A/N: I thought I was going to have this up early then right now, but things did not work out. Anyway, the chapter is done and there is plenty more to come…I do have an idea for the last chapter when ever that comes up that could potentially be the start of a sequel to this story…not sure about that yet, but I'll keep you updated with that.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Dinner Gone Bad

"Why are you so mad that Julian is going to come to dinner?" Jamie asks his sister as she pouts on the couch. Brooke and Lucas were changing in their room.

"You wouldn't understand Jamie. He just reminds me of someone, okay?"

Jamie nods his head and sits down next to Sam.

"Who does he remind you of?"

Sam smiles gently at her brother.

"Nobody you need to concern yourself with. I can't believe mom and dad are making me stay for this. It's such a joke."

"Check that attitude tonight Samantha or I'll ground you," Lucas says as he walks into the room.

"Whatever," Sam mumbles.

"Strike one," Lucas mentions.

Brooke stands in front of her children with her hands on her hips.

"I need you two to be on your best behavior. I work with Julian and he's a nice guy and deserves your respect."

"He doesn't deserve anything from me," Sam says honestly while challenging her mother.

"Can you tell me why?"

Sam just continues to stare at her mother.

"You can give me all those evil stares all you want, but remember one thing little girl. I am your mother and after dinner which you are NOT getting out of is fair game."

Sam poses a fake smile and rolls her eyes as she gets up from the couch when the doorbell rings. Brooke sighs in frustration while Lucas sets the table. Brooke answers the door and smiles at Julian.

"Sorry if I am late," Julian apologizes.

"No, no you're not late at all. Please, come on in."

Julian steps into the room and waves at everybody.

"Hi Julian," Jamie greets with a smile and a wave.

"Hello Jamie."

Sam grumbles and walks into the kitchen. Brooke turns to Julian with a frown

"I'm sorry about her. She's having one of her moods."

"It's understandable."

"No, it isn't," Brooke states firmly. "On behalf of my family I apologize for my daughter."

"It's okay, really."

"Julian, I hope you like spaghetti, it's kind of a family favorite at the Scott house," Lucas says as he places a bottle of wine at the table along with a couple of cans of Sprite for Sam and Jamie. Rarely do they get soda, but since Julian was here, Brooke and Lucas agreed that they could.

Everyone took a seat at the table and started digging in.

"I really appreciate you inviting me to dinner. I haven't had a home cooked me in awhile."

"That's your fault," Sam mutters while shoving a fork full of spaghetti into her mouth.

"Samantha Scott!" Brooke and Lucas shout at the same time.

"You look familiar," Jamie mentions as he places his fork down on the table.

Julian turns to Jamie in surprise. Sam's eyes find her brother's. Julian looks to Sam and Jamie a few times before speaking.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"I've seen you before."

Julian shakes his head.

"I don't think so."

"You're in my picture. I'll go get it," Jamie says before quickly running from the table.

While Jamie disappears, Julian quickly stands up.

"I'm sorry, Brooke, Lucas, but I have to go."

"Julian, what's wrong?" Brooke asks in concern.

"Yeah Julian, what's wrong? Are you afraid they are going to know your secret?" Sam says with a smile.

Jamie comes running into the room with his picture. He runs to Julian and puts it in his hands.

"See, I was a baby and that's you."

Brooke and Lucas look at each other in fear, fear of losing their children because they knew that if Jamie had a picture of Julian when he was a baby it could only be one explanation. Add to the fact that Sam's attitude had been off the charts lately it all started to make sense.

Julian looks down at the picture and smiles. He looks up at Jamie.

"James."

"You left," Jamie says.

Sam stands up from the table with a shake of her head.

"That's what he does best James, he leaves."

Sam makes her way up to the front door.

"Sam, where do you think you're going?" Brooke asks as she finally steps up from the table and throws a glare at Julian.

"I'm getting for away from here. I don't want to deal with this," Sam looked around the room. "Any of this." Sam storms out of the house leaving Julian standing awkwardly as the remaining Scott family look at him.

-Whatever it Takes-

"You lied to me. You lied about everything!"

Julian turns to Brooke.

"It started out like that, but then I fell in love with your work. And yeah, I thought maybe getting to know my kids would be a benefit."

"They're not your kids!" Brooke states harshly. "My husband is out there looking for our daughter not yours. So don't stand there and say that James and Samantha are your children because they are not."

"I was young. Rebecca and I were both young and she kicked me out and I never planned on Sam knowing who I was or Jamie recognizing me. They were both so young. I just…not that I have a chance I need to know who they are."

"No, you don't get to do that. You don't get to stand there and tell me what you are going to do not when it involves my children so get the hell out of my house and out my life and out of my town. Just leave!"

Julian walks to the front door and turns to Brooke.

"If I have to, I can take this a long way. I have a right to see my kids and I'm going to do everything in my power to make that happen."

Julian walks out the door and Brooke falls on the couch and begins to cry. She didn't want to lose her kids.

"Momma."

Brooke sniffles and looks up at her son.

"What is it Jamie?"

Jamie places a hand on his mom's shoulder.

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

-Whatever it Takes-

Lucas walked onto the river court. He was surprised that his safe haven had been where his daughter was the entire time. He had been looking for Sam for the past hour and he had started to get worried, but as he walked past his favorite place in the world, he had spotted his daughter sitting in the middle of the court just gazing at the river in front of her.

"I'm glad that I found you. You had me worried for a minute," Lucas says as he takes a seat next to his daughter. Sam rests her head on Lucas' shoulder as Lucas puts his arm around her. "I never thought I would never see you here."

"I come here a lot. You always talk about this place always giving you the answers that you are seeking. I just thought maybe this place could give me the answers that I am seeking as well."

"What questions do you need answered?"

"I don't know yet," Sam says with a sigh.

A few minutes of silence pass between father and daughter before daughter starts speaking again.

"Are you scared dad?"

"Yeah, sweetheart, I'm scared."