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Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Chapter Three-Hundred-One



Later on that day when Brian, Nick, Ashley, and the kids all returned from the mall they found everybody sitting around talking – everybody except Riley and Jackie.


“Hey you guys, how was the mall?” Kevin questioned when he suddenly noticed them come in as he is lying on the floor coloring with Elenore and everybody looked at them curiously as well.


“Pretty good, we just browsed around and such” Brian answered as he watched Nick rush upstairs with a bunch of bags in his hands – the bag with the ring being one of them as he is off to hide it somewhere that Riley won’t find it. “Where is Riley? Is she still upstairs angry?”


“No actually, it’s the strangest thing…she went shopping with your mom and came back all of the sudden in a very good mood and she can’t stop smiling. We’ve been trying to get answers out of her on what the deal is, but she won’t say.” Brian raised his eyebrow feeling utterly confused.


“Where is she then?”


“In the kitchen with your mom and Brookie. They’re making dinner” AJ answered, and Brian set his stuff down, looked at the boys and saw that they were content in getting their toys out, and he turned and headed for the kitchen. When he got there he opened the door and went inside only for Riley to jump him the moment he walked in the door. Cradling his face in her hands she brought his lips down onto hers in a passionate kiss before he even got a word in. Brian slid his arms around her waist and kissed her back. He doesn’t know what the hell is going on with his girlfriend’s mood lately, but why ruin a perfectly good greeting by asking her when he could just enjoy it? After a few moments, Riley jumped up so her legs were wrapped around his waist and he backed out of the kitchen and brought her up the stairs never breaking their intense kiss for even a second and the next thing anyone heard was the door shutting behind them.


“Daddy” Dakota spoke up when Nick came downstairs a little while later.


“Yeah princess?”


“Can we go play out in the snow?” she questioned as she was sitting on the couch peering out the window. It just started to fall a few moments after they walked in the house.


“I’m all ready ahead of you baby,” Nick chuckled, and she turned and really looked at him to see he was holding warm clothes for both Sarah and Dakota. Dakota beamed and Elenore’s eyes widened.

“It’s SNOWING?! Kevy I want to play in the snow! Can I please?”


“Of course sweetie” Kevin chuckled and he looked at Nick.


“Why don’t we take them sledding? I know the perfect place.”


“Won’t dinner be done soon?”


“Nah they just started on it and Jackie is making a big meal. We have at least a couple of hours.” Nick looked over at Ashley then who is sitting on the floor Indian style with Bella in her lap.


“Are you coming baby?”


“Duh. You know I’ve never had a white Christmas before.”


“Bells too?” Nick asked skeptically.


“Absolutely. It’s her first white Christmas too, I want to take pictures.”


“Bundle her up really warm then. You brought winter clothes for her right?”


“Mhm, I was prepared” Ashley replied while smiling down at the little one in her lap. She got up then and went on upstairs while Nick sat on the couch and gently gathered Dakota into his arms. He kissed her cheek and set her so she was standing in front of him and he began to bundle her up. She is already in jeans and a long sleeve shirt so he doesn’t have to worry about having to undress her and re-dress her into the appropriate clothes. Kevin looked at Jerald, whom he is still slightly angry with but has forgiven enough to the point where they are brothers again and do everything together.


“Jer, do me a favor please.”


“Anything,” Jerald replied, still working at earning his youngest brother’s trust.


“Take Ellie upstairs and get her into the snow clothes I bought for her. Her White long sleeved shirt, her heavy pink hoodie, and her snow boots. She also should have some gloves up there as well. I’m going to be bold and call Brian on his cell phone to see if he’ll mind if I take his boys with us.”


“Wow man, Bri is gonna kill you” AJ informed.


“Well, hey, I’m not going to take all of the other kids and leave Josh and Chris here by themselves. Id just up and leave with them, but I don’t know where he has their clothes at.”


“Just go looking through his bags – they never made it up to his room yet” Howie pointed out. “That way maybe you’ll live longer.” Kevin looked over at Josh and Chris then.


