Chapter Two-Hundred-Twenty-Five
After breakfast, Nick went upstairs to his room and he dug out the old baby sling that he used to use for Dakota. When he returned to the cafeteria he showed it to an awaiting Ashley.
“Seeing as how I was a guy carrying an infant, I felt that my sling couldn’t be too girly. So I bought a blue sling with a plaid design on it. You’re more then welcome to buy any kind you want,” he explained.
“This will do for now,” Ashley replied while giggling a little and he gently took the baby from her before handing her the sling so she could put it on. When she had it on, he helped her put Bella in it and Bella made fussy sounds as the two of them tried to get her situated.
“Oh – oh, I know you didn’t want to be woken up. Nicky and I aren’t very nice are we?” Ashley spoke in that tone that people get when talking to babies. When they had her situated with her cradled in the sling, Ashley placed her arm underneath her so she was cradling her and Bella soon began to settle down, and find comfort again.
“There we go…is that better?” Ashley asked gently, and Bella instantly went back to sleep. Ashley giggled.
“I take that as a yes.” Nick looked at Dakota and Sarah then, who were playing with Elenore.
“Kota, Sarah, do you two want to come shopping with us? Ellie and Josh aren’t going to be staying here all day you know.”
“Can we takes Lily?” Dakota asked hopefully, as she sat on the floor holding her puppy. Nick sighed softly.
“You already know that answer princess.” Dakota stuck her lower lip out in a pout.
“We’ll be sure to buy her some new toys though – and she’s just about out of dog food too. I think we’re going to have to do some puppy shopping as well as baby shopping.”
“But Lily will gets lonely without us.”
“Nah, your Uncle Brian will keep her company,” Brian reassured. “I’ll take her to my house with me. I’m sure Tyke will be happy to see her. I think he’s taken a liking to her.”
“And Abbie too…you’ll watch her too for me right Brian?” Ashley added, as she knelt down and pet her puppy, who will always be her baby even if she has a real baby to tend to now.
“Of course sweetheart. I’ll bring all the puppies to my house. I’m sure Brookie would have a fit if all the puppies were left here unsupervised.”
“Yes Brookie would,” Brooke replied, and she knelt down and began to pet Chance, placing kisses ontop of his head as he eagerly sought for her attention. Elenore just sat there on the floor next to Dakota, hugging Lil Rok close to her, not quite sure she wants to part from her baby. Kevin has noticed she has been extra clingy to the puppy ever since the incident that happened yesterday and he watched her warily, hoping it wouldn’t be too hard to get her to let him go with Brian. Brian seemed to notice this too, as he squatted down in front of her and gave her a gentle smile. Elenore smiled back at him with the tiniest smile she could muster; though she hugged Lil Rok closer to her.
“I’ll take very good care of him you know,” he informed her gently. Elenore stuck her lower lip out in a pout as she gently rested her chin on top of Lil’ Rok’s head.
“What ifs he runs out in the street again?” she asked softly.
“My yard is gated. There is no chance of that happening and he is not going to go outside without my supervision – I promise honey.”
“He’ll wants his toys – an’ his treats…an’ he’ll wants his bed too. He likes his bed – withs a light blanket. He can’ts sleep without his blankie.”
“I will be sure to get all of those things.” Elenore let go of Lil’ Rok slightly and Brian pet the pug gently.
“Kevin has my number. You can even call me and check up on him if you would like – every hour.” Kevin made a small objecting noise, and Brian looked up at him, giving him a sharp ‘work with me’ kind of look.
“Every hour?” Elenore asked, letting go of Lil’ Rok just a tiny bit more. Brian nodded.
“On the hour. I’ll carry my cell phone with me at all times.”
“Kay…” Elenore replied softly, and she finally held her puppy out to Brian. Brian smiled at her and took the puppy into his arms and held him close to him affectionately. “I’ll treat him as if he were my own. I promise. He’ll be living the life of luxury.” AJ snorted.
