FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT APOLOGIZE WITH HOW LONG IT TOOK TO PUT THIS UP, I´M HAVING A LOT OF FAMILIAR AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS TO SOLVE AND I´M THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SOLVE THEM . DUE TO THAT I DON´T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO SIT AND WRITE PLUS MY MIND IS NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS. I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.
DON´T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT ONE WILL BE UP AND I´M CONSIDERING SERIOUSLY IN ORDER TO NOT FAIL YOU ANY LONGER TO PUT THIS ON A HIATUS MOMENTARILY UNTIL I HAVE TIME TO WRITE AND FINISH IT THEN COME BACK AND POST THE REST OF THE STORY EVERY WEEK, SO ON TOP OF ALL MY PROBLEMS, I NEED TO SORT THIS THING OUT.
AFTER SAYING THAT, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE ME REVIEWS, ALERT MY STORY, ME AS AN AUTHOR AND OF COURSE PLACED THIS PROJECT AS FAVORITE, ALSO MY ANONYMOUS READERS. SO THANK YOU: AKINKA, SALAZARJASAM, PEACKYKEEN83, ARUBAGIRL0926, BROOKEDAVIS23, RAD092515, REAGAN13, JULIATEMORALES, THECOUNCILMAN, ROVICD, DELENADIARIES1, LILLBLUEGIRL, MSVREADS, TRACY111, ASHESXO, KRKEEPES, KIAALUVSGLEE, MAELYS HALLIWELL BLACK, KINGOFGODS2015.
DISCLAIMER: I DON´T OWN ANYTHING ABOUT OTH. IT ALL BELONGS TO MARK SCHWAHNN, THE CW, WARNER AND TOLLINS - ROBBINS.
I DON´T EVEN OWN THE SONG THAT BELONGS TO NICK LACHEY, AND HIS RECORD COMPANY.
HERE IT IS... ENJOY AND PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW, THAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE ME.
Chapter 32
Since that last talk between Lucas and Ben, four months passed, now it was June and very anxious and nervious Brooke was waiting in the terminal of the Tree Hill Airport for her baby boy.
The flight got home in time but so far her son didn´t appear, she was beginning to feel restless when she saw a head of brunette hairs appearing and smile that she knew so much since it was her smile walking down the corridor to her ...
"My baby boy." Brooke said hugging Ben and getting emotional
"Hi Ma" .Ben said returning the hug.
"You are so beautiful." Brooke said filling his face with kisses.
"Ma, stop. We are in an airport." Ben said laughing.
"I don´t care. The last time I got to hug and kiss you was six months ago." Brooke stated.
"Ok Ok." Ben said knowing that she was right.
"Did you grew a foot since December?." Brooke asked with astonishment as she looked at him.
"Don´t know could be. I honestly didn´t measure myself when I was with dad ." Ben said laughing.
"Ok Ok but you look taller." Brooke said.
"Can we please get away from the middle of the airport and go home? We can continue talking there." Ben asked.
"Are you embarrassed?" Brooke asked.
"Yes but not by you. It´s just that I don´t like for strange people to watch our interactions, It´s enough that I have to endure the press, I´m more of a private person." Ben said.
"Ok, you are right. Let´s go home. " Brooke stated.
"Thanks." Ben said.
"Do you have all your stuff?" Brooke asked concerned.
"Yes." Brooke stated.
They started walking towards the car and when they reached there, they put the several suitcase in the trunk of the car and stepped in.
Once inside, she asked ...
"Since you like to be a private men, I didn´t want to ask it outside but ..." Brooke started saying.
"What happened that dad didn´t come with me right?" Ben asked.
"Exactly, because you told me he was coming with you." Brooke said.
"Yes and he was but just got a last minute problem so he was busy." He responded.
"Really?" Brooke asked.
"Really." Ben stated.
"Did he tell you what was that last minute thing that make him stay?" Brooke asked.
"No." Ben said.
"Why didn´t you ask?" Brooke asked again.
"Because it´s my father and I don´t know if you know but there is a thing call privacy." Ben answered laughing.
"Ben, don´t be a smartass and yes I know privacy." Brooke said.
"Good." Ben said while laughing.
"But didn´t you see something that could indicate what was that thing?." Brooke asked.
"Maybe dad has another girlfriend, he knock her up and I´m having a baby brother or sister." He said
"Ben!" Brooke scolded him.
"I´m joking Mom." He said laughing.
