and she has enough to worry about as it is – which is why we agreed to keep the relationship secret in the first place,” Kevin vented, as he is still clearly annoyed by the situation.
“Yeah, but Kev if you haven’t noticed she’s gotten a lot stronger since all of you made that agreement. I mean I wasn’t there when her and Nick first started the relationship, but I met her not long after and she hardly trusted anyone. She may not have been ready to deal with fans then…but now look at her…she’s finally warming up to Laney, Marcus, and I…and I’m sure once we’re back in Florida it won’t be hard for her to get used to the other security as well. She’s willing to learn how to defend herself, she’s opened up and expressed what she’s feeling inside a lot these past few days, and the comment she made earlier about focusing on the future…she’s getting better.”
“Yes, but the fans are a lot to put on someone’s shoulders when they’re just recovering from rape. Angry fans I must stress…they aren’t exactly going to be walking up to her and asking her for her autograph or a hug, they are going to throw accusations at her, they’re going to want to ‘defend Nick’…and don’t even get me started on the reporters. What happens when the news catches their ear? They are going to want answers and stories and such and I can just see them surrounding her and demanding answers from left and right and her freaking out in the middle of it all.”
“And what are Lan, Marcus, and I? Chopped liver?”
“Well I just…”
“Trust me Kev, we are not going to just stand around with a bowl of popcorn and watch it all happen as if it were one big exciting movie. We are going to protect her from it the best way we can…that’s our job…and if you haven’t noticed we all care about her very much. Her safety is our number one priority right now…you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“Well it would have been a whole lot easier if no one found out about it until she was eighteen.”
“And when has anything ever been easy in the Backstreet business?”
“Well…never…but if they just behaved in public like I asked them to…”
“But you didn’t just ask them to behave in public, that’s the thing. You were on their case the entire time even when they were in the safety of the orphanage or the Littrell’s House. It got very tiresome…no wonder they started tuning you out after awhile.”
“Nick obviously wasn’t responsible enough for me to back off and leave him alone, now was he? Sure those pictures were innocent enough but that person who wrote the article certainly didn’t see it that way did they?”
“Asking Nick and Ashley not to be all lovey dovey like they are is like asking Ellie to stop obsessing over the Ninja Turtles.” Elenore raised her eyebrow as she sat there quietly listening and she hugged her new Ninja Turtle toy close to her protectively.
“In public. They couldn’t behave themselves for a little while in public?”
“Well just from watching the two of them…I’ve come to realize that the thing about Nick and Ashley is that they’re so in love with each other they tend to forget there are other people around them. They get lost in each other and let their guard down and they can’t think about anything else except each other. I’m pretty sure the only way to keep them from doing that is to keep them separated until she turns eighteen…would you be willing to take on that job Kevin? Separate the next generation of Romeo and Juliet? Because the first Romeo and Juliet died trying to be together…and I’m willing to bet that Shakespeare’s story would come to life with our very own Nick and Ashley if you even dared to say they couldn’t be together.”
“Oh trust me…I have no intention on breaking up a couple that is clearly meant to be together. I’ve never seen Nick any happier…I just wish we didn’t have to deal with this mess.”
“It was bound to happen sooner or later, we might as well get it over with now. We should just be thankful that Denise is willing to help us out. And as for Ashley’s safety…don’t worry that is our top priority right now. We’ve been trained to protect the five of you and are very good at it. I think we can handle Ashley too.”
“I know you are good at it…”
“And I think you should give Nick and Ashley a break. You’ve been giving them hell all day long and anyone can see how horrible Nick feels about it. Ashley is taking it pretty hard too…she didn’t express it but I can see it. The writer of that article was pretty harsh to her and the comment you made earlier was just opening the wound even more.”
“I know that…and I apologized to her. I did everything but get down on my knees and beg her for forgiveness. But I will if I have to because the last thing I want is for her to stay mad at me forever. She is practically a little sister to me…I love her.”
“She probably sensed that you were still angry. She’s good at sensing danger and tension you know that. She needs to feel safe before she can let anyone in.”
