A/N: Hey everyone. This is the first story I've written for fanfiction. I just created an account, but I've been reading stories here for awhile. I loved Brooke and Sam's relationship and I'm interested in Peyton and Sawyer's relationship. This story is an AU futurefic after Season 5. I'll use some of the plot from Season 6 and 7. Peyton had Sawyer when she was 23, or in Season 6, and now Sawyer is sixteen. Sam is the same age as Sawyer. While in foster care, she starts working at Clothes Over Bros. Brooke and Julian can't have children. This fic will mainly be Leyton and Sawyer as a family and Brulian and Sam as a family. There will also be a little Naley. Please review. I'll continue if people like this story. Feel free to give me ideas or suggestions :)
Chapter 1
Samantha Walker walks into Clothes Over Bros. She sets her backpack and skateboard down on the floor in the stockroom and then finds Brooke helping a customer on the sales floor.
"Hey," Sam says, making her presence known and waiting for Brooke to delegate a task.
"Hey. Can you handle the customers? I have to work on the sketches for my new line."
"Yeah, sure."
Brooke hesitates. It's Sam's first week and Brooke doesn't know if she should leave her alone on the sales floor. "I'll be in the back if you need anything."
Brooke sits down at her desk in the back office and stares at a blank sheet of paper. She hasn't been feeling very inspired, but she has a meeting scheduled with the buyers from Macy's to present her new and, as of now, unfinished line on Friday.
Sam can't believe Brooke left her alone on the sales floor. It would be too easy to steal. She has her pick of the Clothes Over Bros merchandise. For some reason, she doesn't want to betray Brooke's trust. She's never cared before. But, instead of stealing, she cleans out the dressing rooms and hangs the merchandise up where it belongs. When she's done and there aren't any customers, she sits down on the purple couch to listen to her iPod.
Sawyer Scott walks into Clothes Over Bros and sees Sam sitting on the couch listening to her iPod.
"Working hard or hardly working?" Sawyer says sarcastically, plopping down on the couch beside Sam.
Sam takes an earbud out and looks at Sawyer warily. They're both sophomores at Tree Hill High, but they don't know each other. Sawyer is a cheerleader and her boyfriend is a basketball player. Sam is a loner. She's been in so many schools in her sixteen years that she can't remember all the names. She knows not to make friends. It only makes it harder when she's shuffled to a new foster home and a new school. She's surprised that the popular cheerleader is talking to her.
"What are you doing here?" Sam asks.
Sawyer can hear the song playing from the earbud Sam's holding in mid-air. She ignores the question. "Is that The Weepies new song?"
Sam nods in affirmation. "Same Changes. You like The Weepies?"
Sawyer is offended at the surprise and contempt in Sam's voice. "Yeah, I do," she says defensively.
"Sorry. It's just…you're a cheerleader." Sam's voice is dripping with disdain.
"So you think I'm a brainless slut with bad taste in music?"
Sam blushes because that's exactly what she thought. "Sorry."
Sawyer laughs. "It's okay. I'm only a cheerleader because my mom was. I know it's stupid. I may dance to Britney Spears, but I don't have that crap on my iPod. I'm into punk. My mom owns a record label."
"That's pretty cool," Sam admits begrudgingly.
"Yeah, she's great. Is Brooke here?" Sawyer asks.
"She's in the back. Can I help you?" Sam offers.
But, Sawyer is already heading back to find Brooke. "No, thanks. I'll go find her."
Brooke looks up from her sketch and smiles when she sees Sawyer. "Hey."
"Hey, Aunt Brooke," Sawyer says. She hugs Brooke and looks at the half-finished design Brooke is working on. "What's this?"
"It's for my new line of formal dresses," Brooke replies.
"Can you make me one?" Sawyer asks.
"What's the occasion?"
"Winter Formal."
"Who are you going with?"
Sawyer blushes and looks down. She hasn't told her family that Eric Willis is her boyfriend. Her dad and her Uncle Nathan are his coaches and he's not exactly their favorite player. He has a bad attitude and they've had to bench him for drinking. "I don't know yet. I'm just planning ahead. I wanted to give you enough notice to make something fabulous."
When Brooke and Sawyer walk out to the sales floor, Sam is ringing a customer up. Sam looks up, wondering if Brooke is mad that she let Sawyer go back to the stockroom.
"Sam, this is my favorite niece, Sawyer," Brooke says, introducing them. Now Sam knows why Sawyer sauntered back like she owned the place.