"I do not like when you do this kind of jokes." Brooke stated.
"But this kind of jokes are the ones that show that you are still so much in love with dad, that it will kill you that he moves on." Ben said.
"Ok ok you are right." She said defeated.
"About what you asked me, I imagine that it was work related because after he said that he couldn´t come, he went directly to his office." He answered.
"Ahh ok." Brooke said.
"Aunt Rachel?" Ben asked.
"She is at home waiting for you. She wanted to come but I wouldn´t let her." Brooke said.
"Ok. Uncle Jason?" Ben asked once more.
"He is in NY. Just came back from Rome. Actually your aunt and uncle just came back from Rome." Brooke said.
"They went on vacation?" Ben asked again.
"Well they actually went to work in that thing your father got your uncle Jason and then stayed for vacation." Brooke stated.
"Awesome. Come on mom, start the car and go home." Ben said.
"Ok." Brooke said starting the car.
~X~X~X~X~
Lucas was sitting in the office, he arrived at the house a little while ago from the second meeting in two days at the publishing house, they were trying to fix an issue with a venue on the upcoming book tour something that made him get off the plane to Tree Hill with Ben.
He was having a chat with Gavin...
"Sorry Mate, that I asked you for this urgent meeting but there is a problem that needs fixing pronto!." Gavin said.
"Well I´m seem to be surrounded by them this past few days." Lucas said looking a bit defeated and annoyed.
"You know what they say mate ... when it rains, it´s poors." Gavin statd.
"Sadly Yes. So what is the problem that needs a fix pronto?" Lucas said and asked.
"We have an issue with certain stocks and ..." Gavin started to say.
"And what Gav? Do not make this long please." Lucas asked and pleaded.
"I do not do that." Gavin said.
"Yes you do, you tend to stretch things out. So come on and talk." LÑucas explained.
"Ok. We have some problem with one of the license for our business." Gavin said talking at a fast pace.
"Ohhh come again, slower this time." Lucas pleaded after not getting anything he said.
"We have some problem with one of the license for our business." Gavin said this time slowing down.
"Ok. Solve it." Lucas said.
"It´s not that simple." Gavin explained.
"Tell me what is the problem?." Lucas asked.
"Since yesterday there is a new law that regulates the cafe business so in order for us to run our business like we usually do, we need to get a new license." Gavin started to explain.
"Then get it, I don´t see the problem in that." Lucas said not getting the issue.
"Well the new license is for places that are bigger in a space that we actually are and according to the law we can´t have a license that is "bigger than we are"..." Gavin continue explaining.
"Then buy whatever that is next to us so we can get bigger." Lucas said.
"That is the tricky thing ...in one side we have a house and on the other side we have a shop, an empty shop and neither one of them want to sell." Gavin said.
"Ummm ... Who owns the house?" Lucas asked.
"This lovely old grandma, she doesn´t want to sell the house because she has a lot of memory there. According to her that house was bought by her late husband for her, her children grew up there so ..." Gavin stated.
"So buying it, it´s a big No No because it´s doesn´t matter what we offer she won´t sell ..." Lucas said.
"Exactly." He stated.
"Why the empty shop don´t want to sell?." Lucas asked.
"I talk to them and they didn´t give me coherent reason for not selling." Gavin answered.
"None?" Lucas asked once more.
"None but I have a feeling that they know that you are one of the owners of the cafe." He stated.
"So they want to squeeze me from some money?" Lucas asked once more.
"Probably." He said.
"Ok. Give them what they want, because every day the cafe is close we are losing money right?". Lucas said thinking and later asking.
"Yes" Gavin stated.
"Then go ahead and do it." Lucas gave him permission.
"Is there a maximum I can offer?." Gavin asked.
"No just give them what they want and period." Lucas stated.
"Ok." Gavin said.
"How did you not know about that?" Lucas asked surprised.
"I´m a business manager not a lawyer. I totally gave our lawyers a piece of my mind earlier." Gavin defended himself.
"So how did you find out?" Lucas asked once more.
"Because the cafe failed the license inspection." Gavin explained.
"Now what happened with the stocks?" Lucas asked again but now changing the subject.
"Ahh that is much simpler deal." Gavin said laughing.
"Thank god then." Lucas said.
"Some of the stocks we have in the oil business are decreasing a lot, much more that I like or love so I want to ask you, do you want me to sell them or hold them in case they start increasing again?" Gavin explained and asked.
"What is your professional advice?" Lucas asked seeking advice.
