I apologize for my lack of updating – finding time to devote to things that
I love has just not been easy. But thanks for being faithful and enjoying
my work. It's the greatest feeling of accomplishment I can imagine to have
people begging for me to continue updating.
I've been compelled to continue because of the current downfall Lucas is taking – I'm devoted to reviving his former sense of righteousness and the obsession (that, yea, I partially invented) he has for Brooke here! So enjoy.
And, just for the record, I'm a firm believer in the fact that Brooke and Lucas' story isn't over. All the great romances have their stumbling blocks and this is just one of them. They have so much to offer and they're going to share it all with us, I guarantee it!
So enjoy!
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The pickup pulls up in front of the picturesque house and Keith hops out and trots over to the passenger side. He opens the door for Karen, who gently rises to her feet. She strides slowly up the walk, seeming to embrace what she had left for so long. She soaks up the scent of her home, the fresh-cut flowers, and the crisp, clean air.
She turns around, towards Lucas with tears in her eyes. "God I've missed being home."
"We missed you too, Mom," Lucas smiles gently. Somehow he feels like a void has been filled now that Karen Roe is back. Her matriarchal status on him has been suspended for too long. His routine is back, his rock – the one true thing he knows he can believe in.
Keith hands Lucas some of his mother's luggage and they walk into the house.
"I'm going out on a limb here, but why do I feel like you spent the last few days cleaning up this place in a frenzy?" Karen slyly smirks, glancing back over her shoulder at her son and friend.
Keith and Lucas manage a quick look between each other, and then Keith clears his throat. "No way, Karen."
"Whatever you say, Keith."
Keith smiles at the brunette, who's so full of life. Lucas notices his uncle's lingering gaze, but doesn't mind. It's not exactly a surprise or anything.
Lucas wraps his arm around his mother's shoulder as they stand, surveying the living room. "Well, I'm going to go unpack and then you can help me start dinner so we can get ready for this girl of yours!" Karen states jubilantly.
"Sure, Mom." He smiles, but inside his stomach jumps with butterflies.
They drop the luggage in Karen's room. She indicates for both of them to sit on her bed beside her as she opens up a knapsack.
"I got you both something," she says as her hand disappears inside the bag. She removes an envelope that she hands to Keith and then a box that she distributes to Lucas.
Keith takes out a bill and then smiles gleefully at Karen, chuckling. "One Euro," he laughs.
"Yup!" she replies. "In exchange for the Lira you gave me before."
"Thanks Karen," he beams, pocketing the envelope. "I'll save this for a rainy day."
Lucas opens his box. Inside is a large snow globe with the skyline of Florence in the background. He pushes a button on the side and it lights up. The words "you're in my heart" are illuminated with the touch of the button. Lucas shakes the globe and sends the "snow" within circulating through the water.
"Thanks, Mom." He kisses her on the cheek as she pulls them both close.
"You have no idea how great it is to be home!"
********************************************************
Karen can feel the palpable nervousness exuded from her son as he glances from his watch to the front door. She also noticed the light in his eyes the moment they picked her up from the airport. Whatever this girl is doing, she's happy that Lucas is experiencing something besides deprivation, heartache, and, no matter how much he tries to stifle it, the desire for something more.
"Try not to wet your pants over there," she remarks as she stands over the stove.
He jumps and then turns to her. "Sorry, Mom."
"Lucas, if you really love me you'll pass me that strainer in the drawer."
"Yea – if I really loved you," he laughs.
"Oh, burrrrrrrn," she counters jokingly as she takes the strainer from her son's outstretched hand and smacks him across the behind with it.
Lucas cackles along with Karen as they engage each other in a mock- swordfight with kitchen utensils, the spaghetti sauce boiling in the background.
********************************************************
Brooke Davis hates slow drivers. But, today she is one of those aforementioned that have caused her to shout obscenities at her dashboard more times than she can count.
Her hands grip the leather of her steering wheel as she stares through her sunglasses at the road before her. She doesn't know why she's so nervous to arrive at the Scott home. She's never been scared like this before.
Maybe because she's never had to meet the parents before.
Or maybe because she's never cared what the parents thought.
In the passenger seat sits a pan of casserole she managed to cook herself – thankfully it didn't burn or overcook. God was on her side.
She turns down Lucas' street, the weeping willows swaying in the soft autumn breeze. Dead leaves scurry across the concrete pavement as her Volkswagen crawls by. The Justin Timberlake CD drones softly in her car.