"I'm your only niece," Sawyer points out. "And I know Sam."
"Of course. You're in the same class," Brooke realizes.
"Yeah, Sam's new," Sawyer says.
"You're new?" Brooke asks. She hasn't gotten to know Sam yet. A week ago Sam saw Brooke's "Help Wanted" sign in the window and came in. Brooke interviewed her on the spot. Sam was sarcastic, disrespectful, fearless. Brooke liked her spunk and asked when she could start.
Sam wishes Sawyer hadn't said that. The less anyone knows about her, the better. "Yeah."
Brooke is surprised by Sam's short answer. Sam usually talks her ear off. "Where did you move from?" Brooke asks.
"Charlotte," Sam replies.
"My uncle used to play for the Bobcats," Sawyer says.
"Nathan Scott," Sam deduces, putting two and two together. "So, your dad must be Lucas Scott?"
Sawyer nods. "Do you know him?"
"Nah. But, I'm a fan. I knew An Unkindness of Ravens was set in Tree Hill, so I read it before I moved here. It's good," Sam explains.
"You have good taste in music and books," Sawyer acknowledges.
Brooke decides to let them get acquainted. If Sam's new in town, she probably doesn't know anyone. "Sam, I'm gonna go get some coffee. Can you hold down the fort?"
"Yeah," Sam replies. Again, she's surprised how trusting Brooke is of her when she's a complete stranger. It's naïve. Sam could empty the cash register and get out of there. With Brooke's trust, Sam feels a sense of responsibility. She doesn't want to let Brooke down.
Sawyer waits until the door shuts behind Brooke. "My boyfriend is having a party at his parents' beach house tonight. You should come."
"I don't know," Sam says reluctantly.
"You can't stay home and read on a Friday night," Sawyer teases.
"I don't have anything to wear," Sam says as Brooke returns with a latte.
"It just so happens I have a store full of clothes. What do you need?" Brooke says.
Sam blushes. Not having anything to wear was just an excuse. She doesn't want to go to the party. As a rule, she doesn't like rich kids like Sawyer. She's too jealous of them to see that they're not all bad. She also can't afford anything in Clothes Over Bros. Even the t-shirts are out of her price range.
When Sam remains silent, Sawyer speaks up. "I'm taking Sam to a party tonight. She needs a dress. Something casual."
Brooke pulls a red dress and holds it up to Sam. "Red is really your color."
"Thanks, but that dress costs more than all my clothes combined," Sam says.
"You can borrow it," Brooke offers.
Sam stares at Brooke. Brooke's smile is sincere. She's waiting for Sam to take the dress from her. She wants Sam to take it. But, everything comes with strings attached. "What's the catch?"
"There's no catch. Just bring it when you come in tomorrow."
"Thanks."
"If you need a ride, you can go with me. Just give me your address," Sawyer offers.
But, Sam can't give Sawyer her address. She made up an address on the paperwork she filled out for Brooke. She's been sleeping in a car in shop class. "I don't need a ride."
"Do you have a car? You can't walk," Sawyer says.
Panicked, Sam tries to come up with a lie off the top of her head. She feels Sawyer and Brooke's eyes on her, both waiting for her answer. "I'm going to dinner with my parents at the diner off of Madison and Ohio. Can you pick me up there?"
"Okay. See you later."
Peyton and Sawyer are in Sawyer's room. Peyton likes to do all the mother-daughter things with Sawyer that she never got to do with her mom.
Sawyer holds up two tops, a black beaded tank and a white lace top. "What should I wear?"
"Where are you going?" Peyton asks.
"A party at one of the basketball player's beach houses," Sawyer replies.
"The white one," Peyton says, pointing to the top in Sawyer's right hand. "Will this basketball player's parents be there?"
Sawyer rolls her eyes. "How many of your high school parties had parental supervision?" She asks.
Peyton laughs as she remembers her high school parties. "Okay. No drinking. Curfew is 12:00. If you're going to be late, I want a call."
"I know."
Lucas comes in from a friendly game at the river court with Nathan, Skillz and Fergie. Peyton puts the dinner plate she saved him in the microwave.
"Hey. How was the game?" Peyton asks.
"Okay. Skillz and I won," Lucas replies.
"You beat Nathan?" Peyton asks, impressed.
"You don't have to sound so surprised," Lucas says sarcastically.
"He did play in the NBA. If it was a writing contest, my money would be on you," Peyton says.
"Where's Sawyer?" Lucas asks.
