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Chapter Three-Hundred-Sixty-Three



“So, what did you think of the movie Spencer?” Scott asked conversationally as he walked out of the Movie Theater with the little boy sitting up on his shoulders.


“I liked it a lot it was so cool! My favorite character was Mike Wazowski. Can we see it again?” Scott chuckled and lightly patted Spencer’s knee.


“Maybe some other time kiddo, or hey, maybe I will even buy it for you the day it comes out on DVD, how’s that?” He asked looking up at him to see his reaction.


“Cool!”


Very cool,” Scott agreed and he glanced back at Kori to make sure she was still with them. Kori who had been silently trailing behind them and secretly enjoying the little father and son moment quickly looked down at her feet. Scott turned back around to pay attention to where he was going and only then did he let the small grin spread across his lips.


“Did you like the movie momma?” Spencer questioned not missing a thing when it comes to his parents and the little moments that they have.


“Yes I did,” Kori answered her son’s question while smiling some herself. “I bet they have the toys at Mc Donalds…do you want to go see? You haven’t had dinner yet.”


“But daddy said we could get ice cream,” Spencer pointed out.


“And we will,” Scott promised and he didn’t have to turn to look at his ex to see her working up a protest. The last thing Scott wants is for her to stay mad at him their entire evening out together and he suddenly has a very strong urge to please her. “Right after we eat dinner okay? It’s pretty important. You want to play soccer don’t you?”


Yeah you know I do” Spencer insisted urgently.


“Then the last thing we need is for you to skip out on any meals. We need you to grow big and strong.”


“Okay” Spencer agreed. “But I want a Mike Wazowski toy.”


“I will see what I can do,” Scott promised. Scott glanced back at Kori again and saw that for the first time all night she was smiling a little. A real smile and not just a smile she managed to cough up to please their son.


“Thank-you,” she mouthed and Scott nodded before once again turning his attention back to where he was going.


“DAD Look ou—“ Spencer began just as Scott walked right into a light pole in the parking lot.


“OW! Mother - that hurt! –“


“-Out for that pole…” Spencer finished and Kori burst out laughing. Scott pulled back none too pleased with himself and he rubbed at his forehead.


“Are you okay?” Kori asked amidst laughs. “It sounded like you hit that pole pretty hard…” She then went to his side deciding to be nice (even though its funny as hell and she’ll probably be laughing about it for weeks) and she gently grabbed his cheeks, turned him around to face her and checked him over.


“You might want to get some ice…it looks like you are going to get a pretty bruise smack dab in the middle of your forehead,” She told him as Scott stood there silently letting her mother him and secretly enjoying it. Why didn’t he bump into a pole a long time ago?


“I’ll be okay,” He told her while shrugging his shoulders and trying to sound tough. “This isn’t the first time you’ve made me run into things, you know. I think I’ll survive,” he told her with a small grin. Kori laughed at the sudden memory from back in the day when he would run into walls, trip over objects, and even fall out of chairs at mere the sight of her – a real klutz over her he was, and from the looks of things he still is. Sometimes she would even make him do it on purpose – smile at him real cute and down he’d go.


“I’m glad to see I still have that touch,” she joked.


“I could have told you that without you having to test the theory,” Scott informed her softly as she reached up and swept his hair to the side so she could get a good look at the bruise that was indeed forming there just as she knew it would. She leaned up on her tiptoes and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.


“Come on, let’s get you to Mc Donalds and we’ll get you some ice.”


“Nah, I think I will wear this one proudly,” he informed her when he managed to find his voice again.


“But then Ash will think I punched you and will yell at me” Kori informed with a frown and Scott laughed. She narrowed her eyes at him.


“You would probably let her believe it too huh?” Scott’s mouth dropped open in mock surprise.


“I would do no such thing.”


“Liar,” she told him with a smirk. “You would so. You would let her believe I punched you and stand there and laugh as she yells at me.”


“I promise I won’t let her believe it,” Scott told her forcing himself to keep a straight face and Kori raised her eyebrow at him suspiciously.


“You promise?”


“I cross my heart,” he told her grabbing her finger and crossing it over his chest where his heart is while looking into her eyes sincerely. Kori’s own heart melted at the sight and she pulled away from him and looked away nervously.


