Chapter Twenty-Six
Brooke can see him sitting on the beach from where she's sitting in her car. She's been just sitting there for the past five minutes watching him watch the waves. She knows that she needs to go down there and talk with him, but she isn't quite sure what exactly is about to take place.
She isn't so concerned that he's going to want to get back with Peyton as she is that he's not going to be willing to let Brooke have an active role in all of this. She has this image of her mind of her and Peyton raising this child like it was their own... and she isn't too sure that Julian will go along with what she's envisioned these past few days. A part of her wishes that Julian didn't know he was the father... that he had never found out and never would have to. But then she reminds herself that she's being selfish... this isn't her child despite how much she wishes it was. And Julian has every right to want to be a part of its life. After all, Brooke of all people knows what it's like to not have parents that want you, and the last thing she would want is for a child she loves to one day feel the same way she did about her father.
All these things are flooding her brain and she wants nothing more than for all the noise to stop. And she knows that the only way to actually make it stop and get the answers to all her questions is to go down there and talk with him.
She opens her car door and closes it… collecting herself before she follows the path down to the beach. She had left Peyton a simple note that said she had reached Julian and he wanted to talk with her. She didn't want to lie in the note, but she was still hoping that she'd be able to get home before Peyton even woke up to find it.
"Hey," Julian says, hearing the sound of her feet in the sand as she approaches. " I was wondering if you were actually going to come down here and talk to me. I don't bite you know."
"You saw me?" Brooke asks, sitting carefully in the sand several feet away from him. He looks up at her and smiles.
"Yeah… but I figured you were just nervous… and I get that… trust me… I get it," he says.
"So… you said you wanted to talk to me… what about?"
"I don't know... the weather?" Julian jokes and Brooke just smirks. "The baby," Julian replies quickly and Brooke visibly begins to fidget with her jeans the second the conversation turns serious.
"Don't you think this is a conversation you should be having with Peyton instead?" Brooke asks, feeling very uncomfortable talking with him suddenly. She doesn't want to make a mess of things with Peyton by being here and being involved in a conversation that should include her.
"I will… but I wanted to talk to you first. I need to know where your head is at… I need to know what you are expecting and what you want."
Brooke takes a breath. She had never in a million years imagined that Julian would ask her what she wanted. She had thought he had brought her out there to tell her what he wanted. She is completely unprepared and it shows in her facial expression.
"I… I don't know… I…"
"I know you've thought about… and that's okay. I just need to hear you say it out loud."
Brooke takes a calming breath before she speaks again.
"The truth? The truth is… I love this baby… I want to be more than just the aunt that is around all the time. I want to be involved…"
"Like a second parent?" Julian questions and Brooke stops, not knowing if she should continue. Does she tell him that's what she wants? Or will it only upset him? After all, it's not her place to request that from him. It's his child after all. But she finds herself nodding in agreement and is surprised to see a smile on his face. "I thought so," he admits, releasing some of the tension between them. "Thank you… for telling me the truth."
"Look, I know this is a weird situation and everything… and I understand that you probably hate me and think I'm trying to take your place in all of this," Brooke starts, but she is stopped by Julian reaching out and taking her hand in his. The action surprises her but she doesn't pull away.
"Brooke… stop. I don't feel like that," he says, releasing her hand once she has calmed again. "I don't feel like that at all."
"You… you don't?"
"No… I know you love Peyton. And I am happy for you. As far as I'm concerned… the only reason I have a place at all is due to biology," Julian explains and Brooke studies his face to see if he is sincere.
"Can I ask you something?" Brooke questions, surprising even herself as she asks it. Julian nods and smiles. "Do you love her still… Peyton I mean?"
"Of course… how could I not. I mean… you know. She's Peyton." Brooke looks down at her hands then, trying to hide her emotions from a man she doesn't really know. But Julian starts talking again and that gets her to look up. "But I also know she never loved me… at least not the way I love her. I know I'd never stand a chance. It's always been you Brooke… it just took her some time to figure it out."
"So what do we do?"
"I don't know that we can actually answer that right now. Look," Julian says once he's regained his composure some after a small pause. "I asked you to meet with me because I wanted to tell you this... I trust you… I know you love Peyton and I know that you will love this child. I hope you know I don't want to push you away from all this… I want you to be involved and be a part of everything. And I am hoping that by saying this… you'll offer me the same courtesy," Julian finishes.
