Chapter Two-Hundred-Eight
When Ashley, Kori, Nick, and Wiley had made it downstairs they went outside to the playground to see that Ashley wasn’t kidding about it being world war two. There were kids running and screaming in all different directions, water balloons flying everywhere, boys armed with super soakers, some people with the hose, and lots of people hiding behind and in things. The adults – Detective Stabler, Doctor Johnson, Brooke, AJ, Brian, Riley, Howie, and Kevin took refuge in the far corner of the playground where none of the kids were. Brooke was leaning her back up against the fence and AJ had his arms wrapped around her and they were engrossed in a passionate kiss as if they were the only two people on that playground. Ashley wondered to herself where Jaime was if he was so skeptic of AJ. Nick wrapped his arm around Ashley and together they chanced running through the chaos in attempt to get to their friends, water balloons flying past their heads and missing them only by inches. When they managed to reach safety both completely dry Brian looked at them both enviously as he on the other hand was drenched.
“Well you look like you had a lot of fun,” Nick told him, eyeing his drenched friend with amusement.
“I was their main target for awhile…for some reason they all thought it would be fun to go after me.” Nick chuckled.
“I guess that’s the price you pay being the favorite.” Brian scowled.
“Oh hush, before I throw you out there. I am not the only one who is the favorite around here.” Meanwhile, while Nick was talking to Brian Ashley looked back where they left Kori and Wiley and she saw Kori standing there watching AJ in amusement. She raised her eyebrow in curiosity. She may have been separated from Kori for five years, and they may not be that close anymore, but she can still tell when her older sister is scheming even from a mile away. She watched her as she tapped a little kid on the shoulder. The little boy looked up at her and she spoke to him. The little boy handed her one of his balloons and she turned and looked at her brother who continued to make out with his girlfriend, completely oblivious to Kori standing only a few feet away. She smirked and then threw the balloon and it went flying toward AJ hitting him directly in the back of the head. Detective Stabler, Brian, Nick, Howie, Riley, and Kevin who had all seen where the balloon had come from and who it came from; all broke out into a fit of laughter. Brooke laughed too as AJ pulled back from her kiss looking scandalized. He whirled around looking for the source and Kori had turned and pretended to be talking to Wiley who played a long quite amusedly. His eyes immediately fell on his sister standing in the middle of the scene of the crime and his eyes narrowed. He looked around the playground then and noticed Dakota hiding a few feet away with a shirt full of balloons. He grinned and whispered for her.
“Kota baby”
“Yes uncle AJ?”
“Come here,” he told her, and he motioned her over to him. She did as told and looked at him curiously.
“May I borrow one of those?” She nodded while smiling some and she handed over a balloon. He took it and turned and looked at Kori and he raised his arm and threw the balloon at her, hitting her right in the middle of her back. Kori shrieked and she whirled around and looked at AJ and he just smirked.
“Paybacks a bitch, isn’t it Kor?” he called out to her. Kori rolled her eyes and stuck her middle finger up at him. He chuckled and did it right back and Brooke whacked him in the arm.
“Hey! None of that! There are children around here”
“She did it too!” AJ accused, and he pointed a finger at Kori while rubbing his arm with his other hand.
“Yes well, you’re the closest.” Just then Detective Benson came walking out onto the playground not looking alarmed in he least bit at the scene in front of her as she had been thoroughly warned by Detective Stabler. Deciding she wouldn’t risk walking across the playground to her partner she pulled out her cell phone and she hit the number one speed dial button and she placed the phone to her ear. She watched as Detective Stabler pulled his phone from his pocket, flipped open the phone and place it to his ear.
“Hey Liv, what’s going on?”
“Turn around.” Detective Stabler turned and saw his partner standing at the door and he grinned and waved.
“If you think I’m coming out there you’re crazy.” Detective Stabler laughed.
“You can handle criminals every day, but water balloons you can’t?”
“I would rather stay dry.”
“Oh all right, we’ll be right there.”