“So…lets get to Mc Donalds. Spencer is hungry,” She reminded him while walking past him to the car.


“Mc Donald’s – right,” Scott agreed falling back into reality with a rough landing. He started forward again when Spencer tugged hard on his shirt.


“Daddy the pole!” He whispered urgently in his ear causing Scott to stop very abruptly avoiding another accident by an inch. Scott shook his head in disbelief with himself, gave an embarrassed laugh, and then did a bee line around the pole toward the car while muttering the things your mother does to me… Spencer grinned triumphantly at his father’s words and the little moment he’d just witnessed. He gently placed his hands to Scott’s cheeks and rested his chin lightly on top of his head as he continued to sit up on his shoulders. Now if he could just get his mom doing stupid things at the very sight of Scott things would be off to a very good start.



~*~*~*~*~



By the time Ann and Jackie’s plane was finally flying in Kevin had hold of Elenore again and from the look of things Brian was starting to wonder if Ann herself would have to pry her from his cold dead hands. Not that he is complaining or anything – its good the man was starting to come around – even if its just because Summer isn’t around to influence him. At least Ellie would get a night alone with Kevin.


“Look Ellie, that’s Grandma’s plane” Jerald spoke up turning to look at his niece. Elenore peered out from behind Kevin’s shirt that had been hiding her face and she gave her Uncle a weak smile as she continued to latch onto Kevin very tightly. Kevin’s heart shattered at the sight knowing his little girl had been on a thorough look out for his mother’s plane earlier and was beyond excited at being able to see it come in until he ruined things for her. He kissed the top of her head softly and snuggled her close as he walked over to the window with her and he turned standing slightly sideways so she could see out.


“Smile baby please? Grandma is so excited to see you” he encouraged her gently. Elenore ignored his request and continued to gaze out the window in silence and when the plane landed, despite her mood her eyes widened in astonishment.


“Kevy…?” She spoke up in a small voice after a couple of moments.


“Yeah princess?” Kevin asked softly while closing his eyes briefly at the pain of being demoted to just Kevy again.


“Someday…ifs I’m still your daughter will you takes me for a ride in an airplane an’ teach me how to fly it?”


“You are always going to be my daughter Elenore Richardson…always. I tend to say and do stupid things without thinking sometimes but no matter what I don’t mean it – ever” Kevin tried to insist, needing to make her see. He squatted down then with her straddling his lap and he gently cupped her face in his hands so her watery green eyes were staring into his. “You are the most important thing in my life and if I lost you I would lose myself. I love you Ellie.” Elenore opened her mouth to argue when Kevin cut her off. “I about had a panic attack when you took off earlier Ellie…it really scared me to death.”


“Buts you keep tryin’ to push me away,” Elenore insisted tearfully. “When you tried to leaves me after my daddy kidnapped me…just now when you said you didnts want me…why can’t you make up your mind?” Kevin was silent for a couple of moments as he tried to come up with an answer that wouldn’t make him sound like an even bigger jackass then he already is. He could feel Brian and Jerald’s eyes on the back of his head as they awaited his answer as well.


“Because I’ve never loved anybody as much as I love you,” Kevin admitted softly when he decided that was the truth and a tear rolled down his cheek. “And it scares me sometimes…”


“Buts you’re my daddy…your nots supposeds to be scared” Elenore insisted feeling highly confused. She is so used to Sean’s tough demeanor that it didn’t occur to her that not all daddies are like that. That they could be capable of being scared.


“Well believe it or not, daddies can get scared once in awhile too” Kevin explained and he couldn’t help but smile at her a little bit through his tears. “No matter how tough they act when they’re little boys…they’ll soon find out that it was all for nothing. They turn into big babies once they start having kids.”


“I don’ts mean to scare you Kevy…” Elenore insisted and she gently cupped his cheeks in her hands before looking up into his eyes sadly.


“It’s not your fault baby, don’t for one second blame yourself you hear me?” Elenore looked at him doubtfully. “I’m new at this whole daddy thing…I’m not used to caring about somebody so much and I am constantly wondering if I’m even good enough for you. It’s just me being hard on myself, it’s all me Ellie. I know that’s not fair to you for me to keep pushing you away and pulling you back and I could tell you I’m sorry a thousand times over again if I hadn’t already worn out the word.”


