My note...I thank all of those who are still reading this story. I know it was a kind of slow moving, predictable, and maybe even a little boring at times, story...but I wanted to write it because I like the imagery it gave me...Jim, Ash, happy family scenes(even if the baby isn't theirs). So, without further ado, here's the last chapter of...
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING
CHAPTER 6: GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT
Ashley heard the telltale creak of the downstairs bathroom door opening. She crawled further up onto the couch cushion and turned just in time to catch Jimmy as he pushed into the living room. Her brow arched up admiringly, the t-shirt she had given him was one of Jeff's, and quite snug fitting over Jimmy's muscular physique. She had first thought about grabbing a shirt from Toby's room instead, considering he had a much stockier build than his father, but figured since she was already swiping a pair of cotton lounge pants from Jeff's drawer, she might as well get a t-shirt too...and boy, was she glad she did.
"You clean up quite nicely", Ashley stated, her compliment sounding suggestive, almost hungry.
Jimmy blushed under her scrutiny and shook his head dismissively, as he pulled next to her. His right hand left the rim of his chair and traveled up, across the length of her soft leg, stopping only when his finger brushed the hem of her shorts. He leaned forward just far enough to nuzzle his nose against her neck, inhale her scent deeply, then whisper seductively, "Not so bad yourself".
His warm breath tickled Ashley's neck, making her eyes flutter shut and a soft moan escape her lips. "You know...", she muttered back, her head resting on Jimmy's shoulder and her lips now even with his ear. "...if we didn't have this little guy...".
"Yeah, but we do", he announced loudly and flashed her a teasing smirk, effectively ruining the moment. Jimmy pushed off of Ashley's knee, just hard enough to end up right next Ryan, who was sitting contently on the other side of the couch. He looked down at the folded pile of his sauce covered clothes still on his lap, and tossed them onto the coffee table, so he could replace them with the baby.
Ryan squealed with delight as Jimmy reached out, eagerly offering up his arms for the strong pair of hands coming toward him. Ashley beamed brightly, "Somebody likes you".
"Are you're implying that you don't?", he countered playfully.
Ashley jumped to her feet and waltzed over to Jimmy. "No, of course not", she replied extra sweetly, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I was just saying that he took to right away...from the very beginning".
Jimmy smiled at that revelation as he remembered the day Liberty and her parents came home with Ryan...
They were all waiting at a restaurant ear the airport; Kate, Jeff, Toby, Danny, Derek, Emma, Manny, J.T.'s grandmother, Jimmy and Ashley...along with some of Liberty's extended family. Ryan was scared, overwhelmed, and confused; he had cried for most of the flight from Vancouver, as well as that welcome home party afterwards. But Jimmy was the one person he didn't cry at...and even offered a shy smile to him, by the end of that night.
He looked up at Ashley and shrugged innocently, "What can I say, I have that kind of affect on people".
Ashley shot him and incredulous look...to go along with the smirk that was spreading across her lips. "Or, it could just have been the fact that you reminded him of his adoptive father", she added, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Why, is he in a chair too?", Jimmy quipped playfully.
Ashley flashed him a surprised look, then flopped back onto the couch. "Um, no...he's bi-racial", she replied, taking the binder off of the coffee table and flipping to the back cover, where there were pictures of Ryan with his adoptive family, were stashed in the pocket. She took out a few of the photos and showed them to Jimmy. "And the wife is Korean... at least I think that's what Liberty said".
"No way Ash...", Jimmy spat, and shoved the picture under Ashley's nose. "...this guy's like fifty...and bald".
Ashley couldn't help but laugh at Jimmy's reaction. "I never said you looked exactly like him Jimmy, just that you probably reminded Ryan of him", she defended adamantly. "...besides, his hair is only slightly receded and he can't be more than in his early forties".
Jimmy looked at the photo again, then down at Ryan to ask, "Do I really remind you of him?".
"Jimmy!", Ashley called out with playful exasperation and snatched the picture back. He offered a smile that let her know he was just playing around, then looked back down at the pile of pictures. He splayed them out with his fingers, to get a better view.
