Chapter Two-Hundred-Ninety-Four
Later on after the party and after getting all of the children into bed for the evening, Nick walked into Conner’s room where Angel was sitting on Conner’s bed holding a sleepy Rosalie in her arms while Conner set up a bath for her and got out pajamas.
“Angel I set it up so that you and Stacy could share a room. So come on it’s late.”
“I don’t want to,” Angel replied simply, and she looked down at the little girl in her arms contently.
“I didn’t ask you if you wanted to though, did I?”
“Bug off Nick. Just because you insist upon making us stay here for the evening, it doesn’t automatically make you dad.”
“No, but I am your older brother and if you think I’m letting you sleep in here with him you are sadly mistaken. Very sadly mistaken.”
“You let Aaron sleep with Stacy.”
“I made her sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag – not in bed with him.”
“And do you really think she actually did? Come on Nick, I’ve never once believed people when they called you a dumb blonde, but don’t give me a reason to now.”
“No, I don’t think she really did, but at least I made an effort to keep it from happening just like I am going to do with you now. You are not sleeping in here with him Ange, so you might as well forget about it and not fight with me.”
“Fine. But I will go to bed when I want to go to bed, I won’t be treated like your four year old.”
“You don’t have to go to bed, but I am so you are not staying in here. I am not going to stay up all night to make sure you go back to your own room.”
“So here’s a thought, how about you trust me?” Nick laughed hysterically.
“Yeah right. That’s like asking me to trust Aaron.” Angel narrowed her eyes at him.
“I am nothing like Aaron and you know it. I may be his twin but I am a completely different person.”
“Fine. I apologize for insulting you. Now will you please give me a break and go to your room?”
“No. I won’t. I’ve been Conner’s girlfriend for only an hour I would like to spend sometime with him.” Nick sighed heavily and he turned around to see Marcus standing behind him waiting to break up a fight if he should have to.
“Marcus will you do me a huge favor? Or one of the other four of you please?” He asked, rubbing at his temples as he could feel the headache coming on. He is tired of arguing with his siblings, all he wants to do is go get in bed with his girlfriend and kids and snuggle for the rest of the night in peace.
“Of course,” Marcus replied gently.
“Will you make sure Angel makes it to her room tonight?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thanks…give her till about three before you start bugging her.”
“Got it.”
“And their door stays open too while she is in there. Don’t let them close it.”
“I won’t,” Marcus promised, and Nick pat him gently on the shoulder.
“Thanks man,” he told him, before walking down the hall to his own room. As soon as he walked in the door, Ashley lunged herself at him, gently grabbed hold of his face and brought his lips down on top of hers in a hard kiss, causing him to moan in surprise before kissing her back. He slid his arms around her waist as he did and she jumped up so she is straddling his waist. He kicked the door closed with his foot and brought her to the bed that they have for their very own for the whole night. AJ had so kindly accepted Nick’s request in baby-sitting. He gently lay her down on her back in the middle of the bed never breaking their kiss and he lay on top of her as her legs were still wrapped around his waist and she went right into the kisses that she knows drives him insane. Nick briefly wondered if she was trying to make him crazy, until suddenly he couldn’t think anymore.
~*~*~*~*~
The next day in the afternoon, while Ashley was taking a bath with Bella, Nick went downstairs after making sure Marcus would be around for her and he took Dakota and Sarah who both have been bathed with him, both girls rested on each of his hips. It is shortly after lunch and Brooke had just finished cleaning up the cafeteria.
“Hey Brookie, have you and Ri informed the other Caregivers about ZooLights tonight?” Nick asked, wanting to make sure their plans were official.
“Yup, Riley and I went around informing everybody before you were even awake this morning. They are all excited, but wary too, you know? Our last field trip didn’t exactly end the way we wanted it.”
“I still say we should put Ellie and Josh on leashes” AJ spoke up, as he had been standing behind Brooke with his arms wrapped around her waist.
