Chapter Forty Two
Later on that day after dinner, Nick, Riley, and Brian clocked out so that they could go bowling. Riley had managed to talk Doctor Johnson into giving his job in the hospital to another doctor so that he could take over Brooke's job for the night.
"But daddy, it's still raining outs. Ellie an' I will gets our hair wet." Dakota announced worriedly.
"Not on Ashee's watch," Ashley replied, coming out of the elevator and over hearing what was last said. Dakota, Nick, and Elenore turned and looked at Ashley to see her holding an umbrella. Nick chuckled.
"Did you tell Kori we're leaving now?" He asked gently, when she got over to them. Ashley sighed.
"Yeah…and she wouldn't have agreed to come if it weren't for Spencer begging and pleading to go bowling with Ellie and Kota."
"Well at least she's coming, be thankful about that okay?" Ashley nodded and suddenly Brian, Riley, AJ, Howie, Kevin, and Brooke came out of Brooke's office, Brian with Josh and his best friend Christopher at his side. They're both coming bowling too. Nick left Lily up in the bedroom with the door shut after filling her bowl up with food and giving her fresh water and making sure all of her toys were out for her to play with and Brian and Josh did the same with Chance in Josh's room. They just both hope to god that there are no messes.
"Are we all ready to go now?" Kevin questioned.
"Not yet, we're waiting on Kori and Spencer."
"Oh okay cool." A few minutes later when Kori came out of the elevator she was holding Spencer and had Wiley at her side and was purposely holding his hand.
"I invited Wiley is that okay?" She asked, directing the question at everybody in the group but looking straight at Ashley.
"Yeah of course. The more the better," Riley replied. Kori continued to look at Ashley.
"Yeah…we'd be glad to have him." Ashley added, cowering behind Nick as she does not like that hard look Kori is giving her. She remembers that look very well from the past from the very rare occasions when Kori was pissed off at her.
"We should get going now," Nick quickly said as he squeezed Ashley's hand gently. Ashley picked up Dakota and placed her on one hip and then Elenore on her other and everybody began to go outside, Kevin checking to see who has Elenore and relaxing when he saw Ashley has her. Ashley followed Nick outside, opening up the umbrella once they got out there and sheltering her and the girls. Wiley and Kori followed close behind everybody.
"Calm down Kor…that wasn't exactly a friendly look and you're scaring her. That is not a very good thing to do, especially to her." Wiley warned.
"If she thinks I'm going to act like everything is okay well she's wrong."
"To be honest, I think you're overreacting. What if she was just trying to get to know me? If you invited me to get even with her then I'm not going, Kor. I am here to help you but please don't bring me in the middle of your family feud."
"Have you not been paying attention Wi? You're the reason we're fighting right now. So I think it's a little too late for that," Kori replied, walking ahead of him and catching up with everybody else. Wiley groaned but followed her nonetheless.
"So who all is going in what car?" Nick asked, pulling out his car keys. As soon as everybody decided how many and what cars they were taking they all began to divide themselves inside them. Ashley took Elenore and Dakota over to Kevin's car and when she got over there Kevin opened the back seat and gently took Elenore from her. He placed her in the car and began to buckle her into her booster seat. As he was doing that Ashley walked over to an awaiting Nick. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
"You okay?" he asked gently and she nodded.
"Fine," she answered and then pulled away from him and walked over to his car. He sighed and then followed her. She opened up the side where Dakota's booster seat is at and she handed the umbrella to Nick before quickly putting Dakota in the safety of the car. While she buckled her up Nick stood there waiting. When she finished she shut the door and looked at Nick and he handed her the umbrella again. She walked around to the passenger's seat and Nick got in the driver's seat. He looked in the rear view mirror to see who else ended up riding with him and it turned out to be Brooke and AJ. AJ with a big goofy grin on his face as per usual, and Brooke looking very reluctant to be sitting next to him. He knows for whatever reason she ended up with AJ it was probably one of Riley's schemes. Nick started up the car and began to pull out of the Orphanage and Ashley rested her head against the window and looked out at the rain while fighting back her tears. Nick heard her sniffling a little and looked over at her. He reached over and placed his hand to her leg and gently rubbed it. She looked at him for a moment, and then back out the window again before taking his hand into hers and intertwining his fingers with her own. He squeezed her hand gently before starting up a conversation with AJ and Brooke. By the time they got to the bowling ally it had stopped raining for the time being. Ashley got out of the car with her umbrella in hand but she didn't bother to open it up. Nick got out as well as AJ and Brooke. Nick went to Dakota's door and opened it up and he unbuckled her and took her out of the car. He hugged her close and kissed her cheek. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled close to him. He waited for Ashley to come around to him and when she did he wrapped his arm around her and followed the rest of the group inside before it decides to rain again.
