A/N: A Leyton scene and a long chapter?!?! I spoil you guys! 8 pages of family goodness, comin right up! Italics are song lyrics from Tyrese Have I told you I love you. I love that song. Check it out.
stagediva- I didnt get to you last chapter, but yea, Brody is a little cool towards Brooke because he didnt think about Brooke hurting Peyton before, but since Jamie brought it up, its made him a little less on her side. But dont worry, it doesnt last, because he also remembers what Andre said about being nice to her so she doesnt have a reason to leave. And you will see flashbacks of Brooke's life, which will make it easier to understand where she's coming from. Its just going to be awhile, since the flashbacks are entire chapters, and I havent even flashbacked to Leyton's life yet. Its a tightrope, but I think Im walking it pretty well so far (at least where I am, ten chapters ahead of you guys)
LPfan4ever- PMs are great, so when you think of the songs, go ahead and send them to me!
haylee- You find out Anna's story around chapter 17. I have a present day story and a flashback story all about Tink!
lalez- Exactly right about Karen. Brooke needs another friend besides Peyton, and it gets Brooke out of the house too. Karen is a little instigator, as you will soon see.
grayfan- I come from a huge family where blood is not always the common link. I only have one brother, but I have a godsister, close friends were always considered family (went on trips, came to dinner, etc), and my dad was one of 4 so I have mad cousins. So yeah, I am writing from experience with the random kids coming over and this current chapter here.
crazyjan- Im working on LLLF. My life is hectic right now, and these updates are prewritten, which is why I can post RBD. I have to find time to sit down and write LLLF's next chapter, which is why I am never doing 'write as you go' again after LLLF is done, and why you havent seen a ud. But dont worry, I havent forgotten it.
aln213- ytou will see some Leyton in this chapter, and later on in the flashbacks. It is heavy Brooke because she is the one who's dropped into their lives. Further it becomes a little more equal between the Scotts and B Davis.
Kelsey- Im looking for a song for a near death, fighting for life scene. And Ill check it out sometime this week when I have time.
Kathiria- Tink is both picking up on Lucas' vibe, and she is a two year old, so all strangers are suspect. Im sorry you think the fic is kid heavy, but I write kid heavy fics, so they do get equal playing time in the chapters. As much as it would be nice to see adults only scenes all the time, the reality is, when you have kids, there's always one interrupting somewhere, unless you're callin a babysitter and goin out. Which is not often. But Ive managed to slip some in as we go, and there are a couple in this chapter!
LPS- you'll find out more about Tink's everything around chapter 17. Yeah, itll be interesting to see Peytons birthday because you never hear about it on the show. Its like the only person who had a birthday was Brooke!_______________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 10 Quality Time
July 8th, 2 am.
"Have I told you I loooove you-u-u!"
"Shhhh! People are sleeping!"
"Have I told you you still mean the world toooo me-e-e!"
"Peyton, be quiet!"
"Have I told you I love you, I'll be your wishing well tell me what you want- oh yea baby." The last stanza found Lucas pinned up against the front door, a decidedly tipsy, very amorous Peyton plastered against him as she sang to him to tell her what he wanted, her eyes sultry as they bore into his.
Not that he minded. In fact, in a couple more minutes, he would not just be telling her, he would be showing her exactly what he had on his mind. But before that, they had to make it in the house and past his…
The porch light winked on as the front door swung open, causing Lucas to lose his balance. He managed to catch both he and Peyton before they hit the ground, thanks to the fact that he held off on libations to make sure they got home safely (and to fully enjoy the benefits that arose when his wife and mojitos joined together).
"Hey Mom." Lucas said, fully chastised from the look his mother gave him from the foyer.
"Hi, Mom." Peyton said, grinning.
"You do realize there are multiple children of all ages that could have been awakened by your shenanigans." Karen said, hands on her hips. "Not to mention the adults that are trying to sleep here?"
A hand materialized over the couch and waved from the pull out bed.
Peyton waved back at Keith enthusiastically. Lucas smacked his hand against his forehead and grabbed Peyton around the waist. "You're right, we're sorry, and it won't happen again." Lucas said, making his way up the stairs with Peyton before she could say or do something else that would get them both in trouble. He chuckled at the thought. Here he was, 27 years old and the father of three, still scared of his own mother.
"Shhhh! People are sleeping!" Peyton whispered loudly at his chuckle.
They made it to their room without incident, and Lucas closed the door in relief. "Ok, all clear. Now you…" He didn't have a chance to finish his statement as he was pulled over to the bed and pushed down, bouncing a little before the weight of his wife came to rest on top of him. He lifted himself onto his elbows and smiled warmly into the luminous green eyes that stared back at him.