“We’re not putting my little girl on a leash,” Kevin informed for the umpteenth time as him and AJ have argued over this quite a bit. Everybody turned and looked at him to see him walking downstairs with Elenore in toe and she is wearing a white tanktop and a mini pink denim skirt. Her wet hair is pulled back into a ponytail with pink and white ribbons and she has on pink low top converse shoes which have her usual bells on the laces. “Brian went out and bought a couple of wagons. We plan to put all of our kids in those – except Ryan who we know will stay by Howie’s side the whole time.”
“I plan on wearing Laila in a baby backpack,” AJ informed, as he looked over at his little girl whom was lying against Ryan’s legs under the tree. Ryan was engrossed in his Harry Potter Book, and Laila was pretending to read hers simply for the fact that her brother was doing it. “A wagon is a pretty good idea, but I think a leash would be more effective,” he added, turning his attention back on Kevin and Elenore. He reached out and gently took the five-year-old from Kevin, his hands underneath her arms as he brings her up and kisses her nose.
“This little one, I’m sure would find a way out of that wagon the second you turn your back. Huh, miss Houdini?” Elenore giggled and he brought her close and hugged her affectionately and she snuggled into him. She loves random AJ and Ellie snuggling. She hardly ever gets that.
“No leash. She’s a five year old not a dog” Kevin insisted, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring.
“Fine, fine no leash. Sheesh.” Kevin rolled his eyes.
“But don’t get mad at me when little Houdini over here finds a creative way out of that wagon,” AJ replied while kissing her cheek.
“She won’t get out of the wagon, otherwise Kevy will be very angry with her and we will go sit on the bus while everybody else enjoys the Christmas lights.” Kevin informed, giving Elenore a warning look and she innocently rested her head against AJ’s shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck, visibly enjoying her snuggle time.
“Anyway,” AJ replied. “I thought about taking Laila and Ryan to the park while I baby sit them. Howie went to visit Lindsey. Does Ellie want to go?” Elenore turned her attention back on Kevin, her little eyes going round with excitement.
“That sounds good,” Kevin replied. “What about the other children though? Ellie and Ryan aren’t exactly the best of friends or anything.”
“There’s the understatement of the year…” they heard Ryan mutter, and the boys and Brooke stifled a laugh. They all looked over at him and saw that his eyes had never even left his book.
“Pipe down over there you,” AJ told him playfully. “Little less smart ass remarks and a little more reading.” Ryan rolled his eyes, but nonetheless obeyed him. He was given orders to do as AJ tells him to or he isn’t going with the rest of the kids to see ZooLights later. “Brian will be meeting us there, he doesn’t have to be here until later so he and the boys were at his house working on their new rooms.”
“What about Dakota and Sarah?” Kevin asked, looking over at Nick, who was sitting in the grass communicating quietly with his girls, just because. Sarah was writing things down and him and Dakota were talking.
“We’d love to go, but I have to wait on Ashley. She’s upstairs taking a bath with Bells.”
“No she’s not, she’s finished” AJ replied, motioning toward his sister who had just walked out of the orphanage as Nick spoke. Nick turned his head to look and saw his girlfriend walking toward them bathed and dressed and looking more beautiful then ever if at all possible. She is dressed in blue denim shorts, a white tanktop, and just incase her mom is around, she has on a pink hoodie to hide her tattoo. Her brown flip-flops are sitting on top of the hood of Bella’s baby stroller and Bella is inside it cooing away like the happy baby she almost always is.
“Well then yes, yes Sarah and Dakota do want to come,” Nick replied, suddenly regaining composure after nearly losing it at the sight of his girlfriend. God she is driving him crazy these days. Last night they had gotten so intimate that she had to stop him from removing that last piece of clothing that was keeping them from doing a very bad thing. He stood up with his girls again just as Ashley approached.
“Where do Dakota and Sarah want to go?” She asked curiously as Nick leaned over and kissed her innocently on the cheek. She’s been getting cheekage all morning and even though she knows why, she’s feeling very deprived. Though, she can only imagine how much more deprived he is feeling.