Brooke Davis takes a deep breath and turns into Lucas' driveway. Keith's pickup is before her as she pulls the rearview mirror down to gaze into it. She touches up on her makeup quickly, and when she feels that she's presentable enough, Brooke sets one high-heeled foot onto the concrete. She's dressed nicely, hoping to impress.
Running around to the other side of the car, she hefts the pan holding the casserole in her hands and lifts the hangar with her Homecoming dress on it in the other. She makes her way up the walk to the door and manages to press the bell despite her obvious burden and mental inhibitions.
The screen opens and Lucas greets her. His warm hand guides her lips to his as he takes the pan.
"You managed to make a casserole. Nice."
"A lot of sweat and blood went into that, so be careful." He guides her inside, and notices that her hand is shaking.
"Brooke, are you ok?"
"I'm about to wet my pants. Let's just get this over with."
Lucas pulls her close to him and gently guides her face up to him, gazing into her eyes. "If my mother has any sense, and believe me – she does, she'll adore you."
Brooke manages a hesitant smile as he kisses her forehead.
"And I'm guessing this is Brooke."
The pair pull away quickly to see Karen standing in the doorway with her apron on.
"Oh, God." Brooke clears her throat and extends her hand. "Hey Ms..." She almost says Scott, but stops herself. "-Roe."
Karen takes her hand and marvels at Brooke's beauty – Keith said that she was very pretty, but she wasn't prepared for this. She had captured quick glances at a few basketball games and at Dan Scott's party, but she had never been able to see Brooke Davis in person. "Keith and Lucas told me you were pretty but, wow! You are gorgeous!"
Brooke blushes, and her cheeks dimple. She looks away at Lucas. "Thanks," she giggles nervously. "I love your..."
Please, God, don't say apron, Brooke reminds herself.
"I love your skirt."
Karen smiles again. "Thanks! I actually got it in Florence last week, right before I left."
"Mom, Brooke cooked us a casserole," Lucas says as he hands Karen the pan.
She takes the pan. "Well Lucas – you got a good one! She's pretty and she can cook. Come on in, Brooke... Make yourself at home!" she says invitingly. "Is that your Homecoming dress?"
Brooke finally notices the dress on the hanger she's carrying in her left hand. "Oh, yea—I mean, yes! I just bought it yesterday."
Karen walks forward as Brooke holds the dress out to the older woman. "Oh my gosh, it's gorgeous!" She looks to Lucas. "Luke, will you go check the pasta sauce for me, please?"
Lucas walks off into the kitchen as he hears Brooke and Karen delve deeply into conversation. He turns the knob to turn off the stove and begins to take care of the sauce. Keith walks in and stands next to him.
"So I see Brooke's met your mom."
"Yea – I guess she likes her," Lucas smiles happily, content.
"Sounds like it." They're interrupted as a duet of laughter erupts from the other room. "I guess they're hitting it off. But how could you not like Brooke. She has everything going for her."
Lucas can only smile softly and nod to him as he removes four plates from the cabinet. He distributes them along the table and Keith helps him light the candles.
Soon enough, they're all sitting around the table, engaged in conversation. Karen talks to Brooke about cheerleading – reviving anecdotes from her days as a member of the squad.
The casserole is surprisingly good, Lucas notices. He also notices how the light from the flame somehow dances in Brooke's eyes and makes her seemingly radiate like the sun, how the planes of her face soften whenever she laughs, how she always tilts her head whenever she's listening intently...
The little things remind him why he's falling in love with her.
Her vibrancy, her passion for living, her contagious laugh.
The four discuss many things: from school, to the shop (Brooke comments on just how wonderfully maintained it is), and they all agree that Deb has done a great job under the circumstances. Brooke fills Karen up on the juiciest of gossip – something that Lucas never knew his mother engaged in.
For once he gets to see her have fun, enjoy herself, connect with someone on a much less serious level. It seems that Brooke has that weird ability to lighten everyone's mood – she makes everything seem so trivial. The only other person besides himself and Haley that has been able to make his mother so nonchalant is Keith.
By nine the dinner is done, and they're just sitting around the table enjoying each others' company. They're interrupted from the discussion when the doorbell rings.
Lucas volunteers to answer it and disappears down the hallway. He's surprised to see Haley, and even further shocked to see the tall form of Nathan standing behind her. The latter is fidgeting, his eyes darting about uncomfortably.
"Hey Hales," Lucas smiles, opening the door for the two.
"Lucas!" Haley grins, embracing her best friend. He nestles his head on the top of hers. They release each other and he turns to Nathan. There's an awkward silence before Nathan comes forward, outstretching his hand.