“Hey Josh, do you know which bag Brian packed yours and Chris’s stuff in?”


“Yes, those two bags over there” Josh answered while pointing to two travel bags. Kevin went over and unzipped those bags and he looked in them while being careful not to mess up Brian’s neatly packed bags until he found all of the necessary things one has to wear in a snow. He pulled those out and handed them to the boys.


“Go ahead and go get changed the both of you” he told them, and they happily ran off. Soon enough everybody was ready to go to sledding in the snow. Dakota was dressed in a long sleeve t-shirt with her red buccaneers’ sweatshirt on over it and black snow pants. She has on matching red snow boots and black gloves. He even went as far as putting a red buccaneer’s beanie over her head, which earned him lots of teasing from AJ when he happened to look over at her. Sarah has on a pink Barbie jacket with a feathery collar, pink snow pants, a pink Barbie Beanie, and white gloves. Elenore has on her green TMNT hoodie, black snow pants, black boots, and black gloves. AJ dressed Laila in a red and white Strawberry Shortcake hoodie, red snow pants, red gloves, little black snow boots, and he just pulled the hood down over her head and tied the string so it would keep her head warm. Josh has on a black hoodie with the yellow Bat symbol on the front of it, yellow snow pants, black boots, and yellow gloves. Chris is in a blue Superman sweatshirt, black pants, red boots, and red gloves. Ryan just put on a regular red hoodie, black snow pants, black boots, and black gloves. Spencer a Black Spiderman hoodie with a print of Spidey crawling, red snow pants, black boots, and red gloves, and last but certainly not least, Ashley dressed Bella in a black and white baby suit with little black dots. It has a cute pixie hoodie and pink corduroy detailing. It’s 100 % felted wool and Bella looks mighty comfy in it. She put pink booties on her and little pink mittens to keep her warm. She even went as far as buying Bella a new baby carseat, which is pink and zips up just far enough so you can only see the baby’s face. So she’ll be extra warm and cozy. She put her inside it wrapped up in a warm blanket with a pacifier in her mouth. When the kids were all taken care of the adults all bundled up too, putting on their hoodies, snow pants, boots, and gloves and they all headed out to two vans. They piled their kids in and they set off with Kevin leading them in the direction of a good place to go sledding. When they got to where the big sledding hills were, everyone piled out of the vans - Ellie being the first one out, as she climbed over people as well as seats. She wanted out, and wanted to be first down the hill!


"Ellie, you wait for me," Kevin ordered, as he retrieved the sleds from the back of the van they'd been in. Elenore cast him a side-glance, and took a few steps away, growing impatient. She watched him for a couple of seconds and when he showed no signs of being ready to take her to the hill, she turned and darted off on her own. By the time Kevin realized what was happening he had turned his head and she was already mostly up the hill.


“DAMNIT ELLIE, I SAID WAIT!” Elenore didn’t pay him any mind, but instead dove head first down the great big hill and sliding down it on her stomach while yelling out “WEEEEEEE!” and giggling. “KOTA! SARAH! JOSH! THIS IS FUN! COME PLAY!” Kevin shook his head in exasperation.


“What am I gonna do with her Jer?” Jerald looking slightly surprised at Kevin suddenly asking him for advice on Ellie again, gently pat his brother’s shoulder.


“Pray to god she grows out of the rebellion stage. There’s not much you can do bro except watch her like a hawk. That’s just Ellie.”


“I thought you were looking into therapy?” Howie spoke up as he lifted the last of the sleds out and handed it to Josh.


“I am and her first appointment is right after the holidays.”


“Weren’t you going to go in and check him out first?” AJ questioned as he stood there holding on tightly to Laila’s hand as she was squatting in the snow and looking at it as if she’s never seen such a thing in her life.


“I did” Kevin grinned. “He’s nice. I think Ellie will like him very much” he added with an I know something you don’t know kind of gaze in his eyes.


“Why?” Jerald asked while raising his eyebrow. He would have liked to go to this therapist with him but seeing as how they were fighting he is very much out of the loop right now.


