simply stalking - addie-

[ryder ashton stok]

it had been the typical monday afternoon for ryder stoks. he had just got the kids back from his aunts house, who had been taking them way more than usual. maybe, his kids weren't the brats he seemed to think they were. he whiped his forehead, trying to take the sweat off of it, and then shifted his postion, and focused his attention back on making the lunch for his ' so hungry' little kids. it was a grilled cheese sort of day they decided. so that was what daddy was making.

ryder had basically put this whole life together, trying to create some sort of stability for his little children, but only a day ago, thier mother, and his ex, had came crashing in, cursing all that he did, and basically trying to ruin it all. he had been up all night, thinking and pondering his moves with this. he didn't want to let his kids get hurt, the same way he did. he knew that kaylee didn't know anything about it, at a year old, she was way too young to even understand. but, bently, he had memories of his mother. it killed him to known that he had remembered nic. he looked back his two kids, and then flipped the first grilled cheese on to the little pink princess plate for kaylee.

he then flipped the other grilled cheese on the cars plate for bently. he always seemed to cook both of them at the same time, it made things that much easier. he looked over at both of them, and started to cut bently's in half for him. he cut them into fours, and then cut kaylee's into smaller pieces. he placed the plates in his hands, and walked over to them. kaylee, was sitting in her high chair, and bently on the chair, in his booster seat. he placed bently's down, and then kaylee's. usually, kaylee would end up throwing the plate at the floor, so he was ready for this.

he smiled, right on cue. a huge bang came from the kids, and he looked over to only see kaylee had thrown her plate. a laugh escaped from his lips, and then he added" only, you kays." he looked to his son, who was eating the whole thing up. once bently was done, he picked up his mess, and took him out of the seat. he let him run free, since it was time for kay's bath. he looked to his little princess. oh she surely was just like her mother. the diva, of the family. he lifted her up, and then placed her on the counter.

having a full kitchen that had everything ryder needed, always came in handy. daddy's money, and refurnishing this house before he had came here, always helped too. he started to take her shirt off, and then her shoes, and socks. he sighed, taking her pants off. he left her there sitting on the counter, with just a diaper. he turned his attention to the sink, turning the water on. he ran his hands through it, making sure it wasn't too cold, but wasn't too hot. he smiled, when he had it just right.

he went back to his little daughter, who had crawled away just alittle. he grabbed her by the butt, and dragged her back, hoping not to hurt her. he smirked, and said" bubbles, bubbles, it's time to be a fishy." she laughed, and then he took her diaper off. he placed her into the water, and started to wash her body off. once he was down with that, he made his way to her hair. ten minutes later, and he was done. he lifted her up, placing her on the counter next to the sink, and wrapped a towel around her. he was about to grab her... when he heard a knock at the door.... who could that be?

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[nicole gracelyn sanders]

It was really amazing at how easy it was to track someone down in this town. Nicole gave a satisfactory smile as she plopped down in the driver's seat of her car. Her car was, once again, parked outside of the small general store. The same store that she had met her ex at just yesterday. Yesterday the boy had insisted that she prove herself before getting near their children. But, Nicole was not one to idle with silly games. She didn't have the time nor patience to prove herself to him. She had driven hours just to be told that by him yesterday. So, now, she had a new plan.

She was going to show up at his house. The children were obviously living there with him, and once they saw her, he really would have a hard time avoiding her. She didn't know if Bently or Kaylee would even vaguely remember her, but she was going to find out. Her light green eyes traced over the small card that she now held in her hand as she thought this over. On the card was her pretty, loopy, handwriting. She had both Ryder's name and address. And, there was even some vague directions on how to get there from here. Nicole was quite proud of her work.

Really, it was almost surreal at how easy this had been. After lying up all night thinking, Nicole had remembered the last part of the conversation she had overheard with Ryder and the store's cashier. 'just bill me. you know where I live.' Two simple sentences that had basically lead to her entire plan. She had made her way down to the general store today, flirted with the cashier a bit. And, after twenty minutes of basically leading him on, she got him to cave and tell her Ryder's address. She was amazed at her skills. All it had taken was a phone number, her name, and twenty minutes of her time, and everything seemed to be falling into place. Really, she hadn't even given him her phone number. It was the first number that had popped into her head - Ryder's. So, she hadn't given him anything but a name and her time.