“Thank-you,” Detective Benson replied and she hung up her phone satisfied. Detective Stabler got Ashley’s attention and told her that Detective Benson was waiting and she, Nick, and AJ followed him to the door, Ashley wrapping an arm around Kori and dragging her a long whether she wants to go or not. Kori looked confused, but she went a long anyway. When they met Detective Benson inside, Ashley wrapped her arms around herself shivering, as she got hit in the arm by a water balloon on their way in.
“They picked a very awful day for a water fight,” she insisted, teeth chattering and all. It’s a cloudy day outside and looks like it could rain any minute. Plus it’s almost December, so it’s pretty chilly out to begin with. Nick slid his arms around her from behind and pulled her close in attempt to give her some of his body heat as he had managed to stay completely dry much to Brian’s dismay.
“We’ll go into my office,” Brooke insisted, as she had come in behind them and had over heard Ashley’s complaining. “I have a fireplace in there and I’ve requested some hot chocolate too…one of the cooks has offered to bring it to us.” Ashley began pulling Nick in that direction and Brooke laughed at her eagerness and followed, as did everybody else.
“What’s going on?” Kori asked, starting to become worried as she noticed everybody was gathering in Brooke’s office. No one gathers in Brooke’s office unless it’s important. The last gathering that they had in Brooke’s office, Josh and Elenore were kidnapped.
“Nothing, nothing…we’re just going to chill in front of the fire,” AJ answered innocently and he wrapped his arm around Kori’s shoulders and he steered her for the office. When they got there Brooke led them all in there and she started up a fire in the fireplace and everybody sat on the couches and chairs. Brooke stared around her office contemplatively.
“I think when we remodel your two rooms upstairs Nick, I’m going to remodel my office and make it bigger.”
“That would be cool. You spend more time in here then at your apartment, I think it would work better for you if you had more space,” Nick agreed.
“You might as well turn this into your apartment,” AJ added as he wrapped Brooke in his arms and kissed her forehead softly. Brooke nodded.
“I just might.”
“Where are Jaime and Peyton, Brooke? I thought you said they were coming to stay with you and possibly work here?” Detective Benson asked conversationally.
“They’re at my apartment. Jaim drove all day so he wanted to take a nap and Peyton wanted to take a bubble bath and possibly a nap as well so I gave them a key to my apartment and sent them on their way. Jaime made Alex swear he wont let me out of his sight though,” Brooke explained, rolling her eyes some at the last part. Nick laughed.
“He obviously doesn’t know him then…everybody knows how easy of a task that is for AJ.” AJ grinned and hugged Brooke close to him and he gently pushed her over to the couch and made her sit down. Kori was just beginning to relax some when it seemed that they really were just going to sit in front of a fire and have small talk, but then she stiffened as she noticed Detective Benson trying to be sneaky about pulling out an official looking paper. She looked more closely and saw that it was a will and she darted for the door only to have AJ’s arm swing around her waist and pull her back.
“Let me go, I don’t want to be here.”
“You need to be here Kor,” he told her gently, and much to her surprise she could swear she heard sympathy in his voice.
“No. Please, I don’t want to” She begged fighting back her tears. “I have my rights, I don’t have to be here.”
“You’re right, but you should be here.” Kori made one last attempt at escaping but it was no use, AJ’s arm didn’t loosen around her. “You need to face this. You may not want to but it’s what’s best for you.” Kori shook her head, not even bothering to fight against her tears that rolled freely down her cheek and he brought her over to the couch. He sat down placing himself between her and Ashley. Detective Benson who had the will all the way out of her bag now and resting on her lap looked at Ashley and Kori.
“Ready for me to read it now?” she asked softly.
“No,” Kori answered.
“Yes,” Ashley not making eye contact with her sister. She knows this is going to open up a lot of wounds. Nick gently squeezed Ashley’s hand letting her know he is there and Detective Benson nodded and then began reading the paper.
