My faithful readers, you guys are awesome! An author Ive been following on House gave me two updates in a row, so I had to pay it forward! Yay muse for flowing! While I break the dam on the other fics, you can read this one in the meantime. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and well wishes.
Disclaimer: From the beginning, you knew I didnt own One Tree Hill or its characters. I just use their character portraits to take them to insane places. Sorry if I burst anyones bubble.
lp==pllp==
"Mom?" Lucas said quietly as he let himself into his childhood (and current) bedroom. He sighed in relief when there was no answer- not that he was sneaking into his own house, but with Braedon asleep on his shoulder, he wanted to keep him that way, at least until he had a chance to explain to his mom what he didn't quite understand himself.
Gently he laid the tired little boy down, slipping off the brand new tennis shoes they had gotten from the store and tucking him in under the covers. The rest could wait until morning- hoping Braedon slept that long.
"What's this?" Lucas startled, swiftly turning as his heart skipped a beat, only to settle down when he saw who it was.
"Man, you scared me. I thought you were mom." Lucas said, turning back around and making sure Braedon was situated.
Keith wheeled in, stopping at the foot of the bed and taking in the sight of the brown tufts of hair that peeked from underneath the sheet Lucas had laid over the little boy.
"I take it that's not Jamie?" Keith said, looking up at Lucas.
Lucas shook his head.
Keith grinned. "I cant wait for this explanation."
Lucas sighed. "I kinda wanted to talk to you and mom together. Where is she?"
"In Lily's room saying goodnight. Lucky for you, Lily needed some 'girl time' tonight, so I was kicked out." Keith said, backing up and out of the room as Lucas gestured him out, closing the door behind them as he followed Keith to the living room.
"Uhhh, Dad? I think this is a kitchen table conversation." Lucas said sheepishly.
Keith glanced back, raising his eyebrow. "Well then, Ill start the teapot."
The kettle was just beginning to whistle when Karen made her way from Lily's room through the kitchen, only to stop and stare at the two men sitting at the table. Her gaze moved to the steaming teapot on the stove and her eyebrow quirked.
"I'm not going to like this conversation, am I?" She joked as she moved to turn off the water and make herself a cup of tea.
"I don't know, it depends." Lucas said, glancing at Keith.
"Depends on what?" Karen said, taking a seat next to Keith, their hands locking when she rested hers on top of his.
Lucas took a deep breath. "On how you feel about being a grandmother."
"Lucas! Is Amy…" Karen's eyes widened.
"No!" Lucas shook his head, his hands shaking as well as the mental image of his girlfriend pregnant stuck in his head. "No no no no no no." He repeated, trying to erase the nightmare of being responsible for 2 new lives out of his head.
He sighed. "Not Amy, mom. Brooke. " Karen looked at Keith, confused, before turning back to look at Lucas as he continued. "Apparently Brooke had a son, my son, 4 years ago."
Karen sat back, placing her hand over her mouth while the other gripped her side tightly as she struggled to process what she had just heard. "You have a son..."
"So the little boy in your bed is…" Keith mused.
"...Is apparently my son. His name is Braedon." Lucas nodded, finishing Keith's thought.
"Wait. He's here?" Karen said, shooting out of her chair. "You can't leave a 4 year old alone in a strange place!"
"Relax mom, he's asleep, in my bed." Lucas said, grabbing her arm as she went to walk past him into the living room.
"Oh. Ok." Karen said, moving to sit back down. "You have a son." She said softly, still wrapping her head around the news.
"How did he get here, Luke?" Did Brooke drop him off?" Keith said, wanting to hear more of the story now that the shock was wearing off the news.
"Well, that's a story." Lucas said, chuckling a little at the remembrance of the brazen little boy who had walked up to him and told him he was his daddy. Quickly he filled his parents in on the events of the day, ending with their trip to the department store. "You would think he'd never been in a store before the way he was looking around. He wanted to wear his new shoes right out of the store. Luckily the manager let him." Lucas said, chuckling. "Poor kid. He wore himself out with all the shopping we had to do, which was alot. He barely had the clothes on his back."
Keith chuckled too, having seen the little boy curled up in bed. But Karen didn't find anything funny.
"Let me get this straight." She said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Braedon comes up to you and tells you you are his dad, and you confirm it with Peyton, and then you take Braedon away from her because you don't think she was taking good enough care of him?"
The laughter faded as Lucas and Keith caught the dangerous undertone in Karen's voice.
"She kept my son from me for 4 years Mom! And they were living in a shack! What else was I supposed to do?"
"If I'm not mistaken, Brooke is the mother of your son, so all we know is she kept your son away from you for 4 years, not Peyton. And speaking of Brooke, where is she? Does she know Peyton has Braedon and was bringing him to you? Why didn't she tell you sooner? How is it that you can know about him now? Did Peyton explain any of this to you?"
Lucas ducked his head. "I was so angry at how Braedon was living I didn't think to ask."