"That is tricky because the oil business is very profitable but lately the price of oil is plummeting down to prices that have no record in history, I would sell but this market is also very unstable so it can experience a sudden increase and you gain back all that you lose." Gavin explained once more.
"But If I sell now and happens what you said last ... I would lose way more that what I´m losing right now." Lucas said trying to understand the situation.
"Yes Mate." Gavin stated.
"Then why don´t we go with a third option?" Lucas asked suggesting another way.
"That would be?" Gavin asked.
"I´m selling the majority of the stock but keeping a small part in case it increases." Lucas said.
"Ok. You want to do that?" Gavin asked just to be sure he heard right.
"Yes." Lucas stated.
"Done then." Gavin said.
"If it doesn´t increase in 6 months then sell the whole thing." Lucas said.
"Ok." Gavin responded.
In that moment Alfred walked in carrying a huge box and saying ...
"Sir ... this box has just arrived for you." Alfred proclaimed carrying a box.
"What is it Alfred?" Lucas asked.
"Don´t know Sir." Alfred stated.
"Ok, leave it on top of the desk." Lucas said.
"Very well Sir. Does any of you want something to drink?" Alfred said leaving the box on top of the desk and asking.
"Gav, would you like a coffee?" Lucas asked.
"Ok, a coffee is fine." Gavin said.
"Two coffee Alfred please." Lucas said.
"Coming right up." Alfred said leaving the office.
"Let´s look at that box." Gavin said.
"That was my plan" Lucas said laughing and standing from the chair to open the box.
It took a good ten minutes for Lucas to open the box because it was very well closed and what he found inside shock him to his cord ...
"What did you find in there? the head of one of your love ones?" Gavin asked laughing.
"No you dumbass." Lucas said laughing too.
"So what is it?" Gavin asked again.
"Look, my new book." Lucas said pulling a book from the box.
"Uhhh nice! Give me one to see." Gavin said.
"Here." He said handling him a book.
"Don´t you think is a bit pretentious the title?." Gavin said looking at the book and asking.
"Not at all." Lucas stated.
"Along came a Teen." Gavin said reading out loud.
"It´s a simple and very catchy title like along came Polly." Lucas explained.
"That is why I told you that. That movie is pretentious." Gavin stated.
"Gav, you think that every movie is pretentious." Lucas stated laughing.
"Some are" Gavin said laughing once more.
"You are something else" Lucas said between laughs.
"So how is the drill with this one? Should I get my autographed copies now or wait for you to send them?" Gavin asked.
"Kind of anxious are we?" Lucas asked laughing still.
"Hell yeah Mate, I love your books, you never let us read the work in process so I want to read it so freaking bad plus I have a sense that this book is about your time with Ben." Gavin explained.
"What give it away?" Lucas asked, the laughing non stopping.
"Well three things: 1 - I know you , 2- The title and 3- Again, I know you." Gavin explained thru laughs.
"Ok, but with the first two reasons are enough." Lucas stated the laughing finally subsiding.
"Mate, I want to discuss that subject one final time ..." Gavin said.
"Gav don´t." Lucas pleaded.
"Gav Yes, you will allow me one last time in order of everything we went thru and everything I endure of you." Gavin stated.
"Ok." Lucas conceded.
"Ben is what 17?" Gavin asked.
"16, 17 in August." Lucas stated.
"How long have you being in London with us? 18 years?" Gavin once more asked.
"Give or take yes." Lucas said.
"How long did you end up things with Brooke? 18 years or just a little bit more?" Gavin asked.
"Yes 18 years." Lucas stated.
"So having a business major and being very good with the numbers, we can safely say that all things adds up in order to consider that Ben could be your son, correcto?" Gavin asked once more.
"Correcto but he is not my son and that is where you are wrong." Lucas said.
"How do you know that?" Gavin asked non stop.
"I know that because Brooke wouldn´t do that to me." Lucas said.
"Why are you closing to the idea or the possibility that he could be your son?" Gavin asked again.
"Because I know Brooke like the palm of my hand, I saw her worst and in her best. I saw her suffer from not having her parents around, she saw me suffer through the whole ordeal that Dan was.
I saw her being this slutty teenager and transform herself into this amazing women who reached class president status, basically grew up together and harbor the idea that she could hid a son from me all this years would mean that everything I know, saw and learned about her was pretty much a lie.
