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Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Chapter Two-Hundred-Eighty-Nine



“Nick have you heard back from Santa Claus yet?” Brooke questioned, walking into the bedroom that belongs to her blonde employee and she found him sitting on the bed next to Ashley who has Sarah in her lap and she is braiding her hair. Brooke paused upon seeing Sarah in the room – she didn’t anticipate on that. She thought she would be off playing.


“No not yet Brooke, you know how busy the jolly old man is this time of year building toys and all” Nick replied while looking at Sarah.


“Yes, I know. Should I have Brian try calling him and see if he manages to get through?” she asked, giving Nick a look that he would understand.


“Yes, I think that would be best.”


“Okay,” Brooke replied. “Brian, AJ, Howie, Kevin, Riley and I have also decided that we’re throwing a Christmas Tree Decorating Party for the children this afternoon. I’m going to need someone to run to the store to buy cookies, and candy, and stuff for the children to snack on. Do you think maybe you, Ashley, and Marcus might want to do that?”


“We’ll get right on that,” Nick replied after sharing a brief look with his girlfriend.


“Great thanks,” Brooke smiled.


“Do you people have a list you want us to go by?”


“Nah, get whatever you think is best for a Christmas Tree Decorating party. You might want to buy a few packs of lights. Who knows how many of the ones we have already still work.”


“And I can take the money out of the Orphanage account right?”


“If you must,” Brooke sighed dramatically.


“I must,” Nick replied while getting up and going over and kissing her cheek and giving her a brief hug and Brooke returned it.


“Take as much as you need. You boys put a lot into this Orphanages – I sure how we never lose you.”


“Not a chance. The day you lose me is the day I die Brookie.”


“Which wont be until you are an old man safe and warm in your bed,” Ashley insisted firmly.


“Of course baby,” Nick replied, immediately regretting saying what he had said. He knows her biggest fear is of losing him to Sean.


“Anyway, I’m gonna go see if everybody has gotten started yet on setting up the party,” Brooke replied, and she turned and walked out of the room. Nick looked at Sarah as he wrapped his arm around Ashley’s waist and pulled her to him and kissed her forehead softly.


“Sarah baby, are you coming with us or staying here?” Sarah held her notepad out to him and he took it and looked down at it as Ashley did too and they saw that it read Staying here. Gonna play with Ellie.


“Okay,” he replied, and as Ashley pulled away from him and began to gather Bella’s things together he went over, placed his hands on the bed and leaned forward so his forehead was rested against Sarah’s. “Don’t get into any trouble while I am gone missy, you hear me?” he asked, giving her a playful look and she giggled and flashed him an innocent one right back. “I mean it angel. You be the bigger sister and make sure Dakota stays out of trouble too. Promise me right now Sarah Lynn Carter.” Sarah thought for a couple of moments, and then wrote down on her notepad I promise to keep Dakota from getting into trouble.


“Good girl,” Nick replied and she smiled at him. Suddenly Ashley came up beside Nick holding Bella and she playfully smacked his ass while he was leaning over to talk to Sarah, causing him to look at her while raising his eyebrow and an amused look formed on his face.


“Ready to go?” she asked while smirking slightly. He straightened himself then and turned around and he gave her a peck on the lips.


“You are bad,” he told her while gently taking Bella from her and he gently lay the infant in her stroller that Ashley had gotten ready.


“Hey, when you give a girl an opportunity like that can you really expect her to just pass it up?’ she asked innocently. Nick smirked and stuck his tongue out at her before buckling Bella up and sticking her pacifier and teddy bear, and rattle next to her and he looked at Sarah.


“Sarah baby go on downstairs to the playground okay? I’m calling Laney to inform him you will be joining the kiddies.” Sarah nodded and crawled off of the bed and she headed out of the room. Nick turned his cell phone on, pressed the number three speed dial and then placed it to his ear before pushing Bella’s stroller out of the room and Ashley walked at his side.