“I don’ts know if you are good enough for me either,” Elenore told him softly and Jerald tried to stifle a laugh and only half succeeded. Kevin raised his eyebrow at her, his face falling just a little at her words. “Buts you’re all I want Kevy…” She continued and she brought her hand up to wipe her tears away only for them to come right back. Kevin smiled at her some as he gently slid his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.


“Well guess what Ellie…”


“What?” she whispered.


“You are all I want too…and I’m not about to let you go. Are you going to let me go?” Elenore shook her head tearfully and leaned into Kevin’s chest before resting her chin on his shoulder and letting him hug her.


“Good,” Kevin replied, his voice faltering slightly as he fought back the urge to cry. “Because I promise you I’m going to get this father thing down one of these days Ellie, and I’m going to be great.”


“You’re already great,” She whispered in his ear so softly that you would think only he could hear her but Jerald and Brian both did. “That’s why I chose you silly…remember? You loved me when nobody else would.”


“I could never forget,” Kevin insisted while looking at his brother in the corner of his eye when he remembered his words from earlier. He sat there hugging her in silence for a few moments as he glanced out the window and saw that his mother’s plane was waiting on the other plane to leave the gate that its supposed to be in.


“Daddy?”


“Hmm?” Kevin asked smiling some at being back to daddy again.


“Can I sleep withs you tonight?” She asked sounding as if she were prepared to be yelled at for even mentioning it.


“Since when do you even have to ask? My little princess usually just crawls right in with me.”


“You usually haves Summer with you.” And she threatened to hurt me if I did even when she isn’t there she thought miserably to herself.


“Well, that doesn’t matter” Kevin insisted hugging her closer. “You are my little girl you can come crawl into bed with me whenever you want and that would be okay with me – no matter what.”


Whenever she wants Kev?” Brian asked somewhat amused.


“If the door is shut, knock first…” Kevin corrected himself.


“Why?” Elenore wanted to know immediately.


“Because…Its just a nice thing to do before entering someone’s bedroom.”


“But you never knock before coming into my room.”


“You are right…and that’s bad manners on my part. I will start from now on. Okay?” he asked, lightly rubbing his nose over hers and she couldn’t help but giggle some.


“Kay.”


“Gramma is here, Gramma is here!!!!” They suddenly heard Josh exclaim. Kevin, Elenore, Brian, and Jerald all turned to look at him where he was sitting with the other kids only to see him running toward the passengers who were coming off the plane. “GRAMMA!!!” Brian opened his mouth to tell him to wait when suddenly he spotted his mother’s face in the crowd.

“MOMMA!!!” he exclaimed, instantly turning into the Kentucky boy that he is, excited to see his Kentucky mother and he too ran to greet her.


“See that Ellie?” Kevin whispered in her ear as a small amused smile formed on both of their faces. “Your cousin is the biggest baby there is.” Elenore giggled at their little secret and she grabbed Kevin’s hand and tugged him toward her Grandmother who was currently walking off of the plane. Kevin got up and allowed himself to be dragged off while silently wondering why she herself wasn’t running up to greet them right along side Josh. That alone is really scary.


~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile at Nick and Ashley’s, somewhere during their heated make out session, the couple had moved from the foot of the bed to their pillows and they now had candles lit around the room creating a simple – yet perfect romantic atmosphere. Nick’s body covered hers as they lay partially under the blankets and they were in the middle of a fiery kiss – the kind that numbed Nick’s mind and took it on a whirl. Nick’s hands so soft and delicate against her as if he were afraid he might break her if they weren’t moved across her skin in a gentle caress as he moved his lips down her jaw to the weak spot in her neck making her shudder and squirm underneath him.


He placed feathery light kisses over her neck and shoulders as he grabbed hold of her bra straps and slid them down her shoulders till her breasts were exposed. He slowly rubbed his finger over the bud of her nipple before cupping her other one in his hand and lowering his head down so he could take it into his mouth. He rubbed his tongue over it slowly and torturously before taking it completely into his mouth. Ashley whimpered in pleasure as she ran her fingers through his hair and down his back till she reached the hem of his shirt. She slid her hands up underneath it and rubbed them over his back in a slow circular motion. After a few moments she pulled them back out, grabbed the hem of his shirt and she began easing it up his body.


