Chapter 8
The Next Day
Madrid, Spain.

Everyone had just arrived to their new hotel, and was waiting for Jen to come back with the hotel room keys.

Everyone was unusually quiet. In fact they had been all day. Each kid seemed to be locked inside their own world.

Lanie could not stop going back to last night when she and Ellie kissed. It had felt so wrong and yet so right. She found herself wanting more despite the fact she had always been told it was wrong to do those things with someone of the same sex as you. All of this was confusing and she was just focused on trying to sort it all out.

Ellie's thoughts however were actually not on the kiss from last night but more on her Dad. She had kissed quite a few other girls before making last night nothing overly special. Something else was bugging her. She had noticed that all the guys and their wives helped each other with the others kids. It was all weird to her. What was even weirder for her was how Scott didn't think twice about crossing AJ when he told him to go find Arie the other day.

Jesse had been thinking about his Mom. He wanted to know what her reply would say. He was so excited to hear and learn everything about her and to see what she'd be willing to tell him but he was really nervous too. Part of him deeply feared her rejecting him as she had done before. He refused to believe she hadn't changed but the idea was still haunting.

Gabe... well Gabe couldn't get his mind off of the hot girl that rode him like a bull the night before.  He was slowly become an addict and he liked it. What was there not to like about sex? He couldn't wait to find another girl to bang and was more than determined to do so.

Scott was in a much deeper place. It seemed as though he had been buried deep in his notebook all day. Just recently he had been feeling much more emotional than normal. Normally his cigarettes took the edge off things but it was starting to not work again. He had gone through this once before during the last backstreet tour. He had ended up turning a crewmember for something a little stronger. At this Moment in time, he was debating on doing it once more.

Arie was focused on Scott. She couldn't help but want to get closer to him. Deep down he really was a good guy. The hard persona he often showed was just a cover and she knew it. She just wasn't sure what he was hiding. She figured his notebook would more than likely revile a lot. She was sure he was writing and not doodling as he claimed. Whatever information those words held was the key. If only she had that key she could... or she thought she could bond with him. In her young girl fantasy land bonding with Scott was the ultimate prize.

"So, uh, Dad... do Gabe and I get our own room again? Scott, he and I did good together last stop." Jesse seemed to plead with his Dad.

"I have no problem with that. You've given me no reason not to trust you so far." Howie told Gabe.

Nick nodded, "Agreed. Brian, what about Scott?"

"I think he proved himself." Leighanne softly told her husband.

Brian took a deep breath slowly.

"Come on..." Scott looked hopeful at his Dad.

Lanie couldn't help but roll her eyes. She knew the only reason Scott wanted to be with Jesse and Gabe was because it would allow him to be free and do whatever he wanted.

"Alright, but your mother and I are trusting you Scott." Brian gave him a warning glare.

"We get our own rooms again too right?" Ellie looked at her Dad with a slightly defiant stance.

AJ couldn't help but shake his head; she was so much like him that it often scared him. "Nicky, you cool with trust our girls again?" AJ asked.

Nick looked at Lanie who gave him a sweet innocent smile. "Yeah, Lanie knows what'll happen if she screws up. Don't you?"

"Yes..." She rolled her eyes.

"Alright then, but you two are next to me again." AJ caved also.

Arie instantly looked up at her father. It took him a Moment to even catch the fact she was asking for something.

Ellie and Lanie saw instantly. They looked at each other nervously then backed to Arie. Mentally they crossed their fingers.

Howie looked to Leigh.

Leigh sighed, "Well...we are staying tonight and tomorrow night before we leave for the UK and you've been really good even though you had a bad start to the tour..." She said trying to decide but before she could go on she was cut off by Scott.

"Oh my GOD! Do you have to KEEP bringing that shit up?! I said was sorry. Jesus." He said annoyed and pissed off.

"Scott!" All the parents yelled.

The other kids, expect Ellie, looked at Scott with shock. They knew he was like that but he normally was good in front of the parents.

Brian and Leighanne weren't sure what to say. But AJ did, "Scott..." He started slow.

