***Disclaimer*** for creative purposes only, and I claim no ownership of the fandom, characters and setting. I do own way too many candles that have never been lit.
Thanks to the reviewers for their fantastic feedback. Thanks to the guest reviewers as well New to Brooke, Brookelucas, Lileen, Bobolina (lol you put a big smile on my face, hope its not too distracting), Callison, Brucas, Dianehermans, princesakarlita411, bjq, Tania K.
Brucaslove, more bonding is coming I promise.
WMC, the SL is already set after the attack, its began shortly after Brooke saved Sam from Xavier.
BrucasLove, in my mind BL had so much sex in the past I couldn't flashback to BL making Noah, they couldn't pin down that memory. That being said BL sex scene will eventually happen whether it's a flashback… or not.
And this was a particular guest review I wanted to answer: I may be the minority here, but I feel that Brooke needs someone to champion for her. Yes, I ship Brucas, but lets face it, they will not be getting together any time soon. Brooke messed up by not telling Lucas that she was pregnant with his child & he forgave her. Its been years since they have been together and he is in a relationship with Peyton (whom I dislike) and he will not be leaving her. If she is not looking to be in a relationship atm, then she needs to disassociate from Lucas & Peyton b/c the triangle just does not seem to stop. Co-parenting and only co-parenting is the way to go. Brooke is strong and she needs to stay that way. When and if they get back together, PLEASE have Lucas pursue her and fight for her, do not make Brooke give chase first.
I would like to say I completely agree, because of the timing this isn't going to be easy, the triangle is something none of the characters want and try to actively avoid even as it pulls them in.
And on another note, one review also said they don't want Brooke to second for Lucas. IMO Brooke is never Lucas' second choice. Never ever. She's his first choice but due to his reasons he settles for other choices, like when Brooke broke up with Lucas even though she was in love with him. IMO the love triangle has fucked with Lucas just as much as the girls, and that will be addressed within this fanfic.
So here is…
Chapter Sixteen
As he sat focused, all his concentration on the board in front of him, Brooke saw even more of his father in Noah, those narrow brooding eyes on full display. Already Brooke saw day to day changes in Noah, her son was still very much Noah yet at the same time he was becoming more open, more expressive, and he no longer wore that why are we doing this face, in fact Brooke was pleased that every now and then he would even let her read to him snuggled together in his bed until he fell asleep.
To this day though Brooke had never beaten Noah at any of their games which sometimes made her feel a little out of her league even if she loved that time with him, today though Brooke was winning and Noah knew it. Victoria sat next to Brooke, her close position made Brooke feel slightly awkward yet with Victoria's slight guidance Brooke was able to keep up with Noah's fast paced mind. The challenge both excited and frustrated Noah.
With bated breath went to take her move, Victoria gave a slight cough and Brooke changed her plan. Victoria tapped a finger on her right hand three times and Brooke shifted to the third piece to her hands right, and Noah's eyes widened.
"Um… what do I say… check might" she twitched her nose "oh that's right, check mate" and Brooke gave an excited squeal.
With a pleased smile Noah held out his hand, "good game"
"Thank you" they shook hands and then Noah started to pack away, "I didn't know you knew how to play chess" Brooke addressed her mother.
"I use to play a lot as a child, my grandfather taught me. There are some things you don't know about me, dear" a teasing tone in her voice and then she softened "Noah reminds me a lot of my grandfather" the words made Brooke smile but her smile dropped when Victoria continued sounded more like her usual self "not in looks of course, Noah has too much of that father in him for that. Grandfather was a very intelligent man, a gentle soul"
"I wish I could have met him"
"That would have been nice, my father was not… well, I suppose you would say he was more like me"
"I don't remember him"
"Yes well, you did not miss much, the view of his back was not very exciting. You look very much like my mother, even more so than me, with the dimples and your darker eyes" Victoria's voice trailed off. Brooke had never heard much about her grandmother, as a child she had thought her dead and could not remember exactly why she thought that. It wasn't until Brooke was eleven that Brooke learnt anything of the truth, she could still remember the screaming and crashes that day and her father showing a rare parental moment and taking Brooke out of the house for ice cream. Unlike the mood of the house the day outside had been perfect, warm and sunny, the scent of flowers in the air. That's when Brooke had discovered her grandmother had only just died, Victoria having been informed of her will, for the next week perhaps the whole month Victoria had never been far from a bottle of whisky or wine. It was Brooke's father that fine day that had explained to Brooke that Beverly Montgomery had left her husband and daughter when Victoria was seven years old and never saw them again.