"Luke," he nods, almost friendly.
Lucas takes it. "Nathan, 'sup man?"
Lucas can tell that this simple gesture has made Haley's day, and she intercepts. "We wanted to come by and say hi to your mom!"
Deb Scott appears in the doorway behind Nathan and Haley. Lucas hastily lets her in. "Deb," he grins. Lucas can't help but like the other woman – she has all the best of intentions at heart, having just been burdened with a very difficult hand to work with.
"Hi Lucas," she says patting him gently on the arm. They can both agree that it's a bit awkward, but pasts can be unforgiving. Lucas admires her strength and tenacity – knowing that her life and every truth she knew to be firm and valid is collapsing like the walls of Jericho.
Karen and Brooke emerge from the kitchen, Keith in tow. Deb and Karen immediately embrace like friends long-separated. "Deb, I want to thank you for what you've done," Karen says, her hands planted on the other woman's shoulders.
"I'm just so glad you agreed to it! So much has happened while you were gone: the business is booming – I finally learned how to make the perfect cappuccino!"
Karen laughs. Brooke melts into Lucas' arms, her head resting on his shoulder as Karen turns to Haley and hugs the other girl tightly. "Deb, Haley, I brought you both some stuff back from Florence. Come with me to go grab my bag. Lucas, do you and Brooke want to-"
"-We're fine," Lucas interrupts. "Go on ahead."
Haley, Deb, Keith, and Nathan follow Karen into the back room.
"You worried for nothing," Lucas whispers to Brooke, her face mere inches from his as her arms wrap around the back of his neck. She kisses him softly.
"I've wanted to do that all night," she remarks timidly.
"Me too."
He takes her by the hand and they exit outside onto the porch. He sits on the steps and she joins him. It's sunset, and the sky is alive with hues of gold and red and blues in the far distance.
"I love this time of night," Brooke says softly. "When you can see the moon in the sky but the stars aren't out yet. It's like the final minutes before the end – before it gets dark. And you've gotta hold on to that picture – the way it looks – until you see it again."
"But the sky – it won't ever be exactly the same again," Lucas says, correcting her gently.
"That's why it's beautiful. Because it's unpredictable."
His hand brushes her cheek as their lips touch again.
"I love you Brooke."
She pulls away slowly, and there are tears in her eyes. A droplet falls slowly across her cheek.
He stares, confused, his thumb wiping away the tear. She takes his hand and kisses it, holding it against her cheek.
"Say it again, Luke."
He smiles tenderly as he repeats the three little words that shake her world like an earthquake. And she knows he means them.
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Next on 'She's Electric'! HOMECOMING! And later – tragedy strikes.
I've been compelled to continue because of the current downfall Lucas is taking – I'm devoted to reviving his former sense of righteousness and the obsession (that, yea, I partially invented) he has for Brooke here! So enjoy.
And, just for the record, I'm a firm believer in the fact that Brooke and Lucas' story isn't over. All the great romances have their stumbling blocks and this is just one of them. They have so much to offer and they're going to share it all with us, I guarantee it!
So enjoy!
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||
The pickup pulls up in front of the picturesque house and Keith hops out and trots over to the passenger side. He opens the door for Karen, who gently rises to her feet. She strides slowly up the walk, seeming to embrace what she had left for so long. She soaks up the scent of her home, the fresh-cut flowers, and the crisp, clean air.
She turns around, towards Lucas with tears in her eyes. "God I've missed being home."
"We missed you too, Mom," Lucas smiles gently. Somehow he feels like a void has been filled now that Karen Roe is back. Her matriarchal status on him has been suspended for too long. His routine is back, his rock – the one true thing he knows he can believe in.
Keith hands Lucas some of his mother's luggage and they walk into the house.
"I'm going out on a limb here, but why do I feel like you spent the last few days cleaning up this place in a frenzy?" Karen slyly smirks, glancing back over her shoulder at her son and friend.
Keith and Lucas manage a quick look between each other, and then Keith clears his throat. "No way, Karen."
"Whatever you say, Keith."
Keith smiles at the brunette, who's so full of life. Lucas notices his uncle's lingering gaze, but doesn't mind. It's not exactly a surprise or anything.
Lucas wraps his arm around his mother's shoulder as they stand, surveying the living room. "Well, I'm going to go unpack and then you can help me start dinner so we can get ready for this girl of yours!" Karen states jubilantly.
"Sure, Mom." He smiles, but inside his stomach jumps with butterflies.
