Hello Lovely Readers. Welcome to another chapter of "A Hand to Hold at Last" I hope you enjoy this chapter as I really enjoyed writing it. I hope every had a great Christmas or Holiday-Whatever you celebrate! I wanted to update as soon as I could after spending time with Family and Friends. Now I am back and excited to be writing again.
This chapter focuses on a number of main characters and the developing "father-daugher" relationship between Sam and Julian. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or feedback please leave a review I would love to hear about them! As always. Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Adjustments and Announcements
"Sam! Breakfast!" A cheery Brooke Davis yells from the kitchen towards Sam's bedroom.
"Mmmmmmm. Not hungry. Need sleep." Sam moans from behind her bedroom door.
"Sam. Up. Now." Brooke says in a no-nonsense tone while placing breakfast on the table.
"Yeah yeah. I'm coming." Sam says in a muffled tone while flopping out of bed still wrapped in her blanket.
Sam opens her bedroom door and enters the kitchen and sits at the dining room table, as she flops onto her chair julian takes his seat beside Sam, followed by Brooke.
"Nice bedhead Sammy!" Brooke says sarcastically as she ruffles Sam's hair.
Sam responds with a glare and begins to eat her breakfast. She never was a morning person.
"So Sam, what's your plan for the day?" Julian asks
"Um. School." Sam responds in an obvious tone. As Brooke shoots a look at Sam with a raised eyebrow.
"Thanks Sam." Julian laughs. "I meant after school?" He asks
"Right. Well. Probably hanging with Taylor, she has cheerleading try-outs after school so I'll probably stick around and wait for her then we'll hang out." Sam says as she continues to eat her breakfast.
"Oh Sam! You should try out for cheer! You would love it, you know-" Brooke is cut of by Sam's smug laughter.
"Your joking right?" Sam laughs
Brooke frowns. "Well it was worth a shot." She chuckles.
The three continue eating breakfast and making conversation.
"So Sam. About yesterday. We want to make sure your okay with all this. I know with the adoption and all the changes you've been through that this is going to be a positive one." Brooke says with honesty as she looks into Sam's eyes.
"Brooke. I'm fine. Honestly. I'm happy for you." Sam says honestly. However slightly annoyed that Brooke constantly worried about Sam's feelings. But that's what Mom's are for. She tells herself. It just takes some getting used to.
FLASHBACK
"Okay so Sam. We have something to tell you." Julian smiles.
"Um. Okay. Go for it." Sam says as she takes a bite of her pizza.
Brooke takes a deep breath. "Sam I want you to know that I am so happy about the adoption-"
"We both are." Julian says honestly. Brooke smiles at Julian and continues.
"Yes, we both are. And we wanted to wait for the right moment to tell you this. Because well. We wanted to make sure that it wasn't all too much for you with the adoption." Brooke says with slight nerves.
"Okay..." Sam says slightly confused
"Sam. Julian and I are engaged. We are getting married." Brooke says with a smile.
Sam looks slightly surprised but not shocked. "Married?"Sam says to confirm.
"Yes. We're going to be getting married. We wanted to wait until after the adoption was official." Julian says
"So Sam. What do you think?" Brooke says with smile.
"Well. I can't say I'm shocked. I mean. Your Brooke and Julian. Everyone has been waiting for this for for how long?" Sam says sarcastically.
Brooke and Julian laugh, Brooke shakes her head.
"Sam. Without the sarcasm. Please." Brooke says
"Okay. Okay. Honestly. I'm happy for you. Really." Sam says with a smile towards a clearly nervous Brooke Davis before her.
"I'm really happy to hear that Sam. And I want you to know that I want us to be a family. I love you Sampson. I hope you know that." Julian says to Sam.
"I know Julian." Sam says as honestly as possible and resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Sam never does well with 'sappy' as she would call it.
"So when's the wedding?" Sam asks.
"Well we're hoping for July." Brooke responds. "I'm so excited that you know, now you can help me with all the details!" Brooke squeals.
"Greeeeat. That sounds like so much fun." Sam says sarcastically.
"Hey! Listen lady. You're officially my daughter now so you have to help me! It's your job." Brooke says playfully.
"Oh come on Brooke. Your going to be a total 'Bridezilla' admit it!" Sam says through her laughter.