Another memory came to Brooke, a fight with her mother when she was fourteen, angry and resentful Brooke had yelled at Victoria that she might as well just leave and never come back. For the first and only time Victoria had gone to slap Brooke and though the teenager had flinched her mother's hand never made contact, instead Victoria had called Brooke an ungrateful, selfish little girl and warned the teenager that smiling her way through life and expecting her hand to be held was not going to achieve anything.
Noah grinned, "I have Mom's dimples" he put them on show as he said it, leaning up across the dining table and while Brooke was still speechless, reeling from the word Mom coming from Noah, Victoria leant over and pinched Noah's cheek. Brooke didn't want to draw attention to what Noah had said too afraid it would make the boy self-conscious and he won't say it again.
Anyone would think they were any normal family in this moment, Victoria the doting grandmother, "and they're even more charming on you"
"Your mother must have been very beautiful if she looked like my Mom"
"Your mother is much prettier" Victoria smiled and stood up, "why don't you get ready for school and go wake Samantha, that girl sleeps in far too much".
Brooke waited for Noah to leave, "what was she like?"
"Who, dear?" Victoria feigned ignorance, smoothing her jacket over her chest.
Unsure whether to drop it Brooke answered quietly, "your mother. You never talk about her"
"I barely remember the woman, Father burned all her photos after she left"
"Yet you remember what she looks like" Brooke shrugged, "I know we… I still have a hard time with-" she motioned her hands between the two of them, "-this. But I want you to know that it did matter to me, you staying, always coming back. It does matter"
Something in Victoria's eyes flickered and she sat back down, "I remember she was always laughing and smiling, she used to dance all the time, twirling around the house as if it was a ballroom. Every day she would take me shopping, looking beautiful was her job it seemed. I didn't realise it then but she would flirt all day, with everyone, men and women, charming them with her smile and her eyes. And then she was gone and it seemed all the fun went with her, I was so young and charmed by the same thing that everyone else was. But my mother was a selfish, childish woman who cared only about herself. She married my father for the money and then spent as much as she could, she thought she had found someone better, grander and richer but the charmer was charmed by someone elses lies. I guess she still thought herself in love and dreamt that she could live off my father without living with him but she was mistaken, beautiful she was but not very bright. My father had very little money of his own and she spent more than he had, the money was my grandfathers so she left expecting to get more and instead ended up with nothing" Victoria laughed, "a year or two later she showed back up begging to come home, my father threw her out, it was only then than she wanted to take me with her, or more likely the money she would be given for raising me. Grandfather would not have that, he took care of it. And that was it, it's all rather sad and pathetic" Victoria met Brooke's eyes, "never rely on charm Brooke, you have far more than that, we must remember that in the end we can only rely on ourselves"
"Isn't that sad though, going through life never being able to rely on anyone around you"
"That's why it's important to choose wisely" Victoria gave Brooke a telling look which caused Brooke to roll her eyes. Victoria scoffed and changed the subject to work though her words echoed in Brooke's mind.
To their surprise Sam came down the stairs, already dressed for school in ripped jeans and a black shirt with her signature heavy mascara, "what's cooking?" she asked immediately.
Brooke smiled, "we've all eaten. There's some omelette you can heat up"
"Cool" Sam quickly did so then came over with her plate, she sat next to Brooke leaning over to look at the designs spread out before Brooke, "these are alright, I like that top"
"You have good taste" Victoria complimented.
Brooke still looking at her newest designs gave a sideways smile, "she steals only the best" and Sam chuckled at the comment and continued to eat.
As soon as Sam was done Brooke told her to go finish getting ready just as Noah reappeared, Victoria straightened the boys tie, "are you sure you don't want me to take Noah to school?"