"Of course," Brooke replies, hoping her words don't come out too rushed. She is just so excited to hear Julian say he's okay with her having an active role in parenting the child Peyton is carrying that she can't control her happiness. "Julian… I know what it's like to have awful parents… I would never want this child to not know you," Brooke explains.
Julian nods, remembering how in the book Brooke's parents were all but absent in her life. He can't help but feel a slight bit of happiness that she's turned out so well given the circumstances they left for her.
"I remember that... from the book I mean," Julian replies and Brooke cringes at the mention of Lucas' novel. Just the thought of him makes her angry right now and Julian seems to sense it. "How did that turn out anyhow? I mean... do you talk to your parents now?"
"No... not really. I haven't spoken to my dad in years and my mother is more interested in my company than she is in me."
"That sucks," Julian replies, having his own parent issues. He doesn't know why but he wants Brooke to know that he understands. "My mom is sweet but she's really overbearing," he admits, and Brooke smiles. "My father though... my dad... well, let's just say I'm never good enough for him."
"Sounds like my mother," Brooke says with a hint of anger. "Maybe we should hook them up!"
"Ha! Maybe," Julian replies, smiling once again. He's glad he asked her to come out here... that he had a chance to spend some one on one time with her and get to know her a little more. After all, she's going to be involved in his life a lot more now. "I think we can make this work. I want us to be friends. I don't expect anything more."
"Good… because you can't have anything more," Brooke replies instantly, covering her mouth with her hand once the words come out. Her eyes go wide and Julian just laughs. "Sorry," Brooke says apologetically.
"No… don't be sorry. It's good to know you love her so much… I really am happy for you both," he says.
"So… now that we've talked this out… how do you feel about maybe coming over for dinner… I guess you've missed your flight?" Brooke questions, having remembered that his flight was to leave in the mid afternoon. "We can talk to Peyton together?"
"That's sounds perfect," Julian replies, standing from the stand and stretching his legs. He reaches his hand out and holds it for Brooke to take, which she does, allowing him to help her up.
They both make their way back to their cars feeling just a little lighter than they did when they both arrived.
"Brooke?" Peyton whispers, glancing up with just her eyes, not sure if the brunette is asleep already beneath her. "You awake?"
"Yeah, I'm awake," Brooke replies, running her hand through Peyton's hair that is resting on her shoulder. "What's on your mind?"
"This isn't a dream right?" Peyton asks, sounding small and almost childlike. Brooke can't help but smile and lean down a little to kiss the top of Peyton's head.
"No baby… this isn't a dream… this is real," she says, sounding content and peaceful. The sound of her voice is soothing to Peyton and she closes her eyes, relaxing even further into Brooke.
Peyton had awakened earlier in the afternoon finding Brooke's note that she had gone to talk things out with Julian upon his request. At first Peyton was a little angry, not understanding why Brooke would talk to him without her there.
She had been lost in her anger when Nathan called, wanting to check up on her and see how she was feeling. It was a nice distraction to talk to him for a few minutes, but after agreeing to meet up with him for breakfast the next morning to catch up, she was back to being angry.
But when Brooke returned with Julian in tow just a short fifteen minutes after she had found Brooke's note, and she saw the smile on the brunette's face, all her anger drifted away instantly.
They had a nice dinner together… the three of them. It felt strange to Peyton but it actually felt like everything was going to work out. Julian explained to Peyton what he and Brooke had discussed and how he just wanted to make sure that no one stepped on anyone's toes now that they were going to be seeing more of each other.
He was willing to not ask for any type of custody agreement as long as he could visit regularly. They agreed that as long as he gave the girls notice that he would be coming, he could come whenever he wanted.
He would make plans to be in town for the birth but he was understanding that it would be Brooke by Peyton's side when his child was born. He had offered to send money, feeling that he should be financially responsible at least in part for a child that he had parented, but both Brooke and Peyton were adamant that it wasn't necessary. They agreed that should their financial status ever change, they could discuss it then.
He had left around ten, having been able to get a new flight from Tree Hill to L.A. and headed straight to the airport. Peyton and Brooke had promised to call if anything came up and to keep him updated as the pregnancy progressed.
