A/N - Hey guys. Here's a new story that I started working on. It takes place after the series finale. It's Brooke centric, but will feature almost everyone from the show. I was always a little confused about how old the kids were supposed to be in the time jump in the finale, so my guesses on the ages are just that, but for the purposes of this story they are as follows:
Jamie Scott - 16
Sawyer Scott - 10
Logan Evans - 10
Lydia Scott - 7
Jude Baker - 6
Davis Baker - 6
I have the second chapter finished and that should be posted soon. As always, I own nothing. The rating is T, mostly because I have a potty mouth. I hope you enjoy and please review! :)
Lucas looked up from his laptop as his cell phone rang, glancing at the clock. It was early. Really early. Who could be calling at this hour? He was only up because he hoped to get a few hours of writing in before Sawyer woke up and Peyton came to pick her up. He picked up the phone and stopped when he saw the caller ID, quickly lifting the device to his ear.
"Haley?" There's silence on the other end of the line. "Hales, are you there?"
"I'm sorry Luke. I hope I didn't wake you, but…" Haley's voice cracks on a sob and Lucas immediately freezes.
"Haley, what's going on? What's wrong?" Lucas' heart starts to pound and fear grips him as Haley breaks down crying.
"Luke, you need to come home. There's been an accident." Haley says through her tears.
"An accident?" Lucas immediately jumps to his feet, rushing toward the door so he can make his way toward his bedroom. "What accident? Is it Nathan? Oh god, tell me it's not Jamie or Lydia."
"No, they're fine. Lucas, you guys need to come home for Brooke." Lucas' hand freezes as it closes around the doorknob and he suddenly feels like his legs are about to give out on him. Brooke was in an accident?
"What happened? Is she OK? " Lucas can barely get the words out as he grips the doorknob tighter, willing himself to open the door but not being able to move.
"Brooke wasn't in the accident. Julian was. He didn't make it." Haley begins to cry again but it's all that Lucas can do not to audibly sigh in relief that Brooke is at least physically OK. "I don't know what to do for her or the boys. She says that she's handling it but you know Brooke. She always deals with the bad stuff alone, that hasn't changed. She needs the people that she loves around her. She needs all of us. She needs you…" Haley's words seem to snap Lucas out of his reverie and he finally pulls the door open, practically ripping the door off his hinges "…and Peyton."
"I'll be there as soon as I can." He doesn't hear or acknowledge the last part of Haley's statement. "I'm glad you called me Hales. We're going to get her through this. I promise. I'll text you the flight information as soon as I have it." Lucas hangs up before Haley can respond, bolting up the stairs and throwing the door to his bedroom open, flipping the light switch. He quickly starts pulling clothes from the drawer and haphazardly throwing them into a duffel bag before heading back downstairs and booking himself on the next available flight to Tree Hill. As he printed off is boarding pass, he glanced at the clock and made his way back upstairs, quietly opening the door to his daughter's bedroom, a tender smile finding his lips as he looked at the blonde girl sleeping soundly.
"Sawyer, baby, it's time to wake up. Mama's going to be here to get you soon." Lucas shook his 10-year-old gently.
"Daddy, I don't want to…" Sawyer Brooke Scott groaned, rolling over and shoving her head under her pillow again in very Peyton-like fashion. Lucas would have laughed except he didn't have time to fight with Sawyer about getting up. He had to be at the airport in an hour and he would have just enough time to get there once Peyton picked up Sawyer.
"Sawyer, we don't have time this morning, OK. Your Aunt Haley called and I need to go to see them right away. You have to be ready when your Mama comes. No dilly dallying this morning." Lucas knelt next to the bed. "Can you do that for me?"
Sawyer nodded, climbing out of bed and heading into the bathroom. She came out not long after, fully dressed, just as the doorbell rang and Sawyer immediately ran to greet her mother.
"Hi baby. Did you have a fun night with Daddy?" Peyton smiled down at their daughter as the door swung open.
"Yeah, except he woke me up really early this morning because he has to go see Aunt Haley." Sawyer lifted her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.