"I already told you Lucas is picking him up" Brooke wanted to sigh yet she held it in as Victoria made a sound showing exactly what she thought about that. Brooke left her designs at the table and walked over to Noah, gently pulling him away from her mother, "are you ready?"
"Yes"
"Okay, go say goodbye to Sam" she smiled as he walked back off and then turned to her mother, "you don't have to like Luke but please try to keep that to yourself when Noah is around"
"I apologise, I cannot help remembering what that boy did to you. He's not good enough for you, Brooke"
"He doesn't have to be, Lucas isn't for me, he is for Noah and he loves his son"
"Very well" Victoria did not look convinced and when Lucas arrived they shared a frosty greeting which immediately melted from Lucas when Noah came into his sight.
Standing in front of her own mother Brooke smiled, "I will walk you out" and she carried Noah's bag with her to Lucas' car. Noah strapped himself in as his parents stood by the driver's side, they had barely spoken the last few weeks not since Lucas' apology for Peyton's behaviour, he had tried to broach the subject about their past and Brooke had not allowed it.
It seemed to hang between them, both keenly aware how too many years and too many choices stood between them. They were not the same people they were back then and it was dangerous to imagine they were, it was easy when they were apart, standing next to Lucas and being so close she could feel the heat coming from his body had memories rush to the service, memories better left forgotten.
Lucas both craved and feared being close to Brooke, his conflicted feelings made every second in her presence feel like he was on the edge of a cliff, wondering if he should look down or step back. The worse thing that Lucas could never admit was how alive it made him feel.
"Do you need me to pick Noah up today?"
"No, I can do it. I just have an appointment I have to get to this morning"
"Okay, thanks for calling me"
"You're his father, of course I'd ask you first" she stopped, her voice turning husky, a stray strand of her fell down her cheek tickling her skin. Lucas' fingers itched to brush it behind her ear, he clenched his fist, "bye Luke" she stepped back.
With a nod Lucas opened his door and sent Brooke a small wave.
Before the car left the driveway, Brooke went back inside, she started to collect her things, "I will meet you at the store later. Thanks for taking Sam to school" bag under her arm Brooke called out loudly, "I'm off, bye Sam!".
The teenager called loudly back to Brooke from her room and Brooke paused for a moment before giving a friendly farewell to her mother.
Victoria sighed and waited a few moments then she called loudly, "Samantha! Time to go"
Popping her head over the bannister Sam frowned, "we still have ages"
"I thought we could go for a drive first"
"Uh… thanks but no" Sam tilted her head.
With another sigh Victoria held out her keys, they jingled between her fingers, "I should have clarified. I thought you could go for a drive" and Victoria smirked as Sam practically jumped down and snatched the leys from Victoria.
"Don't mind if I do".
-x-
It wasn't a long drive before Brooke reached her destination, she had driven by Nathan and Haley's house and followed the street down parking in a drive way thirteen houses down from her friends place. The large colonial style house stood two story's high, the bottom half was the reddish-brown tones of the brick work, the top half had white panelling, the rooftops were dark and the window trimmings all white, the large front porch had thick white pillars holding it up and Brooke's heart warmed. Despite its size the house looked homey and warm, manicured lawns and simple gardens added colour and warmth to front and with a large smile Brooke was happy to wave at the realtor. They shook hands and he ushered Brooke up the three steps to the porch and large dark door, "Miss Davis I am so glad you could make it" Grant the realtor brimmed with excitement.
"When I saw the for sale sign up I couldn't resist, I love this neighbourhood and my best friends live just down the street"
"It's a great area with lovely views of the river"
"Is there access from the property?"
"Yes, here I will take you around back first" moving away from the door Grant led Brooke along the porch, another set of steps to the left of the house followed a path largely hidden by a hedge, Grant unlocked the gate and Brooke walked through. They made their way down the cobbled path, Grant pointing out the features.
"This side of the house is the master suite, the first level of the yard is grass and the deck, it leads to the covered terrace of the main living area which gains access to the house, there is also a small porch at the back right that has access to the yard. The Deck has a separate entrance to the second level to get to the pool area which has its own decked entertainment area" they made it to the deck and Brooke looked out, the glass panels allowed an uninterrupted view of the pool area and yard ahead.
