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Chapter Three-Hundred-Twenty-Seven



After the boys did their performance, Nick, Brian, Aj, Howie, and Kevin gathered their children up and allowed Denise to take them upstairs to their party with Q right behind them. It took a couple of tries before Elenore allowed Kevin to hand her over but when she finally did she was thoroughly convinced that he isn’t going to forget about her. When Denise and Q arrived upstairs with all of the children except Bella they opened the door to a private room where they entered a huge room. The lights are off there are colorful disco balls and tons of other neat neon lights going and balloons everywhere. There are a lot of kids that vary in different ages having their very own masquerade ball. There is a table off to the side of the room with lots of kid friendly food, a big bowl of sparkling grape juice, and there’s a stage, a DJ, microphones, and a big screen TV for Karaoke. There is bunch of games going on, and it just looks like a lot of fun. When their children were content and enjoying themselves, Denise left them in Q’s care and returned to the adult party.


“Is Ellie okay?” Kevin asked her the moment she returned.


“Yup, she’s just fine” Denise reassured. “As soon as she saw the Karaoke, she was all over it. Enjoy yourself Kevin, this evening is yours.” Kevin nodded and he looked around as if he doesn’t know what he is supposed to do with himself. His world revolves completely around Ellie. Nick on the other hand slid his arms around Ashley’s waist and pulled her near and he rested his forehead against hers.


“Would my beautiful southern Belle care to dance with me?”


“Do you even have to ask?” Ashley asked softly and he smirked and guided her off toward the dance floor. When they got out there he once again wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his forehead against hers and he began to lead her in dance, the two of them very much aware of the watchful eyes around them but ignoring them.


“I was surprised you let me dance with Diego earlier – and impressed. I fully expected you to try and keep me all to yourself tonight.”


“I will do nothing of the sort. I want you to see that I trust you. You’re free to dance with anyone you want tonight because I know that I’m the one you will be bringing in the New Year with, and I’m the one you’re going home with.”


“And you’re the one I love with my whole heart and soul,” Ashley insisted while cupping his cheek in her hand and gazing into his blue eyes. “There isn’t anybody here that could change that.”


“I believe you,” Nick promised before leaning forward and claiming her lips for his own. “All I have to do is look into your eyes and I see it. All I have to do is remember how badly our brief breakup hurt you and I know that I mean everything to you.”


“Good,” Ashley replied softly and she rested her head against his shoulder. “Don’t forget that Nicky.”


“I won’t.”


~*~*~*~*~


“Could they be anymore of the center of attention?” AJ asked Marcus amusedly as the two of them watched his little sister dance with her prince charming.


“At least none of the fans are crowding around them,” Marcus pointed out.


“Yet.” Marcus laughed.


“Well, why don’t you go grab Brooke and create some of your own attention if you are so jealous?” AJ scoffed indignantly.


Jealous? The nerve!”


“Oh please the Green Monster Jealousy has completely taken you over.”


“I’ve got no reason to be jealous of him,” AJ insisted.


“Prove it then,” Marcus challenged not bothering to hide the amusement.


“All right, I will,” AJ replied before stalking off toward his girlfriend and it wasn’t long before they were on the dance floor as well.



~*~*~*~*~


“Ellie, come on let’s go play air hockey!” Dakota insisted as soon as the two friends had finished singing “Friend like Me” from Aladdin together for Karaoke. Before Elenore even had the chance to respond Dakota had grabbed her hand and was running off the stage toward the air hockey table where Josh and Chris were already at and in the middle of a game.


“Hurry up boys, we’re next!” Dakota informed when they arrived.


“Right after I finish kicking Chris’s butt,” Josh insisted.


“That shouldn’t be hard to do,” Elenore piped up.


“Hey! I’ll have you know that I am very good at air hockey!” Chris bragged, and as if to prove it he shot the puck right into Josh’s goal.


“Lucky shot. Joshy is better though” Elenore insisted as she looked at the score and saw that he was two points ahead of his brother.