"Haley?" Peyton looked up at her ex-husband quickly. "What's wrong with Haley? Why do you have to go to Tree Hill?"
"Sawyer, I got to talk to your mom for a minute. Do you mind waiting for her by the car? But make sure we can see you, OK?" Lucas kneeled down to look at his daughter again. "I'll see you soon?" Sawyer nodded, oblivious to the fact that her mother looked completely confused.
"OK. Bye Daddy. I love you." Sawyer hugged Lucas, kissing his cheek and heading toward Peyton's car.
"Lucas, what the hell is going on?" Peyton asked when they were alone. "Why are you going to Tree Hill? What happened?" Lucas didn't respond immediately, but instead moved back into the house grabbing his duffel bag and flight information.
"Julian was in a car accident. He's dead, Peyton." Lucas said finally and Peyton felt like she had been punched in the stomach . She stumbled back a couple of steps, catching herself on the step railing, her fingers curling around it.
"What?" Peyton's voice was barely a whisper as she watched Lucas step outside and lock the door. "I don't understand? What…? How…?"
"Haley called early this morning. Julian was in a car accident. He didn't make it. Brooke's a mess. She needs me…" Peyton looks up sharply at his words and Lucas falters for a second. "She's needs us, Peyton. She's needs the people who love her now."
"Of course." Peyton shakes herself out of her haze. He was right. Brooke needed them. Lucas gave her a nod before slipping past her, tossing his bag in the backseat of his car before kissing the top of Sawyer's head again. "But, Luke, we both can't just pick up and go. Sawyer still has school."
"Peyton, Brooke has always been there for us without fail. I'm not going to let her down again." Luke climbed into his car. "Look, it's fine. I'll go now and you guys can come on Friday once school is finished. I'll call you when I get there. Sawyer, I love you baby. Be good for your Mama and I'll see you the weekend, OK?" Lucas pulls out of the driveway and Peyton remains rooted where she for a few seconds before she slowly makes her way toward the car, helping Sawyer into the back seat and buckling her in. She climbs into the driver's seat and her hand freezes when she goes to start the car, the realization of what Lucas had told her finally sinking in. Julian was dead. Regardless of everything, Julian had been an important person in her life and he had made Brooke happy, given her the family she wanted so desperately. He was a good man. How could he just be gone?
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"I don't know how you managed to get here so quickly. But I'm really glad that you did." Haley gave him a sad, watery smile when Lucas emerged through the crowd in the airport the next day. Lucas dropped his bag on the floor and enveloped his best friend in an embrace. "Peyton? Sawyer?" She looked over Luke's shoulder before glancing back up at the brooding blonde.
"Sawyer still has a few more days left to school, so Peyton is going to bring her on Friday once the school is finished." Lucas explained, picking his bag up again and swinging it over his shoulder. Haley nodded but didn't respond as the two made their way out of the terminal. "How is she? How are the boys?"
"She's a wreck Luke." Haley shook her head as they settled into her SUV and she started the car. "I mean, she's trying to put on a brave front for Jude and Davis but…" Haley swallowed a lump in her throat. "They're so young and they don't understand why their mom is so sad and why their dad isn't there. I just don't know what to do for her." Tears spilled down Haley's face and Luke pulled her into another hug.
"It's going to be OK, Hales. I promise." Lucas whispered into her hair.
"He saved Jamie's life." Haley murmured into his shoulder. "He saved Nathan's life. I still have my son and my husband because of Julian. My children still have their father because of him. But, now, Brooke is a widow and Julian's children are going to grow up without him because of something so stupid, so pedestrian. It's not fair, Luke. It's just not fair."
Lucas was quiet for a moment as Haley sobbed into his chest and he tried his best to comfort her. Although logically, he knew that Julian had been a part of the other Scott Family's lives, it had never really dawned on him just how significant he had become in the years since he, Peyton and Sawyer had left Tree Hill. Julian was a member of their family. It wasn't just Brooke and Davis and Jude that had lost someone. Sure, their loss was the most severe, the most palpable, but everyone that he had left behind, Nathan, Haley, Jamie, Lydia, they had lost someone who they cared about too.
