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Chapter Forty



Nick, Ashley, Howie, and AJ let Dakota and Spencer play in the rain puddles with Lily for thirty minutes, than Nick stood up before helping Ashley to her feet.


"Kota did Lily go potty at all?"


"Yeah daddy she wents poop," she answered quite bluntly. Nick chuckled.


"Thanks for sharing sweetie."


"You asked daddy"


"Yes I did."


"Shouldn't you clean it up? Someone might step in it out here if you don't," Howie suggested.


"Yeah…um can one of you run inside and grab some toilet paper or something?"


"Yeah sure but your cleaning it up. Your puppy." AJ replied.


"Actually it's Kota's puppy. And really I should make Brian clean it up since he bought her for her." AJ snickered before turning and running inside. Nick groaned.


"Aww Nick you love that dog just as much as Kota does, just admit it. Its almost a Kodak moment watching you play with her." Howie replied, grinning.


"Yeah well…I don't love the poop that comes with her." Howie chuckled.


"Well I don't think anyone does, but other than that she's probably the next cutest thing after Tyke."


"Actually I think they're about the same when it comes to cuteness. I think Bri should bring Tyke here tomorrow so that they can meet. I bet they will be pretty good friends." Suddenly AJ came back out with a bunch of toilet paper in hand. Nick took it from him and he stuffed it in his pocket so that it wont get wet. He walked out in the rain and over to Dakota, Spencer, and the puppy.


"Where at baby?" He asked Dakota.


"Rights there," She answered, pointing a few feet away. Nick walked over there and took out the toilet paper and he leaned over and picked up the poop with it and he carried it over to the garbage cans. He tossed it in there and walked back to Ashley and his friends.


"Now I really don't want to dig through there," He announced, and Ashley, Howie, and AJ laughed.


"Dakota, Spencer, come back over here now. We're going inside." Dakota scooped up the puppy and happily followed Spencer back over to the grownups. Nick looked his daughter over and chuckled.


"How could a small girl like you end up so muddy? Spencer I can understand cause he's a boy and boys live to roll around in the mud. But I never expected that from my little girl. You're definitely going to need a bath."


"She's not like most little girls if you've noticed, Nick. She's more tomboyish if you think about it," AJ replied grinning. "She still likes to play with baby dolls and Barbies, but she doesn't mind the boy stuff too when she has to."


"Yeah I've noticed. It's like pulling teeth trying to get her to wear a dress sometimes unless its bought from Hot Topic." Nick replied, scooping his daughter up into his arms despite the fact that she is covered in mud. He scooped Spencer up as well and carried them inside.


"Come on Rugrats…lets get you inside before you both catch colds." Dakota giggled.


"I'm nots a Rugrats daddy!"


"Yeah huh. You're the biggest Rugrat of them all." He told her, and Dakota giggled even more. When they got inside and were entering the lobby Kori, Detective Stabler, Riley, and Brooke were just coming out of Brooke's office. Kori caught sight of her mud-covered son and she raised her eyebrow.


"What in the world happened to those two?" She asked.


"We took Lily out onto the playground to go potty and Dakota and Spencer thought it would be fun to play in the puddles," Ashley explained. Dakota giggled.


"It is Ashee! Lots of fun!"


"Not that fun for the mommy's and daddy's who have to clean you up afterwards." Nick replied.


"Do you mind carrying him up there for me Nick? …you know since you already have him and all? I will do the rest once we're up there." Nick chuckled.


"Mm hmm, of course. I'm already covered in the mud, no sense in making you get covered in it too." Nick began to carry the two children upstairs, Ashley following close behind him with Kori at her side. When they got up to the second floor Nick carried Spencer into his bedroom and into his bathroom. He set him down, than he carried Dakota into her own bathroom in their room. When he had her in there he looked at Ashley and kissed her cheek but didn't get too close to her. He didn't want to get mud all over her.


"Will you do me a favor and set up her bath for me? Her bubbles are already out and everything. I'm going to go get her some clean clothes."


"Mmm hmm," Ashley replied, smiling at him.


"You need a bath too Mister."