“Well I think Chris is going to win,” Dakota insisted, deciding that she wouldn’t be predictable and root for Josh. She moved over and stood next to Chris and Josh raised his eyebrow.


“Don’t forget whose arm you held on your way in here Bat Girl” he told her with narrowed eyes causing him to drop his defenses and Chris’s puck went soaring into his goal for a second time.


“NO!!!” Josh exclaimed as Chris just laughed amusedly.


“Doesn’t mean I have to root for you bat man” Dakota replied coolly.


“You best pay more attention to the game and not the girl, eh bro?”


“Shut up,” Josh scowled as he pulled the puck back out, set it down and sent it flying at Chris who blocked it naturally and Dakota just blushed and quietly looked away trying to act as if she hadn’t heard a thing.


“Well boys, you are tied and you have ten seconds to break it whatever will you do?” Sarah asked into her fist pretending it’s a microphone and she’s a sports announcer.


“Go Joshy, Go!” Elenore urged.


“Go Chris!” Dakota added. “You can do it!” Chris hit the puck back toward Josh. Josh blocked it and sent it back only for the puck to suddenly get stuck in the middle.


“DANGIT!!!” Both boys whined.


“Five seconds!” Sarah called out in attempt to add more suspense. Dakota went to the middle of the hockey table and pushed the puck toward Chris.


“Come on Chris! Show him what you’re mades of!” she cheered just as Chris hit the puck and sent it flying. Josh looked at Dakota again giving her a what the hell kind of look causing the puck to go flying into the goal and the score board on Chris’s side to reach 10 and the buzzer to go off. Dakota and Sarah cheered, Josh threw his arms up in the air and made a sound of disapproval and Elenore joined him. Chris on the other hand stood there gaping not believing at all that he just beat his older brother who is ahead of him in everything.


“YAY CHRIS, YOU DID IT, YOU DID IT! I KNEW YOU COULDS!” Dakota cheered while throwing her arms about the boy and hugging him. Chris stiffened slightly at the fact that a girl is hugging him, but feeling too proud of himself that he just beat Josh, he didn’t push her off. Instead, he gave her a small pat on the back and awkwardly hugged her in return.


“All right, all right that’s enough” Josh spoke up, suddenly pushing himself between his brother and his Bat Girl. “Weren’t you and Ellie next?”


“Oh yeah!” Dakota replied suddenly excited and she grabbed the air hockey mallet from Chris and got into position, as did Elenore. While Chris walked off to get some sparkling grape juice Josh moved next to Dakota possessively while Sarah positioned herself on the side of the hockey table ready to play sports announcer again.


“Whats the big idea?” Josh whispered to Dakota, giving her a look that clearly said it all.


“The big idea, is that I am abouts to beat my best friend in air hockey,” Dakota insisted, swiftly avoiding what Josh really meant.


“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”


“Oh Joshy don’ts be a sore loser.”


“It’s not about me losing, and you know that too. You are always on my side.” Dakota shrugged her shoulders.


“Maybe for once Chris deserved to win.”


“What’s that supposed to mean?”


“It means you expect to be the best at everything an’ yeah you are pretty awesome at lots of things Joshy buts I’m sure Chris is too if you’d lets him be.”


“I wasn’t gonna just let him win, how is that fair? What if the Bucs were doing poorly an’ the…Steelers were winning every game an’ suddenly they felt sorry for the Bucs an’ let them win. What is the fun in that? Wouldn’t it be better if the Bucs worked for their win?”


“So don’ts let him win but don’ts get upset if someone was for once rooting for him.”


“But did it really have to be my Bat Girl going against me?” Dakota ignored the butterflies in her stomach with great difficulty.


“You will always be my Batman Joshy, buts you can’t win everything.”


“You are a smart cookie for a four year old you know that?” Dakota beamed and shrugged.


