How to Save a Life

Chapter 26 –

"You all tucked in, babe?" Brooke walks into one of the many bedrooms in the beach house. She smiles when she sees that Colton is nearly passed out. His eyes flutter open once he hears his mother's voice. "Sorry to wake you…"

He shakes his head. "I was just resting my eyes," he smiles at her as she laughs at his excuse.

"Right…" she nods, patting his blanket-covered leg. "So…Julian told me what you said earlier tonight," she brings up cautiously. "About dad."

Colton's smile falters a bit and his eyes go small. "I just miss him sometimes," he whispers with a shrug.

"That's okay, baby," Brooke replies, moving more onto the bed to comfort him. "Sometimes I miss him too," she admits.

"Really?" he looks up in interest. He knows his dad had hurt his mom.

"Of course," she admits. "He gave me you," she taps his nose playfully, bringing back the smile she loves so very much onto Colton's face. "And for that, I'll always love him."

Colton seems to appreciate this because his smile grows wider.

"So, you're okay?"

"Yeah," he confirms quietly. "I just…don't get it though…"

Brooke looks down at her son with curiosity. "Get what?"

"It's just…you forgave dad even if he was mean to you…but…Julian has his mom and his dad…and he doesn't want to see them," he explains his predicament while his face scrunches up to show how truly puzzled he is. "They're his mom and dad!" he exclaims with emphasis. "They've known him longer than anybody else."

Brooke watches intently as Colton speaks. He never fails to amaze her on how wise beyond his years he is. He's always been so opinionated and never afraid to say what is on his mind.

"That's true, Colt…but I think it's a bit more complicated than that."

"But why?" he protests. "You and Grandma Victoria never got along but you still talk to her, don't ya?"

"I do," she confirms, trying to get her thoughts together to explain such a complicated issue to her eight-year-old. "But that's my decision. And I guess Julian's decision is to not talk to his parents…it isn't really up to us, babe, is it?"

Colton sighs in defeat. "I guess not. I just think it's silly."

"I know," she laughs lightly, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"I'll never ever not talk to you, mom," he tells her boldly, stopping her from moving back to her previous position by looping his arms around her neck. "Because you're my mom and I'll love you forever."

Feeling choked up by such a powerful sentiment, Brooke swallows back her tears. "I love you too, baby. Forever."

"You feeling better?" Brooke knocks lightly on the wooden door to Julian's room.

Looking up from what appears to be some film magazine, he offers Brooke a kind smile.

"Yeah…I was just thinking about planning a trip to New York to see your parents," he mockingly says. She rolls her eyes playfully. "Kidding," he adds.

Patting the spot on the bed beside him, he gestures for her to come sit and join him.

"Colton's asleep?"

"Just about."

"He probably thinks I'm so selfish," he says frustratingly.

"Julian…he doesn't…" she shakes her head, reaching out to hold his hand. "He's just…he's a child…he doesn't understand."

Julian's eyes search to meet hers. He feels safer and more secure just looking at her. Since he's met her, she's always had this effect on him. "He's lucky to have a mom like you, Brooke…and he was lucky to have a dad like Lucas," he voices to her sinecerely. "You guys…you never put your own problems before him. You made sure to love him unconditionally…like parents should."

Her eyes cloud with tears. "Thank you," her raspy voice mumbles. Growing up with her own parental issues, she made sure to never pass that on to her son.

"Do you think….do you think I'm being childish, selfish?"

She draws out a heavy, long breath and shakes her head. "I'm not one to judge, Julian," she confesses. "It took me years to get some kind of stable relationship with my mother. So I've been there…was I happy when I finally resolved those issues? Yes. But…it never really took away the pain from the past. Our parents are who they are…and it's only up to them to change. We can't fix them…we can't make them better…Seeing your parents tonight, though…I…I understand. I understand why you hold resentment towards them. No child should have to grow up with that much animosity surrounding them. And I'm sorry you did…I'm sorry I did. But I think…I think it makes us better in the end."

Julian nods slowly at her words as he lets them sink in. Brining her hand up to his lips, he brushes a kiss against her fingers. "Thank you for always being understanding."

"Thank you for not getting angry at me for tonight," she jokes lightheartedly.

"I know you were just trying to help." Grinning, he leans in to kiss her on the lips.

She wraps her arms tightly around him and rests her body against his, closing her eyes. "I'm tired," she yawns.

"So why don't you get to bed?" he suggests.