"A party at a basketball player's house," Peyton replies.
Lucas tries to remember if he heard any of the players mention a party at practice. "Which one?"
"She didn't say."
Lucas frowns. "I hope it's not Eric Willis. He reminds me of Nathan."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It was until junior year."
Peyton looks offended. "Lucas, he was my boyfriend."
"I know. More reason not to like him." Lucas smirks.
When Julian gets home, he sees Brooke sketching on the couch.
"What are you working on?" Julian asks, looking over Brooke's shoulder at her sketchpad.
"Sawyer needs a dress for Winter Formal," Brooke explains.
"And she asked her beautiful and talented aunt," Julian says.
Brooke smiles. "Flattery will get you everywhere."
"The only place I want to be is right here with you," Julian says. He watches Brooke work and notices that she's looking wistfully at the dress she's sketching. "Does it make you a little sad that you're designing a dress for Sawyer instead of our child?"
"Is that bad?" Brooke asks.
"No. I know exactly how you feel," Julian says. He drapes his arm around Brooke's shoulders and she leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "It's been a year. Do you want to try in vitro fertilization again?"
"I don't know. I want a baby. But, I don't want to lose another child. I can't," Brooke admits.
"You make me so happy, Brooke Davis. If we can't have a child, I'll be happy as long as I have you. But, I want to make you happy. If you want a child, we'll do whatever we need to do. Whether that means adoption. Or kidnapping."
Brooke finally cracks a smile. "I love you, husband."
At 8:30 pm, Sawyer picks Sam up from the diner. Sawyer's iPod is plugged in and her music is blaring through the speakers. Sam starts scrolling through the songs. She's impressed with Sawyer's epic music collection.
"You have the new Plain White T's album. It's not even out yet!" Sam says.
Sawyer laughs. "It's not what you know. It's who you know."
They talk about music for most of the car ride. Sawyer parks on the street in front of Eric's beach house. The house is easily double the size of Sam's last foster home and it's just a beach house.
Sawyer introduces Sam to Eric and Eric's best friend, Jeff.
"Can I get you a drink?" Jeff offers.
"Yeah," Sam replies.
Jeff refills his own cup and fills one for Sam.
"Thanks," Sam says gratefully, accepting the cup and taking a drink.
"Want to play beer pong?" Eric asks.
They decide to play girls against boys. Eric and Jeff win easily. Sawyer and Sam are buzzed by the time they the first game is over. Sam doesn't notice that every time the ball lands in the red plastic cups, beer splashes over the rim and gets on her dress.
"That's not fair. You're on the basketball team. We should get a handicap," Sawyer says, pouting.
"Okay, how about us against Jeff and Sam this time?" Eric suggests.
Sam goes first and the ball lands in a cup. It's the first time she's come anywhere near a cup. Jeff holds up his palm for a high five and then gives Sam a congratulatory hug. They're both smiling when they win.
Eric and Jeff start setting the table up for another game, but Sawyer stops them. "I'm done. I have to drive home in two hours."
"You can stay," Eric offers.
"Yeah, my parents would love that," Sawyer says sarcastically. She looks at Sam. "What time's your curfew?"
"I don't have a curfew," Sam replies.
"Lucky," Sawyer says enviously.
Sam wants to say not really, but she doesn't. She just smirks.
Sawyer drinks water, trying to sober up before midnight. If she's late, she'll be grounded. She and Sam leave with fifteen minutes to spare.
Sawyer digs around in her purse for a pack of mint gum and pops a piece into her mouth before offering it to Sam. "Gum?"
"No, thanks," Sam replies.
"Your parents will smell the alcohol on your breath," Sawyer warns.
Sam doesn't have parents to smell the alcohol on her breath. But, she's not drunk enough to confess her deepest, darkest secrets. Instead, she takes a piece of gum. "Thanks."
"Where do you live?" Sawyer asks as they enter Tree Hill.
"I can walk. I don't want to make you late for curfew." Sam tries to keep her tone light and act nonchalant, but she doesn't know how much longer she can keep this up. Sawyer will eventually get suspicious.
Sam walks to Tree Hill High. She tries the door, but it's locked. She can't get to the car she's been crashing in. She can't get to the locker room she's been showering in. So, she goes to the diner. It's open all night.
A few truckers are drinking coffee before they get back on the road. They leer at Sam when she walks in. She gets a cup of coffee and sits down at her usual booth. She keeps her eyes down and hopes no one will bother her.