Chapter Three-Hundred-Seven
When everybody arrived back in Florida with no stops in between unless it was to get gas or for an emergency bathroom break it was six in the morning and the kids were all thankfully still asleep. Brian, Kevin and their family all went to Brian’s house to stay there while everybody else went back to the Orphanage. They were all thankful to see that Jaime, Peyton, Doctor Johnson, and Brandon had played Santa for them like they asked. They knew they weren’t going to get home until about five or six in the morning so they called for help. They set toys out under the tree for the children at the orphanage, and then they went up to Nick’s room and did what Nick had instructed them to do over the phone. They put toys out around their little Christmas Tree and goodies in the three stockings Ashley had made and hung on the wall. Then they went on over to Brian’s house and set things up for Josh, Ellie, and Chris under Brian’s tree and in their three stockings. So all they had to do when they got back was put the kids into bed and crawl into bed themselves and get two or three hours of sleep before the children wake up. It is now nine in the morning and Bella was naturally the first one to wake up. She lay in her crib for a few moments and when it seemed like no one was rushing over to get her she began to fuss. Dakota heard her and shot up in her bed.
“IT’S CHRISTMAS!” she cheered. “Ashee! Bella is cryin’! Wakes up it’s Christmas! Daddy! Sarah!” By now she was jumping up and down on the bed leaving Sarah no choice but to open her eyes.
“Kota quit it!”
“But it’s Christmas Sarah! Don’t you wanna see what Santa brought you??” Nick and Ashley who had chosen to sleep in the lazy boy chair were now sitting up.
“Why do I have a feeling you were just waiting for Bella to make the slightest bit of sound, Kota?” Nick asked in tired amusement. Dakota beamed innocently before jumping off the bed and running over to Nick and she pounced on him just after Ashley had gotten up to go get her crying baby.
“Can we look at our presents now daddy please, please??” she pleaded eagerly.
“You have to wait until Sarah is ready to honey” Nick told her while rubbing his hand over her back gently. Dakota looked over at Sarah who was now lying back down with her pillow over her head but she could still see her face slightly. She stared at her intently for a few moments and Sarah could just feel the intensity of her stare on her face. Sighing and surrendering to the fact that she isn’t going to get anymore sleep she sat up and dropped her pillow.
“Oh all right!” Dakota squealed and practically flew off of Nick’s lap and onto the floor in front of the tree. Sarah joined her just a moment later with her blanket wrapped around her. Dakota’s brand new bicycle – which is pink and has flowers on it, streamers hanging from the handles, a little white basket, and white wheels was leaning against the wall next to the little table that the tree is on. It has training wheels hooked on it seeing as how Dakota has never ridden such a big bike before and she was currently going nuts over it. She had been asking for that for a very long time. There is a big wagon full of many different cabbage patch dolls sitting in it for her, and Sarah got a wagon full of – you guessed it, teddy bears. Dakota got a little playpen with a lifelike baby doll sitting in it while both girls got a dress up vanity and carousel set to share with each other. Sarah got a little dress up table with a stool, mirror, and tinkerbelle makeup to go along with it. Those were the big things that were sitting out for them and by the time they were done marveling over all of that Denise and AJ walked in to open presents with them.
“Oh boy looks like Santa treated you two well didn’t he?” Denise commented with a small smile on her face and Dakota and Sarah beamed at them excitedly.
“Morning Momma Denise, Morning Alex” Ashley greeted and she went over and hugged them both as she no longer held an infant in her arms. She had managed to spread a blanket out on the footrest of the lazy boy chair and set Bella between Nick’s legs, as he still hasn’t emerged from it.
“Morning sweetie,” AJ greeted as he gave her a peck on the cheek and the three of them went over and began to do presents.
“So which present should I open first?” Ashley wanted to know when all of hers were placed in front of her. She personally was wondering what the big long one was, which she can tell was purposely made so she wouldn’t be able to tell what the object inside is.
“Open the big one from me first” Nick insisted when he saw her eyeing it curiously and he smirked.
“Yes Ashee, open that one” Dakota agreed, her smile identical to Nick’s. She knows exactly what her daddy had given her, as she had been with him when he worked so hard on getting it. Ashley raised her eyebrow but grabbed the big present nonetheless and she began tearing open the paper. By the time she got it open she was looking at a big brown box and she rolled her eyes playfully.
“A Box Nicky? You shouldn’t have!” She teased and pretended to gush and Nick chuckled.
“Open the box smartass.” Ashley smiled at him innocently, as she loves it when he calls her smartass and she looked over at her brother.
“Have anything to open it with Bro?”
“Mhm” AJ chuckled and he handed her his pocketknife. She opened it up and began opening the box. When she finished she handed the knife back to him and opened the box up to reveal a guitar case inside. She raised her eyebrow at Nick pretending to be nonchalant but he noticed the flicker of excitement in her eyes as she pulled the guitar case out. She unzipped it and opened that up to reveal one of Slash’s Signature Les Paul guitars inside. And not only that, it is the signature Les Paul Guitar that Slash held in his hands and actually played with at one point. Ashley gasped and she pulled it out of the case with care and noticed his signature on it. She looked at Nick with shock evident on her face to see him just grinning at her.