"Lucas Eugene Scott, you of all people should know that poor does not mean neglected, or Dan would have been able to take you from me many times over the years. Or did you forget that until you were 4 your only toy was a second hand Corduroy doll and a basketball hoop?" Karen scolded, exaggerating a bit, but unfortunately, not by much.
"Maybe, but," Lucas protested.
"But nothing!" Karen sighed. "Luke, I get that you are hurt and upset, but that does not give you the right to take that little boy from his Aunt like that. Especially not knowing the entire story. Does Peyton even know where he is right now?"
Lucas shook his head.
Karen raised a brow. "Do I even need to tell you to go and let her know where her nephew is? Poor woman is probably losing her mind with worry."
Karen met her son's belligerent gaze, but didnt stop there. "Matter of fact, if where she is living is so bad, maybe you should invite her to stay with us until we figure this out."
"We don't have the space." Lucas muttered, upset that his mother wasnt taking his side.
"She can sleep on the couch." Karen returned. "Or better yet, you can give her and your son your bed and you can sleep on the couch."
"Or they could share the bed. Wouldn't be the first time." Keith said into his coffee jokingly, flinching when Karen smacked his arm and Lucas turned his glare to him.
Karen turned her attention back to Lucas. "Go on, now. Ill keep an ear out for, Braedon?" she paused as he nodded, "And make sure he doesn't wake up. "
At Luke's hesitation, Karen shooed him out of his chair and towards the door. "Believe it or not, I have raised a little boy before, so you can stop worrying. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll get back, the sooner we'll have answers."
"Fine." Lucas grumbled, standing up and making his way to the front door. "He probably wont wake up anyway. I wore him out pretty good between taking him to play with Jamie and shopping. He wont even know I was gone."
-lp-lp-lp-lp
"Famous last words," Karen thought as a wail sounded through the house. She patted Keith's shoulder to stay him as she stood up from the kitchen table to answer the call of the frightened child. They had been sitting around the table for a while, sharing their shock over the fact that their son had a son. Did they believe that the little boy was really his? Why did Brooke lie to him in the first place? Where was Brooke now? Where did Peyton fit into all of this? There really were no answers, just endless speculation, but it killed the time until Lucas came back with the person who could shed some light on the situation.
Karen made her way into the darkened room, seeing immediately what the problem was. Apparently it slipped Lucas' mind to leave a nightlight on so the little boy could see if he had to get up in the night. Karen had turned on the hall light so as not to startle the little boy, only to turn on the overhead light as she realized that in his attempt to leave the bed in the dark, he had managed to not only fall out of bed, but to tangle himself in the covers.
"I've got you sweetie. Hold still." Karen soothed, untangling him from the mess of covers.
"Mama." The little boy whimpered, still half asleep as he fought to be free of the covers.
Karen pulled him free of the last sheet and gathered him up, wrapping him in her arms and sitting on the bed to rock him into calm, the sobs dwindling as the little boy slowly became more awake and realized that he wasn't in fact still trapped.
He raised his head and Karen stifled a gasp as her son's eyes stared up into hers, tears making them shimmer brightly as she took in his features just as he was taking in hers.
"You're not my mama." He said solemnly.
"No sweetie, Im not." Karen said softly, wiping away the remaining tears.
He stared for a moment, cocking his head to the side. "Are you my grandma?"
Karen smiled softly suprised he knew who she was. "Yes, I am. Is that okay?"
"Uh-huh." Braedon said, resting his head back on her shoulder as Karen continued to cradle him in her lap. "Mama was right. You are nice."
"Brooke told you I was nice?" Karen said, smiling at the thought that the young woman remembered her fondly after all these years.
Braedon shook his head, confusing Karen. "Brooke's not my mama."
"She's not?" Karen queried. "My son said she was your mom."
Braedon shook his head. "Nope. Brooke said, "Don't call me that!, so you can't call her that." Braedon said, lifting his head and pitching his voice to sound like what Karen imagined to be a rendition of Brooke.
"Ok, I won't call her that." Karen soothed, rubbing his back to ease his agitation. "So, who did you call for when you called out for mama?" Karen said, thinking maybe Braedon was still in dreamland and therefore confused. She knew she sure was.
"Nobody." Braedon said, shrugging. "Sometimes I forget and call Aunt Peyton Mama, cause she feels like a mama, but it made Brooke mad, so I had to stop. But I still pretend she's my mama, cause she's real good at it." Braedon rambled.
"So when you say your mama, you mean your Aunt Peyton?" Karen said, trying to get it straight in her head.
Braedon nodded, eyes wide as he tried to answer the questions and stay awake at the same time, which was hard to do since his grandmother's arms were so comfortable. Besides, what was so confusing about it? Aunt Peyton was Mama except when she was Aunt Peyton.
"And what do you call Brooke?" Karen asked, curious now. Was Brooke really Braedon's mom, or was there a bigger mystery there?
"Brooke. But she died. I asked Aunt Peyton if I could call her Mama now that Brooke couldn't get mad anymore, but then she got a funny look on her face like she was about to cry, and she didn't say nothing for a long time. Then she said she'd have to ask daddy about that, but to keep calling her Aunt Peyton for now. I think Daddy should let me call Aunt Peyton Mama, don't you think?" Braedon said, fiddling with Karen's curls with the hand he had wrapped around her neck to steady himself on her lap.
