Author's Note- And so begins the start of my newest chapter story. I have not begun a chapter story in quite a long while. Actually, I've been toying with the idea of getting "Picks Ups and Drop Offs" going again, but don't get your hearts set on it. Anyway, I'm trying my hand at JujuBe (Brulian, BJu, whatever) non-one shots.
This story is brought to you by the word "Mumma". I heard a child say it in a Starbucks a few months ago and that's what got the wheels turning in my brain for this story.
-xx-
They've lived in London for a year and a half now. Julian spends his days on film sets. Brooke spends hers at Harrod's and Sainsbury's and TopShop. Their 3 year old daughter speaks with a British accent. Brooke finds it adorable but Julian hates it.
It wasn't always this way; they haven't always had this strained of a relationship. They met 4 years ago when Julian came to Tree Hill to shoot a film and try to win back his ex. Both plans fell by the wayside after he laid eyes on Brooke. She stole his heart quickly and they embarked on a relationship fraught with love and passion.
It was 6 months before Brooke could say she loved Julian and that night, after she confessed her long-buried feelings for him, their daughter was conceived. At first Brooke feared that Julian would feel trapped, but he convinced her otherwise through a series of surprises culminating in a marriage proposal on the beach in North Carolina. Brooke was five months pregnant at the time and looking back on it, she thinks it was the hormones that made her say yes.
Hazel Grace Davis-Baker was born three years ago on Christmas Day, a healthy six pounds, twelve ounces and Brooke and Julian's pride and joy. Brooke didn't realize how intensely and how much she could love this tiny thing who would look up at the new mother with these green eyes that Brooke still swears can see into the future.
Family life went smoothly for the couple until Hazel's first birthday when Julian signed on to produce and direct a film in London without conferring with his fiancée. The wrath of Brooke Davis is not pretty as Julian would learn upon breaking the news to the woman. The subsequent argument definitely woke up Hazel and easily could've woken up all of Tree Hill. But it was because Brooke loved Julian and Julian loved Hazel that the family of three moved across the Atlantic 17 months ago.
One film turned into three and a production deal, so Brooke begrudgingly agreed to stay. Haley, Nathan and Jamie have visited twice already and Victoria and Brooke are in talks to open up at least one location of Clothes/Bros in the city.
On an average day, Julian and Brooke see each other for an hour. Constant work has taken its toll on Julian and Brooke has taken to shopping more than is healthy. To say the couple needs to get back on track would be a gross understatement.
It's not that they don't love each other anymore. The one thing the couple does agree on these days is that they fell in love too fast. They still love each other but everything is strained and they miss each other and neither will admit it.
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"Mumma! Mumma!"
A child's loud, piercing cry for her mother is heard echoing through the normally quiet Starbucks on the Davis-Baker family's block.
Brooke turns around at the sound, her daughter standing behind her. The mother leans down and speaks softly to the child.
"What's up, Haze?"
The brown-haired, green-eyed stunner of a girl looks deeply up at her mother and in a now hushed voice says, "Can I get a chocolate milk?", pointing at the refrigerator filled with cold food and beverages.
"Of course you can, princess." Brooke reaches in to grab the chocolate drink and then looks to the barista to place her order. "An iced grande vanilla latte, please".
The warm weather has arrived, and even though she's a transplant, Brooke knows that London weather is fickle so it's best to enjoy your cold beverages while you can. Despite her vocal pronouncements to the contrary, the woman actually quite likes the rainy weather sometimes. She takes Hazel outside of their flat and they dance in the rain.
"Mumma!" Hazel says again, now more quietly, as she pulls on her mother's pencil skirt.
"You can't have a cookie", Brooke replies without even turning to her daughter.
"No, silly", Hazel says, smiling. "Where is daddy?"
Technically, Brooke doesn't actually know the answer to her daughter's question. He could be in Brighton, as he has a film being shot there. He could be here in London, at the office. She hasn't seen her husband in two days. But none of this can she say out loud in the middle of a Starbucks on their street.
"He's at work, babe", Brooke replies.
"When will he be home?" Hazel continues to ask, oblivious to the slight annoyed tone in her mother's voice that's supposed to clue the child in to Brooke's dislike of such a line of questioning.
The young mother hands the barista what she owes and as she hands the child her chocolate milk, she replies, "I'm not sure, hon. You can call him when we get back to the flat, okay?" Brooke grabs her change, and then grabs Hazel's hand as they walk towards the bar to await Brooke's beverage.
"Why don't we see daddy much, Mumma?" Hazel says, loudly again. Brooke cringes as she feels every patrons' eyes rest on her.
"He works, you know that. He's got a big, important job that brings in the big bucks!"
"Yeah, but you work and I still see you!"
Brooke clucks silently to herself and reaches down to pick up Hazel, putting the child on her hip and at the same time, takes her iced latte from the barista behind the bar. She leans in close to her daughter as the pair walks out into the London streets.
"Hazel, daddy and mummy have different jobs. I mostly work at home, but daddy's job is more important and takes him away to fancy places. He makes movies, remember? " Brooke explains to the child, trying to take in the reassurances herself, but to no avail.
Hazel rests her head on her mother's shoulder and puts her hand in front of her face to block the sunlight. She continues, "But I miss daddy, Mumma."
"I know, sweets. But we'll call him when we get home, alright?"
"Will he be upset if we in…in…terrupt him?" Hazel asks, stumbling on the last word out of nervousness and the fact that she's still learning the "big words" her mumma and daddy use.
The mother sighs. What has Julian's absence instilled in their child?
"No, no. He loves you, Hazy. You're the apple of his eye!"
"Ouch. That sounds like it hurts."
Brooke laughs a hearty laugh and for a moment, things seem okay. For a moment.
-xx-