| Title: For the sake of love Part: Thirty three By: Spanky Content Warning: Adult language, and content. Previously: Nicci gets settlement Authors Notes: Two weeks later .......Two Weeks later......... After putting the last of the goodies that Joanne had prepared for a day of fun, Roy headed to Nicci's room. While tapping on the door he said softly " Nicci." Not hearing a responce he quietly stepped in noticing that she had fallen asleep after the first time he woke her. For a moment Roy stood in silence watching her take each breath. Even though he already knew from the tests results, it was the fact that he could now see the lower part of her fragile tummy bulging that made it a reality that he would soon be a grandfather. Then looking at his watch he knew that he had to wake her up in order for them to be at the zoo on time. With that thought he called out." Nicci, come on sweetie wake up." He urged placing his hand on her shoulder gently shaking her. Waking up startled by Roy's action she sat up. " I'm sorry, I must have dozed off." She apologized while reaching for a saltine cracker she kept next to her bed. " Oh that's okay." He assured. Then taking a seat next to her on the bed he asked." You feel up to go with us to the zoo?" His voice was soft as he could see the paled complexion that she wore every morning. " Yeah, I just need to take a shower and get dressed." " Okay if your sure, I'll wait upstairs for you. Jo's going to take Jenny and Chris in the station wagon to pick up a few of their friends then meet us there." He said Then leaning in he gave Nicci a quick kiss on the forehead before leaving the room. .............. Pulling into a parking space with Nicci sitting in the passangers seat, Roy was greeted by his friends and the rest of the DeSoto family. " Sorry we're late." Roy said climbing out of the car. " Man, what took you so long, we've been waiting for you since forever." Chet said. He held the record for the biggest kid when it came to amusement parks and by the look on his face the rest knew that he still had a firm grasp on that record. " Kelly would you calm yourself." Captain Stanley said. Then watching as Nicci slowly climbed out on her side he looked at Roy and asked " She okay?" " Yeah I think she'll be fine, she just needs to take it easy." Roy assured. ............... Through out the course of the day, happiness fell on Roy as he watched his family play. He knew that this was exactly what they needed. Then watching as Nicci crunched down to pet a baby goat he had to chuckle as the baby goat gave Nicci a tounge bath on her face. He was so involved with the scene in front of him that he didn't notice when Captain Stanley joined him." She looks like she's feeling better." He said watching at Sherry made her way into the large fenced in pen " Oh hi Capt. Yeah I think she's just fine. " Roy said in relief in his voice" I didn't really think we'd make though not after I had to pull over on our way here." " So tell me, How are you holding up?" Captain Stanley asked. " Oh I'm holding, Not sure if it's good or bad. Anyway it finally sunk in about me being a grandpa." He said with a smile. As the two men stood watching their daughter's it was obvious to them that they were now getting along better by the fact that when Sherry crunched down next to Nicci she didn't push her away. Seeing their dad's watching Nicci and Sherry got to their feet and headed for the gate. Then making their way to their dad's they greeted," Hi." " Hello." They returned. All without warning Chet runs up " Hey guys, guys come on." He urged excitedly " Would you stop Kelly, what's wrong with you? You're as bad as the kids" Stanley said. " The carney, he's holding the bumper cars for us that's what, now come on." Chet said grabbing the nearest person next to him by the arm which was Nicci. " Come on guys hurry up, time's a waisting." He added moving swiftly with Nicci at his side. " Oh great Chet and bumper cars, we'll never get him away from them." Roy said laughing as he and Captain Stanley started making their way past the crowd on their way to the cars with Sherry following behind. Soon the guys were climbing the stairs leading to the child sized cars all of which had numberd decales on the side of them." Hey back off buddy this one's mine." Mike Stoker said laughing as he took over the red car with the number fifty one printed on its side. " How do they exspect grown men to fit in these." Marco asked " I dont know, Man talk about cutting a guy off at the pass." Johnny said." I know they look awefully painfull to me." he added dreading the odd position he would have to put his jewels in. " I dont know either but stay out of my way, me and Little Red wont show any mercy." He laughed climbing into his chosen car. Looking at Nicci as she took her seat next to him Chet caught a glimsp under her skirt. He could clearly make out the play boy bunny tattood on her lower buttock. Shaking off the effects she had given him he said. " Ooh, I think that was a threat." He laughed." Hey Stoke you want to race?" " You bet, and I'll win too." Stoker accepted " Oh yeah you care to put money on it buddy." Chet challenged Over hearing the conversation between his friends Roy warned." Now Chet they'll be no hot dogging it with Nicci understand?" He knew that Chet had a habit of going over board and loosing control and he didn't want the chance of Nicci getting hurt " Yes grandpa." Chet teased as the ride