A/N: Hey, so so sorry for taking over two weeks to update. Only 4 chapters remain in TLRTS!
Isabel camilla Scott: Thanks for the review! You will learn what Nathan does in the final chapter, but there will be hints here and there. I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.
gossipgirlfan101: Thanks for the review! I see you're a new reviewer. I'm glad you enjoy this story, its encouraging to hear that. Alas, this story is coming to an end, but not worries, there will be a sequel. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, just the storyline.
"People who are meant to be together always find a way to each other. When life gets hard, when things change, true love remains the same."
Chapter 36 - May I
~BNBNBNBNBN~
Two months passed and every day brought Jake's second birthday closer, and he was damn well aware of it.
"Momma!"
Brooke was jolted awake by Jake jumping on the bed. Nathan was sprawled out on his stomach next to her, hand on her stomach.
"Momma, is it my birthday yet?"
Brooke ran a hand through her shoulder length hair and took a breath. She checked the clock; it was 7:22am.
"Jake, what are you doing up so early? It's a Saturday, remember? No preschool."
Jake just smiled, showing off his mother's famous dimples.
"I know that silly. I'm just so excited for my birthday, Momma."
His puppy dog eyes were too cute, and Brooke could feel herself melting before them. She gently tapped Nathan on the shoulder, but he was dead to the world.
Of course he is, it's 7:30 in the morning!
Jake watched his mother and started jumping on the bed.
"Jacob Keith Scott, if you break the box spring, you're going to be sleeping on the floor for the rest of your life!"
Jake giggled and jumped off, making a run for it. Brooke let out an exasperated sigh and lay back down next to Nathan. He turned his head towards her, half-awake.
"You were awake the whole time?"
He grinned and rolled onto his side. She slapped him on the chest.
"You let me face Hurricane Jake by myself."
He gave Brooke a pout, similar to Jake's.
"That's not going to work twice."
He grinned and leaned in closer, giving her a kiss, but leaving her wanting more.
"That's not fair."
"So, doesn't Jake know he still has two weeks till his birthday?"
"No, he assumes everyday is his birthday."
Nathan laughed and pulled Brooke in closer.
"Well it is when you're his mother."
Brooke grinned as Nathan leaned in for a kiss.
"Nice try, hot shot."
She leaned in close, but then pulled away and got out of bed.
"You're such a tease."
"I'm taking a shower."
Nathan watched as she skipped around the corner, and decided to join her.
The day had finally arrived for Jake's second birthday. Brooke woke up extra early to decorate her apartment. Nathan had stayed at the hotel the previous night so he could stay out of her way, which was his way of saying that he didn't want to help.
Brooke checked the clock in the kitchen, it was 6:44am, and Jake still wasn't up yet. She just shrugged her shoulders and continued hanging up the blue streamers, Jake's favorite color.
~NSNSNSNSNS~
Nathan woke to a knock on his door. He quickly pulled on a shirt and opened the door.
"Nathan Scott?"
"The one and only."
The UPS man smiled and handed Nathan a clipboard to sign.
"Who's it from?"
The man shrugged his shoulders and handed Nathan the package. Nathan smiled and closed the door.
He checked the package to see that it was from his mom.
What could this be?
He ripped off the tape and searched through the packaging peanuts. He smiled as he held up the item.
My first basketball
Nathan could remember the moment to this day. On his fourth birthday, Dan had gotten him a basketball, a real one that the pros used. Nathan could barely lift it up, but he remembered sleeping with it for the following weeks. He never went anywhere without it.
Nathan held it for the first time in years. The grooves were worn out, and the bright orange glow had dulled to a muddy brown after years of wear. This was the basketball he made his first shot with. This was the basketball he made his last shot with. He remembered after winning the state championship game, he went back to the River Court, too wired to sleep. He made at least a hundred shots before Brooke showed up looking for him. He smiled at the memory.
Flashback to Senior Year…
"Haven't you had enough basketball for tonight?"
