Discussions After the Meal

Nathan threw his napkin on his paper plate and let out a sigh. "I can not eat anymore!" Everyone smiled.

Haley turned to her husband, "Well, no one forced you to eat that second helping of macaroni salad." Her retort was also greeted with laughter.

Nate shrugged and sighed deciding to give up, because this was a fight he was not going to win. "Yea, yea..." he wrapped an arm around his wife and kissed her on the head. Haley smiled and leaned into his body and was about to say something, but was interrupted by Dakota, Ellie and Becca.

"Um, Mommy," Dakota began at her mother. "Are there any cookies?" She asked quickly and stared at her mother with bright brown eyes and a smile.

Haley laughed and sat up. She reached across the table and grabbed a Tupperware bowl. She opened it and handed it to each of the girls and continued to pass the tub around to the rest of the children. She smiled, "There you go."

"Thanks!" They all answered with pleasure and ran off to the edge of the court with their treats.

Karen smiled at the girls. They reminded her of their mothers and the way Haley, Brooke and Peyton used to act in high school. She turned her attention to the boys playing basketball. She smiled at her son, Keith. He was the spitting image of his deceased father. Nate also turned his attention to the boys. They had just started their two-on-two up again. He smiled, "Bobby? What's the score?"

His son turned and shrugged, "I don't know. We don't keep score Pop. We play for fun!"

Nate laughed and nodded. Haley wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. "Well, what do you know? Playing just for fun..."
Nate turned his attention to his wife. "Yea, I sure am proud of that boy."

Haley nodded, "Me too. We know for sure that he did not pick up any bad habits from his Grandpa Dan."

Nate nodded a little relieved, "Thank God. I don't think I could handle a mini version of my father playing this game."

Haley shook her head, "We would have to forbid the game all together."

He nodded and smiled at her sarcasm, "But you know what I mean."
She nodded, "I know what you mean." And she kissed him and resumed watching the boys play.

Lucas was checking on Anna for the third time today. He took the blanket off and felt her forehead making sure she didn't have a temperature. He put it back on her quickly so she didn't get cold. He began to rock her car seat a little to help her fall asleep. Brooke came up and sat next to Lucas. "You know, if you keep fussing with her, she'll never sleep."

Luke let out a sigh, "I know. I just..." he paused, "I just can't leave her alone. I don't want anything to happen to her."

Brooke nodded, "I know Luke. And that is why you are such a great father. But you are a little overprotective."

"But," He tried to defend himself, but Brooke cut him off.
"No, no buts. I know they are your world. They are your life and you will always be around to protect your girls no matter what. But they need room to breath. If you do this their whole lives, then they will grow up and start lying to you about things. They need freedom."
"But they are babies! They are 1, 3, and 6 years old. I think I have the right to be a little protective over my daughters."

"You have every right to protect your daughters, but you are protecting too much. Anna has just a little bug. Her immune system is growing and soon it will be gone and there is nothing you can do about it."

Luke shrugged, "I guess so. I just wish there was something I could do. She seems so helpless."

"Well, she is helpless. She's a baby."
He let out a sigh, "I know. You're right. Thanks a lot Brooke for talking to me. I know I've been a crazy psycho dad."

"Hey, it's ok. I just thought you should know that sometimes there is a thing as too much."

He laughed, "Less is more, right?"

Brooke nodded and laughed, "I guess that works with makeup and fashion, but I don't think that really applies to your daughter. But you're on the right track." They both laughed.

Peyton walked over and wrapped her arms around Luke, "Hey Daddy."

He smiled, "I know, I know. Step away from the car seat!" He put his hands up defensively and both girls laughed. "I'll back off." He got up from the picnic table and kissed Peyton on the head. He headed towards the side of the basketball towards Ellie and gave Brooke a touch on the shoulder on his way over. He smiled his gratitude at her and she nodded as he headed off towards the other kids.

Peyton smiled at Brooke, "So, thank you for talking Lucas away from Anna."

Brooke shrugged, "It was no big deal. I know a good dad when I see one. He just needed a little bit of guidance."

Peyton laughed, "And you are the right person to give it to him. I keep trying to tell him that he is too protective, but he doesn't want to hear it. I think I am just a broken record to him these days."

Brooke laughed a little and Peyton frowned. Peyton didn't get the joke. Brooke smiled, "Do you remember when you first met Ellie? You were so mad at your dad for everything."

Peyton nodded, "I was the worst teen ever. I walked around slamming doors. I think I even told him that he wasn't my "real father". I can't believe I threw that in his face."

Brooke nodded, "And you got so angry one day that you actually broke one of your favorite records because you said that's what he was; a "broken record"." Both girls laughed.

"I was a real piece of work then. I can't believe the things I used to say."

Brooke shrugged, "It was all justified. It wasn't over stupid teen crap. It was over real issues like your moms or your brother."

"Or my creepy stalker fake brother." They both laughed again. "I don't think I was ever more scared in my whole life."

Brooke nodded, "I was really shocked when I had heard that." Both girls paused to remember the time they were fighting during their senior year. They both smiled at each other knowing that it didn't matter now. Those days had passed and they were friends no matter what.