Morning After the Night Before (Tag Lana, Alex)

[Ashley Bolton]

Ashley slid down into a seat in the cafeteria, his breakfast in front of him and a huge smile on his face. Last night had been just what the doctor ordered, he needed a night to relax and he had got just that. Being around his friends eating decent food if not a little poncy for his tastes. He hadn't realized how round tight he had been until he had been away from Kai for an hour and been able to relax. His mom had been right on that particular subject just like she always was.

So he had a book in front of him and was currently trying to eat breakfast while reading. Not that he was unable to do both, but he was kind of hyped up and happier than he had been in a long time. Even Alex's father was not going to spoil his mood today, he was determined that this was going to be a good week and the possibility of turning this into a good year. He did wonder whether or not Alex would react well to him Lana's babysitting Kai, honestly though he didn't really care what the girl thought of his raising child ideas. He spent way to much of his life worrying about what people thought of him, the last thing he needed to start doing. Was question what Alex thought of him and who hung around with him.

No more self doubt that was for damn sure he thought.

[Alex Bridgerton]

Alex was at her wits end. Her father had been in town for roughly a week and already he caused havoc in her life. Everything she had worked so hard on was slipping away and there was no way Alex would let that happen. She tried to play nice and be cordial about this whole thing, but her father did not play nice. He played dirty. His latest trick was threatening that something might accidentally happen to her son, or Ashley.

Alex knew she had no right, but she still held a flame for Ashley. Although Greg Meyers was quickly becoming another man Alex knew she liked. Greg was great and was dealing with her father better then some people might. But part of Alex would always hold a little something for Ashley even when he moved on. She knew she would be jealous but she would not stand in the way of Ashley's happiness.

Alex had another huge blow out fight with her father this morning. Apparently he was keeping silent tabs on Ashley and Kai. Alex told him to stop. It ended with another smack across the face fro Alex, but it was also the last straw. It was time to gather evidence. Alex had bundles of it. Stuff that could possibly get her father sent back to London for good. Only problem was getting it into the right hands.

Alex made it to school with time to spare. A small mark on her cheek. Alex was use to a smack now and then. It never got any worse then that. Alex was walking through the halls with a cracker hanging half out of her mouth when she spotted Ashley. Just the man she needed to see.

Alex finished her cracker and headed over to Ashley. A smile on her face, "Good morning." She said in a sweet voice. "I must ask, have you received any letters from my father, that might seem threatening or have threats in any way?" Alex asked. "I know it may seem like a strange question, but I must know, and I will explain later, but if you are in possession of them, i must have them as soon as you can."

[Ashley Bolton]

Ashley looked at her saw the mark but didn't bring it up at all, "Besides the visit that he made unannounced at the house, no I haven't had any letters from him. Just some veiled threats, you know the usual stuff." Ashley said to her with a shake of head. "Nothing I can't deal with." he added.

Ashley wondered what had happened to her, whether something new had developed that he needed to be worried about, hell if it was her father he would need to know about it all at the end of the day. That man had it in for him and Kai, the problem was he was slowly losing his patience with this whole situation. He was getting sick of having to watch over his shoulder, not that he had said anything to anyone. Soon enough their would come a time when the man would cross a line that would cost Alex, Kai and Ashley.

"Alex I love that your back in our lives, Kai loves you to bits... but I can't and won't take much more of this. If he comes within a hundred yards of Kai, I'm going to ask you to stay away until his gone. The stress that this causing me and my family it isn't fun, I don't have to put up with what he is attempting here." Ashley said to her. "My priority, my only priority is to shield and protect Kai from that mans influence... I don't want to put distance between you and Kai, but right now I'm not sure I can do anything else to protect him from this. Knowing that the one thing I can do is going to hurt our son, thats killing me right now." Ashley said to her.

"Don't let your father destroy your chance to be in our son's life again." Ashley said to her taking her hand in his and squeezing. "We both want you here." Ashley said with a small smile.

[Alex Bridgerton]

That hurt. The idea of Ashley asking her to stay away until her father was gone. Thats probably just what her father was counting on. She knew Ashley had the best intentions and had the situation been reversed she probably would have said the same thing, but the fact was this was her problem and her father was causing way too much drama and Alex was sick of it. She knew her father was up to something. Now it was a race against the clock. Could she get her dad to be gone before he fulfilled what ever plan he had up his sleeve.

The next move honestly took Alex by surprise. She never expected him to grasp her hand. She knew it was only a friendly gesture, but still. She did like it. Either way it was noting to swoon over. She knew she could not go back there for Ashley's sake. "I do not blame you for saying that. If I were you I would ask me to stay away as well. But I promise you...my father will be gone very soon." She lightly patted the hand that covered his.

"Tis why I asked about the letters. I know my father is planning something wretched.He has been hinting at it. Only I plan to get to him first. I spoke to someone back home in London, and if I can I might be able to get him sent home, and his passport will be revoked. It will not be easy given who my father is, but...I know the man...as much as I hate to admit..I know the man, I will not let him hurt you or Kai...I could never live with that, which is why this ends now."

Sure those were some big words given who her father was. But this was Alexandra Bridgerton. IF anyone could get her father sent packing it was her, cause she could be just as mean and play just as dirty. Actually she would not be playing dirty at all...more like she was going to be bringing all her father's dirty laundry to light. "I truly am sorry for what I have put you and Kai through. I was hoping he would not have come here..."

