Thanks to Kennedy's Friday Night Delight, Alice Jericho, and TJ Sparkles for reviewing! And to TJ for being my AWESOME beta! xoxo
Read on and enjoy!
Aiden got up to feed Lexie again, who was getting fussy. It was going to be a long night, she could tell already. She sat on the couch in the living room, waiting for Alex to come home. She could never sleep when he went out because she worried about him so much. It was almost three in the morning when he finally came stumbling in. The bar stench hit her immediately as she stood up. It was the dicey combination of alcohol, cigarette smoke, and perfume that made her stomach turn.
"Are we gonna play twenty questions again or can I go to bed?" he fumed, swaying back and forth in the doorway.
Aiden shook her head slowly. Alex heaved out a sigh as he stomped upstairs. Aiden crossed her fingers that Lexie wouldn't wake up. They went to their bedroom. Alex undressed at the door before going to take a shower. Aiden scooped up the clothes to put them in the washer because she hated the smell of cigarettes.
She hung up his jacket and went downstairs with her arm full of clothes. She took his wallet out of his back pocket. Her heart skidded to a stop when two condoms dropped out of it and onto the tiled floor. She closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. Alex never used condoms when they had sex, which only meant one thing. She threw his jeans and shirt into the washer and was turning his boxers inside out when she saw lipstick on the waistband. She leaned back against the wall, completely light headed.
Not again.
She took the condoms and the boxers with her and raced back upstairs to check his jacket pocket. In it she found four numbers. Alex walked out and saw the evidence in her hands.
She turned her tear stained face back to him, "What are you doing? What is all of this, Alex?"
"What are you doing fucking snooping around in my shit for?" he shot back.
She threw the evidence in his face and pushed him, "Are those hickeys on your neck too? What kind of a man are you to go party with only God knows who? I am sick to death of your shit. I'm not going to let you disrespect me anymore. I'm done!"
With that she turned on her heel and went to her daughter's room and started packing a bag for her. As soon as Alex threw on a pair of boxers he went into the room and grabbed his wife's arm. He pulled her back into the hallway and gently closed the door.
"Neither one of you are leaving. We're going to go to bed and talk about all of this in the morning, do you understand?" he whispered harshly.
"You're right, we're not but I want you to leave. I don't want you here." she said, her voice full of false bravery.
Alex laughed, "This is my house, so I'm not going anywhere, and you are my wife and I'm telling you that we'll discuss this after we both get some sleep and cool down."
He took her arm and dragged her back down the hall. The only reason she wasn't putting up a fight was because her daughter was asleep. Alex pushed her toward the bed as he locked the door behind him. He pulled the covers back and laid down.
"Aiden, get in the fucking bed and stop being such a brat!" he ordered.
She checked the baby monitor before laying on top of the covers facing away from him.
"You're going to freeze." he muttered, frustrated by her defiance.
"I don't care." she hissed.
He was over her attitude. He snatched the covers from beneath her and pulled them back over her.
He pulled her to him, remorse finally seeping in, "I'm sorry babe."
"Fuck you Alex." she whispered haughtily as she took her pillow and wedged it between them.
"We'll talk in the morning then." he gave up.
Aiden waited until she heard him snoring before she cut off the baby monitor and slipped out of bed. She went to their closet and packed a large suitcase with as many clothes as she could. She packed her toiletries and slipped from the bedroom to Lexie's room and packed a bag for her as well. She went to the garage and heaved all of the suitcases into her vehicle before she went to get her daughter. She said a silent prayer as she lifted Lexie from the crib. The baby whimpered softly and then nuzzled into Aiden's neck. She closed the door behind her and went to the garage.
Lexie stayed asleep as she was being buckled into her car seat. Aiden got behind the wheel and pulled out of the garage and waited for it to close. She fished her cell phone from her purse and hesitantly hit the speed dial to Chris' cell phone. He was a lighter sleeper than Ajay and figured it was her best bet for the night.
"Hello?" he answered groggily.