“You could always buy her flowers…she seems to get excited over them even when she is just helping Aaron out with his girl problems.” Howie suggested as he suddenly walked up from behind them, as they were looking at random things. “And you might want to talk a little quieter. You are lucky that I am the only one who was close enough to over hear what you are saying.”
“Good idea D, I think I will.” Kevin grinned. “Where is Ryan?”
“I needed a break from him for awhile…I left him with Brian who volunteered to watch him.”
“You left him with Josh? wow…you are a brave one.”
“Brian, Riley, and I have been doing everything in our power to keep them separated. We’ve been doing a pretty good job at it so far but he is still angry with me for grounding him so he argues over everything I say. I needed to get away…he’s driving me crazy. I don’t regret fostering him Kev I really care about him. I know this is just his way of venting his feelings over his mother but if I don’t have my time away from him I’m afraid I’m going to lose it on him. It really scares me because I’ve never so much as spanked a child before and I don’t intend on starting now.”
“Don’t give up on him D…he just needs some major behavior adjustments, that’s all.”
“Yeah, well, I think his mother and I are going to have to have a little talk. He doesn’t listen to me…no matter how hard I try. Maybe there is something she can do to get him to behave.”
“Yeah, maybe. Maybe the three of you could come up with some kind of agreement or something.”
“Maybe you could use his mother as an award...” Q suggested. “Tell him everytime he does something good he gets an extra minute added onto his phone time with her.”
“Yeah well I would have to arrange that with the people running the hospital she is in. It’s them that are limiting his time, not me.”
“If anyone can straighten him out D, I know you can…don’t give up.” Kevin encouraged and he gently squeezed Howie’s shoulder.
“I hope so,” Howie replied softly.
“Kevy,” Elenore spoke up when she was sure that the three men in front of her were finished with their conversation and she wasn’t going to interrupt anything. She learned the hard way from her father that she is to never interrupt. Kevin smiled at her and reached out to cup her cheek. Elenore recoiled at the sight of his hand in fear that she had interrupted and was about to get smacked because of it. Kevin frowned a little, though he didn’t question her. He has a feeling he understands.
“Yes baby?” he asked gently and he carefully reached out and caressed her cheek with his hand causing her to calm down some.
“There are movies over there…can we goes an’ sees if they have Robin Hood, Jungle Book, Happy Feet, Bambi 2 an’ Cinderella 3? Please?”
“Of course honey,” he told her and he went and gently lifted her up out of the cart and hugged her close to him affectionately as he carried her off in that direction. Howie grabbed the cart and he and Q followed him.
“I love you Ellie, you are a good girl.” He reassured her softly in her ear and immediately felt better when he felt her snuggle into him. They spent thirty minutes more doing their own thing and by the time they met up with everybody at the Mc Donald’s Denise, Ashley, Nick, and Howie had ten minutes before they had to head on over to the airport.
“Nicky, I want a Mcflurry…pleeeeeease?” Ashley asked and then thought a moment and then stopped and everybody noticed an upset look in her eyes.
“On second thought, no I don’t…I’m good.” Nick raised his eyebrow confused, and everybody exchanged concerned looks.
“Baby if you want a Mcflurry you know I don’t mind getting you one. What kind?”
“I don’t want you spending any money on me,” Ashley insisted, and she crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. Nick sighed, as he suddenly knows what this is all about.
“Honey we’ve had this discussion before…”
“That was before I was made out to be the bitch that is using you.”
“What kind of Mcflurry do you want? How about M&M’s? I’m buying you one whether you want me to or not.”
“I won’t eat it,” Ashley insisted stubbornly. Nick turned to Dakota and he smiled at her.
“M&M’s baby?”
“Yes daddy, please.” Dakota nodded. Nick looked at Sarah then who Ashley was holding.
“How about you?” Sarah handed her notepad out to him as she had already written down what she wants in case he should ask. He looked at it and saw that it read ‘butterfingers’.
