Disclaimer: I own nothing except my apologies. I'm so tired I'm gonna say thanks and catch you next time. Enjoy.
-x-
Chapter Twenty Six
The airport was thick with waiting people, Lucas had made sure he arrived early, and he waited with anticipation his eyes. Gaze locked on the escalator where he knew they would appear, Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet, impatient with each slow minute that ticked by.
It didn't take long for Lucas to spot Brooke, his eyes lit up on recognition, he could barely see her yet even this far away he knew it was Brooke by the way she moved. Her face was turned away from him, looking down, he knew she must be talking to Noah who was still hidden from his sight, Lucas stepped closer and trained his eyes on where Brooke's brown locks could be seen moving along the crowd.
Eventually her face lifted and something akin to relief filled Lucas, her eyes looked around searching for something and then eventually Brooke found Lucas and the corner of her lips quirked up a little.
As soon as they stepped off the escalator Brooke took a beeline for Lucas, he met her half way and caught his first glimpse of his son, "it's good to see you both" he gave Noah a hug, one arm pulling the boy to his side, and then sent Brooke a smile, "how was the trip?"
"Good, I got a lot done" Brooke answered, "but we missed home"
"And it missed you" Lucas said to Brooke and then turned his attention to Noah, "have you grown? You seem taller"
"Probably" Noah answered in his usual deadpan tone, and then he lifted his chin looking first to his father and then his mother, "I'm hungry"
"You just ate on the plane!" Brooke scoffed in disbelief, she rolled her eyes and placed a hand on Noah's shoulder subconsciously signally Noah and Lucas to walk with her, "where do you put it all, I do not know"
"We can stop by and grab something on the way back. I'm starting to get hungry myself" Lucas matched their steps and when they picked up their luggage he took them automatically, "so what do you feel like?"
They soon were all in the car, Brooke turned up the radio and rested her head back, she closed her eyes, and blocked out everything else. Before she knew it Brooke fell asleep, until Lucas shook her awake, "Brooke, we're here" as she opened her eyes he lifted his brow in question, "do you want to stay in the car or we can get it take away if you don't want to come in"
"No, it's fine" Brooke unclicked her seat belt, "let's go feed the bottomless pit" she yawned even as she said it.
When they found a table Noah went straight for the menu, Brooke immediately ordered a coffee to wake herself up, "I know what I want" Noah placed the menu down and folded his hands on the table, his eyes going between his parents.
"So do I, let's order" Lucas rubbed his hands together.
Brooke sipped her coffee, slowly feeling herself become more aware, she listened to Noah and Lucas speaking, their conversation flowing.
"-and Grandmother took us to the ballet" Noah ended his last sentence and Brooke smiled at the memory.
"You would have liked that" Lucas commented, he sent Brooke a grin and she gave a nod, "how 'bout you?" he turned to Noah.
"It was an experience." his lips popped, "Mom liked it but… I don't know why"
"Ballet is not his thing" Brooke smiled through her tiredness, "what do you want to do tomorrow?" she added on flippantly.
"I want to climb a volcano!"
Brooke almost spat out her coffee and Lucas chuckled, Noah had said his request with veiled excitement as if he was asking to go to the park.
"And I want a million dollars" Brooke replied sarcastically.
Noah lifted his brows, "we're rich. You have a million dollars"
"He's got you there" Lucas smiled and then chuckled again at Brooke's gobsmacked expression, he turned to Noah "it's a little too late to plan a volcano climb but maybe next year we can go to New Zealand during the holidays and climb a volcano there"
"Ooh, I love that and I'm inviting myself along"
"Of course, Ma wouldn't expect anything else" and then he sighed, "Besides if I have to climb a volcano, you have to as well"
"Deal" She nodded. Brooke hadn't visited Karen since Noah had re-entered her life, she started to mentally plan the trip for the next summer, within seconds Brooke had another idea and she looked to her son, "would you like to go sailing tomorrow?"
