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Chapter Two-Hundred-Sixty-One



“CHRIS!!!!” Josh exclaimed, when he saw his best friend sitting next to Denise sipping chocolate milk from a straw.


“JOSH!!!” Chris replied, and he jumped up from his spot and dove for his best friend and Josh bounded forward meeting him halfway and he threw his arms about him and hugged him tightly. AJ smirked and looked at Brian to see him standing next to Nick. He had his arm wrapped around him as they were walking but he dropped his hands to his side, and his jaw was hanging open at the sight of his second son who was supposed to be at home at the Orphanage locked in his room upset.


“Not that I am not happy to see you…because I am VERY happy but what are you doing here young man? I was under the impression that you were upset,” Brian spoke up when he was able to regain his composure, and he went over and knelt down in front of his two boys. Chris smirked.


“I wasn’t upset, you were just tricked,” He informed honestly. “I wanted to come be with my family.” Brian chuckled.


“Well, as much as I’m gonna kill Brookie for deceiving me like that, I’m happy to know you weren’t really upset,” he replied and he ruffled Chris’s hair as they aren’t quite into the ‘hugging’ kind of relationship yet. They got off to a really bad start and he has a feeling that like Josh, it’s going to take a few days to get warmed up to him.


“Hey, you have to admit it was a pretty awesome surprise. someone had to surprise you after all of the surprises you give.” AJ replied defending his girlfriend’s intentions as Brian got up and led Josh and Chris to the table. Chris crawled up into his spot again and Josh crawled up next to him. Denise moved over knowing right off that Elenore would want to crawl up onto the other side of Josh and she did just that with an apprehensive look on her face. Josh who had noticed, took her hand into his under the table where Chris couldn’t see, and he squeezed it gently trying to reassure her that he is still her Joshy.


“Ya know, why don’t we see about the kids having their own booth?” Kevin suggested, when he noticed that AJ had a mission with his mom, just by the expression on his face. “That way they can catch up with Chris, and us adults can talk.”


“Sounds good,” everyone agreed, and Kevin walked off to go make the arrangements. Soon enough he came back with a waiter and they made up a booth next to theirs. All of the kids went over there, Josh, Chris, and Elenore once again all sitting together and when the waiter went away, all of the adults settled themselves back in their all-adult table.


“Ellie, lets play tic-tac-toe,” Dakota suggested as she had opened her kiddie menu and crayons and saw a bunch of tic-tac-toe tables drawn out on her menu.


“Okay!” Elenore replied, surprised that her best friend was asking her to play with her. She had been so busy with Sarah lately and she with Josh. The two girls picked different crayon colors, Elenore blue and Dakota red and they dove right into a game of tic-tac-toe. Josh opened up his menu to his tic-tac-toe page and looked at Chris who was eyeing Elenore skeptically.


“She’s a big part of my life now Chris, you have to accept that” he whispered.


“I’m here, aren’t I?” Chris asked softly, and he looked down at his menu, idly drawing lines around the paper for no apparent reason except that he needs something to do.


“She could be apart of your life too you know. She makes everything fun…you’d like her if you gave her a chance.”


“Do I have to?” Chris questioned, still drawing useless lines on the paper.


“It would help. I can’t have the two people I care about fighting all the time…I don’t like being in the middle.”


“She can’t be with us every single second of the day, Josh. It’s annoying…I need Josh and Chris time like Kota needs Dakota and Nick time.”


“I’ll take care of that…if you promise not to mind if she’s around a lot of the time…and learn to accept her.”


“How are you going to take care of that? She can’t handle being without you.”


“I’ll work it out with Kota…” Chris couldn’t help but smile a little.


“You’ll work it out with Kota huh?”


“That’s right. She can distract her when I only want to be with you.”


“Sounds like you two are a real team,” Chris couldn’t help but tease, and he raised his eyebrow at him. Josh could see the accusation written all over his best friend/brother’s face and he scowled.


“Don’t even start. It’s not like that.”


“Maybe not…but it is in your mind, big brother” Chris replied, poking him in the side and Josh yelped and shied away.


“Now you stop that” Josh laughed, and he poked Chris back with his crayon.


