Chapter 2
The next morning I was awoken by Rocky.
"Bro, time to wake up." I woke up, and looked over at Bella. She was still sleeping.
"Should I leave her to sleep?", I asked.
"I would. She's going to have a lot of excitement today. She might as well be rested." Rocky said with a shrug. I nodded, and we went downstairs to have breakfast.
Everyone had just sat down, and mom had given everyone there pancakes, when Bella walked downstairs.
"Daddy?" she called from the stairs. You couldn't see the stairs from the living room. So nobody knew who was there. I got up, and went to get my daughter.
"Good morning, baby girl." I said. She held out her arms, and I chuckled. She loved to be carried. I walked back into the dining room. Everyone was staring at us.
"Who's this, Riker?" Dad asked me.
"Everyone I'd like you to meet my daughter, Bella Arlene Lynch." I said, smiling.
Rydel squealed, everyone else looked shocked, except for Rocky who sat watching as he ate his pancakes.
"She's so adorable!" Rydel squealed. She walked over to Bella, who was still in my arms. "Hi, sweetheart. I'm your Aunt Rydel."
"Hi." Bella said shyly, from where her head was resting on my shoulder. Ross stood up, and came to stand next to Delly.
"Hey there cutie. I'm your Uncle Ross. I'll be your favorite uncle." he said with a wink. Bella giggled.
"Hey!" Rocky said. Bella's head shot up.
"Uncle Rocky!" she squealed. Ross looked surprised, and Rocky was smirking at him.
"Hey there angel. Did you sleep good?" he asked. Bella started squirming, so I set her down. She went straight to Rocky, and held up her arms. He smiled, and picked her up.
"Yes. Daddy's super comfy." she said.
"Well, I'm glad to hear it." I said. She giggled, and we all sat down. "Mom, Dad, Ry? " I asked. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm very proud of you son." my dad said.
"My little baby's all grown-up." my mom said, tears in her eyes.
"Mom, don't cry." I said, smiling at her.
"I hate her." Ryland said.
"What?!" everyone yelled. Bella, who didn't really understand what was going on covered her ears, as we all yelled. I stood up, and looked over at Bella. She looked scared.
"It's okay sweetheart." I said sweetly. "I want you to go with Aunt Delly to the mall. She'll get you some new clothes, and stuff." She nodded, and hopped off Rocky's lap. She and Rydel, ran upstairs, and then left. As soon as I heard the car drive away I turned to Ryland.
"What do you mean you hate my daughter?! How can you hate her, you just met her!"
"She's going to ruin everything." Ryland said. "R5 was just starting to become something. We are scheduled for another tour in April, for six months. What are you going to do with a kid?" he said angrily.
"She doesn't change anything! She can come with us on tour. Lots of people do it. I think your just jealous that your not the youngest anymore." Rocky said. Ryland flinched, which told us we hit the nail on the head.
"Look Ry," I sighed, "You'll always be my baby brother. Nothing's going to change that. We're not gonna forget about you just because Bella's here now. At least give her a chance for me, please."
"I guess." Ryland said. We all hugged. After that we played COD until Bella and Delly came home.
"Daddy!" she squealed, tackling me with a hug.
"Hey there baby girl." I said hugging her back. "Did you have fun with Aunt Delly?"
"Yeah! We went to sooo many stores, and I got to try on all the pretty outfits, and Aunt Delly let me get some toys too!"
"Did she?! Wow! Aunt Delly's just amazing isn't she?", I asked.
"Aunt Delly's my favorite aunt.", she said.
"Baby, she's your only aunt." I chuckled.
"I know." she shrugged, and walked away.
"Hello, hello, hello!" I heard a familiar voice call from the kitchen. I heard Bella squeal, and I was met with an arm full of three-year old. Ell walked in a minute later, looking slightly confused.
"Who's this Riker?"
I smiled, and stood up still holding Bella. "Ell this is my daughter Bella." I poked Bella, gently in the side. "Baby girl, it's just Uncle Ellington. Remember, daddy told you about him?"
She lifted her face up, and nodded slowly, "He plays drums."
"That's right." I said smiling. She climbed out of my arms, and went over to Ell. She looked at him for a minute before holding up her arms. Ell chuckled, and picked her up. She started petting his goatee. She giggled.
"It's prickly!" she squealed. Ell and I both chuckled at her.
"What are you doing here, Ell?" I asked.
"I was bored." Ell said shrugging.
"What's bored mean?" Bella asked Ell.
"It means I had nothing to do." Ell explained to her.
"Oh, like when Aunt Delly made me try on like a billion pairs of shoes, and I had to just sit there. I was feeling bored?" she asked.
"Yes, sweetheart." Ell said. I watched as the two continued to talk. Ell was actually really good with Bella. He paid attention and listened. What I didn't get was the weird fluttery feeling I got in my stomach everytime Ell looked at me. I'd have to talk to Delly later, after I got Bella to bed. Speaking of bedtime...
"Baby girl, it's bedtime.", I said standing up.
"No, Daddy! I wanna stay with Elly.", she said cuddling close to Ellington. I looked at Ellington when she called him Elly. He shrugged, stating it wasn't bothering him.
"Baby, you can see..Elly," I tried my best not to snicker, "Tomorrow."
"I want Elly to stay with me." she said clinging to Ell as I tried to pick her up.
"Rike, it's cool. I'll just help you put her to bed." Ellington said, standing up with her. I sighed, and followed them up to my room. Hopefully I would find an apartment for me and Bella soon. When we got to my room, that I shared with Rocky, Bella decided she was in charge of where we laid.
"Daddy you lay here." she pointed to the edge of the bed. "Elly you lay here." she pointed to the middle of the bed, and I felt my heart rate double. "And I'll lay here." she plopped on her side of the bed.
"Baby girl, I don't think..." I was cut of by Ellington.
"Chill, Riker it'll be fine." he climbed in the bed, and sighing to myself I climbed in after him.
"Daddy sing." Bella demanded.
"What do we say, sweetheart?" Ell asked.
"Please." Bella added.
"That's my girl." Ell said. My heart sped up again when Ell called her his girl. What is wrong with me tonight? I don't like my best friend like that! Do I?
"What do you want me to sing baby girl?" I asked.
"Wanna be your everything." she said. I started singing softly. I'd sung the song about three times and Ell was starting to look sleepy, and Bella was almost out. I watched Ell as he fought to stay awake. I really did wanna be his everything. I needed to talk to Delly. I slipped out of bed, and down the hall to Delly's room. I knocked on the door.
"Come in." I heard Delly say.
"Hey, Del." I said opening the door, and closing it behind me.
"Hey, Rike what's up?" Rydel asked. She'd always been able to tell when something was on my mind.
"I have a problem Delly." I said sitting on the edge of her bed, next to her.
"What's wrong big brother?" she asked.
"I think...I think I'm in love with Ell." I said nervously.
Rydel laughed. "What made you finally realize?"
I sat there shocked Rydel had already known?
"Of course I already knew, silly! Why do you think I told Ell not to give up on you? I knew you'd get your head out of your ass eventually."
"Wait, Ell likes me too?" I asked, ignoring her comment.
"Ell's been in love with you for years Riker. And I saw when he met Bella he was just as in love with her as you are. Don't lose them Riker." Delly said, giving his hand a squeeze.
"Thanks, Del." I said. I gave her a hug then went back to my room. I kissed Bella's forehead before climbing back in bed beside Ell. Ellington had turned in his sleep, and was now facing towards me. I couldn't help, but stare at him. He looked so beautiful when he was sleeping. I couldn't help myself, and wrapped my arms around him. Then I went to sleep too.