started. Gunning for Stoker, Chet pushed the pedal to the floor and with full force hit the side of Stokers car, While Johnny came at him on the opposite side. Trapping Stoker in the middle. " I thought you said you were going to win." Chet laughed. All without warning Captain Stanley hit the back of Chets car then quickly sped away in search of another victim. " Hey Uncle Hank that's not fair, HIT AND RUN, HIT AND RUN." " Nicci laughed." Don't take that shit Uncle Chet,Go get him." She added Hearing Nicci, Chet backed up and went after his Captain's car. Once hitting the Captain's car head on, Chet then continued to go after Stoker, hiting him several times before pinning Stoker's car between him and the rail. Finally the ride came to an end and as Captain Stanley climbed out of his car he looked at Mike and teased " Hey Stoker , I thought you could drive that thing, I dont think I want you to be driving the engine anymore." He knew that for the most part Chet got the better of him. "Yeah well Little Red dont handle like Big Red does." Mike commented " Oh Little Red did just find, it just has to grow up just a little bit." Johnny said making his friends laugh loudly at his remark. .................. After spending half the day riding on the rides, the men joined Joanne who stayed behind to watch over their belongings and the needed picnic tables." I take it you all had a good time?" She said hearing the laughter come from her friends. " We sure did, I wished you were with us." Roy said placing his arms around her waist. " Yeah well you know me and the rides don't get along very well." She reminded. Then watching her husband's eyes as they made contact with Nicci who was sitting at the picnic table away from the crowd she asked." How was Nicci?" "I'm not sure, she was a little quiet but other then that she seemed to be enjoying herself." He said watching as she rested her head down on the table in front of her. " Maybe you should go ask her, I dont think she would tell you if she wasn't feeling good for fear that she would ruin the day." Jo suggested. Agreeing with Jo, Roy made short work of the distance that seperated her from the rest, Then after quietly taking his seat on the opposite side he asked" Hey Nic, you feeling okay?" With her head still down on the table she said "I'm fine." After a few minutes she lifted her head making eye contact with her father" Hey dad, can go walk down the nature trail?" She asked hopeful Roy sat there thinking about her question, He didn't like the thought of her going off by herself. At the same time, he knew that she needed the exercise if she was going to have an easier pregnancy then what she had been. With that thought in mind he gave her his permission." I dont think it would be a problem, if you feel up to it. Brackett said you and the baby are healthy. But I don't want you to over do it." " I wont I just want to be by myself for awhile." She ended. Then getting to her feet she quietly walked towards the opening of the path. Watching from where he sat talking with his crew Captain Stanley interupted." Excuse me for a minute." He said. Then getting up he as well as Joanne joined Roy." Hey Roy she's okay isn't she?" He asked " Yeah I think so." Roy answered with dout. " She said she wanted to be by herself for a while." " Roy don't worry about her, she's okay." Joanne assured." Roy she needs time alone to think, I was like that too you know." " Yeah I know, I just can't help myself. I worry about her being so young." Roy said " Well just remember you're not alone we're here for you. And now that the settlement is available in the bank, she'll be fine. Just remember if you need to talk." Captain Stanley said with understanding. " Thanks Capt." ................. Walking the path Nicci took in her surroundings, It was almost as if she took a step back in time. Being among by greenery reminded her so much of the forest that she would walk on her way to her and Roy's favorite fishing hole. Spotting a bench that sat near the end of the path she decided to sit down and rest before heading back. As she sat there she could hear the birds chirping high above her head. Leaning back, she allowed the sounds of nature to take her in deep thought. Then feeling tiny thumps from within, she placed her hand gently on her growing belly. With her eyes shut tight she felt her baby kick for the first time. As Chet came to the end of the path he noticed Nicci sitting on the bench. For a moment he wondered if she was hurting by the way she had her hand on her tummy. Then deciding that she was fine he quietly walked up closer. " Hey Nic, you mind if I join ya." He asked. Looking up towards his voice she answered." No I don't mind Yeah you can,did dad send you to check on me?" " No, he didn't send me. I just wanted to walk a little bit before lunch." He said. Getting confortable he also leaned back taking in the scenery. " It sure is pretty isn't it." " Yeah it is." She agreed " But I thought you were from the city?" " Oh I am a city boy born and bread, but I still like the country. Me and Gage goes camping and fishing at least once a year, or when we can. We got this one place up north, hmmm best fishing hole you could ask for." He said with a smile. " Oh yeah what kind of bait do you use? I know back home me and dad always used torn up pieces of bread. It worked out really well.At least the fish never complained." She laughed. Chet also laughing added " Probably