"…were saying?" Lucas said, grinning as in response, she began singing to him again, slowly unbuttoning his shirt and pressing kisses to his face, neck, and chest. God Bless mojitos.
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It was much later they lay intertwined, clothes scattered around the room, Peyton's head resting on Lucas' shoulder as she doodled on his chest with the tip of her finger, his hand stoking absentmindedly through her hair. She pressed a kiss to his chest and smiled as he pulled her tightly in a half hug. "Did I say thank you for tonight?" She murmured.
"Oh, I think so." Lucas mused, "but you can definitely repeat what you've done in the past 20 minutes if you want to say it again." He laughed as she smacked his chest playfully.
"I'm serious." Peyton said, leaning up and resting on her elbows, looking down on him seriously. "Concert tickets to the Cure reunion tour, being nicer to Brooke. It means a lot, the things you do for me."
"Yeah," Lucas stretched, putting his hands behind his head. "Because you do know how much I hate…" She raised her hand threateningly. "The Cure! The Cure." He finished hurriedly, then cringed as she smacked him anyway.
"I didn't say Brooke!" he protested, rubbing his chest.
She raised a brow. "Babe, there was no way you weren't gonna get smacked either way you finished that sentence."
She tenderly kissed the spot she had just abused. "But I know you don't like the Cure, or Brooke, and that just makes it all the more special."
"I just don't want you to get hurt." He confessed, running his hands through her hair.
"I know, and I love you for it." Peyton said. "And that's a risk I'm taking, I know. I'm not as naive as you guys think I am. But she was my best friend Luke. And believe it or not, I'm letting her back in because that's what you taught me to do." He looked at her, puzzled.
"When Haley came back, you were there for her, and supported her when no one else would. And at the time I didn't understand it but I get it now. You knew who she was at her core, and you were trusting that the tour didn't change that. And it turned out you were right." Peyton shrugged.
"Now its my best friend who's come home and its my turn to show support that you did. And I have to trust that somewhere inside her there is still the girl who was there for me when my mom died, who built snow forts and held me when I cried and made me burnt cookies to help me feel better. And its even more important for Brooke because I am the only person who knew that girl existed to begin with, so if I give up on her, there's no hope left for her." Peyton had sat up by this time, earnestly trying to help Lucas understand her behavior, when at times she didn't understand it herself.
"You know," Lucas said thoughtfully, after a moment. "That speech was awfully coherent for someone who had one too many mojitos."
Peyton leaned back over him, grinning. "Maybe that's because half the mojitos you bought me ended up with the guy at the end of the bar?" She smirked. "You're not the only one who has fun when me and mojitos get together to create what I like to call 'the Mojeyton."
She shrieked softly as Lucas rolled, trapping her beneath him as he retaliated by tickling her sides, and soon their play turned to love as they both continued to enjoy the effects of the 'Mojeyton' mix.
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Sunday was a lazy day, with breakfast being more like brunch by the time everyone made it downstairs. It was by unanimous vote that the kids decided the day would be filled with watching the Aladdin trilogy, Lily bribing Keith with kisses and KJ hugging Karen and telling her she would be the best mom ever if she let them stay and watch the 3 movies in succession.
Sighs were heaved as the adults of the group pretended to reluctantly agree, but as Brody and Lily set up the living room for the viewing, Lucas used the opportunity to call Nathan and invite his brood over as well, so the adults could have their own playtime. The sight of Jamie walking through the door caused Andre and Brody to crow with delight, and Scooter to run and grab Brian by the hand, pulling him over to the prized Tomater bean bag chair he had dragged from his room, so that they could share.
Jenny, who had been picked up by Haley on the way over to give Jake some time alone with his wife, made her way to the couch to wait for Lily, who had been pulled aside by Peyton to remind her to bring Anna downstairs if she became too much to handle. Lucas stood in front of the tv, reminding the crew to send someone down to get them after the first movie was over to refill the snacks. The rest of the adults had made their way downstairs to the playroom.
By the time Brooke hit the bottom step, Nathan was drawing a tournament grid on a previously unnoticed chalkboard while Haley hugged him from behind and whispered in his ear, causing him to chuckle as he placed the names in the brackets. Karen was at the pool table, practicing her shot, while Keith leaned behind her, 'showing her' how best to hit the ball.
She sat on the couch, watching the couples interact. She nodded to Nathan's casual, "Brooke, you in?" happy to be included, but figuring she'd ask Peyton for the rules when she came downstairs, so as not to remind anyone that she didn't belong and have the invitation rescinded.