So obviously it was only natural for Peyton to feel like she was dreaming. For the first time in what felt like a long while, things had actually gone the way she wanted them to. Lucas was leaving her alone, Julian was on board with the way she wanted to raise their child with Brooke and her relationship with the brunette couldn't be better.
"Well if it is a dream I don't ever want to wake up from it," Peyton whispers back, her eyes still closed. She can feel Brooke's soft fingers moving slowly in circles on the bare skin where her top had risen up by her waist.
As much as she tries to ignore it, suddenly she seems a lot less tired than she had just a few minutes before.
"Brooke," Peyton says, this time her voice a bit louder but still not at full volume. "If you keep that up we aren't going to be getting any sleep," Peyton chuckles out and Brooke only then starts to move her fingers lower, brushing just underneath the waistband of Peyton's shorts.
"Is that so?" Brooke asks, her voice raspy and full of seduction as she carefully dips her hand as far as her arm will let her go, brushing just inches away from the bundle of nerves that is throbbing for touch at Peyton's center. "I think I can stand not sleeping."
Peyton lets out a low moan but before she can reply, she feels Brooke shift underneath her, appearing on top of her with a glowing smile.
"Mmmm… good," Peyton says, her voice unable to hide how turned on she is. She leans up, capturing Brooke's lips with her own, pulling the brunette down more fully onto her body, fully prepared not to get any sleep at all tonight.
The first thing Peyton hears the next morning is the tune to one of her favorite Audioslave songs blaring from her cell phone on the night stand next to her. She blinks several times before finally reaching over Brooke's still sleeping form and grabbing it, pressing the button to answer the call without even looking.
"Hello?" she mutters, half asleep. She gets a laugh on the other end as a response.
"Morning sunshine… I take it you forgot about our breakfast date.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry," Peyton says, sitting up fully upon hearing Nathan's voice on the other end of the phone. She stands and quickly starts searching around for her clothes that had been scattered around the room. "I can be there in ten minutes."
"No rush," Nathan says, chuckling again. "I figured you'd try to stand me up so I called you fifteen minutes early to remind you."
"Ha ha… very funny," Peyton says mockingly, relaxing a little but still in search of a decent shirt. "Like I would ever stand you up."
"I guess you got me there," Nathan says on the other end, causing Peyton to smile. She finally finds a shirt and throws it over her head as he continues. "It was usually me doing that to you, huh?"
"You got that right," Peyton replies giggling. "Alright… I've just got to clean up a little and I'll meet you there."
"Sounds good… oh, by the way, I have Jamie with me… Skills was supposed to take him but something came up so…"
"That's fine… it's always good to see him," Peyton replies, not bothered in the least at the idea of having her nephew join them.
"I know… but it's hard to have an adult conversation with his big ears listening in all the time," Nathan says in his best fatherly tone and Peyton quickly understands that Jamie must be standing there listening.
"Hey! I don't have big ears!" Jamie calls out and Peyton can't help but laugh when she hears his little voice.
"Who's on the phone Peyt?" Brooke asks, just starting to wake up from the sound of her girlfriend's chipper voice. She manages to catch a glimpse of the clock and suddenly sits upright. "Is something wrong?"
"No… nothing's wrong, why?" Peyton asks, laughing a little bit at Brooke's confused and worried expression.
"It's just... it's before noon and you are awake and smiling!" Brooke replies, flopping back down on the bed after Peyton sticks her tongue out at her. "But I guess since I'm up I do have a lot to do at the store today," she sighs out.
Peyton smiles and makes her way over to Brooke, greeting her with a quick kiss.
"Hey Nate… hold on a second," Peyton says into the phone and Brooke smiles when Peyton covers the receiver with one hand and leans down to kiss Brooke properly. When the kiss ends both girls have huge smiles on their faces. "I'm going to meet up with Nathan for a late breakfast… I forgot to tell you yesterday," Peyton says.
"That's fine… like I said, I have a lot to do at the store anyway."
"Well Nate has Jamie with him so I'm sure we won't be too long," Peyton replies and Brooke just kisses Peyton quickly again.
"If you want, Nathan can drop Jamie off with me at the store. I don't mind having him there and he always has fun at the store," Brooke offers and Peyton's smile just grows.
"Hey Nate," the blonde says into the phone again, hearing Nathan still in a childish argument with his almost five year old son. "Brooke says she's willing to take Jamie for a bit if you want."