But, now, Nicole started her car and slid her sunglasses on. The small card with her writing on it was committed to memory, so she placed it into the cup holder next to her. The man had said that it was a short drive, really just around the corner, so there really wasn't much of a chance to get lost. Nicole drove quickly, the entire drive taking less than ten minutes. She pulled her car hastefully into his drive and picked up the card once more. Her eyes glazed over her writing, matching the numbers to each of those on the door. This was the place. Small, simple, and rather understated in Nicole's eyes. But, nonetheless, it was home to her kids. Her family. And, if all went well, she'd be spending a good portion of time here.

She stepped out of her car, grabbing her purse and a bag from the back seat, and holding the small card firmly in her other hand. The blond then made her way up to the front door and knocked. She was certain that he was home; his car was parked in front of hers in the driveway. Unless he walked, which was doubtful, he had to be here. She knocked once more now, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Nicole had no nerves whatsoever about being here, but she still knew that Ryder probably wouldn't be happy to see her. She didn't care, however. She had a right to see her children after a year of being away.

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[ryder ashton stok]

ryder looked at his daughter, and picked her up, into his arms. he looked at her, and said" who do you think it is, kaybear?" she giggled and said" auntie!auntie!auntie!" he laughed, and said" only you wish that, one little bear." basically, kaylee had always been little bear to ryder, with nic being momma bear, and bently was always the boy bear. he hadn't really guessed that he would see nic for a while, but when he swung that door open, his nightmare came true.

his jaw dropped and he hadn't known what to say. he really couldn't say no, and he couldn't really be rude with well, thier daughter in his hands. he grunted, and said" can i know why you're here? i told you what i said, and i meant it." he looked to his daughter, and then looked back at nic. kaylee basically looked more like nic, than ryder himself. he hoped she didn't even realize that, but she was smart. " daddy, that's no auntie." she said to her father. he nodded, and said" i know, little bear. that's not auntie. that's...." his trial went off. he didn't even know how to say this at all. he was so lost. could he really tell his children that this was thier mother? someone that he hadn't talked about to them, someone that left them only a year ago, to be back a year later? she couldn't do that to them. honestly, he didn't care about his own heart right now. all he cared about was his kids. he looked at her and said" nic, i told you, you can't do this." he looked to his daughter, and then walked away from the door, leaving it wide open. she could come in or not, it was whatever now.

he placed his daughter down in the living room, and said" stay, little bear." she laughed, and then he moved back to his well, ex. he looked at her, and said" you can't do this, nicole. you really can't. i'm not letting this happen." he looked at her with his stern face on and then looked back to his children, who were both wondering who were at thier door. ryder had made sure that he had no pictures of the past up around the house. honestly, it was easier that way. he didn't want to have pictures around the house with nicole in them. he had no pictures of when kaylee was a baby, well really little around the house. he had a few pictures from a when bently was little, and placed a few up from when kaylee was only a few months younger than now. he looked to her, and said" they don't know you. ben might, who knows. i highly doubt it. i don't keep pictures around the house, go take a look. my room, thier room, the living room, the kitchen, no where." he looked back to her, and said" all i have is one, in my wallet, somewhere they never go, or get a hold of. the rest are in a box, in the attic, that's it."

he looked at her and said" yeah, maybe i made it so you never existed, but it was the best way. " he knew this would hurt her, and that was really what he was trying for. he looked, back at his kids, and then her. he was in her way, plus he was ten times stronger than her, he could keep her out. but, if he really wanted too, he could call the cops. it's trespassing, he could do it. " now get off of my proitory, before i call the cops, nicole. " he spat out.

[nicole gracelyn sanders]

Ryder's face seem to exhibit pure shock as he pulled open his door. But, Nicole's eyes glanced past him without so much as a pause. Her eyes now focused on the little girl in his arms. Kaylee, there was no doubt in her mind about it. Her little girl had gotten so big. Nicole could feel a knot form in her stomach. She had missed so much of her little girl's life. The last time that she'd saw her, she was six months old. Now, her little girl just seemed so... grown up. Biting her tongue, Nicole's eyes shifted back to Ryder for just a second. He seemed to have trouble coming up with a word to describe her. Nicole wanted so badly to just put in the word 'mommy' for him, but she knew that it wouldn't be best for her children. They needed time to adjust; time to just... get used to her.

