Chapter Two-Hundred-Seventy-Nine
When Max arrived at Sean and Trevor’s Lake House he got out of his car and walked toward the door just as it opened and Trevor poked his head out, raising his eyebrow.
“Hey Max, we weren’t expecting you for another hour…” he told him curiously, as he opened the door wide for Max to walk in.
“Yeah well, I have a special delivery from Sean’s little spawn…well she’s certainly ordering me around like she is anyway.”
“You let her see you?” Sean asked incredulously.
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” Max replied. “It was either that, or let someone grab her, or for her to get hit by a car. She was outside the building with that kid Josh searching for me.”
“What the hell for?” Sean asked irritated, liking nothing more then to give her a good swat in the butt. He really has to give her a talking to about running off like this. He’ll kill for her anytime, but what does he have to do? Kill off the whole damned world for her to be safe? Sensing his lover’s mood change, Trevor slipped behind him and slid his arms around his waist before resting his chin on his shoulder as Max held out the letter. Sean took it, unfolded it and began to read it quietly to himself.
Hey Daddy,
It’s me…Ellie. I am writing to you because I am very worried about you. You have to stop hurting people because I’m afraid if you don’t…something really bad is going to happen to you. And I can’t live with that. You may not have been the best daddy in the whole world…you may have always hurt me, but I know it’s because you didn’t have anyone to love you like I gots Kevy. You didn’t have anybody to teach you what’s good and what’s bad. And I’m really sorry daddy that’s not fair at all. Kevy taught me that you are not a bad man…you are just a man whose made a lot of bad choices. I make a lot of bad choices too…and I have a feeling that has a lot to do with you. But daddy, you really need to stop. You may have treated me badly in the past…but I don’ts ever want you to die. Because…well…you are my daddy and you always will be no matter how many bad choices you make. Even if you gave me up. You did it out of love, and now it’s my turn…so please stop daddy. Please.
Love Ellie.
Trevor who had read the note over Sean’s shoulder leaned over and looked at his lover’s face to see a single tear rolling down his cheek. He gently hugged Sean close to him and bent down and placed a soft kiss on the side of his neck.
“You won’t listen to me when I tell you those things…but how does it feel to hear your daughter saying them?” He asked gently. “I know you don’t know how to love…but that had to have brought up something remotely close from deep down inside,” he added, as he brought his finger up and gently wiped away the lone tear. Sean didn’t reply he only looked at Max.
“Thanks for bringing the letter Max…” he replied softly. Max nodded and seeing this as a hint that he can be excused now he headed for the door.
“Do you want me to go back to the Orphanage or what?”
“Is Conner there?”
“No, he left with that Aaron kid and the woman who owns the Orphanage – Brooke. I don’t know where they went.”
“Oh…well as long as he is with Aaron then it’s fine with me. But since he’s not there, will you go back?”
“Absolutely,” Max replied, and he opened the door, walked out and shut it behind him again. When he was gone Sean gently pulled away from Trevor and he went upstairs disappearing in the bedroom. Trevor walked up there and when he appeared in the doorway he found Sean lying in bed facing the wall with the note lying on the nightstand. Trevor went over and crawled onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Sean and he kissed his cheek.