"Samantha!" Brooke says as she hits her arm playfully from across the table. "I will not be a 'Bride-Whatever you called it'!" Brooke says in offence.
"Okay then." Sam says with a sly smile and a roll of her eyes.
Julian laughs at the back and fourth banter about the wedding. And is happy that Sam finally knew about the engagement. Julian Baker was ready to start his Family. And couldn't be happier.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Okay great. I just wanted to make sure." Brooke says with a smile.
"Okay Samson, I've got to go meet Lucas, and the crew, we start filming today. I can drop you off at school. 10 minutes!" Julian says as he stands and begins to clear the table from breakfast.
"Cool." Sam responds with a shrug of her shoulder. And goes to her bedroom to change.
Brooke makes her way over to the dishwasher and begins to load it. Julian leans in and gives her a kiss on her forehead.
Brooke smiles. "How could I have been so lucky to have you. And Sam." Brooke asks in a happy sigh.
"Simply because you're Brooke Davis my love. The greatest and most beautiful women I know." Julian says as he holds her hand.
"Well..." Brooke says playfully. "This is true. Coming from the most hansom man I know." She jokes leaning in for another kiss.
"AHEM!" Sam remarks loudly as she clears her throat. "If you guys are done making out, I would like to go to school now." She says sarcastically.
"Yeah, yeah Samson. I'm coming" julian laughs.
"That's what she said..." Sam laughs
"SAMANTHA!" Brooke shouts as she furrows her eyebrows and shakes her head quickly in disgust.
"HA! Lighten up Brooke. I learned it from you." Sam says playfully.
Brooke smirks slightly as she realized that she herself does drop a lot of the 'that's what she said jokes' clearly Sam was listening. Parenting fail. Noted.
Julian continues to laugh and grabs his bags off the counter. Gives Brooke a goodbye kiss.
Sam reaches for her backpack and jacket then heads for the door. "Bye Brooke!" She yells as she scurry's out of the front door following Julian.
"Bye Sam! Have a great day. Learn something! And hey. If you change your mind about cheer you have my FULL support!" She yells playfully.
"Not likely!" Sam yells from the front door without turning back. Brooke shakes her head and laughs quietly. And heads for her bedroom to get ready for her meetings of the day at Clothes over Bro's.
Meanwhile on the way to Tree Hill High.
"Julian. Seriously." Sam says in annoyance pointing towards the review mirror that hung two fuzzy dice.
"What! They're cool" Julian says with confidence.
"Okay then. If that's what your calling them." Sam laughs. "I'm sure Brooke will love them." She says sarcastically.
"Hey. Those who do not appreciate the cool'ness of the fuzzy dice. Can feel free to walk to school." Julian says half-jokingly.
"Touché" Sam responds. "They are very 'Julian'." She says seriously.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" He asks with curiously.
"Well. It's like the borderline between nerdy, and embarrassing. While remaining unique." She responds.
"I fully embrace my 'nerdy'ness' thank you very much. But nice save." He says while pulling into the school parking lot.
"Alright. Get out of here. I wouldn't want my fuzzy dice to embarrass you!" Julian says through slight laughter.
"Too late." Sam laughs and shakes her head. "Thanks for the ride!" Sam says as she grabs her bag and opens the car door.
"Bye!" The two day in unison.
As Sam walks towards the school campus, Julian honks the horn loudly and repeatedly and rolls down the window.
"BYE SAM! Have a super day!" He yells loudly.
Sam hangs her head and covers her forehead with her hand and keeps walking "Oh my god. He is so embarrassing." She mumbles to herself, meeting up with Taylor, Sarah and Nick.
Julian laughs hysterically to himself.
"How's that for embarrassment. This Fatherhood thing may be easier then I thought" He nods looking towards his dice, and dives off down the road towards Lucas's house.
"So Sam! How did everything go yesterday?" Taylor asks in excitement.
"Great!" Sam says honestly. "Pretty much the same way as I said it went when you texted me 800 times yesterday." She says in annoyance.
"Yeah well. It's always better in person! This is exciting. Your officially a Davis! And Brooke is officially your Mom!" She says happily.
"Yeah I know." Sam says as if shaking it off as if it wasn't a big deal. Sam never was a fan of all of the attention, so she liked to deflect what she could.