Peyton and Lucas eventually made their way downstairs, carrying pitchers of mixed drinks and cups.
"Mojeyton's? I mean, Mojito's anyone?" Lucas said, smirking, dodging Peyton's smack as he laughed and placed the pitchers on a side table, leaving room for Peyton to place the cups down.
"I don't know," Karen joked. "Are they gonna make me serenade people at 2 in the morning?" She raised a brow at Peyton, causing Peyton to duck her head as Nathan and Haley stared wide eyed. "Oooooooo" they taunted. "Looks like somebody got in tro-uble!"
"Ok, ok" Keith said, ever the peacemaker, "let's just start the game. Lucas, you and Nathan are up first?"
"As always." Lucas said, grabbing a stick off the wall.
Nathan finished the brackets. "Hold on guys. We've got a problem. We've got an odd number of players, and we need an even number."
"That's ok. That just mean Brooke's out." At a glance from Peyton, he added an 'unfortunately," to the end.
"That's okay," Brooke said, resigned. She had a feeling the inclusion wouldn't last long.
"No, no, we can figure this out." Peyton said. Walking over to the scoreboard, she looked it over. "Hey Nate, can't we give Brooke a bye, and that way she can play the winner of Karen and Keith's game?"
"That works. That'll even out the sides too. High five, lil sis!"
They slapped fives and Peyton walked over to the couch, slapping Haley on the butt as she strode by. It jolted Brooke to see Peyton use what she considered Peyton's signature move for her on someone else, yet another right she forfeited the day she left.
She managed a smile for Peyton as she plopped down next to her on the couch. They watched the boys in silence for a while, listening to them talk trash as Haley cheered for Nathan on a bar stool, and Karen and Keith encouraged Lucas from the other couch.
"So, I know its probably been a lot to take in." Peyton said, turning to Brooke. She patted her on the leg. "How you holdin' up?"
"I'm okay." Brooke said, nodding as if the physical affirmation would make it true.
"Karen offered me a job." Brooke added, trying to change the subject. She didn't want to dump on Peyton about how much Lucas' rejection and Brody's disinterest was affecting her. "She said she was glad I came back."
"Well, that's cool. You know, it's okay if you need some time to just regroup. Lucas and I don't expect you to start kicking out rent until the second week you're back." Peyton teased.
"Maybe you don't." Brooke amended, unable to help it.
Peyton sat in silence, with nothing to say, because Brooke was right. Lucas would prefer it if Brooke was earning her keep, but it was more because he wanted her out of the house, and that wouldn't happen until she was back on her feet.
"I know you don't believe it, but Luke'll come around. It's just hard for him when the shoe is on the other foot." Peyton finally said. At Brooke's look of confusion, Peyton explained. "Right after you left junior year, Haley also left, to go on tour. She was a lot like you- she didn't call, she didn't write, she didn't let anyone know where she was going. The only difference was, she was gone a couple of months, not 10 years, and with her we had an idea because she had been toying around with the offer to be the opening act for the Wreckers, with Chris Keller."
"Someone you also don't know." Peyton added. "Moving on. So when she came back, I was pretty horrible to her and so was Nathan, because she just came waltzing back expecting things to be the same, you know?"
"You know." Peyton said, once again realizing who she was talking to. "Anyway, Lucas was the only one who accepted her back without question, with nothing more chastising than a ""you home for good?"", or something like that. It took a little while longer for me and Nathan to come around, basically to trust that she wasn't going to pull another stunt like that again, but through it all it was Lucas who kept telling us to cut her some slack, defending her the entire time."
"Hard to believe." Brooke said.
"Not so hard to believe. Because Haley was his best friend. Just like you were mine." Peyton said. Brooke tried not to let it hurt that Peyton used past tense, but that was her own fault. "So right now, Haley's Nathan, and Lucas is me, or is Lucas Nathan and Haley me? Well, either way, you see how that story ended." Peyton patted her knee, offering parting words as she stood. "Just take it one day at a time; believe it or not, it's all happening because they care. Once you prove that you're staying no matter what they throw at you, they'll come around. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to congratulate the winner."
Peyton sashayed over and laid a smooch on her husband, laughing as he bent her over the pool table and began to teasingly nibble at her neck.
Brooke stared, surprised as Nathan collapsed onto the couch next to her, shaking his head. "Better luck next time?" she offered.
Nathan looked over at her. "If you play him, feel free to beat him like he stole something."
Brooke laughed. "For you or for me?"