“To the park. Are you coming?” Kevin wanted to know. Ashley looked at Nick self-consciously. She knows how much he is suffering with her around, and all she wants to do is give him his space. She hates doing this to him. Reading the look on her face right away, Nick slid his arms around her waist and leaned down and gave her a peck on the lips.
“You are going,” he told her gently. “Stop verbally abusing yourself. I may not be able to hear it but it doesn’t mean I don’t know you are doing it. It isn’t your fault,” he whispered more quietly into her ear hoping only she would hear, but AJ of course over heard. AJ raised his eyebrow, but otherwise said nothing. He is going to stay out of this one. Even if he has to staple his mouth shut.
“Yeah, I’m going” Ashley replied, ignoring Nick’s whispers of reassurance.
“Okay then,” Kevin replied. “Lets go.” He headed for the door then after taking Elenore from AJ so he could get Laila.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at Sean and Trevor’s Lake House, Trevor stood at the window in the kitchen and watched his lover as he sat out on the deck by the water. Sean had been sitting out there all morning with Elenore’s latest letter in his hand and he hasn’t spoken a single word to him at all. Part of the reason was because he was already royally pissed off at him when he had gone to use Trevor’s cell phone and found out that Shelly had called it, giving him the hint that he had been communicating with her behind his back. He had just finished yelling at him when suddenly Max arrived with Ellie’s letter, which only worsened his mood from there. At first he took the time to yell at him for writing to Ellie when he had specifically said he wanted to ignore her request on writing her back, but then when he read the note he had gone very quiet and just stopped talking to him all together. Trevor took the punishment like a man, but after a whole day without Sean’s affection he doesn’t want to ‘be a man’ anymore, figuratively speaking. A day and a half of silence is a very loud day and a half – and complete torture too. Shaking his head Trevor decided he is done with this. He went over to the back door, opened it up, walked out and slammed the door shut behind him before storming on down to the dock. Sean didn’t even flinch. When he got down there, he grabbed Sean up and shoved him into the lake before he even had the time to react or know what’s going on. When he resurfaced, water sputtered from his mouth and he looked at Trevor with his eyes wide with shock.
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!” He roared. Trevor closed his eyes for a brief moment, just taking in the sound of the voice he’s missed so desperately.
“GETTING A FUCKING REACTION OUT OF YOU!” Trevor shouted back when he regained composure. “It is HIGH time you start paying attention to me again Sean Ellerbee, because I am SICK of you walking around this place and acting like I don’t even fucking exist!”
“You DON’T exist Trevor Adams! You are NOTHING to me!” Sean insisted angrily.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes.”
“Take that back!”
“Or what?” Sean challenged.
“Or I’ll leave you!”
“No you won’t,” Sean replied calmly while rolling his eyes.
“Yes I will. I’ll leave you and go stay with your ex wife – maybe she’ll give me the love that I deserve” He told him, knowing exactly what effect it would have on him.
“Fine, go then” Sean replied, not believing him for a single second. “Tell her I said hello.” Trevor shrugged and turned around, Sean’s letter from Ellie in his hand and he headed for the house again.
“I can be gone in five minutes,” he promised.
“You are such a fucking drama queen,” Sean informed, but Trevor could hear the worry in his voice.
“Good bye Sean,” Trevor replied. Sean rolled his eyes and stood there watching, waiting for him to turn around. When Trevor reached the door he opened it up and went inside before shutting it behind him and he stood there and waited. After five minutes had gone by he began counting.