"Really?" Nathan says, turning to Jamie next to him. "Hey Jimmy Jam… want to go hang out with your Aunt Brooke while Aunt Peyton and I have breakfast?"
"At her store?" Jamie asks, sounding excited.
"Yep," Peyton answers for Nathan and she can hear Jamie cheering in the background.
"Guess that's settled then. How about I just meet you at your house and Jamie can go with Brooke and the two of us can drive together to breakfast."
"Works for me… I'll see you soon," Peyton says into the phone casually, ending the call and flopping back down on the bed next to Brooke. It isn't escaping her that Brooke is still void of clothing from their activities the night before, with only a thin sheet covering her.
Peyton leans over to Brooke who is still struggling to wake up fully and starts to place feather light kisses on her neck.
"Mmmm… while I like where this is going… we both have to stop or Nathan and Jamie are going to get quite a show," Brooke replies, bending her head down to capture Peyton's lips with her own after the words come out.
Their tongues dance around each other's for a few minutes before the need for air breaks them apart.
"You're right… they are probably already on their way. Jamie was really excited to spend time with his Aunt Brooke," Peyton says.
"It's because I'm his favorite aunt," Brooke says jokingly and Peyton playfully glares. "What? I am… I'm the one that lets him eat ice cream for breakfast and lunch and dinner," Brooke says, both girls sitting up at the same time.
Peyton stands and makes her way toward the bathroom, still needing to brush her teeth and finish getting ready.
"We might have to work on your food choices when our baby comes B. Davis," Peyton says casually, disappearing into the bathroom. She waits for a response from Brooke as she puts the toothpaste on her toothbrush, but doesn't hear one. She pops her head back out, her body remaining in the bathroom. "Brooke?"
The brunette is sitting on the bed, her eyes wide and a half smile on her face.
"You just said our baby," Brooke practically whispers and Peyton can't help but smile back. She disregards the toothbrush and makes her way back over to the bed where Brooke is sitting, her hand latching with Brooke's. "That's the first time you've done that."
"Brooke… this is our baby," Peyton says again, making sure to look into Brooke's eyes as she says it. "You and me…"
"I know," Brooke says softly again. "It's just nice to hear you say it is all," she finishes as she leans forward and kisses Peyton softly. "I love you."
"I love you too," Peyton replies against Brooke's lips. She tries to deepen it but Brooke suddenly pulls away.
"Okay… you're right P. Sawyer… if we don't start moving we are never going to leave this bedroom," Brooke says, grinning and finally standing up, her body now on display for Peyton. She moves into the bathroom and Peyton just watches her go, feeling her heart beating in her chest at the beautiful girl she loves.
The bell to the shop door rings indicating someone has entered.
"Brooke?" Nathan calls out, looking around for any sign of his friend and son. "Jamie?"
"Hi Nathan, Peyton," Millicent says greeting them both. "They're in the back," she explains, pointing with her thumb toward the office. She has a bright smile on her face as she continues to dress one of the mannequins in the corner of the store. "Just head on back."
"Thanks Millie," Peyton replies for them both and as her and Nathan pass her on their way to the office where Brooke and Jamie are.
Brooke and Peyton had finally managed to get dressed and ready with just seconds to spare when Nathan and Jamie arrived several hours ago at their house. Nathan and Peyton had gone ahead to breakfast and Jamie and Brooke left for the store just ten minutes behind them.
Peyton and Nathan had a good time at breakfast though it turned out to be more of a lunch instead. It was almost noon by the time they actually got there. It was nice to sit and talk to one another and Peyton was overjoyed to hear that Nathan was feeling much more like his old self and was working through the back pain that had come up as he continued to work out. She had always known he had it in him to make his dreams come true, and she was proud of him for not giving up even after everything he had gone through.
They didn't talk much about any of the drama, keeping the conversation light. The only mention of Lucas was when Peyton asked if Nathan had seen him and Nathan nodded his head indicating that it hadn't been the most pleasant of meetings.
After two and a half hours of eating and talking, they made their way down the block to Clothes Over Bros to pick up Jamie where they were now.
Brooke looks up when she hears footsteps at the office door and smiles when she sees both Nathan and Peyton enter.
"Hey you guys! Just in time!" Brooke says, spinning Jamie around to show the others what he was wearing.
"Whoa dude! You look awesome!"