"Yeah well…by the time Kota is done with hers, Elenore should be allowed out. So she will want to go play with her and Spencer downstairs. I will take my shower then," he replied, winking at Ashley. Ashley caught on right away.


"Sounds good," she replied while grinning, and he left the bathroom to go get Dakota some clothes. Ashley turned and began to set up Dakota's bath like Nick had requested.


"Take your clothes off sweetie and then get in the tub and I will rinse you off before I start to fill your tub up. That way you will have clean water to bathe in." Ashley explained. Dakota did as she's told and took all of her clothes off. When she was undressed Ashley took her hand and helped her step into the tub. When she was in Ashley stood up and took the shower head down and turned it on. She felt the water until it was warm, than she began to spray Dakota in attempt to get the mud off of her. When she did she turned the water back to bath mode.


"Okay sweetie, sit down."


"Kay," Dakota replied, sitting down in the tub and Ashley put the plug in the drain and poured some bubbles into the pouring water as she watched the tub fill up. By the time it did and Ashley had shut the water off Nick walked in with a bucket full of bath toys and some clean clothes in his other. He had pulled his shirt off so that he is at least somewhat clean. He set Dakota's clothes on the counter and then brought the bucket over to the tub before dumping it in the water. Dakota immediately grabbed the boats and began playing with them.


"Daddy plays boats with me, please?" She asked eagerly.


"Of course honey," he replied, before going over and sitting on the side of the tub in front of Ashley who was also sitting there. Ashley wrapped her arms around his waist from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder and he intertwined her fingers with his in one hand and reached into the water to grab a boat and he played boats with Dakota as she had requested. After awhile as they were sitting there playing Kevin, Elenore, and Riley came into the bathroom, Kevin holding Elenore who has her arms wrapped around his neck and her head rested upon his shoulder and she is still trying to wake up all the way from her nap. Riley raised her eyebrow as they walked in and saw Ashley and Nick sitting the way that they were.


"Your lucky Detective Stabler didn't come in here with me," she scolded playfully and Nick looked at them.


"Is he still here?"


"Nope, he just left. But still, you're lucky." Nick didn't reply, he only brought Ashley's hand up and kissed it and Ashley rested her head against his shoulder as she still sat behind him.


"ELLIE!!!!!" Dakota exclaimed happily, when she realized Elenore there for the first time. Elenore smiled weakly.


"Hi," She greeted.


"You just wakes up?" Dakota asked, cocking her head to the side as she looked at her friend curiously.


"Uh-huhs."


"How come she's taking a bath?" Kevin questioned curiously.


"Cause her and Spencer decided to play in the rain puddles and mud earlier when we took Lily outside to go potty."


"Ah I see," Kevin replied chuckling. "Is Kori giving Spencer a bath in their room?"


"Yup. They were covered in so much mud earlier you wouldn't even recognize them," Ashley replied while gently running her fingers through Dakota's wet blonde hair.


"Daddy I want to gets out now so I can plays with Ellie. Pleeease?" Dakota asked restlessly. Nick chuckled.


"Okay honey but first we need to get you cleaned up and wash your hair. Alright?"


"Rights now?"


"Yes baby, right now." He laughed.


"I'm taking Elenore downstairs to the playroom. That's where you will find us when your finished."


"Kay," Nick replied and he looked at Riley.


"Need anything Ri?"


"No I just came in with Kevin. I was talking to him just a few minutes before when he decided to come in here and I just followed him."


"Oh, okay." Riley nodded, and she followed Kevin out of the room. Nick turned his attention on the anxious four year old in the tub and he began to supervise her in washing herself and her hair. When he had finished he stood her up, pulled out the plug and he reached up and grabbed the shower head before turning the water to shower mode again, and he began to rinse her off. When he was finished doing that he turned the water off and lifted her from the tub and he turned around to find Ashley standing there with a towel ready. Nick placed her in the towel and Ashley wrapped her up and took her gently into her own arms before grabbing her clothes and walking out of the bathroom. Nick couldn't help but grin a little as he watched her with Dakota. While Ashley dressed Dakota he decided he would clean up her toys and give Lily (who was lying on the bathroom floor a few feet away) a bath next. She too is muddy from their fun outside which means the bathroom floor where she lay is also muddy.