"Kev has already bought our lane and everything. All you have to do is get your shoes and a bowling ball. The kids all have their own lane and we have ours," Brian explained when Nick, Ashley, AJ, and Brooke walked in.
"Which two lanes are ours?"
"The one in the corner over there, Kevin is already over there helping Elenore put her shoes on." Brian answered, pointing to the corner of the bowling ally where it just happens to be the only place in the building where there isn't a whole bunch of people. Nick handed Dakota over to Ashley.
"What's your shoe size honey? I'll get it for you, you go sit down okay?"
"Size 6," Ashley answered. Nick nodded and then began to wait for his turn to request shoes. Ashley carried Dakota over to where Kevin is at. She put Dakota down and she rushed over to the ball racks and looked for her size, knowing exactly what size she needs since Nick has taken her bowling before. She grabbed the smallest ball there is and carried it over to the thing you put your balls in. Ashley went and grabbed the same size ball for herself and did the same before sitting in a chair in the far corner. She rested her head against the wall and hugged her legs to her chest.
"Everything okay, Ash?" Kevin asked concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine," Ashley answered but Kevin knows she isn't telling the truth. He finished up on tying Elenore's shoes, than he kissed her cheek and she happily got up and went to go play with Dakota and Spencer who were waiting patiently for their game to be started up and Josh and Christopher sat on the floor not too far away leaning up against the wall and talking quietly amongst themselves. Kevin went and sat at the little computer thing that controls the game. He decided he would get the kid's game ready first. He put in the names Kota, Ellie, Spencer, Josh, and Chris.
"Boys against girls!" Josh announced, suddenly standing up when he realized Kevin was setting up their game.
"But that's not exactly fair Josh, there are more boys then girls." Kevin stated gently.
"That's okay Kevy. We'll still wins," Elenore challenged.
"Nuh uh, cause your just a couple of girls."
"A couple of girls who can do ANYTHING that you two do but way better," Elenore replied, getting in Josh's face to show him that she is just as tall as him and just as tough when she wants to be.
"No you can't," Josh argued.
"Yes we can!"
"Hey - Hey, settle down you two." Kevin jumped in before it gets worse.
"I can be on their team if they want to make it even," Ashley spoke up suddenly, trying to cheer herself up.
"Yeah! That way we'll win fer sure!" Dakota replied, sticking her tongue out at Josh and Josh did the same right back at her.
"Just because I'm older Kota, it doesn't mean I'm going to be the world's most greatest bowler," Ashley replied, and she couldn't help but laugh a little bit. "I'm not that great and will probably need the bumpers just as much as you. But I'm pretty decent." Dakota turned to Josh.
"Like I said. We'll fer sure win." She told him and Kevin chuckled.
"Forget it Ash, no matter what you will always be perfect in her eyes."
"Perfect in who's eyes?" Nick asked curiously, as he joined them with his bowling ball in hand and three pairs of shoes.
"Kota's," Kevin answered.
"Ah yes, another thing that me and my daughter have in common," Nick replied while putting his bowling ball down and sitting next to Ashley and she couldn't help but smile a little bit and he kissed her cheek ever so boldly. Kevin pretended not to notice but he hoped to god that there are no fans near by to witness that small display of affection. He handed Ashley her shoes and then looked at Dakota who went back to talking to Elenore.
"Kota sweetie, come here so that daddy can help you put your bowling shoes on."
"Kay daddy," Dakota replied, and she walked over to him and crawled into his lap. It wasn't long before everybody was finally joining them. Kevin looked at all of the adults.
"So what are we going to do? Girls against boys or what?" He asked, switching the screen over to their game setup.
"Yup, Girls against boys."
"Kay, but its going to be a little un-even. Ashley has decided to join the kids game because they wanted to do girls against boys also and they were one girl short."
"She can always play two games at once," Riley replied, looking over at Ashley. "What do you say Ash?"
"Kay," Ashley replied, smiling slightly but its still obvious that she is still a little upset. Wiley gave Kori a look and Kori darted her eyes away from him pretending not to notice. Kevin set up their game then when everybody was ready they began to play.
"So...whose first?" Nick asked. "Boys or girls?"
"Coin toss?" Brian suggested.
"Heads!" A.J. piped up.
"Tails, I guess," Brooke shrugged. Brian flipped the coin, and caught it, then flipped it over on his hand.
"Heads."
"Sweet!" A.J. whooped. "Let us boys show you girls how it's done!"
"And we wonder where the kids get it from," Kevin muttered. Howie chuckled. "We'll just blame Aje from now on."
"Works for me," Nick put in, draping an arm over Howie's shoulders. "Which of us boys is first?"
