Fighting For the One

By Dueler312

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of OLTL.

Chapter 11

It was a few days until the day that Starr and Cole were going to renew their wedding vows. Everyone was so ready for this day, except for Patrick, who didn't see love the way Nicole and the others were seeing it yet.

Nicole however, knew that the feeling of love she had for Jake was about to burst out from her anytime. She knew she wanted to tell him soon, but she wanted to wait for the right moment. She then found the answer a couple of weeks ago as she saw the poster for the Homecoming Dance, which was the day after the homecoming game, and the day of her parents' vow renewal ceremony. Luckily the dance wasn't going to happen until the evening, but she knew that would be the perfect place to tell Jake what she felt for him.

Starr was planning to head out when Nicole came in the front room.

"Hey, sweetheart," said Starr. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if I could talk to you," asked Nicole.

"Well, I was going to head out to get the dress for the ceremony, why don't you come with me and help pick it out, and we can talk on the way," her suggested.

Nicole thought about it at first, and then said, "Yeah, I actually would like that." She then grabbed her purse and then headed out with her mom to go dress shopping.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" asked Starr when they were on the road.

"Well, I want to tell Jake that I love him," said Nicole, "but the problem is, I don't know if I'm going to have the courage for it."

"Well, this is a first," said Starr, "Nicole Thornhart being scared of something."

"Mom, this isn't funny," said Nicole. "I really love him, but I'm afraid I'll mess up, or he'll say that he may not feel that way yet."

"Nicole," her mother said, looking at her while waiting for a red light to go green," I know that Jake feels the same for you. I mean you guys go to each other whenever you need to find each other. I mean, your dad actually told me those three words without any fears, although he did go into a long explanation which I cut short when I said the three words too." Starr giggled at that, and Nicole did the same.

"Wow, I guess Love is more scarier than I thought," said Nicole.

"It is," said Starr. "But it is the most wonderful feeling you can have, and as long as you don't do anything to weaken it, that love will always be strong. And trust me, you will have the courage to tell him. Besides, I think Crystal and Matt can help boost you along."

"I know, but I kind of want it to be a private moment, between just us two," said Nicole.

Starr smiled at her daughter as she drove along. "You have definitely grown to be a great young lady, Nicole," she said.

"Thanks, Mom," Nicole replied.

"Hey, we're here," said Starr, pointing out the store she wanted to go to.

"All right, then come on, lets go find you a dress that Dad will love on you," said Nicole.

"Oh, are you an expert on that?" Starr asked, while teasing her. Nicole and Starr both laughed and then headed out the car and into the store to look. Before they did, Starr asked Nicole a question.

"Hey you want to use that dress for when you let your feelings out for Jake at Homecoming?"

"How did you know I was wanting to do that there?" asked Nicole.

"As my mom said, Mother's intuition," said Starr. Nicole just shook her head at her mom while smiling.

Back at the house, Cole came into the house with Patrick, (Cole had picked him up from the park, where he was meeting with his friends.) and sat down on the couch. Football practice was tough today, as some of the guys started to get into a fight. Luckily, it took only Jake and Matt to separate the fight before anyone got hurt seriously.

Cole saw that Patrick went upstairs, and then he turned on the TV to see what was on. Just then he heard a big bang of noises.

"Patrick, you better not be making a mess up there," Cole called out to his son. Another bang came, and Cole blew out some air in frustration. "Patrick!"

Cole got up and went upstairs to see what was going on. He then saw Patrick's room and his door open, but saw that there was a mess in the floor. "Patrick, you better get in here right now, and clean this up." There was no answer. "Patrick!"

Just then somebody knocked Cole out with something. It was Todd. Britney was there as well, holding a struggling Patrick who was trying to escape.

"He's all yours," said Todd. Britney then let go of Patrick and then went to Cole. Patrick started to run, but Todd caught him unfortunately.

"Hey, hey. Its okay. Your father isn't going to hurt anymore," said Todd.

"You let me go, you creep," Patrick yelled out.

'Man, Thornhart has definitely done a good job on these kids,' Todd thought. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."

Todd then wasn't prepared for this. Patrick quickly slammed his teeth on Todd's arm, which made Todd let go of Patrick. Patrick then ran as quickly as he could. He knew he couldn't help his father right now, but he knew he had to go get help. He managed to get out and got on his bike, with Todd nearly on his heels. Patrick then headed off to get some help.

" I thought you had him," said Britney, who came out of the house.