Nathan smiled as he turned around after making his shot to see Brooke behind him.
"I'm too wired to sleep."
"I bet."
She smiled as she stood beside and watched as he made shot after shot.
"You were on fire tonight."
"Yeah, I just had this good feeling, you know? That everything was going to work out."
"Everything did."
Nathan nodded as he motioned to sit on the picnic table.
"Why aren't you at the party?"
"I could ask you the same question Scott."
"You already did."
She shoved his shoulder and he smiled.
"I guess I wasn't in the partying mood."
Nathan opened his mouth in mock surprise.
"Brooke Davis, not in the partying mood? I guess the world is coming to an end."
She smiled weakly and Nathan could tell something was wrong.
"What's up?"
He put his hand on her knee and she looked up at him.
"I was talking to Bevin about graduation, and everyone joined in. I looked around to see that everyone else had someone else with them. Peyton had Lucas, Bevin had Skills, and Rachel had Mouth. I didn't have anybody."
Nathan finally realized what she was hinting at.
"Is Brooke Davis lonely?"
She nodded her head in sadness and Nathan wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I just want someone who wants me back, you know?"
"Yeah, I do."
Brooke laughed and wiped away the tears.
"Okay, enough crying, let's see if you can beat me in a game of H-O-R-S-E."
Nathan stood up, challenging Brooke.
"Nate, you could kick my ass with your eyes closed."
"You never know."
She got up and stole the ball away from him.
"And what do I get if I win?"
She mischievously smiled at him.
"Anything you want."
"Anything?"
Nathan nodded his head and walked closer to her.
"And if you win?"
"Anything I want."
He was inches from her, and she could feel something between them, something that had been building for months now. She noticed it during the game, and gave into some weird impulse to kiss Nathan after the game. The thing was that it wasn't weird, it felt right.
"Okay, you're on hot shot."
She took her first shot, and totally missed.
"Davis, if I had known you were this bad, I would have never had let you be my friend."
She stuck her tongue out at him as he made a close shot easily.
"Oh, c'mon, you are letting me win."
"So?"
"So, I want to win fair and square."
Nathan shrugged his shoulders and took another shot, this time twenty feet away from the basket.
"Okay, maybe not."
He smirked at her while she threw the ball up, and missed by about five feet.
"Here, this is how you do it."
He retrieved the ball and stood behind her.
"Square you shoulders towards the basket."
He placed the ball in her hands and his hands on her hips. They both felt the shock pass between them, and the heat that ensued. Brooke turned her head back to look at him.
"Next, bend your knees. Put your right hand under the ball, this is the hand with the power."
He took her hand in his and placed it under the ball. The touch made Nathan want more. He took her other hand and placed it to the left of the ball.
"This is going to guide the ball towards the basket."
Brooke nodded; she was beginning to feel breathless being close to Nathan for this long and feeling this way. She was starting to melt in his arms.
Nathan took a breath, trying to calm his racing heart. This was something different, something he hadn't felt before. No one had made him this nervous, not even Haley.
"Okay, now use your legs and follow through."
He took a step back as he watched Brooke take a breath and take her shot. It bounced off the rim, but it looked a hell of a lot better.
"Well, it looked good."
Brooke pushed him on the shoulder.
"Thanks, hot shot."
They continued to play, Nathan easily beating her. The last shot he made, back to the basket and stared at her the whole time. It was nothing but net.
He continued to stare at her, so intensely that it scared both of them.
"So, what you want?"
He took a step closer to her, the tension between reaching its limit.
"You."
He took her face in his hands and gave her a light kiss. She kissed him back, for a moment, before she put her hands on top of his and slowly pulled away.
"Why did you do that?"
Nathan smirked.
"There, someone wanted you."
She rolled her eyes and watched as Nathan retrieved the ball. She touched her lips and then put a hand over her heart. It was still racing. She watched from the picnic table as Nathan continued to make shot after shot.