They drop the luggage in Karen's room. She indicates for both of them to sit on her bed beside her as she opens up a knapsack.
"I got you both something," she says as her hand disappears inside the bag. She removes an envelope that she hands to Keith and then a box that she distributes to Lucas.
Keith takes out a bill and then smiles gleefully at Karen, chuckling. "One Euro," he laughs.
"Yup!" she replies. "In exchange for the Lira you gave me before."
"Thanks Karen," he beams, pocketing the envelope. "I'll save this for a rainy day."
Lucas opens his box. Inside is a large snow globe with the skyline of Florence in the background. He pushes a button on the side and it lights up. The words "you're in my heart" are illuminated with the touch of the button. Lucas shakes the globe and sends the "snow" within circulating through the water.
"Thanks, Mom." He kisses her on the cheek as she pulls them both close.
"You have no idea how great it is to be home!"
********************************************************
Karen can feel the palpable nervousness exuded from her son as he glances from his watch to the front door. She also noticed the light in his eyes the moment they picked her up from the airport. Whatever this girl is doing, she's happy that Lucas is experiencing something besides deprivation, heartache, and, no matter how much he tries to stifle it, the desire for something more.
"Try not to wet your pants over there," she remarks as she stands over the stove.
He jumps and then turns to her. "Sorry, Mom."
"Lucas, if you really love me you'll pass me that strainer in the drawer."
"Yea – if I really loved you," he laughs.
"Oh, burrrrrrrn," she counters jokingly as she takes the strainer from her son's outstretched hand and smacks him across the behind with it.
Lucas cackles along with Karen as they engage each other in a mock- swordfight with kitchen utensils, the spaghetti sauce boiling in the background.
********************************************************
Brooke Davis hates slow drivers. But, today she is one of those aforementioned that have caused her to shout obscenities at her dashboard more times than she can count.
Her hands grip the leather of her steering wheel as she stares through her sunglasses at the road before her. She doesn't know why she's so nervous to arrive at the Scott home. She's never been scared like this before.
Maybe because she's never had to meet the parents before.
Or maybe because she's never cared what the parents thought.
In the passenger seat sits a pan of casserole she managed to cook herself – thankfully it didn't burn or overcook. God was on her side.
She turns down Lucas' street, the weeping willows swaying in the soft autumn breeze. Dead leaves scurry across the concrete pavement as her Volkswagen crawls by. The Justin Timberlake CD drones softly in her car.
Brooke Davis takes a deep breath and turns into Lucas' driveway. Keith's pickup is before her as she pulls the rearview mirror down to gaze into it. She touches up on her makeup quickly, and when she feels that she's presentable enough, Brooke sets one high-heeled foot onto the concrete. She's dressed nicely, hoping to impress.
Running around to the other side of the car, she hefts the pan holding the casserole in her hands and lifts the hangar with her Homecoming dress on it in the other. She makes her way up the walk to the door and manages to press the bell despite her obvious burden and mental inhibitions.
The screen opens and Lucas greets her. His warm hand guides her lips to his as he takes the pan.
"You managed to make a casserole. Nice."
"A lot of sweat and blood went into that, so be careful." He guides her inside, and notices that her hand is shaking.
"Brooke, are you ok?"
"I'm about to wet my pants. Let's just get this over with."
Lucas pulls her close to him and gently guides her face up to him, gazing into her eyes. "If my mother has any sense, and believe me – she does, she'll adore you."
Brooke manages a hesitant smile as he kisses her forehead.
"And I'm guessing this is Brooke."
The pair pull away quickly to see Karen standing in the doorway with her apron on.
"Oh, God." Brooke clears her throat and extends her hand. "Hey Ms..." She almost says Scott, but stops herself. "-Roe."
Karen takes her hand and marvels at Brooke's beauty – Keith said that she was very pretty, but she wasn't prepared for this. She had captured quick glances at a few basketball games and at Dan Scott's party, but she had never been able to see Brooke Davis in person. "Keith and Lucas told me you were pretty but, wow! You are gorgeous!"
Brooke blushes, and her cheeks dimple. She looks away at Lucas. "Thanks," she giggles nervously. "I love your..."
Please, God, don't say apron, Brooke reminds herself.
"I love your skirt."
Karen smiles again. "Thanks! I actually got it in Florence last week, right before I left."
"Mom, Brooke cooked us a casserole," Lucas says as he hands Karen the pan.
She takes the pan. "Well Lucas – you got a good one! She's pretty and she can cook. Come on in, Brooke... Make yourself at home!" she says invitingly. "Is that your Homecoming dress?"
