Chapter Two-Hundred-Eleven
When Ashley and Kori had both managed to calm each other down some, Ashley pulled back from her sister and Kori looked over to the spot on the floor where she, Nick, and AJ had been sitting.
“Is that…” she began softly, and she looked at Ashley who rubbed at her eyes.
“Yeah…” she answered softly, and Kori fell silent. She stared at the spot on the floor for a few moments and then she wrapped an arm around Ashley and pulled her close for a hug.
“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…I know that’s not going to bring them back, but just know that…please you have to know that.” Ashley didn’t answer, she only hugged Kori back and looked at Nick over her shoulder who made sure to stay close incase he was needed. When Ashley pulled away again she went to Nick and he immediately pulled her to him for a hug, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Think you might be able to show me around the house?” he asked softly, and she nodded quietly before burying her face in his chest. He rubbed his hand over her back and stood there quietly holding her, just letting her get a hold of herself. When she was calm she pulled back a bit and looked around them.
“Right now we’re standing in the front room…” she told him softly. “As you can see…I spent many hours playing Nintendo in here.” Nick nodded.
“It’s a very nice room…even after all these years I can feel the warmth and welcoming feeling the minute I walk in,” he told her gently as he continued to stand there rubbing his hand over her back in slow circular motion. Ashley couldn’t help but smile but only a little.
“Momma always had a way of making the house feel cozy and welcoming…” She told him softly and he kissed her forehead as she guided him toward the table on the other side of the room and AJ, Kori, Wiley, and Marcus followed. “This was our dining room table…we rarely ever ate at this table. The only time we ever did was during the day when we had breakfast…or lunch…or maybe a snack. Kori and I mostly used it for homework though…” she explained, and she turned Nick around to his left and led him straight into the kitchen next. Nick, AJ, Marcus, and Wiley all looked around to see that Kori and Ashley’s mom must’ve really liked blue hearts. The kitchen counters and cupboards made up a sort of rectangular shape around the entire kitchen. The tops of the cupboards and counters were decorated with white china that have blue and white heart designs on them and a couple of green plants. Above the cupboards over by the stove hung a wicker art piece with alternating hearts and bows. “This was mom’s favorite place because there is a lot of space. She was a lot like Jackie…she loved to bake and cook…especially on holidays.” Nick nodded showing her he was listening intently and enjoying the tour. She moved on forward toward a big room that was obviously the living room. On the way in there, Nick took note that there was another table in between the kitchen and the living room and assumed that, that must be where they ate their big meals at together as a family. The table was nestled by the bay window that opened the living room up very well. In the living room there was another couch, except this one was big and brown, and made a sort of ‘L’ shape around the room and there was another lazy boy chair. In front of the couch sat a coffee table and there was a big screen TV in a very nice entertainment center, a long with a stereo and a CD holder.
“That’s a pretty sweet TV…” AJ muttered as he stood staring at it in awe. Ashley smiled some.
“I knew you would think so…It was daddy’s favorite.” She let them take in the room for a few moments, and then she took Nick’s hand again and went on with the tour, leading them toward the two-door bedroom that they saw earlier. Ashley opened it up and turned on the light to reveal the guestroom, which was made up of a bed in the far-left corner and a desk with a computer on it sitting in front of the window. There is also a television and a closet.
“This here is the guest room…” she told them. She let them look, and then went on through the hall where they passed a glass table with picture frames and such on it. Nick, Wiley, AJ, and Marcus looked at them as they walked past them, and saw that they were pictures of Kori and Ashley when they were younger, with their parents. As they kept on walking they came across a door just right across from the stairs.
“The bathroom,” she told them, and she looked at Kori.
“You give them the tour of the upstairs…Kay?” Kori nodded and she led everybody up the stairs. As soon as they got up there, they found themselves standing at the top stairs landing. The first door they came across as soon as they were upstairs was another two-door bedroom and they all could already tell that it was the master bedroom. Kori pointed at it, rather then going over and opening the door, as she was not quite ready to face that yet.