"They looked like a happy family", Jimmy commented softly.
"They were", Ashley replied indifferently, and continued to sort Ryan's toys.
"What happened?", Jimmy asked curiously. He'd never heard the whole story, just bits and pieces, and something about 'fraudulent means' and 'deceptive tactics'.
Ashley glanced up only momentarily and shrugged slightly, "I guess the agency conveniently forgot to list the husbands medical background".
"What do you mean, 'forgot'?", Jimmy queried, handing Ryan a toy he was reaching for.
Ashley hesitated sightly. "The case worker assigned to the adoption, seemed to have overlooked the little fact that the husband was diagnosed with some sort of degenerative neurological condition, a few years prior", her voice sounded slightly accusatory, and somewhat distracted. "According to Liberty, the couple paid this person a hefty sum to leave that little piece of information out of their file. If they knew, the agency director said they would have never agreed to the adoption..."
"Yeah, 'cause who'd be stupid enough to knowingly give a baby to a cripple", Jimmy muttered under his breath.
"That's not what I meant", Ashley stated firmly. Her features immediately softened as did her voice. "And that would never be an issue with Liberty, you know that Jimmy...she has no problem with you taking care of her son, and loves that you're a part of Ryan's life". Ashley gave a heavy sigh, then shook her head, "These people broke the law to basically buy a baby, Jimmy...they were...".
"They were probably desperate", he cut in softly.
Ashley was stunned silent...Jimmy was right. She had never considered the other side of story, just the fact that her friend was able to rightfully get her baby back. "Jimmy?", she called out tentatively, and reached out for his hand.
Jimmy didn't look up, his eyes remained focused on the chunky plastic block he was palming in his other hand. After a few seconds, he spoke, uncharacteristically soft, "So, he probably will end up in a chair then". It was a statement more than a question.
Ashley swallowed hard. "I don't know...maybe...eventually", she stammered slightly, drifting off.
She really didn't know.
An uncomfortable quiet surrounded them, even though, in the background, the dishwasher could be heard, as well as the washing machine and Ryan's occasional babble. It was about a minute before Jimmy's eyes flickered up from the photo he was studying. "It's just kinda sad...ya know?", he shrugged slightly.
Ashley nodded somberly. "Yeah it is", she agreed for the most part, then went on to remind him, "But it was a lucky thing for Liberty".
Their eyes met for a second, and Jimmy's smile widened to match Ashley's. "Yeah...", he cuddled the little boy gently, "...and for us too".
Jimmy transferred from his chair to the couch and got himself settled before lifting Ryan back onto his lap...and the remote into his hand.
Ashley walked in from the kitchen, bowl of freshly popped popcorn in one arm, two cans of pop and some cups in the other. "What are we watching tonight?", she asked cheerfully, as she took a seat next to Jimmy.
Jimmy shrugged and frowned. "Not much on", he sighed dispiritedly and kept flipping. "Or at least nothing we can watch in front of the kid".
Ashley smiled and handed Jimmy his cup of pop, before grabbing her own and snuggling up against his chest. "Well, as long as what we watch isn't in animated format, or contain freaky costumed creatures...I'm good".
Jimmy smirked and took a sip of his drink, Ryan watching him intently, the entire time. He then rested the cup, still in his left hand, on the arm of the couch as he reached into the bowl of the buttery snack, with his right. The little boy looked on hungrily.
Jimmy was just about to share the contents of his hand with the waiting child, when Ashely gasped loudly...startling Jimmy so much that the popcorn dropped from his hand and onto his lap. "Jimmy, you can't give a baby popcorn", she scolded adamantly.
He wrinkled his face in confusion, "Why not".
"Are you serious?", she asked incredulously. Ashley picked up the dreaded binder, and again located the tab that was listed as 'medical conditions and concerns, then hurriedly scanned the index to find the sub-category of 'choking hazards'. With a few flips, the page she was looking for was found and she pointed to the list in question. "Says here, that popcorn, peanuts, raw carrots, grapes, hot dogs, hard candy, marbles, coins...".
"Ash", Jimmy interrupted, holding his hand up for her to stop.
