The vacation was fun and Ashley felt relaxed and refreshed. It was one of those rare nights when she got to sit at home in the quiet. She welcomed the silence she had missed it with 4 children in one cabin for a 2 week period. The phone started to ring it startled Ashley at first but she got over it and answered the phone.
"Hello" she said.
"The kids are sick and they need you" John said.
"I'll be there in 20 minutes" she told him.
They both hung up and Ashley went upstairs to grab Frankie. True to her word the was at John's house 20 minutes later. She hadn't stepped foot in this house in over a year. The thought sent chills through her spine. She knocked on the door and waited.
"Hey" John said.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"All of them have chicken pox" he said.
She shifted Frankie on her shoulder a little bit. Neither one spoke the silence was deafening. John let her inside and followed behind her.
"They won't stop itching and crying" John said.
"It's ok I've already had them and Frankie is too young" she said.
John cringed when she mentioned Frankie.
"Sorry I still have to get used to that" he said.
"It's ok" she said.
"Mommy" yelled Gracie.
"Looks like you are being paged" John said.
"Yeah I am" Ashley said.
She set up Frankie's porter crib and put him inside he was still asleep and probably would be for a while so she could check on her other children without having to worry about him. John watched her this jealous feeling was churning in his stomach. As much as he loved her, she had another man's baby how could he ever over look that? This was the first time he had ever got to see Frankie up close. He had some of Ashley's features but you could see their differences too.
"What's Frankie's full name?" John asked.
"Francisco Javier Bautista Jr." Ashley replied.
John sat there for a moment he had heard that name before he just could place it.
"Let me help you with this one Frankie J" she said.
"You have a son with Frankie J?" John asked his tone was a mixture of surprise and annoyance.
"I promise I will explain everything later" Ashley said.
About 3 hours later Ashley collapsed on the couch. John was right beside her. This was the closest they had been in God knows how long.
"John what the hell are you doing?" Ashley asked.
"All this talk about chicken pox is makin me itchy" he said continuing to scratch.
"John take off your shirt" she told him.
"In the same room for 2 minutes and you already want to jump my bones" John said with a smirk.
"No, you freak I think you might have chicken pox" she said.
John took off his shirt and sure enough he had little red spot all over his body.
"How the hell could you not notice that?" she asked.
"I thought I was just itching because they were" he said.
"How could you not know that you never had chicken pox as a kid!" she exclaimed.
"It was a long time ago so sue me" he said.
"Come over here" she said.
"Why?" he asked.
"I'm going to put some calamine lotion on you" she said.
"No way I am not going to have that smelly pink lotion all over my body" he protested.
"Fine sit there and itch then" she said folding her arms across her chest.
John stood there for a few minutes but then the itching got really bad so he gave in.
"Fine but that crap on me" he said.
Ashley walked over to him and began to rub the lotion on his back. He had to admit it felt good to feel her hands against his skin again. He could feel his body reacting to her touch. He moaned a little bit.
"Enjoying this aren't you?" she asked with a smirk.
"Yeah" he replied.
"Well stop it because I'm trying to take care of you not get you aroused" she said.
"The best of both worlds" he said.
"Get upstairs and lay down from what I heard it is very dangerous for adults to get chicken pox and you aren't dying on me unless I'm the one who is killing you" she said.
"I wouldn't dream of dying any other way" he said.
"Good" she said.
"But I don't wanna" John whined he was pouting like a little kid and he looked just like Christian.
"If you go upstairs I'll bring you some soup and ice cream for dessert" Ashley said in a sweet tone. It was the same one she used with the kids when she wanted them to do something.
"Will you feed me?" he asked.
"If you be a good boy then yes" Ashley said.
John took off up the stairs Ashley heard him jumping into bed.
"He is just like a little kid" she said.
She picked up the phone and dialed Marissa's number. Marissa lived about 10 minutes from Ashley.
"Hey Rissa if you are sleeping call me when you get this I'm at John's house in Lynnfield all 3 children have chicken pox and so does John so if you want to lend me a hand that would be great" Ashley said.
After leaving a message on Marissa's voice mail she began making a big pot of chicken soup for everyone.
"Mommy I need you" Gracie yelled.
"What is it sweetie?" Ashley asked walking into Gracie's room.
"I'm all itchy and my throat hurts" she whined.
"I know baby but it's still Sunday so we'll have to wait till tomorrow and then we are going to take you to the doctor's office" Ashley told her.
"Ashley" John yelled.
"Baby I'll be back" she said.
"What is it John?" Ashley asked.
"It hurts" he said.
"Ok um I'll give you some Tylenol and then we're going to try a warm bath" she said.
"Just making it stop hurting" he cried.
Ashley drew him a warm bath with baking soda and calamine lotion. While he got into the bath she checked on the boys. Talon was watching tv and trying not to scratch. Ashley had put oven mitts on both boys and told them that is they took the mitts off the would be in trouble. Ashley went down to check on Frankie stirred the soup put more lotion on all the kids and helped John change into a cotton t-shirt and boxers.
After everyone ate and was asleep Ashley sat back and rested her head against the couch she was so tired running around taking care of everyone she knew it wasn't going to be easy especially John but she was willing to do it.
Ashley's cellphone rang so she picked it up.
"Hello"
"Ash it's me" John said.
"Why are you calling me on the phone?" she asked.
"Because I need you and I didn't want to yell and wake up the kids" he said.
"Smart" she said "I'll be right up"
Just as she was about to get up Frankie began to cry.
"Frankie this is really not a good time" she said. She picked him up and brought him up to John's room.
"You have a visitor" she said.
"Is it ok that he is up here?" John asked.
"Yeah he's too young to get them he was vaccinated for them and I believe it is good till he is 2"
"So who named him?" John asked.
"Dani, Frankie's wife" she replied. "she and I were really close and when they found out she couldn't get pregnant because she was sterile I felt so bad because I could have children and they couldn't".
"You always did have a big heart" he said.
"Are you ok, do you hurt anywhere?" she asked.
"Only right here" he said taking her hand and placing it over his heart.
"That is funny because I hurt in the same place" she said.
John started shivering and pulling all the blankets too him.
"I'm so cold" he said.
"That's the shingles kicking in" Ashley informed him.
"I think I'm going to be sick" he said.
"It's normal but I still want to take you to the doctors tomorrow" she said.
"You don't have to take care of me" he said.
"You would have done the same thing for me" she replied.
"Yeah I would have" he said.
"You look tired you should try to sleep" Ashley said.
"I know this is going to sound weird but will you sing me that song you sing to the kids before they go to bed?" he asked.
Ashley smiled and began to sing Britney Spear's song Someday (I will understand) to John. He relaxed and closed his eyes she ran her hands through his hair. She could see his even breathing meaning he was asleep.
"I love you John" she whispered before pulling the blanket closer to him. She then picked up Frankie and left the room.
I do not own Britney's song but I do really like that song and it fits so deal.