Chapter 25
"Seriously" Brooke whines "Why do we need lights on our trees?"
Peyton laughs "What's wrong?"
"Um this sucks!" Brooke says "I keep getting poked by this damn tree and the lights look like shit!"
"Aww…" Sawyer says "You're using a lot of bad words today"
Brooke starts laughing "I'm sorry little man but this is really hard work"
"Would you like some help?" Peyton asks
"Oh no" Brooke says in a tone "You just sit there stringing your popcorn and cranberries while I bleed to death trying to put the lights on this blasted tree!"
Peyton laughs again "Ok little man I think we need to take a break and I'll help Brooke. After all we wouldn't want her to bleed all over the carpet it would be a mess to clean up!"
Brooke gives Peyton and dirty look and Peyton laughs again.
"Oh honey I was just teasing you" Peyton says getting up and walking over to the tree "How about I stand on this side and you hand then to me and we'll get it done faster"
"Fine!" Brooke says pouting
Brooke and Peyton work together to get the lights on the tree. They decided to go with an old fashioned theme because it felt homey to them. They were using classic white lights, popcorn garland, tinsel, and all sorts of ornaments. For the other tree in the back room they were just going to put white lights and do red, green and silver ornaments.
"Momma" Sawyer asks while Peyton and Brooke finish up the lights.
"What baby?" Peyton says stepping back to look at their work
"When will Gran and Granps be here?"
"Tomorrow" Peyton says
Brooke comes from around the tree "How do they look?"
"Beautiful!" Peyton says
Brooke stands back and eyes up their handy work "Not bad" she sighs "So what are we going to make for dinner for your parents tomorrow night?"
"I don't know" Peyton says
Brooke sighs "What's their favorite meal?"
"Momma likes pasta and daddy's a meat and potato guy"
"What about Karen and Keith?"
"The same" Peyton says
"Ok" Brooke says "I'll make roast with noodles, potatoes, carrots, onions, rolls, and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for dessert"
"Oh that sounds yummy!" Sawyer says
"It will be" Brooke says "We're going to need to go to the market and get stuff for a few days and then go from there"
"Ok" Peyton says "We'll go after we decorate the tree"
"We need to finish the garland, momma" Sawyer says
"Brooke you want to help?"
"Sure" Brooke says walking over and sitting on the floor followed by Peyton
Brooke puts a needle on the other end of the string and Sawyer hands both Peyton and Brooke popcorn and cranberries.
"So Brooke" Sawyer says smiling "What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
Brooke sighs "I don't know what I want"
Sawyer looks at her with a perplexed look on his face "How can you not know what you want for Christmas?"
"I don't know" Brooke says "I guess because I haven't really had Christmas for a long time"
"That's sad" Peyton says looking at her "Well you're going to have a real family Christmas this year!"
"Yeah!" Sawyer says "So you better start making a list"
"Ok" Brooke says smiling
"What do you want, momma?" Sawyer asks
"I have everything I want. I have you and I have Brooke that's enough for me"
"Momma" Sawyer says "I can't wrap that!"
Brooke and Peyton both start laughing
Brooke had been thinking about what she was going to get Peyton for Christmas. Peyton had everything or bought everything she wanted. She was stressing out about it but she didn't want Peyton to know. She wanted to make this Christmas special and memorable. Peyton and Brooke had already decided that they were going to shop for Sawyer together so that took some of the holiday pressure off of Brooke.
Peyton could tell Brooke was lost in her thoughts.
"Hey hon, everything ok?"
Brooke looks at Peyton "Oh, yeah" she says "Sorry! I was just running through the stuff we'd need at the store when we went"
Peyton laughs "Always planning"
"That's me" Brooke says holding up the string "I think we're done!"
Peyton looks at it "Yeah we filled it all in so now we can string it"
Brooke and Peyton stand up holding the garland they made and start stringing it onto the tree.
"It looks great, momma and Brooke!" Sawyer says
"Thanks" They both says together
"STOP!" Brooke says
"What?" Peyton says scared
"We should make ornaments!"