"How does it feel?" Sarah asks as she closes her locker and turning to face Sam's, next to her.
"It feels the same I guess. I don't know." She laughs.
*RING RING RING*
"Ah! You've been saved by the bell my friend." Nick jokes seeing Sam's uncomfortable tone answering questions about the adoption.
"Yeah I guess so." She says as she closes her locker. And heads for English Lit. With Taylor as Sarah and Nick make their way to the other side of the hallway heading to Advanced Chem.
Sam and Taylor could never understand why anyone would ever consider to voluntarily take an advanced chemistry class. Taylor and Sam were very happy with their decision to take English Literacy with Mrs. Haley James. Other then the fact that Mrs. Scott was a cool teacher, they both enjoyed to write. Especially Sam. It was her outlet.
"Good Morning Class!" Haley yells over the chatting as her students walk into the classroom and take their seats.
"Everyone take your books out and turn to page 135!" Mrs. Scott announces.
As class goes on Haley's lesson continues her voice came in and out to Sam as she felt lost in her thoughts as she looked out of the window.
"Mrs. Davis?" Haley snaps. "Are you alive in there?" Mrs. Scott jokes.
Sam snaps out of her daze "Ahem. Yeah. Sorry. Hal- Mrs. Scott" Sam responds. She still continued to confuse the roles of Haley as Haley Brooke's best friend and Mrs. Scott her teacher. Haley was of course much more to Sam then a teacher. She was of course the reason that Brooke and Sam had found each other in the first place.
FLASHBACK
"Brooke. How would you feel about. Fostering a child?" Haley asks in nervousness.
"Well. I guess it would have to depend on the situation." Brooke responds in a questioning tone"
END OF FLASHBACK
That was the moment that changed both Brooke and Sam's life forever. She had Haley to thank for that.
"Good!" Haley responds and continues with her lesson. "As I was saying... Your new writing assignment is going to be based on yourself. We've had 4 lovely months together so far this semester and now it's time for you all to really look at yourselves as writers and write about yourself. Your personal growth. Who you think you are, and who you want to become." Haley says in excitement. "It's due next Monday, at the beginning of class!" Haley adds just as the bell rings.
"Okay, have a great day, and get working on those papers!" Haley's voice yells over the movement and chatting as the students exited the room.
"Hey Luke?" Julian yells as he enters the home.
"Yeah. In here." Lucas responds.
Julian enters the kitchen and sees Lucas scrambling through papers and getting his bag together.
"Lucas. Relax." Julian laughs
"Relax?... Relax? Julian you do realize that this is our first day of filming." Lucas responds in a rushed tone continuing to scramble.
"Ah. Yeah I do Luke. But in order for things to run smoothly we need a calm producer and a calm writer. So relax. Everything is going to be fine."
"Yeah it's just they fought us for so long on the location, I don't know maybe they were right!" Lucas says in a panic.
"Luke!" Julian shouts to cut him off before be banters any further. "It's gonna be fine. Now hurry up. We don't want to be late."
"Right!" Lucas says as he looks at the time. Peyton walks into the kitchen with Sawyer in her arms.
"Alright Sawyer. Give your daddy a big good luck kiss!" Peyton says with a smile handing Sawyer over to him.
Lucas looks into his daughters eyes and smiles. Sawyer could always calm Lucas down in any situation.
"Alright. Bye baby girl." Lucas says as he rubs her back and kisses her forehead handing her back to Peyton and leaning in for a kiss from his wife.
"Bye babe." Peyton whispers. "Your going to do great. I love you" she kisses.
"Luke! Let's go!" Julian shouts from the front porch. Lucas heads out of the front door.
Peyton laughs. "Come on Luke get going!" Peyton nags.
"Okay! Bye!" He yells as he runs out of the door.
"Say bye bye to Daddy Sawyer!" Peyton says in a cute voice while waving her little hand back and fourth.
"Well Sawyer. I guess it's just you and me." Peyton sighs and smiles down at her 6 month old daughter. As Sawyer looks into her eyes.
"What do you want to do today! Do you want to go and visit aunt Brooke! I know you do!" Peyton says playfully as she walks into Sawyers room to get her changed and ready for the day.
