Mentions of abuse!!!
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"You were on the news again." Nini said when they arrived back at the apartment.
The kids were in their rooms playing with the souvenirs Ricky got them.
"What now?" he sighed.
"It was about woman leaving your hotel room." she said, pulling things out of the fridge to make lunch.
"A stalker." he responded, "She was so delusional. Somehow she got backstage and found out my hotel room number. She thinks we are going to get married. You know it's only you, right?"
She smiled at him over her shoulder, busy at the counter.
"I know Ricky." she said.
He let out sigh of relief. Nini set down the knife she'd been using and approached him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, his own arms wrapping around her waist seemingly by their own accord. She looked into his eyes.
"I love you." she said definitively, "And I know you love me too. I know you love my children and they love you. I trust you. You were the one who helped me trust again, so naturally, it should be given to you."
He closed his eyes, his forehead meeting hers, and sighed.
"How'd I get so lucky?" he asked.
Nini giggled and pecked him on the lips. She turned back to her earlier task.
"What do you want?" she asked, "Turkey or ham?"
"Turkey please." he said.
"Can you find out what the kids want?" she asked.
"Sure."
He knocked on the twins' door.
"Come in!" Charlotte yelled.
He smiled when he saw them playing with their gifts. He had found some Outback toy figurines for Connor and a koala stuffed animal for Charlotte, who was currently trying to stuff it into one of her doll dresses.
"Hey kids, your mom wants to know if you want turkey or ham on your sandwiches." he said.
"Ham." they both chorused.
"Are you eating here too?" Connor asked hopefully.
"You bet kiddo." he said.
Connor's grin made Ricky smile.
"Can I play?" he asked Connor.
Connor nodded and Ricky joined him on the floor.
"Oh, wait. HAM!" he shouted.
Out in the kitchen, Nini rolled her eyes.
LINE BREAK
Brookelynn Caswell was struggling to keep the mask she thought she had perfected in place. Seeing her parents like that had just shaken her up. She had tried to forget about them, EJ had all but ordered her to. He wasn't what he was before they got married. She had met him at her friend's party a month after she turned 18. He was charming, sweet, and funny. They had this whirlwind romance that she felt like came out of a romance novel. It didn't feel wrong to marry him two months later.
But not even two weeks after they got married, she saw a different side of him. He was moody, volatile, shouted at her over the smallest things. She argued with him, fought back. That was until he hit her for the first time. She was stunned. After that he had all sorts of rules for her. What she could or couldn't say, where she could or couldn't go, she had to look perfect, and he basically locked her into the house, letting her out occasionally for appearances sake.
She sighed, trying to stifle the tears that threatened to fall. EJ would be home soon, and he didn't respond well to tears.
"Come home. Come be safe."
Her father's words echoed in her mind. She wanted to go home, she wanted to be safe. She wanted to escape, but she didn't know how. Nina Salazar-Roberts escaped though. Maybe she would help her. She didn't want EJ to hurt Nini's kids either.
She jumped when the front door slammed, reminding her of how dangerous her thoughts were. EJ had had a bad day. She was in for a bad night.
LINE BREAK
Ricky was relaxing in his lounge early the next morning when his cell rang.
"Hello?"
"Ricky, its Kourtney." her voice was frantic.
"Kourtney, what's wrong?" he asked, tossing aside his video game controller.
"I need you to go to the hospital. I'm forty miles away at my parent's house and I can't get ahold of Nini and her mom's are out of town."
Ricky shoved his feet in his shoes.
"Back up, who's in the hospital?"
"Connor!"
Ricky felt his hear drop as he ran out to his car. No, not him. Not his Little Man.
"What hospital?" he asked, "What the hell happened?"
"St. Johns. I'm not sure. I'm the emergency contact if they can't reach Nini, but I've already told the teacher that went with him that you are coming. I'm on my way."
"What about Charlotte?"
"Still at the school. I'll keep trying Nini."
Ricky hung up and tried not to speed, the last thing he needed was to be delayed.
He ran into the hospital, nearly crashing through the front desk.
"Ricky Bowen. I'm here for Connor Salazar-Roberts."
The receptionist nodded, made a call, and then handed him a visitor's badge. He felt as though the process took years.
"Room 14."
The receptionist unlocked the doors and he ran through them. He found room 14 and burst into the room. Connor was asleep; at least, Ricky hoped that he was. A young woman stood, the teacher.
"What happened?" he asked, pleasantries the last thing on his mind.
"He started to have severe stomach pain, he couldn't even stand. The doctor thinks it might be his appendix. They did some testing and gave him some pain medicine."
"It is his appendix." A man in a lab coat said, "We are going to have to operate. Who are you sir?"
"I'm Ricky Bowen. Connor's mother is my girlfriend. Myself and her best friend have been trying to reach her."
Suddenly Nini burst into the room, tears running down her face. Ricky caught her.
"Slow down. Deep breaths." he said, "This is Nina Salazar-Eoberts, his mother."
"I'm so sorry. I turned my phone off for class and I didn't turn it back on." she went over and kissed her son's forehead.
"Miss Salazar-Roberts."
Nini turned back, finally noticed the doctor. Ricky held her as the doctor explained the diagnosis and the procedure. He asked the necessary questions and eventually they were transferred to a room upstairs. The surgery was scheduled for later that night. Kourtney called to say that she was back in town and would take care of Charlotte. Ricky and Nini sat quietly in the uncomfortable chairs provided.
"I was so scared." he said finally.
"Thank you for coming." she said, reaching over and squeezing her boyfriend's hand.
"Not a problem at all." he said earnestly, "I love Connor. I'd do anything for him. Anything for you."
And as it usually does with hospitals, it took forever, but Connor was eventually rolled away for surgery. They waited together for four long hours. They were so relieved when the doctor informed them that Connor made it through just fine and would wake up within the hour. Around 3 a.m. Connor's eyes fluttered open.
"Hey Little Man." Ricky whispered, Nini had fallen asleep.
Connor yawned, but lifted his hand and waved.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Sleepy." Connor said, "Goodnight Daddy."
Ricky stopped breathing as Connor drifted off once again.
Daddy?
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