[lanapatterson]

Lana had had a blast the night before babysitting Kai for Ashley. The little boy was just a dear one, quite smart and just a doll to be around. No yelling, screaming, tantrums like so many other children these days. They had played several games, bath, a healthy snack and she had managed to drop him into bed without any fuss.

She could not imagine being a parent at this age. Yes, she loved children, and she was rather responsible on her own, but she really admired Ashley for taking care of his son as well as he did. Ashley was a good guy, they'd spent a good length of time talking after he had gotten home.

Walking into the cafeteria, Lana kept an eye out of Ashley. Somehow one of Kai's stuffed toys had snuck his way into her backpack the night before and she wanted to make sure that the little one got it back. Looking around, she found him sitting at a table..with Kai's mother there as well. They looked like they were holding hands. For a moment, the yogurt that she had eaten earlier seemed to churn unhappily in her stomach. She had checked the expiration date, should have been fine.

They looked to be talking about something pretty serious by the looks on their faces. She had been walking over with the plush dog in her hands when she figured maybe interrupting them was a bad idea. Biting her lower lip for a moment, she stood there, debating on speaking up.

[Ashley Bolton]

Ashley nodded, "Get him out of here or he really is at risk of doing unrepairable damage to your relationship with your son, I will jealousy protect him. Just like your dad is trying to do with you, except he seems to have forgotten that your near enough to make no difference an adult." Ashley said with a smile on his face. "Look if you need help, I'll help, I'm not sure what I would be able to help with." Ashley said to her with a small nod.

Ashley sat up and looked around then smiled at Lana when he saw her, "Hey Lana, would you like to have a seat, we are just about finished discussing some issues." Ashley said to her with a smile on his face. "Alex, Lana baby sat last night while I went to the auction." Ashley explained deciding to tell her before someone else did it for him. "Lana this is Alex, Kai's mom, Alex, Lana who helped me out last night." Ashley said to her with a smile on his face.

He didn't think that this would go over well with Alex, he hadn't offered her the chance to have Kai last night. It wasn't like he was keeping secrets from her, and it wasn't like he had any legal obligation to tell her when he wiped his ass let alone when he was making decisions with his son. It was a courtesy to tell her not a requirement, and why was he so bothered by the fact that he hadn't told her.

[Alex Bridgerton]

Alex slowly removed her hand from Ashley's. She did not want him to read too much into it, even if he had grabbed first and she had blushed slightly. Either way now was not the time or the place to go there. There was way to many things standing in the way. Besides who knew if a new bridge could even be built. There was so much damage done already. Alex returned Ashley's smile with one of her own, "You are way to sweet to offer your services. The best way for you to help is to protect Kai. You have done a wonderful job for the past two years. I know you can protect him better then I ever could. I will not let my father damage my relationship anymore with Kai, or you. Believe me Ashley....he will not be around muvch longer." That was a promise.

Alex was glad they talked a little she felt a bit better. Once Lana arrived Alex quickly moved so her face was leaning on her hand, her elbow on the table. This was totally improper manners but the point was to cover the mark on her face. Ashely was sure to notice the move, but Lana would not. Alex was a bit sad and hurt when she heard Ashley got a sitter instead of calling her. It was his call, she knew she had to play by Ashley's rules when it came to Kai.

So as upset and as hurt as she was Alex would not show it. Instead she smiled, "Pleasure to meet you Lana. You had a sitter last night? Oh, I had the night off and would have loved to have seen Kai, but I am glad you could baby sit, Lana. I hear sometimes baby sitters are hard to find, at least the decent ones. Its nice to see Ashley have such faith in you when it comes to Kai. " The words were sweet and geniune. Alex was okay Ash called a sitter instead of her. She was hurt but she got it, she understood. She meant the words. It was so nice of Lana to baby sit. But there was a small hint of pain and sorrow. No one would be able to detect the pain behind the words, not unless you knew Alex. So Ash might hear the slight tone of sadness but Lana would not.

Besides Lana seemed like a nice woman and if Ashley trusted to leave her alone with Kai, then Alex would have to be okay with that. She was not about to over react or make any waves. Alex had enough to deal with, so her stupid jealousy she was feeling over the fact Ashely choose a sitter over calling her would have to be forgotten. "I am rather still new here so I love meeting new people such as yourself Lana. I hope the night went well. How was the auction? And the baby sitting how did that go?" Alex geninuly was curious about Lana and would not mind adding her to category of friend.

She could hold her jealousy and pain inside. Alex could have made a scene over the ordeal, but that would have solved nothing. Right now her main priority was keeping her hand over the small mark on her cheek.

[lanapatterson]

Ashley had seen her, and gifted her with a welcoming smile as he invited her to take a seat. They were apparently just finishing up talking about something. She didn't correct when he introduced her to Alex, assuming that she hadn't realized who the other girl was. There had been a framed picture on Kai's wall, probably so the boy would remember who his mother was. "Hi.." She grinned, taking a seat.

She did wonder how Alex might take the news of her babysitting the night before. She had pretty much jumped at the offer the morning before, not really even thinking about the fact that maybe Kai's mom would want to watch him. Then again, if Ashley had wanted to ask Alex, he would have. He had sole custody of the charming little man.

"I love kids, and Kai was a pleasure to watch last night. I would do it any time I was asked for him. We had fun." She smiled, setting her bag on the table. "We had dinner and played a few games, one of which was hide n seek..." She pulled the plush bunny out of her bag. "Someone hid so well that he went home with me apparently." She set the bunny on the table. "I wanted to make sure Kai got it back." Did she look like some huge dork with a stuffed animal in her bag? Probably.