When Hate Turns to Love

Ch. 18

She watched herself later that night on the entertainment channel, lying on her bed. She was mesmerized by the fact that she looked and acted like she belonged in an interview with Ricky Bowen. She was startled by a sudden crash of thunder. She hadn't even noticed it was raining.

"Mommy." came two scared little voices at her door.

"Come on in guys." she said, turning down the comforter further.

Charlotte and Connor flew onto the bed and getting under the covers in record time, just as the thunder rang out again. They cuddled on either side of her. They both whimpered when they spotted a flash of lightning and plugged the ears for the impending boom. Mother Nature did not disappoint.

"I'm scared mommy." Connor said.

"Me too." Charlotte agreed.

Nini joined them under the blanket even though it was quite warm.

"Wanna know a secret?" she whispered to them.

They nodded.

"I'm scared too." she said, just too be on equal footing.

"What do we do?" Charlotte asked.

Nini paused. Charlotte knew how to ask the hard questions. Then she suddenly knew what to do.

"How about we call Ricky?" she asked.

The twins screamed as the thunder clapped again, only louder. Nini left the comfort of the comforter and grabbed her cell off the side table, then went back under.

"Do you want to call him Con?" she asked.

Connor sniffled and nodded.

"Ok, just push the numbers that I say ok?"

"Ok mommy."

Soon the phone was dialed and ringing.

"'lo?" came Ricky's sleepy voice.

"Ricky?" Connor said in a small voice.

Nini set the phone on speaker.

"Connor? It that you?" Ricky suddenly sounded more awake, and there was a lot of shifting going on in the background, "Are you ok little man?"

"Hey Ricky." Nini said, "Sorry to wake you, but the storm has Charlotte and Connor scared."

"You said you were scared too mommy." Charlotte added.

The twins screamed again at another clap, Nini jumped.

"We're a little nervous." she chuckled.

Ricky chuckled too. She wished she could see it.

"How about I tell you a story?" Ricky said, "Would that help?"

"Yes." Connor said.

"What about you Princess?"

"Yes please." Charlotte said.

Twenty minutes later the storm had passed and Charlotte and Connor had passed out.

"Thanks Ricky." Nini whispered, turning the phone off speaker, "They think of you as a super hero."

"What do you think?" Ricky asked.

"I-"

She didn't know what to say.

"Good night Nini."

"Good night Ricky."

LINE BREAK

Nini spent the next day dodging Ricky's fans and gathering all the paperwork she was going to need for the mediation. She had gotten a letter from EJ's lawyer stating that he had three witnesses, his current wife, his sister and his mother. That was the next thing to worry about. She knew Kourtney and her mom's would be there in a heartbeat and Ricky had agreed to be there, now she only needed one more person. She stepped inside the Melody Mart after pacing outside for ten minutes.

"You don't work here anymore." Taylor said as though Nini wasn't acutely aware of that fact.

"I'm here to talk to my David. Where is he?"

Taylor popped her gum and pointed upstairs.

"In his office."

"You know it's unprofessional to chew gum at work, right?" Nini couldn't help but asked.

"You know I don't care, right?" Taylor retorted, blowing a bubble just to make her point.

"Whatever." Nini brushed it off as she headed upstairs.

She knocked lightly on David's office door; loud knocks had always startled him.

"It's open." came Dave's voice.

Nini opened the door slowly. David's focus remained on his computer.

"Dave?"

David swung around in his swivel chair.

"Nini. What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you."

Dave stared at her a moment, obviously having an internal battle.

"Well, I believe I have said all that I needed to you." he said coldly, turning back to his computer.

"Dave, I need your help." Nini pleaded.

"Are you pregnant?"

"What? No!" Nini cried, "What I mean is, Charlotte and Connor need your help."

David turned back again.

"How do you mean?"

She explained about the mediation and the witnesses.

"Dave, you may be upset with me, but don't be upset with the kids. You've seen what EJ Is like. Will you stand with me?"

Nini waited with baited breath as David pondered the question.

"I will be there, if only to keep Charlotte and Connor safe. You-you I'm still disappointed in." Dave finally said.

Nini decided she could take his disappointment if he would help save her kids. She left without another word having left all the information on a sticky note for him.

She had three witnesses.

LINE BREAK

She was surprised to find Ricky at her front door. She didn't know it was him at first, his sunglasses and baseball cap altering his look and hiding his curls quite well.

"Hey darling." he greeted.

"What are you doing here Ricky?" she asked, but that question held no more venom, "Come on in."

"Wow this place is tiny." he commented.

"We can't all have luxurious LA homes." Nini said with a smile, "Have a seat. Do you want anything?"

"No, I can't stay. I just wanted to formally invite you to an award show."

"Really!" she squealed, "What award show?"

"The Billboard Music Awards."

Nini squealed again and threw herself at the brown haired man. He caught her deftly and swirled her around. He lowered her slowly to the ground. She was so happy he didn't have his contacts in. She stared into his chocolate eyes.

"The hell with it." he said harshly.

She didn't need to ask what he was talking about. She felt it. His warm lips pressed firmly against hers. She couldn't help but melt into him, meeting him at every curve and crevice. He deepened the kiss. Soon the need for air became apparent. He pulled away.

"I'm sorry?" he panted.

"I'm not." she said, before pulling his head down.

She needed more.