~*~*~*~*~


As soon as Sarah got outside she noticed Laney look at her, no doubt her daddy had already called him and he was making note that she had made it outside safely. Sarah looked around the playground for her friends and when she spotted Dakota and Elenore sitting in the sandbox playing with Lily and Lil’ Rok while Abbie and Chance were running about the playground playing with other children and Tyke is lying in the shade and appears to be sleeping. Sarah ran over to them and sat on the other side of Dakota and the two girls smiled.


“Hi Sarah!” they greeted, and Sarah waved, before leaning over and whispering into Dakota’s ear.


“What are you two up to?”


“Nothing much, just playing with the puppies. Where have you been?”


“Ashee braided my hair,” Sarah whispered.


“What did she say?” Elenore wanted to know.


“She was upstairs with Ashee and daddy. Ashee braided her hair.”


“Oh,” Elenore replied. The three girls sat there playing with the puppies quietly and Elenore looked over at Sarah as she noticed that even though she is smiling she could still see the pain in her eyes from last night. She is thinking about her nightmare.


“Sarah?” she asked softly, causing the older girl to look at her curiously. “What were you dreaming about last night that made you so scareds?” Sarah averted her eyes away from Elenore suddenly, looking down at Lil Rok who had gone over to her as soon as she joined them.


“Ellie, don’t” Dakota replied as she wrapped her arm around her sister and looked at her with eyes full of concern.


“I really wants to know Dakota.”


“I know buts cant you see it upsets her?”


“I don’ts mean to upset her, I just wants to know why she wanted me of all peoples.”


“Why wouldn’ts she?” Dakota asked. “You’re a greats friend.” Elenore didn’t reply she only looked down at the sand quietly. Sarah looked at her for a few moments, and then leaned over and whispered something in Dakota’s ear and Elenore looked up at them curiously as she had noticed. When Sarah pulled away, Dakota gaped at her in surprise.


“I’m sorry Sarah, that’s really horribles,” Dakota replied softly, and Sarah motioned toward Elenore with her head, silently telling her to pass the information on. Dakota looked at Elenore who just sat there quietly.


“She asked for you…because she can relates to what you goin’ throughs” Dakota explained softly.


“What do you mean?”


“She knows why it’s important to you to save your daddy.” Elenore raised her eyebrow.


“How?”


“Cause…it happened to her befores.”


“What do you mean?” Elenore asked concerned, and she moved over and sat next to Sarah who she noticed was in tears by now and she wrapped her arm around her and gazed at her with deep concern.


“Her daddy was taken from her…an’ they killed him the way you’re scareds they might kills your daddy because they thoughts he killed someone else but he didn’ts. Someone sets him up.”


“Did they ever gets that someone?” Elenore asked softly, looking at Sarah as tears fell from her own eyes. Sarah shook her head, fighting against the urge to break down and cry.


“What happened to your mommy?” Dakota whispered.


“Gone…” Sarah whispered back, not even bothering to lean over and whisper into Dakota’s ear anymore. “I woke up one day an’ was home all by myself…” she explained, before breaking down into sobs and she threw her arms about Elenore and buried her face in her shoulder. Elenore rubbed her hand over Sarah’s back as she fought back the urge to cry with her as she thinks that this could be her some day…her mommy gone and her biological daddy dead. Except this daddy actually did do it. “I’ll help you Ellie,” she whispered softly after awhile when she managed to stop crying. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure your daddy doesn’t die like mine did. No one deserves that, even if they are guilty for murder.”


“I thinks Joshy Washy was right about one thing…” Elenore replied quietly while pulling back a bit and Dakota and Sarah looked at her curiously.


“I don’ts think my daddy is gonna listen to my pleads…”


“Buts you have to do something,” Dakota insisted.


“I thinks there is only one thing I can do that’s will work…” Elenore replied softly. “It’s my only hope…but I’ll need Sarah’s help…I can’ts do it myself.”


“What is it?” Dakota asked.


“I wants to write to the president and beg and plead for him to haves a heart.” Sarah sat up dutifully.


“I can do that, I write good sappy letters.”