Brooke declined to venture further to the pool and they made their way back down the deck along the grass. The second level was paved outside the pool area, Brooke eyed the stone benches and pots before quickening her steps to reach the third level closest to the river. Huge trees and the pristine grass had Brooke imagining football games at Thanksgiving.
"There is a gate that leads straight to the river shore"
There was a barely scene fence dividing the river from the grassed area, a long metre high hedge discretely covered it except where a small iron gate opened up. Standing on front of it Brooke looked out at the river.
"There is a path that leads to the private jetty and to the boat house, the previous owners didn't use it"
"It's massive"
"Most of the properties along the road are generous in size, the Danville's employed a gardener that has taken magnificent care of the gardens and lawns here"
"I can see" Brooke smiled and turned to head back to the house, Grant hurried to catch up, leading Brooke through the side gate he locked it before he headed along the front porch again to the front door, "you have to experience the beautiful foyer"
Brooke was impressed yet at the same time her imagination was changing and adding things to make to pristine house warmer. By the stairs Brooke could imagine a huge Christmas tree filling the space with the smell of pine, the sunken formal dining room to the right would be a welcome hug on the occasions everyone came over, Brooke could imagine the banquet laid out in view of the Christmas tree in December.
The library to the left was filled with warm wood and floor to ceiling bookshelves, Brooke could not imagine filling them yet she thought Noah would love it, she pictured the piano she would place by the window and working on here designs at a huge desk while Noah read or practiced.
The master suite was separate to the rest of the bedrooms on the second floor however Brooke noticed the staircase leading up was right near it and the elegance of the space appealed to the designer in Brooke.
Brooke took in the 'grand room' as Grant called it, a large formal lounge area that opened to the terrace and deck, and then entered the open kitchen living area to the right of the house. A small breakfast nook had access to the sunroom which wall length windows allowed an excellent view of the river and pool area, Brooke could imagine Sam laughing with a cup of coffee as she lounged surrounded by sunlight or pouring rain.
There was separate staircase in the area off the kitchen that also opened into a mudroom and had another access to the laundry, as well as the three-car garage and the porch that led outside.
They used the back staircase to reach the next floor, Brooke was shown three bedrooms with their walk-in closets and bathrooms, "I think I will need a cleaner" Brooke joked, "not sure what I would do with all this space" the second floor also had a large loft.
"You would be amazed, when you have the space how quickly you run out of it" Grant let Brooke into the fourth and last bedroom upstairs, differing from the others the bathroom led to the walk-in closet, Brooke opened the door and her jaw dropped. The 'closet' was possibly even larger than the room had been, Brooke had a hard time imagining filling the house but was already making plans thinking about what room would be good for Sam and which one for Noah, she would need a guest room and perhaps could turn the one with the closet into an office and work room.
Most of all Brooke wanted to create a home for her children, one with room to grow and move in. The smaller house she lived in now was great for a single woman and though Brooke loved it she wanted room for a piano for Noah and space where her and Sam didn't have to fight over whose turn it was to do their work at the dining table.
"I love it, I love it" Brooke exclaimed.
The location was perfect, the house was beautiful and Brooke felt like it could be home. She had another walk through and then made her offer.
-x-
Lucas sat alone in Peyton's office his laptop open in front of him, fingers typing away, he barely noticed the time go by. So, focused on what he was working on Lucas jumped when Haley called his name from the doorway, "I didn't expect to see you here" Haley smiled when he closed the laptop, "what are you doing?"
"Just doing some writing"
"That's great" she walked over to sit across from him, she slouched in the chair, "I didn't know you were writing again"
"When inspiration hits" he shrugged.
Haley thought about it for a moment, she knew Lucas wrote more when he was running away from something or conflicted, instead she asked casually "why aren't you working at home"
"It's quiet here" his eyes flicked away.
Haley's stomach sunk, "I didn't realise Peyton was that loud"
Lucas rubbed the back of his head, "it's… she's stuck on bedrest and sometimes she needs her space, I do too"
"If I didn't know better I would say you are avoiding her" Haley teased though there was an edge of worry to her vice.