“Literally. Knowing Brian, he’ll set him his own plate at the table and everything.” Elenore giggled.
“He likes a plate of cap’n crunch bestest. Kevy doesn’t likes it when I feeds it to him, but it’s his favorite.” Brian smirked and leaned forward and whispered softly in her ear.
“That’s Tyke’s favorite too.” Elenore beamed and he kissed her cheek and stood up with the pug in his arms. Kevin gathered her in his arms and cradled her before kissing her cheek too.
“Come on my little troublemaker. Let’s go dress you into the new dress I bought you,” he told her gently, and he carried her off toward the door. Nick gathered Dakota and Sarah up in his arms and he followed Ashley toward the door too, and they began walking to the mall – walking because they don’t have a carseat yet for Bella. Marcus and Drew trailed behind them and AJ looked at Brooke, as they were the only two left standing there. Everybody else had gone off to do their own thing.
“Where are Peyton and Jaime?” AJ asked curiously, as he stood there cradling Laila, who was quite comfortable just lounging in his arms.
“They should be here soon. I’m putting them to work today.”
“How is Peyton today?” AJ asked concerned, and Brooke shrugged.
“I haven’t spoken to her yet today. I woke up and left for work before the two of them were even up. I hope she is doing better though.”
“Me too. I like the chipper Peyton better then the depressed one.” Brooke nodded.
“Despite the fact that she can be annoying when she’s chipper, I prefer her that way too.”
“Peyton prefers the chipper side of her also,” a voice announced from behind them. Brooke and AJ whirled around to see Peyton standing there beaming widely. AJ chuckled and Brooke rolled her eyes amusedly, before wrapping her arms around Peyton for a hug.
“Morning honey. Where is Jaim?”
“I made him walk because he was annoying me. He should be here soon. Look out though…he’s not going to be very happy with me.”
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile upstairs in Kevin and Elenore’s room, Jerald was sitting on the bed chatting with his little brother as he was dressing Elenore in her new dress that he had bought her. It’s a cute holiday dress with a black velvet bodice with a red satin bow that goes around the waist and a white shear skirt with floral designs on it. He put her in black and white saddle shoes, and attached her bells to the laces. When he finished, he took her hand and smirked.
“Show Jerry,” he told her, and she beamed and twirled around and looked at her uncle and he grinned at her adoringly.
“You look very lovely sweetie. My brother sure likes to dress you up real pretty. It makes me wonder what he’s going to have you wear on Christmas day.”
“Well I’ll be buying her another Christmas dress, of course. It’s the joy of having a little girl. You have to take advantage because when they get older they’re going to protest to these kinds of outfits,” Kevin explained, and he got up and went into the bathroom and returned with a brush, a cup of water, a hair tie, and some sparkly red and silver Christmas ribbon. He resumed his position on the floor next to Elenore, and gently turned her so her back was to him and he began to fix her hair up. By the time he was finished, he had her hair up in a perfect bun with the red and silver ribbon in it and he grinned. “All done now. My little angel.” Jerald chuckled in amusement and silently told himself that his brother has to be planning on adopting Elenore sometime. He loves her too much not to adopt her.
“Can we goes ice skating now?” Elenore asked anxiously, as Kevin had just made her feel really beautiful. She wants to go and show off her beauty on the ice and pretend to be a professional ice skater – a ballerina. He stood up then after gathering her up in his arms and Jerald stood up and the two of them headed down to the lobby to take her ice-skating.