“Five…Four…Three…Two…One…” he moved to the side and suddenly the door flew open and Sean came in sopping wet. He looked around frantically, and when he spotted Trevor standing at the side of the door he grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him back outside before dragging him down the dock. When he reached the edge he grabbed his letter from Ellie and then shoved Trevor into the water. He crumbled the letter up knowing that would make it easier for him to throw it and he tossed it away from the water. When he saw that it landed safely in the grass he dove into the water after Trevor jumping right on him. Trevor let out a yelp just before Sean dunked him under water. Trevor retaliated then, and the two of them wrestled with one another for awhile. Neither of them having much success in beating the other, as they’re the perfect match for one another. Not just because they love each other deeply, but because their strength is equal in every single way. After a long while though, when Sean had slid his hands gently to Trevor’s shoulders and shoved him under, Trevor’s eyes widened as he had taken him completely by surprise. Sean took one look at his lover’s face, and immediately removed his hands and stumbled backwards against the edge of the lake, terror forming on his face as it turned completely white. Trevor, who never took his eyes off of Sean even when he was forced under, suddenly came up very much alert.
“Sean?? What is it baby what’s going on?” he asked, rushing over to him and cradling his face in his hands while looking at him with deep concern. “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
~*~Flashback~*~
“YOU STUPID BITCH, HOW DARE YOU SPEND THAT MONEY! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!” he roared, coming out of the house with the slam of the door behind him and he stormed down to the lake where she stood.
“What are you talking about? What money?” the woman asked, her body suddenly stiffening as her husband stood directly in front of her with the lake right behind her leaving her no way of putting space between the two of them.
“You know DAMN well what I am talking about Lindy!” He informed, his eyes blazing with anger. Lindy took a step back a little bit, as she could just smell his alcoholic that is how dangerously close he is to her. Alcohol, cigarette smoke, and plus the wretched smell of a man who hasn’t showered in days. Lindy made a half disgusted, half fearful face as she leaned as far away from him as she could without falling backward into the lake. “I was just looking at our bank account and you took TEN dollars out! TEN FUCKING DOLLARS! As if we weren’t fucking poor enough as it is!”
“I HAD to feed our child somehow!”
“So you give the shit bread and milk! You don’t go out and spend our fucking money!” he demanded, inching closer to her. “Do you WANT to live in this shit hole forever? Is that it?”
“We were out of bread and milk! And maybe if you didn’t waste the little money that we have on your stupid drugs and cigarettes and what not, we wouldn’t be STUCK in this shit hole!” Lindy cried. “I CAN’T take this anymore! I can’t stand another minute in this place with you! Everytime I go into that house I suffocate because the place smells like YOU! I’m taking my child and LEAVING! He doesn’t deserve this life, he deserves SO much better then this!”
“You AREN’T going anywhere woman!”
“YES I am!” She informed, before attempting to walk around him but he grabbed her arm and yanked her back causing her to yelp in agony.
“No,” he replied, while twisting her arm hard and she cried out in sheer pain as he grabbed her chin with his other hand and forced her to look him in the yes. “You’re not.” He smacked her hard across the face then and shoved her to the grass before kicking her in the side as she lay there sobbing. “You will go in that house like the good wife that you are while I go punish our child for being so goddamn needy! Do you hear me? GO!”
“You will never find him,” Lindy whimpered.
“What is that?”
“You heard me. I said you will never find him. I told him to hide from you and he won’t come out until I tell him to.” Eyes suddenly flaring with anger, he reached down and grabbed her by the neck and he pulled her up from the ground.
“Then I suggest you tell him to!”
“Never.” He smacked her hard across the face.
“NOW!”
“NO! I would rather die then allow you to get your hands on him!”
“Is that a request?” he questioned dangerously. Lindy said nothing; she only glared at him, eyes full of pain, hatred, and tears. “What will he do when you die woman? Huh? Who will protect him then?”
“He knows exactly what he is supposed to do if I die.”
“And what is that?”
“I’m not telling you. I’ll take it to the grave if I have to.”
“You may very well have to,” he informed, resting his forehead against hers as he still held her by the neck. “Is he out here somewhere? Huh?” he asked, and then turned and looked around the area.
“BOY! oh BOY! Come out; come out where ever you are! Or your mother will die! Do you want that? Do you want to watch your mother die?”
