Chapter 55

"This, looks good, no, scratch that, it's amazing." Brandon said finally setting the stack of papers that he had just read through on the table in front of him and looking at Anna and Josh who just presented him with the final update of their story.

"No more digging around required?" Josh asked jokingly referring to the last time when Brandon decided to wait with publishing it.

"Nope, all the facts are in there, it can go out on Monday. Just take it to Carl and enjoy the weekend guys." He returned the papers to Josh, his eyes falling on the watch on his wrist. Dang, the time was flying.

Grabbing his notebook and saying goodbye to Josh and Anna he hurried into his office. He had like two minutes left before he was supposed to be in his car and on the way home to pick up Kelly before their first meeting with Lucas.

He knew that no matter how calm she was acting, being late would certainly stress her out again and it was the last thing he wanted. Packing his belongings in record time he wished Miranda a nice weekend on his way out..

The traffic was surprisingly good and he quickly dialed Kelly's number. "Hey honey." He said when he heard her voice on the other end. "Yes, I'm already on my way home, be ready in fifteen minutes." He grinned listening to her. "Love you too." He ended the call letting his phone fall on the passenger seat.

She sounded calm, at least for now, but she was known for unpredictable mood changes. After telling their parents the day before they called also the rest of their family and friends letting them know there was a stork coming their way. Not surprisingly everyone has been excited for them and the excitement was catchy, making Kelly relax finally.

Pulling into the driveway fifteen minutes later he could see her already waiting for him. Picking up his cell phone from the seat he waited for her to get in.

"Hey!" She leaned in greeting him with a kiss as soon as the door closed behind her.

"Hey Kel! Ready?" He asked waiting for her to buckle up.

"I have to be, there is no other choice." She smiled confidently.

"Not if we want Lucas as our son." Brandon agreed.

"And we both do." Kelly leaned back against the seat watching her husband.

"What are mom and Thea up to?" Brandon asked trying to lighten the mood.

"The last I saw Thea was running around the house like a mad person and your mom was chasing after her." Kelly smiled.

"Is it another one of her hyped days?" Brandon smiled as well.

"Yep, another one of those days when she does what she wants and when she wants it. I nearly lost it around lunch when good chunk of her wardrobe was scattered all around hers and our bedroom and send her to time out. Sister sulked for good ten minutes under her bed. Luckily for her grandma was around and made it all better with a bowl of strawberries." Kelly confirmed.

Brandon laughed heartily. "It's supposed to get better with age."

"For sure, once she will move out before or after college all will be good again." Kelly said jokingly.

"You knew this was about to happen when we kept listening to our parents talking about our toddler years. There was no way she was going to stay that smiley and calm baby forever."

"Yes, she can't be better than her parents." Kelly gave him a wink.

"Nope, it's in her genes." Brandon confirmed, pulling into a driveway of a two storey house. "This should be it." He said checking the house number again.

Kelly breathed in and out, unbuckling her belt. "No turning back now."

"Nope." Brandon mirrored her actions, the two of them getting out of the car and grabbing a teddy bear from the back seat a gift from Thea. It was the same one as Thea got from Jim and Cindy after her birth only in a darker shade of brown.

Hand in hand they walked to the front door ringing the bell and waiting.

Soon the door flew open and they were greeted by Jenna and a pair who looked to be in their early forties, supposedly Lucas' foster parents. The assumption was confirmed seconds later when Jenna introduced them as Michael and Lana Roberts.

"Lucas is in the family room, he is playing with our son Ronan. Jenna probably told you already that he is doing well with other kids. Not only with Ronan, we have been bringing him to a playgroup for the past three weeks to meet kids his age and he enjoys it very much. There have been a few incidents, but he is mostly doing well. When it comes to adults it's hit and miss, he can be affectionate one moment and repulsive the next one. He is still looking out for his parents." Lana told them, Brandon and Kelly exchanging a quick glance, both of them thinking the same.

As on cue they could hear tapping of little feet and a small dark haired boy appeared in the doorway. "Mommy?" Was all Lucas said looking at the adults standing there, tears streaming down his rosy cheeks.

Everyone remained still not sure how to react to the situation. Much to her own surprise it was Kelly who snapped out first from the trance, she had no idea if it was supposed to happen that way but she felt the same flood emotions as she did with Thea when she saw her for the first time and couldn't bear his tears for another second.

Moving forward she scooped up the little boy, talking to him soothingly trying to calm him down. He did not fight her and instead buried his face into her shoulder. The next few minutes passed in a blur and before she realized it she was seated in the unfamiliar living room with Lucas on her knees and Brandon seated next to them.

She listened as Brandon talked to Lucas, giving him the teddy bear and telling him all about his sister that was waiting for him at home. Lucas listened carefully his dark eyes alternately moving from Brandon to Kelly and back as they talked. Holding the teddy bear tight he slipped down from Kelly's knees standing small in front of them. "Twains?" He asked quietly looking directly at them.