“Now you can really feel like a pretty ballerina in that nice dress and ice skates,” Jerald told her on their way out. As if he had been reading her mind. Elenore just beamed and rested her head against Kevin’s shoulder. There is no doubt in her mind who she wants to be with now. Her real daddy would never dress her up this nice and make her feel so special. She wants Kevin to adopt her – and soon.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at Sean and Trevor’s Lake House, it was nearly ten thirty when Trevor jerked awake with a start. The dream that he was having wasn’t a very pleasant one. Eyes still closed, Trevor rolled over and reached for Sean only to find an empty space. Confused on why his lover’s side of the bed would be empty, his eyes shot open and he groaned in disapproval at finding Sean out of bed by himself. He looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand and his eyes bulged open at the time. How could he let himself sleep in for so long? Why didn’t his phone alarm go off? Feeling rather annoyed with himself, he crawled out of bed, pulled some jeans on over his boxers and he grabbed his blanket before wrapping it around himself and he headed downstairs. When he got down there he found the living room completely empty and narrowed his eyes.
“Sean?” he went to the office and pushed the door open and he felt a wave of panic when he didn’t find him messing around on the laptop.
“You better be here or else I’m going to kick your ass when you get home! I don’t even care if you’re injured already, your ass will be toast!” he insisted loudly and he walked out of the office to the window in the living room and was relieved to see the car was still there. But only a little bit. Would Sean be stupid enough to wander off alone on foot? Of course he would, it’s Sean after all. The man is just dying to get out. Trevor growled at the thought and he headed to the kitchen.
“I am dead serious, Sean! If you’re not he-“ He suddenly stopped in mid-sentence as he pushed the kitchen door and relief washed over him as he saw through the window outside, his Sean standing on the dock with his arms crossed over his chest as he gazed out at the lake in deep thought. He can tell from the look on his face that something is bothering him. Walking across the kitchen to the back door, he opened it up, closed it behind him and he quietly made his way to him. When he was standing behind him, he wrapped the big blanket around him, before sliding his arms around his waist from behind and resting his chin on his shoulder. The only sign Sean showed of knowing he was there, was leaning back against him, resting the back of his head against his shoulder and placing his hands on top of Trevor’s. But otherwise, he remained quiet and gazing out at the water.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Trevor asked softly after awhile.
“Nothing really…I’m just trying to control my need for violence. It’s proving to be very hard but I’ve learned if I focus on you it makes it less painful.” Trevor couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Well I guess I came out here at just the right time then,” he replied and he kissed Sean’s shoulder.
“You always have a way of doing that,” Sean agreed and he looked up at Trevor. Trevor brushed a strand of Sean’s hair to the side so he could see his eyes better, but was slightly startled at the dark menacing eyes that stared up at him. He lightly caressed his cheek with his finger.
“Calm down…” he told him in that calm and soothing tone that he knows only works on Sean, and he leaned forward and kissed his lips softly causing Sean’s eyes to flutter closed and he brought his lips up to his closed eyelids and kissed them softly. When he stopped a few moments later, Sean’s eyes shot open as he wondered where his lips had gone and Trevor gazed into his dark eyes and was relieved to see them back to normal. “I love you,” he told him softly and Sean reached up and placed his hand to the back of his head, gently pushed him closer and Trevor rested his forehead against his.
“I love you too Trevor Adams…my better half.” Trevor grinned and he continued to lightly caress his cheek.
“I suppose you came out here originally to bitch at me for getting out of bed and walking around without your help. I know I put a huge risk in splitting open my stitches so go ahead…let me have it.” Trevor chuckled lightly.
“I’ve grown very tired of bitching at you. It does me no good anyway because you’re going to do what you want to do. You always have. I’m just impressed you got down those stairs all by yourself.”
“It doesn’t hurt as much today. I think it’s finally starting to heal.”
“Really? Let me take a look at it,” Trevor requested and he sat down behind Sean on the dock before carefully helping him down with him so he lay back between his legs. He shifted him so his head was once again rested against his shoulder and he carefully pulled off the big bandage and took a look. Sean looked up at him watching his face expressions. After a few seconds, Trevor’s face broke out into a smile causing Sean to look curious.