“How are we going to gets your letters to and from the president without anyone knowing abouts it?” Dakota wanted to know. Sarah rolled her eyes.


“This is Ellie we’re talking about Kota. She can do anything in a sticky situation.”


“Actually I was just thinking abouts tellin’ Jerry…”


“He’s not gonna helps you protect the bad guy, Ellie” Dakota replied doubtfully. “Uncle Kevy is already angry withs him enough.”


“Uncle Jerry saids I could tell him anything an’ he would always be here’s for me to help. An’ then we wouldn’ts have to worry abouts getting into trouble.”


“Has your daddy written you back yet?” Sarah asked abruptly while looking over at the corner by the gate.


“I don’ts know,” Elenore sighed. “I can’ts go over there, Laney has been watching me like a hawk ever since we came out here.” Sarah looked over at the bodyguard in the corner of her eye and sure enough, there he was standing there leaning against the wall and watching the three girls. She thought for a couple of moments and then looked at her two best friends. She could get over there and get the letter without Laney knowing but then she promised not to let Dakota get into to trouble and she would need her help. There are the cameras to consider too. After a few moments of thinking, she smiled.


“Kota, go over and spend sometime with your buddy Laney for a little bit, okay?” Dakota frowned.


“No. I wants to stay here an’ helps the two of you.” Sarah sighed.


“I promised daddy that you wouldn’t get into trouble.”


“Well maybe you shouldn’ts have lied to him likes that. I’m not missing out on all the fun, I wants to helps.”


“You can help us by going over to Laney,” Sarah explained patiently. “You can be the distraction. Insist upon him holding you and keep him busy.” Dakota narrowed her eyes.


“That way, I can keep my promise to daddy. You wouldn’t be getting into trouble…you would look like you just wanted to spend time with Laney but really you are helping us. It’s a win win situation.” Dakota scowled.


“You owes me,” she insisted, before stomping off toward the security guard.


“How are we gonna tricks the cameras?” Elenore wanted to know, turning her attention back on Sarah. Sarah didn’t answer, she only watched as Dakota approached the security guard and immediately put on her charm.


“Laney…” she whimpered, sticking out her lower lip in a pout. Laney frowned worriedly upon seeing the four-year-old upset.


“What’s the matter angel?”


“Joshy is bein’ mean to me…” she whined. Laney now looked utterly confused.


“But sweetheart, Josh wasn’t even anywhere near you – let alone looking at you, he’s playing basketball with Chris.”


“It was earliers,” Dakota insisted, immediately putting on the tears. “He called me a stupid ugly girl an’ saids he wants nothing to do withs me.” Laney raised his eyebrow. This doesn’t sound like Josh…but then again, Dakota does look very upset. It could just be that the boy is being a boy and denying his feelings at the moment. A tear trickled down Dakota’s cheek and dripped off her chin as she reached up for Laney clearly wanting to be held. Laney gathered her into his arms and cuddled her close to him and she slid her arms around him and soaked it up for all it’s worth.


“Are you gonna goes an’ yells at him?”


“Kota honey, I really just think Josh is being a boy right now. That’s all. Let him be, and he’ll eventually come around again.”


“Buts he hurts my feelings Laney,” Dakota insisted, looking up at the bodyguard with tears rolling down her cheek. “He saids mean things…he needs to be talked to…that’s what Uncle Brian would do.” Laney looked down at her. “You wouldn’ts let me or Ellie gets away for sayin’ mean things to him, would you?”


“No…you are right,” Laney replied, and he carried the four year old over to the basketball courts. Dakota rested her head against Laney’s shoulder and smiled at Ellie who by now had burst into laughter. She looked at Sarah who just sat there watching her best friend work it with an amused expression on her face.


“Oh she is good…very good,” Sarah insisted, shaking her head. When she had calmed down, she looked across the playground at Chance who was running around with a ball in his mouth looking for someone who will play fetch with him. “Ellie call Chance over…”


“Whats for?” Elenore asked confused.


“He’ll help us.”