“I know you don’t want to talk about this right now baby, but I just have to say one thing. She was wrong about one thing…about you not having anyone to love you the way she has Kevin. You’ve always had me…always. I could be that someone to love you if you ever wanted to give all of this up. Just keep that in mind okay?” Sean didn’t reply, and Trevor didn’t expect him to. He just snuggled back against Trevor and closed his eyes and Trevor rested his cheek against his and hugged him close to him protectively. “I could be the one to save you Sean Ellerbee,” he whispered and he felt Sean take hold of his hand and intertwine their fingers together and he felt a huge warmth in his heart for Elenore. Sean may not know what love is, but she has definitely awoken something up inside of him. He felt something when reading that letter. It tells him that there is still some hope that Sean can be saved. And he holds onto that hope with all his might.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile, when Kori and Scott managed to pick some place to go, they ended up deciding on just Peter Piper. While Kori went to the counter to order the pizza, Scott walked off with Spencer still placed safely up on his shoulders to pick out a table. Kori watched the two as she stood in line and she couldn’t help but smile to herself. For the first time since Scott started spending time with their son she allowed herself to step away from the controls and just relax, and for the first time she can really see just how amazing Scott is with Spencer. And she’ll admit that this is what she’s wanted since the moment she learned she was pregnant. For Scott to just love his child. It took awhile to get that…but now that she has it she doesn’t want it to stop. This is how it was supposed to be. Spencer with his father. Of course, when she had that fantasy back in the day at age fourteen, her and Scott were still madly in love with each other. And well…she would be lying to herself if she said that fantasy was dead. But she cannot allow herself to open up to him just to get her heartbroken again. He hurt her way too much to go down that path again. And Wiley is such an amazing man…she can’t even imagine hurting him like that. She loves him too…very much. How is this fair? What is god playing at by putting two wonderful men in the center of her life and forcing her to go through this emotional dilemma? What does he expect her to do? What is his plan? It’s times like these when she really wishes her mom were here. She could really use one of those mother daughter talks that she just threw out the window when she was a kid.
“Ma’am?” a voice suddenly spoke up, pulling her out of her thoughts and she looked up to see that she is next in line and the pizza guy behind the counter was trying to get her attention. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah…yeah, I’m fine. Sorry…” she replied, trying to snap out of it and she proceeded to order the pizza. When she finished and the pizza guy had gotten her name she went on over to the booth that Scott and Spencer had picked out. They had to get a booth, she thought begrudgingly to herself. Though she has a feeling Scott had more to do with that idea then Spencer did. When she got there she went to Spencer’s side of the booth.
“Scoot over baby, Momma wants to sit next to you.” Spencer did as he was told and scooted over so he was by the wall and Kori sat down next to him, not missing the disappointed look on Scott’s face. Did he really think I was going to cozy up with him in a booth? Come on Scott, get real.
“Momma can Scott an’ I goes to play games?” Spencer asked eagerly.
“Not right now honey, the pizza should be ready shortly. You can play afterwards though, okay?”
“Kay,” Spencer replied, and Kori picked up the little pepper shaker from the table and began to idly play with it, purposely avoiding eye contact with Scott who was very content in doing the exact opposite. Very much like it was when they were teens…the man can’t keep his eyes off of her. Spencer watched the two of them curiously in silence for a few moments. He can sense the tension between the two of them, and though he doesn’t know what it’s about, he knows it’s something. The same reason why they fight all the time. Something happened in the past and Spencer knows Scott only hangs around because of him. But why? And what happened?
“Momma?” he spoke up.
“Yeah baby?” Kori asked, looking down at him and meeting his curious gaze.
“How long have you and Scott been friends?”
“For a very long time,” Kori answered softly, as she turned her gaze back on the pepper shaker in her hands and Scott watched her expectantly. Waiting. But he’ll have to wait a little while longer because she has no idea of just exactly how she is going to go about this. “We met when we were ten years old. I used to chase him all over the playground, and he would chase me.” She explained, smiling some at the memory.
“You were friends for that long?” Spencer asked astonished.
“Mhm…the best of,” Scott replied.
“What happened then?”
“What do you mean?” Kori asked innocently.
“How come you two are always fightin’ an’ stuff?”
“Things got complicated as we got older…” Scott answered vaguely.
“Like how?” Spencer pressed, wanting very much for his theory to be correct. He is sick of all of this evasiveness. Why isn’t anybody just being flat out honest with him? Scott looked at Kori for this one. Kori opened her mouth to reply, when she was suddenly interrupted as the loud speaker came on over the building.
“Kori your pizza is ready. Kori.”