“It helps that my Ashee somehow knows how peoples feel all the time. She told me what’s I should do an’ those were her words I just said to you. She knew you’d get the picture if I went against you.” Josh chuckled.


“Not all the time…she’s not that powerful, but she’s pretty close a lot of the time.” Elenore cleared her throat.


“What are you people talking about over there? Are we gonna play or what?” Dakota flinched as if she were suddenly brought back roughly from Planet Josh. She blinked confusedly for a couple of moments as if she were disoriented and then nodded.


“Yeah, yeah we’re gonna play. Ellie, prepare to lose!” Elenore scoffed.


“In your Joshy-filled dreams Dakota Ann.”


“I do not dream of Joshy!” Dakota protested, though her face turning bright red told them otherwise and Josh smirked and blushed too. “Much…but it was only about him playin Ninja Turtles withs us!” She lied. Elenore laughed.


“Stop it Ellie or I’ll tell severybody about your Spencer dream!” Elenore abruptly stopped laughing and Josh and Sarah raised their eyebrows.


“Do tell…” Josh encouraged.


“She won’t dare because she is my loyal best friend. Aren’t you Kota?”


“No, I won’t tell” Dakota shook her head and Elenore smiled. “IF…”


“If what?”


“If you lay off on the teasing – an’ you know which teasing I’m talking about.”


“But – but that’s taking away all of the fun!”


“You already blabbed my secret, Ellie.”


“Okay, Okay,” She sighed. “I will stop.”


“Can we get on with the game now?” Sarah spoke up. Dakota and Elenore turned their focus back on the game and when it began Dakota started off with the puck. They played nicely for a couple of moments, until suddenly Elenore paused and had a dazed look on her face. No one noticed this until suddenly Dakota sent the puck flying into Elenore’s goal and she didn’t do anything to try and stop it.


“Ellie? What is it?” Josh asked, rushing to his cousin’s side protectively. When she didn’t answer, Josh gently shook her. “Ellie talk to me! What’s wrong?”


“I feel daddy near…”


~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile at the adult party, while Nick was roaming around the place with Brian on one side of the room striking up conversations with fans, Ashley and Marcus were walking around on the other side. They’re just enjoying each other’s company and Ashley would get an occasional fan or two that would come up to her as well.


“You are learning to handle the fans quite well I must say,” Marcus informed her after the two of them walked away from a set of fans…who were brutally honest with her. Ashley shrugged.


“They’re just fans right? I know Nick loves me and that’s what matters.”


“I’m glad you are finally seeing that.”


“I’m getting there” Ashley replied while lightly resting her head against his shoulder. “As long as it’s just one or two mean fans I’m good. But a whole gang of them…that’s a different story.”


“Well, I think AJ and Nick pretty much took care of that the last time they ganged up on you. Besides, I can’t see any of them even trying to do that now with me here,” Marcus bragged a little. “You’ve got it good sweetie.” Ashley laughed.


“That, I do” she told him while patting him on the back and leaning into his shoulder some. Marcus and Ashley continued to mingle the two of them talking to people as they came to them. Suddenly as Marcus was a couple of feet away talking to AJ, another strange man approached her. This one dressed in a black bandit costume. He has on a black shirt, black pants – which have a little bit of yellow around the right legging, black shoes, a black sash tied around his waist, and a head scarf which has two holes cut in it for eyes. To complete his outfit, he is wearing a sword.


“Hello,” he greeted casually.


“Hi,” Ashley replied curiously.


“Are you enjoying the party?”


“Yes I am,” Ashley smiled. “Are you?” she asked as she suddenly felt Marcus and her brother watching her carefully.


“Yes it’s pretty good. But It’d be even better if I had a beautiful southern belle to dance with…” he told her, before gently taking her hand and kissing the back of it flirtatiously. Ashley blushed and gently pulled away not only feeling shy all of the sudden, but something else. She doesn’t know what it is, but they aren’t very good vibes.


“I’m sorry, but I have a boyfriend,” she insisted.