“He has an entire Ninja Turtles collection all over his office.” Jerald laughed.


“No wonder Detective Stabler was so opinionated about this guy.”


“Mhm. He knows Ellie well. Stabler and I even went Christmas Shopping together – I know what she is getting for Christmas from him.”


“Are you gonna tell us?”


“Nope” Kevin grinned. “I was told not to.”


“Is it big?”


“Mhm. I even know what your kids are getting” he added, and then set off for his little girl before anyone could question him any further. Dakota stepped off of the gravel and into the snow in attempt to follow her uncle when she suddenly sunk right in. The grownups all laughed and Dakota looked back at Nick with a helpless look on her face.


“Daddy I’m stuck!” After a few moments when Nick regained his composure he went over and gently grabbed her by the arms and he lifted her out of the snow.


“You have to walk in the foot prints baby. Snow is light you can’t just stand on it – you have to walk where other people have packed it in” he explained.


“Buts Ellie went just fine an’ there’s no footprints.”


“She stumbled a couple of times, I saw her. But she also might have some experience in the snow already. Come on I’ll walk and you can walk in my prints okay?” Dakota nodded quietly and Nick began to lead his daughter through the snow as he held on tightly to her hand.


“Here Ash, let me carry Bell’s carseat up the hill for you” AJ offered after handing Laila’s hand over to Howie. Ashley did just that as she already has Bella in the baby sling that she is wearing to give her some of her body heat and she also has her bundled up in three layers of fuzzy baby blankets. She then set off up the hill walking in the footprints that Nick had created and when she reached a slightly struggling Sarah, she took hold of her hand, smiled down at her and began to help. Meanwhile, when Kevin finally got to the top of the hill he put his hands on his hips and stared down at Elenore with narrowed eyes and she stared up at him innocently.


“Did that spanking not teach you anything?”


“Course it did. It teaches me not to go near daddy anymore.”


“Keep being smart like that with me young lady and see what happens.”


“I only answered your question Kevy.”


“Id like to know what would happen” Nick challenged amusedly.


“She’ll end up in the car the whole time the others are playing in the snow that is what will happen.” Kevin turned his attention back on Elenore to continue his lecture when suddenly Dakota grabbed her by the hand.


“Come on Ellie, slide with me!” she requested, and she pulled her down onto the sled with her and Elenore yelped as she landed in Dakota’s lap just on time for the sled to go rolling down the hill. Both girls shrieked in delight the whole way down and Kevin raised his eyebrow and Nick threw his head back and laughed.


“Aw come on Kev lighten up. It’s not like she ran off too far she was right where you could see her.”


“That’s not the point. The point is, she deliberately disobeyed me when I told her to wait.”


“Yes but you have to understand that she’s five years old and a lot more excitable then any of the other kids. Waiting for you to take her up this hill was excruciatingly painful for her. She wasn’t in any harm she was just right here. This is supposed to be fun so come on Kev…just relax will you?” Kevin scowled.


“Your kid didn’t get grabbed by Sean in Disney World. When that happens…then tell me to relax.”


“No but she was dragged into the basement at the Orphanage right under my nose and molested and beaten and that was the worst day of my life and I still hurt over it. At least I am not walking around with a big stick up my ass though.” Kevin raised his eyebrow. “I know you are still healing over the Disney World incident but you aren’t the only one who’s had bad things happen to their kids so how about you stop acting like it okay?” And before Kevin even had the time to respond Nick took off down the hill to help his girlfriend up the rest of the way. Kevin sighed and Jerald slid his arm around his shoulders.


“Come on Baby brother…join in on the fun okay? Or do you need me to help you get that stick out of your ass?” Kevin glared.


“I hate you for not looking out for my little girl in New York,” he informed.


“I know” Jerald replied softly. He is not in the least bit surprised that this is coming up. They still haven’t really dealt with the situation – and though deep down inside he hoped it would just pass and they could act like it never happened, he knew better then that.