“Okay…” She replied, and she looked over at Chance.


“CHANCE! OH CHANCE!” the little golden retriever turned his head toward them and Elenore smiled. “COME HERE BOY!” The playful golden retriever raced over to the girls excitedly then, and he toppled over Elenore, causing her to fall backward and giggle. She allowed him to lick her face as she pets him. When he had calmed down a few seconds later, Elenore looked at Sarah.


“Take the ball from him an’ throw it over to the gate where he said he’d leave the letter except accidentally throw it over it. Not too far over, just so that it drops right where the letter is so I can grab it and throw it back over here for Chance to come back for it. Can you do that?”


“Why can’t I go get the letter?” Elenore asked, desperately wanting to read it.


“Because they’ll suspect you. You’ve already been caught looking over there…but if I go over there, they’ll think I’m just getting the ball for Chance.”


“Kay…” Elenore replied, and she took the ball from the playful puppy before grinning at him and she moved it around in front of his face playfully causing Chance to growl playfully and try to get it from her, before actually throwing the ball toward the gate. She threw it hard enough that it went over the gate, but dropped right on the other side of it where the letter is just like Sarah had requested and Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth in shock as Chance darted for it.


Whoops! I better go get that!” she announced dramatically, and she got up and rushed over to the gate. By the time Chance reached the gate he started clawing at it with his two front paws while whining and he looked at Sarah eagerly when she joined his side. Elenore casually glanced over at Laney and she heard Josh begin to argue.


“I did NOT—“ he started, but then looked past Laney and he noticed Sarah at the gate and suddenly caught on. He whirled around to Dakota then and she gave him a ‘play along please’ kind of look. “You STUPID annoying girl, I thought I told you to stay away from me!”


“Buts Joshy!” Dakota protested as fake tears rolled down her cheek upon demand and Chris stared back and fourth at the two of them utterly confused.


“I mean Dakota, git! Do you always have to follow me around like this? Can’t you see I am playing with my best friend?”


“Buts Joshy, what did I do?” Dakota pleaded. Josh whirled around so his back was to her, crossing his arms over his chest and she looked at Laney with eyes full of tears.


“Hey, hey” he jumped in, kneeling down so he was at level with the children and he turned Josh around. “Come on Josh, surely you could let Kota play with you.”


“No I can’t. She’s a stinkin’ girl – I don’t like girls,” Josh protested, eyeing Sarah as he was facing her direction. He watched as she reached her hand through the gate.


“Joshua Littrell, you know better then to act this way. You are hurting Kota’s feelings” Laney lectured.


So what?” He watched as she pulled the ball and a piece of paper out from the tall grass and back through the gate with her and toss the ball toward Ellie and Chance barked playfully and ran after it. Laney started to turn toward the sound of the barking puppy but Josh whirled around and shoved Dakota as hard as he could after giving her a ‘I don’t mean it’ look.


“YOU STUPID GIRL, I SAID TO GO AWAY!” Dakota fell to the ground and started sobbing and though she was only acting, it killed Josh to see and it took everything in him not to break his character and rush over and comfort her. How did he ever act like this toward her in the beginning? He doesn’t get it now.


“I HATES YOU JOSHY, YOU’RE SUCH A MEAN O’ MONSTER!” She shouted through tears, and she jumped up and shoved him back just as hard.


“HEY, HEY, Knock it off!” Laney ordered and he gently grabbed the two and pulled them apart from one another. “Knock it off right now! What is going on with you Josh, this isn’t like you? If you don’t knock it off I am going to report this to your father and Santa Claus won’t be very happy with you either when he comes to visit later tonight!” Josh watched Sarah in the corner of his eye as she made it safely back to the sandbox with the letter in her hand without getting caught.


“Santa Claus is coming?” he asked, turning and looking at Laney, the angry look on his face now softening as he turned back into the sweet kid they’ve all begun to know and love.


“Yes he is and he is going to be talking with every kid in this orphanage about what they want for Christmas. I’m sure if you don’t shape up right now he isn’t going to be very happy and I bet Brian wont even allow you to see him.”