"Uh, well," Karen stuttered. Still trying to piece together the puzzle the little boy had just given her, she had no answer to give him. Amazed at the wealth of information he had just given, and the fact that he was sitting with a perfect stranger without an ounce of fear had her amazed. Hearing that Brooke died made her sad, but the matter of fact tone of the little boy at the telling of it made her confused. Just what was going on here?
"Is everything okay in here?" Keith said, pushing open the door and wheeling into the room.
"Grandma Karen?" Braedon whispered before she could answer.
"Yes, honey?" Karen said, looking down at him.
"Who's he, and what's that thing he's in? Braedon asked, leaning in to reach her ear.
"Your Mama didn't tell you about your Grandpa Keith?" Karen whispered back.
Braedon's eyes widened. "Grandpa?" His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms in a pout. "She said Daddy had an uncle Keith, but not a daddy Keith! "
Keith chuckled at the frown on the little boys face. "Your mom was right. When she knew me, I was an Uncle Keith. I don't think she knew that I married your Grandma Karen to become your Daddy's dad."
"Oh." Braedon said, uncrossing his arms. He turned to face Keith. "So do I call you Grandpa or Uncle Keith?"
"Grandpa is fine." Keith said, sharing a look with Karen in amazement at how calm the little boy was to be with perfect strangers. "And to answer your question, this is called a wheelchair. It helps me move around since I cant walk. "
"Ohhhh." Braedon said.
"Now can I ask you a question?" Keith said, rolling closer into the room.
Braedon leaned back against Karen and got comfortable. "Ok shoot."
Keith chuckled at his tone, then calmed. "How did you know about me and your Granma and your daddy?"
"That's easy! Mama told me!"
"Brooke told you?" Keith questioned.
"No!" Braedon huffed, slapping his knee. "Brooke didn't wanna be a mama, so you cant call her that!" Braedon calmed then sighed, as if giving up on his grandparent's education. "Aunt Peyton told me when she told me about my daddy. Maybe she can help you understand that Brooke cant be called mama. It was hard for me at first too, but Aunt Peyton is a good 'plainer."
"What did Aunt Peyton tell you about your daddy?" Karen interrupted, curious about how Peyton had prepared him for them.
"She said that he didn't know about me, but once he did, he would love me forever and take care of me real good. And that he gave good hugs and he wasn't mean. And she told me that you were a good hugger too Grandma! And you would love me and make me cookies and hot chocolate when I need to feel better. And she said I could talk to you if I had a problem, cause you gave good advice. And she told me about Uncle- I mean, Grandpa Keith too. That you would teach me about cars and girls and basketball, like you did my daddy."
Karen's eyes misted as she heard the wonderful picture Peyton had painted for the little boy, even before she knew what her reception would be. Guessing that it wouldn't be easy to drop a bombshell like this without some collateral damage, even if she was the messenger, made her glowing rendition of the family that much more touching.
"Grandma? Im tired now, and Im ready to go home. Can you get daddy so he can take me back to Aunt Peyton now?"
Karen and Keith exchanged glances at the little boy's request. Apparently he hadn't been told this wasn't just a day trip to meet his fathers family.
They were saved from answering by the sound of the front door opening. "Mom!"
"In your room!" She called out before glancing down at Braedon tangled in her arms and looking entirely too comfortable to move. "Do you mind if I pick you up?"
"Nope" he said, grinning, wrapping his arms around her neck. "I like to be carried."
Karen picked him up and met Lucas at the doorway to his room, Keith by her side, only to be met by a wide-eyed Lucas.
Glancing at Braedon, he redirected his attention to his mother and took a deep breath. This was going to be even harder with Braedon there. "You know the person I went to meet, Mom?"
At her nod, he continued. "Well, I couldn't meet up with them because they're gone."
"Gone? Are you sure?" Karen asked, not believing it.
"The house was empty, everything was gone." Lucas said, frowning. "Looks like I was more right about the situation then you were."
Karen didnt want to believe it, but after talking to Braedon about the extensive preparation he was given to meet the family, Perhaps this was Peyton's plan all along. The question was, how did they break it Braedon?
-lp-lp-lp=lp
Luckily we know where Peyton is, but Luke doesnt know. Were you excited to see Keith? Surprised? I know I was when he showed up in a wheelchair. Peytons not the only one with a backstory!
How do you think Keith got in a wheelchair? How do you think Braedon's gonna react when he finds out he cant go home? Still liking the story, still ok with the confusion? Leave a review!
Oh, and let me reiterate for all the Brooke lovers. As much as I love Brooke, and the Breyton friendship, this is not a warm and fuzzy Brooke story! This is Brooke where season 1 Brooke is the nicest she gets. If you dont like it, you are welcome to fuss and PM me about my muse's decision to explore unredeemed Brooke, just dont flame me when mean Brooke makes appearances.