So, Nicole gave a small smile at the little girl, her attention more so on her than Ryder. "I'm your daddy's friend." She spoke softly, knowing that the term friend was a very loosely used term. She and Ryder were hardly friends, but explaining their relationship to a little girl probably wasn't the best decision. Even Nicole knew that. Nonetheless, she invited herself on into Ryder's home and pushed the door closed with her foot. She was here and he wasn't changing that.

Nicole took the few seconds that it took them to arrive at his living room to scan the house. Hardly any pictures lined the walls. The ones that did were pretty simple. Just a few of Kaylee, around her current age, and some of Bently. Not one of her, and not even a hint of the life that she and Ryder once had was visible in the house. Nicole was slightly surprised by this. She didn't possibly think that it would be so... easy for him to just write her out of their lives forever. Ryder seemed to pick up on this, now explaining how the children didn't know her. Nicole, deep down, knew that they wouldn't, but it still hurt to hear the words coming from his lips. The young adult frowned, her eyes making their way to Ryder now.

No matter how much his words hurt, Nicole was not going to show anymore weakness. She'd done enough of that yesterday. He knew which buttons to press, which words to say, to shut her up or to get under her skin. But, Nicole was determined that things weren't going like that today. She leaned on the wall across from him now, knowing that he wasn't letting her any closer to the kids than she was right now. She could see Bently and Kaylee in the living room. They had both grown so much. Nicole sighed, though, studying her ex with a rather firm gaze. "I know what was said, Ryder. But, as I've told you, I'm not going anywhere. You can try to write me out of your's and their lives all you want... but, the reality is, I'll still be here." She paused now, giving him just a second to let that sink in. Then changing her plan of action, and her tone of voice, she proceeded on. "I'm making an effort, just as you said I needed to. Shouldn't you be happy about that?"

She could twist this to make it look like she was showing 'change.' Nicole was confident in her abilities. If he wanted an effort, than that's what she'd push this off as. An effort. A change. Not her newest scheme in a line of schemes to get him and her children back.

[ryder ashton stok]

he knew that everything he said had gotten to her when he watched her eyes scan the walls of his home. yes, he had written her off just like that. but, no it wasn't easy. but he would never let that out ever. he wouldn't give her that power. he looked at her and watched her. he wouldn't let her any further, and she seemed to get that. ryder watched the girls eyes, and watched her moves. he knew that this was all part of her little scheme. he wasn't dumb, no he knew her all to well.

he moved closer to her, and then, sighed. he let her talk. his head shook, and then he said" no, this isn't your game. this is what you need to get through your head, nic." he looked at her, and then said" i know you think it is, but it's not. you're not making this into your game. these are my kids, i've been here, taking care of them, making a home, a life for them, different from what me and you created back home." he looked back to his kids, and then said" i raised them so far, i took care of them everyday, since you left. nicole, this is my game. if you can't accept that, then i don't give two craps. stop this, stop playing this game, and play it my way, and you will win."

he moved closer, and whispered" keep playing it your way, and you will lose, i will make sure of this." he looked at her, and then to the kids. he smiled, and said" they just finished lunch. it's nap time for kaylee. bently watches his shows upstairs, and goes to sleep. wait twenty minutes, and we can talk, okay?" he was going to be alittle far for now.

[nicole gracelyn sanders]

Nicole had forgotten just how manipulative Ryder could be when he wanted to. He had this side to him that just seemed to come out around her. She was manipulative, yes, but so was he. Every time she twisted something around, he seemed to just twist it back. It was a never ending game to see who could top the other into believing their story. Playing their game. At this rate, they were getting no where. It was suddenly all making sense as to why this hadn't worked the first time through.

At his whispered words, Nicole held back an eye roll. He was making this so difficult. Here she stood in the hall of his home all the way in Lipton, Colorado. So far from home and so far from the life she had come to love. She was compromising as it was. This was how Nicole Sanders compromised. What more could he possibly want? She was trying. Well, somewhat. Nicole sighed, biting her lip ever so slightly.

