Chapter Twenty-One: Write Our Own Story

"How did I fall in love with such a morning person?" Jake yawned emerging from the hall, while the world outside their apartment was still fast asleep, to find Lucas hunkered over the computer animatedly typing the latest addition to his novel.

The brunette shuffled to where the blonde was sitting and wrapped his arms around Lucas leaning to whisper, "You're worse than our son."

Lucas smiled at those words and turned to kiss Jake before turning his attention back to the computer screen in front of him. Jake stayed there for a few moments before deciding he wanted a glass of water.

"I was worried that the kids would wake us up early, I should have known it'd be you."

Lucas laughed, "Jake, baby, they're both under the age of two…I don't think they've quite realized what Christmas means…we've probably have a couple more years before they get too thrilled about it."

"I can't wait…" He smiled mischievously as he watched Lucas' eyes focus on the words before he continued, "…our Chapel Hill apartment…trying to get regain strength after games and finals to have a four and three year old launch themselves into our bed."

"What?" The blondes eyes shot up, "What are you talking about?"

Jake stayed where he was standing, "I got my letter, and too…a couple a weeks ago…they offered me a full scholarship, too…" He smiled as Lucas came over to him, "It's all gonna work out after all."

Lucas leaned in, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"It's your Christmas present." Jake shrugged.

Luke's bee-line for Jake's lips was interrupted by the sound of a cry out followed by Jenny's voice carrying, "Shh, Pil-ip, shhh."

The two dads made their way to the kid's bedroom where the little girl was standing next to the crib.

"What were you doing, little lady?" Jake asked lifting his daughter up, "Did you wake up your brother?"

Jenny innocently shook her head back and forth, stopping when the sound of banging came from the front door. Jake looked to Lucas, "So much for a calm day…"

The blonde nodded, "I'll get it..." He told Jake, and with his son in his arms he made his way to the front door where the banging had yet to cease, "Calm down…I'm coming."

He opened the door to find Nathan, red-eyed, "Nate? What's going on?"

"Luke, its Dan…he's had a heart attack…"

"I always knew that Dan Scott was an asshole Scrooge, but isn't this taking the metaphor a little too far?" Jake remarked fixing his tie in the mirror, "Ruining everyone's holiday by dying…"

Lucas managed a weak smile, "Leave it to him to die on holiday, so no one could forget."

Lucas stared at the mirror, his position next to Jake, and stopped fumbling with his own tie, and rested his hands on the sink. He felt and hand on his back, and waited a few moments before he spoke,

"I know we've been avoiding it, but what's the use?" Lucas started trying to surprises the anger, "What if my everlasting inheritance from 'Daddy dearest' is HCM? What if Dan Scott actually found a way to ruin my life from the grave? If I have it Jake, there goes basketball, my scholarship, our plans…all out the window."

Jake watched his boyfriend's anger boil there in front of him and waited a few moments, "I don't know what I should say, baby. I'm not gonna lie to you, I'm scared for you. I don't want this for you, Luke…but if you do have it, what else can you do besides what you've always done, where Dan was involved."

"What's that?"

"Prove him wrong. Show him, he can't control your life…"

Lucas stood there in his jeans and t-shirt, alone on the mound of dirt. The pile beneath his feet was finally beginning to look like the surrounding ground around it instead of the fresh pile it had been two weeks ago.

"So, you got me." Lucas stared, "I bet you died hoping that your death would only be the beginning. Had to ruin my life somehow, right?" He didn't expect and answer, simply let the wind blow for a few moments, "But you failed, not really surprising, huh? You got me, but you didn't get Phillip. And I might not be playing basketball, but I'm still gonna do better than you. And more than anything I feel like its safe to say that at least I'm not gonna die a miserable, unloved, failure…"

I told you it foreshadowed! Hope you enjoy…there's roughly two or three, maybe four more chapters in this section of the story…and then we're gonna copy the show a bit and I'm going to jump a head four years to after college. Yay

xxx

Until next time, this is me…signing out