Hello all! So It's obviously taken me awhile to update, so if you are still following this story, thank you sooooo much for your patience! It took me awhile, because I wasn't quite sure how to go forward, honestly. I wanted to talk about Whitney's struggles with addiction but I don't want it to be the main focus of the story. So these next two chapters address the issue at hand and what I wish that could have happened to her had she married Kevin. With that being said, I will do much better to update sooner and wrap up this crazy love Kevney fanfic. And if you are still reading, please drop a line and let me honestly know what you think!
Whitney brushed Krissy's hair until it glistened, then pulled it in a curly ponytail and fastened it with her favorite diamond clip, while Babydoll watched. "There sweetie. Don't you look cute for tonight?" Whitney asked her. Krissy picked up her mirror, taking a look at her style from different angles. All Whitney could do is smile and shake her head; she had created a mini diva and she loved to look good for the camera. "Okay, this will do. I like it!" she finally said as she hopped out of the chair. Whitney snorted. "Well I'm glad that I got the little miss Bobbi Kris seal of approval." She told her. "My turn!" Babydoll plopped down in front of Whitney and she had the arduous task of taming her mane, which was dark brown with golden highlights. She put curl serum in her hair and brushed it until it rested well below her shoulders. "Whew, that was hard! You've got a lot of hair and it's thick and long baby. I think I'm gonna have to start having you both get your hair done with me." Babydoll giggled. "Mommy can I have a pretty hairstyle, like Krissy?" "No way!" Krissy interjected. "I don't want her to look like my twin." Babydoll made a face at her big sister and turned away.
Whitney looked at the clock and saw that time was running out. This was one event which they COULD NOT be late for. "How about this?" she brushed her hair up to the top of her head and managed to put it into a neat donut-bun along with a ribbon. Babydoll got up and inspected it and again Whitney smiled and shook her head at her second little diva. "I like it mommy." She gave her an adorable smile. "I'm glad you approve as well, little Miss Brelynn Emily." Whitney told her. Kevin and Brayden popped in the bathroom door, after just watching a football game while waiting on the girls to get ready. "There's my glamour girls. Are you all ready to go?" Kevin asked. "Almost. I just need to finish getting dressed." Whitney informed him. "Well hurry up. Remember we are meeting our folks there and we can't keep the public waiting. " He winked at his family.
About an hour later, the Costners arrived at the children's school for their first ever Christmas production. Whitney was excited to see all of her babies perform and it felt good to focus on them and the holidays. It had been so much that had been going on with her personally. She and Kevin had privately made the plans of what would be happening to her. Although she knew that this was the best thing that would be happening in her life, Whitney could not help but feel unnerved about the unknown. This would be the first time that she would be facing her demons head on and she didn't know how she would take it. There was going to be a lot that she would be uncovering about herself for the first time. However, she knew that she would have to toughen up and take her addiction head on and she was grateful that Kevin would be in her corner, supporting her along the way. Kevin on the other hand, was extremely nervous as well. He didn't know how his wife would react to everything either and he hated that he could not help her himself. As much as he tried not to fault himself for not picking up on the signs and doing something earlier, he still in a way felt guilty for not being the protector that he promised to be. He knew that they had a long road ahead, but she had to start somewhere.
However, it was the holidays, and Kevin and Whitney promised each other to just focus on having a good time with their family. They would handle the unknown afterwards.
Whitney and Kevin found their mothers and made sure to grab enough seats for everyone. Cissy (who met them there) embraced her daughter after she greeted Sharon. "I'm so glad that you are here ma." Whitney told her. Cissy smiled at her daughter. "Me too baby…. I wouldn't miss being here for the world." Whitney knew that her relationship with her parents and in-laws was rocky ever since they found out about her secret. But she was grateful that her mother had come around and had been supportive of her decision to seek help. Cissy knew that at the end of the day, she would do anything for her daughter and she would stick by her. And for that, Whitney could not be more grateful. Her father was talking to her as well, but it was harder to crack into what he was truly feeling. Either way, she could only worry about so much and could only pray that he came around. Sharon and Bill had been just as supportive, and Whitney appreciated them for not judging her and being there.