"I will!" A.J. exclaimed, quickly grabbing a ball and hurrying to where he had to be, then threw the ball down the lane - only to get a gutter ball.
"Haha. And you boys are gonna show us how it's done?" Brooke scoffed. A.J. grumbled, as he grabbed a second ball and tried again. Meanwhile, Ashley was helping the kids decide who went first.
"Inky Pinky Ponky!!!!" The girls squealed.
"Josh, Spencer, Chris - that okay with you three?" Ashley asked them.
"Fine. Whatever," Josh mumbled, sticking a fist into the circle they'd formed. Elenore, Dakota, and Christopher all stuck their hands in, as did Ashley.
"I'll do it!" Elenore insisted.
"No. I'll do it Ellie, "Ashley told her gently. "So nobody can say anybody cheated." Ashley then began the chant.
"Inky pinky ponky, daddy bought a donkey. Donkey died, daddy cried. Inky pinky ponky. And you are not it."
"Aww, nuts!" Dakota pouted, taking her first out. Ashley repeated the process with who was left, and eventually Elenore was the only one left.
"Cheater!" Josh exclaimed.
"Auntie Ashee didn't cheats!" Spencer exclaimed. "You watched her! Ellie won' fair an' square!" Elenore smiled at Spencer, and grabbed her ball that Kevin had helped her pick out - it was blue, her favorite color. She carried it carefully in both arms, and stepped past the line where you were to stop - not knowing any better.
"Hey! She's cheating!" Josh yelled out. "Brian! She's cheating!" Brian glanced over and groaned slightly, rolling his eyes towards the other adults. He went over and gently guided Elenore back to where she was to stand.
"You have to stand here, Sweetie," he told her, smiling. "So it's fair to everyone, okay?"
"Kay," Elenore said softly, feeling a little dumb for not knowing.
"Hey, I made that mistake too, my first time," Brian assured her. "Everybody has, I'm sure of it." Elenore smiled at him, beaming more when he kissed her cheek. Brian helped her get into an easy stance, and showed her how to bowl between her legs. "There you go, now just let it go and watch you don't squish your fingers between the ball and the floor." Elenore nodded, then bowled, managing to knock all the pins down. She gasped in surprise. Brian chuckled.
"That's called a strike. You want that to happen. Way to go, Ellie." Elenore beamed and cheered, as Dakota came to tackle her in a hug. The adults all glanced over, applauding and sending their congratulations Elenore's way.
"Jeez, even Ellie's bowling better than you are, A.J.," Brooke teased. A.J. raised his eyebrows.
"Well, let's see if you can bowl any better. It's your turn." Brooke sauntered on past A.J., as Brian returned to their lane, once more leaving Ashley with the kids.
"What's wrong, Aje? Forget how to bowl?"
"Shaddup," A.J. muttered, watching Brooke take her turn, sending the ball down the lane with ease. "Show off!" Brooke turned and smiled.
"It's not called showing off, when you've got the skill." She grabbed another ball and took her second turn, earning herself a Spare.
"Okay, c'mon Wiley," Kevin said, eyeing the screen a while later. "You're next. You can do it." Wiley pulled away from Kori, smiling, and took his turn, getting a strike.
"STI-RIKE!!!!"
"YES!!!!" A.J. whooped, going over and clapping the younger man on the back. "Way to go! We've got a real game goin' on now!"
"Yeah, just too bad you're not part of it," Riley winked, walking past. "Don't worry though, I'll show you how it's done." A.J. rolled his eyes good naturally, then resumed a seat. Ashley joined the adults then.
"Did I miss my turn?" She asked, trying her hardest to avoid snuggling into Nick. Nick smiled at her.
"Nah, it hasn't gotten to yours yet."
"Okay," Ashley smiled back.
"How're the kids doing?" Nick asked, glancing over at the little ones still playing their game.
"The boys are winning right now, so Kota and Ellie aren't too happy about that," Ashley replied. "But I'm sure we'll catch up. How're you guys doing?"
"Not so great, and it's all A.J.'s fault," Nick laughed. "He's usually the best bowler - him and Frick."
"Well, he's not tonight!" Brian stated, smacking A.J.'s ass as he walked past him. "He needs to quit staring at Brooke and play!" A.J. yelped and cast Brian a glare.
"I am not just staring at the loveliest of lovely ladies here."
"Oh, you are so, so give it up," Kevin ribbed him. "Stare at her on your own time."
"You're up," Nick told Ashley, nudging her slightly. "Go on. Your sister got you guys a good lead." Ashley gave him a small smile upon hearing that, then went to take her turn, actually hitting pins instead of getting it in the gutter. Just as she finished her second turn she went over and sat next to Nick.
"Momma can we gets a snack? Please?" Spencer suddenly asked Kori, coming over to the adults with Dakota at his side.