Lucas perked up, "That's a great idea"
"Can I steer?" Noah asked politely.
"Of course," Brooke winked at Lucas after she replied, "you can be captain for the day. I'll even get you a hat"
"I don't need a hat"
"It would be so cute though" she teased and was rewarded with a roll of the eyes from her son.
To an outsider the scene would be that of any normal happy family, parents and child having dinner together, for Brooke the time was more poignant. Every minute was not to be wasted, every minute was shadowed by their past, and she watched as Lucas and Noah easily conversed, as if they spoke the same language and nobody else could understand, and how Lucas could coax a bright smile from Noah.
Despite how being so close to Lucas made Brooke feel, she couldn't help but smile at her son basking in his father's attention and how Lucas and her could at least always say they got this one thing right, if nothing else.
-x-
There was something familiar about the morning, Brooke rolled over in bed, her nose digging into the pillow, and with her eyes shut firmly Brooke refused to wake up. Her mind chased dreams she could not even recall, a sense of happiness felt as if it was slipping from between her fingers with each moment she grew closer to waking, Brooke groaned.
And then Brooke realised that the familiar morning felt oddly different, the bed did not feel like her own and Brooke came to the realisation that she could not remember going to bed the night before, in fact the last thing she remembered was listening to a song in Lucas' car.
Brooke bolted up in bed, her eyes startled open, her lips parted at the sight around her. Dressed in her clothes from the night before Brooke was only missing her sandals and the clip from her hair, yet the brunette felt naked in the bed.
She scrambled off the mattress and breathed a sigh of relief to see her belongings were rested against the bed, "Noah" Brooke whispered. With quiet footsteps Brooke left the room and stopped as she went by the lounge, her eyes moved straight to the pair of feet hanging off the edge of a couch.
Lucas slept soundly, his arm as a pillow as he awkwardly lay across the too small couch; Brooke chuckled to herself at the sight and fought the instinct to run her hands through his soft blonde hair.
In sleep Lucas looked so innocent, and too much like their son that it made Brooke's heart ache. She had missed him while they were away, Brooke couldn't admit it aloud, and though she told herself she had no right to miss him Brooke had felt his absence more each day.
It was never meant to feel this natural. Sometimes Brooke caught herself, in those moments when their eyes locked or they finished each other's sentences, when Noah would do or say something and Brooke's first thought was to tell Lucas, and she had to stop herself because beneath the ease of it all was the guilt, the unnerving feeling that she was taking something that didn't belong to her.
Her eyes flickered away from Lucas' sleeping form, Brooke continued on her way until she opened the door for Noah's room and a sigh of relief filled her, "happy birthday" Brooke whispered.
She left the door ajar and returned to the master room, and Brooke sat on the edge of the bed looking at her luggage and placed her fingers to her chin while she internally debated what to do. It was the picture of Noah sleeping soundly in his bed that had Brooke begin to relax and lay down again, the pillow was soft under her head, and now Brooke recognised the familiar smell of Lucas.
Before she could question it Brooke felt her eyes closing, almost against her will, and sleep took control of her again.
The next thing Brooke knew was the loud sound of a trumpet like instrument that woke her with start, the room was aglow, light shining through the window, and the bed and day was warm.
"Wake up, sleepyhead" Lucas called and then something landed on the bed with small laugh.
Lucas let go of his son and watched Noah land on the bed near Brooke's legs, he got to his knees with a laugh, "Mom, you're going to miss our adventure!" his voice softened, "helloooo?"
One arm shot out and Brooke rolled over, trapping Noah to her side in an embrace as she smiled wildly, "why are we awake so early?"
"It's nearly ten" Lucas answered, and he lifted his brow and folded his arms as Brooke turned to look at him.
Her eyes widened, "why didn't you wake me?"
"You needed the sleep" he stood up straighter.