“Mom and dad’s room…” she told them softly. “You all can go look if you want to…” Wiley wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“We will after the tour…how’s that? And if you feel up to it, you can too…” he told her gently. Kori nodded and she went on a few feet until she was standing in front of another door. They already knew whose door it was, because it was painted pink and said ‘Ashley’ on it. Kori opened the door and stepped to the side so everybody could have a peek. Inside the room, there was a bed going sideways in front of a window and it was left unmade, because the day Ashley’s parents were killed, she was sick and had been lying in it. The bed had white flowery bed sheets and comforter on it. There is a TV just a couple of feet from the door and an organizer with notebooks and such inside it right next to it. In the corner of the room between the foot of her bed, and her organizer, was a desk. Her walls are covered with family photos, photos of her old friends and memories, and the bands she liked when she was twelve. There was a closet, and a white four-shelve set with her stuffed animals on top of it. The rest of the shelves were filled with picture frames, candles, and even a disco ball, and a couple of lava lamps. There is a big long green rope-like thing that was wrapped around the shelves. If it were plugged in, the room would light up with green lights. Wiley chuckled.
“I bet your room looked almost like Las Vegas with all those lights…” Ashley smiled some and nodded. After looking around, they backed out of the room and Kori indicated toward another door right next to Ashley’s.
“The bathroom,” she announced, and then she walked across the hall going diagonal to another door, which said ‘Kori’ on it. She opened the door and sort of paused in front of it as she stared into it in silence. It had been years since she’s seen her room and it looked exactly the same as she had left it. The walls are painted green, the bedspread and sheets were green, and there were posters of all the bands she liked on her walls. While Ashley’s room leaned more toward girly, and totally displaying the fact that she was into pop music, Kori’s leaned more toward the punk rock/scene kind of look. There was a dresser, a closet, and a TV just like Ashley’s. She moved out of the doorway to let them look and after they did that, they went into the middle of the upstairs landing and Kori indicated toward the two computers. One was facing the wall and the other was turned so that it was facing the railing and there was a small table next to the one facing the wall with a printer on it.
“Those were obviously our computers.” Ashley, turned and wrapped her arms around Nick and rested her head against his shoulder, refusing to look at the little area where she hid the last time she was in the house. It still hurt her slightly to look at it. She knows that if she is ever going to live in the house again she’ll have to get used to it though. She wonders how long its going to take. Nick kissed the top of her head and hugged her close to him and as if he were reading her mind he whispered softly in her ear.
“Healing takes time baby…you take all the time you need.” Ashley looked toward her parents’ door then and he rubbed his hand over her back. “We don’t have to go in there tonight if you aren’t ready.”
“No…I need to…” Ashley spoke into his shoulder. “Just not alone…”
“That’s what I’m here for.” He led her over to the bedroom door and he looked down at her.
“I’m ready when you’re,” he told her gently. Ashley stared at the door handle for a few moments, and then she twisted it and pushed it open and she stood in the doorway wrapped in Nick’s arms just peering inside. After a few moments, she turned so Nick stood behind her and she took his hands into hers as his arms were draping over her shoulders and she pulled him into the room with her. AJ stood in the doorway just incase he was needed and he also stayed near Kori too incase she for some weird reason needed him also. Kori sat on the floor outside the room leaning up against the wall hugging her legs to her chest and Wiley sat next to her and draped his arm around her shoulders. Ashley went straight for the bathroom. When she got in there, she peered at all of her mother’s makeup and such that was left scattered all over the counter and she picked up a small bottle of perfume before holding out her wrist and spraying some onto it. When she did she lifted her hand up and smelled it and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“Mom…” she whispered. After a few moments she went over and peered out the door at her brother.
“Alex?”
“Yeah sweetheart?”
“Will you go to the car and get my backpack? Please?”
“Of course,” AJ answered, and he turned and walked out of the room. Ashley looked up at Nick who remained standing behind her.
“I want to bring some stuff back to the orphanage…so that I can have things to remember them by.”
“That’s a good idea,” he told her as he placed his finger under her chin, tilted her head back and he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “You have a right to remember them. But you know you can always come back here…every day if you need to. All you have to do is ask okay?”