"I'm sorry." Haley pulled away, brushing the tears from her face. "You're not here to comfort me. You're here for Brooke. That's who we need to focus on."
"You're right. We do need to focus on Brooke and the boys. But you're grieving too Haley. You should allow yourself to do that."
"I'm really glad you're here, Luke." Haley forced a smile as wiped her eyes one last time before putting the car in drive.
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"Brooke lives here?" Lucas looks over at Haley when they pull up in front of the big white house with the vibrant red door.
"Yeah." Haley nods with a sad smile. "Julian bought it for her when the twins were 1 or so I guess. You know how much Brooke loved being the girl behind the red door." Haley put the car in park and took the keys from the ignition. "Come on. Everyone is inside. You can leave your bag in the car if you want." Haley climbed from the vehicle and Lucas followed close behind as they made their way up the familiar path.
"Hey big brother." The front door swung open as soon as they reached it and Lucas found himself face to face with his baby brother.
"Hey Nate. Good to see you." The two hugged quickly.
"I wish it was for a better reason." Nathan's eyes cloudy with worry as he glanced over his shoulder toward the staircase. "Jude and Davis are in the kitchen with Jamie and Lydia. Brooke's upstairs in the bathroom. I think she needed a minute. Jude asked when Julian was coming home." Nathan ran his hand over face wearily and Haley winced for her friend.
"Is she OK?" Haley looked toward the stairs before looking back at her husband. "I should check on her." Haley set her purse down and started up the stairs but Luke's hand on her arm, stopped her.
"Let me." Haley hesitated for a second before nodding and Luke took a breath before slowly climbing the stairs, a weird feeling of déjà vu washing over him.
"Where's Peyton?" Lucas heard his brother ask as he reached the top of the stairs. He didn't look back to see Haley look up at her husband with an unreadable expression, her response nothing more than a slight shake of the head as she headed toward the kitchen to check on the kids.
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Brooke took a deep breath as she splashed some water on her face and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were a little red and puffy. Sighing she reached for her makeup and began expertly applying the cover up. She couldn't let Jude or Davis see her like this. She had to put aside her own grief right now. She needed to be strong for her boys. Her two little miracles. How was she supposed to make them understand why their daddy wasn't coming home, when she didn't even understand it herself.
A knock on the bathroom door snapped her back to reality and she took a breath, carefully dabbing powder to cover the bags under her eyes.
"I'm OK, Nate. I'll be out in just a second." Her voice cracking just slightly and Brooke cringed, closing her eyes as she heard the handle turn and the door open. "Nate, really, I'm OK. I just need a…" Brook lifted her head, opening her eyes as she looked in the mirror and she froze when she locked eyes with the man standing behind her. "Luke?" She slowly turned around to come face to face with him for the first time in years. "What…"
"Haley called me." Lucas finally spoke. "Brooke, I'm so sorry." A broken sob escaped Brooke's lips and she quickly turned away leaning against the vanity, her shoulders shaking slightly. Glancing over his shoulder, Lucas stepped into the bathroom closing the door behind him. "Shh. It's OK." Without thinking he pulled the tiny brunette into his arms. "Just let it out." They stayed that way for a long time before Brooke stiffened, shaking her head.
"I can't…" Brooke pulled away, turning again to fix herself in the mirror. "I have to be strong for Jude and Davis. I'm all they have left now." Brooke refused to look him in the eye as she began applying the makeup again.
"That's not true." Luke paused for a second before taking the compact from Brooke's hand. "You're not alone Brooke. We are all here for you and the boys. You don't have to do this by yourself. Let us help you."
"I can't OK." Brooke finally snaps, grabbing the compact back from him. "My children don't even know you. You're nothing but a picture on the wall to them. You can't help them or…" Brooke cut herself off, closing her eyes for a second. "I'm sorry. I know that your first instinct is to just run in and save everybody but you can't same us from this. You can't fix this, Lucas. I know you want to and I appreciate you coming all of this way for us, but this is one thing that you can't rescue me from."