"Jimmy this is a real danger, not just some overreaction", she stated defensively, as she looked back down at the page.
A wide grin began to form on Jimmy's lips. "Ashley?", he called, and motioned to Ryan, who had just plucked another fluffy kernel from Jimmy's lap and popped it into his mouth. Ashley smirked in disbelief. "I think he'll be fine with the popcorn", Jimmy added with a chuckle. Ashley shrugged skeptically and eyed the open binder yet again..."I thought we were tossing this thing to the side and forgetting about it, so we could this our way", he reminded her with a playful nudge.
Ashley shrugged again, this time a little more confidently. "Okay", she conceded and closed the book, shoving it into the large diaper bag on the floor next to her feet. "Out of sight, out of mind...right?", she stated questioningly. Jimmy nodded approvingly, then moved Ryan to the other leg and motioned with his hand, for Ashley to scoot closer. A bright smile graced her face, as she placed the now cool bowl onto Jimmy's vacant thigh and snuggled against to her boyfriend chest, so they could finally decided on which channel to watch.
Jimmy and Ashley had only made it through about thirty minutes of the movie before a tired Ryan rubbed his buttery hands, over his eyes.
"He okay?", Jimmy asked concernedly, as he wheeled into the kitchen where Ashley was trying to comfort the now whimpering baby. A far cry from the screaming that could be heard from the room, just minutes ago, when Ashley was trying to wash the salty butter from his eyes.
"I think so", she replied hopefully, as she gently bounced the baby soothingly, on her hip.
Jimmy pivoted to his left, to get a better look at Ryan. "Poor guy", he whispered sympathetically when Ryan turned his head, which he was resting on Ashley's shoulder and Jimmy saw the red-rimmed, teary eyes staring back at him.
Ashley rubbed the baby's back and nodded. "He's been asking for his keys again", she told Jimmy.
He looked up at her with a perplexed expression, then offered, "I can go find them if you want".
Ashley shook her head. "We'll come with you", she said, following Jimmy back into the living room.
Ryan went from whimpering to fussy and whiny by the time Ashley reached the couch. "Kee...keeee", he cried, and started rubbing his sore eyes, again.
"I'm lookin' buddy", Jimmy assured him, feverently trying to locate the ring of plastic keys he'd put away, only a few hours before.
After searching two bags, Jimmy finally found the toy in a third bag. But they weren't what Ryan wanted and he began to wail harder, "keeee...keeee".
"Okay, this was the same thing that happened last time, at nap time...when he wanted his bottle", Ashley surmised in recall. "Right?".
Jimmy paused in thought for a few seconds. "I'm not sure Ash...", he shook his head doubtfully. "That might've the whole ba-ba, lamb thing".
Ryan's eyes lit up at a term he recognized. "Baa-baa", he repeated pleadingly.
Jimmy looked up at Ashley. "I'll go make him one", she stated, hurriedly handing the baby off to Jimmy.
Ryan sobbed and thrashed and tried to wriggle from Jimmy's grasp. Without many options, other than forcibly restraining a crying toddler, Jimmy reluctantly let the little boy down. Ryan continued to weep and call out for his 'kee', as he paced the room.
Ashley returned with the bottle and offered it to him, but he stubbornly refused. Instead, Ryan crawled up the landing steps, stood looking at the front door, and cried out again.
"Kee...tee...Maybe he's calling for Liberty", Jimmy suggested.
Ashley shook her head lightly. "No, I know for a fact that everyone refers to Liberty as mom around him", she explained. "And besides, Lib said Ryan doesn't actually call her by any name".
"Keeeee", Ryan turned around and toddled over to the stairs. He laid his weary head down on the steps and continued sobbing.
"He was looking upstairs, he might be calling for his crib or something", Jimmy suggested.
"Maybe...but that doesn't really do us any good, since I don't have a crib for him to sleep in", Ashley snapped, as she walked over to scoop the baby up. The events of the day, were definitely starting to take their toll on her, but that was no excuse for her rudeness, so Ashley flashed Jimmy a small apologetic smile.