“Kay…” when AJ returned he handed Ashley her backpack and she opened it up and put her mom’s perfume inside it a long with some of her makeup that she would never ever use, but would just have for the pure memory of her mother. After going through her mother’s stuff, she walked out of the bathroom and she went over and sat on the bed and just hugged her legs to her chest and looked around the room quietly. Nick went over and sat next to her and AJ walked out of the room to leave them alone. She sat in the room for an hour, sometimes with tears in her eyes, sometimes a small smile would form on her face, and other times she would have to lean into Nick for his comfort when the memories became too much for her to bear. After an hour though, she got up and walked out of the room after getting her father’s pocket watch, her mother’s locket, and the sticker collection and she found Kori, Wiley, Marcus, and AJ all sitting downstairs on the couch. Nick and Ashley went down there and she went over to Kori and held out her mother’s locket. Kori stared at it for a few moments, and then she took it carefully from her sister and held it in her hands with care, as she looked it over, her eyes clouding up but the tears did not fall.
“You know where daddy’s fishing pole is…it’s in the garage,” Ashley told her softy. Kori nodded and Ashley took Nick’s hand and pulled him outside, having enough of the house for now. When they got outside, Ashley went over and climbed up into a tree and she wrapped her arm around the branch so she wouldn’t fall. Nick sat on the ground and hugged his legs to his chest.
“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.
“Better…”
“I’m glad. It was nice to see where the love of my life spent the first twelve years of her life." Ashley smiled a little.
“You know…I always pictured I would bring my boyfriend home some day…” she told him softly. “But my dreams were a little different…my parents were here and got to meet you…”
“And your parents are still here baby…just in spirit…in your heart.”
“Yeah…they would have loved you though.” Nick didn’t reply he only reached up and patted her leg gently. She placed her hand ontop of his as it sat there resting on her knee and she sat there in silence for a few moments.
“Can we bring the kids here tomorrow?” She asked after awhile. “They would love this tree…and these swings…especially Josh and Ellie.”
“I think that can be arranged. Why don’t we put some Christmas cheer in the house? We’ll get a Christmas tree…and hang up Christmas lights…would that be okay?” Ashley nodded.
“Mom and dad would. Christmas was their favorite holiday…we went all out on that holiday with the decorations.”
“Then we’ll do it for them.” Just then Kori, AJ, Wiley, and Marcus came out of the house.
“Do what for who?” Kori asked softly, and Ashley looked at her to see she had gotten their father’s fishing pole.
“Decorate the house for mom and dad…since Christmas was their holiday.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow. We’re bringing everybody else over here to see the house.”
“I see,” Kori replied softly. “Sounds good.” Ashley frowned some at her short reply.
“You don’t have to participate if you don’t want to…we just thought it would be a good way to show love for mom and dad…and since the house is half mine I have every right to.”
“I don’t have a problem with it Ash, I want to participate. I said it sounded good.”
“It didn’t sound like you meant it…”
“I’m exhausted…emotionally. I’ve been crying for an hour, my eyes are sore…and I just want to get back to my son. I’m sorry if I’m coming off grumpy…it really does sound like a good idea. I’ll help with the entire thing.”
“Okay then…” Ashley replied softly, and she climbed down from her perch on the tree branch.
“Nicky it’s almost Kota and Sarah’s bedtime. You know they like it best when we tuck them in and stuff.”
“Mhm, I do,” Nick agreed and he allowed her to take his hands and pull him up from the ground. She went over and locked up the house and then she went and got in the car with everybody else, and they headed back to the Orphanage.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, at Sean and Trevor’s Lake House, Trevor walked upstairs with a box of pizza in one hand and his cell phone in the other. When he got up there he went down the hall to the master bedroom where he left Sean and when he walked in he found him sitting up in bed propped against some pillows and he wore a disgruntled look on his face.
“What’s the matter? Did you just prop yourself up without my help?”
“Nevermind that…bring the pizza over here, it smells good.” Trevor rolled his eyes and he did as told and took the pizza over to him. When he did, he sat down on the edge of the bed, placed the box in Sean’s lap and opened it up. Sean sighed appreciatively as he took in the smell of the food.
“How’d you get this? I know you would never risk ordering it and having it delivered.”
“Max brought it.” Sean raised his eyebrow.
“Max was here? And you didn’t come and get me?”
“I was under the impression that you were sleeping. I guess I was wrong, since you were up here killing yourself because you won’t swallow your pride and ask for my help.” Sean scowled.