“No way!”
“Yes way” he chuckled.
“Where in the world did you find this?”
“From the man himself.”
“You mean…you…actually…” she didn’t finish her sentence but Nick who knew what she was going to ask just nodded his head.
“I used my connections and found him and told him all about you being a huge fan and not only did I get what I actually contacted him for, but he gave me that guitar – signed, and told me you could have it.”
“What did you actually contact him for?” Ashley whispered as her eyes dropped to the Les Paul in her hand and she ran her fingers over it admiringly. It was all she could do not to have a teenybopper moment which she was trying her very hardest to learn not to do everytime she comes in contact with someone famous when with the boys.
“Open the small box from me.” Ashley reluctantly set her guitar down in the case and she picked up the small snowman decorated box and she opened up the lid and peered inside to see three concert tickets to the AC/DC. Ashley looked at him curiously.
“Slash is opening for them. Those are front row tickets, and we get to go backstage afterwards and you will be meeting him. That takes place on your birthday.”
“Three tickets though?”
“Marcus will have to come – especially to a rock concert. I could just see Sean taking advantage of that.” Ashley nodded and she got up and went over and slid her arms around him and she hugged him tightly and brushed her lips lightly over hers. He grinned and kissed her back.
“Thank-you Nicky, you are the best boyfriend in the whole world” She whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you too” he told her between kisses. When she pulled away she gathered up a fussy Bella and went over and resumed her place in front of her gifts.
“What next?”
“The other small box you have there” Denise spoke up. “From me.” Ashley picked the box that is small but a little bigger then the one Nick had put her tickets in and she tore open the wrapping paper until she was holding a white box. She opened that up and inside was some lotion and bath wash – sweet Pea, Vanilla, and Ocean Breeze – all of her favorite scents, and some bubble bath too. After checking all of those out and setting them on the floor afterwards so she could look what else is in the box, she reached the bottom, which had a folded up paper inside. She pulled that out curiously and unfolded it and the moment she looked down at them she recognized them as adoption papers. Feeling confused she read through them until she noticed Bella’s name written on it and at the bottom there were two signatures filled out – Brooke’s, Denise’s, and a blank line. Ashley looked at Denise curiously and she smiled at her some.
“That last line is for the momma to sign,” she explained. “And that would be you.”
“Me? But I’m…”
“Seventeen, I know. But you can adopt her so long as an adult is co-adopting with you. And I’ve been watching you with her since the moment she was placed in your responsibility and I feel you are ready to take on the job as mommy. She’s all yours, I’m just a proud Grandma who is here to help whenever it’s needed.”
“Bella is mine?” Ashley asked softly and she looked down at the baby in her arms as a single tear of happiness rolled down her cheek.
“All yours” Denise promised. Ashley leaned over and threw her arms about her adoptive mother for a hug and Denise smiled a little and wrapped her arms around her in return.
“Thank-you Momma Denise, this means so much to me.”
“Your welcome sweetheart. You just promise me you won’t let this get in the way of school. Like I said I am always going to be here to help when things get to be too much.”
“I won’t I promise” Ashley replied. After a few moments she pulled away and looked at her last few presents sitting there. She grabbed the next big one and began opening that and she noticed both Nick and AJ watching her closely as it’s from them together. When she finished she found herself holding a box to a HP Laptop.
“Oh wow!” she exclaimed while looking at it with her eyes full of excitement.
“That’s for your education” AJ told her seriously. “If you aren’t ready to enroll in an actual school, we want you to do online schooling.”
“Thanks you guys,” She smiled and she hugged her brother and gave him a kiss on the cheek before opening the rest of her presents. By the time everybody was finished opening presents Nick had a brand new watch from Ashley, a playstation from AJ, and a Buccaneers Jersey from Denise. Dakota – with help from Ashley had given him a framed picture of her and Nick together and it says I (heart) My Daddy on it. It’s a picture of the two of them at the buccaneer’s game. They’re decked out in their team spirit clothes and Dakota is sitting on her shoulder and the two of them have their fists up in the air and they’re both cheering their team on. Kevin had gone below and took the picture of them without them knowing it. Ashley bought Sarah a nice picture frame and with Brandon’s help she made a collage of all of Nick’s favorite things. Then with Brandon holding the pencil with her he helped her draw a realistic picture of her and Nick together and they stuck it in the middle of the collage. Then last, but certainly not least, he received the painting that Ashley had been secretly working on with Brandon. To his utmost surprise, it is the picture that they started working on together the night after the concert that took place in the Orphanage. It’s the painting of just the field, and the blue sky in the background with the clouds except she had added them in the center – making it look so real – like one of Brandon’s portraits of Peyton it was that good. She framed it and signed both of their names at the bottom.
“You didn’t have to put my name here on the bottom baby, you created most of the picture” Nick commented when he had taken her into his lap as he still sat on the chair – AJ now holding Bella.
