A/N: I haven't updated this in awhile and I apologize for that. I just don't know where this story is heading. I've just been in a rut and I don't want to write useless crap so help me out some. Do any of you know any ideas on how this story could go?


Chapter Twelve: Telling the Truth

"How does it feel daddy?" Mia asks as she sits down at the table with some tea.

"It's different," Chase admits with a grin. "I never thought that I would see her again you know? When I gave up my rights it was like giving up a piece of my heart. Then I see Sam and it's like I got that piece back. With you pregnant now, I get to be a dad all over again. I get to do the things that Brooke did when Sam was a baby. I lost that chance with her."

"Chase, the circumstances at the time were different. You were young and so was Brooke. You can't blame yourself for giving her up, not when you have her back now."

Chase nods his head.

"I get that. I listen to her and I talk to her, but it will never make up for the years that I missed."

"Honey, you just got to make sure you don't miss anymore."

-NJS-

Brooke walks into her daughter's room and sees Sam lying on her bed with her journal lying on her chest. Brooke sits on the edge of her daughter's bed and pushes the few strands of hair away from her face. Sam's eyes flutter open and Brooke smiles.

"It's time to wake up."

"You always do that."

"Do what?"

"When I was little, you always came into my room and pushed the hair out of my face and just watched me until I woke up, you were being real maternal like. I just never understood it until now."

"Yeah well, I could never really let you go."

Sam closes her journal and sits up in her bed.

"I hate those five years. I grew up knowing what love was and then one day the love just disappeared. I'm not trying to hurt, but it was just a different feeling when I woke up every morning without you sitting like you are now. I got used to it."

"Now you'll just have to get un-used to it," Sam nods her head. "You have to be to school in an hour so I want you to hurry up and grab something to eat before I drop you off."

Sam yawns and nods her head. Brooke leaves the room and lets her daughter get ready for school.

-NJS-

"How do you like Tree Hill so far?" Brittany asks with a smile as she and Sam find a spot in the court yard to eat their lunch.

"It's not as busy as New York is, but I've gotten used to it quite easily."

"That's good. I've heard a few rumors around the school lately."

Sam looks at Brittany amused.

"And what are those?"

"You were sent to live here because you got kicked out of your old school for being a total badass."

Sam snorts and shakes her head. She hasn't talked about her life to Brittany, but she felt that maybe she could now.

"I'll tell you now, but you have to promise not to spread it around or at least most of it."

Brittany nods her head.

"Of course not, you're my friend. I wouldn't do that to you."

Sam places her lunch on the table and looks around. Everyone else was minding their own business.

"My whole life I've been lied to, but with good intentions, I think. I grew up thinking that my grandparents were my parents and that my mother was my sister."

"Wow."

Sam laughs and nods her head.

"Yeah, my biological mother pretended to be my sister, but I understood why. She was fourteen, but still it was a shock when I found out. The only reason why I am here is because my grandparent's died leaving me in the custody of my mother who I thought was my sister. It's all just really crazy."

"Even if I told anyone they wouldn't believe me."

Both Sam and Brittany laugh out loud gaining looks from other students. Sam just glares at them.

-NJS-

Sam walks into Clothes over Bro's with a smile on her face. It was a great feeling telling Brittany about her life. The only other person she told was her boyfriend's family. It was amazing to actually tell a person she considered a friend the truth.

Brooke was busy with a customer when Sam entered so Sam walked behind the counter and placed her bag underneath it. She dug out her iPod and her notebook and just sat behind the counter and started writing, her head bopping up and down to the beat.

The older woman looked at Sam and smiled.

"Is this all you needed?" Brooke asks as she moves her attention away from Sam towards her paying customer.

"No, that's it," the older woman looks at Sam and smiles. "Is that your daughter?"

Brooke smiles brightly.

"Yes she is."

Sam looks at their interaction and pulls out an ear bud.

"What?"

Brooke and the woman laugh.

"Nothing sweetie, go back to what you have been doing."

Sam puts the ear bud back in her ear.

"Sorry about that. Are you sure that's all you need?"

The woman smiles gently.

"She looks just like you," Brooke smiles brightly at that.

"Thank-you."

The woman grabs her purchase and leaves the store. Brooke turns to Sam who is engrossed in her journal. Sam looks up when she feels a tap on her shoulder. Brooke was looking at her with amused eyes. Sam takes off her ear buds and shuts off her iPod.

"What's up?"

"How was school?"

"I told Brittany," Sam says with a smile.

"Who is Brittany and what did you tell her?"

"Brittany is my friend and I told her everything."

"How do you feel about that?"

Sam shoves her journal into her bag.

"It feels pretty damn good."