A quick shout out to all my reviewers (thibbs65, bjq, coffeebeaner, sandygirl, brooke, britt, aschly, brucas, naley23alwaysforever, , ann, lovepink2much, lauren1995, smileyface2508, lucas, anne, sidz2891, literaturesoccerenthusiast, gerardwayforever, didi, aussiegirlforever, romanticly tragic perfection, anja, sophia, the guests and dianehermans). Thanks to all the followers and favoriters.
An additional thank you to Diane again for the great story idea... I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it... I know I changed a few parts of your outline, thank you for trusting me to make it into an amazing story. :)
Epilogue:
Five Years Later
Brooke stood off stage and smiled at Lucas sitting in the hot seat. "So Lucas, tell us a little about this new book, we already know that this is the highly anticipated fourth book in the Lost in Love series." The host smiled, "Can you give us any saucy details?"
Lucas smiled and spun his wedding band on his finger, "Landon and Bridget got married in the last book," he grinned, "spoiler alert for the readers that are behind." He paused, "and this book has them embarking on the roller coaster of married life. Without giving away too much, they make a big investment and it nearly kills them."
"I see," she looked at her notes, "So I know that the first book was based off your own life with your wife Brooke, how much of Committed is fact based?"
"You would be surprised but it isn't much." Lucas shifted in his chair, "As many of you already know from my autobiographical piece for The Register last year my wife had cervical cancer in high school. She's been in remission now for almost ten years," Lucas knocked on the desk just as Brooke did the same back stage. "We have been incredibly blessed, against the odds Brooke conceived our first child naturally."
"Vivienne Nathalie Scott correct?" the host added.
"Yes, our little Christmas miracle. In recent years we have been open and honest about our fertility struggles since her birth, we used IVF treatments when we couldn't conceive again and about six months ago welcomed our twin boys." Lucas smiled as a picture of them flashed on the screen for the studio audience to see. There was a collective 'ahh' among the room.
"They're identical is that correct?" The host interjected.
"Yes, Matthew Keith Scott is three minutes older than his brother Theodore Davis Scott." Lucas clapped his hands together, "as I said earlier we are blessed, Brooke my wife, is a superstar." He blew a kiss to her, "After press for Committed I'm going to take a break before we invite film crews into our little town to begin shooting the television series."
"We cannot wait for the show to debut can we?" The host said to her audience, "we'll be right back after a short commercial break."
-0-
"Lucas Scott get that handsome behind of yours down stairs, everyone will be here any minute." Brooke called up the stairs. She looked around at their fully restored plantation house. "This was worth every fight," she she aloud to herself. The doorbell rang, pulling her from her thoughts, she opened the door, "Karen, Andy come in." She hugged them as they headed inside. "Lily pad, Lincoln log." She rubbed the heads of the two children as they walked in.
"Where are my precious grand-babies?" Karen asked with a smile.
"Oh I see how it is mom," Lucas said jogging down the stairs, "Now I'm chopped liver."
Karen shrugged, "what can I say, I love them more than I love you." She placed her hand under his chin and kissed his cheek, "I saw your interview yesterday. You look tired on television, you should get more rest."
"Mom the twins aren't on a good sleep pattern yet, nights can be exhausting." Lucas yawned.
"Oh please, when was the last time you helped with a night time feeding Lucas Eugene Scott." Brooke said folding her arms.
Lucas opened his mouth to say something then thought against it, instead he decided to change the subject, "So Lily pad how old are you now? 20, 21?"
Lily looked up from her book, "very funny, I'm nearly ten Luke."
"That's right," he sat down next to his youngest brother Lincoln, "what about you Lincoln? Did you have fun in Australia?"
Lincoln nodded, "yeah it's always fun visiting dad's family. The airplane was cool." Lincoln was 6 now and was the spitting image of Andy.
Karen looked around the living room, "this place is beautiful Brooke. You did a good job."
"I did, didn't I?" Brooke smiled, "I know a few people were skeptical it would ever be finished but I am happy to report the last room was finished a few weeks ago."
Lucas scoffed, "now she wants to tackle the yard." He turned towards Brooke, "do you know how big our property is pretty girl?"
"I don't want to do the entire yard," Brooke kinked an eyebrow at her husband, "and it's 3 acres." She stuck her tongue out for effect.
"You'll have to walk me through your plans after dinner." Karen said rubbing Brooke's shoulder.
"Yeah," Andy added, "I can give you the number to our pool guy. When we had the pool resurfaced he came highly recommended. He kept to his time line and didn't try to gauge us on the cost."
"Thanks Andy." Brooke said, "well Nathan, Haley and the kids should be here soon."
"Were you able to get a hold of Peyton?" Lucas asked from the kitchen, "Andy would you like a beer? We have Corona and Heineken."
"I'll take a Corona Lucas." Andy smiled.
"Peyton and Charlie are in China right now for his job, and don't quote me but I think they'll be coming back with a baby." Brooke poured tortilla chips into a bowl, "Peyton let it slip the last time she was home that they were in the final adoption stages. I'm so excited for her."
There was a second knock at the door, "It's open," Lucas shouted from the hall.
The door opened and Nathan, Haley, Jamie and Lydia shuffled in. "Hey everyone, the party can start. Star forward Nathan Royal Scott has arrived." Nathan said.
The room grew silent, "I told you dad, you're a dork. No one cares." Jamie said before putting his headphones back on.
-0-
Brooke came back out with a bag of marshmallows and the rest of the items needed for smores. "Who is ready for dessert?"
"Me, me, me!" Vivienne squealed. Brooke looked at her daughter, 'how is possible that she is already four?' she asked herself. Vivienne had tow head blond hair and Lucas's piercing blue eyes. When she smiled though she looked just like Brooke, the dimples appeared. "So can I have a more mommy. I was a good girl I ate all my dinner."
"I know you did bug." Brooke smiled down at her daughter, "how about you bring this to daddy and tell him mommy said you can have a marshmallow and you can help cook it."
"Yippee!" Vivienne cried out. "Daddy!"
Brooke smiled at the site of Vivienne 'explaining marshmallow roasting to Lucas. She thought about how blessed she was that after the curve ball life threw at her senior year. She ha survived and made it through relatively unscathed. Sure her and Lucas had separated for a while but when they decided to give their love another try they never looked back. She thought about her precious children and wondered what kind of men Matt and Theo would become, would Vivi be a fiercely independent firecracker like she had once been? She cleared her throat, "I would like to make a toast. To my family, we reach across the globe, yet one thing remains the same our love and loyalty to one another. I am thankful for every one of you." Brooke paused to wipe her eyes, "Now lets have some smores."
The silence was remarkable considering how many people were crowded around the fire pit. Lucas opened his mouth to say something when Vivienne screamed, "daddy! My marshmallow, you killed it."
Everyone laughed as Brooke tossed another marshmallow to Lucas and winked at him, Lucas locked eyes with Brooke, "alright pretty girl lets see if we can do this right this time."
~For Diane~
-0-
So there you have it everyone I hope you enjoyed this journey we endured together. Writing a story about someone battling cancer helped me through my own pain in dealing with my moms cancer diagnosis. Like Brooke in the story I pray every day for my mom's continued healing and can't wait to be with her when she rings the bell. :)
Please be sure to review... Let me know what you think... Thanks again!
-Krystal