Peyton gets Sawyer ready and into her car seat and takes her out to the car buckling her in then hoping into the drivers seat and pulling out of the driveway.
Sam looked up at the clock in Mr. Hunters classroom. Watching each minute go by as his voice zoned in and out of her mind. She hated History. It was so boring.
She felt a tap on her arm from Taylor and turned her head to the side facing her.
"Hey are you staying for cheer, do you sang to go to the movies after?" She whispers.
"Yeah sure." Sam responds. "If I don't die of boredom first..." She sighs in a low whisper but did not go unnoticed.
"What was that Samantha?" Mr. Hunter said.
Sam's classmates turned their heads and looked at Sam. Sam rolls her eyes and simply responds. "Nothing." Taylor and Sarah chuckle to themselves.
"Ahem. That's what I thought. Now where was I... Oh yes the war of 1812..." He says continuing to write notes on the board.
As time passed slowly and agonizingly the bell finally rang. "Page 124-129 is homework people and read chapter 12, we will be covering it tomorrow." He announced to his students as they existed towards the crowded hallways.
"Ms. Walker. Can I see you please." Sam rolls her eyes.
"Oooooooh..." Nick, Sarah and Taylor mock as they laugh at the situation. "Good luck Sammy." Nick responds with a pat to the shoulder. "God speed Sam." Taylor laughs. "We'll wait for you at the lockers" Sarah yells as the exit the room.
Sam walks towards Mr. Hunters desk grabbing a seat in one of the desks in the front row.
"Ms. Walker-" Mr. Hunter is cut of by Sam's voice.
"It's not Walker anymore. My name is Davis. I was adopted officially adopted yesterday." Sam responds with slight attitude but honesty.
"Oh. My apologizes. Congratulations. I'm very happy for you and Brooke." He responds.
"Does everyone in this town know everything about me?" She laughs. Tree Hill was quite the fishbowl.
"Well I have known Brooke for quite some time, as well as Hal-" He clears his throat. "Mrs. Scott. Who talks about you often in the staff lounge." He says.
"Of course she does. Great." She says with sarcasm. Again hating all the attention.
"Well why wouldn't she. You are however her 'best student' as she describes and the star of the school paper after your published paper." He says matter of factly.
Sam slightly smirks. Hiding her pride behind her winning paper that almost cost Haley her job a few months prior but after Brooke gave Principal Rumpkiss a price of her mind and threatened her with the school board, it was reconsidered to say the least.
"My question to you. Ms. Davis. Is why I don't see the same thing in my classroom. You are constantly seemingly distracted and uninterested in all of my lessons." He claims sternly as he folds his arms and leans back in his chair.
"Yeah. Well. What can I say. History. Just isn't my thing. Never has been. Never will be." She says honestly
"Impossible Ms. Davis." He responds. "History is everyone's 'thing'" he quotes. "Without it. We wouldn't be who we are today." He says with meaning.
"Yeah well." Sam says with a shrug of her shoulders.
"All I'm saying Sam is History is important. It's important to know where are country has come from and the ways in which our society has developed. We wouldn't be where we are today without people like Rosa Parks, Martian Luther King or even Shakespeare. He paved the path for young writers such as yourself." He says drawing into Sam's interests hoping to get through to her.
"Touché." Sam responds.
"Alright then. He says standing from his desk. Your free to go. Now please. No more side conversations during my lesson. Please try to pay attention. You might actually learn something." He says sternly yet compassionately.
"Will do Mr. Hunter." Sam says slightly sarcastically as she picks up her bag and head for the door.
"Oh and Ms. Davis!" Mr. Hunter says getting Sam's attention.
"We can all do some good by looking back on where we've come from. Our own histories and see all of the progress we've made ourselves." Mr. Hunter says wisely. Mr. Hunter was impressed by Sam's progress in just this year alone. She had gone from a seemingly careless angry teenager, to a solid student who was socialized. Much from the help of being in the care of Brooke Davis. This impressed Mr. Hunter regardless if she did seem to not pay attention in his classroom.
"True." Sam agrees honestly. "See you later." She says as she exists the classroom.
As she walks through the halls towards her locker Mr. Hunters words laid heavy with Sam. He always had a way of turning things back on life experiences. Of course Sam had a long history of pain and disappointment but look at where she is now. She smiled slightly to herself. She was proud of the person she had become and was still becoming.