"Perhaps I am" Lucas confessed, "I feel stuck, Haley, there's so much I want to do or say but I can't. I feel like anything I do will just make everything ten times worse so I just keep going pretending that everything is okay"
"Peyton and the baby are going to be okay"
"I really hope so" Lucas gave a deep sigh and looked to the ceiling, "it's like my life is in limbo. I should be excited about getting married and having a baby but instead I have this huge question mark over what should be the happiest days of my life. We fight over the baby and we fight over the wedding and every single time I have to remember that I can't stress Peyton so I walk away, I change the subject. I can't bring up anything to do with Brooke or Noah because we can't talk about them either" he gave a sad chuckle, "and I thought the fighting would end when I proposed to Peyton"
"Every couple argues. Peyton is stronger than you think, you shouldn't be so worried to have the tough conversations with her, trust me there will be many more coming"
He shook his head, "I would never forgive myself if something happened to them".
Haley straightened up, "you can't bottle everything inside of you so go for it, I'm here, everything you wish you could say to Peyton but can't at the moment let it out, pretend I'm her"
"I can't" he laughed and sent Haley a strange look.
"I am your best friend, if you can't yell your secrets at me who can you?"
For a moment Lucas didn't speak, he walked over to the window and looked outside, letting out a breath Lucas turned back around not really looking at Haley, he let it out
"I'm tired, I'm tired of constantly having to prove myself. I'm sick of not being about to just be or do what I want because I have to second guess every decision I make; will it make you angry or sad, or I have to spend thirty minutes explaining something that I shouldn't have to" once he began he couldn't stop "sometimes I don't need to tell everyone everything, sometimes I need to work things out by myself without having everyone trying to tell me how I feel or how I should feel. You want to support me?" he imagined Peyton standing in front of him, "then support me, don't pretend you are angry for me when you are just angry for yourself. God you are such a hypocrite, you lied to me, manipulated me and I'm not even allowed to be angry because of course everything I do is somehow different and worse where as everything you do is for us. But you didn't think of us when I asked you to marry me and you said no, and I'm stuck with these emotions I should have had the chance to deal with years ago except everyone in my life seems to think that they know what's best for me without asking me. And Brooke… I can't deal with how you feel about her or your friendship because I'm still dealing with those things for myself, I loved her, a part of me has always and will always love her, because she is a part of me just like you are but I thought we were friends, I thought she had forgiven me, that we would never work but still I don't know… were some sort of family thing… but now I'm thinking that I never knew her or what she felt. She lied to me and it hurts, it hurts me to think she never trusted me, to think maybe nobody trusts me because I see it in their eyes, the judgement and the doubt. How do you feel, Lucas? I don't know how I feel"
He took a breath, "I don't get a moment to myself to really think about it, it's one thing after another. I know I don't want to lose anybody, I know I can't hold onto everybody, I just want to be happy. Every time I feel happy and like my life is finally going in the right direction I'm hit by something new. I thought we could make this all work, I could share Noah with Brooke and I get this chance to be a father to a wonderful little boy and I get to have another baby and build a life with Peyton, and she loves me, but Brooke won't let me in, Noah won't even hug me, and… and I could lose Peyton and the baby. And maybe it's selfish to want it all, maybe it's unrealistic that no one will be hurt but I don't know what to do"
Lucas blinked, Haley was staring at him waiting, he licked his lips knowing he couldn't say everything he just imagined saying.
"I can't say it, Haley, what good would it do?"
"Maybe it would make you feel better" she went over and hugged Lucas, resting her chin on his shoulder, "there's never a right answer in life"
"You seem to make all the right decisions"
"I've made one or two mistakes along the way"
Lucas squeezed his friend, his voice when it came was barely above a whisper, "I love them both, Haley"
Leaning into Lucas she closed her eyes, "I know" she whispered back and she felt his body shake as her best friend started to cry. Haley had always known that Lucas' heart was conflicted, she had tried to get him to follow his heart and sort out his troubled feelings having seen the love triangle begin to rear its head again. From the moment Lindsey left Tree Hill and Lucas and Brooke had gravitated towards each other like magnets Haley had seen the writing on the walls.