When it reached his shoulders, Nick stopped his assault on her breasts just long enough to help her pull it over his head, before taking it from her and tossing it to the floor. He cupped her nipples in his hand once more before bringing his mouth down to her other one giving it the same amount of attention. Now satisfied to have skin on skin contact, Ashley clutched at Nick’s back and leaned forward to place soft kisses on his neck and shoulders. He paid particular attention to them for a few moments, before Ashley tangled her fingers in his hair and whimpered more.


“Nicky please…”


“Please what baby?” Nick teased, pretending to not understand as he slid his hands behind her and unsnapped her bra and pulling it off of her. He dropped it carelessly on the floor and placed his hands at her hips before moving further down her body and placing kisses around her belly button. Ashley arched her back in desire as he deliberately moved dangerously close to where she wants him most. He flicked his tongue over her navel ring taking time to play with it before grabbing the waistband to her shorts. He pulled them a long with her panties down her legs to her ankles. She kicked them off before grabbing his pants in return and with his help she ridded him of those as well. He placed himself between her legs then, wrapped them around his waist and he gazed into her eyes for the first time in a few moments and suddenly noticed a flicker of fear. Nick deeply concerned by this, gently cupped her chin in his hand and tilted it back so she’s looking up at him n return.


“Baby what’s the matter? Did I hurt you? Do you want me to stop?”


“Nothing I’m okay,” Ashley insisted trying to hide the evidence of her feelings with a smile even though she knows it’s a wasted effort. He knows her too well. Nick lightly caressed her cheek with his finger.


“I know it’s not nothing, you look scared out of your mind. Tell me whats wrong right now or I won’t continue.”


“Nothing I’m okay Nicky, really. I’m just a little nervous…” When Nick continued to look concerned for her, Ashley lightly touched his cheek.


“I’ve never been with someone so intimately before who I love more then my own life…its really scary but I want it more than anything Nicky, please.” Nick gazed into her eyes for a couple of moments and when he saw that she meant it he grabbed his member in his hand. He placed it at her entrance, and he slowly eased his way inside her deliberately being careful in fear of hurting her, something he could not live with if he ever did. When he was as far in her as he could g et he stayed there for a few short seconds as he studied her face and when he saw no sign of pain or discomfort on it he began to slowly move inside her. Ashley slid her arms around his neck and moved with him in the same up and down movements. Nick leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly over hers before kissing the tip of her nose, her forehead, her closed eyelids, and he studied her eyes and every expression and sound that she makes. He moved n just the right speed making her ‘first time’ completely, 100 percent, all about her wanting the moment to be beautiful just as her first time should have been. He leaned forward and whispered softly in her ear.


“You’re so beautiful…and perfect and no words can describe how lucky I am that you’re mine. There isn’t any other woman in this world that I could love as much as you. If I can spend the rest of my life with you that would be fine with me. I would die a happy man.” When he pulled back to gaze down at her and admire the love of his life he noticed the tears sliding down her face at his gentle and very true words. He leaned forward and kissed each tear away before enveloping her in his arms and rolling them over so she’s on top. He brought his hands down resting them on her bottom as he continued to thrust up and down inside her and she placed her hands to his face before leaning down and capturing his lips with her own.





~*~*~*~*~



“What are you doing here?” AJ demanded when Marcus walked through the front door of Howie’s house – which was now his as well.


“Well, its good to see you too J,” Marcus chuckled.


“I love you and appreciate you Marcus, but I am not happy in the least bit to see you. Aren’t you supposed to be with my sister?”


“Hey I was with her for as long as I could be man, I even followed them back to their house in my own car and sat in front of it until they were inside and there was no sign of trouble. But there’s no way I am sitting in that house all night though, there’s no way.” AJ narrowed his eyes.


“How could you be sure that they’re alone in that house and safe, hmm?”


“I don’t think even the baddies want to be there right now AJ. Its like straight out of a romance novel in that house right now.” AJ twitched but otherwise ignored the second half of Marcus’s answer.


“You don’t know that for sure.”


“Alexander James, a security guard has their limits and I’m taking this time to appreciate those limits thank-you very much.” AJ scowled at him, crossing his arms over his chest.


“Some friend you are” he pouted stubbornly.