"Yeah…" she nods slowly. "Hey…can I…can I stay with you again tonight?"

"Really….?" He's surprised. The other night he just assumed she'd asked because she was feeling upset. "I mean…"

She shrugs timidly, her cheeks becoming flushed. "I kinda liked falling asleep in your arms last night."

A smile spreads across his face. "Me too."

The next two days of vacation go much smoother than it had started out. They manage to put the fiasco of what had happened behind them and decide to just spend their time having fun. They go to Six Flags Magic Mountain where Colton braves some of the craziest rollercoasters he's ever seen (the ones he is tall enough for of course). They also take the thirty-minute drive to Long Beach and pay a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Being one of the largest aquariums in the country, Colton eventually gets pretty tired from walking around and looking at all the exhibits that are offered. They even manage to squeeze in some time for shopping on Rodeo Drive (solely for Brooke).

Today, they decide to spend the day relaxing at the beach.

"It must be nice to just wake up, roll out of bed and have the beach at your front door," Brooke comments as the three walk out of the house and go closer to the shore. She's carrying towels and Julian's carrying beach chairs. Colton is proudly carrying Julian's old surfboard; a kid-sized one, back from when he was Colton's age.

"That's certainly been a perk of living in this house," Julian agrees with a chuckle. He's always loved the beach and the Pacific Ocean. He's grown up around it his whole life.

"How come we don't have a beach house in Tree Hill, mom?" Colton questions.

"Would you like to pay for it?" she teases.

"I'm broke!" he states dramatically, running up ahead from the two adults, leaving a mist of sand in the air.

Laughing, Julian comments, "He's pretty excited to learn how to surf…I don't think he realizes how hard it is. It took me weeks to balance on one."

"Well he's determined. If he really wants to learn, he will."

Julian nods as they find a spot to put the chairs and their belongings. "Well, I'm gonna run back into the house to get my board. Be right back."

"Colt!" Brooke calls out as Julian walks quickly back to the house. "Come here and help me."

Dipping his toes into the cool water, Colton sighs dramatically and turns to walk back to Brooke. "With what?"

Brooke smirks and shakes her head. "Just keep me company, okay? I don't want you going in there yet without one of us watching you," she says, opening up the chairs.

"Where'd Julian go? To get his surfboard?"

"Yup."

"It's so much bigger than the one I'm gonna use. You should see it, mom."

"Well maybe one day when you're older and you get really good, I can buy you one like that. But first, you have to learn."

"I know," he nods happily. "I bet Julian's gonna be a good teacher."

"I think so too," Brooke agrees. "Now come here and let me put sunscreen on you," she searches through her beach bag for the product.

"Ugh, mom…" he complains in a whining voice. "It gets in my eyes!"

"So don't rub your eyes," she tells him firmly. "Besides," pulling out the lotion, she shows him, "it's the spray. And we don't want you lookin' like a lobster at the end of the day, do we?"

Giggling, he succumbs to her orders and walks closer to her, holding out his arms for her to spray.

"Now close your eyes," she instructs, spraying his face. "You're good," she informs him so he can open up.

"Now I'm all sticky!" he criticizes.

"It'll dry," Brooke waves his complaint off with a smile.

"How come you don't put it on?"

"Because I tan."

Colton raises his eyebrows in a disapproving way. Sighing, he shakes his head. "Well when you come out looking like a lobster, I don't want to hear it," he pretends to lecture her.

"Okay, handsome," she laughs, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. "You got it."

"You ready, Colt?" They hear Julian's voice and turn around to find him with his board.

"Yes!"

"Alright, first we'll start out on the sand."

"On the sand?" he questions, finding it strange.

"You'll see," Julian says, leading them down to the shore.

"I'll be watching!" Brooke calls after them, sitting herself down onto one of the chairs.

"Okay," Julian sets his board down on the sand as Colton follows suit. "So do you know what a pushup is?"

Colton nods slowly. "Sometimes we have to do those in gym class."

"Good," Julian nods. "So, basically, there's this thing called the surfing popup. And it's basically like a pushup and it's what gets you up on your feet on your surfboard…"

Brooke watches from a few feet away as Julian coaches Colton on what to do. She can't help but think back to when Colton was three-years-old. She closes her eyes and can picture it. His small chubby hands gripped around a soft-rubber orange basketball. His three-foot Fisher Price mini basketball hoop standing before him…

"Teach me, daddy!" the toddler shouts. He watches as his father stands before the regular sized hoop in the backyard and throws the ball. It swishes through the hoop in one fluid motion.

