When Ashley had managed to calm both girls down and make it so they wouldn’t ‘hate’ each other for days they enjoyed the rest of their ice cream and then went and joined their group again. Elenore looked over at Kevin and saw that he and Summer were still dancing. Dakota who had still insisted upon Ashley carrying her around slid her arms around her after watching Elenore watch Kevin and Summer for a bit and she rested her forehead against hers before whispering softly.
“I wants to request a song. Will they lets me?”
“I’m sure they would…what do you have in mind?” Ashley asked curiously.
“Something abouts friendship.” Ashley smiled at her some as she caught on rather quickly.
“Do you have anything in particular on your mind?” she questioned and Dakota shook her head. Ashley thought about it for a couple of moments and she glanced around the room and spotted Mariah Carey.
“I have an idea,” she told her and then reached over and grabbed Marcus’s hand before gently tugging him in the direction she wanted to go in giving him no choice but to twist around and follow despite the fact that he was in the middle of talking to Laney. Both security guards laughed at this.
“I guess we will continue our conversation later,” Marcus called after Laney amusedly.
“Yup,” Laney chuckled. When they approached Mariah Carey Ashley and Dakota talked to her for a few moments and then hugged her before she turned and walked over to the stage. Ashley kissed Dakota’s forehead softly and then sat her down and she ran back to the table where they left her best friend. Soon after the song that was currently playing ended, Mariah Carey grabbed the Microphone and walked to the middle of the stage.
“So, I just received a request a moment ago from a very special friend of mine. I’ve been asked to sing Anytime You Need a Friend. Ellie, this is for you.” Elenore who wasn’t even paying attention at first but was in the process of sipping on her sparkling grape juice nearly dropped it. Dakota who had foreseen the incident reached out and gently grabbed hold of it so she wouldn’t. As the two best friends stood there holding her sparkling grape juice together, Elenore looked at the stage just as Mariah Carey began to sing the song.
If you're lonely
And need a friend
And troubles seem like
They never end
Just remember to keep the faith
And love will be there to light the way…
Elenore turned to look at Dakota with eyes full of question, as she knows full well that she is the one who requested the song for her. Who else would have done it? And besides, she had seen her talking to Mariah Carey just a moment ago.
“Dance with me Ellie,” Dakota requested. She took her cup from her and placed it on the table and then took her friend’s hand and tugged her out onto the dance floor, both girls ignoring the eyes that were on them from all around. When they reached the middle of the floor Dakota wrapped her arms around Elenore’s waist, Elenore who was holding back tears placed her hands on the side of Dakota’s shoulders before resting her chin on her shoulder and the two girls swayed. They could see camera flashes coming from their table (no doubt its coming from Ashley) and they heard a chorus of “awes” as well.
Anytime you need a friend
I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
I'm by your side
So don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright…
As the two girls danced with each other, Elenore glanced over at her father’s table and caught sight of him, Trevor, and Max watching her. That didn’t surprise her much, because the whole room is pretty much watching her at the moment. She gave Sean a questioning look while using Dakota’s neck as a shield so Marcus wouldn’t catch her looking at him. She agreed to let them concentrate on catching him, but she does not want it to happen in front of her. Nor will she tell them when he is near. She said she’d let them concentrate on catching them but she never agreed to help. Selfish? Maybe but he is her daddy. Understanding the questioning look his daughter was giving him Sean gave her a discrete nod. Elenore smiled some as she felt a rush of warmth go through her. She never expected him to say yes. Giving her up to Kevin was one thing, but saying yes to this means he really has let her go and it’s proof that he really does love her despite everything he’s done to her. Tightening her arms around Dakota she buried her face in her shoulder deciding there isn’t anybody she would rather be with to share this moment. The moment when her father really truly let her go. Her best friend.