"Brooke!" Peyton yells as she walks into Clothes Over Bro's.
Brooke exits the back of the store and enters the front to be greeted by Sawyer and Peyton. Brooke smiles as she takes one of the coffee's from Peyton's hand and places it on the counter.
"Hey P. Sawyer." Brooke smiles. "How's my favourite little niece. Come see your aunt Brooke!" Brooke says excitedly, as she takes Sawyer out of her carrier holding her in her arms rocking her back and fourth and giving her a kiss on her forehead.
"Do what to I owe this lovely surprise visit?" Brooke questions as she plays with Sawyer.
"Well. I didn't think I needed a reason to see my best friend? But if your too busy we can just.. Take off." Peyton laughs jokingly as she attempts to take Sawyer from Brooke's arms.
Brooke swings Sawyer into her other arm and laughs. "I don't think so! I haven't seen my beautiful Sawyer Brooke Scott in a whole 24 hours. It's just not acceptable. She says as she bounces Sawyer in her arms and smiles.
"That's what I thought..." Peyton laughs. "So was Julian as crazy as Lucas was this morning? I felt like I had two children..." Peyton laughs.
"No. He was actually pretty calm. But Julian tends to hold in his nerves pretty well. I could tell he was nervous after he and Sam left this morning and I opened the fridge to a newspaper. Clearly his mind was in another place." She laughs and shakes her head.
As Brooke bounces a playful Sawyer up and down, Peyton looks down at Brooke's hands and sees her engagement ring.
"So your finally wearing your engagement ring? Does that mean you guys told Sam! It's about time!" Peyton says excitedly.
"Yes! We told her yesterday after court. We went out for Pizza and Julian and I both shared the news!" Brooke says relieved as she could now openly talk about the engagement and the wedding without worrying if Sam heard her.
"That's great B. Davis. How did she take it?" Peyton asks
"Well. Good. She seemed to be happy about it. But you know Sam. She's the queen of hiding her emotions. But I do think she is happy about it. I think this will be good for her. Especially now that the adoption has been finalized. Sam has always wanted a family and now she has a full one. Plus Julian loves Sam. I think he's going to be great with her. I just hope I'm not pushing this whole 'father figure' thing onto her too fast. You know? I mean she did just officially get a Mom. Is she ready for a Dad. I just worry-" Brooke says in a concerned tone.
"Brooke. Listen to me. Sam loves you. Both of you. Plus Julian and Sam have always had a great relationship. Especially with her writing. It's going to be an adjustment obviously. I mean Julian into 'fatherhood' slowly but I know that Sam is happy about it. Trust me. There is nothing that girl wanted more then the two of you being together. Plus now like you said she has a family. She's happy. Take it from someone who knows what it's like to be adopted." Peyton says in comfort to Brooke.
"Sawyer. Your Momma always has the best advice. She always knows what to say. Your so luck to have her as your Momma." She says playfully and leans into Peyton for a hug.
Peyton wraps her arm around Brooke.
"B. Davis. You are doing a great job." She says honesty. "I promise. You're a great mom. And you are going to be a great wife. I'm so happy for you honey." Peyton says as she runs her best friends back.
Brooke's eyes fill with small tears. "Thanks P. Sawyer. That means a lot" she says with a smile, leaning up from her best friends shoulder.
"Hey you know. Brooke Davis is going to change the world someday..." Peyton says
"... And she doesn't even know it yet." Brooke responds with a smile and laughs quietly. Quoting Lucas Scott circa Tree Hill High Days.
"Well. Now you know it. You have changed the world. With me, With this company, and Sam, now Julian. You are on a roll of changing the world Brooke Davis. Like we always knew you would." Peyton says with a smile.
"Thanks P." Brooke smiles. "You're not so bad yourself." She says as she looks into Sawyers beautiful blue eyes.
The two best friends catch up over coffee and laugh with each other as they imagine what Julian and Lucas are getting themselves into on the set of 'The Ravens'
There you have it. Another Chapter! I really hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review with your thoughts, ideas, or suggestions! I really love reading them it inspires me to write hearing all of your great feedback. Have a great New Years everyone! Thanks for reading.
-Samantha