"What?" Peyton says
"Yeah!" Sawyer says
"We can make ones that smell like cinnamon"
"Ok" Peyton says "Find us a recipe"
"I will and we can make them tomorrow with your mom and Aunt Karen"
"They'll love that"
"Great!" Brooke says smiling
"Can I help too?" Sawyer says
"Of Course"
"Let's get this tree decorated" Peyton says
They had bought a bunch of old fashioned glass ornaments like Santa, and trees, and glass baubles with scenes on them, old fashioned ribbon candy ornaments, blown glass ornaments and much more. The three hung ornaments and laughed and talked as they listened to Christmas music on the radio. There wasn't an inch of the tree that didn't have tinsel or an ornament on it. It looked beautiful.
"Wow" Sawyer says with his eyes huge "This is the prettiest tree I've ever seen"
"Yes, it is" Peyton says "This was a great idea, Brooke"
"You helped picked out everything"
"No, I mean the whole thing"
Brooke smiles "I'm glad we're making our house feel like Christmas"
"Me too" Peyton says
"Can we go to the store now?" Sawyer asks
Peyton sighs "No, I think you need to take a nap!"
"But I'm not tired"
"We're going to have a lot of busy days so it's a good idea to get sleep when we can" Brooke says smiling at Sawyer
"Can I sleep in your room?"
"Of course" Peyton says
Sawyer sighs and then looks at Brooke and Peyton "Will you take a nap with me?"
"We have a lot to do" Peyton says "So how about I let you watch a movie while you rest?"
"Deal!" Sawyer says "I want to watch The Grinch"
"Sounds good" Peyton says "Come on little man"
Sawyer walks over and wraps his arms around Brooke "Love you" he says kissing her
"And I love you" Brooke says hugging him tightly
Peyton takes Sawyer down the hallway and Brooke starts decorating the mantel. She takes fresh cut greens they got from the tree farm and wraps them in white lights. She then strings more popcorn garland hanging down from it. She took clusters of baubles and stuck them throughout the greens. Then she took five nutcracker stocking holders. She places them evenly on the mantel. Then she pulls out five stockings: two red, two green and one with a needlepoint Santa on it. Each stocking had a name on it. She hangs them in a pattern on the mantel. Peyton comes out to see all the work Brooke has done.
"That looks wonderful!"
"Thanks" Brooke says smiling
"Where did you get the stockings?"
"I bought them yesterday while you were talking to Lucas"
"They're beautiful" Peyton says walking over and looking at them "Oh Brooke"
Brooke smiles at her
"They have our names on them"
"I wanted them to be special"
"I love Sawyer's with the Santa on it"
"I hoped you'd like it"
"And you got my mom and dad one too"
"I hope that's ok"
"You are perfect" Peyton says walking over and kissing her
Brooke just smiles "I love you and I want our house to look perfect for the holiday"
"Well it does" Peyton says "We should go and decorate the other tree"
"Yes" Brooke says "But first I want to lay on the couch with my girlfriend and dim the lights and enjoy our Christmas tree"
"That sounds wonderful" Peyton says "But some hot cocoa would make it even better"
"Yum" Brooke says
"I'll go make some"
"I think we still have some cookies too" Brooke says smiling
"You relax" Peyton says "You've worked hard today and I'll be right back"
"Ok" Brooke says smiling and Peyton pecks her lips quickly before going into the kitchen.
Brooke dims the lights and turns on instrumental Christmas music and stretches out on the couch. Peyton comes in a few minutes later with a tray with hot cocoa and cookies on it.
"This is so beautiful" She says
"It is" Brooke says "Come sit with me" she adds rolling onto her side so there was room for Peyton to lay with her
"I'm planning on it" Peyton says lying next to her.
Brooke wraps her arms around Peyton and Peyton smiles at her.
"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen" Peyton says
"I don't know about that" Brooke says smiling slightly "I'm pretty sure you beat me in that category"
Peyton blushes a little "You've changed my life"
"I have, have I?"
"Yes" Peyton says "I'm so in love with you"
"I'm so in love with you too" Brooke says leaning in and kissing Peyton softly
"Mmmmm" Peyton says "I love when you kiss me"
"Well that's good because I love kissing you"
Peyton sighs and she gets a serious look on her face "Brooke" she says and Brooke's face also changes
"What's up?" Brooke says "Is everything ok?"
"Yes" Peyton says softly "It's just…"
"Honey, what's the matter?"