Twenty minutes. She could do that much, right? What would twenty little minutes hurt. She would have time to think and to get her ducks in a row, so to speak. "Ry, what does this have to be either my game or your game? Can't we make it our game? We could raise the kids together, like we wanted to years ago." Nicole's voice was soft, level even. She wasn't really sure where she was going with this, but it was a simple thought. Earnest, really, even if it reminded her of the way she had greeted Ryder yesterday.

Nicole watched him simply for just a few seconds. Then, she forced a slight, reassuring smile. "Twenty minutes on the clock, okay? Do you need help?" She was willing to try. They were going to work this out. Nicole was more determined than ever now. And, since manipulation was still clearing out of the question now, she'd just have to find other means.

[ryder ashton stok]

he looked at her straight in the face and said" anything with ours between you and me died the minute you walked out of my life a year ago." he was cold, and no, he wasn't proud of it. but, if it was getting through to her, he would do it. she had to understand that he wasn't playing games no more. if she wanted to be a mother, someone that would raise the kids with him, she had to be ready. she had to be the nicole he needed.

he looked at her, and said" can't make promises to you. i was taught not too make them to the devil." he chuckled alittle bit, and then picked his daughter up into his arms. he looked to bently, and then said" come on brother, it's show time." he giggled, and said" dad, you're so strange!" ryder laughed and said" strange is what makes this world fun, boy." together, all three of them walked up the stairs to the kids room. " go into your room, i'll be there soon kiddo" he said to bently.

twenty-five minutes later, and not on time, ryder walked down the stairs. he probably did this on propuse but who knows. bently wanted some father time, so who was he to say no to his kid? he never really did say no to his son. he was a good kid, somehow. somehow, he raised a perfect little boy. and he was intending on keeping it that way, forever. as well, as raising a perfect little angel for his daughter. he looked right at nic, and said" so nicbear, you still like mac and cheese, i hope." he laughed a bit, and then added" i made a whole box of it yesterday, and basically the kids ate each a small bowl of it, and i know if i don't eat it today, it might go bad. and i was wondering if you wanted to join in on some lunch with me while we chat up "our" plan." he smiled, and then walked into the kitchen to the fridge. he grabbed the bowl out, and then said" so, nicole, how's everyone at preppy world? "

[nicole gracelyn sanders]

Well, that was rather unexpected. Nicole's brow twisted into a rather annoyed look now at his words. She'd known that she'd been heard on Ryder when she gave him the boot. But, she still hadn't expected him to be quite so cold. It just seemed out of character for him; it was a side to him that she really hadn't known existed until just yesterday. She hadn't exactly expected him to welcome her back with open arms... but, a little hospitality couldn't hurt. She had come all this way to make things work and he just seemed to be pushing her away more. It was really starting to annoy her.

And, an annoyed Nicole was never a pleasant thing. She was quite the bitch when someone got under her skin. If Ryder was anyone else, Nicole was quite certain that she would have went off on him already. But, she still loved him, and that meant tolerating more than she normally would. If she told him off now, she'd have no chance at the kids anyhow. She simply sneered at his remark, holding back any reply as she knew that it would be vulgar. And, there were two children in the next room over.

Ryder started up the stairs with their kids and Nicole smiled lightly. Bently and Kaylee had grown up so fast. After watching them go, she removed her cell phone from her purse and skimmed through her inbox. Ryder would be back soon enough, but she wanted to keep busy until then. When he had finally come back, Nicole had managed to read and send over three dozen text messages. She was rather bored, and turning to Ryder, she muttered a slight. "You're late."

Always prompt, always having to have a schedule, and fairly organized, tardiness bothered Nicole to no end. But, nonetheless, she followed Ryder on down the hallway to the kitchen. She slid on up to his counter, smiling lightly. He was at least making an attempt now, and so she could two. "I love mac'n'cheese, Ry." Her favorite food, as silly as it was, was mac'n'cheese. And, they way he was finally referring to things as 'our plan' made her happy. She lightened up slightly, shrugging at his question. "Good as ever. Not much has changed there."

[ryder ashton stok]

a chuckle escaped from his lips when she spoke, he looked at her and smiled. he knew why he loved her, and he knew he always would. but, sometimes she just drove him insane, and he liked to do it right back to her. ryder was pretty much the all time best cook now, since nic left. basically, he always had been, but he just got better, since she left.