"Hey Chris, umm it's Aiden." she said.
"Yeah, are you and Lexie okay?" he asked immediately.
She loved him for always worrying about her.
"Well we, uh, kinda need a place to stay, just for the night, if you don't mind." she rambled out.
"Of course not. I'll get up and wait for you." he said.
"Thank you Chris, you're the best." she said trying not to cry.
"Just be careful. I'll pull my car out of the garage so you don't have to bring Lexie out in the cold. Just pull in beside Ajay, okay, sweetheart?" he said.
"Okay." she smiled.
He was the sweetest guy she knew. It stung her when she remembered that Alex used to be that way too. When she pulled up the garage was open and Chris was sitting on the steps with his hoodie pulled over his head. He stood up and hit the button to close the door when she pulled in. He went to the driver's side and opened her door for her. He saw the tears in her eyes as she stood up. He pulled her into a hug, feeling her body tremble with emotion. He squeezed her tighter when he heard her sniffle.
"What happened?" he asked, wiping her tears away.
She shook her head, "I was a fool to believe Alex could be faithful, that's all."
He pecked her lips, "You get Lexie Lou and I'll get your suitcases."
She nodded; thankful he didn't push her to talk about her cheating husband. Lexie was still asleep in the backseat. Aiden was so thankful her daughter was a heavy sleeper like her father. Chris followed her up to the guest room and put her suitcases in the corner.
"Did you need anything for Lexie?" he asked.
Aiden smiled, "No, thank you though."
He pulled her back into a hug, Lexie between them, "Get some sleep okay? We'll talk in the morning."
Aiden laughed sadly, "That's what Alex said."
Chris grinned, "He doesn't know you left?"
"No. he said that it was his house and that I couldn't kick him out and that I was his wife and I needed to go to sleep and calm down and we would talk in the morning. After he slept off his hangover." she told him.
Chris rolled his eyes, "Was he acting weird before then too?"
Aiden nodded, "I don't care if he treats me like crap, but whenever he can ignore Lexie and not hold her or acknowledge her, that's when I've had enough. He's not just leaving me, he's leaving her too and I can't handle or accept that. I don't know, maybe he woke up one morning and decided he didn't want to be married with a baby but I am not going to put up with it." she said, tears falling down her face.
Chris pulled her to him again and kissed her cheek, "I'm sorry he's doing this again. It blows my mind how he almost lost you and now he's throwing you and his beautiful daughter aside."
Aiden nodded slowly, crying harder.
Chris bit his lip, "I'm sorry babe, I didn't mean to make you feel worse."
"You didn't, I promise. The whole thing is just stupid." she sighed.
"Get some sleep beautiful, and if you need anything just come and get me okay?" he said.
"Okay." she said managing a weak smile.
He left the room and closed the door behind him.
Aiden laid her daughter down on the bed and surrounded her with pillows as she changed into a t-shirt and short little pajama shorts. She forced herself not to cry as she looked at the sleeping infant beside her. This was Alex's loss, not hers or Lexie's.
Early the next morning Ajay rolled over to her sleeping boyfriend and poked him awake.
"You're sleeping late for once." she laughed.
He yawned, "I had a late night last night. Aiden came over about four in the morning."
Ajay looked puzzled, "Why?"
Chris took a heavy breath, "Alex is at it again. She said he was being a dick and ignoring her and Lexie and then she found condoms in his wallet, lipstick on his boxers, and numbers in his pocket."
Ajay sprung out of bed and put on a pair of track pants and a long sleeved t-shirt.
"Ashton, what are you doing?" Chris asked getting dressed as well.
"I'm sick and tired of Alex hurting Cookie, and I think it's high time he knew that."
"What about Joey and Kenzie?" he questioned.
"You know how lightly Aiden sleeps; besides this shouldn't take long at all." Ajay grinned wickedly.
Chris shook his head, knowing whatever his girlfriend was planning was not going to be good for Alex. They went outside and drove to Alex's house.