She had told him to choose, Haley hadn't expected her best friend of nearly twenty years to rush into a decision with an engagement plan. Perhaps if Brooke did not have Noah then Brooke and Lucas would have continued to dance around each other, drifting apart and moving on. It was too late to put all the truths away now.
Haley wiped a tear away, she could feel Lucas' pain, as their grip slackened on each other she stepped back and straightened Lucas' shirt, "you love two amazing women and at some point or another they both managed to fall in love with you and give you two precious children who will bring you so much joy over the years to come, and you know what Lucas, no matter what happens they'll always be living proof of your heart" she looked him in the eyes, "some would even say you're very lucky"
Lucas' face was red yet his eyes were now dry though he nodded, "I know what I have to do" he nodded again, "I have to let her go. Brooke deserves to be happy and so does Peyton"
Touching Lucas' cheek Haley smiled, "and so do you".
-x-
The joy in the room was contagious, Brooke happily danced barefoot in the kitchen, a wooden spoon in one hand, sitting on a stool at the counter Sam laughed at her foster mother as she shook her head. The music blared, Brooke didn't care how ridiculous she looked, she swayed her hips and threw her arms around, she danced right over to Sam and forced the teenager off the stool.
Sam was reluctant but eventually she let loose and abruptly started to shimmy, her mouth wide open in a grin, "your turn squirt" Sam grabbed Noah from under his arms and swung him up in the air off his stool.
Dimples on display Noah wiggled but was quickly snatched by Brooke, "new rule, if you are in the kitchen you have to dance"
"A rule is a rule" Sam laughed at Noah, "and I know how you feel about rules"
"Its not a real rule" Noah refused to dance and Brooke placed his feet back on the floor.
Hand on her hip Brooke kinked her brow, "I think it may be the most serious rule of the house"
His brow creased, "what is the point of dancing?"
"Fun" Brooke answered immediately, "and cardio, exercise is very important you know"
"I can't dance"
Sam started to dance goofily, imitating old fashioned over the top moves, "it's easy, you just move!"
Brooke turned the music up even more and grabbed Noah's hand encouraging him to step side to side, Brooke smiled as he followed her moves, she spun him around and to her surprise he cackled. The sound had Sam and Brooke getting more into it, no one noticed the door opening.
"My god, it's a mad house in here" Victoria narrowed her eyes yet inside she smiled at the sight.
Looking up Brooke spotted her mother and quickly stopped the music, the house became silent, "Mother, I didn't expect you"
"Samantha invited me for dinner" Victoria looked around the messy living area, "I also have the samples you wanted to see with me" and she gave an exaggerated wipe of her jacket as if she could feel herself getting filthier by the second, "don't the children clean up after themselves?"
"Relax, it's called fun" Sam rolled her eyes at Victoria.
Brooke laughed and went back to cooking dinner, "actually it is getting late, why don't you two pack away and go wash your hands for dinner"
"What is all this?" Victoria eyed the mess again.
"Noah has a science fair this week, it's the last week of school" Brooke replied and then was amazed as Victoria began to help Sam and Noah clean up. With a smile Brooke begun to hum overhearing Victoria promise Noah that she would be there.
-x-
Bored Peyton rolled over, Haley had told Peyton her bump was tiny however Peyton was used to a flat abdomen and her usually skinny body and felt huge. Never being able to be fully comfortable Peyton once again tried to move her pillows trying to find the best position.
Lucas return was hear before he was seen, Peyton was both excited and nervous never knowing how to feel. Something had changed between the two of them, Peyton didn't say anything but she knew Lucas no longer looked at her in the exact same way. He was nice, Lucas was always nice, yet Peyton wanted more.
Soon Lucas appeared in the door way, he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes, to Peyton's surprise Lucas pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back, "hi" he handed her the flowers and then from the other side a bag full of Peyton's favourite sweets, "these are for you".
Peyton smiled, she was warmed by the two actions and smelt the flowers before allowing Lucas to place them in the empty vase by the bed. They kissed, a small lip to lip move, and Lucas asked her if she was hungry.
It was unexpected, pleasant and unexpected though Peyton's smile was slightly sad. Lucas didn't have the same smile he used too, there was little joy in his movements when he handed her the flowers and Peyton could remember the difference between this action and the last time he gave her flowers at the beginning of her pregnancy. It wasn't hard for Peyton to see Lucas' tired red eyes, the shadows that darkened his expression.