“Be right back,” Kori replied, and she jumped up and rushed off to get the pizza causing Spencer to scowl, sit back in his seat and cross his arms over his chest and he stared at Scott bitterly. When Kori returned she had three cups that were all already filled up with soda. She knows Spencer likes coke and Scott always has too. She knows that hasn’t changed, so she just went ahead and got their drinks for them. She sat the pizza down and passed out the drinks before resuming her spot next to Spencer before grabbing a paper plate and getting his pizza for him.
“Scott?” Spencer asked suddenly, the scowl still evident on his face.
“Yeah buddy?”
“What soda did you gets?” Scott picked up his drink, took a sip, and then looked back at his son.
“Coke.”
“Momma? Did I gets coke too?”
“Yes you did,” Kori replied skeptically. “It’s your favorite.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Spencer replied moodily.
“Spencer there is no need for that attitude,” Kori lectured.
“Yes there is.”
“No there isn’t. And if you keep it up we’ll eat and go straight home afterwards without playing.”
“That’s NOT fair!” Spencer insisted, his voice rising slightly, and no one around them paid the slightest bit of attention as the place is filled with children and is noisy already. “It’s NOT my fault Scott is my daddy and YOUR not tellin’ me!” Scott froze mid getting a slice of pizza and Kori sighed heavily, as their eyes connected. Scott gave her a ‘I’m not going to stay quiet much longer’ look. Kori set her pizza down on her plate and looked at Spencer who was just sitting there lounging in his corner with his arms crossed over his chest and a glare fixed on his face. He isn’t normally one for throwing tantrums because he knows his mom doesn’t stand for that, but he has a right to get his feelings heard and it is high time that people were honest with him.
“You are right,” she spoke softly. “He is your father.” The look on Spencer’s face softened somewhat then, but he still looked at Scott feeling slightly hurt. He has had lots of questions ever since the thought that he could be his father came to his mind, but now that he has the truth, there is only one question that sticks out most.
“Where were you for four years?” Kori sat back then, and she looked at Scott. She told Spencer her part of their secret, and now it’s his turn. Scott can explain to their son why he hurt her. It was his doing, so he can explain.
“I was here in Florida,” Scott answered honestly; his eyes focused on his fingers as it hurts too much to see the pained look in Spencer’s eyes. “You have to understand that your mom and I were at a really young age when we found out that we were going to have you,” he added. “We were just thirteen years old. That’s Aaron’s age Spencer…just kids. I didn’t know the first thing about raising a child. I was terrified at the thought.”
“Wiley was thirteen years old, an’ he wasn’t scared to be there for me,” Spencer pointed out. Low blow. Scott felt his heartstrings tear at these words, and he had to literally force his eyes not to water up.
“That’s different,” he insisted.
“Why?”
“Because he didn’t go through all of the emotions I did when I found out that I was a father, Spencer.” Spencer looked up at him skeptically. “It’s one thing to be taking care of someone else’s kid…but it’s an entirely different experience when it’s your own.”
“Why were you scared? I’m not too scary am I?”
“I was thirteen years old…and thirteen year olds aren’t supposed to be parents. I didn’t know the first thing about being a father…I thought you deserved so much better then me. Back then…I wasn’t the kind of person that I wanted you to be like and I was really afraid that you would be…and I was right. You are the spitting image of me. I was really scared that I would mess your life up and that I wasn’t a good enough father. But at the same time, I felt happy, and I was proud, and I wanted to love you but I just couldn’t back then Spencer. You have to understand that…I loved you too much to risk being a horrible father.”
“But you aren’t a horrible daddy,” Spencer told him quietly, and he looked down at the table as a single tear rolled down his cheek. “You are superman.” Scott let out what sounded like he was both laughing and crying, and he rubbed at his eyes. “Are you afraid of me now?” Spencer asked quietly.
“No not since I first laid eyes on you. There was no more denying that you were mine…and as I got to know you, I couldn’t let you go and I fought like crazy for your mom to forgive me and let me be apart of your life.”