That everything we went thru was a lie, that all the love we had was a lie and that the women I fell in love with doesn´t exist." Lucas explained trying to sound sincere and open.
"It would pretty much destroy you beyond repair right?." Gavin said listening intently to him opening up like the old days and finally asked.
"I don´t know if beyond repair but it will destroy me for sure." Lucas said.
"Ok Mate. I hope and wish for you mental and sentimental health that I´m wrong
because I sure definitely don´t want to see you suffer." Gavin said.
"Thanks Mate, can´t we cut for good with this subject?" Lucas said and asked.
"Yes don´t worry, I will never bring it again." Gavin said.
"Thanks." Lucas said.
~X~X~X~X~
After reaching home, unpacking for a bit and spending time with his Aunt Rachel, Ben decided to go visit her grandma in the cafe so he went there walking, just to check the town a bit to see what changed in the past year.
So he entered the cafe and said ...
"Hi Grandma." Ben said.
"Ben! my lovely grandson has finally arrived." Karen said turning around, going to hug him and filling his face with kisses.
"Ok Ok grandma, I love you too but you are suffocating me." Ben said returning the hug and laughing a bit.
"Ok Ok sorry. I missed you so much." She said detaching from him.
"Me too grandma." Ben stated.
"When did you arrive?" karen asked.
"This morning Grandma." Ben said.
"I thought you were arriving tomorrow." Karen stated.
"I was initially but I changed the flight." Ben explained.
"Ahh ok. How is your father?" Karen asked.
"He was good, he was coming with me to surprise you but trouble with his job happened so he had to stay." He said.
"He was going to surprise me?" Karen asked.
"Yes." He said.
"Ummm that is too bad that he couldn´t come. Wait a minute, I will call your Aunt Lilly." Karen said leaving the room in search for her.
Minutes later, Karen showed up with Lilly and she was surprise to see her nephew so she ran to hug him too.
"Nephewwwwwwwwww!" Lilly said while running to hug him.
"Lillyyyyyyyyyyy and please be gentle with the hug because grandma almost left me with no air" Ben said returning the hug and laughing.
"There satisfied?" Lilly asked detaching herself from him.
"Very much. So how are?" Ben said and then asked.
"I´m good. Looking forward to our summer together. How was the flight?" Lilly said and once again asked.
"The flight was good. It was just a regular flight." He said laughing.
"When did you arrive?" Lilly asked.
"I told grandma that this morning because I changed the flight." Ben stated.
"I thought so. Did you unpack yet?" She said and asked.
"Part of it yes." Ben confessed.
"Let´s go visit Jamie, he is going to be thrilled to see you just like I was." Lilly stated.
"But aren´t you working?" Ben asked.
"You can go. There isn´t much left here to do so I will close up and head home." Karen said.
"Awesome, thanks mom." Lilly said.
"Thanks Grandma." Ben said.
"Lilly, I´m expecting you to eat so don´t take too long in Haley´s house." Karen said.
"But I want to stay with Ben all the time that I want." Lilly said.
"Ben will probably going home to dinner with his mom and aunt and you are spending the rest of the afternoon with him. So you are coming home." Karen stated.
"But What if Haley invite us in?." Lilly asked.
"I can´t stay I promise mom and Aunt Rachel to have dinner with them." Ben said.
"See." Karen said.
"Ok, I will politely decline the invitation." Lilly said with sadness in her voice.
"Good. Then go ahead kids." Karen said.
"We are not kids." Lilly stated.
"You are always going to be my kids." Karen said.
~X~X~X~X~
Nathan and Haley were sitting in the kitchen isle talking after putting away all the groceries they got from the store.
They talked numerous subjects, kids,the house...
"Big year for Jamie. I hope you don´t go all Dan on him." Haley said.
"What?" Nathan asked distracted, lost in his thoughts.
"I said big year for Jamie, choosing college and I hope you don´t go all Dan on him." Haley said once more.
"Sorry, yes big year for him and don´t worry, I won´t go all Dan on him. He can choose wherever he wants to go." Nathan said now paying attention.
"You seem millons miles away. What is happening in that pretty little head of yours?" Haley said and asked.
"I´m worried Hales." Nathan confessed.
"About? I hope it´s not about the finance of the college because we don´t have a problem there. Jamie and Sophia are both covered." Haley asked at first but later explained.
"It´s not that." Nathan said.
"So what is it?" Haley asked once more.
"Is not what is it, it´s who it is?" Nathan explained.