"good to know one thing stayed about you." he said calmly. he thought alot of things had changed about nicole, and he was just trying to get that through to her. he placed a blue bowl down, at the table, infront of her. he looked at her, and said" that's bently's favorite bowl. it's blue. and he likes it." he placed a bowl down for him, it was red. he smiled, and said" that's good to hear. nothing ever does change there." he looked down at his bowl, and then took a bite.

ryder looked up to her and said" okay, heres the plan. i basically work alot, i have a few days off. it's today, as in monday nicole, and wednsday, and friday. i work tuesday, thursday, and saturday. sunday i get morning shifts, and that's it. so friday night, they go to my aunts, and stay till sunday afternoon ish. " he took a breath, and then took another bite of his food. he smiled, and then said" tuesdays and thursday, they're with my aunt while i'm at school. once, i get home, i get them, and they go to daycare. i get off at nine, and come home to sleeping babies every time. i have a babysitter that picks them up, and makes sure they get ready, and are asleep before i get home."

he took anothe bite of his food, and then once he chewed, he added" you aren't messing up thier schelude, i hope you get that. get a job, nic. do something, too. i have a spare room, as well. you may stay here. but, don't think your messing with things and how i do it around here." he looked at her and said' I mean it, i work hard, and i have put this together for a reason, they have stability, and that's what they need. don't fuck with it, or that's it. i will file for sole custidy, and you will not see them again. my kids will grow up good, they will have ten times more than i had."

[nicole gracelyn sanders]

Nicole slid off his counter, and joined him at the table. She sat down in the chair that he had placed the bowl at and smiled lightly. So, her son liked the color blue. At least that answered one of the questions he had run through her head the previous day. "Yeah, I suppose... It's more exciting than here, though. Why in the world would you pick such a small town?" Nicole picked up her fork now, taking a small bite of the mac'n'cheese. Ryder had always been an amazing cook, Nicole half wondered if that had changed. This was obviously box macaroni and wouldn't show what his talent was. Even she, who might be the world's worst cook, could make box mac'n'cheese. It had directions and was fairly simple.

Taking another bite of the mac'n'cheese, though, Nicole smiled slightly. Very few simple things made her happy. She liked to live extravagantly. But, mac'n'cheese was always a favorite of hers. It probably always would be. She chewed slowly as she listened to Ryder's entire game plan. He just seemed to have everything figured out. "I got it, Ry. No messing with the schedule." It was strange. Normally she was the one with the organization, the game plan. But, since she kicked them out, Ryder must have gotten a lot better at planning.

"Your schedule sounds crazy." Nicole spoke softly, shifting in her chair. She was repeating it in her head, trying to process all the details. But, she was grateful at his mention of a guest room. She would definitely accept that offer. The bed and breakfast she had spent the night at the night before wasn't exactly nice. But, being the only one in town, she supposed that they could get away with that. It made her miss home.

And, she missed home all the more as Ryder told her to get a job. Nicole hadn't worked a day in her life. She had been spoiled rotten since the day she was born. Daddy's little princess had taken a quite literal term with her. "Work? Like a job?" Her eyes darted to Ryder and then back down to her mac'n'cheese. She stabbed it quite aggressively as she considered this. She could play along with the rest of his plans. Those were the easy part. But, a job? Nicole bit her glossy lip, glaring at the food in front of her. "...yeah, sure, no problem. I'm on it..." What would she possibly do? Work a burger joint? A cashier at a local business? All of those seemed like awful options, but she'd find a way out this. Maybe she could just help Ryder out around the house and mooch off her parents for her spending needs? Ryder probably wouldn't be thrilled about it, but Nicole didn't mind.