"Don't worry, he'll see that his father isn't what he thought he is, and then so will my granddaughter and my daughter," said Todd. "And then you can have Thornhart all to yourself."

Jake, Crystal, and Matt were hanging around in the park when they saw Patrick pedaling at high speed.

"Hey, that's Nicole's brother," Jake noted. J

Just then Patrick took a curve too fast and fell down. Jake, Crystal, and Matt went to go see if he was all right,

"Patrick, are you okay?" asked Crystal, who helped him up along with Jake.

"Crystal!" said Patrick. He then noticed Jake and Matt there as well. "I need help!"

"Whoa there, buddy," said Jake. "What's wrong?

"It my dad," said Patrick, starting to breathe heavily. "That witch and that monster grandpa has took him."

Jake, Crystal, and Matt all looked at each other. "Are you sure?" asked Matt.

"Yeah," said Patrick. "I actually bit my grandpa to get away, but I couldn't help my dad. That's when I knew I had to get help."

"Don't worry, we're going to help you, Patrick," Crystal calmly said to him, and gave him a hug to try to make him feel better.

"I'll head over to the police station and let them know what's happening," said Matt, and he headed off. Jake took out his phone to call Nicole.

Nicole and her mother headed out of the store after finding the dress for Starr when Nicole's phone went off.

"It's Jake," she said. "Hey, what's up?" she answered.

"Its your dad, Nicole," said Jake. "Your mom's old man has got him. Patrick just told us, and he nearly got him as well."

Nicole face went to a scared look when she heard this. "Is Patrick okay?"

"Yeah, he's here with Crystal and me in the park," said Jake. "Matt went to go tell the police what happened."

"All right, we'll meet you there," said Nicole. Just as she hung up, Nicole saw her mother's face, also looking scared.

"What's going on?" asked Starr.

"Its your dad, Mom. He's got my dad."

"No, this can't be," said Starr, putting her hand to her head. "Who told you?"

"Jake did," said Nicole. "He, Crystal, and Matt were informed by Patrick, who said that he was nearly taken himself. We got to get to the park, now. Patrick and the others are waiting there, and Matt has gone to the police."

"Well, let's not waste any time," said Starr, as she put the dress in the back seat of the car. "Come on." Nicole didn't hesitate, and followed her mom into the car.

Back at the park, Jake and Crystal were still with Patrick, trying to calm him down.

"Its okay, Patrick," she said. "Don't worry. Your grandpa is not going to have your dad for long. "We're going to get him back."

"I knew your friend's family was dysfunctional," said a voice behind Patrick. Aleisha and Thomas were walking up the road, and heard what Crystal said.

"We don't have time to mess with you two," said Jake. "So back off."

"Why? We knew what the truth was, and you should of distanced yourselves from that family, but know you didn't, and now I'm pretty sure your lives are going to be wrecks," said Aleisha.

"Right on that," said Thomas.

Crystal jumped up and was about to smack those two on the face, but Patrick beat her to it, but instead of smacking their faces. He stomped heavily on their feet, both of them.

"OW!" said Aleisha. "You little jerk."

"Talk about my family like that again, and I'll stomp harder," Patrick yelled at them.

Just then, Starr and Nicole pulled up, and headed over to where the others were.

"Let's get out of here," said Thomas Aleisha agreed, and with difficulty because of Patrick's stomp on their feet, walked out of there.

"What happened?" asked Nicole.

"Not important," said Jake.

"Are you okay, honey?" Starr asked Patrick.

"Yeah, I am, but Dad is in trouble," he said.

Just then Starr's phone went off. "Hello?"

"I think its time you come sweetheart, because Cole has left you for someone else, and I can help you get through it." It was Todd's voice coming though the phone.

"Where! Is! My! Husband! Dad?" Starr said; all in one word each.

"Don't worry," said Todd. "He's not going to hurt you or your kids anymore." The connection then went off.

Starr almost started to lose it. Patrick went to hug her. Crystal was looking scared as well. Nicole was worrying as well, as Jake saw as well, and went to comfort her.

"Don't worry," Jake said to his girlfriend. "We're going to get your dad back."

"I know," said Nicole. "And then Todd Manning and Britney Jennings can rot behind bars."

Uh-oh. Todd and Britney have gotten Cole, and nearly had gotten Patrick. Luckily that everyone is on the alert that Cole has been taken. How long do you think until they find Cole and take down Todd and Britney? Stay tuned.