“What are you two talking about over there?” Dakota questioned curiously, smiling a little at the sight of Josh laughing. She hasn’t seen him like this in forever.


“Nothing,” Josh insisted.


“Just about how you and Joshy-washy make a good team,” Chris added and Josh scowled as he turned bright red and he punched him in the arm.


Enough,” he demanded in such authority that only a big brother would have and Chris just laughed.


“If there was one thing you and Ellie had in common, that would be it.”


“What exactly would be it?” Dakota interrogated slyly, purposely catching him off guard. She already knows what they’re talking about. Chris and Elenore both whirled their heads around and looked at Josh smiling, as did Sarah, Spencer, and Ryan wondering what he was going to say. Josh thought his answer through carefully for a few moments before answering.


“Pestering me, of course. They both know how to get under my skin.”


“About what?” Dakota pressed, desperately wanting him to admit his secret.


“Everything,” Josh answered simply. Dakota gazed at him for a few moments, and when she couldn’t think of another question to ask him that would keep him from avoiding the answer, she looked back down at her paper and continued coloring. Josh’s breathing became even again and he took in a deep breath and let it out again, before turning to Chris and glaring. Chris just laughed again, before looking back down at his paper then, and Brian came to the table, deciding he would rescue Josh. Unknown to him and the rest of the kids, they had been eavesdropping at their table.


“Okay, have you munchkins decided what you’re getting?” He questioned. “The waiter will be coming to ask soon – we’ll order for you if you just tell me what it is.”


“Pancakes!” Elenore cheered, and Brian chuckled.


“Pancakes it is then,” he replied “How about some bacon and eggs too?” he encouraged.


“Hash browns an’ bacon,” Elenore insisted.


“Okie dokie,” he replied and he looked at the rest of the kids.


“What’s Ashee getting?” Dakota asked suddenly and Brian laughed and rolled his eyes.


“Biscuits with gravy, and some bacon and scrambled eggs.”


“I’ll haves that.”


“That’s a pretty big meal for a little girl like you, I don’t think that’s even on your menu” He replied, scooping her up in his arms and sitting down with her in his lap and he looked at her menu.


“I want what Ashee gots,” Dakota insisted stubbornly.


“Okay, Okay, maybe we can get him to modify it a little for you.”


“What does that mean?”


“Make it smaller just for you.”


“Kay,” she smiled. He then got orders from everyone else.


“Let me guess, chocolate milk for the lot of you?” When they all told him yes, he kissed Dakota’s cheek and got up and set her back down in her spot again and he walked back to the table. Dakota looked back at Josh, not letting the short distraction take her mind off of what happened earlier. She gazed at him for a few short moments, and then continued her coloring. Josh who didn’t fail to notice her, looked at Chris and continued to give him dirty looks and he wrote with his crayon on a napkin I hate you Chris just smirked and wrote with his own crayon.


you’ll thank me some day. Josh rolled his eyes.


No, I’m sure I pretty much won’t like you then either.


Oh shut up. You two are going to grow up and be married an' you will be happy ever after – you’re meant to be. So why don’t you stop hiding it and get a move on all ready?


If You’ve forgotten, she’s four and I’m six.


When has that ever stopped you? Chris wrote after rolling his eyes.


Four and six year olds can’t be in love; they’re too young.


No they're not! Chris wrote back.


Yes they are! Josh argued on paper. Ask anybody!


They'll just tell you you're cute - Haha! Chris responded, looking up to smirk at his best friend and brother. Josh scowled in return.


"C'mon. Let's play tic tac toe," he insisted, wanting to change the subject desperately. Chris shook his head, and still smirking, agreed to play while they awaited their breakfast's arrival. After awhile, their food all finally arrived - Dakota's the same as Ashley's, only in smaller portions, so she'd be able to eat it all. When they all finished their breakfast they decided that they would head on up to their penthouses. Denise ended up getting a room in Howie and AJ’s Penthouse, deciding she would give Nick and Ashley their privacy. She likes to be the cool mom who trusts her daughter’s boyfriend not to take advantage of the fact that they’re in a hotel room. She knows they aren’t going to be completely innocent together, but she knows Nick knows better then to go too far. When they got to their Penthouses, Nick carried Dakota and Sarah’s stuff to the kid room and he purposely went in before the girls making sure there were no teddy bears on display this time. He really didn’t mind buying the teddy bear for Sarah at the last hotel they were at, as it made her extremely happy, but he is not going to buy her one at every hotel they go to. Much to his relief though, there were none. Instead, there were just two full size beds with flower and butterfly bed sheets. He set the bags down, and Sarah padded into the room after him, her teddy bear held close to her.