made the fish fat. " Yes but it made for some good eaten." She added placing her hand on her tummy once again feeling the soften thumps Seeing her movement Chet asked." You okay?" " Yeah I'm fine, but I think I'm starting to feel the baby kick." She assured. Then wanting to share the moment she asked" You want to feel it?" " Oh no no...I." Chet said even though he really wanted to " It'll be fine." She assured taking Chet by the hand then placing his hand against her tummy." Feel that?" She smiled "Man that was a strong one, you must be carrying a foot ball player." Chet smiled in amazement as he could feel the thumps against the palm of his hand" So what are you hoping for a boy or a girl?" " I don't know, I haven't given it much thought." She said. " I guess as long as it's healthy it doesn't matter." " Yeah you're right." Chet agreed. Then looking at his watch he learned that he had been gone for an hour. " You know we better be headed back, they're probably already eating." " I guess your right we better, before dad calls out the National Guard." Nicci said as she got to her feet. Taking her by the arm Chet offered "Here let me help ya, there's a lot of pot holes, and you know we'd never hear the end of it from the guys if you fell." Knowing that he was right she accepted his offer" Thanks." She said softly while allowing Chet pull her closer to him as they headed back to the picnic area. .............. " See I told you honey, she's just fine." Joanne said pointing towards the path's exit Looking in the direction of his wife's outreached finger, Roy watched as the missing part of the party made their way closer. Roy could also see Nicci as she reached her arm in the space between Chet's mid section and arm while both of her hands rested on the protruding muscles on the upper portion of his arm. Fearing the worst, Roy started his lengthy stride closing the gap between him and his daughter. Also witnessing the scene Johnny asked." Roy what's that all about?" Then getting up he as well as Captain Stanley headed in Roy's direction " I don't know, but I'm sure the hell going to find out." Roy said with purpose Stopping both Chet and Nicci in their tracks. Roy asked " What happened? Are you okay? Where've you been you've been gone over an hour, I've been worried sick." " Dad I'm just fine." Nicci assured." I was just sitting on a bench and time kind of slipped away from me. I'm sorry." " Yeah well then what's this?" Roy demanded to know pointing to the space between Nicci and Chet. Thinking the worse he added " Kelly you best be talking." At this point Roy was trying desprately to hold back his anger. He knew that he was only seconds from blowing his stack if Chet didn't say something fast. Looking down, both Nicci and Chet noticed that they were holding each other much closer then either of them realized. As for Nicci she could hear the anger that her father had towards Chet by the sound in his voice. With that thought she tried to assure" Dad, it's nothing like that. Uncle Chet was only trying to help.There's a lot of pot holes in the path and If it wasn't for him letting me hold onto him I probably would have tripped on one of them." " Kelly is this true?" Captain Stanley asked sternly as he to was having simuliar thoughts as Roy " Yeah Capt it's true." Chet said. Then looking at Roy, It was clear the kind of thoughts that Roy and his Captain were having about him. Not wanting to believe it he asked." You two don't think I would....?" Not getting an answer he added." You do, man I don't believe it, you think you know the guys you've worked with for years, then you find out they think your a gigolo that has nothing better to do but go after little girls. " His voice was rimmed with hurt as he walk away from the situation. Soon lunch was over and everyone was enjoying the company of one another. As for Roy and Captain Stanley they watched at a distance as Chet sat quietly at a table. It was obvious that their reaction to him and Nicci hurt him more then they had realized. " Roy we were way off base with Chet." " Yeah I know." Roy agreed Knowing what they had do, Roy and the Captain made their way over to where Chet was sitting. Taking their seat, Captain Stanley apologized." Chet, we're sorry for reacting the way we did. We had no right to treat you like that and we're very sorry." With his Captain's words Chet looked at his friends and said."It's okay I know you guys didn't." Chet accepted. " But is that really how you guys really think of me?" He needed to know " No." Roy said flatly." I don't think your like that at all. I guess there's still a lot I have to deal with and it's hard Chet. I mean, I know how Nicci was treated as a child and it bout kills me to know I wasn't there. I'm just so damn terrified someone like Roger's going to come along and hurt her again." He confessed " I know Roy, hell I still lay awake at night and think about the abuse she had to go through at the hands of that basturd ." Then placing his hand gently on Roy's arm. As he looked at his Captain he continued." You two have to know that I would never hurt Nicci. I'm her friend and if she needs me I'm going to be there for her." " I know Chet, I know." Roy smiled for he could hear the sincereity in his friends voice as he spoke. " So all's forgiven?" Captain Stanley asked reaching his hand out to Chet for a friendly shake " You bet it is." Chet said accepting his Captain's hand in his. ........... TBC |