"Either way works," he said after a moment of thinking, holding out his hand. Brooke grinned as they shook on it then turned to watch Peyton and Haley set up.
They sat in silence for a while, before Brooke decided to test the waters. So far Nathan had been superficially welcoming, but how deep did it go?
"Sooo, what's with the 'lil sis' comment?" Brooke said, swinging a nod towards Peyton.
Nathan began to laugh. "Well, when Haley and I got married, Lucas became BIL, and Haley was SIL, you know, brother and sister in law? So when Luke and Peyt got married, we felt we didn't need the in-law part, so we took it out." Nathan shrugged. "I always wanted a little sister anyway, and since at the time Lucas wouldn't share Lily, Peyton said she'd be my little sister, especially since you can never have too many brothers."
"But Peyton doesn't have any brothers." Brooke reminded Nathan.
"Actually, she does." Nathan said. "You weren't here for that whole drama, but it turns out Peyton was adopted."
"I know that part, I listened to the podcasts." Brooke interrupted.
"Oh." Nathan paused, then continued. "Well, then you know about Ellie, her birth mother." Brooke nodded. "Well, it turns out her birth father had a son before he met Ellie, which meant that Peyton had a brother on her biological father's side."
"Did she ever meet them?"
"Her brother, or her father?"
"Both."
Nathan catcalled to his wife as she sank a particularly hard shot, before turning back to Brooke. "Yeah, eventually. Her father turned out to be an ass, but her brother's pretty cool. He's a marine, which means he's gone most of the time. But you'll probably meet him before the end of the summer. He and his crew swing through here for at least a week during the summer when they're stateside."
Nathan stood, then turned back to Brooke. "Peyton'll catch you up. Just ask her about it." Nathan said before going to comfort his wife, who lost by one ball to Peyton, who was in the corner high fiving her husband.
It turned out that Brooke was destined to sit alone for a while, since Peyton sat between her husband's legs on the bar stool and Nathan and Haley retired to the couch Karen and Keith just vacated. It also turned out that the tournament was actually best 2 out of 3, so it was a while before Brooke had the excuse to get up and play the game. Halfway through Lucas and Nathan's second game, Haley had trumped up some reason to occupy Peyton's time and attention (in Brooke's opinion), so Brooke slipped out and made her way to the kitchen to 'get a glass of water.'
In truth, she was tired of sitting on the couch feeling like a fifth wheel, or was it seventh? Either way, the trip to the kitchen broke up the monotony of watching the couples interact around her.
She glanced in the living room, smiling at the sight of the kids enraptured by the sight of Aladdin and Jasmine flying on a magic carpet. She remembered when it was she and Peyton doing much the same thing, munching on popcorn and running a commentary.
September 18th, 1997
"I don't care that he has a magic carpet. He's poor, and I'm a princess. We can fly around on his little carpet a couple of times, but we can't get married." Brooke said, popping a kernel in her mouth haughtily.
"I'd rather take Aladdin than a stuffy ol' prince. He's nice, he's handsome, and he loves Jasmine for who she is." Peyton said, hugging her pillow to her chest. Then she grinned. "Plus he has a magic carpet and a talking monkey!"
"Yeah, he's cute, until the carpet drops you off at his windowless, roofless, house with no furniture." Brooke scoffed.
"I'd rather be there with someone who loved me than at the palace trapped like those birds in the cages." Peyton shot back.
They glared at each other for a moment before collapsing into giggles. "We can both be right." Brooke said. "I'll marry my prince, and you can marry your poor man. And when you and Aladdin and his talking monkey and magic carpet finish flying around the world, you guys can come stay with me and my prince in the palace. 'Cause there's no point in being rich if you cant help your best friend when they're married to a guy that has no job and no home."
That was a long time ago, before life had taught Peyton there weren't always happily ever afters and Brooke had learned that princes wanted to marry princesses for their money too.
Watching Lily and Jenny giggle and the boys cover their eyes at the mushy scene between Aladdin and Jasmine, Brooke smiled sadly, thinking about how close she and Peyton had been, and wishing they were there again. She hoped that life treated the new generation a little better than it had Peyton and Brooke at their age. It didn't take long for her to realize as she compared the image of the 9 kids sitting around the tv to the memory of Peyton and Brooke watching it alone; maybe it already had.
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How'd you like the young Breyton flashback? Want more?
Before you guys get all, 'But she did talk about her brother in the podcasts!' In this fic she didn't- she talked to her friends. I didn't have her tell the podcasts about Derek, because I didn't want a psychoderek arc, and she stopped the podcasts after she made Brody's website, which was mostly pics and comic strips.