“Which bed is going to be yours sweetheart?” he asked her, smiling at her lovingly and she pointed to the bed with the flower blankets. He placed her Sleeping Beauty Pillow on it then, and he gathered her in his arms, before playfully falling back sideways onto the bed with her and she giggled.


“Where is Kota?” he asked her, as she settled herself against his chest, laying her head on it and snuggling with him comfortably. She pointed toward the door as she does not have her handy-dandy-notepad with her at the moment and he smiled a little and kissed her forehead softly, as he rubbed his hand over her back.

“Are you ever going to talk to me sweetheart?” he asked gently, making sure he doesn’t sound like he is pressuring her, as he does not want to do that, but he does want her to know that it’s completely safe for her to do so whenever she decides to. Sarah of course, didn’t answer, she only snuggled into him even more and he hugged her close to him protectively.


“I bet you have so much you want to say to us,” he encouraged. “So much on your mind…” he added, as he rolled over so she was lying on the bed with him on his side next to her and he gently tucked a strand of her red hair behind her ear. She just lay there quietly gazing up to him, listening to him with that fear in her eyes that he’s seen since the day he pulled that bastard out of her bed. “I know you’re scared…and believe me honey I don’t blame you a single bit. What you went through was awful. It’s okay to be scared…but you know you don’t have to go through this alone. We’re here for you…we love you…and we all are dying to know what goes on in your mind.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead softly. “You need to know that what happened wasn’t your fault,” he added. “You’re a beautiful and sweet little girl and you didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t fair…and whatever blame you’ve been holding on yourself all this time, don’t. You didn’t do anything to deserve that. Okay?” Sarah nodded quietly, a single tear rolling down her cheek and he wiped it away.


“I love you Sarah. Very much and you are a very special girl. Whatever you have on your mind that you want to say is very important…and whenever you are ready, any time at all, it doesn’t matter when…I’m right here and I will listen to every word. I promise. You’re safe…no one is going to get mad at you for anything.” Sarah snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around him and he again kissed her forehead softly.


“Come here…I have a surprise for you,” he added, and he gathered her in his arms and got up with her. She looked curious now and he brought her out of hers and Dakota’s room and into his own where Ashley was sitting on the bed feeding Bella her bottle and watching TV. He went to the nightstand and grabbed up some official looking papers that are stapled together and he put her so her feet were on the ground before kneeling down to her height and he showed them to her. She looked at them and right off recognized them as adoption papers and her eyes widened as she looked at him questioningly.


“Yes, these are for you,” he answered her unspoken question and he turned the paper over so she could see his signature. She looked at it making sure she heard him right and when she saw it there tears rolled down her cheek and she flung her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He smiled a little as he slid his arms around her and hugged her back and he placed soft kisses on her forehead as he rubbed his hand over her back. “Denise brought them with her. Brooke told her to give them to me because she just had a feeling, and she was right in thinking that I would need them. I signed it at breakfast this morning,” he explained. She continued to lean into him, her arms wrapped tightly around him as tears slid down her cheek and he looked at Ashley who was sitting on the bed smiling as she watched the whole thing. What a perfect way to do it…she couldn’t think of a better time for Nick to tell Sarah she is adopted. When it is just the two of them together – their little moment. How special is that? After a long while Nick stood up with her and he set the papers down on the nightstand, before going over and sitting next to Ashley with Sarah in his lap and she smiled at her causing Sarah to smile back.


“Do you know where Kota is at?” he asked curiously. “I mean, I hope you know where Kota is at, cause I sure don’t he added while chuckling nervously.


“She’s with AJ. He was playing with her and Laila and he ended up taking her into his Penthouse with her.”


“AJ? Really? I would have guessed she was with Ellie.”


“I think she also went with AJ, because Josh went in there also. So she was following him as well.”