“I want to see Santa Claus,” Josh protested. “Please don’t tell Brian what I did, please.”


“Maybe if you do a very good job at apologizing to Kota and allow her to play with you and Chris I might be able to act like this never happened.” Josh considered this for a moment.


“You promise?” he asked, stalling on the apology as to not ruin their act and make him suspicious.


“I promise,” Laney replied. “That is, if you make the apology good and meaningful.” Josh looked at Dakota then who was standing there with her arms crossed over her chest and tears rolling down her cheeks as Laney held onto her shirt with one hand and Josh’s with the other. God does he want to make those tears stop falling. Even if they aren’t real.


“I’m sorry Kota,” he spoke softly.

“I’m sorry too,” Dakota added quietly, still looking away from him. Josh moved closer to her and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into an affectionate hug as he noticed Chris trying very hard to keep up with this. What in the world is going on? Josh rubbed his hand over Dakota’s back and kissed her forehead to really butter up to the security guard who has the power to keep him from seeing Santa Claus. Laney smiled some, and then got up and walked away. Chris waited until he was far from hearing point before speaking.


“What in the world is going on?! Josh I know you wouldn’t be mean to Kota like that for no reason. Not anymore.”


“It was just an act Chris, calm down” Josh replied, before looking over at the sandbox where Sarah and Elenore were sitting with their backs turned to Laney and a note hidden in their laps and Sarah is reading the letter to Elenore quietly.


“What in the world for?!” Chris demanded.


“We were creating a diversion so that Ellie could get her letter from her dad,” Josh whispered, and he looked down at Dakota whose eyes were still full of tears. “Will you make those go away now?! The act is over, it’s killing me to see you cry” Josh demanded, and he tilted her chin up so she is looking at him before wiping her tears away with his finger.


“Sorry Joshy,” Dakota replied while smiling a little. “But it wasn’t easy withs you bein’ mean to me either. I had to reminds myself that it was only an act – you gets pretty scary.”


“Believe me I didn’t like it either,” Josh replied while hugging her close to him.


“You’re gonna make a great beast Joshy.”


“And you are going to do a good job at being my Belle,” he told her, causing her to blush a little. His Belle he called her his Belle. Where in the world did he get that courage? Deciding she doesn’t want to ruin it, she kept her mouth shut. Chris however, wasn’t thinking on the same level as her.


“Aye yi yi…enough with the mush already okay?” He complained. “Come on, lets go see why this letter was so important that you people had to make my head hurt!” he added, before walking off toward the sandbox. Josh shook his head smiling and he slid his hand into Dakota’s before the two of them walked off to the sandbox also. When they joined them they all sat down – all except Josh who let go of Dakota’s hand and went and stood behind Sarah and Elenore to help hide the note from Laney who he noticed was back to watching them.


“What did he say?” Josh wanted to know, and Elenore looked up at him with tears rolling down her cheek and he sighed. More tears he thought. This hanging around girls thing is stressful. He leaned over their shoulders then to read the letter himself and he rolled his eyes.


“Jerk…” he muttered to himself. Sarah folded up the letter and handed it to Elenore who put it in her pocket. Sarah then opened up her notepad and began to write a reply for her and Elenore looked over her shoulder but didn’t have a clue as to what she is writing. So Josh squeezed himself between the two girls and read it to her quietly in her ear as Sarah wrote it. When Sarah finished she leaned over Josh and whispered quietly into Sarah’s ear.


“You can leave for him later when Laney isn’t around. He’ll be suspicious if we try to distract him again.” Elenore nodded, feeling happy that Sarah is still talking to her. She thought she would stop as soon as they were done being sneaky – she figured she was only speaking to her because she really didn’t have much choice. But maybe the fact that the two of them understand each other and share a bond with each other that no one else could ever replace, it changed things. And maybe she was sensing that she was feeling left out too. Maybe. All she knows, is whatever reason for it, she’s happy that she finally gets to be apart of hers and Dakota’s secret.