Without hesitation they both stood up, Lucas slipped his hand into Brandon's and led him into another room, with Kelly following them. The train set on the floor answered the nagging question what he meant for them and the three of them were soon seated on the floor playing, making funny sounds and noises Lucas laughed occasionally neither of them realizing how fast the time was flying until Lana and Jenna appeared in the doorway a clear sign that the visit was nearing its end. Arranging another meeting this time also with Thea present was the better part, saying goodbye felt almost unbearable.

The sad eyes of the little boy when he saw them leaving was too much and as soon as the door closed behind them Brandon had Kelly in his arms the tears now adorning her face.

"It's alright, Kel." He said soothingly feeling the tears in his eyes too. No matter how much time they spent preparing for this moment, the emotional rollercoaster that went on in the past few hours was just too much to handle for either of them, yet they had to remain calm and focus on Lucas. Now they could finally let the emotions out.

"I felt it." Kelly said brushing the last tears away once they calmed down and found their way back into Brandon's car.

"What do you mean?" Brandon asked fearing what she was referring to.

"The moment he walked into the room crying, I felt the same emotions as I did with Thea when I saw her for the first time. It felt great and odd at the same time." She said looking at Brandon.

"Yeah." Brandon said slowly, looking away as it had not been the case for him.

"Brandon that's fine." Kelly said softly placing her thumb under his chin and making him look back at her.

"What if…what if we will never bond together?" Brandon asked.

"You will, he was so sweet with you and you were sweet with him. I wouldn't say either of us bonded after one meeting; I just felt as if he was mine when he stood there crying and I felt I had to comfort him." Kelly explained.

"So you are saying I just need more time?" He asked hopefully.

Kelly nodded in reply. "We all will need much more time, but after today I'm sure we will get there." She smiled at him her thumb tracing her cheek.

"We will. Let's go home mama." He smiled starting the engine and backing out of the driveway.


It was close to 10 pm when Brandon found himself alone. After returning home they spent a nice evening with his family. Soon after Thea's bedtime Cindy and Jim apologized themselves and retired to the guest bedroom while he and Kelly talked for another hour before she left for bed as well leaving Brandon alone.

Grabbing his phone he dialed Steve's number, it was late but he knew Steve was still going to be up.

"I was expecting this call." As expected, Steve's voice from the other end of the line did not seem tired at all.

"You are a mind reader as my wife." Brandon joked.

"How did it go?" Steve asked directly, not for a moment doubting why he had Brandon on phone after 10 pm.

"Overall good, he has his baggage, but he is a sweet boy."

"That sounds great, I can't wait to meet that son of yours." Steve enthused.

"Let's not get ahead of us; we have to finalize the adoption first." Brandon slowed down his enthusiasm.

"Isn't that just a formality?" Steve asked.

"Should be." Brandon sighed. "When you saw Noah for the first time, what was it like? Did you feel he was yours from the first moment?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. "Yes, I felt the same way as I did with Madeline and Jake. He was mine." Steve answered.

"Oh…" Came Brandon's short reply.

"You didn't." Steve concluded quickly.

"No, I didn't. Kelly did." Brandon confirmed his words.

"That's fine Brandon." Steve assured him.

"That's what Kelly said as well and that's what they explained to us during the courses and home study, I was just hoping it won't happen to me." Brandon explained.

"I thought over thinking everything was a specialty of your wife." Steve said jokingly before he continued in a more serious tone. "It's really going to be fine Brandon, just look at Janet and Noah. No one would guess he is not her son and they had a very rough start."

"True." Brandon let out finally feeling a little bit relieved, why he couldn't think about Janet and Noah's story before was beyond him.

"It will take time and a lot of effort from everyone, but I'm sure you and Kelly are going to make this work for Lucas and a year from now all of the troubles and initial doubts will be only a distant memory.

"Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to hear today." Brandon said truthfully.

"Anytime, after all I still owe you." Steve joked.

"But we are getting even rather quickly." Brandon replied in similar fashion.

"Good night, Brandon."

"Night, Steve." Brandon replied setting his phone on the kitchen counter. Moving to the sink he caught something white in the corner of his eye. Turning around he spotted Kelly standing in the doorway, dressed in a white nightgown, her eyes squinting into the bright light in the kitchen.

"I thought you were already asleep." He said standing still.

"I was falling asleep, but then I heard your voice." Moving into the room she stood still in front of him wrapping her arms around his waist.

Brandon leaned forward pressing a kiss on her forehead. "I called Steve."

"Double checking at what we talked about previously?" Kelly asked a small smile on her lips.

"Yes." Brandon confirmed.

"What was his vote?"

"That I should be patient and it will come." Brandon replied watching as Kelly raised her brows. "Yes, you were right." He admitted.

"I'm glad the message reached you." Kelly chuckled.

"It did, loud and clearly." Brandon buried his head into the nape of her neck holding her closely.

"I love you, Kelly." He said placing a sweet kiss on her lips.

"I love you too." She replied holding his face in the palm of her hands. "Lucas will be lucky to have you as his father."

"And I'll be lucky to have him as my son." Brandon smiled.

"Exactly." Kelly smiled. "Now let's head to the bed."

"Speaking of lucky. Any chance I'll get lucky tonight?" Brandon asked jokingly.

"Maybe." Kelly replied over her shoulder already on her way out of the kitchen, Brandon leaving everything be and following her without hesitation.