"Ashee wills you do my hair? Please?" Dakota asked hopefully as Ashley sits in front of her and helps her get her clothes on. She lifted her arms up as she helped her put on her black and white striped t-shirt that has red trimming and the red Ramones logo. The t-shirt reads 'Hey Ho! Let's Go!' on it. Dakota picked it out in Hot Topic because she saw Ashley was wearing a Ramones t-shirt that day and Ashley let her listen to some of the music too. She thought it was pretty cool. After putting her t-shirt on her, she helped her into her jeans and she sat on the floor and she put her red converse shoes on her feet so that Ashley could tie them.


"Of course sweetie. What do you want me to do to it?"


"Something new," Dakota answered after thinking about it for a couple of minutes. Ashley stared at her for a few minutes trying to think of what to do. When she came up with an idea she smiled.


"Okay be right back sweetie," Ashley replied, and she got up and went into the bathroom where Nick was bathing a very hyper puppy and getting wet in the process. She opened up the drawer and got out her curling iron that he had bought her at the mall and she grabbed her red with white polka dot headwrap and she walked back out to Dakota. She went and plugged her curling iron in to the outlet and set it on the nightstand to get hot before sitting down on the bed. She looked a Dakota who was watching her curiously and she smiled at her and patted the spot on the bed in front of her. Dakota got up and crawled onto the bed and over to Ashley. She sat in front of her and Ashley showed her the headwrap.


"This is my headwrap but I thought that it would look very cute on you. Especially with the outfit that you're wearing right now. Do you want to try it and see what it looks like?"


"Yeah Ashee please?"


"Okay," Ashley replied, laughing a little and she began to put it on Dakota. When she finished she grabbed her little mirror that she often uses when putting on makeup and she let Dakota look into it.


"What do you think?"


"Awesome!" Dakota exclaimed, and Ashley laughed once again.


"Lets see what it looks like after I curl your hair." Ashley reached over and checked if her curling iron was hot enough yet. When it was she lifted it up off of the nightstand.


"Okay sweetie, turn around facing the other way." Dakota did as she was told and turned so that her back was to Ashley and Ashley began to curl the ends of her naturally straight hair. When she finished ten minutes later she put the curling iron down.


"Alright, turn around." Dakota turned back around facing Ashley and Ashley smiled at her.


"Aww…your so adorable…"


"Can I see Ashee?" Dakota asked excitedly.


"Mm hmm," Ashley answered and she handed her the mirror again. Dakota looked into it and smiled really big.


"Wow! I've never looked that pretty befores" She announced, as she looked at herself in awe.


"Sure you have honey. You're a very pretty girl no matter what you do with your hair."


"Here, let me give your bangs a little bit of curl too. Only a little bit." Ashley suggested, and she grabbed her curling iron again and gave her bangs a slight curl off to the side. When she finished she turned her curling iron off and sat it back down on the nightstand and suddenly Nick came out of the bathroom holding Lily so she is cradled like a baby and wrapped up in a towel.


"Show your daddy your new look," Ashley told her, and Dakota turned and looked at Nick.


"Daddy look! Ashee made my hair looks pretty!" Dakota exclaimed happily, and Nick looked over at his daughter and looked incredibly shocked.


"Wow baby! You look absolutely beautiful," he told her, truly meaning it and Dakota smiled even bigger.


"I feel beautiful, daddy."


"Good I'm glad," Nick told her and he went over to her and kissed her forehead.


"Now how about you take this pup off my hands hmm? Daddy needs a break." Dakota giggled.


"She dry daddy?"


"Yup, she's dry don't worry. I think I got more wet then she did." Dakota happily took her puppy from Nick after he had unwrapped her from her towel and she hugged her close to her kissing her affectionately.


"She smells so pretty. I'ma go show Ellie my new look Daddy okay?"


"Okay honey, Ashley and I will be down soon. Please try not to pull anymore pranks on Josh while your down there alright? Give the kid a break."