Brooke looked to Noah, she tilted her head to the side "you look older today" she creased her brow in thought, "oh that's right, happy birthday!" Brooke grinned and went to tickle Noah. Smaller and faster, Noah slipped from Brooke's grip, and he bounced a little as he stood atop the bed, his arms out defensively in front of him.
"There's no time for tickling," Noah sent his mother a disapproving look, "we're going to be late" he swiped a pillow and threw it at Brooke, "You need to get ready!" and before Brooke could reach him again Noah jumped off the bed and raced to Lucas' side.
"I think someone is impatient" Lucas laughed.
A second later Brooke stood up, her hands on her hips, "I'll get ready if you come back over here".
Noah took a step forward and then another, and Brooke reached out and gently took his hand, she pulled Noah into a soft hug and then kissed his cheek, "good morning, birthday boy"
"Thanks, Mom" and he hugged her back.
-x-
The wind blew her hair in front of her face, Brooke spat out a strand, brushed some more from her eyes and pulled her sunglasses down to protect her from the bright rays of the sun.
"Steer right… more!" Lucas' laughter filtered through the air and Brooke turned, lifting her camera to snap a photo of the moment. Brooke glanced at the picture on the screen; Noah's look of concentration was almost comical.
Brooke lifted the camera again, "this way, Captain, smile for the camera"
And Noah smiled at Brooke as he turned the wheel, with his dimples coming on display, and Lucas stood behind Noah and quickly stuck out his tongue as the flash went off. Brooke sent Lucas a look of mock anger and he rolled his eyes before smiling nicely for the camera and instructing Noah to do the same.
"That's better" Brooke commented.
Leaving her perch Brooke readjusted her sarong around her hips, she sauntered over to join them, on her way swiping the abandoned costume captain's hat from the table and then she placed it atop Noah's head. It sat lopsided against his brown locks, and Brooke snapped another photo before Noah moved it from his head and placed it on his father's.
"I don't know which Scott it looks better on" Brooke took another photo.
Lucas slowly took the hat off; he looked at it in thought and then smiled, gently putting it on Brooke, "we all know who is really in charge".
She winked at him, "don't you forget it" and she quickly looked away to shield her eyes from them. Brooke stared out at the seemingly endless sea. A glint in the distance caught her attention, "look!" she pointed.
"Dolphins" Lucas breathed out, guiding Noah to steer closer.
Noah's eyes lit up and Brooke couldn't take her eyes away at the joy she could see, sometimes she wondered what it would be like to see the world the way Noah did.
They lost sight of the dolphins and Lucas set them back on course, it was another twenty minutes before they moored. The small island was home to an old lighthouse that had not been in operation for many years, Lucas disembarked first and then helped Noah onto the jetty before reaching for Brooke's hand helping her up the steps.
It needed maintenance, Lucas noticed the change seven years had made, "have you been here since-" he began.
Brooke cut him off, "yes, a few times" and a memory of a sunset crept unwillingly to her mind, her body propped against Lucas' sitting form with the glow of campfire bathing their faces, "I was with your Mom and Lily the last time" she forced a different memory to the surface.
After a pause Noah ran ahead, "be careful" Brooke yelled after him, her own steps quickening.
"You stay with Noah, I'll get our things" Lucas turned back to the boat.
When she reached the white sand Brooke slipped off her sandals and untied her sarong, carrying them in one hand Brooke followed Noah and watched as he began to run, going out of sight as he disappeared behind a sand dune before appearing again.
His skin had darkened over the summer, glowing under the long, hot days, and he looked far from the boy Brooke had found a year and a half ago. Brooke stopped at a familiar spot along the beach and dropped her belonging before breaking into a run to catch up with Noah.
It was almost like a skip when Noah ran towards the water away from Brooke, his feet kicking up as he met the wet sand. Brooke caught Noah, picking him up from under his arms and swinging him gently around before placing her growing son to the ground again, their faces looking out to the North Carolina shore in the distance, "it's beautiful" Noah whispered.
