- Text Size +
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Two-Hundred-Twenty-One



By the time everybody left the Christmas Tree Farm and headed back to the house, they had four big Christmas trees, and one small fake one that Ashley and Dakota had coaxed Nick into buying for just the four of them to have in their room at the Orphanage. It didn’t take much begging though, as it doesn’t take much for Nick to give in and spoil his girls. By the time they arrived at the house, they found Kori, Wiley, Jaime, Doctor Johnson, and Riley out front with a bunch of Christmas lights that Kori and AJ had bought at the store, for both a tree and the house. Kori had also managed to find the big box of Christmas decorations in the garage and she got those out as well.


“Where is Scott and Spencer?” Ashley asked her sister curiously, as she got out of the car and went over to join her in going through Christmas stuff.


“Out in the backyard playing soccer with Spencer,” Kori answered indifferently.


“And Ryan too?” Ashley questioned, noticing Ryan was missing too.


“Mhm. Howie had no luck in getting him to help.” Ashley nodded.


“I knew he was going to be slightly difficult today – it doesn’t surprise me.” Howie snorted.


“Slightly? The kid is on the verge of a tantrum. I’m sure if I tell him no one more time, he’ll explode like a time bomb.”


“He’s just having a hard time…It wasn’t easy being able to see his mom after so long and then being pulled away from her again so soon. He needs patience.”


“Well if he keeps trying at mine, I’m not sure how much more patience I will have left.”


“I have to side with Howie on this one baby. I still don’t get how you’re the only one who can get through to him,” Nick replied.


“We understand each other,” Ashley replied while shrugging.


And I think he has a little crush on her,” Kori added while smirking.



“He does not,” Ashley insisted while blushing.


“Does so. I saw him holding your hand earlier – and then quickly pull away as Ellie got out of the car. I see the way he looks at you.”


“Can you blame him?” Nick questioned, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her near and he kissed her forehead softly. “Who wouldn’t have a crush on this beautiful girl right here?” Ashley rolled her eyes.


“Nicky how many times do I have to tell you not to lie?”


“How many times do I have to reassure you that I never would?” Nick questioned as he rubbed his nose over hers affectionately. Ashley made a look as if she were contemplating his question.


“Hmm…at least a dozen more, I think.” Nick rolled his eyes in playful exasperation.


“You’re lucky I never get tired of reassuring you – you smart ass.” Ashley smiled up at him innocently. She was about to open her mouth to reply when suddenly Kori thrusted tree lights between them.


“Here love birds – go busy yourself with the Christmas tree.” Ashley stuck her tongue out at Kori, and then grabbed the lights; Nick’s hand and she pulled him toward the house where Kevin and Howie had taken the Christmas Tree. When they walked in, they saw that they have rearranged the front room so that the TV was moved over and the tree was placed in the corner of the room.


“This okay, Ash?” Ashley beamed.


“Perfect – and we’ve brought lights.”


“Sweet,” Howie replied and Nick brought them over to the tree and he and Howie started getting ready to put them on it.


“Will someone come help me in here? Kori has assigned me to hanging lights around the kitchen cabinets but I need someone to hold them while I do it,” Brandon suddenly spoke up, poking his head from the kitchen.


“I’ll do it,” Ashley insisted, and she darted for the kitchen. Nick looked after her with a raised eyebrow and Howie gently grabbed his arm and turned him to face the tree.


“Pay attention Nicky, I need your help in here and she is just helping him with the lights. Not having an affair.” Nick resumed helping Howie with the Christmas tree lights as he insisted, but glowering the whole time.


~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile in the kitchen, Brandon stood on a chair facing the top cupboards and was stapling lights up while Ashley stood with her feet on the ground holding them for him.


“So you like to paint huh?” Brandon asked after a few moments of silence, trying to bring up a friendly conversation.


“Yeah. I’m not that great at it though,” Ashley insisted while shrugging her shoulders.


“Are you kidding me? I’ve seen what you can do. My art teacher in college would love your work.”


“I was just messing around today. I can do better then that,” Ashley admitted. “My real masterpiece that I started with Nick is back at the Orphanage. It’s not finished yet though.”


“You should show it to me sometime, Id like to see it.”


“You’d laugh.”


“No I wouldn’t.”


“What kind of stuff do you do? I’m sure you’re ten times better then I am. Doctor Johnson says you’ve been doing art your whole life.”


“Well I do a number of things. I write – poetry, novels, and short stories…anything, you name it. I paint, I draw, I do clay…art is a big part of my life.” Ashley gaped at him in surprise.


“I’ll say…what kind of stuff do you paint? Landscapes? Portraits? Random objects?”


“Anything that comes to my mind. My specialty is people though.”


“Really?” Ashley asked intrigued.


“Mhm.” She was silent for a few moments, just thinking.