"Kay daddy, I won'ts," Dakota replied, and she got up and hurried out of the room. Nick chuckled a bit, than he turned to Ashley who was still sitting on the bed Indian style. He smirked and crawled onto the bed and over to her and Ashley lay back smiling, trying her hardest to get away from him.


"Stay back you, your all dirty - not to mention getting the bed dirty too!" He grinned wildly and moved even closer to her until he is straddling her, his hands placed on either side of her and he leaned down and kissed her lips hungrily. She giggled a little and kissed him back while placing her hand to the back of his head and pushing his face closer. After a few seconds he got up and playfully scooped her up into his arms so he is cradling her and she shrieked in surprise before giggling uncontrollably as he rushed into the bathroom with her. He sat her down on the counter and resumed his kisses.


"Y-you h-had better shut the door Nicky," She told him between kisses. "And l-lo-ck it this time too." He pulled back and left the bathroom to go and shut the bedroom door and lock it.


~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile downstairs, Riley, Brian, Kevin, AJ, and Howie were sitting in the playroom watching the children play. Dakota had rushed in a few minutes earlier and showed off her new hair do to them and Elenore and told them 'Ashee had done it'. They all of course told her how beautiful she looks. Josh who was sitting near Brian on the floor petting Chance had suddenly froze when she had come in the room and all he could do was stare at her in a trance. He knew she was pretty before but he had never seen her like that before. It nearly blew him away and it took everything in Brian, AJ, Howie, and Kevin not to laugh. After showing off her new look she took Elenore's hand and pulled her over to the blocks where they could play. She hadn't seen her best friend all day except for those short ten minutes earlier when she had helped her escape from her room. She missed her so much. Josh got up and immediately went over to his best friend Christopher who had been studying him from on the other side of the room in amusement the moment Dakota had walked in.


"I wonder what Nick and Ashley are up to…they've been keeping to themselves pretty much all day. We've seen them maybe three times today and that's it," Brian wondered out loud.


"I'm not so sure that I even want to know what they're up to," Kevin replied.


"We should go out tonight," Howie announced suddenly.


"Like where? And it's raining out."


"Lets go bowling…how long has it been since we've gone bowling?" he suggested.


"Since we were on tour," AJ replied. "It does sound fun," he added, looking at everyone else.


"Brian, Nick, and I get off work by 8:00 tonight. It'd be perfect. It would even force Ashley and Nick to come out of their make out session up there for awhile."


"Ha yeah. They can't do any of that there," Brian replied.


"Doesn't mean they won't try though." AJ added while laughing a little.


"Should we take the kiddies with us?" Howie questioned.


"I don't think Ellie would survive without me. If she couldn't sit through a whole day in her room without me I don't think leaving her here at the orphanage will be a great success either."


"Yeah and Nick will have to take Dakota with him anyway. Wouldn't be fair if we left Elenore here. Plus Ashley made Dakota look all nice and stuff, least we can do is take her out," Riley added.


"And I'm bringing Josh," Brian announced. Just then, Riley's cell phone rang. She groaned in annoyance as she knows exactly who it is. Everyone else who would call her is sitting there in the room.


"You don't have to answer it honey," Brian reassured, reaching over and taking her hand into his. "You're working right now." Riley shook her head and turned her phone on and she placed it to her ear. Brian sighed.


"Yes Chase?" She asked.


"Where have you been? You haven't been home in days!"


"Why do you care?" Riley asked moodily. "I'm a fucking bitch and all I do is nag. That's what you said, right?" She added, getting up and leaving the room when she realized that there are a lot of sensitive ears around. Brian got up and followed her. When he got out there he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close to him and she rested her head against his chest.


"Riley I'm sorry…I'm really truly sorry…I didn't mean anything I said that night. I was angry…people say things that they don't mean when they're angry."


"Yeah, well, you say a lot of things that you don't mean and quite frankly, I'm sick of it. I'm coming home Chase, but only one more time and that's to get my things then I'm moving in with Brian. I want a divorce."


"But Riley -"


"No Chase. I'm serious. I'm sick of your apologies, I'm sick of you hurting me, and I'm sick of you bailing out on all of our romantic evenings. It's over."