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"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie's eyes lit up when he saw his uncle walk slowly into the kitchen and then almost just as quickly the excitement in his eyes faded as he glanced at Jude and Davis, who were coloring at the kitchen the table with Lydia.
"Hey, J-Luke." Lucas smiled as he looked at his namesake for a second before pulling the teenager into a hug. He had missed this kid, more than he had realized. "God, look at you. You're as tall as me and your dad now. You must be whooping him on the court these days."
"I beat his Ravens' scoring record." Jamie said proudly but again the smile fell from his face as he looked at his cousins. He loved those two little knuckle heads as much as he loved Lydia and they had just lost their dad. He shouldn't be bragging about basketball when Julian was gone.
"Hey, you're allowed to be proud of your accomplishments." Lucas gently pulled Jamie into the next room away from the kids. "I'm sure Julian was. From what I understand, he loved you a lot."
"I was best man at his wedding to Aunt Brooke, did you know that?" Jamie's eyes filled with tears. "He used to joke that he expected to be best man at mine, even if he was an old man by then. He called me last week, asked me if I wanted to take Jude and Davis to a movie with him, but I was too busy. I wanted to play basketball with Chuck instead. That was the last time I spoke to him. I never got to say goodbye. I never got to tell him that I loved him."
"Oh, buddy, Julian knew how much you loved him." They both turn to see Brooke standing at the foot of the stairs, watching the two Scott men.
"But I just blew him off." Jamie shook his head, swiping at the tears on his face. "I didn't…"
"James Lucas Scott. I want you stop this." Brooke quickly bridged the gap between the two and wrapped her arms tightly around her godson, standing on her tips toes. "Julian loved you so much. Do you know what he said to me last week after you guys talked? He said that he was proud of the man that you were becoming and that he hoped our boys would grow up to be just like you."
"I miss him Aunt Brooke." Jamie hands gripped Brooke's back, bunching the fabric of her dress in his fists. "I miss him so much."
"I know, buddy. I miss him too." Brooke murmured into Jamie's hair, her hands rubbing soothing circles on his back. Neither one noticed Lucas quietly slip back into the kitchen.
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"Hey Big Brother. What are you doing out here by yourself?" Lucas looked up as Nathan stepped out on Brooke's back deck.
"Just getting a little air." Lucas leaned against the railing again. "It just strange being back here. Especially under these circumstances and seeing first hand how important he was to all of you…"
"Who? Julian?" Nathan asked and Lucas nodded. "Well, yeah, of course he was important to us." Nathan paused for a second and Lucas watched pain flash across his brother's face briefly. "I wasn't his biggest fan in the beginning. I thought he was strange, to be honest." Nathan laughed a little, shaking his head. "But you know Brooke and Haley, thick as thieves those two, so Julian and I were forced to spend time together. That's how I got to know him, really know him. He was a good guy. He was good to Jamie and Lydia. He loved his kids. And he made Brooke happy. Happier than I've seen her since…" Nathan trailed off, looking over at his brother again. "Luke, he didn't replace you if that's how you're feeling. But he was here. We shared experiences that can bind people together. He saved my life. He saved my son's life…"
"I know. I know. I just… hearing Haley talk about him and Jamie talk about him, it made me realize how much I've missed. I should have been here. For Jamie, Haley, you. I should have been here for Brooke. I wasn't and I should have been. I shouldn't have had to get on a plane when Haley called. I should have been across town, not across the country."
"Lucas, we all understood why you and Peyton decided to move. So much happened to the two of you here." Nathan paused as he looked at his brother. "Where is Peyton anyway? Haley said something about Sawyer having school?"
"Yeah, we didn't want her to miss that last week so Peyton's going to come down on the weekend." Lucas glanced over his shoulder toward the house where he could see Brooke trying to coax the twins into eating something.
"So, you came? Instead of Brooke's oldest friend?" Nathan questioned and Lucas immediately picked up on Nathan's choice of words. Brooke's oldest friend. That was Peyton's title now. Haley held the title of Brooke's best friend and vice versa. All of that changed when he and Peyton up and left.
"I…" Lucas began but stopped as he looked at his brother. "I didn't really give her a choice." He says finally. "Haley called and I just threw clothes in a bag. I was out the door as soon as Peyton came to pick up Sawyer."