“Well, if that’s the case, then why is he way over there and not over here dancing with you? If I were him I wouldn’t let a beautiful woman such as yourself out of my sight.” Ashley shrugged. “I like to give him his space when he is with his fans.”


“Well, would he mind you dancing with me? It’s just an innocent dance…”


“He would actually,” Ashley lied. “He’s the jealous type.”


“Well, that’s not cool. Every man should trust his girlfriend” the stranger told her.


“Well…we’re working on it,” Ashley shrugged.


“Come on…just one dance. It’s not like I’m going to kiss you or anything.”


“I don’t think so,” Ashley insisted. “I don’t even know you.”


“Oh sorry…my name is Wesley.”


“That’s a very nice name Wesley, but I’m sorry I can’t dance with you.” Wesley opened his mouth to respond when suddenly AJ came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind protectively as Marcus came up beside her.


“Is everything okay sis? You seem kind of tense,” he questioned, his eyes boring into Wesley’s suspiciously.


“Yeah I’m fine. Wesley was just wanting to dance and I explained to him that I couldn’t because of how jealous Nick gets,” Ashley explained. AJ opened his mouth to reply when suddenly they heard Bella crying in the distance.


“That’s my baby calling for me. It was nice meeting you Wesley, but I have to go” She told the strange man politely and then she gently pulled out of AJ’s arms, grabbed Marcus by the hand and walked off to get her baby from Riley. AJ gave Wesley a I’ve got my eye on you kind of look before turning and going after his sister. When he caught up to her she was already at the table holding Bella against her chest protectively and placing soft kisses on her forehead. AJ wrapped his arms around Ashley and pulled her into him for a hug being careful not to squish his niece in the process.


“You didn’t like that man. Why?”


“He just gave me a bad vibe is all…”


“What kind of bad vibe? Do you think he might be one of Sean’s cronies?” Marcus questioned.


“…Something like that.”


“What is that supposed to mean?”


“His scent was familiar Aje…”


“Okay, so a Cronie that you might know?”


“Or Sean himself…”


“No…he wouldn’t dare!”


“Why wouldn’t he?” Marcus asked AJ. “This would be the perfect time – at a Masquerade Party. And think about it, he was wearing a mask that covered most of his face, he was talking funny, and he was very persistent on getting Ashley to dance with him.”


“And he obviously doesn’t know that I know the smell of his cologne,” Ashley added.


“I’m sure lots of men are wearing that cologne tonight Ash…we can’t get him arrested based on that” AJ replied. “He has to be caught doing something bad.”


“So why don’t I go let him kidnap me and maybe you guys can catch him in the act then?” Ashley asked sarcastically.


“Just stay away from him,” Marcus replied, intervening before the two siblings began arguing. “The security team and I will keep an eye on him and the second he tries anything we’ll get him.”


“I want Nick. Will someone please take me to him?” Ashley asked after a couple of moments of watching this supposed Wesely from across the room. He is sitting at a table with a bunch of guys that she doesn’t recognize. AJ slid his arm around her waist and steered his sister in the direction of Nick as she still held Bella, but now had her in her baby sling.


“What’s going on?” Nick asked when they approached, immediately sensing his girlfriend’s distress. AJ explained the story to him and then went off to find his girlfriend. Nick slid his arms around Ashley’s waist and pulled her near being careful of Bella. “It’s going to be okay, I won’t let him near you” he promised while planting a kiss on her forehead. “Come dance with me,” he added and he gently steered her out onto the dance floor. As she rested her chin on his shoulder and pretty much had the death grip on him now, he glanced across the room discretely and caught sight of the man who could quite possibly be Sean. He saw that Marcus, Laney, Raul, and Drew was now positioning themselves within eyesight of him (but not enough that it’s obvious) and Marcus was on his walkie-talkie. Most likely giving orders to Q the only security guard not in the room. It has to be him, because he doesn’t see any of the other security guards holding their walkie-talkies.