"Then who it is?" Haley asked again.
"I´m worried about Lucas, Brooke." Nathan stated.
"What about them?" Haley asked.
"I´m worried about Lucas. about what he missed, what he is missing now and what he will miss if Brooke never tells him the true." Nathan explained.
"I understand, I´m feeling the same. I´m sad that he can´t be with Ben like his father." Haley said.
"But I´m also worried about Brooke because she didn´t tell him yet the true, I´m worried because every day that passes is an opportunity missed and the more angrier he will get.
Even though she want to admit it or not, she made my brother Dan and you know what that means." Nathan finished explaining.
"Yes, I know and sadly you are right. I know she had the best intentions when she did it but not the best reasons.
If I knew it back then, I wouldn´t have allow it and I still blame myself for not seeing it." Haley said.
"Do not blame yourself Hales, we were having troubles and we just found out that you were pregnant plus we were also teens.
Would imagine what would have being like if Jamie and Ben grown together?" Nathan said and asked.
"Yes, it would have being amazing but would they got to where they are now?" Haley said and asked too.
"I guess so because it would have being more easier for them with all the help that us or Karen would have provided." Nathan said.
"But there is always that bitchy IF. " Haley stated.
"Yes, you have a point there. Another thing that worries me is my relationship with brother for keep this secret from him." Nathan said.
"He will be mad, but I don´t think he pushes you away, your brother loves you too much." Haley stated.
"I love him too. Hales, can you do me a favor?" Nathan stated and asked.
"What?" Haley asked.
"Can you talk to Brooke about spilling the truth to Lucas now?" Nathan asked.
"Why me?" Haley asked.
"Because you are her bestfriend and because I talked to Lucas when you asked me." Nathan explained.
"I had to ask you several times to talk to Lucas and if it wasn´t for Karen, I don´t
think you would." Haley said.
"Ok but I talked to him anyway." Nathan said.
"Yeah that is right." Haley said.
"So would you talk to Brooke?" Nathan asked.
"Ok, I will." Haley said.
"Thanks. I love you" Nathan said giving a little peck on the lips.
"I love you too." Haley said returning the peck on the lips.
~X~X~X~X~
Few days passed, Lucas was sitting on the couch, looking at the empty fireplace with a glass of whisky on his hand. He was being melancolic and bit depressed too, until Alfred came and said ...
"Sir, it´s late at night ... I´m going to bed." Alfred said.
"Ok, Alfred sleep well." Lucas not bothering to look at him.
"Are you ok Sir?" Alfred asked.
"If I´m ok, what is being ok Alfred?" Lucas said and asked.
"Well that is a tricky question to answer, Sir." Alfred answered honestly.
"You got that right." Lucas said still not looking.
"Do you need to talk to someone?" Alfread asked.
"Yes, I could use a ear or two." Lucas said.
"I´m here for you, Sir." Alfred said.
"Thanks Alfred. Leave the chair and come sit with me in the couch." Lucas said now looking at him and seeing that he was grabbing a chair.
"I appreciate that Sir, but it´s not the way I should around you." Alfred said.
"Forget for a moment all that crap that you were taught, come and sit with me on the couch and talk like two best friends." Lucas said
"Ok Sir, if you insist." Alfred said.
"I do." Lucas said.
"What is troubling you?" Alfred asked sitting on the couch.
"A lot of things actually." Lucas confessed.
"Are you missing master Ben?" Alfred asked again.
"Among others things yes, I´m missing Ben." Lucas answered.
"What do you miss Sir?" Alfred asked once more.
"Everything, his presence, his laughs, our time together." Lucas answered again.
"He really got into your heart, right Sir?" Alfred asked.
"Yes, I love him like he was my son but he isn´t." Lucas answered.
"I know Sir, I saw you with him. You too looked like father and son." Alfred said.
"Thanks Alfred." Lucas said.
"What other subjects are running around in your head, Sir?" Alfred asked seeing that he was still troubled.
"I miss the family." Lucas answered.
"That has an easy fix Sir. Use your plane to Tree Hill." Alfred stated.
"I can´t go right now to visit my family. But there are other things that I miss." Lucas said.
"What do you miss Sir?" Alfred asked.
"I miss the whole thing about forming a family and about the fact of forming my
own family.I don´t know if I´m making sense." Lucas said.
"You are." Alfred said.
"I´m getting old and that subject seems to be going anywhere." Lucas said.
"You are not old, you are only 35 years old Sir." Alfred said.