"Jesus, Luke, did you even ask her if she was OK?" Nathan turned to look at Lucas fully. Lucas was quiet for a second before a confused expression crossed his face. "Wow, you are still just a clueless." Nathan shook his head.
"Peyton and Julian had barely spoken let alone seen each other in years." Lucas countered and Nathan scoffed.
"You and Brooke have barely spoken let alone seen each other in years. Didn't stop you from dropping everything the second Haley called, did it?" Nathan shook his head again. "Peyton and Julian cared about each other, maybe it wasn't meant to last forever, but that doesn't change the fact that they did care about each other. You don't get to just ignore their history. And maybe it's been years since they've seen each other, but according to Brooke they always spoke, when Peyton called, even it was only briefly." Nathan paused for a second. "Haley told me what you said to her. That we were all grieving too. That we should let ourselves grieve. I know you guys aren't married anymore but she's still the mother of your child. Did you ever stop to think that maybe Peyton is grieving?"
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"Mama, why did Daddy have to go to heaven?" Brooke felt a tap on her leg and looked down to Jude staring up at her with wide eyes, so much like his father's.
"Oh baby, I don't know." Brooke blinked back tears as she lifted her son into her arms. "But what I do know, is that he didn't go because he wanted to. If he could have, he would stayed here with you and Davis forever. But you know what?" Brooke sat down on the couch, Jude sitting on her lap facing her. "Your daddy is always right here." Brooke tapped the little boy's chest lightly. "He loved you and your brother so much. More than anything else in this world. So when you miss him, you just remember that OK? Remember that he is always right here looking out for you."
"Hey, I think Aunt Haley has made pizza for lunch." The two Bakers look up to find Lucas standing in the doorway to the living room. "I'm pretty sure Davis is saving you a piece with no mushrooms."
"Oh, see, your big brother is looking out for you too, because you don't like mushrooms at all." Brooke gave her son a big smile which seemed to bright too Lucas and he was sure the little boy could tell as well because Jude just looked at his mom for a second before sliding off her lap and heading toward the kitchen, not looking up at Lucas as he passed.
"Thanks for that." Brooke said with a sigh when they were alone. "I just don't know what to say to them." Lucas nodded, silently moving across the room to sit down next to brunette. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. You came all this way and the first thing I do is yell at you."
"You already apologized, Brooke. It's OK." Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "And you have nothing to be sorry about."
"I just don't know what I'm doing." Brooke sighed dropping her head into her hands. "They keep asking me all of these questions. Where is he? Why did he go away? Questions that I will never be able to answer. It's not like there is even anyone to blame. He didn't get hit by drunk driver. No one was being negligent. He just took a turn the wrong way and lost control of the car. How could something so mundane completely upend our lives?"
"I don't know, Brooke." Lucas shook his head. "Sometimes, crappy things just happen. There's no rhyme or reason to them."
"Yeah?" Brooke barks out a laugh as she looks over at Lucas. "So, I'm just supposed to tell my boys 'shit happens' the next time they ask why their dad is gone?" Brooke's face is so serious that Lucas can't help but smirk a little himself.
"Well, maybe not exactly like that." Luke gave her a look and Brooke finally have him a genuine smile for the first time since he had arrived. "Besides, I think you were doing a fine job with Davis before I came in."
"It's not fair." Brooke shook her head, tears filling her eyes again as Lucas pulled her to his side, his arm tightening around her.
"No, it's not. But you're strong Brooke Davis. You'll get through this. I'm know you will."
"Brooke Davis-Baker." Brooke glanced up at Lucas and he couldn't help but smile. There was the Brooke he knew and loved. He opened his mouth to respond when the doorbell rang.
"I wonder who that is. I really can't handle any more people right now. And I think it's starting to overwhelm the boys."
"Actually, this one is probably my fault." Lucas stood, pulling Brooke to her feet and toward the door just as Nathan and Haley appeared in the kitchen door.