“But she still hasn’t forgiven you yet,” Spencer pointed out, looking up at his mom and knowing right off that she is still hurt.
“Not yet, but I’m working on that” Scott promised while winking at him and Spencer grinned slightly. “Some things take longer then others...more effort.” Scott looked at Kori giving her a pleading look and not being able to handle that look, Kori reached over and gently rubbed her hand over Spencer’s back.
“Eat your pizza honey before it gets cold. If you finish it all then you and Scott can go play.” Spencer picked up his pizza then and began eating it and Scott started eating his own as well. Kori, who had already finished hers and even had two slices, sat there eyeing Scott quietly. And for once Scott wasn’t looking at her in return. Or at least not as openly anyway. When Scott and Spencer had finished eating Kori gently grabbed up Spencer and brought him into her lap as Scott got up. When he did, she handed over their son and Scott shifted him so he is rested on his right hip. Spencer slid his arms around his neck and rested his head against his shoulder as he and his newfound superman daddy went off to play video games and such. Kori rested her head against the cold table then in hopes that it would help ease the headache that is forming. Normally she would follow them protectively, but she needs some time alone from Scott. Things are just getting way too confusing for her. Just then her cell phone rang, and she pulled it out of her pocket, looked at the caller ID, and saw that it was Nick. She flipped her phone open and placed it to her ear then as she kept her head rested against the table.
“What’s up Nick?”
“It’s me,” her sister’s voice spoke up on the other end.
“Hey Ash, is everything okay?” Kori asked, sitting up slightly more alert now.
“I was just calling to ask you the same thing myself.” Kori raised her eyebrow.
“How is it that you always know when something isn’t right?”
“Well, for one…you are out with Scott,” Ashley began. “Two…you know I’ve always been very perceptive of peoples emotions…and three, it’s the sister thing. I may have lost you, but I never lost that connection I had with you. So what’s up?”
“I don’t want to get into it right now…”
“Come on Kor, I’m your sister. Talk to me.”
“Not over the phone Ash, okay? I’ll talk to you when I get home. I’m in need of some serious girl time. You and Denise both.”
“Okay…”
“And be sure to have the ice cream sundaes and junkfood ready. We’re kicking Wi out of my room until very late and having a movie night.”
“That sounds fun,” Ashley replied, perking up somewhat now.
“I knew you would think so,” Kori replied.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile back at Sean and Trevor’s Lake House, Sean awoke from his nap and rolled over in Trevor’s arms to find him lying there just watching him.
“Hey,” Trevor greeted gently.
“Hey,” Sean replied, as he rested his forehead against his. “Did Ellie really write that letter…or was it a dream?”
“No it was real,” Trevor replied, and he couldn’t help but smile slightly. “It’s on the nightstand behind you if you need a reminder.”
“No, no…no reminder. I don’t want to go through that again.” Trevor lightly rubbed his finger over Sean’s cheek while gazing into his eyes.
“Are you going to write back?”
“I have no idea how to even respond to that Trev…”
“Well I think she’s expecting some kind of reply babe.”
“How about mind your own frigin’ business? I’m the dad; you’re the kid. I’m supposed to be protecting you?” Trevor raised his eyebrow.
“No?” Sean asked, and Trevor continued to stare at him, his eyebrow raised. Sean sighed.
“Okay, fine.”
“She was very heartfelt in that letter Sean, and though you don’t know how to love her back, I still think you should be a little nicer then that.”
“Why don’t you write it for me then?”
“Because she knows the difference between our handwriting and will know I wrote it for you.”
“I don’t know what to say Trev.”
“I’ll tell you what to say, and you write it. How about that?” Sean thought about it for a moment, and then nodded.
“That works.”
“Course it does,” Trevor bragged, and Sean wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him near.
“What would I do without you Trev?”
“Die from a fatal bullet wound.”
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