"I know, I know but I´m not getting any younger." Lucas said.
"My great-grandfather had a son when he was 60 years old. Of course the mother of that child was 30 and according to my grandfather a gold digger". Alfred said laughing a bit.
"Good to know but sometimes I feel like I have no luck." Lucas said laughing.
"Why do you say that Sir?" Alfred asked.
"Because the only two women in my life both left me and I´m not counting the little fling I had with two more." Lucas answered.
"But at least with one, you got to the engagement part Sir" (laughing). Alfred said laughing.
"You got that right". Lucas said laughing.
"Think of it this way Sir, maybe it´s not the fact that you have no luck, maybe it´s that we are meant to be with only one person and the circumstances has not yet aligned for that to happen and if we "swim" against the tide of destiny, it would appear that we have no luck." Alfred said.
"That is surprisingly profound and right. Are you sure you are just a butler?" Lucas said and asked.
"Yes I´m sure Sir". Alfred said laughing.
"I didn´t know you were this wise." Lucas said.
"When you live with a writer for as long as I have, you tend to pick a few things
here and there. I would say Sir to let it be, let yourself be carry away by the tides of destiny, see where it will leave you.
Maybe that tides leaves you just in the exact moment and place where everything align and the meeting with that special someone can happen.
Once that happens in the "right" circumstances, you both will be united for life." Alfred said.
"Thanks Alfred. I hope you are right and there is a special someone out there for me." Lucas said.
"I´m sure Sir. Now stop overworking that head of yours and go to sleep." Alfred said lifting up from the couch.
"Yes, I will right now. Again thanks Alfred." Lucas said.
"You are welcome Sir."Alfred said leaving the room.
~X~X~X~X~
Brooke was working on the office, doing some designs, working on some paperwork when she heard a knock on the door so she invited the person to come in ...
"Hey Brookie, are you busy?" Haley asked.
"Not much but for a friend I always have time. What do you need?" Brooke said and asked.
"I wanted to talk to you." Haley said.
"Ok. Come on in, have a seat." Brooke said.
"Thanks." Haley said entering the office and sitting down.
"What do you want to talk about?" Brooke asked.
"Well, I won´t lie to you." Haley said.
"You better". Brooke said laughing.
"Nathan and I are worried that you haven´t "come clean" about Ben with Lucas." Haley said.
"Haley ..." Brooke said.
"Hear me out before ranting. You owe us that for keeping your secret." Haley said.
"Ok" Brooke said.
"We feel that with everyday that goes by is an opportunity missed and a chance for Lucas to get more angrier if it´s possible. And every day for us is a heavier rock to carry." Haley said.
"It´s not my intention." Brooke said.
"I know that but it is and another thing is that willingly or not you have turned
Luke into Dan with all the meaning and weight that action and sentence carry." Haley said.
"I didn´t turn him into Dan." Brooke said.
"Yes, you did." Haley said.
In that moment the doors to the office opens and Rachel enters the room ...
"Are you two busy?" Rachel asked.
"Not much, I was talking with Brooke about how he turned Lucas into Dan." Haley said.
"I didn´t.." Brooke said.
"Wait, who is Dan? " Rachel asked.
"Lucas´s father." Haley said.
"The one that was a complete D-Bag to him among others things when we were teens." Rachel said.
"Bingo." Haley said cheerful.
"Yes Brooke, Haley is right, you totally made him into Dan." Rachel said after taking some time to think.
"How could possibly do that?" Brooke asked slighty irritated
"Are you seriously asking that? For real?" Rachel asked with a bit of anger on her voice.
"Ok ok if you say it about the non telling part, you have a point." Brooke conceded.
"But it´s not only that, you neglected both of growing up together." Haley stated.
"I´m with Haley on this." Rachel said taking a stance.
"Brookie, I know you had the best intentions but not the best reasons." Haley said.
"Amén to that. She knows I said a million times while we were in NY." Rachel said.
"Yes she did." Brooke stated.
"If you are afraid of him getting mad..." Haley starting to said.
"He will." Rachel completed the phrase started by Haley.
"But the longer you pospone this, the worst it will be so ..." Haley continued after Rachel.
"Man up and go tell him the truth." Rachel said with a tone of certainty and urgence.
"Way to go Rachel." Haley praised Rachel for her last remark.
"Thanks". Rachel thanked smilling pleased.
"It´s not fair you two ganging up on me." Brooke said.