Scott wasn't paying attention; he was trying to show he wasn't scared of AJ even though he knew he should be it wasn't anything bad like getting  the crap beaten out of him or something like that. It's just when you didn't listen to AJ the punishment was severe and not worth anything.

AJ grabbed his upper arm hard and moved him away from the group a bit. Scott jerked away from him as they stopped.

"I'm sick of your fuckin shit, and treating your parents like crap and all your fuckin’ cussing." AJ started getting more pissed by the second

"You're cussing right now..." Scott pointed out.

"That's because you're pissing me off." AJ replied.

"Well when you guys keep ripping on me for making Arie cry, you PISS ME OFF!" 'I feel bad enough' He added silently.

"Listen...” AJ said trying to calm down. "I'm sure it pisses you off but you do not... and I repeat DO NOT go off like that again, especially in front your parents and the rest of us. It's disrespectful and I WILL NOT stand for it."

Scott just looked at him strange.

"Look, I'm not gonna ask what's gotten into you the last couple of years or so. But seriously if you do not wanna be attached to the hip to your parents or one of us and that means sharing a room with your parents or one of us too then you need to smarten up or we will take away your freedom. Is that understood?" He asked towering over him.

When the boys starting having kids, they all agreed that they'd help with the parenting especially if they couldn't get through to their own kid.

Scott had always listened more to AJ than his own parents, which is why Brian and Leighanne allowed AJ to take over the parenting for a few minutes.

Scott swallowed; he knew his uncle wouldn't psychically hurt him. Yet, when AJ was towered over him like this, he felt like a small child again.

"Well?" AJ when Scott didn't answer.

Scott looked away and nodded.

"Say the words."

"I understand." Scott said the words coming out softer than expected.

"Good. Oh and I dunno why you really need a lighter but when I figure it out your grandkid will feel me kick your ass so you might wanna chill." AJ said then turned and rejoined the group. "You were saying Leigh?"

Leigh smiled, "Thank you..." She looked at Howie who nodded then down at Arie. "We can try it for tonight only."

Arie grinned, "Thank you, Mom!"

Instantly groans came from Lanie and Ellie. Nick shot Lanie a warning glare and Ellie looked to AJ with a very pissed off face.

"Nicky." AJ said walking toward him and pushing him away from the group.

"We can't make them put up with her." AJ softly told him.

"Why not? She's a girl and just wants to be more like them and besides, it’s for tonight only." Nick folded his arms. He had no idea how AJ of all people could be taking their side.

"Nick, putting them with Arabella is like the time your Mom made us let Aaron bunk with you and I back when BSB was first starting." AJ explained. It was the worst having to deal with him.

"But Aaron was much younger then Bella. Besides Alaina knows she can't always have what she wants and it's not fair to Bella. She can't help what age she is. I don't get it. Why are you fighting for their side? With Scott you put your foot down and that's that."

AJ sighed, “It’s just for tonight only right?”

Nick nodded, “Right. And if they decide for it to become a regular thing, then we can ask Howie and Leigh that we allow the older girls some time alone, but for now let’s just see how tonight goes?”

AJ laughed a bit and nodded as they began to rejoin the group but Ellie stopped them, "You can't really be making me bunk with her. It would be worse than Chinese water torture."

"Ellie you don't even know her." Nick argued.

"Excuse me; I was talking to my Dad." She said a little rude looking at Nick then turned to AJ.

“Ellie, it’ll all be fine I’m sure.” AJ tried to reassure her with a hint of warning in his voice.

She adjusted the sunglasses on her head and then placed her hands on her hips, “This is stupid. Last time she was too young and this time they’re gonna try it?”

“Maybe Howie and Leigh talked about it between then and now.” AJ offered.

“We promise you girls will have time without her no matter what.” Nick told her.

“I really think there should be something in this for me.” Ellie looked to her Dad ignoring Nick.

“Like?” AJ asked her making Nick look at him strange. He couldn’t help but question AJ’s judgment.

Ellie gave AJ a slightly boastful grin as she lifted her shirt slightly and pinched the top of her belly button.

“Fine… if you behave during Bella’s stay with you.”

“Deal.” She shifted her hips and walked away.

