Later on that evening, Ashley walked into the bedroom she shares with Nick in their apartment where he was lying in bed waiting for her. Doctor Smith gave him permission to stay in his own bed with Doctor Johnson visiting him regularly for checkups and he was on strict bed rest for a week. He kissed and hugged the girls goodnight, sang to them like he would normally do, and Ashley just finished putting them all in bed for the evening including the baby. Nick grinned upon seeing her enter and motioned her to him with his finger and Ashley instantly went to him wanting nothing more than to cuddle with him in their own bed. He held the blanket up and she crawled in beside him allowing him to slide his arms around her and turn so that he is lying sideways facing her.


“Did the girls go down okay?” he questioned while gently cradling the back of her head with his hand and resting his forehead against hers.


“Mhm, for the most part…but I think we might get a four year old visitor in the middle of the night…she was a little unsure about sleeping by herself.”


“Who handled her night terrors while I was unavailable?”


“Me and Brian…no one handles Kota the way you do during a night terror but we tried our best.”


“I know you did just fine,” Nick insisted gently. “I trust the two of you very much…that’s why I left you in charge.”

“Yeah well…your mom has the entire fanbase thinking that I was after your money and succeeded,” Ashley reminded and Nick noticed her slowly becoming upset over the subject.


“I’m going to take care of that baby I promise. I’m going to talk to Denise tomorrow and the two of us will think of what to do. I’m going to get the fans to understand the truth okay?”


“Kay…”


“I’m sorry you had to put up with my mom…I wouldn’t have put you in charge of me and everything I own if I didn’t think you could handle it. I knew you would protect me and stick up for me no matter what though.”


“I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you. I would’ve thrown everyone out of the room and locked me and the girls in with you if I had to.”


“I can believe that,” Nick chuckled and Ashley slid her arms around his neck and snuggled into him some more. Nick reached down and tugged on her jeans pulling them down and as soon as he had them off and her in only the t-shirt she borrowed from his side of the closet and her panties he dropped them to the floor before pulling the blankets up on them some more and shifting her so her head was rested comfortably against his chest. She closed her eyes feeling relaxed for the first time in three weeks and he took her hand into his own, laced their fingers together and brought it up to his lips to kiss it before delicately rubbing his finger over it in a slow caress and tracing her promise ring as his mind drifted off into deep thought about things. One thing that is very clear in his mind is she came very close to losing him and vice versa and he doesn’t want to waste a single moment with her. He really needs to talk to Brian. Or maybe AJ – no, not AJ…Nick silently pondered this dilemma of his carefully. Who is he supposed to talk to? Kevin maybe…? It will have to be, because he doesn’t want to take Brian’s focus away from his upcoming wedding and AJ…well…he just isn’t always as supportive as Nick and Ashley would like him to be. Making his decision that first thing tomorrow morning while Ashley is still sleeping he would call Kevin and ask him to have Jerald bring him over, he kissed Ashley’s forehead softly and hugged her close to him. He can’t avoid AJ entirely of course, he knows he will eventually need to talk to him…because well, it’s just not possible but he will save that for the right moment when he is in a really good mood. Perhaps maybe after he’s been locked in Brooke’s office with her all afternoon or something…in the meantime, he can talk to Kevin and Denise.


~*~*~*~*~


“Ellie it is past your bedtime, why are you still awake young lady?” Kevin asked when he managed to make his way up the stairs to her room despite his gut killing him and despite what his mother had said.


“Sorry Kev, it’s my fault” Tim replied. “We got caught up in playing with her Ninja Turtles I lost track of time.”


“Yeah well, little Miss Princess over there knows better. She should’ve reminded you.” Ellie scoffed at Kevin’s words and Kevin went over and gently gathered her into his arms with help from Tim who immediately went to her dresser to get out her pajamas and a second later Kristin walked into the room.


“Kevin Scott!” She lectured and Kevin mouthed oh crap before turning and looking at her innocently.


“Kristin Kay!” He mocked playfully.


“Your mother told me an interesting story just now. She told me a certain boyfriend of mine went up those stairs after she told him not to. After I told you I would help you in just a minute.”


“Well, Mama is pretty good at that story-telling” Kevin said casually as a little smirk formed on his lips. Kristin put her hands on her hips and no matter how hard she tried to be stern with him, the cute childish-like smirk was making it very difficult.


“If you don’t let us take care of you Kevin Scott Richardson you are going to end up back in that hospital is that what you want?”


“Not really, but I can tell you what I do want.” Kristin arched her eyebrow at him curiously still trying to hold onto her stern demeanor and Kevin motioned her to him with his finger. Kristin went to him not being able to resist and he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her to him as he still held Ellie and he leaned forward so their lips were just inches apart.