“Of course I did. Without you, there would be no clouds in the painting.” Nick chuckled and he kissed her cheek as he hugged her tightly to him.
“Thank-you Baby, I love it. And I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time when you were only making a surprise for me.”
“I’m sorry I was such as stubborn bitch and just didn’t tell you that it was a surprise for you.”
“You had every right to act the way you did. I should trust you and I do from now on you know that right?” Ashley nodded quietly and she rested her head against his shoulder as she watched everybody else open their presents. After the children finished opening their gifts, they went for the stockings and Ashley grabbed Bella’s, made AJ hand her over, and she sat her in her lap and began to go through her stocking with her. It of course was full of baby stuff and she ooh’d and awed at every thing for her and talked to her about them all and such and had the baby smiling hugely everytime.
~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile at Brian’s house, Elenore and the boys had gotten Kevin, Brian, Riley, Jerald, Tim, and Ann up at eight thirty in the morning and they all went downstairs and had their Christmas. Elenore got a Hard Rock Barbie doll, which came with a guitar and all, needless to say a bunch of teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stuff, Transformers, an Easy Bake Oven, and Littlest Pet Shop. Josh got a K’Nex set, an Arctic Cat Prowler jeep, a Batman Doll, a Doctor Dreadful Squeem Lab kit, and a T-Rex Motorized Dinosaur. Chris also got a K’Nex set, a bunch of Superman stuff, a Police Officer Dress Up Set, Legos, and such. When they were finished opening up presents inside, Brian went over and looked out the window to the back door and he turned and looked at the kids in mock surprise.
“Oh wow you guys!”
“What?” Elenore asked curiously.
“I think Santa may have left you three some things in the backyard too! Come take a look!” All three children exchanged each other excited looks and they jumped up and ran to the backyard. Brian opened the door for them so they wouldn’t even have to stop. When they got out there, they found a swing set and a great big play structure that has a big red bow on it and that is for Josh and Chris. There’s a Bicycle for Elenore which is Green and blue and has streamers on it, a Cozy Country Doll House that was placed in the shade under a tree, a sidewinder falls for Elenore which is a great big blow up pool with a slide. The boys got a great big trampoline and Elenore also got a Jump and Double Slide – it’s an inflatable gym where you can jump around in and it has a couple of slides.
“OH WOW!!!” they all three exclaimed and Josh and Chris ran off to check out their trampoline and Kevin chuckled.
“Ellie, go check out the inflatable Jump and Double Slide” Kevin hinted. “I think I see something in there.” Elenore ran off to see and when she climbed in she squealed in surprise.
“SAAAAAAAAAAAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SANTA BRINGS ME SAI!” She dropped to her knees and picked up the box of Sai and she looked down at it in deep admiration. Suddenly she noticed a note taped to it though and she looked at it in deep concentration trying her hardest to read what it says. When she couldn’t, she looked back at Kevin.
“Kevyyyy! Santa left me a note an’ I can’ts read it!” Kevin couldn’t help but chuckle at her frustration and he jogged on over and climbed into the Jump and Double Slide. He went over and sat down before spreading his legs apart and setting her in the middle of them and he grabbed up the box so he could read it to her. He is amused at how Jaime managed to make the handwriting so elegant and everything and he wondered briefly if this is actually his everyday handwriting.
Dearest Ellie,
Here are your sai. I heard that you wanted them very badly and Kevin told me not to give them to you unless you’ve been very good. So I have been watching you for awhile now and I have not seen you hit a single person since the light saber incident. I am very proud of you for that. Running off constantly however is another story young lady. I wasn’t too happy to see that and I almost did not give you your sai because of it but Santa is known for giving second chances. So I need you to make me a promise. Since I gave you your sai you need to try real hard not to run away from Kevin anymore. He loves you very much and it makes him very scared. He worries sick about you when you disappear on him. And Elenore, these toys are not made to hit your friends with them either. You need to play nice or I give Kevin my utmost permission to take them away from you until he sees fit. You wouldn’t want your brand new toys taken away anytime soon now would you? Be good Ellie and I will be back again Next Christmas.
Love Santa
Elenore looked up at the sky as if she were looking toward the North Pole.
“I promise to try an’ be good Santa” She announced and Kevin smiled some, tightened his arms around her waist in a hug and he kissed the top of her head.
“So Ellie, did you get everything you hoped and dreamed for this year?” He asked gently.
“Yes Kevy – I gots you an’ sai…there couldn’ts be a better Christmas.” Kevin’s face broke out into a smile and he playfully grabbed her up in his arms as he fell backward against the inflatable toy lying on his back with her and he began to tickle her causing her to shriek, giggle, and squirm about on top of him. Jerald, Tim, Ann, and Brian all chuckled at the sight and they headed on into the house and began to make breakfast, Jerald and Tim deciding that after breakfast they would take Elenore and Kevin over to Kevin’s house and reveal their Christmas present to Ellie.
Author's Chapter Notes:
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Enjoy =)
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