"it's something you said yesterday"
"Um… ok" Brooke says "I say a lot of things"
"About us"
"Ok, Peyton" Brooke says "I'm not really into guessing games so just tell me what's on your mind. You don't have to worry about my reaction, ok?"
Peyton sighs "Yesterday you said two things that kind of surprised me." She starts "First you said you wanted to have a baby"
"Oh" Brooke says "That upsets you?"
"No" Peyton says "But you said you wanted to have a baby to give Sawyer his brother"
"And that upsets you?"
"No"
"So?" Brooke says looking a little confused
"Brooke" Peyton says "You said you wanted to have a baby and give Sawyer his Christmas wish! That's a huge statement!"
"I think it's a declaration of how I feel about you and the future"
"It is but we haven't been together that long"
"So" Brooke says "I know I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life and I know I want to spend my life with you and I know you're not ready for that whole commitment yet but I'm not going to deny that my feelings for you are so strong and I have no plan to change them"
Peyton has tears running down her face "You really want a life with me?"
"Yes, baby" Brooke says "I want this more than anything"
"So you were serious about marrying me someday?"
"More serious than I've ever been"
Peyton leans in and kisses Brooke passionately. She wraps her arms around her and pulls her closely. She deepens the kiss by licking Brooke's lips so she'll open them. Brooke opens her mouth and Peyton slides her tongue in. She plays with Brooke's tongue and then runs her tongue along the top of Brooke's mouth. She pulls out of the kiss softly biting Brooke's lip.
"I love you so much" Peyton says
"I love you too" Brooke replies softly kissing Peyton
Peyton rolls over so she and Brooke are spooning. She reaches over and grabs the cookies.
"Do you want your hot cocoa?"
"Yes" Brooke says
Peyton sits up and so does Brooke. Peyton hands her a cup of cocoa and a cookie and then takes her own. She moves so she's sitting right next to Brooke.
"This is just perfect" Brooke says
"Sure is" Peyton answers "I thought when mom and dad gets here we'll go shopping for Sawyer"
"Sounds great" Brooke says
"What do you want to get him?"
"Lots and lots of stuff"
Peyton laughs "That's how I feel too. I just want to give him the world"
"Me too" Brooke says "But it's too late to give him what he really wants"
"Um, yeah" Peyton says "I think we should just go shopping and see what we find"
Brooke's eyes light up "Let's get him a puppy!"
Peyton's face drops "Brooke, honey, we live in a penthouse in the middle of the city"
"So what" Brooke says "He'll love it, please"
Peyton smiles "I'll make you a deal" she says "We'll go look at them and if we fall in love with one we can get it."
"Yes!" Brooke says kissing Peyton again
Peyton loved putting that smile on Brooke's face.
Brooke sighs "Well we better get moving and decorate the other tree so when Sawyer gets up we can go to the store"
"Ok, baby" Peyton says getting up holding her hand out to Brooke who gets up.
The two women walk into the back room and start decorating the other tree. They hang lights, garland, and ornaments. While they work they share little kisses and laughs. They were so in love it was perfect. This was going to be the best Christmas either of them have ever had.
They finished the tree in the back room and plopped down on the couch to look at it.
"Do you think your parents will enjoy it?"
"It's beautiful but I can guarantee that my parents will be with us the whole time they're here"
"That's great" Brooke says
"Are you sure?"
"Of course"
"What if they get on your nerves?"
"Honey" Brooke says smiling "I doubt your parents will get on my nerves and if they do then I'll come sit back here" she adds with a sassy grin
"Momma!" Sawyer yells
"Back here honey"
Brooke and Peyton hear two little footsteps running down the hallway. Sawyer comes into the room and looks at the tree.
"That tree's almost as pretty as the other one"
"You like it, huh?"
"Yeah" Sawyer says
Brooke gets up "Now that Sawyer's awake we really should get to the store"
"You know we can order groceries" Peyton says
"I know but I want to go shopping because I may be pushing the cart and see something we need but wasn't on the list"
"Ok, ok. Let's get going"
Peyton, Brooke and Sawyer head out to the store and spend the rest of the night getting ready for their guests. Peyton is so excited about her parents coming and spending Christmas with Brooke. It truly is a wonderful life and she was going to enjoy every minute of the upcoming weeks and not let anything ruin this time with her family.