"What's wrong Ryan?", she asked, sighing out of concern and frustration, as she picked up the sticky, sweaty, snotty, sobbing mess into her arms.
"I guess this is what Liberty meant when she said she has a hard time getting him to bed", Ashley sighed as she walked back over to Jimmy, who reached up to rub the baby's back. They stayed like that for what seems liked an eternity, but in all actuality, was only a few minutes. Ryan was fighting all advances made by the pair to calm him down...nothing they seemed to be doing was helping.
"Here, let me try", Jimmy held his hands out and offered when he noticed Ashley's strength waning from bouncing and swaying the heavy, squirming bundle. Ashley knelt beside them and caressed the baby's head, but he continued to fuss and fidget. In desperation, Ashley hushes turned into hums, a soft melodic vibration, that caused Ryan to pause and look up at her. "Keep it up", Jimmy whispered his encouragement, when he felt and saw the boy relax at the soothing sound of Ashley's voice.
Without missing a beat, Ashley reached for the bottle and offered it to Ryan. He grimaced and whimpered and squirmed in Jimmy's arms. "I wish we had a rocking chair", Ashley mumbled under her breath, as she tried to get him to take the bottle again.
"Would you settle for a rolling chair?", Jimmy quipped, with a wink.
"That might actually work", Ashley concurred, taking a seat on the coffee table behind her, so she could propel Jimmy's chair while he held on to the baby.
"Just don't stop singing", he warned, as Ashley gently rocked them back and forth. Within seconds, the whimpering ceased enough, save for a few sniffles and gulps, for Ryan to finally accept his bottle and snuggle into Jimmy's strong arms.
It was more that thirty minutes and eight rounds of "Hush Little Baby", before Ryan allowed his eyes to flutter shut; and a full hour before Ashley was able to still Jimmy's chair, without causing the baby to stir. When she was sufficiently certain that the baby was finally asleep, Ashley allowed her self a relieved sigh, and smiled triumphantly...that is, until Jimmy motioned to the clock. Ashley followed his gaze, it was barely 9pm, and they knew Liberty probably wouldn't be back until sometime after midnight.
They both looked down at the slumbering child in Jimmy's arms. Afraid to move, or even breathe, Jimmy gazed up at Ashley in questioningly, "So, what should we do now?".
Liberty anxiously followed Toby up the front walk, to the door, clutching the soft item to her chest.
The room was dim, the only light coming from the movie playing on the television. "Oh Toby...look", she gasped softly, as she tip-toed further into the room. There, in the middle of the living room floor was a king sized air mattress, enclosed on one end with the back of the couch, a second with the love seat, the third with the coffee table and easy chair and the top by two end table and Jimmy's chair.
"It's a giant playpen", he whispered jokingly, but admired the sight before him. It was an adorable picture...Jimmy and Ashley both sleeping on their sides, facing each other, with Ryan tucked in between them, their arms protectively crossed over him, hands resting on each others hips.
"I guess he didn't need his blankee to fall asleep after all", Liberty stated, crouching down to lay the soft blue blanket next to her son.
"So we came home early for nothing?", Toby groaned teasingly, then knelt down beside her, to wrap his arm around her shoulder. Liberty rolled her eyes at him...it was almost two in the morning, and they hadn't even noticed Ryan's blanket was still in his car seat until they were on their way home.
"I hate to wake him", she whispered, as she reluctantly reached out for Ryan.
"Then don't", Toby suggested and motioned to the stairs.
Liberty studied her boyfriend critically, before smiling at him. She stood to turn, but stopped to glance back over her shoulder. "He's in good hands Lib", Toby assured her.
She smiled down at the sleeping trio. "I know he is", she agreed, and snapped a picture with her phone before following Toby upstairs.
Well, that's it for this one folks. I had the absolute hardest time getting this chapter finished, and I truly apologize for that. I'm not even that sure I'm completely satisfied with it, but oh well...life and summer are both way to short to spend so much time on the computer, driving myself crazy (besides, I'll be spending a huge amount of time inside, teaching, once summer dance classes start). Anyway, hope you all liked it, and there should be another...something...up soon.
Degrassi is not mine.