"Isn't it neat daddy?" Jamie asks, looking down at his custom Ravens jersey that Brooke had been working on just for him. She was able to put the finishing touches on it with him there this afternoon and she was glad he loved it as much as she hoped he would.
"It's so cool! Did you thank Aunt Brooke?"
"Thank you Aunt Brooke," Jamie says, jumping down from the little stand he was on to give her a quick hug.
"No problem buddy… glad you like it." Nathan smiles and then Brooke turns to Peyton and Nathan. "Did you guys have a good breakfast?"
"If you call a BLT breakfast… then yes… yes we did," Nathan replies, getting a chuckle out of Peyton and Brooke at the same time. "Thanks for keeping Jamie."
"Oh it's no problem. I love having him! What are you up to the rest of the day?"
Nathan looks at his watch quickly and then replies.
"Well, Haley should be getting home from school soon… Peyton and I were talking about the two of you coming over for dinner tonight… what do you say?"
Brooke's smile turns to a slight frown and she glances at Peyton.
"I wish I could… but I'm really far behind on these sketches," Brooke says, raising a few drawings up in the air. "But Peyt… you should go… I'll probably be pretty late actually."
"Are you sure… Brooke? I can stay and help you," Peyton offers and Brooke just shakes her head from side to side.
"No… you go… have a good time and tell Tutor Mom I'll need a rain check on dinner," Brooke says, the smile returning to her face. She can see that Peyton is now hesitating but Brooke quickly rushes to reassure her. "I'm fine! Please? I want you to go… it's been a stressful couple of days and you could use some good old fashioned fun."
"Brooke… I really don't mind staying and…" she trails off when she sees the firm expression on Brooke's face, knowing immediately that she should shut her mouth. She snaps it shut without finishing her sentence. "Okay… but if you aren't done by the time we are finished eating, I'll stop by and bring you some food."
"Thanks baby," Brooke says, smiling once more and Nathan just watches them with a smile on his face as Peyton moves to Brooke and places a quick kiss on her lips.
"See you tonight then," Peyton says over her shoulder, as she follows Nathan and Jamie out of the office. "Love you."
Brooke lays her pen down and admires her work. She takes a moment to glance at the clock and sees that it's already too late to catch dinner, but smiles when she remembers that Peyton should be coming to bring her some soon. She looks back down at her sketch and smiles.
Even though she would have much rather been at dinner with her family, she's glad she stayed and finished up the sketches she had been needing to get done. She had been in contact with Mr. Tucker, the investor who had agreed to finance her new line, and he was being very patient with her. She didn't want to let him down and while she admired her sketch, she knew that she wouldn't.
The store is dark expect for the single lamp light shining down on her desk and Brooke glances at the clock again. She quickly picks up her cell and dials Peyton's number.
"Hey babe! I was just getting ready to leave," Peyton says when she answers and Brooke smiles, making her way to the office to grab her purse.
"Perfect… I just finished. So how about I just meet you at home instead?" Brooke asks and she can practically hear Peyton smiling on the other end of the line.
"Of course… make sure you bring the sketches… I can't wait to see how they turned out!"
"I have them in my hand right now," Brooke replies. She grabs her purse and then quickly makes her way to the desk to switch off the lamp. The darkness envelopes the store as she does and her heels can be heard through the phone as she walks toward the door, the phone being held between her shoulder and cheek.
"I'm sure they are perfect," Peyton says, proud of Brooke for finishing. She knows how much the store means to Brooke and she knows that Brooke has really been excited about this new line. The brunette hadn't said much about it, wanting to finish the sketches before revealing too much, but Peyton couldn't wait to see what Brooke had come up with this time.
"I hope so… Mr. Tucker is counting on me and…" Brooke says, pausing as she reaches out to open the door to let herself out of the store.
Just as she does she suddenly is pushed backward, the phone that she was holding going flying and landing hard on the tile behind her. A large man dressed entirely in black and a ski mask covering his face quickly stops any more words from exiting Brooke's mouth as his fist connects with her mouth.
"Brooke?" Peyton asks, hearing the sounds of a scuffle in the background. She is listening closely, wondering if Brooke just dropped the phone. When she doesn't get a response after several seconds, she calls out again. "Brooke?"
But instead of hearing Brooke reply to her all she hears is the sound of Brooke screaming out for help.