“If you are so worried about her, you go sit in that house.” AJ suddenly looking as if a light bulb went off in his head smirked.


“Why didn’t I think of that?” Howie groaned as AJ started for the door.


“No, no, no, no, NO don’t you dare!” he demanded before grabbing his best friend by the back of the shirt and yanking him back before wrapping his arm around his shoulders and he narrowed his eyes at Marcus. Marcus held his hands up defensively.


“Well I can see this was a bad place to choose to hang out at.”


“You’re fine here,” Howie insisted, the look on his face softening some. “Just don’t give him any ideas, eh? I’m under strict orders to watch him. I’m not allowed to let him step one foot out of this house by himself.” AJ scoffed.


“Grown adult and here I am being baby-sat.”


“Well, maybe if you stopped acting like you were Ryan’s age you wouldn’t need it,” Howie pointed out simply.


“Hey—“


“—He acts older then you Alex, doesn’t that bother you?”


“That’s what I thought,” Ryan muttered, the indignant look on his face disappearing.


“I’m not acting like a child I just want to protect my sister!”


“And you have Alex – you’ve done an amazing job, but tonight its time you took a step back and have faith she can take care of herself. Okay?”


“Yeah J, and what are you protecting her from…Nick? Come on now.”


“Yes of course I am protecting her from Nick,” AJ insisted indignantly. Howie rolled his eyes.


“She’s eighteen and they’ve been waiting a very long time for this. She will never speak to you again if you ruin this for her and I know that will bother you later on.” AJ opened his mouth to argue and then shut it again when he couldn’t come up with a good enough argument.


“Its Nick we’re talking about here. You know he isn’t going to do anything to harm her he isn’t capable of it. He would chew his own fingers off before hurting her and you know it. If he does something she’s uncomfortable with she’ll speak up. She’s not afraid to tell him no…trust her judgement will you? It would mean a lot to her.” AJ scowled and looked at Marcus close to defeat.


“And if someone is hidden in that house right now waiting for Nick to leave her alone?”


“If I send Laney and Drew down there to sit outside the house will that satisfy you a little bit?”


“Maybe…” AJ replied stubbornly and Marcus pulled his phone out of his pocket while Howie lightly patted AJ on the shoulder.


“Come on J…why don’t you come help me cook a big dinner for Lindsey? Its been a long time since she’s had a home cooked meal and I bet she would really enjoy it.”


“Fine,” AJ sighed allowing himself to be dragged off to the kitchen and Marcus opened his phone and dialed numbers as he watched them leave. As soon as they were in the kitchen and the door was shut, he flipped his phone shut, stuck it in his pocket and sat on the couch.


“Marcus!” Laila exclaimed happily taking notice of the big man for the very first time since his arrival. She got up from her spot next to Ryan on the floor and padded on over to him.


“Hey short stuff, how are you?” he asked cheerfully before reaching out and gently pulling her into his lap and he snuggled her close.


“Laila good.”


“Oh good I’m glad,” Marcus told her while planting a kiss on her forehead. “Where’s your mother?” he added looking to Ryan for the answer.


“Upstairs asleep – Howie made her take a nap earlier because she got worked up and she’s been sleepin’ ever since.” Marcus silently wondered why she could get so upset when today should be a happy one but didn’t voice his question as he isn’t so sure it’s a good idea to be discussing it with him. Ryan however, read the confused look on his face anyway and guessed what he was thinking.


“Things just got too much for her is all,” Ryan insisted and he nodded toward Laila. “She’s been away for much too long. A certain little one tends to scream everytime she comes too close to her.”

“I thought AJ was supposed to help her with that.”


“He wasn’t here yet at the time. Howie called him after he got mom calmed down and asleep and told him to come over and calm Laila down because he couldn’t.”


“Ah I see,” Marcus replied and he noticed the I’m-frustrated-with-my-sister-but-know-I-can’t-show-it look written all over Ryan’s face as he looked back down at his notebook and quietly wrote in it. “Things are going to get better Ryan, I promise. You just need to give it sometime.” Just then AJ came out of the kitchen causing Marcus, Laila, and Ryan to look up at him.


“J!” Laila squealed happily.


“Laila!” AJ replied back excitedly and making a face at her causing her to giggle and he looked at Ryan.