“You were so irresponsible and I was so disappointed in you” Kevin continued as tears stung his eyes. “I trusted you.”


“I know…and Id tell you I’m sorry but I know that’s not going to change anything.” Kevin moved away from Jerald then so he was no longer standing in the older man’s embrace. He did however, keep his back turned on him and his arms crossed over his chest. “I’d do anything to make it up to you though…I love you Kevin. You know I would never intentionally disappoint you – ever. And I hope that us being close all these years is enough to not tear us apart over a mistake I dread since the night it happened. There is no excuse for what I did but you need to know that I love that little girl with my whole heart and it would kill me if you took her away from me.” Kevin stared down the hill in silence as he watched the kids play.


“Kevin?” Jerald asked softly after awhile. “Come on…please talk to me. This silence can’t go on forever.” Abruptly, Kevin turned around and lunged himself at Jerald. He shoved him back into the snow while toppling over him and Jerald yelped as the two brothers began to wrestle with each other very much like they did in the old days.


“What the fuck?” AJ questioned as he stared up the hill at the two brothers that were left alone. Mostly because Kevin was being a killjoy and Jerald was the only one patient enough to stay up there with him.


“And they lecture Ellie and Josh for doing that” Kori replied amusedly.


“Hey, so long as that’s their way of making up I say let them do it” Howie replied.


“Yeah, then maybe Kev won’t be such a jackass” Nick replied softly and Ashley slid her arms around him and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He couldn’t help but smile down at her some and he rested his forehead against hers.


“Is Bells okay?”


“Mhm.”


“The moment she starts getting cold I want her back in the car you hear me?”


“Aye yi Cap’n” Ashley replied while smiling up at him in return and she reached up and placed her hand at the back of his head before bringing his face down closer so she could brush her lips lightly over his. Nick returned her kiss sliding his arms around her waist firmly and just as he was getting really into it, he felt something cold hit the back of his head. He pulled back then and turned his head to look for the source and he saw Dakota smiling at him innocently.


“Dakota Ann Carter!” he lectured, a huge incredulous grin forming on his face.


“Gets a room Daddy!”


“Why you little pipsqueak! I’m gonna get you!” he threatened before pulling away from Ashley and he turned around and raced after his daughter as she shrieked with laughter and took off running the other way. She ran the best she could of course, as she was still trying to get the hang of walking in snow. Just then Josh gathered up another snowball and he threw it at AJ, who was prepared and just happened to have one in his hand, so he threw it back. In no time a great big war began as Nick continued to chase his surprisingly fast daughter through the snow. When Nick finally caught up to Dakota he reached out and playfully snatched her into his arms and he lifted her up and blew raspberries on her neck as he fell back into the snow and she shrieked and giggled incessantly as they went down. Soon enough he advanced to tickling her causing her to wriggle about in his arms. They played in the snow for two whole hours having snow ball fights and building snowmen. They took lots of pictures and after Nick got some good ones of Ashley with Bella and the other two girls and some of himself with them too he insisted that Bella has had enough snow and told her to take her back to the car. Marcus however agreed to do it instead so that Ashley could have some fun in the snow also. By the time two hours were up the kids were starting to get cold and tired and wanted to go home – and they of course had to, because Jackie should be done with dinner soon. They also noticed that it was beginning to snow rather hard. As they were all headed back to the car Dakota soon realized that the freshly knew fallen snow was covering up all of their footprints. She fell through a couple of times and after the second time she began to whine. She is way too cold by now and tired to tolerate it at all.


“Daddy…” Nick who was a few feet ahead turned back and looked at her. He was about to go help her when suddenly Josh who was closer gently lifted her out of the hole. He slid his arm around her waist and she leaned into him as he practically carried her back to the car. Dakota loves the snow, and she had lots of fun, but she still has yet to master walking in it. When he made it to the car Nick smiled at Josh some and gently lifted Dakota into his own arms and he began to put her in the car. Soon enough all of the kids were inside – and the grownups and they were headed back to the Littrell House.