Not long after, BeBe and CeCe arrived with their spouses. Whitney was already smiling, but she lit up like a neon sign when she spotted them and waved them all to come sit with them. "Girl, you look fabulous!" Whitney remarked as the two embraced. CeCe did look spectacular in a classic red pantsuit and an elegant updo. "I could say the same about you." CeCe replied as Whitney twirled in a white bodysuit, a shiny blue blazer and sharp boots. "What's up sis?" BeBe said as he playfully nudged Whitney as she laughed. "Hey big head." She was glad to see her friends in a more festive environment rather than last time. Kevin came over and they all caught up in each other's lives. "You know that we've been praying for you two." CeCe told them. "And we are glad that you are doing what you need to do to get better sis." BeBe added. Whitney smiled at them and looked up at Kevin. "Well, it helps to have such a wonderful husband that is sticking by my side." Kevin kissed her cheek affirming his love for her. "You've got that right." He said "And thank you for your prayers guys. I love you both so much for still being there for me." Whitney added. "We aint going nowhere girl. It's gonna take much more than this to get rid of us!" Bebe joked. They all shared a laugh. "We love you both too. And let us know if you need for anything. That's what family does." CeCe added after they calmed down. Whitney relaxed, feeling entombed in all of the love and support.
They all finally took their seats and the announcer came to the stage. "Welcome family and friends. Thank you all for coming tonight. We're very pleased to welcome you to our first Christmas production. We hope you all enjoy!" "This is supposed to be really good." CeCe whispered to her as the audience applauded. "I know it will be. Because our kids are in it." Whitney replied. CeCe smiled as the lights went down. BeBe's son Ben came on the stage dressed as The Grinch and the play's narrator. Those who knew who couldn't help but to laugh. BeBe could not help but laugh and clap the loudest. As soon as he walked offstage, CeCe's daughters all came onstage dancing in their pink tutus and white tights to music from "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy". "That's our baby girls!" CeCe exclaimed while her husband recorded their every move. "Look how cute my Godbabies are!" Whitney observed. "Bebe, you see how tall Ben is getting? He's gonna pass you soon."
"All I want for Christmas Is You" blared next and the girls and boys in the dance group did a Hip-Hop dance in cute Santa outfits. Krissy was front and center and was showing why she was there. She was clearly one of the best dancers. Whitney, Kevin and their mothers beamed and bopped their heads to the beat. "She's really good babe." Kevin observed. "I'm so proud of her." Whitney continued to beam. The last of the program ended with a skit. The curtain opened and Ben came back on stage to red from a scroll introducing the students who portrayed Jesus, Mary, Wise Men, angels and shepherds. Brayden looked dapper as one of the wise men and gave his lines with clarity; he drew the audience in. He was naturally shy, but he was showing that he had inherited the acting chops from his parents as well. "Look at my grandbaby." Cissy said. "My son is such a natural." Whitney proudly said aloud. "He really knows how to capture the audience already." Kevin smiled at his son. When the lines of the scene were done, Babydoll and her Pre-kindergarten choir took the stage and she began to sing. "O Holy night, the stars are brightly shhhiiinnggg. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth".
The audience began to gasp, surprised by her rich clear voice. "She is fantastic." CeCe gripped Whitney's arm. Whitney could not speak as she held her breath. Tears could not help but fall out of her eyes as she heard her little girl sing. Babydoll had told them that she had a surprise for them, and she did not disappoint. They all knew that she was capable of singing when she sang along her little headphones at home, but this was the first time she had fully displayed her voice. "Fall on your knees. O' hear the angels voices. O' night divine. O' night when Christ was born." The choir had already joined in, and the audience already started to clap. "That's my Babydoll! Do you hear those notes?" Kevin said, not caring what everyone thought. He was just as shocked as everyone else. Sharon grinned from ear-to-ear. "Wow, she's a natural." Cissy said looking over at Whitney. "She sounds like you did at her age." Whitney shook her head. "I don't think so. I don't think I sounded as good at that age as she already does!"