Nathan shook his head from the memory. He couldn't believe he did that. Of course, his arrogance made him do that, but still. He looked down into the box to see there was something else in there.
It was his first basketball jersey from Pee Wee basketball. It was red and white with the number three on the back. He shook his head as he read the card inside.
I thought this would be a good present to give to Jake. I know he'll love it as much as you did, and coming from you he'll love it even more.
Love, Mom
He smiled as he wrapped the ball and jersey.
~BDBDBDBDBD~
Brooke was starting to get nervous. It was four o'clock and the party was in full swing. Haley was there, along with Deb, Karen, Andy, and Lily. Even Mouth, Skills, Junk and Fergie came up. Nathan still had yet to arrive, and Brooke was starting to worry.
He wouldn't miss this for anything.
Her doorbell rang, puzzling Brooke.
Why would he ring the doorbell?
She opened the door, surprise written all over her face.
"Bitch, are you going to just stand there with you whore mouth hanging down or are you going to invite me in?"
Rachel Gatina, the one and only.
"Rachel, what are you doing here?"
"I wouldn't miss my favorite nephew's birthday, would I?"
Brooke gave her a look as Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Fine, Haley called me. Give me a hug!"
Brooke squealed as she hugged Rachel. She hadn't seen her in a few years. She still looked the same since high school, possibly even hotter.
"I'm glad you're here."
"Me too. So, where is the little squirt?"
Brooke led her over to where Jake, Sawyer and Lily were playing.
"Jake?"
He looked up from his motorcycles to see his mother.
"Jake, there's someone here I want you to meet."
He got up and Brooke took him in her arms.
"Jake, this is my friend Rachel. Can you say hi?"
"Hi."
Rachel teared up slightly.
"Brooke, he's adorable."
She smiled as she sat him back down.
"He looks exactly like him."
"I know."
Brooke led Rachel over to the kitchen where everyone was hanging out. She smiled as Rachel fit right back in with the crowd. Haley noticed the concerned look on Brooke's face.
"Brooke?"
Haley's voice snapped her out of her reverie.
"You okay?"
Brooke smiled as her friend rubbed her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm just worried about Nathan. He should be here by now."
"I'm sure he has a perfectly good reason for not being here. You know he wouldn't miss this for anything."
Brooke smiled as she wrapped an arm around Haley.
"Yeah, I know. That's what bothers me."
~NSNSNSNSNS~
"Thanks man, I really appreciate this."
"No problem, you kicked my ass in Cleveland."
"Alright, text me when you get there."
"Will do, peace Scott."
Nathan hung up and was pleased with himself. Hopefully Jake will like his present. He checked his watch to see it was quarter of five.
Oh shit!
He quickly picked up Jake's gift and ran down the hall to the elevator. By the time he was outside Brooke's apartment, it was past five. He composed himself and opened the door. He could hear people in the kitchen and quietly closed the door. He walked slowly to the kitchen and peered around the corner. All of his family and friends were already there, and he could see Brooke standing off to the side, worry written on her face.
And there you stand opened heart-opened doors
full of life with the world that's wanting more.
Nathan walked around the outside of the kitchen, motioning to the kids who noticed him to stay quiet. He sat Jake's gift on the table and stood next to the wall near Brooke. He grabbed her arm and put a hand over her mouth when she squealed in surprise.
But I can see when the lights start to fade,
the day is done and your smile has gone away.
She smiled at him when he pushed he against the wall, then smacked his arm.
Let me raise you up.
Let me be your love.
"Why are you so late?"
"I was putting finishing touches on Jake's gift."
Brooke rolled her eyes while Nathan just smirked.
"This is for you."
Brooke looked down at his hands, expecting a gift, but instead he gave her a breathtaking kiss.
May I hold you
as you fall to sleep,
"Sorry I'm late."
Brooke smiled as he held her hand.
when the world is closing in
and you can't breathe.
"Anything else you'd like to apologize for?"
May I love you.
May I be your shield.