“Maybe I will have to show you my painting then…” she announced, and Brandon looked down at her curiously.


“Yeah?”


“Yeah…you see I’ve been holding off on finishing it, because I’m not that great at doing people. I’ve been wanting to add a portrait of Nick and I in the picture…do you think you could help me?”


“I could try my best, Id have to see the painting though.”


“Cool…Id want it to be a surprise for Nick. He can’t know about it.”


“Then I think you should do the portrait yourself. I’ll show you how…but if it’s a surprise from you to Nick, it would mean more if you did it yourself.”


“Cool, thanks” Ashley replied while smiling some.


“No problem – I’m always willing to help out a fellow art lover.”


“I just hope Nick likes the surprise.”


“I’m sure he will, I can tell he really loves you and vise versa.” Ashley nodded.


“I do. That’s my soulmate in there.” Brandon grinned.


“I can tell. Watching the two of you makes a lot of people wish they had that.”


“How about you Brandon? What is a gorgeous guy like you doing without a girlfriend? With all the attention you get you would think you’d have one.” Brandon chuckled.


“What are you talking about? What attention? No one notices me…”


“HA.”

“Well they don’t,” Brandon replied seriously.


“Wow…are you really that oblivious? If you saw what you do to girls when you walk into a room…” Brandon shrugged his shoulders.


“Oh man…pay attention sometime, you’ll be surprised. You get almost as much attention as Nick does when he walks into the mall.” Brandon chuckled.


“Okay I will.”


“But you never really answered my question…” Brandon once again shrugged.


“I had a girlfriend once…we were pretty serious for awhile – at least I thought we were but then she dumped me. I’ve been single ever since. She really broke my heart.” Ashley frowned.


“Aww…I’m sorry. That’s not cool.”


“Nope…It’s not. But every day gets better.”


“It’s her loss anyway, just remember that. I’m sure there is someone so much better for you out there.”


“Yeah…” Brandon trailed, his mind wandering to Peyton. The two of them chatted while doing the Christmas lights, and then when they finished, Ashley bounded into the other room where she found Nick just getting ready to put ornaments on the tree. She went up behind him and hopped onto his back, causing him to make a ‘Hmph’ sound when she took him by surprise. She leaned forward and smiled at him and he scowled.


“Come to help me with the tree after all?”


“Maybe…if you put that smile I love so much back on your face.”


“I don’t wanna,” Nick replied stubbornly. Ashley placed her hand to his cheek and gently turned his face so he was looking to the side and she leaned forward and brushed her lips lightly over his. He groaned in frustration as he kissed her back, as he knows that she knows he can’t resist.


“You’re the best thing in my life Nickolas Carter, so you had better start believing that or I’m going to get very upset with you.” Nick sighed and he gently pulled her around in front of him and shifted her so he was cradling her and she placed both her hands to his cheeks making him look at her.


“You aren’t making it very easy.”


“I think that I deserve to have friends of the opposite sex outside of you, Nick. You will always be my best friend, but I want other friends too. You don’t see me getting jealous of Riley or Brooke when you hug on them do you?”


“I’ve never stated that they were hot in front of you before. There’s the difference.”


“So then you’ve stated so behind my back then?” Ashley asked with a raised eyebrow.


“No…but that’s not the point.” Ashley rolled her eyes, and she slid down from his arms.


“I’m tired of this Nick. I shouldn’t have to explain things to you a hundred times,” she replied softly, and she gently pushed past him and walked out the front door. When she got out there, she walked over to the box of decorations, and she got out the candy canes and set off to put them a long both sides of the driveway. AJ who was sitting in the grass with Laila in his lap watched her go over there with concern as he noticed how angry she looks. He watched her as she took all her anger out on the candy cane, having no problem getting them into the ground. After a few moments, he got up and set Laila down.


“Go see Brookie honey,” he told her softly, and he pointed to Brooke who was helping Riley and Kori with other stuff. Laila smiled and ran off toward Brooke and AJ went to go tend to his sister. When he approached her, he wrapped his arms around her, took the hammer from her and he dropped it a few feet from them on the ground before pulling her away from the candy cane.


“What’s the matter? Talk to me.”


“I don’t want to talk about it.”


“Where is Nick?”


“Who cares?” AJ sighed.


“Let me guess…the green monster jealousy?” Ashley nodded.


“All I did, was help Brandon with the Christmas lights in the kitchen and he’s in there throwing a fit.”


“You have to understand Nick has been hurt one too many times…just like you have.”


“Yes well, he should trust me by now. I’m wearing his goddamn promise ring for crying out loud.” AJ turned her around and pulled her into a hug, rubbing his hand over her back. “I think him of all people should trust me, and it’s really starting to hurt. I thought he knew me better then that.”


“Why don’t you go sit down honey? I’ll deal with the candy canes. You cool down.”