Brooke kissed the side of his forehead, "yes, it is. You know, I once brought your father here for his birthday"
"Really?"
"A long time ago. I think we found every beach we could back in high school"
Noah leant back against Brooke and sighed as he relaxed, "I think the beach is my favourite place in the world".
In that moment, on the edge of the shore with water gently caressing her feet and her son in her arms, Brooke couldn't help but silently agree.
Lucas looked up from his task to find Brooke and Noah standing with their faces turned out to see, their eyes lost in the distance, a look of contentment on their faces. He straightened the picnic blanket and opened the picnic basket, "come get lunch!" Lucas called loudly and watched Brooke gently nudge Noah in his direction, her lips moved talking to their son and then the two of them were racing towards a waiting Lucas.
"I win" Brooke pumped her fists in the air.
-x-
After lunch Brooke flung herself back, her feet buried in the warm sand, and she rested her hands over her bare stomach, sighing with exhaustion from the meal.
Lucas and Noah chatted around her until they too fell silent, then it was only the wind, waves and birds making noise. The ground moved under Brooke, even with her eyes closed Brooke knew Lucas had stretched out as well, his shoulder close enough she could feel its presence even though they were far from touching.
His breathing was loud to Brooke's ears and her mind started to think she could feel his heartbeat thumping next to her.
A splash caught Brooke's attention, pulled her from her thoughts of the man next to her, Brooke opened her eyes and perched up on her elbows to see Noah now in the water, treading through.
Brooke stood, placing her sunglasses back down and ran to join her son, going pass him deeper into the welcoming cool water. When she turned back Noah was only knee deep, he smiled at his mother before bending down and scooping something from the sand.
After five minutes of swimming Brooke found Noah again, Lucas had joined him, the tall blonde now devoid of his shirt, his hair slightly wet from where he's run his wet hands through it. When he saw her watching, Lucas gave Brooke a wave, spoke down to Noah and then the two of them were heading towards her.
Brooke was the strongest swimmer, and even Lucas couldn't keep up with Noah, the father's athletic skill belonged on land. Still Lucas challenged them to a race, reaching the boat last with a jovial smile pleased for the others.
They spent the afternoon between the island and the water, Brooke wanted to return before sunset, she helped Noah start the boat and steer the right way home, and an hour later they were slowly moving down the river. Brooke had enjoyed the scenic route but she was keen to get Noah home, excitement started to build up inside Brooke.
Lucas held Noah carefully as the boy stood on the bench looking out over the water; Noah spotted his mother's house first and took it upon himself to help Brooke as they went into the boat shed.
When they got to the gate that separated the river and boat shed from Brooke's yard, Lucas sent Brooke a look and she nodded, he smiled and they headed towards the house.
Noah frowned, "aren't we going back to dad's house?"
"We're going to have dinner here first and then you'll come home with me" Lucas placed a hand on Noah's shoulder, subtly changing the boys direction.
Brooke moved to Noah's other side, "and I thought it was time we gave you your present" she pointed to the area to their left closer to the pool area.
"Your new pond?" Noah asked, confused he walked slower, "is it for me?
"Look closer" Brooke urged.
The parents walked behind Noah as he made his way to the area that was blocked off by large rocks, Noah stopped frozen as he took in that it wasn't a pond but an enclosure though there was a pond within it, and he walked faster as his eyes widened.
"Happy birthday, son" Lucas smiled.
Noah leant over the rock wall, his eyes went to the two small turtles nestled together and emotions filled him.
"The girl is from your mother and the boy from me, I set up an enclosure in your room upstairs too and there is one waiting for your room at my house too, so you can have them with you whenever you want"
Turning around Noah flung an arm around each parent; he closed his eyes tight, "thank you, thank you".
"You're welcome" Brooke kissed the top of his head. This is my favourite spot.
-x-