“Ah, that makes sense” Nick chuckled.


“Mhm,” Ashley agreed.



~*~*~*~*~



Meanwhile, Chris and Elenore were in their Penthouse in the room that they share with Josh. Josh and Dakota were off with AJ, so they were completely alone. Elenore sat on the floor holding her Donald and Josh’s Donald close to her and she just stared at Chris awkwardly as he lay on his bed throwing a ball against the wall. She promised Josh she would be nice to him, but how is she supposed to do that? All she knows how to do is fight with Chris. That’s their relationship. That’s her relationship with everyone…she can’t help but notice. Josh, Ryan, Chris…what is wrong with her? Is she really that complicated? No. She can do this. She can be nice and get along with her new cousin. If she can get along with Josh, then she can get along with Chris. Why not? Embracing the new challenge she’s set up for herself – knowing this is something her daddy would never bother himself with doing, she began to evaluate her and Chris in her mind. Josh had said they have one thing in common – pestering Josh. So what? Should they pester Josh relentlessly until they find more things in common with each other? That sounds pretty fun. She likes pestering Josh. Though, thinking of why Josh said that, Dakota suddenly came to her mind. They both think Josh should get a move on with Kota. There’s another thing in common. How can she work with that though? She sat there pondering for a few moments, and then a grin formed on her face. She got up and crawled onto Josh and Chris’s bed and looked at him grinning, causing him to look at her, miss the ball, and nearly get smacked in the face with it but he dove out of the way.


“DANGIT! See what you made me do?” He accused. Elenore just giggled.


“Not my fault you looked away.” Chris scowled.


“What do you want?” he asked softly.

“To call a truce…and maybe team up together” Chris raised his eyebrow.


“A truce? Why? I like fighting with you.”


“Well, Josh doesn’t and unfortunately he has me making promises I don’t wants to make.” Chris crossed his arms over his chest.


“An’, the way I see it, we can get along.”


“You’re wrong.”


“Why am I wrong? We have three things in common all ready.”


“Like what?” Chris asked moodily.


“Well, one…we both like to pester Josh. Two we both love Josh and wants to please him, an’ three we both would like to see our best friends finally gets together.” Chris continued to lie there regarding her.


So, we’ve got two choices here. We can keep battling it out like it’s world war three until eventually one of us loses – not just our pride, but our best friend that we both share - or we can join forces and do something else that is more worth our time.”


“Like what?” Chris asked, raising his eyebrow.


“Play matchmaker and get Joshy and Kota together, of course!”


“Josh will kill us,” Chris insisted, shaking his head.


“Yeah…you might be right. We might get our asses kicked in the end…but at least our best friends will be together,” Elenore smiled. Chris stared at her for a few moments.


“How would we do it?” Elenore sat there pondering that question for a few moments.


“Well…I haven’t thought that all the way through yet, I didnts think you’d actually agree with me. But Kota loves Beauty And The Beast – and Little Mermaid. So, I MIGHT be able to get ideas from that.” Chris thought a few moments.


“We could do a mock dinner like the Beast and Belle have in the movie.” Elenore looked at Chris extremely impressed that he had come up with that – a boy. A Rude boy for that matter who you wouldn’t think would come up with such a romantic idea.


“We’ll need help from the grownups,” Elenore pointed out.


Duh,” Chris replied, rolling his eyes and Elenore scowled.


“An’ Kota will need a the belle gown…an’ Chris the Beast outfit….an’, an’ we’ll need candles…and a long staircase…an’ the Beauty An’ The Beast Theme song….Oh Chris this is going to be so romantic!” she gushed, and he winced at her little girly moment.


“Yeah, yeah…” he sighed. “Let’s just go talk about this with Brian.”


“An’ Ashee. We’ll need Ashee’s input for sure!”


“Mhm,” Chris replied rolling his eyes, and he got up and headed out of the room and Elenore beamed and followed, suddenly excited for Josh and Dakota. They may be a little young, but still they’re meant to be, so why not start now? And this secret she has been bearing all this time is driving her crazy. She can’t keep it much longer. And anyway, Dakota already knows she just needs him to admit it. It’s just ridiculous keeping such a secret when the both of them feel the same way for each other. Ridiculous.