He smiled as he led her to her bedroom. They emerged fifteen minutes later after a very hot make out session until Brooke insisted that she go back out there because she was the host.
When no one can be found
may I lay you down.
"They understand."
She smirked as Nathan pulled her back down on top of him.
"You okay, Brooke?"
"I'm perfect now that you're here."
He smiled as he pulled her back down for a kiss.
All I want is to keep you safe from the cold...
to give you all that your heart needs the most.
~BNBNBNBNBN~
"Alright Jake, you ready for your presents?"
Jake's eyes immediately lit up at the word presents and sat his motorcycles down. He ran over to the table with all his gifts and sat down. Brooke sat next to him with her camera in her hand. Nathan sat on the sofa with Sawyer in his lap.
"Okay Jake, which one do you want to open first?"
"This one!"
Skills smiled as Jake picked his first.
"Yo, J. Scott, you gonna like this one."
Everyone laughed as Jake opened the bag.
"Old CDs?"
Everyone looked at Skills, who shrugged his shoulders.
"What, no one would take them."
Everyone laughed as Jake sat them down and moved on to his next present.
Jake picked up the biggest box; it was from Mouth, Junk and Fergie. He ripped off the wrapping to see that it was a giant NERF gun.
"Wow, cool!"
Brooke gave Mouth a look, who just held up his hands in defense.
"Hey, I always wanted one when I was a kid."
"Yea, but it's bigger than him."
"It's okay, he'll grow into it."
Brooke just shook her head as Jake was transfixed with the gun.
"Momma, can I play with it?"
"Not yet, don't you want to open the rest of your gifts?"
Jake nodded his head furiously and got to work with the rest of the presents. Karen, Andy, and Lily got him basketball jerseys. Haley got him a Hot Wheels race track. Deb got him a remote control helicopter. And lastly, Rachel gave him money.
"Okay, Jake, did you like your birthday?"
Jake looked around to look at Nathan.
"What about you, Nafan?"
Nathan smirked and reached behind the couch to give Jake his box.
"Here you go, bud. Hope you like it."
Jake ripped off the wrapping.
"A basketball?"
"Not just any basketball, that was my very first basketball when I was your age, and I used it all the way till the state championship game."
Jake's eyes lit up as he picked up Nathan's jersey.
He immediately pulled that one and held the basketball up; it was almost bigger than him.
"Thank you Nafan!"
Nathan smiled as Jake jumped into his arms. He looked over at Brooke who mouthed, 'It took you that long?'
He winked back at her as the doorbell rang. Mouth was closest to the door.
"I'll get it."
Brooke watched Nathan, who had a glint in his eye.
"Is this Jake Scott's house?"
Skills and Fergie, who were previously arguing over the helicopter, immediately dropped everything as they heard the voice from the doorway. Everyone turned around as Mouth led in the one and only LeBron James.
Jake's mouth dropped as he looked up at his idol. Nathan nudged him towards the big player.
"Are you Jake?"
Let me raise you up
Let me be your love
Jake nodded his head, speechless. Brooke was surprised and looked over at Nathan, who smiled. She smiled back, knowing that Jake would always remember this birthday.
LeBron left to play basketball with Jake, Sawyer, Lily, Mouth, Skills, Junk and Fergie after the cake had been served. Nathan hung back to help clean up with Brooke while everyone left to watch.
May I hold you (hold you)
as you fall to sleep.
"You're full of surprises."
Nathan smirked as Brooke handed him a dish to dry.
"I try."
"He's never going to forget this."
"Yeah, and it's going to make it that much harder to top this birthday next year."
"How did you even get him to come down here?"
"He's in town for a game against the Knicks, and I called him asking him for a favor. He immediately said yes."
Brooke sat down the dish and wrapped her arms around Nathan.
When the world is closing in
and you can't breathe,
"Thank you for doing this. I know it made his birthday."
"I'm glad."
May I love you. (love you)
May I be your shield.