"It´s not fair what you are doing to them and to us. Don´t you think that Lucas will also get mad with us for knowing and not telling?" Haley stated and asked.
"Yes, he is going to be mad with all of us." Rachel answered for Brooke.
"Ok Ok, you have a point." Brooke stated.
"I think the only exception to Lucas´s rage will be ..." Rachel started to say.
"Ben." Haley completed.
"You gotcha." Rachel said.
"I will think about it." Brooke said.
"Don´t think you too much or Haley and Me will pull a B.A. Baracus on your ass." Rachel warned her.
"You have my support Rachel". Haley said laughing.
"Who is B.A. Baracus?" Brooke asked.
"C'mon The A Team?" Haley asked not believing what Brooke asked.
"I never watched that show." Brooke said.
"What I was trying to say is if you are not going willingly, we are going to sedate you and put you on a plain towards London and make Lucas pick you up there. Capisce?" Rachel said in tone that would frighten every person on the planet.
"No, thank you and understood." Brooke said.
"How do you know about the show Haley?." Rachel asked.
"I watched on Netflix." Haley ansewered.
"Me too." Rachel said.
"I will leave you two talking about series and I´m going to go." Brooke said.
"Don´t forget about what we talk." Rachel and Haley said.
"I won´t." Brooke said leaving the room.
~X~X~X~X~
After picking James up and declining Haley´s invitation for dinner, the kids decided to go to the rivercourt to shoot some hoops and talks without the noisy parents interference.
"So nice to have you here again cousin." James said.
"Thanks Cousin". Ben said laughing.
"Yes, it is nice to have the majority of the family here. If Lucas ever comes back,
we can proudly say the family is complete." Lilly said.
"I think Uncle Lucas will come back." James said.
"You think?" Ben asked.
"As soon as he knows you are his kid, he will def. be back." James said.
"Come to think about it, I guess Jamie is right." Lilly said.
"What is the reason behind that logic?" Ben asked.
"I think that he would want to stay all the time that he can with you since he lost ..." Lilly said.
"Almost 17 years of your life." James said.
"Yes, you probably have a point but I don´t want to get my hopes up." Ben said.
"That is ok." James said.
"But one thing for sure is that we are going to be safe from his wrath." Lilly said.
"Yes. We can pretend that we didn´t know." James said.
"I will probably not be safe from his wrath." Ben said.
"You are going to the first one safe from his wrath. He will never be mad at you." James said.
"Never but I can´t say the same for mom, Brooke, ..." Lilly said.
"My mom, Dad..." James said.
"Let´s not forget my Aunt Rachel ..." Ben said.
"I think that is about it" James said laughing.
"Yes." Lilly and Ben said.
"So why did you come back Ben?" James asked.
"The true is although I love my father and I love living with him, after Christmas I really missed you guys a lot." Ben said.
"Us?" James asked laughing just a bit.
"Yes you two. I missed this talks". Ben said throwing him the basketball
"That is what we are?". Lilly asked faking to be offended.
"Don´t be stupid. You are everything, you are my friends and you are my family.
What more can I ask?." Ben said hugging his aunt and asked.
"Your words are warming up this cold heart". James said faking the cry and wipping an imaginary tear.
"Come here you dufus. You both are such a drama queen". Ben said hugging his cousin with the other arm and laughing.
"We are not." James and Lilly said.
"I also missed mom, aunt Rachel, grandma Karen, and of course uncle Nathan and Aunt Haley. So I thought about it long and I realized it was time to get back.
James: And we are more than excited to have you here, I definitely missed our training season at the rivercourt." Ben said.
"Me too." Ben said.
"Are you going to focus on the school or are you thinking on returning to the
Ravens?." Lilly asked
"The Ravens definitely needs you. I know that dad could really use a good player like you, but no pressure." James said.
"Lils, I just arrived today so I didn´t stop to think so I can´t give you a answer and don´t worry James not pressure at all." Ben said.
"Well don´t take all summer because dad has to send the list the first day of
school." James said.
"Ok. Let´s me settle first and we will talk." Ben said.
"Ok. Let´s stop talking and play some basketball." Lilly said.
"Since when do you play?" Ben asked.
"A couple of months." Lilly answered.
"And actually she is quite good. I guess that the Scott gene is running in the women part of the family too." James said.
"Really, let´s see. Game on!." Ben said.
They played for hour and half before everyone went to their houses, Ben was left to surprised to say the least about how good her aunt was in basketball. He confirmed what his cousin said, that the Scott gene runs in every gender of the family.