“STAY WHERE YOU ARE AT SEAN!” Lindy shouted, as tears fell from her eyes. “It’s okay baby! Don’t listen to anything…” he tightened his grip on her neck. “He…says!” she struggled.
“I MEAN it boy! Your mother is going to die!”
“CLOSE YOUR EARS!” Lindy ordered. “DON’T LISTEN TO HIM. I LOVE YOU BABY!” He punched her in the face then and blood trickled from her nose as he shoved her into the water and dove in with her. She whimpered as he grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the stomach.
“LAST CHANCE SEAN! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE NOW!”
~*~End of Flashback~*~
“Sean? Sean? SEAN!!!” Trevor shouted, shaking his lover by the shoulders trying to get his attention as he had totally spaced out.
“DAMNIT SEAN, WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?!” Suddenly snapping out of it, Sean looked at Trevor as a tear rolled down his cheek, freaking Trevor out even more. His Seany doesn’t cry. Sean shoved Trevor away, climbed out of the lake sopping wet and he ran not toward the house, but toward the woods.
“SEAN! WHAT THE HELL?” Trevor demanded, before climbing out of the lake, stumbling slightly, and then taking off after him, completely horrified. The two of them raced through the woods for five minutes, Sean way ahead the whole time and Trevor desperately trying to keep up. When Sean came to a stop Trevor stumbled right into him and grabbed hold of his shoulders just to keep from falling. He looked around to find them standing in a very familiar place that he never thought Sean would ever revisit. They’re standing in front of the home Sean grew up in until he became a teenager. Sean’s old trailer. Abruptly he began to run again and Trevor just stood there and watched him confused as to what in the world is going on. He ran until he reached the lake and he dropped to his knees and stared into it.
~*~Flashback~*~
When Sean didn’t come, Caleb Ellerbee turned his attention back on his wife whom he was currently strangling.
“You stupid, stupid woman” he told her hatefully, and he spit in her face before sliding his hands down to her shoulders. “Any last words, before I kill you?”
“I LOVE YOU SEAN, DON’T FORGET THAT!” she managed to choke out. “NONE OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T COME OUT! STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AND WHEN HE GIVES UP, YOU RUN! YOU RUN AND DO WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO. YOU DON’T DESERVE THIS LIFE SEAN. PLEASE DO WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO.”
“NO!!!!!!!!!” a lone cry suddenly shrieked in the distance and the four year old known as Sean came running out from behind a couple of trees where his secret hiding place that he and his mother created was at. “DADDY DON’TS! I’M HERE! I’M HERE! DON’TS KILL MOMMA!” By the time he reached his father and the lake, he dropped to his knees and stared in at his mother just as Caleb Ellerbee shoved her under by her shoulders and held her there. Just before she went under he saw her whisper “I love you Sean”…and she was gone.
~*~End of Flashback~*~
“NO!!!!!!!!!!!” the present Sean shouted, as he saw it happening all over again in his mind, there in the lake. The tragic event that he had blocked out of his mind when he was a boy. She’s gone Sean. She ran away and left you because she doesn’t love you anymore. You were a bad kid. It’s your fault that she is gone. She just couldn’t handle you he was led to believe. And he did believe it ten minutes after she was gone. In his mind…that was what happened…because that was much easier for him then knowing the truth. All this time he was brainwashed into thinking that she hated him and left him…when really she had died because she loved him. She died trying to protect him. And he let her die in vein. He didn’t listen to her. How could he be such a stupid little shit for disobeying her? He could have avoided years worth of pain if he had just listened. Leaning forward he buried his face in his lap and he began to sob. After a few short moments he felt arms wrap around him protectively. Trevor’s arms. The only person left in this world that still loves him. Sean scooted over and laid his head in his lap where he continued to cry. Trevor tightened his arms around him before leaning down and burying his face in the nape of his neck and just holding him. Letting him get whatever he is going through out. He has never felt so helpless or left out of the loop before when it comes to Sean. Never. And he doesn’t like it.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