"In the case that Michael and Elaine Mortenson should decease to exist, Kathy and Carl Mortenson are to be the guardians of Kori and Ashley. If they cannot care for them, then Robert and Kylie Matthews are to be sole guardians to them," She read off. "Everything that belonged to Michael and Elaine Mortenson will solely become the property of Kori and Ashley Mortenson. Kori, if old enough, is to disperse the funds, if any, evenly between her and Ashley. If they aren't of age to take care of themselves, then the money is to be placed in a trust fund for the two of them to split when they are of age," Detective Benson continued. "Also, Kori is to receive the gold heart-shaped locket that belonged to Elaine, as Kori was always fascinated with it and the story it held. Ashley is to receive Michael's gold pocket watch. Kori is to receive his prized fishing pole and fishing gear. Ashley is to have Elaine's sticker collection that they built together. Also, the estate belonging to Michael and Elaine Mortenson becomes sole property of Kori and Ashley Mortenson and is not to be sold, unless they have given the say-so. They are not to live in the house until they are of legal age to be doing so."
“Who is Kylie and Robert Matthews?” AJ asked as he tightened his hold on Ashley’s hand somewhat in fear that he would be forced to lose her as his sister.
“People who could careless if Kori and I are even still alive at the moment,” Ashley reassured and no one could mistaken the disgust in her voice.
“Kylie is our mom’s sister…” Kori spoke up softly. “She and the rest of my mom’s family – dad’s too, disowned them when they insisted on being together. For prejudice reasons…”
“What kind of prejudice reasons?” Nick asked curiously.
“Different religious beliefs. Dad was Mormon and mom was Christian.”
“They gave our parents an ultimatum. It was either love or family. Both of them chose love and ran away together and started a whole new life where religion didn’t matter,” Ashley explained with a sort of ‘aweness’ in her voice, as if she were talking about a beautiful romance novel that she was fascinated with. “That’s why I ran away in the beginning…I knew I would be put in foster homes and orphanages my whole life and the thought terrified me. Needless to say I wound up in an even worse situation.” Kori looked down at her feet at her sister’s words and a single tear rolled down her cheek. AJ who had been watching her squeezed her hand gently and reached up and wiped a tear away.
“So what do you want to do now Ashley?” Detective Stabler questioned. Ashley was silent for a few moments before answering, just thinking about what she wants.
“I want to visit my house…” She answered softly, and she looked over at Kori. “I want Kori to come with me.” Kori opened her mouth to protest but Ashley beat her to it. “It would mean a lot to me.” Kori sighed as she knew she wouldn’t be able to argue with her now, now that she pulled the ‘it would mean a lot to me’ card. She nodded quietly and Ashley looked at Detective Benson. She reached into her bag and pulled out a key.
“I guess this is what that is for then,” she announced and she handed it over to Ashley. Ashley stared down at the key in her hands, rubbing her finger over it delicately, as if it were a fragile piece of jewel. It was the key that would let her into the home that she grew up in. The home that held all of her parent’s memories. The home that held all of her memories…and Kori’s memories, even though she works real hard to deny them.
“Are you two going to live in the house?” Detective Stabler asked curiously. “It says you can live in it when you’re of age. Kori is of age…” Kori was shaking her head before Detective Stabler even finished his sentence.
“I’m going back to Jersey when Sean is caught. Ashley can live in it when she turns eighteen if she wants to.”
“I just might,” Ashley replied softly. “I might make it a second home away from here…”
“I’ll take you to the house after dinner baby…how’s that?” Nick suggested as he gently pulled Ashley into his lap cradling her. She slid his arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder comfortably.
“Thanks Nicky.” Kori hugged her legs to her chest and continued to stare down at her feet as her chin was rested on her knee and she silently prepared herself for the pain that she would have to endure for her sister. After a few moments she looked up at AJ.
“May I go now? I want Wiley.” AJ nodded quietly and she got up and darted out of the room faster then anyone could blink.
“Am I being selfish for forcing her to do this?” Ashley asked worriedly after a few moments.