He kissed the top of her head, and led her to the bedroom. They used their time wisely as they had the apartment to themselves. They soon joined the others down at the basketball courts a few blocks from Brooke's apartment. Brooke cheered Nathan on as he joined in. She watched as LeBron gave him a pass for an alley-oop. She gave a high-five to Haley who was standing next to her. Brooke looked at Rachel, who was eyeing up LeBron, who then gave her a nod.
"Are you really flirting with LeBron James?"
Rachel shrugged her shoulders and deviously grinned.
"What, he's got that basketball player hotness. You know all about that, right?"
Brooke and Haley laughed at the look on Rachel's face.
Later than night, Nathan and Brooke were on the couch with Sawyer and Jake passed out on the floor with his presents.
"What are we going to do for Sawyer's birthday?"
Nathan smiled as he sipped at his wine.
"I guess I could call up Taylor Swift, she's on my speed dial."
Brooke smacked him and laughed. He smiled down at her and wrapped his arms tighter around her .
"We should get them to bed."
Nathan nodded as he put his glass down and scooped up Jake and Sawyer in his arms. He bent them down so Brooke could give them a kiss on the cheek. She watched as he carried them off to their rooms. Five minutes later he came back and helped her up. He had brought an overnight bag with him so he could stay the night.
When no one can be found,
may I lay you down.
"May I have this dance?"
All that's made me (made me)
Is all worth trading (worth trading)
Brooke giggled as Nathan over exaggerated a bow.
Just to have one moment with you.
So I will let go (will let go)
"Nathan, what are you doing?"
All that I know (that I know)
knowing that you're here with me.
"I wanna dance with my girlfriend."
For your love is changing me.
She smiled as she took his hand and he held as they swayed back and forth. There was no music, but that's what made the moment greater. Nathan spun Brooke around and held her in a dip, which he pulled her back up to a kiss. She giggled as he continued to spin her around until he picked her up and plopped her down on the bed.
Brooke curled up into Nathan's arms as he held her.
"Did you notice Rachel flirting with LeBron James?"
"Did you just say his first and last name?"
"Yes, because it's frigging LeBron James!"
"Yeah, I did. He mentioned it on the court. He even asked me for her number."
"Oh God, just add that to her ego."
They both laughed at the thought of Rachel and LeBron hooking up.
"How are you holding up Davis?"
"I'm doing better. These past months have been great. I actually think I'm ready to go back to work."
"You sure?"
Brooke nodded as she looked up at Nathan.
"Yeah, I actually miss it. It helps knowing that I'm helping kids out. God knows I didn't have an adult figure like that growing up."
"Is there anything not to love about you?"
May I hold you
as you fall to sleep.
Brooke blushed at his comment.
"I'm serious. You've got the biggest heart I know, and you're so compassionate about everything you do. You're like the sun, so radiant and warm."
When the world is closing in
and you can't breathe,
"You're not too bad yourself, hot shot."
"You don't have to tell me I'm perfect."
She giggled as he gave her a kiss.
"Are you happy Brooke?"
She picked her head up and looked down into Nathan's eyes. She leaned in and gave him a passionate kiss.
"I take that as a yes?"
May I love you.
May I be your shield.
She nodded her head as she smiled and leaned in for more. She sighed as she laid her head back on his chest and fell asleep. He smiled as he ran a gentle hand through her hair as he looked over at his bag with the little black box in it, waiting for the right moment.
When no one can be found
may I lay you down.
A/N: I'm so sorry for taking so long to update. Anyways, the lyrics for this chapter's song were 'May I' by Trading Yesterday, one of the most underrated bands, so check them out! Hopefully I'll be able to update this weekend, but no guarantees, as you can see, it took me this long to update. Did everyone watch last week's premiere of OTH? The first two minutes were the most intense moments I've watched on TV, ever. I can't wait for tomorrow night's episode, but I don't want it to end. I grew up with the show and it kinda feels like saying goodbye to your childhood friends. Anyways, sorry for that sad rant, until next time!