From the patio door, Brooke leans against the doorframe with a content smile on her face as she watches.

"How you did that?" Three-year-old Colton stands astonished before his father, his mouth slightly agape.

Lucas laughs and walks over to his son who has been trying to mimic his actions for the past twenty minutes.

"Just throw it," Lucas makes an imaginary gesture as if he is throwing the ball into the child-sized hoop. "You can do it, Colt."

Brooke laughs as she watches Colton's eyes fill with determination and his eyes squint in concentration…just like his daddy.

With all this might, he makes a tiny jump and throws the ball into the air. His face lights up as he watches the ball go in. "Yay!" he claps excitedly as Lucas picks him up into a hug.

"You did it, buddy."

The sound of Colton's laughter snaps her out of her daydream. She turns to see Colton stand back up from his board.

"That's okay. It was only your first time," Julian says encouragingly.

Brooke becomes washed over with a sense of nostalgia as the past memory lingers in her mind. To compare then to now leaves her with goose bumps.

An hour or so later, the two boys come back up to Brooke, dropping their boards down onto the sand before her.

"Having fun?"

Colton nods his head up and down eagerly.

"The waves were getting a bit rough so I told him we'd take a break from practicing," Julian explains, using a towel to dry himself off.

"Can I just go in and swim then?"

Brooke looks towards the tide, contemplating a decision. "Alright," she caves in. "But stay close!"

"Thanks, mom!" he calls back as he dashes off.

Turning to Julian, Brooke smiles gently. "Thank you for teaching him and being patient with him. He really appreciates it…I really appreciate it."

Julian shakes his head. "You know I'd do anything for him, Brooke. Anything to make him happy. That kid's…amazing," he grins.

Brooke glances towards the water, spotting him jumping over the rolling waves. "Thank you," she says tearfully. She's so grateful to have Julian care so much about her son.

"And I want you to know…" he starts off quietly. His sensitive voice pulls Brooke's eyes away from the ocean back to him. "I'd do anything for you, too…You and Colton mean so much to me…I…I love you."

Her already tearful eyes go wide at such a statement. It takes her by surprise, but she knows it shouldn't. In the back of her mind, she's known they've slowly been working their way towards this…whether she likes it or not.

"Julian…" her voice is especially raspy as she tries to put her words together. She sees such purpose and desire in his eyes and she's never been so unsure of what to do in her life. "I…" Quickly, her eyes snap back to where Colton previously was. Her eyes gaze over the shoreline, and her head whips back and forth when he's nowhere to be found. She waits a second, thinking maybe he's just gone under the water and will surface in a minute. But he doesn't. "Where…Where's Colton?" her voice becomes panicked and her previous predicament no longer poses as such an issue.

"What?" Julian follows her gaze, instantly jumping to his feet.

All Brooke can take note of are the increasingly rough and powerful tides making their way towards the shoreline. Julian runs up ahead, and when she doesn't think her heart can pound any faster, it does. She watches as the lifeguard on duty hops down from his post and dives into the water.

Running up to meet Julian, her legs feel like they're about to buckle at any minute. She covers her eyes, fearing the worst, afraid to meet her fate.

A/N –

Caroline – Thanks so much for the review! And actually, Colton does know what Lucas did to Brooke…it was back in chapter 10 (I know, that's a very long time ago! Lol)! But in that scene Brooke assured him that Lucas loved Colton very much. So, you wanted Brooke to open up more; Julian said "I love you" but Brooke didn't get a chance to respond yet! :p Guess you'll have to wait and see how that all plays out! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

LauraLynn3 – I tried sending you a review reply, but you have that feature disabled, so I'll thank you here. :) I'm so happy to hear you like the story so much! Turns out, Brooke staying in his room turned into more than a one time thing ;) Thanks a bunch for the review! Can't wait to hear what you thought of this latest chapter!

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I told you more drama was coming up! Such a mean cliffhanger – leave a review and I'll update faster! :p

And omg – so apparently, some people received the season 9 dvd already (it's supposed to come out April 10th!) Anyway…those people LEAKED the SERIES FINALE online…I'm trying so hard to wait until Wednesday to watch it! It's torture just knowing it's out there…I mean, I've been reading spoilers forever, but this is the FINALE, and while I know what's going to happen, I just need to watch it and experience it live for the last time ever!

Anyways before this authors note gets even more obnoxiously long, I'll leave it at that. PLEASE REVIEW! :)

-Melissa