[ryder ashton stok]

ryder rolled his eyes, and then said" because, i love it here. this is daddy's house, not mine. he had it before we moved, and never got rid of it, because simply he loved this place." he took another bite, and then said" when he wanted to get away, it was here he came. i went with him when i was a kid, alot. but less and less when i grew up, but i still longed to be here. i loved it when i was little, so i thought, it would be a great place to start my family, and settle into a life." a life without you, is what he wanted to add. but, for somereason he didn't want to be too cold right now.

he looked at her, and said" alright." he really did want the best for his two kids. he loved them with everything, and gave them everything he had. he would be with them most of the time that he had off, but sometimes, his aunt did love to steal them from him. he looked to the clock. usually, he was sitting on the couch, playing cod. but instead, he was sitting here talking to his ex. this was basically unbelievable. he heard her comment, and looked up to her, and said" sometimes, it can be crazy. but, that's what i get for having two kids."

he looked at nicole and said" no nicole, you are getting a job. stop mooching off your parents, grow the hell up for once. i did, it wasn't easy." he looked around, and then down at the table. he looked back at her and said" i want to go back, to the days that i could just lay around, the days that i could sit on my ass and play cod all day, with you. i want to go back to the days where i could go out and be crazy. but guess what nicole? i can't. i have two kids, we had kids together. we didn't wear protection, and you got pregnant. we brought those kids into this world, and i'm going to fight to give them more than i ever had as a kid. " he sighed, and said" why am i so stupid? this is a waste of my fucking life. you're never going to fucking change. you're not going to see that i miss you, that i would like to have the love of my life back, the one that i want to be with, and that you're kids need thier mother." he sighed, and then whispered" i love you, nicole. i always have, and i always will. " he banged his hand down on the table hard, and then stood up. he was pissed off, he was hurt, and yes, he was showing it how it was.

he darted around back and forth, mumbling stuff under his breath, and breathing heavily. he didn't get it. why couldn't she just change? he did it. he did so much for these kids... he sat up at night hoping that she would change one day... and come back.. and just want to be the mother that he knew he saw in her all that years ago. he sighed, and then turned around, and raised his hand into the air, and punched the wall straight on hard. once the impact was done, he shook his hand, while not noticing it since his anger, making blood splat all over the floor. " fuck." he said once he noticed.

[nicole gracelyn sanders]

Nicole sat through his job monologue rather unaffected. He felt that she needed to get a job; she found a job to be stupid. She was perfectly content spending her father's money for the next forever. Sure, she would get a job some day. After she went to college, or started her own business. Ever since she was little she had considered Interior decorating. She loved the idea of rearranging a room to make it into something new. That, however, was a ways off. Any job between now and then would be forced upon her, like Ryder was trying so hard to do. She just rolled her eyes, however, as she stabbed her macaroni once more. Stupid noodles.

As his rant seemed to change from her getting a job to how stupid he was for believing that she'd change, Nicole's eyes quickly shifted away from the macaroni. He was stupid? What about her? Here she was, actually making an effort at something for once in her life, and he was ranting her out for it. She needed a job. She needed to change. She needed to have some fucking responsibility. What was he, her mother? Nicole was sick of his nagging. She dropped her fork, standing up as he did. "Ryder, I'm working on changing, okay? But how stupid are you? I can only change so fast. I guarantee that you weren't a fucking saint over night. I'm trying my hardest here, and you just don't seem to get that. I love you, okay? And, I'm trying to change. Just give me time!"

She placed both hands on the table, annoyed at this point. The mac'n'cheese was completely unappealing and Nicole glared as she watched him pace. She breathed in, and then back out, trying to steady her heart pace and her mind. He was stressing her out, and everyone knew that Nicole could not cope with stress. It was just so difficult for her to deal with.

"Ryder!" And then he punched the wall, blood now gushing out of his hand. Nicole gasped, panicked now as she stumbled to the sink. She rummaged through his belongings, finally finding a dish towel and made her way to Ryder. Before she even really realized what she was doing, she had managed to wrap the towel around his hand, holding it there firmly. She was concerned, frustrated, and some what surprised. He had punched the wall. Why? She didn't deal with stress well at all, but she was trying to calm herself down. Ryder, on the other hand, seemed to be preferring punching something as his means of dealing. Nicole looked up at him, eyes laced with her emotions as she looked from him, to his hand, and back. "What the hell was that for?" She paused, deciding that the phrase wasn't the best for this situation. Squeezing his hand firmer, she frowned. "I mean, are you okay?" And yet another stupid question. Of course he wasn't okay - he was bleeding like crazy! Nicole felt stupid standing there before him like this.