“No of course not…she needs to deal with this sooner or later,” Brooke insisted. Ashley nodded, though she still felt horrible. Nick hugged Ashley closer to him sensing her stress and he kissed her forehead softly.
“We should go get our kids…I predict rain very soon. I don’t want them catching colds – especially Kota, she gets very whiny and clingy when she is sick.”
“Very true. If you think Kota is the worst of your problems, try her plus a hundred more sick kids,” Brooke agreed. Nick shook his head.
“Not happening,” He insisted, and he stood up cradling Ashley and he carried her out of Brooke’s office with him. AJ chuckled as he watched Nick treat her as if she were delicate and breakable.
“She can walk you know, she won’t break I promise.” Ashley smiled some and slid her arms around his neck nestling her head against his shoulder.
“Doesn’t mean I can’t treat her like my princess every once in awhile.”
“I’m not a Princess,” Ashley insisted stubbornly, though she was beaming.
“Fine then, my queen.” Ashley shook her head amusedly and snuggled into him as he opened the door to the playground and she felt the breeze blow in. Brooke and AJ followed them out there, the two of them holding hands.
“ALL CHILDREN NEED TO STOP WHAT THEY’RE DOING, CLEAN UP, AND COME INSIDE PLEASE!” She called out to the children, her voice loud enough for all to hear. Much to her relief the water fight was done and over with, so they weren’t being as loud as before, so she didn’t have to be so loud either. At Brooke’s announcement though, she still heard many noises of disapproval.
“RIGHT NOW. IT’S GETTING COLD OUT HERE, IT’S GOING TO STORM!” Nick piped up and he threw a stern look toward his daughter and Sarah letting them both know he is talking especially to them. At Nick’s orders they couldn’t help but notice all of the girls’ start doing as told except Dakota and most of the boys and Ashley giggled at this while Brooke shook her head amused. Nick rolled his eyes grinning and he looked over at Brooke.
“Is this why you keep me around?” He teased.
“You’re quick Carter, glad to see you’re catching on,” she teased back and she patted him on the back while winking at him.
“Dakota Ann, I don’t see you moving!” he called out to Dakota as he noticed her standing there watching everybody else do as their told with a pout on her face.
“I don’ts want to go in daddy!”
“Well I didn’t ask you if you wanted to, did I?” Dakota crossed her arms over her chest and looked away stubbornly.
“Now young lady or you can sit up in your room by yourself after your bath.”
“Come on honey, its going to rain. You don’t want to get sick do you?” Ashley spoke up in attempt to help. Just as soon as she said that though…almost as if right on cue, it began to sprinkle. Dakota looked up at the sky as she felt water drip on her and she scowled and stomped her way over to her daddy, giving in to his orders. When she got to him, Nick set Ashley down and he scooped Dakota up in his arms despite how soaked she is. She continued to look at him as if he was sentencing her to a month’s worth of grounding and he rested his forehead against hers.
“If you let me give you a warm bath I will give you hot chocolate,” he bribed.
“With whipped cream?” She asked perking up slightly.
“If that’s what you want.” Dakota grinned then and he gathered Sarah in his arms too.
“How about you munchkin? Whipped cream?” Sarah nodded and he kissed each girl on the cheek before grabbing Ashley’s hand and taking his three girls into the orphanage wanting to get them warm and dry as soon as possible. He does not want either of them sick over the holidays. There is enough going on already. When the three of them were upstairs in their room he set both Sarah and Dakota down and he led them into the bathroom. While they stripped out of their wet clothes he turned the water on to warm, plugged it in, and while he sat there waiting on it to fill up, Ashley poured some of her bubbles inside it. When the water was all set she helped both girls into the tub and they sat down and played with their toys and relaxed in the bubbles.
“Doesn’t that feel good after being outside in the cold?” Nick asked, trying to reason with Dakota who was still pouting somewhat. Dakota didn’t answer; she only sat there idly playing with her rubber ducky that Brian had given her when she was two. While Nick sat there keeping an eye on the girls, Ashley went to fetch some clothes out of Sarah’s room for her to change into after her bath.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
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