“I don’t want to. I want to do the candy canes.”


“I think that if I let you handle them while you’re angry you might hurt yourself. Go sit down.”


“No.”


“Ashley…”


“FINE,” She replied, as her eyes watered up and she took off down the street.


“Ashley Elaine, where do you think you are going by yourself?”


“To the park! Let me be!” AJ started after her, but Marcus gently placed his hand to his shoulder stopping him. AJ looked up at him.


“I’ll go, you stay.” He told him, and then he walked off after Ashley, keeping a reasonable distance. AJ shook his head and fighting against going in the house, shoving Nick up against the wall and shouting at him, he began to deal with the candy canes to distract him. When Ashley got to the playground just down the street she climbed the play structure and walked across the bridge to a tunnel where she crouched down and crawled inside. When she did, she turned sideways before lying back and resting her feet on the other side and she crossed her arms over her chest as tears rolled down her cheek. Marcus sat on a park bench and he sat there watching the tunnel, making sure no one threatening goes near her, but letting her be as she requested. Meanwhile back at the house, when Nick had cooled down and feeling bad was starting to be too much for him, he walked outside to talk to Ashley only to find that she wasn’t there. He raised his eyebrow and looked over at AJ thinking about going over to ask him, but AJ shot him a warning glare, telling him that if he goes near him he might do something he’ll regret later. So instead, he went to Laney.


“Hey Lan…where’d Ash go?”


“She stormed off toward the park not too long ago with Marcus trailing her.” Sighing, Nick turned and headed for the park without a word to anyone else who were all wondering the same thing – what did he do now? When he arrived at the park five minutes later, he looked at Marcus questioningly. Marcus pointed to the play structure and mouthed ‘tunnel’ causing Nick to nod understanding him instantly and he went over and climbed the play structure, walked across the bridge and approached the tunnel. He crouched down then and sure enough there was his upset girlfriend sitting there almost ready to sob.


“Go away,” She told him firmly. “I can’t stand the sight of you right now.” Ignoring her request, Nick slid inside the tunnel and lay next to her, before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her near and he kissed her forehead softly.


“Do not tell me you are sorry. I’ve heard it before and quite frankly, I don’t think you mean it seeing as you keep screwing up.”


“Fine then…will you settle for I love you?” he asked softly.


“What’s the point? I would tell you I love you too, but then you just wouldn’t believe me.”


“I do too believe you…”


“You sure act like it,” Ashley replied bitterly, and he cupped her cheek in his hand before tilting her head back so she’s looking up at him.


“Please…” he pleaded softly, looking her in the eyes with obvious hurt in his own. He knows he messed up. She can see that. She can even see the fear in his eyes.


“Nicky I…”


“I’m trying, I really am. I’m just used to being the only man in your world. When I see you look at Brandon the way you do it hurts because I used to be the only one you ever looked at. You used to look at me like I was the only other person besides you on the planet…and then he came a long and now I feel like I have competition.”


“You’re still the only man in my world, Nick.” Ashley replied softly and she rested her head against his chest. “I still look at you like that. Maybe if you weren’t so busy looking over your shoulder in fear of Brandon stealing me away, you’d notice.”

“Can you blame me? I’m a lot like you in some ways baby…I’m battling with the trust thing too. You don’t know how many times I’ve had my heartbroken. You’re the best thing that’s walked in my life…so forgive me for being so protective, but I don’t want to lose you. I would not be able to handle that well at all.” Ashley looked up at him as tears fell from her own eyes and she placed one hand to his cheek and took his hand in her other, making him rub his finger over the ring he gave her.


“You gave me this ring to help me see that you aren’t going anywhere…to help me get over my doubts. You told me that I am the most important thing in your life, and that you want to marry me some day…and I hung onto every word you told me. I believed you. So why is it so hard for you to believe me when I tell you that I’m not going anywhere?”


“Have you seen Brandon lately?”


“I’m not interested in Brandon at all, what-so-ever Nicky…not in that way. Sure, he’s pretty hot, but he’s not you.”


“Then why were you so quick to helping him earlier? Kevin could have – or Howie, but you jumped to the opportunity before they had the chance.”


“I want to be his friend…that’s why. If it makes you feel any better I mostly talked about you. You can ask him if you don’t believe me.”


“What did you say?” Nick asked softly as he lightly caressed her cheek.


“That I love you and that you are my soulmate.” Nick slid his arms around her waist and pulled her ontop of him and she rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes as he lay there slowly raking his fingers through her hair. “Will you sing to me?” she asked quietly and he placed delicate kisses on her forehead, before singing softly in her ear.


“When I see you smile
Tears roll down my face
I can’t replace…

And now that I’m strong I’ve figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul,
And I know I’ll find, deep inside me I can be the one…

I will never let you fall
I’ll stand up with you forever
I’ll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven…”