[ryder ashton stok]

after punching the wall, nic acted pretty fast trying to help out. he didn't know what to do, or say. he sighed, and then said" i got it, i got it. i'm a big fucking boy." he was pissed, he didn't mean to be this mean. but, everything was just getting him upset. he worked hard to make this life for himself and his kids. and nicole just couldn't even put alittle more effort into changing. he held the cloth tight to his hand, and then moved to the half bathroom near the kitchen.

he moved into the small little room, grabbing the bucket where he kept everything for cuts and stuff. he placed the towel down on the counter, and rinsed his hand and knuckles through the cold water. he whinced a bit, and then shut off the water with his other hand. he took out three bandages, and placed them on his cuts, and then took the wrapping stuff, wrapping it around his hand. he was used to doing this sort of stuff, after he cut up his knuckles many time with skating. he sighed, and took a breath. he turned the water back on, and splashed it on his face. he needed to cool down, and this certainly wasn't helping anything. he ran his hand through his hair, and then walked out after shutting the water off.

he looked to nicole, and just sat down. he didn't know what to say after that, at all. he looked at her and said" nicole, i love you. you know that right? " he looked down at the table, and then said" i just want my nicbear back. i just want my kids to have thier mother, and i just want my family back. but, i can't have you run away if you get stressed." he looked to his hand, and then said" it gets stressful, raising two kids, but together, we can make it work. i promise. i won't let it fail this time." he didn't move, but his look was much more calmier than before. he just needed to think this through. she needed to help out though. he needed help, it was twice as much food, and everything for him. he took a breath, and said" if you're ready to do this, i am too."

[nicole gracelyn sanders]

Nicole shifted as he pulled away, glaring slightly at him. Would a thank you hurt? Granted, Nicole very seldom said thanks herself, but she still seemed to get annoyed when someone didn't say thanks. Ryder went off down the hall for a second and she worried slightly over whether he was mad at her. She had panicked; she couldn't help that his dishtowel was now soaked with blood. It was just the first cloth that she had found.

Sighing slightly, the young adult hoisted herself onto the counter next to the sink. She wanted him back, she really did. She missed him, and the kids, she just didn't know if she could take the stress. Her nerves always seemed to be extremely weak. But, she promised herself that she would try. She had to try. A few minutes passed by as she considered this. Ryder still hadn't come back, and she was about to see if he needed help. He probably had taken the kids and ran, not wanting her back. A million negative thoughts were going through her head and she was just about to go find him when he reappeared.

Thank god. Her eyes followed him to the table where he sat once more. She remained seated on his counter, waiting for him to say something - anything. When he finally did, Nicole was rather surprised. For some reason, she had just been expecting the negative - not this. He loved her. She knew that. She gave a slight nod, "I love you, too." And then he continued. She met his gaze, holding it steady as he continued.

Everything that she had been waiting to hear, he seemed to tell her right on cue. He still loved her, he wanted her back, and he wanted to make this work. A small smile graced her lips, and Nicole finally nodded. "We'll make it work, Ry. I miss you guys, and I won't let us screw this up again." A promise that she was planning on keeping. She didn't drive all the way to this godforsaken town for nothing. She wanted her family back, no matter how dysfunctional.

[ryder ashton stok]

his head nodded, after he heard the first thing she said. he knew this already. she said it like twice today, and probably twice yesterday. he ran his (good) hand through his hair, and then looked to her. Ryder did love her, and he probably always would. he looked at her, and then waited for more. he wasn't asking for much, just her cooperation. he shifted his wieght in his chair, and then looked to nicole.

he listened, and then said" okay, well, if it gets stressful, anything at all, tell me. it's not like our kids are horrible either." he smiled with a chuckle added, thinking back on how they used to be. he looked to her, and said" we have great kids, nic. i don't get how it came. with my anger, and well, you're basically a handful, i just don't get it. but, i know soon, i will get my payback for stressing my mom out." he laughed and then said" bently is like me, alot. kay's is very much like you, oh my. like everything, nic. she has your laugh, too. it's so cute." he laughed slightly remembering how he found nicole's laugh and smile the sexiest thing ever about her.

he looked to her, and said" i miss you, nicbear. i miss my best friend." he sighed, and then looked around. he smiled, and said" i guess, we got ourselves two cute kids, but, hey, that's what happens when you got me in the equation, i mean, come on, i'm sexy." he laughed, and said" you're not so bad yourself either, don't worry, chica." he laughed, of course joking with her. he found her to be one of the sexiest girls ever.