She stormed up the stairs to the front door and rang the doorbell annoyingly until Alex showed his face.
"Ashton fucking Reso, if you touch that doorbell one more time…" Alex threatened, opening the door.
"You'll what?" Ajay dared stepping up to him.
Alex rolled his eyes, "So did Aiden go tattle on me or something?"
That was all it took to push Ajay to her limit. She reached back and punched Alex in the groin. Chris winced as Alex dropped to his knees, holding his package. He fell to his side, a strangled howl erupting from him.
"What was that for?" Alex gasped, barely finding his voice to speak.
"You know why." Ajay glared at him before she took Chris' hand and walked back to their car to head back home.
Alex was left in the fetal position on his front porch, trying to regain the use of his motor skills.
"That was a little much don't you think?" Chris asked.
"Not at all. He hurts my Cookie and my goddaughter I hurt him, it's that simple." Ajay replied.
Chris smiled and shook his head, you couldn't tell Ajay anything sometimes. They arrived back home and stepped into their house, stopping at the door.
"Weren't there a bunch of toys laying around here?" Chris asked, looking around.
"Yes and there was a whole load of laundry on the couch too." Ajay said, looking at her immaculate living room.
"Shouldn't the kids be running and screaming too, its nine o'clock?" he asked as they walked into the kitchen.
Aiden was standing over the stove with Joey perched on the cabinet beside her. Lexie and Kenzie were playing on the floor.
"Mommy!" Joey shouted, jumping off the cabinet and rushing into his mother's arms.
"Hey baby." she smiled, picking him up.
Kenzie teetered over to Chris with her arms raised. He picked her up and kissed her cheek.
"What's going on, Aiden?" Chris asked.
"Nothing. I woke up and fixed breakfast." she answered.
Lexie crawled to Aiden's legs and began whimpering. Aiden scooped her up and settled her on her hip as she turned back to the pancakes she was making. Ajay and Chris gave each other questioning looks.
"Mommy, I have to go to the potty." Joey squirmed.
Ajay went to the half bathroom down the hall with Joey.
"Aiden, did you clean in here?" Ajay called as Joey nodded.
"She cooked and cleaned all morning, Mommy." he told her.
Ajay went back to the kitchen. Chris had put Kenzie back on the floor with Lexie while he wolfed down his plate of food. Ajay narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend.
"What? She makes the best breakfast ever. It's right up there with your Gran's." he shrugged.
The time buzzed on the oven and Aiden went to it and removed a whole baking sheet of cookies.
Chris perked up, "Holy crap! Are those the cranberry white chocolate chip cookies that I love?" Aiden smiled and winked at him.
"What are those you're putting in?" he asked excitedly.
"S'more streusel bars." she answered, setting the timer.
Chris got out of his seat and hugged Aiden from behind, "Even if you and Alex do get back together, will you still live with us please?"
Aiden laughed, "You're crazy."
He grabbed four cookies and sat back down. Aiden stood with her hands on her hips, obviously looking for something to do.
"Where are those clothes from the couch?" Ajay pondered.
"A-Ten folded them pretty and we put them up while the babies were still asleep, and then A-Ten vacuumed, dusted, mopped and made me Frenchies because they're my favorite."
"What about the toys?" Ajay asked, not taking her eyes off of Aiden, who had yet to look at her.
Joey pulled on her, "I'll show you."
Ajay followed her son to his room, expecting to find it in disarray as it usually was. She gasped when she walked into his completely organized room.
"Member those plastic things you wanted me to put my stuff in? A-Ten put names on them so everything has a home." Joey smiled.
Out of curiosity she looked in his closet. All of the shoes and clothes were neatly folded and hung up. She went down the hall to Kenzie's room to see it had been tidied up as well. Then she went to the spar bathroom to see it too had been cleaned. She went into her bedroom to see the bed had been made and their laundry that was in a pile in the bathroom had been sorted and put into the hampers. Ajay went downstairs to see Aiden cleaning up the kitchen and loading the dishwasher.