“You’re pretty sexy when you are lecturing me, you do know that right?”


“If you think being cute is going to butter me up you can—“ Kevin leaned in and claimed her lips for his own then, instantly silencing her. Kristin leaned into him automatically kissing him back and forgetting all about what she was complaining about. What was she frustrated with him for again? Ellie giggled amusedly at the sight and as soon as he pulled away Kristin was left standing there dazed and confused about what she was just saying and her head was spinning fast – like that crazy dizzy sensation that you get when inside an elevator.


“…What was I saying again?”


“That you adore me so and that you will go downstairs and out into the backyard to wait for me so that we can look up at the stars together after I put Ellie to bed?” Kevin supplied, and Kristin laughed.


“I don’t think so,” She told him while sliding her arms around his neck. “But we’ll go with that. Don’t dawdle now, I’ll be waiting.” She told him seductively. She leaned up on her tiptoes and gave him one more kiss and then pulled away and turned to walk out of the room and Kevin sucked in a breath as she purposely swung her hips as she walked. When she turned the corner and was gone Kevin turned and looked at his brother.


“Pajamas get now,” he stammered incoherently and Tim laughed amusedly and held his hand with Ellie’s pajamas in them out. Kevin took them from him and brought Ellie to her bed where he stood her on it and he began to change her into them.


“I will tell you one thing little brother,” Tim began as he stood there and watched and was ready to help if needed. “She certainly knows how to bring out the kid in you that nobody else gets to see very often.”


“Doesn’t she though?” Kevin asked while smiling wistfully. “Whenever she is around, I feel like a huge weight gets lifted off of my shoulders. She doesn’t expect me to take charge and make sure things are running smoothly…she just makes things so much easier and fun.” Tim grinned upon hearing this.


“Well, I’m glad that you seem to be finding happiness bro.” As soon as Kevin finished dressing Ellie he and Tim began the long difficult process of putting Ellie to bed, the both of them working together so that hopefully Kevin can get downstairs to Kristin faster.


~*~*~*~*~

The next day in the afternoon, Kevin walked into Nick and Ashley’s bedroom after a curious Ashley had let him in. She had no idea he was coming over since Nick called him while she was sleeping.


“Nicky, Kevin says you called him?”


“Mhm, I did baby…I know you don’t like leaving my side but I really want to talk to Kevin alone for a bit…”


“Okay…” Ashley replied while eyeing him suspiciously. “I will just go see how Brandon is doing on painting the girl’s room.” And with that being said, she went over and leaned forward to give him a brief kiss before walking out of the room and Kevin watched her as she walked across the apartment to the girls’ room and disappeared inside it before shutting the door behind her and looking at Nick curiously.


“What’s going on Nick?” he asked while going over and sitting down on the edge of the bed.


“I’m sorry for bothering you, but I didn’t know who else to talk to. Brian is all excited about his wedding and I don’t want to interrupt that and AJ is….well…difficult.”


“You aren’t bothering me. You are my brother you can come to me for anything.”


“Yeah but I know that you’re still recovering from being shot in the gut. You should be home resting not jumping in the car and coming here.”

“Nick I would have Jerald take me all the way to Germany with two broken arms and a broken leg if you called me up and said you needed to talk. What’s going on?” Nick was quiet for a long moment just thinking about how he was going to go about saying this. He is going to need to word it just right because he knows that what he has to say is going to cause skepticism right off.


“Ashley came real close to losing me these past three weeks…” he announced after a moment.


“Yeah I know…we all did. It was really terrifying having to sit here not knowing…”


“And I came really close to losing her too.”


“But you didn’t buddy. You promised to save her and you did.”


“But I came very close to it Kevin. And I don’t want to ever have to go through that again…”


“You won’t, I promise. The worst is over now…”


“But we can’t know that for sure, Kev. Sure Sean is in jail…but what is to say that something else doesn’t try to come between us? I don’t want to waste a single moment with her…I want to make each moment count.”


“So go for it then.”


“I’m going to…”


“Good for you,” Kevin urged gently.


“I want to ask her to marry me, Kev.” Kevin’s head snapped up then and he looked at his youngest bandmate who currently sat propped up against his pillows.


“Wait, what? Hold up here…slow down.”


“Why? Ashley and I have had the slow button on all this time and what’s the point?”


“The point is she’s eighteen years old and I thought we all decided that you were going to wait until after she graduated from college?”


“Why wait when both of us are more than ready now?”


“Are you Nick? Really?”