~X~X~X~X~
It´s being a few weeks since the talk Haley, Rachel and Brooke had. She was decided to do something, so she was going to harness the fact of the meeting she had in London to do what scared her the most.
But first was letting Rachel know about it so to her advantage, she was waiting for her in the kitchen. She grabbed her luggage and exit her room.
"Rachel, do you know what to do when I´m gone?" Brooke asked.
"Brookie, it´s not the first time I run the company in your absence." Rachel answered.
"I know, I know but I needed to be sure." Brooke said.
"I know." Rachel said.
"Tell my baby boy, that I will be back as soon as I can." Brooke said.
"I will. He understand your business trips." Rachel said.
"I will try to bring him a present." Brooke said-
"You go, do your things fast and get back soon. I think that is all the present he needs.
Where are you going by the way?" Rachel said and asked.
"London. I have a few meetings there, thanks to the contacts I made from Lucas´s holiday gift." Brooke answered.
"Since you are in London, you know what could you do?". Rachel asked laughing.
"Rach..." Brooke started saying.
"I´m not giving you a hard time, I was just saying." Rachel clarified.
"You didn´t let me finish." Brooke finished saying.
"What were you going to say?" Rachel asked.
"That I was planning on doing that... Tell Lucas the whole truth." Brooke confessed.
"Really?" Rachel asked surprised and shocked.
"Really. I think it about time for me to conquer my fears and for him to know
the truth..". Brooke confirmed.
"I´m speechless..." Rachel manifested.
"It´s time for him to know that he has a beautiful baby boy that is about to become a grown young men." Brooke said.
"It´s about time and congrats my dear friend. Don´t lose the momentum once you get there because I swear to god that if you come back and tell me you didn´t say anything, I will kick the crap out of you." Rachel said recovering from the surprise.
"Don´t worry this time I will but don´t tell Ben anything yet, I want to tell him myself when I get back. Don´t tell anyone for that matter, ok?" Brooke said laughing and asked.
"Ok Brookie, good luck and let´s all prepare for Lucas´s wrath." Rachel said.
"Thanks Rach. Now I need to go before my plane leaves me". Brooke said grabbing her luggage and leaving the house.
Rachel waited a few minutes after she left to call Haley, she knew that she told Brooke that she wouldn´t tell anyone but this news was something that she should know so she dialed the phone and Nathan got it.
"Hello." Nathan answered the phone.
"Hey Nathan, it´s Rachel." Rachel said.
"Yes I know who you are". Nathan said laughing.
"It´s Haley around?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, why?" Nathan asked.
"Because I need to talk to her about something important, could you please tell her to come to the phone?" Rachel said and asked.
"I could but she is taking a pregnancy test." Nathan said with all the seriousness he could muster.
"What? Are you for real?". Rachel asked surprised again.
"No, Rachel. I´m just joking". Nathan said laughing non-stop
"Ahh ok. Please Haley, it´s important." Rachel reminded him.
"Ok. Halesssssssss, Rachel is on the phone for you." Nathan said and yelled for Haley.
"Thanks." Rachel said.
"Wait a couple of minutes." Nathan stated.
"Alright." Rachel said.
A few minutes passed and Haley got to the phone.
"Hey Rachel, what´s wrong? Nathan said it was important." Haley said and asked when she grabbed the phone.
"What I´m about to tell you, you can´t say it to a single soul ok?" Rachel said and asked for a confirmation.
"Ok but you are frighten me." Haley said.
"It´s not to be afraid but it´s a huge news." Rachel said.
"Then tell it Rachel." Haley said.
"Brooke went to London to have a couple of meeting and TO TELL LUCAS
ABOUT BEN!" Rachel said almost shouting.
"REALLY?" Haley asked surprised and almost shouting.
"Yes and I saw her very very decided to do it. Not backing down." Rachel said.
"Yes, Yes, Yes. Best news ever." Haley said.
"I know." Rachel said.
"It was about time. Thank you whatever force that helped her to gain the strength
to do it." Haley said.
"I think our talk helped." Rachel said.
"I hope it did." Haley said.
"Well that is all I wanted to say to you. Now prepare ourselves for the wrath of Lucas and remember please don´t tell anyone about it." Rachel said.
"Don´t worry I won´t." Haley said.
"Bye Haley." Rachel said.
"Bye Rachel." Haley said.
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