“Okie dokie…I will be right back,” He announced and he walked off to wait in line.
“If he buys me one he’ll be sorry…I won’t eat any of it. I won’t.”
“Nick is just as stubborn as you are honey…he has his ways,” Brian replied while walking over to her and pulling her into a hug. Ashley hugged him back and he could feel his shoulder watering up with the tears she had been trying her very hardest to hold back.
“Please don’t let this article get to you…we all know you aren’t using him and that’s all that matters. Nick has never been any happier since you came into his life.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to give them anything else to write about.”
“It’s okay to let your boyfriend buy you a Mcflurry…it’s not like you are asking for an expensive diamond necklace from the mall.”
“Yeah…and you were just a child in the Orphanage…when you become eighteen you will have your own job and can make your own money and everybody will realize how amazing you are and wish they had never opened their big mouths.” Wiley added.
“Brooke promised you a job at the Orphanage when you’re eighteen…so see? You won’t even have to go very far to look for one.” Howie added.
“With Nick’s help – he is supposed to be helping me with my internship. So I am using him to further my career.”
“Honey you impressed Brooke all on your own, you didn’t need Nick’s help for that,” Riley spoke up. “Remember that time when you lured all of the kids over to play telephone with you and Detective Stabler while Nick was busy talking to Dr Huang? You didn’t need his help then…and you are constantly reading to the kids, you study every child in that orphanage and always seem to know what’s going on…and kids are just drawn to you. You are amazing and that’s all because you enjoy being around kids. Nick didn’t help you at all.”
“I guess so…” Ashley replied softly.
“And I shouldn’t have been so hard on you earlier…” Kevin spoke up from behind her and Ashley turned and looked at him to find him standing there with a single red rose in his hand. She looked at him curiously. “What I said earlier was out of line and I’m sorry…can you please forgive me?”
“Well that all depends…” Ashley replied, and she couldn’t help but smile a little bit though tears are rolling down her cheek.
“What?” he asked curiously.
“Is that rose for me?” Kevin chuckled a little.
“Who else would it be for? It’s not like I have a girlfriend to impress or anything.” Ashley went over and wrapped her arms around him and hugged him and he returned it while kissing the top of her head. “Don’t let this article bother you…we’re going to fix things okay?”
“Kay…” Ashley replied softly and he pulled back and gave her the rose. Ashley smiled up at him.
“Thank-you Kevy, it’s very pretty.” She told him and she leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
“No problem sweetheart,” He told her and he went over and scooped up Elenore.
“What kind of Mcflurry baby? Oreo, Butterfinger, or M&M’s?”
“Butterfinger,” Elenore answered and he kissed her cheek and brought her with him to wait in line just as Nick was coming back with a handful of mcflurries. He took Dakota’s hand and brought her over to a table and she crawled up into a chair and he handed hers over. Then he looked over at Sarah who crawled into the other chair and he handed hers over before turning on Ashley who was still standing there eyeing the M&M Mcflurry skeptically. He took her hand and gently squeezed it and he brought her over to the table behind the girls. He sat down in the chair behind Sarah and looked up at Ashley.
“Come here. If you don’t eat this I’m going to spoon feed it to you.”
“But Nicky…” Ashley protested as he pulled her into his lap.
“Yes – in front of everybody”
“But –“
“-And I hope everybody is watching us too.”
“But they –“
“-Will take a picture of us and write about it? Let them. Let the whole world know that I love you.” Ashley scowled.
“I wish you wouldn’t read my mind and finish my sentences!” she informed. Nick smirked and placed his finger to her chin and he brought her lips down onto his in a soft kiss.
“Well get used to it baby because I know you inside and out,” he replied and he scooped some Mcflurry up in the spoon that he is holding and he held it up to her mouth and she glared at him.
“I hate you,” she pouted but she opened her mouth nonetheless and allowed him to put the spoon in.
“Well I love you,” he told her. “And if I want to spoil my baby I will. I don’t care who is watching.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
It was co-written with Lenni.
Enjoy =)