“You’re right it is. In another day or two I just may very well be unstitching you.” Sean smiled up at him some, loving when he plays doctor on him. “I think I’m going to miss taking care of you…even if you drove me crazy in the past few days.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll always be taking care of me. I’m a screw up. I’m bound to get hurt again,” Sean replied in what he thought were reassuring words, but was completely unaware that he had hit a nerve. Trevor tightened his arms around Sean and rested his chin on his shoulder as the two of them continued to gaze out at the water, Trevor’s mind drifting back to the nightmare that had woken him up that morning. The nightmare that so very unkindly reminded him how much it kills him to risk losing the love of his life each and every day. It’s not going to happen though, he’s positive about that. He’ll be damned before he lets Sean die. He made a vow way back when he was just a kid that he would protect him from his own stupidity – no matter what it takes. If he can’t convince him to run away with him and create a life together in their own little utopia away from everything, then he is just going to have to use his doctor skills to the best of his ability. Because there is no life for him without Sean. There never has been, and there never will be.
“I won’t let anything happen to you Seany – I promise,” he whispered softly in his ear, using the childhood nickname that Sean hasn’t heard him say since he was eight and Trevor was ten. The nickname that only Trevor could ever get away with calling him. He remembers Trevor making that promise back in the day too – come to think of it, he’s made it a lot and each and everytime that he has was always right after he saved his butt from some tragedy. Either from his father’s relentless beatings in the middle of the night, or from a fight on the streets. In this case, only days after being shot from what could have very well been a fatal bulletin. Sean wonders what will happen to him next. Sean leaned back into Trevor comfortably then and he placed his bare feet in the water over the deck, before looking up at him.
“Can I ask you something and trust that you’ll hear me out first before shooting the idea down?” He asked softly.
“I’ll hear you out…but once you’re done talking I’m not making any promises.”
“I need to make a statement.” Trevor narrowed his eyes.
“Your statements usually involve death.”
“You promised…”
“Sorry…”
“As I was saying…I want to make a statement. The moment you unstitch me…I want to come out of hiding very loudly. I want everybody – all of my traitors who are so keen on my attention to know I’m not taking any of their shit. I want to let Ashley and Koir and all of their people know that I’m still here – and dangerous. I want them all to know that I’m back and better then ever,” Sean explained. Trevor eyed him warily for a few moments and when Sean was clearly finished he spoke up.
“May I intervene now?”
“Yes…”
“What do you have in mind?”
“I haven’t attacked Ashley in a very long time.”
“That’s because she’s too protected. We’ve been through this.”
“So what?”
“When you say attack…what do you mean?” Trevor questioned, trying to keep an open mind.
“I just want to scare her a little bit – like last time. I haven’t had my hands on her in a very long time…it would feel good.”
“What about this force field they’ve built around her?”
“We’ll do it from a distance.”
“Sean…I don’t like this.”
“Please Trev, I have to do this – alone. You and me…no help. I have to make them see I’m not hiding.”
“Why can’t we be hiding? I mean seriously, what’s wrong with that? Why can’t we just forget about this whole thing?”
“Because it’s important to me.”
“Is revenge on Kori more important to you then me?”
“No…of course not…”
“Well then why can’t you walk away from this? Sean the only thing I’ve ever wanted is you. I’ve never been interested in any of this. I mean sure, I had a little fun in the beginning when I was a grieving son, but I’m better now – I’ve grown up, and all I want is you. Now that I have you…I have to live with the fear of losing you each and every day. I can’t do it Sean, it’s hurting me.”
“I can’t stop.”
“Yes you can. It’s an addiction baby…but I can help you. All you have to do is let me.”
“No.” Trevor sighed. He sat there looking down at Sean for a few moments, and then he gently sat him up before getting to his feet and going into the house and he slammed the door shut, leaving Sean out on the dock by himself. Sean stared after him for a few moments in silence, just staring and then after a few moments when Trevor clearly wasn’t coming back outside a single tear rolled down his cheek. He lay back against the dock and hugged his legs to his chest so he was curled up in a ball and he stared out at the lake as the battle in his head consumed him. Good verses evil.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
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