After the children took bows to a standing ovation, the proud parents brought them home to celebrate the day before Christmas Eve. The family ate dinner, and they put on Christmas music and movies and they all finished decorating the tree. "I can't stop saying how proud I am of you all." Whitney told them as she handed them Christmas streamers to decorate the fireplace for Santa. "Does this mean that we get more Christmas presents?" Krissy asked. "Yay! Does it?" Brayden asked. Whitney laughed and she playfully poked them both. "I guess you all will have to find out now won't you?" Babydoll slid next to her. "Did I surprise you mommy?" she asked, batting her long eyelashes. "You sure did baby. You made me cry. I didn't know that you could sing that beautifully. You sound better than I did when I was your age." She told her. "I can't be better mommy because you are already a big star!" Babydoll giggled as Whitney tickled her. Whitney smiled. "I know that silly girl, but you could be one too if you keep singing like that." Secretly, Whitney hoped that her kids did not want to be in show business because she knew how they can chew one up and spit one out and she wanted to protect them. But she knew that they all had talents and she and Kevin would have to support them if they one day decided to do so. She just hoped that it was later rather than sooner.
Kevin came into the family room and Sharon and Cissy followed with cups of egg nog. They all took a cup and enjoyed finishing up the decorations and enjoying each other as family. To Whitney and Kevin who got caught up in their famous careers and personal lives, there was nothing better than spending simple, quality time with their loved ones and they relished every moment.
That moment was suddenly interrupted when Sharon stated that they all should take a family photo together. "That way Whitney, you can have it to look at while you are gone," She told her. This immediately caught Krissy's attention. "Where are you going mommy? Are you going on another tour?" she asked. Whitney nervously looked at Kevin and Cissy cleared her throat, looking the other way. Observing this, Sharon picked up on the vibe and realized that they had not told the children. "Oh dear… I'm sorry." She mumbled. "Where are you going mommy?" Brayden echoed. Whitney gave a small smile and sighed. "Come here babies, we have to share something with you okay?" There was no use to hiding it until the holidays were over… they would have to tell the children what was going to happen right then and there.
After the kids came closer, Kevin cleared his throat. "Mommy is not feeling well right now. And she is going to a place where people can help her feel better." The kids gave their parents. confused looks. "But mommy doesn't look sick or yucky." Krissy stated. "She is not coughing, or puking, or blowing her nose." "I know baby, but I'm not THAT kind of sick." Whitney explained trying her best to hold in her emotions. "I have something called an addiction… and it's to things that are not good for me. And I am going to a place called rehab so that I can get help to stop." "Is it something that we did?" Krissy started to pout. "Oh no baby. Not at all." Whitney said, feeling bad. "Mommy has to do this for herself so I can get better." "But we don't understand." Babydoll stuck her lip out, sharing the exact pouty mouth that Whitney possessed. Kevin kneeled next to his family. "It's okay to feel that way. Sometimes people don't understand why things happen, but they learn how to deal." The children sat in silence, not sure how or what to feel about their mother going away.
"This is a good thing for all of us. It's something we have to do so that we can continue to be a family and make more fun memories." He continued, trying his best to break it down. "Can we visit ?" Bray finally asked. "Can we call you mommy?" Krissy added on. "I wanna hear from you every single day. But you won't be able to come." Whitney informed them. "We don't want you to go mommy." Babydoll said as tears came out of her button eyes. Brayden followed his twin and begin to lightly sob as well. Krissy gave a longing glare.
"Don't cry babies. Please don't be sad for mommy. I will be back before you know it, I promise. Come here." Whitney told them as she rocked her children in her arms, trying her best to hold in her own tears. She hated to leave her family behind because of her selfish choices. Kevin joined in their embrace, wanting to protect them all from their pain and confusion. "I love you all so much. And that will never, ever change." Whitney told them.
Cissy and Sharon watched their children and grandchildren, wiping tears from their eyes. They both silently prayed that rehab would be the answer to start the healing process for Whitney, her marriage to Kevin and being there for their babies.
