Are We There Yet
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'Welcome to WEST VIRGINIA open for buisness'
"Mommy! Are we there yet!" the brunette boy's tiny whine rang out from the back seat of the van.
They had been driving for nearly twelve hours; only stopping for a rest area or to feed everyone. The night air was getting warmer; Charlie had shed her dark green jacket, now stuffed inbetween her and Kelly to put space, in her words, 'between the chabbering brat' and her.
"Not yet, Aaron," Brooke sighed as she rubbed her eyes, staring at the road in front of her.
Aaron was squirming around in his seat getting impatient about seeing their new home, Tommy's head was sliding from the back of his booster seat to his shoulder as he struggled to stay awake, Chloe, defeated an hour ago, was sleeping sloundly, and Kelly was playing with her wooden dolls while Charlie surrendered to the talents of Edgar Allen Poe. In the front passanger seat Meghan was awoken from a light nap by a vibrating phone.
She groggily slipped the cellphone out of her robin-colored hoodie pocket and answered it,"hello?"
"Hey, Meg, tell mom, dad wants to stop at the next hotel," a vigilant Erica sounded through the phone. How could she be wide awake? Meghan thought unbelievingly.
Meghan relayed the information to Brooke and both vans pulled off the next exit for Martinsburg, heading for HOLIDAY INN.
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Erica sat on the striped couch holding a sleeping Chloe. The rest of the kids scattered around the lobby. Brooke argued angrily with the manager.
"We reserved four rooms side by side weeks ago, now your telling me the only rooms availible are two rooms side by side on different floors?!"
"I am sorry m'am. We only have rooms 114 and 115 on the second floor and 103 and 104 on the bottom level," the manager (who's nametag read Mr.King) persisted.
Brooke glanced over at her kids as if deciding what they were going to do. Lucas made his way over to her.
"You should just let Erica and Meghan take the upstairs rooms and we can take the downstairs and just split the kids up," Lucas suggested.
Brooke took a silent second to decide about this arrangment, only agreeing to it because it was late and everyone was tired. She turned to the very annoyed-looking manager, and told him they would take the rooms, while Lucas went over to the kids to get them situated in the groups they would be staying with.
Brooke finished paying for the rooms and walked tiredly over to her family.
"You're going to be taking Chloe, Gabby, and Seth, Erica will have Kelly and Stephanie, Meghan's going to take Charlie and Lauren, and that would leave me with Tommy, Corey, and Aaron." Lucas looked at her for reassurence.
"Daddy, can we go to bed now," he looked down at a tiny Corey pulling at his shirt. Nodding his head, Lucas picked up the blonde haired, brown eyed boy.
"Sure."
Erica exchanged the sleeping angel she was holding for the room key from her mother. Brooke tossed Meghan her's and handed Corey the room key for Lucas' room.
Erica and Meghan bustled the kids over to the elevator, overjoyed they didn't bring their luggage in too.
"Can I press the button?" questioned an overjoyed Kelly.
"I don't care, it's number 2," a nonchalant Erica told her. The dirty blonde haired, blue eyed girl push the button in front of her.
Meghan took a deep breath. The elevator was uncomfortabally crowded, and she was glad when they all stepped out on their floor.
Lauren carried her cabbage patch doll in one arm and held Charlie's hand with the other. This was a new place, and everyone of them new what new places usually did to Lauren. A few weeks after she was born the family of eight (Lauren was the sixth born) had gone out for a day at the park. She didn't take well to it at all. Constantly bawling, and not knowing what was wrong Brooke and Lucas had taken her to the hospital. Later that day Lauren was diagnosed with Cenophobia, the fear of new things or ideas. About two out of the five new places you would take her she would end up in a panic attack.
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"You get the kids down to sleep?" Brooke asked Lucas as she brushed her brunette hair, getting ready for bed in the joining bathrooms their room's had.
"Yes, I got all of them to bed, mother!" he rolled his eyes at her as she swatted his shoulder sarcasticly with the brush.
She set it down on the counter as Lucas rubbed his shoulder," served you right." Brooke smirked.
Lucas snapped out of his 'hurt' look as he noticed a certain clear plastic bag in their travel case.
"Brooke," worrying he faced Brooke.
"Uh?" she replied with a questioning glance wondering what could have Lucas worried so much.
"We forgot to give the girls Lauren's inhaler," he stated, Brooke continued what she was doing," aren't you worried?"
"Sure but that's why we put Charlie and her with Meghan. You know Charlie is the only one that could calm her down," she told him," she'll be fine."
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I apologize sooooo much for the moth after month delay on this. It is so short but I wanted to give you guys something! I hope you stuck in there! Next they will be arriving in Tree Hill!
Spoiler...
They parked in the grass and herded the twelve kids out of the two vans. They were back in Tree Hill. The first time in twelve years. Making sure to take it all in Brooke took a deep breath. Both her and Lucas had a strange feeling of being back in the place they always belonged to. Their names almost faded after 16 years of wear, but still visable on this very rivercourt.
End Spoiler..
It isn't much of a spoiler, but after watching the two episodes last night, I will love writing the next chapter. Look for an update in the next week!
Read and Review!