When the shadows are closing in
And your spirit's diminishing
Just remember you're not alone
And love will be there
To guide you home
Anytime you need a friend I will be here
You'll never be alone again
So don't you fear
Even if you're miles away
Don't you ever be lonely
Love will make it alright
If you just believe in me
I will love you endlessly, oh
Take my hand
Take me into your heart
I'll be there forever baby
I won't let go
I'll never let go
(Anytime you need a friend)
I will be here, yeah (Never be alone again)
No, no (So don’t you fear)
Don't worry, don't fear (Even if you're miles away, I'm by your side)
Yes, I'm with you, wherever you are
So don't you ever be lonely (It's alright)
It's alright, it's alright (Anytime you need a friend, I will be here)
Yes, you know it's all right, oh (Never be alone again, so don't you fear)
Don't ever fear (Even if you're miles away, I'm by your side)
Oh, I'm by your side
Don't you ever be lonely (It's alright) Yes
(I will be here) Anytime, oh (Never be alone again, so don't you fear)
You'll never be alone,
Don't ever worry (Even if you're miles away, I'm by your side)
Oh, yeah, I'm by your side
Don't ever be lonely (It's alright) Oh…
When the song ended Dakota and Elenore went back to the table again and Kevin eventually returned from dancing with Summer. Elenore was officially introduced to her and right off decided that she is okay, but not okay enough for her Kevy. Despite this private decision she made sure she was polite and respectful the way Kevin would want her to be, knowing he probably won’t be seeing her again anyway. The party went on for another couple of hours until suddenly it was very close to midnight. Dakota who had gone right back to sticking to Ashley like glue after her dance with Elenore kept a firm hold on her dress as she stood next to her and listened to her talk and she looked around the room anxiously for Justin. She didn’t forget his promise he made to her and she hopes he hadn’t forgotten either. She heard Ashley’s new friend say that it’s close to midnight – he better come see her soon. Meanwhile Nick was on the other side of the room talking with other celebrities and a few fans. He looked down at his watch and saw that it read 11:35.
“Well, it’s getting close to that time I should probably go find Ashley…”
“Aww Nick you still have a little time left. Can we dance one more time? Please?” A fan asked hopefully, looking up at him and batting her eyelashes innocently.
“All right,” Nick replied not being able to resist. “One more time,” he told her and he offered her his arm. She grinned and took it allowing him to lead her off to dance.
~*~*~*~*~
“So, it’s getting close to midnight…” Summer told Kevin when 11:40 rolled around. She spoke in a tone that clearly hinted that she fully expected him to bring in the New Year with her.
“Oh man you are right,” Kevin replied while looking down at his watch. “I have to go find Ellie,” he added clearly not understanding her hint.
“Don’t you want to be with me?” She asked feeling rather put off. “I’m sure Ellie won’t mind, will she?”
“I already promised her that I would bring in the New Year with her. It would break her heart if I broke it.”
“But –“
“-I’m sorry,” Kevin interrupted gently. “I had a wonderful evening with you it was really nice. I haven’t hung out with a woman over the age of five in a long time but I just became a father. It’s important to me that I bring in the New Year with my little girl. You understand right?”
“Yeah, of course…” Summer replied and Kevin could still see that she is disappointed.
“I’m sure its not too late for you to find someone to bring in the New Year with though. You are a very beautiful woman I’m sure there are plenty of men around here who wouldn’t mind taking my place. Howie for instance…he’s single.” Kevin suggested knowing Howie wouldn’t steal her out from under him. He is very much interested in Ryan’s mom instead, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have an innocent New Years Eve Kiss – and help a best friend out in the process.
“You hung out with me all night long tonight and you aren’t even going to bring in the New Year with me? How could you send me mixed signals like that? I really thought you were interested in me.”
“I am interested in you Summer,” Kevin reassured, gently taking hold of her arms and making her look at him. “Very much so and I would like to see you again after tonight if that’s okay.”
“Really?” Summer asked softly, the shock evident on her face.
“Really. I’m sorry I didn’t make things clear earlier about my plans, I should have done so I wasn’t thinking. But my time with Ellie is special…I hope you can understand that. I can’t date someone who doesn’t understand that because we’re a package deal. So I’m really hoping that you do because I would really like to see you again.”
“I understand,” Summer insisted. “Go spend time with your little girl.”
“Thank-you,” Kevin told her gratefully. “That means a lot. I will see you in a little while okay?”
“Okay,” Summer smiled, feeling somewhat shy now.
“Now go see Howie – he could use someone to bring in the New Year with, seriously.” He told her, before hurrying off toward Elenore who he had left with Q earlier. Soon enough he found her and was taking her upstairs to the balcony where they could be completely alone.