“Ryan buddy D wants you to go wake your mother up, she’s been sleeping for hours and dinner will be done soon.”


“Okay,” Ryan replied before dropping his notebook, getting to his feet, and darting up the stairs and disappearing around the corner. AJ went up behind the couch Marcus was sitting on and leaned over so he was looking over his shoulder at Laila. Laila looked up at him and grinned happily at the silly face AJ was making just for her. He leaned over further puckering his lips causing Laila to do the same and he planted a kiss on them. Laila reached for him.


“Laila wants J!” AJ smirked and gently placed his hands under her arms before lifting her up over the couch. He brought her close to him kissing her forehead softly as she nestled into him. After a few moments of just enjoying her snuggles he began carrying her around the couch and he lifted her up and blew raspberries on her stomach making her giggle in delight. Once he made it around the couch so he was in the middle of the living room where she and Ryan were sitting earlier, AJ sat down indianstyle with her in his lap.


“Oh my goodness, was my Laila coloring?” he asked catching sight of her crayons and paper.


“Yesth,” she answered nodding her head in excitement. AJ grinned and scooted back so he was leaning back against the couch and he bent his legs before gently shifting her so she was lying back against his chest. He grabbed her crayons and paper and the hard book she was using to put her paper on and he handed her a crayon.


“Why don’t you make J a pretty picture hmm?” Laila smiled up at him and AJ grinned back encouragingly causing the little girl to look back down and immediately get started on her drawing. Just as she did Ryan and Lindsey were coming downstairs. AJ looked at her and gave her a friendly smile and Lindsey smiled back but he didn’t miss a thing as her eyes flickered on her daughter and the brief sadness in them.


“Hey Linz how was your nap?” he asked conversationally.


“It was good…I can’t believe you guys let me sleep this long though. I’m going to be up all night.”


“Well Howie said you really needed it” AJ shrugged. “If you can’t go to sleep tonight D and I could always bring out the cards and board games. We’ll keep ya company.” Lindsey laughed a little.


“Careful – don’t make promises you don’t intend on keeping cause I might just hold you to that.”


“I always keep my promises,” AJ reassured her with a wink. Lindsey laughed once again at the flirtatious tone in his voice and she walked into the kitchen where she assumes Howie and that delicious smell must be.


“Careful Alexander James, don’t let Howie see you flirting with her like that.”


“I was just messing with her Marcus, don’t worry. You know, trying to make her laugh…lighten up the situation some for Laila’s sake? I’m completely 100% committed to my Brookie.”


“You had better be,” Marcus told him while shaking his head amusedly. “Cause if you weren’t, if Brooke doesn’t castrate you, Jaime might.” AJ shuddered some.


“Castrate me, come after me with a baseball bat, dangle me inside an open lion cage like a chew toy…yeah there’s no way I’m hurting Brookie even if I wanted to, man.”


“Hmm…as scared of Jaime as you seem to be…one would think you might be a little easier on Nick. You know?”


“I am easier on Nick. A lot more easier on him. He wouldn’t survive two seconds if Jaime were Ashley’s brother instead of me.”


“At least Jaime never tried to get me to spy on you two while you were making love.”


“That’s because Jaime doesn’t know about it,” AJ informed with a shrug.


“Brooke plays the rape victim in front of him. As far as he knows, all we’ve done is make out and that alone pisses him off enough.”


“All I’m saying is, be careful Aje, you wouldn’t want someone to think you were a hypocrite.”


“I will take that into consideration,” AJ replied sincerely.



~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile, back at Nick and Ashley’s, Nick lay there quietly gazing down at Ashley as she lay on top of him with her head rested comfortably against his chest and she was close to falling asleep. He pulled their blankets up on them and kissed the top of her head softly before gently tickling her back with the pad of his finger and he thought about how amazing being with her is. About how glad he is that he waited for her because it was so worth it. He glanced down at the beautiful woman in his arms and after the beautiful moment he just shared with her, he has no intention of leaving the house – or letting her leave in the next couple of days. He is nowhere near through with her. She is all his and he is all hers and the outside world doesn’t stand a chance of coming between them. Brian will take care of their kids for a couple of days at least. After that he’ll probably come banging on the door but Nick will deal with that when it happens. There are four other baby-sitters, after all.