Nick gave AJ a disapproving look, “Really Dawg?”

“What? There’s nothing wrong with rewarding good behavior.” AJ told Nick.

“That attitude was not good behavior AJ. She’s walking all over you and you need to stop it before there are so many footprints that you look black.” Nick tried to warn.

“Is everything alright?” Howie asked joining the two men.

“Yeah man, the girls just want alone time. You know the whole age gap thing.” AJ played it off as if everything was good.

“Yeah, I understand but Leigh and I just really need a little time alone.” Howie tried to make his reasoning discreet.

“OH… uh… yeah D, no worries. The girls will survive a night here or there so you two Latin lovers can have adult time.” Nick finished with a cheesy grin.

AJ laughed when Howie’s face flushed a little.

“Room keys!” They heard Jenn’s voice and walked back to their group silently.

As the keys were passed out, Howie went over a few rules with Arabella that he hoped would make her stay with the girls easier for them.

“I’ll be good Daddy. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to prove I’m worthy of your trust. I love you.” She hugged him and ran to catch up with the older girls.

“Tonight?” Howie heard his wife’s voice behind him and her arms around his waist from behind.

“Yeah, tonight.” He told her grabbing a hand and kissing the back of it.

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Meanwhile as Brian and Leighanne rode an elevator to their floor Brian seemed agitated.

“Baby, you need to relax. You’re making yourself sick.” Leighanne told her husband.

“Leighanne stop telling me to relax. I’m worried about our son and I have every right to be. He’s spinning out of control. I can’t believe you don’t see that.” Brian’s voice was raised but not yelling.

“Brian, I see that something has gotten into him but I trust that God is gonna take care of our boy and see him through whatever phase this is. He isn’t doing anything outrageous. Just being a little defiant.

Brian nodded but didn’t say anything.

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While Nick was on his laptop in the comfort of his hotel room when his cell rang, he answered it without looking at the Caller ID, “’Yellow?” Nick said half listening. He was editing and mixing music tracks he had made up a while ago.

“Nick, we gotta talk!” Aaron’s voice came from the other end of the phone.

Nick sighed, “If it’s about BJ then I really don’t give a fuck.”

“Nick! Alaina IS her daughter; I think she has the right to see her…” Aaron tried to explain.

“NO! Aaron, BJ’s right’s got taken away by the courts. BJ has NO fuckin right to MY daughter.” Nick said as he felt his anger rise.

“What if Lanie wants to see her too? Maybe they should meet and talk, that’s all BJ wants anyway, Please Nick!” Aaron said quickly before Nick had another chance to speak.

Nick shook his head even though Aaron couldn’t see, “I don’t care…”

“Nicky, you aren’t being fair.” Aaron complained.

“I’m not being fair?” Nick almost laughed. “What’s not fair Aaron is the fact I had to break her heart and watch her cry every night for almost 3 months when she was four each time she would ask if she’d get to see her Mom tomorrow.”

Aaron stayed quiet.

“Look Aaron. I’m sorry but I won’t allow BJ to hurt her. She’s hurt her enough. I’m always here for you though. Alright?”

“Yeah, just try to reconsider ok? Maybe think about you talking to her and seeing how different she is yourself.”

“I won’t change my mind Aaron but fine… if it makes you feel better I’ll think about it.” Nick calmly told him.

“Thanks. I uh… I’ll let you go now alright?”

“Yeah, later AC.” Nick said and hung up.

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Meanwhile AJ was watching TV in his room. He was enjoying the down time but couldn’t get his mind off his daughter. He was excited yet anxious to see how all this legal stuff turned out.

Just as his eyes were about to shut due to sleepiness his phone rang. It was his lawyer. “Hello?” He said answering it.

“Hello Alex, I just need to know how much custody you want to push for.”

“Oh, well I… I’d like to push for as much as possible without taking her completely away from Rochelle. I’m a bigger person than her.” AJ nodded to himself.

“So how about we ask for full legal and physical custody with her having visitation?” He questioned.

“Sounds great.” AJ agreed breathing deeply.

“Alright then I’ll get working on that and get back to you.” He quickly replied.