~*~*~*~*~
“Justin you came!” Dakota squealed happily when the one man she’d been waiting to see all night arrived at 11:50.
“Of course I came you silly goose, I promised didn’t I?” he told her with a big grin fixed upon his face and she giggled. He knelt down in front of her and held out a single red rose.
“For you my dear?” Dakota gaped at him, took the rose in her hand, and fought back tears.
“Thank-you Justin it’s pretty,” She gushed. Justin smiled some and gathered her up in his arms and he walked off with her, twirling around with her as if he were prince charming whisking his princess off into the night making her giggle some more. Josh would be so jealous if he were there to witness it. Ashley shook her head smiling amusedly before looking around the room for her own Prince Charming. She spotted him across the room with a crowd of fans around him. No doubt all of them trying to sucker him into staying with them down to the moment it turns twelve leaving him no choice but to kiss one of them and miss bringing in the New Year with her. The fellow-fan part of her can’t blame them for such a stunt, but the girlfriend part of her will push her way through all of them if she has to. They’ve been occupying 95 % of his attention all night and she’s been very cooperative about it because she likes to give him his time with his fans but Midnight is her time whether they like her or not.
~*~*~*~*~
“Why isn’t Nick with Ashley? It’s 11:50” AJ asked Brooke irritably as he sat in a chair at the table with her sitting sideways in his lap.
“Well it’s obvious that the swarming fans are making it hard for him,” Brian answered as he stood near by with Riley.
“He’ll find his way to her on time, there is nothing that can keep those two apart” Brooke reassured.
“He better…if my sister ends up hurt tonight I’ll kill him.”
“That makes two of us,” Kori added as she glanced up at the big screen where they have the countdown going and it just reached 5 minutes.
~*~*~*~*~
“Are their gonna be fireworks Kevy?” Elenore asked hopefully when he had carried her out onto the balcony and he had her sitting on the railing with her back to him as he has his arms wrapped protectively around her waist.
“Yes ma’am,” Kevin told her while smiling happily and he rested his chin on her shoulder and hugged her close to him. She nestled into his chest comfortably and looked up at the sky patiently.
~*~*~*~*~
“Okay, seriously ladies I really have to go,” Nick told the fans that were crowded around him in a firm tone.
“Aw come on Nick, don’t you want to be with me?”
“Of course not, he wants to be with me” another fan insisted.
“Actually he would really like to be with his girlfriend. So if you all would please step aside that would be great” Laney spoke up, suddenly pushing himself through the swarm of Anti-Ashley fans and they all automatically moved away upon seeing the big security guard.
“Thanks Lan,” Nick replied feeling very much grateful that security had come to his rescue. Why didn’t he think of that much sooner? How did he manage to involve himself in fans that were out to ruin his girlfriend’s evening anyway?
“Nick go, you have 5 minutes,” Laney ordered just as everybody started to countdown.
“Right” Nick replied and he looked across the room where he knows Ashley is and saw her running to him, pushing herself through the people who were unintentionally standing in her way. Obviously she got tired of waiting on him to free himself. Nick made a mad dash toward her in return, pushing through people as well, nearly tripping over things but catching himself before he does.
“Excuse me…sorry! Let me through please!” He told them frantically. Just as the two of them reached the center of the room, Nick gently grabbed her by the arms, pulled her to him and captured her lips with his in a passionate kiss just as the countdown reached zero. Fireworks could be heard outside, those who weren’t in the middle of kissing their boyfriend or girlfriends cheered and made noise with party poppers and such – confetti and balloons were thrown everywhere and popped. Nick slid his hands down Ashley’s arms and rested them on her hips comfortably and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back so fiercely that anyone who questioned her love for him that night would be put right back in their place. As soon as their lips connected they slipped into their own world, completely oblivious to everything around them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“I love you Ellie,” Kevin announced as the two of them remained out on the balcony watching the fireworks along with everybody else in the Time Square.
"I love you too, Daddy," Elenore said softly, smiling at the one man who means the whole world to her. Kevin's eyes welled up with tears - he never expected...never thought...that this moment would happen so soon. It was definitely one of the greatest moments of his life.