"Cookie, what has gotten in to you?" Ajay asked.
Aiden looked at her innocently, "What do you mean?"
"The entire house is spotless; you're cooking enough food to feed the army, what is all of this about?" Ajay elaborated.
Aiden shrugged as she closed the dishwasher and sprayed the countertops down and began scrubbing them. Ajay watched her clean them for a few moments before she grabbed Aiden by the arm and pulled her into the den.
"Sit. Now." Ajay ordered.
Aiden sunk into the chair looking at the floor.
"Why are you doing all of this? My goodness Cookie, it would have taken Chris and me both two days to do what you've done." Ajay said.
"I couldn't sleep so I started last night cleaning the bathrooms." she confessed, "It just helps me not to be sad and cry. It keeps my mind off of Alex if I stay busy."
Ajay squeezed her friend's hand, "Well if it makes you feel any better Chris and I went over there this morning and I punched him in the balls for you."
"Ajay! Was he okay?" Aiden squealed.
She smirked, "He's probably got an ice pack on them right now but he deserved it."
Aiden shook her head trying not to smile, "We were thinking about having another baby, we can't very well do that if you have messed up his reproductive system."
Ajay shrugged, "He'll be fine, but back to you. I wanted to tell you if Chris hasn't already, you and Lexie are more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you like. We love you and your cooking and this house has never been cleaner."
Aiden smiled, "I don't want to put you guys out. I mean you've already got two kids, I understand if you don't want to have to deal with another baby in your house."
Ajay looked at her friend like she had just slapped her, "Aiden. Harlow. Carlton. Martin. I can't believe you just said that. You would have to have ten Lexie's to make up one Joey or Kenzie. I was cursed with the rambunctious children; you were blessed with the sweet one."
"Are you sure?" Aiden asked, scrunching her nose.
"Absolutely." Ajay confirmed, hugging her best friend.
A piercing wail carried through the house.
"Sounds like Lex." Ajay said as Aiden sprung off the couch.
Chris had Lexie in his arms trying to calm her.
"Shhh…it's okay baby." he whispered.
Lexie screamed again, her head resting on his shoulder.
"What happened?" Aiden asked, rushing in.
"Joey accidentally spilled some of his juice on her dress." Chris smiled, kissing Lexie's cheek as he bounced her.
Lexie screamed again as she reached for Aiden. She lifted her baby from Chris' arms and whispered in French again as she inspected the spot on her dress. She continued speaking in French to Lexie as she went to her purse and took out her Tide to go pen. She sat Lexie on the counter and applied the pen to her dress. She watched her mother with her lip trembling.
Aiden smiled at her, lifting her chin up to look in her eyes, "Tous partis ma belle ange."
Lexie's brown eyes were still filled with tears as she reached her arms up again. Aiden kissed her as she picked her up.
"A-Ten, I sorry for making Lou Lou cry." Joey said.
"You didn't do anything wrong honey. Lexie is just a girly girl." Aiden said, "Thank you for apologizing though, that was very sweet of you."
"Lexie Lou is a spoiled rotten baby, that's all." Ajay smiled at her son, ruffling his hair.
Aiden covered her baby's ears and gawked at Ajay, "I know you're not talking. Kenzie is just as 'well taken care of' as Lexie is."
"That's what you call it." Ajay teased.
Aiden stuck her tongue out at her.
"I love it when you do that." Chris commented.
"What?" Aiden asked cradling Lexie to her.
"Speak French to her. I think it's cool and it seems like she knows what you're saying." Chris smiled.
"Well, if she's going to be a fashionista like her Mommy, she's got to learn." Aiden said, kissing the top of Lexie's head, "I'm going to go put her down for a nap."
Chris looked at Ajay when Aiden left, "So is she going to stay?"
Ajay nodded, "She said she didn't want to be a problem, how hilarious is that?"
"That's Aiden for you though." he grinned, handing his daughter her juice cup.
Cute little chapter :o) Thanks for reading!