“I handled it okay enough.”
“Yeah, that’s why you look like you’re in a lot of pain? If you do anything to harm those stitches I’m not going to stitch them back up for you.”
“I think they’re doing more harm to me. And you would so stitch them back up for me because you don’t want me to die. I know that for a fact after this morning.” Trevor shook his head and he scooted closer and bent down and kissed his forehead.
“Still…you need to ask me for help. I’m your best friend, you don’t need to act tough around me.”
“You were downstairs, and I was uncomfortable.”
“Fine then…I’ll get you some bells and whenever you need me you can ring for me.” Sean groaned.
“I hate this. How much longer do I need to lay around like this?” Trevor chuckled.
“It’s only been a day Sean.”
“And it already seems like two or three.”
“Well I’m sorry baby but you have at least a week before I even consider letting you up.”
“I hate you,” Sean insisted. Trevor chuckled.
“Well that’s too bad because I love you and you’re stuck with me.”
“Love me all you want, but I’ll still hate you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.” Trevor sat there looking at him amused.
“Well as long as you hate me, how about I just go downstairs with my own slice of pizza and let you be?” he asked. He grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza and he stood up and started to leave but Sean was quick to grab him by his shirt.
“Please don’t leave me,” He whimpered. Trevor laughed and he allowed Sean to pull him back onto the bed making him fall back so he was lying next to him. He got under the covers with him and wrapped his arm around him as he lay on his side facing him and he rested his head on the same pillow as him as the two of them lay there eating pizza together.
“What did Max have to say? Did Conner make his move yet?”
“Even better…Aaron took him into the Orphanage today.” Sean looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“How’d he manage that?”
“He brought Rosalie with him…and it turns out that she is a huge Aaron Carter fan…she did it all, while he just stood there and only had to say a few things every once in awhile.” Sean beamed.
“Brilliant…see I knew the kid was ready.” Trevor shook his head.
“I just don’t think it’s right Sean.”
“Why not? His father would have done this.”
“Exactly, and look where it got him.”
“It’s not like I am asking him to kill someone, or to do drug runs or anything like that, I’m just asking him to pretend to be friends with someone. It’s the most harmless job out of the whole thing.”
“I don’t think Tom had this in mind when he asked you to be his godfather.”
“He didn’t ask me to be his godfather, he just asked me to look out for him if anything should happen. There is no way I am going to be a father to any other kid.”
“So bringing him into this isn’t exactly looking out for him.”
“This is the closest we’ve ever been Trev…”
“I understand that, but what if he gets caught? What if they arrest him? Who is going to take care of Rosalie then? You? That isn’t exactly the best idea.”
“He isn’t going to be caught.”
“Don’t be so sure of that. They’re already suspicious of him.”
“What? How?”
“Kori recognizes his eyes. His eyes are just as blue as Tom’s – she doesn’t know he is Tom’s son yet, but it’s only a matter of time before she puts two and two together. And Stacy – Aaron’s girlfriend doesn’t trust him.” Sean opened his mouth to say something when Trevor cut him off.
“And what about Rosalie? Beautiful Rosalie who takes after her mother in every way? Kori knew her too what if she starts seeing her in Rosalie? Then what Sean?”
“Something will just have to be done with Stacy then.”
“Oh yeah? Like what? Are you going to go and kill her?”
“No. But we could have Conner make sure Aaron doesn’t believe her warnings – or Angel.”
“Kori believes her.”
“One person.”
“It’s still putting Conner in danger.”
“Nothing is going to happen to Conner.”
“How can you say that and be so sure? Look what happened to me when I went under cover for you.”
“It was different with you. You hurt Ashley…Conner is not going to lay a hand on anyone. I wouldn’t make Tom’s kid do that to save my life. But I know Kori and I know Ashley. Conner will be fine.”
“You really believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Are you willing to bet your life on that?”
“Yes I am.”
“Tell me why you’re so sure of this? Prove it to me Sean and I won’t bug you again about it.” Sean who had just finished eating his pizza, set the pizza box to the side and he rolled over and wrapped his arms around Trevor, rested his head against his chest and he began to explain his reason behind his trust that Conner is perfectly safe from being arrested.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
