As their kids played in the backyard, Isaac and Nikki spent some time together gardening. They had some good music playing in their CD player, and Nikki was singing along. He smiled at her, and planted some starlight roses into the garden.
" Hey, that is womens work. You should be mowing the lawn or something." He heard Zac call out to him.
Isaac laughed. " There is nothing wrong with me helping my wife out."
Kate followed Zac and their kids, along with Christopher into the backyard. " I agree, Isaac. You keep doing your thing."
Nikki smiled up at them. " What brings you guys here?"
Before Zac could say anything, Everett sprayed him with his water gun, and Monroe joined in by spraying him too.
Isaac laughed, until he started to get sprayed too. Then he playfully picked Monroe up and started to tickle him. " Spray your brother or your cousins. Okay?" He suggested.
Monroe nodded, and aimed his water gun at Junia as he was set back on the ground. She giggled, and started to run away from him. They all laughed as they watched him chase after her.
" We had a run in at the mall with Arielle's best friend Rachel. She caught Christopher's dad watching us." Zac told them, once Christopher walked away to play with the gameboy that went everywhere with him.
" You don't have to worry that he may have followed us though. He was kicked out of the store. She told us not to go home because he may have been following us around for days, and may know where we live." Kate told them.
Isaac shook his head in disbelief. " This can't be happening. It is the last thing that we need."
" I know. But it is happening. We need to warn Taylor and Arielle." Zac looked over at Christopher. " And we have got to make sure we keep him protected."
" You know you can stay here as long as you need." Nikki told them. " It will be a bit crazy, but I think we can handle it."
Kate hugged her. " Thanks Nikki. We're lucky to have you guys to lean on."
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When Ashley had left town, she had gone home to her mom's in Colorado. Her dad had died a couple of years ago, so she lived on her own. She knew her mom would tell her that she told her so, and that she would hear it over and over again. But it was better than being alone. She hadn't however expected her mom to scream at her the way she did. The moment she showed up without Christopher was when it began. Even after a month had passed, she was still hearing about it.
" Mom, will you stop with the yelling? I'm not cut out to be a mother! I never was, or it would have worked out the way I planned it to." She screamed back at her.
" You can't always expect things to go your way, Ashley! Things happen, and you have to make it work the best you can." Her mom screamed at her.
" I can't protect Christopher from his dad the way Taylor can. He has security around him half the time! Not to mention he has Arielle to look out after him."
" How do you even know that he is with Taylor? He could be with some stranger in a way worse situation. Now get your butt back there and bring him home."
" I can't go back there, mom. You don't understand! They all see me as nothing but trouble, and they are right. Because if I had my way, I would have Taylor."
Rolling her eyes, her mom let out a sigh. " I will never understand your obsession with him. But if you really love him, then fight for him. Go back there and prove them all wrong. Just be who you were when you were first with him. Take your time and show him that you are the same person you were then."