"Yeah sure I'll go get you some. Wi you wanna come?"
"Nah I'm gonna stay here, love. I'm talking to AJ. Is that okay?"
"Yeah sure."
"Ash and I will come with you," Nick immediately spoke up. "Won't we Ash?"
"Nicky I want to stay here. My turn might come up over on the kids side and Ellie is by herself." Nick looked over at the kid's TV.
"No it's not even close to your turn yet. We'll be back before then. Come on Ash…please?" Nick begged, doing the pout that he and Dakota do best.
"Oh, stop that!" Ashley whined, playfully punching him in the arm. Nick laughed and continued doing it. Ashley looked away but he leaned over so she could see him and she scowled.
"You're not funny you know."
"You know you love me," Nick replied sweetly.
"Yeah your lucky I do."
"You had better agree to come with me young lady or I can always carry you." Ashley giggled.
"Wouldn't that be a nice article for Nick Carter in the newspapers the next day."
"You should tell her to come or you will grounds her Nicky," Elenore replied, coming over to sit in Kevin's lap. Josh was getting on her nerves and it's taking everything in her not to fight with him. "Fer bein' bad." Several of the adults laughed at this.
"Oh I should, should I?"
"Uh-huhs." Ashley laughed.
"Are you gonna send me to my room when we get back Nicky? I'll have you know that I am exactly like Ellie. You make me sit in my room all day your sitting in there with me." Nick smirked.
"Doesn't sound so bad."
"Daddy we're hungry," Dakota spoke up.
"I know honey, help me talk Ashley into coming and her, Kori, and I will all go get you a snack." Dakota smiled and then went and crawled into Ashley's lap and she placed both her hands to her cheeks and made her look into her eyes and she did her pout and all.
"Oh this is not fair," Ashley whined.
"Ashee pleeease?"
"Awww yeah Ashee pleeease?' AJ joined in. "You can't say no to a face like that can you?" Ashley sighed.
"For Dakota," She replied, and she got up with Dakota and walked off toward the snack machine. Nick chuckled and then looked at Kori.
"Coming?"
"Yeah…" Kori replied softly, and she got up as did Nick and the two of them went after Ashley. Elenore remained in Kevin's lap unless he had to bowl but at the same time she kept a close watch on the boys incase any cheating were to go on.
"So Ash tells me you want to go to Hot Topic with her sometime," Nick announced to Kori, trying to work up a conversation.
"Well, I did," Kori replied, looking over at her sister bitterly as she watched her help Dakota pick out a bunch of candy a couple of feet away.
"Ya know, she wasn't trying to make you feel like she was interrogating you or anything." Nick replied, deciding he would have to be the one to fix this little feud that is going on right now.
"Well it certainly seemed like it. Wiley is a great guy and doesn't deserve to be hated just because she doesn't know him."
"She doesn't hate him. But your right about one thing she doesn't know him and it takes her awhile to trust people that she doesn't know. Especially people of the opposite sex. She was raped and was hurt quite a bit in the past you have to give her a break." Kori shrugged, looking away from him and at the menu to see what looks good.
"And she cares a great deal about you. She may not show it, but she does. She tells me all the time and even when she doesn't I can tell that she does. She was just trying to get to know the one person that seems to make her sister happy."
"Okay, fine." Kori replied. "I believe you."
"Okay…then will you give her another chance? And come to the mall with us tomorrow?" Kori looked at him for a couple of minutes.
"If she wants me to," She told him, than she looked down at Spencer.
"What looks good honey?"
"Nachos N' Cheese," Spencer answered after thinking about it for a moment. Ashley and Dakota joined Nick and Kori a few minutes later, both of them with a shirt full of candy. Nick raised his eyebrow.
"Think you bought her enough candy, Ashley?"
'It's not just for her, it's for all of the kids - and anyone else who should want some," Ashley replied, smiling at him. Nick chuckled a bit.
"Yeah right you just wanted to spoil her. Anyway, Kota how about some real food too? See anything that you want on that menu?" Nick asked, indicating to the menu hanging on the wall behind the snack bar. Dakota eyed it for a few moments.
"Chili Cheese fries daddy, please?"
"Okay, that sounds good. Ashley do you want me to get some for us as well to share?"
"Okay," Ashley replied, nearing close to him. She wrapped her arm around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder. She doesn't care about them being in a public place right now, she needs to be near him. He wrapped an arm around her too and hugged her close but tried to make it look as innocent as possible. Best friends hug sometimes, they can make it look like that if someone should notice.
"We're going to Hot Topic with Kori tomorrow," He whispered in her ear. "She's agreed to come."
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter
It was co-written with Lenni
Enjoy =)
It was co-written with Lenni
Enjoy =)