"Your fault?" Brooke looked confused as she reached for the door handle. "What are you talking about?" Brooke opened the door and couldn't stop the tears from bursting when she found herself face to face with Karen Roe. "Karen!" Brooke launched herself toward the older woman.
"Oh Brooke. Sweetheart., I am so sorry." Karen murmured over and over.
"I can't believe you're here." Brooke finally said when she pulled away.
"Lucas called me on the way to the airport. Andy insisted that I take the jet. He is going to be here with Lily in a few days. She's just finishing up her finals so we didn't want to…"
"No, I completely understand." Brooke shook her head before ushering Karen inside. "I can't even begin to tell you how much it means that you're here."
"Honey, of course I'm here." Karen brushed the tear from Brooke's cheeks. "I know we don't get to see each other as often as we would like, but that doesn't mean that you're not still family, Brooke Davis-Baker. Come on. Let me see those boys of yours. I bet they are turning into little heart breakers."
"Just like their dad." Brooke smiled but immediately the smile turned into a grimace, almost as though it physically hurt her to think of Julian.
"It will get easier, Sweetheart. I promise." Karen whispered as the group made their way toward the kitchen. "It's going to hurt for a long time, but it will get easier." Brooke paused outside the kitchen door to look at the woman next to her. Sure, she and her parents had a good relationship now, but that had been years in the making, and for a long time the brunette woman standing next to her was more of a parent than either of hers had ever been.
"How did you get through it?" Brooke finally asks. "Losing Keith? I know how devastated you were, but you handled it with such dignity and I just don't know if I have that in me?"
"Dignity?" Karen looked at her sympathetically. "Oh, believe me, I was anything but dignified. Lucas can confirm that for you. I was a wreck for a long time, but one day I realized that Keith wouldn't want me to spend my life in a perpetual state of grief. He would have wanted me to move on. He would have wanted me to be happy and to make sure Lily was happy. And there is no doubt in my mind that Julian would want that for you and the boys."
"It just feels like I'm sinking under this weight and no matter how hard I struggle I can't break the surface." Brooke dropped her head as a choked sob escaped her lips. She glanced quickly toward the kitchen before bolting into the living room, trying to keep her breakdown away from Jude and Davis. Lucas started to go after her but Karen laid a hand on his arm, shaking her head silently as she followed the younger brunette.
"It's going to feel like that for a long time." Karen sat down next to Brooke, reaching for her hand. "It's not going to be easy and the truth is you never really get over it. You'll learn to live with it. The weight eases with time. The pain that you're feeling right now will dull. You are going to miss Julian. You're going to miss him every day. Just like I miss Keith every day." Karen shrugged, almost helplessly. "I love Andy. He's a wonderful man and he has been an amazing father to Lily, but that doesn't mean that I don't get an ache in my heart when I see the two of them together. Of course I do because it should have been Keith. Keith should have been there for her first steps and her first words. Keith should have gotten to teach her how to ride her bike, but he didn't get to experience any it and sometimes I hate the world for that." Karen paused for a second. "But do you know what makes it easier?" Karen looked at Brooke expectantly. "I get to see Keith every time I look at my daughter. I see him in her smile and the way she laughs. I see him in the kindness that she bestows on everyone from family to complete strangers. That's what gets me through the hard times, knowing that he's never really gone as long she's still here." Karen wrapped her arms around Brooke tightly. "So you let yourself grieve, Brooke Davis-Baker. Cry, scream, rant, rave, break things up if you need to, just get it out of your system. Then when you do, you remember that you still have the two most precious parts of Julian with you."
"I'm so afraid that they're going to forget him." Brooke said through her tears as she leaned into Karen's shoulder.
"They won't." Karen whispered into her hair, pressing a kiss on the top of her. "Because you won't let them. You show them pictures and videos and tell them stories. Show them his movies and the TV show that he made about their mom because he loved her so much." Karen tightened her arms around the younger woman. "Try and think of it this way, Brooke, Jude and Davis had five years with a father that adored them. That's something. It's not enough, it will never be enough, but it's something." Karen paused for a second as she forced Broke to look at her. "You and your boys will get through this. It's going to be a long road and it's going to take time, but I promise you will get through this."