Digging deeper into herself Peyton tried to grab onto the happiness, it was there, somewhere, it was just so much slower and harder to reach. The smile dropped, looking at the colourful flowers Peyton sighed instead.
-x-
"Lights out" Brooke smiled from the doorway, Noah quickly placed his bookmark in and stashed the book away, "goodnight sweetie"
"Goodnight, Mom" Noah already had his eyes closed and he missed the pure look of joy that came over Brooke, she switched the light switch and the room became dark in an instant.
The door closed gently behind her as she left, Brooke returned to her mother, "where did Sam go?"
"Some boy named Jack called her and she ran off to her room"
"He's a good kid"
"Hmm, the Scott boy was meant to be as well, that didn't stop me becoming a grandmother far too young"
"Well Mother, you can't choose who your children's friends are"
Victoria smiled, "yes, well, I call that lesson the Peyton Sawyer debacle" but she saw the look Brooke wore and changed the subject, "I like Samantha, motherhood suits you as well, you make it seem easy" she shifted slightly uncomfortable at the admission.
Brooke took the compliment and thanked her mother, as soon as she did Brooke noticed Victoria's bag, in an instant Brooke picked it up already opening it as she spoke, "let's look at the samples" her fingers were on the portfolio but something else caught her attention.
"Let me" Victoria went to snatch her bag back but it was too late, Brooke kept hold of it and quickly pulled out the envelopes addressed to her, "what are these?"
"I can explain" Victoria panic was hidden behind her confidence and sure tone.
Her own name was on each one of the letters, two were in the bag, opened already though Brooke had never seen them, "these are addressed to me"
"They were sent care of the company" Victoria waved her hand, "I didn't want to bother you" she tried to take the letters from Brooke but Brooke turned her back on her mother and started to read one of the letters.
Her stomach dropped, "you had no right to keep these from me, how many have there been?"
"I did it for you! I see how much you love Samantha, this woman threw her away, Samantha is better off a Davis with you" her panic began to show.
A furious Brooke glared at her mother, "haven't you learnt anything! You can't keep making decisions for us, thinking you know best" Brooke clutched the letters to her chest, "these were for me, for Sam, you had no right, no right whatsoever, to hide them from me" her voice was growing louder.
"What is going on?" Sam interrupted from the staircase, her long dark hair out, she was already in her pyjamas, "I can hear you screaming from upstairs"
Not looking at her foster daughter Brooke kept her focus on Victoria, "get out!"
"Brooke"
"Brooke, please"
Both Sam and Victoria said her name at the same time, "I said, get out"
Victoria retrieved her bag and gave a nod, she went to the door before turning back to look at Brooke, "I'm sorry"
"You're always sorry" Brooke replied.
There was a slight tug of Victoria's lips, a sheen to her eyes, she spoke simply, "no, I haven't been, not nearly enough" and she left.
Sam rushed down the stairs, "what the hell was that all about?"
Taking a breath Brooke prepared to talk to Sam, she gently led Sam to the couch, she sat next to Sam, "your birth mother has been writing to the store, she wants to see you"
As soon as Brooke said the words Sam stiffened, her back went straight, "so? Who cares" Sam grabbed the letters from Brooke and raced to the bin, she threw them in only for Brooke to pull them out seconds later.
"I know how hard this is for you but these words belong to you and you may not owe Rebecca anything but you owe it to yourself to get any answers you are seeking, and I am here for you no matter what"
Sam reluctantly took the letters from Brooke, "why should I care about her, she doesn't care about me"
With a tentative touch Brooke brushed Sam's hair behind her ear, "trust me Sam, she cared" I know.
-x-
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I'm sure some hated this chapter, two steps forward one step back. There was no BL, there was Peyton, why won't they just all get together already and love happily ever after. Gah how long will this all take. Things are happening though, and trust me, there's much to look forward over the next few chapters. Lots of bonding! Say it with me…. FAMILY TRIP! With one person left behind in Tree Hill stuck on bedrest mwahahahahahaha.