“Why wouldn’t we be? We’ve been living together like a married couple throughout our entire relationship, why not make it official?”


“It’s one thing to play house with someone but it’s a whole different ball game when you actually have to grow up and do the real thing, Nick.”


“Well we’re ready,” Nick insisted. “We’ve never been more sure about each other as we are now. Almost losing the one you love can really open your eyes, Kev.”


“I understand that, believe me. I’ve come close to losing my Ellie more than once since she entered my life but still Nick…I think you need to really step back and think about this. This is a huge commitment you are talking about here.”


“I have thought about it. Many times since the moment I first set eyes on her and you know what? I’m done thinking about it. Because before you know it I could blink and everything that matters to me could be taken away before I have the chance to officially call her mine. I’m not going to risk that. Not ever.”


“And say you do marry her Nick. She’s officially yours and the fight is over…then what?” Kevin wanted to know.


“Then we’ll live happily ever after.”


“Are you sure about that? Are you sure you aren’t just in love with the fight? The challenge?”


“Of course I’m sure! Why would you even ask that?”


“Because before Ashley came along you were terrified of commitment and settling down, that’s why.”


“Is it really that hard to believe that she could’ve changed all of that?” When Kevin didn’t reply, Nick continued. “Look at how much I’ve changed all of these months since I’ve known her Kev, really open your eyes and look. I’ve never been so sure about anyone in my life.” Kevin still didn’t say anything, waiting for him to say something that will really get him to believe he is serious. “She came into my life and gave it a completely different meaning. I knew I was going to marry her the moment I laid eyes on her. The way we connect…it’s just amazing. I waited until her birthday with her when I didn’t have to. There are so many other girls out there who were willing to give me what I wanted but I didn’t want any of them. I waited because there was no other girl worth making love to but her. And I want to do so each and every night for the rest of our lives together. She makes me happy can’t you see that? I know that we belong together…everybody knows it. So why wait another minute?”


“I’ve seen the affect she has on you…we all have and it’s a beautiful thing, it really is. But I just want you to really be sure about this Nick, that’s all. Because I knew you and how you were before Ashley came along and she is a really great girl – she is part of the family, and I love her too. I just don’t want her to get hurt when the challenge for you is over and you get bored…can you understand that?”


“I could never get bored of her. She offers me a challenge each and every day – trying to know every detail big and small about her. Every time I think I know everything, she surprises me with something new. I want to spend the rest of my life discovering her. Do I have your blessing in this or not?” when Kevin didn’t respond right away, Nick continued. “She means everything to me Kev…she is my whole world. My other half and I love her…and I want to show her just how much.” When Kevin saw the sincerity in his eyes as he said this and heard the passion he nodded quietly. He knows Nick has never been so serious about anyone so he does mean it.


“If you promise me that I can be in your wedding.” Nick grinned upon hearing this.


“Psh…are you kidding me? You all are going to be in it. Brian as the best man and the three of you as groomsmen and on top of everything else, AJ is going to be the one to walk Ashley down the aisle as everyone knows.”


“Ha…you’ve convinced me, but you know you’re still going to have to get permission from him right? Ashley’s father isn’t around so it’s only natural that you’d go to AJ. I would like to know how you plan to handle that one.”


“Well…I thought I would go to Denise first and then eventually work my way around to AJ…after Brooke has buttered him up a bit. Kevin laughed.


“Good plan…but you know how much he loves Ashley and is protective of her…approach with extreme caution.”


“Will do,” Nick replied while silently plotting the conversation in his head.


“When do you plan on asking her?”


“After Sean’s trial when we’ve all had closure.”

“That’s a good plan. Ashley needs the closure more than any of us here. I’m sure she’ll be the happiest right then.” Nick nodded and a second later there was a light knock on the door and then it opened and Ashley poked her head in.


“I’m taking the girls down to get some lunch. Do you want me to bring you anything Nick?”


“Yes please.”


“Okay and how about you Kevin? The girls and I will just bring it all up here and we’ll have lunch with Nick.”


“That sounds nice. Can you ask Kristin to come up with you though? I sort of left her in the cafeteria because she wanted to help set up.”


“Mhm,” Ashley answered and then walked further into the room with Bella in her arms. She brought her over to Nick and gently handed her over.


“Will you watch her for a little bit while I go do all of this?”


“Of course,” Nick answered while turning Bella around to face him and kissing her cheek. “I’m all for watching the baby.”


“Kay and make sure you two work on saying Mama while I’m gone. We’ve been practicing it all morning,” Ashley insisted and Nick chuckled as he watched her walk out of the room to get the girls ready to go downstairs.