Brooke finally notices the dress on the hanger she's carrying in her left hand. "Oh, yea—I mean, yes! I just bought it yesterday."
Karen walks forward as Brooke holds the dress out to the older woman. "Oh my gosh, it's gorgeous!" She looks to Lucas. "Luke, will you go check the pasta sauce for me, please?"
Lucas walks off into the kitchen as he hears Brooke and Karen delve deeply into conversation. He turns the knob to turn off the stove and begins to take care of the sauce. Keith walks in and stands next to him.
"So I see Brooke's met your mom."
"Yea – I guess she likes her," Lucas smiles happily, content.
"Sounds like it." They're interrupted as a duet of laughter erupts from the other room. "I guess they're hitting it off. But how could you not like Brooke. She has everything going for her."
Lucas can only smile softly and nod to him as he removes four plates from the cabinet. He distributes them along the table and Keith helps him light the candles.
Soon enough, they're all sitting around the table, engaged in conversation. Karen talks to Brooke about cheerleading – reviving anecdotes from her days as a member of the squad.
The casserole is surprisingly good, Lucas notices. He also notices how the light from the flame somehow dances in Brooke's eyes and makes her seemingly radiate like the sun, how the planes of her face soften whenever she laughs, how she always tilts her head whenever she's listening intently...
The little things remind him why he's falling in love with her.
Her vibrancy, her passion for living, her contagious laugh.
The four discuss many things: from school, to the shop (Brooke comments on just how wonderfully maintained it is), and they all agree that Deb has done a great job under the circumstances. Brooke fills Karen up on the juiciest of gossip – something that Lucas never knew his mother engaged in.
For once he gets to see her have fun, enjoy herself, connect with someone on a much less serious level. It seems that Brooke has that weird ability to lighten everyone's mood – she makes everything seem so trivial. The only other person besides himself and Haley that has been able to make his mother so nonchalant is Keith.
By nine the dinner is done, and they're just sitting around the table enjoying each others' company. They're interrupted from the discussion when the doorbell rings.
Lucas volunteers to answer it and disappears down the hallway. He's surprised to see Haley, and even further shocked to see the tall form of Nathan standing behind her. The latter is fidgeting, his eyes darting about uncomfortably.
"Hey Hales," Lucas smiles, opening the door for the two.
"Lucas!" Haley grins, embracing her best friend. He nestles his head on the top of hers. They release each other and he turns to Nathan. There's an awkward silence before Nathan comes forward, outstretching his hand.
"Luke," he nods, almost friendly.
Lucas takes it. "Nathan, 'sup man?"
Lucas can tell that this simple gesture has made Haley's day, and she intercepts. "We wanted to come by and say hi to your mom!"
Deb Scott appears in the doorway behind Nathan and Haley. Lucas hastily lets her in. "Deb," he grins. Lucas can't help but like the other woman – she has all the best of intentions at heart, having just been burdened with a very difficult hand to work with.
"Hi Lucas," she says patting him gently on the arm. They can both agree that it's a bit awkward, but pasts can be unforgiving. Lucas admires her strength and tenacity – knowing that her life and every truth she knew to be firm and valid is collapsing like the walls of Jericho.
Karen and Brooke emerge from the kitchen, Keith in tow. Deb and Karen immediately embrace like friends long-separated. "Deb, I want to thank you for what you've done," Karen says, her hands planted on the other woman's shoulders.
"I'm just so glad you agreed to it! So much has happened while you were gone: the business is booming – I finally learned how to make the perfect cappuccino!"
Karen laughs. Brooke melts into Lucas' arms, her head resting on his shoulder as Karen turns to Haley and hugs the other girl tightly. "Deb, Haley, I brought you both some stuff back from Florence. Come with me to go grab my bag. Lucas, do you and Brooke want to-"
"-We're fine," Lucas interrupts. "Go on ahead."
Haley, Deb, Keith, and Nathan follow Karen into the back room.
"You worried for nothing," Lucas whispers to Brooke, her face mere inches from his as her arms wrap around the back of his neck. She kisses him softly.
"I've wanted to do that all night," she remarks timidly.
"Me too."
He takes her by the hand and they exit outside onto the porch. He sits on the steps and she joins him. It's sunset, and the sky is alive with hues of gold and red and blues in the far distance.
"I love this time of night," Brooke says softly. "When you can see the moon in the sky but the stars aren't out yet. It's like the final minutes before the end – before it gets dark. And you've gotta hold on to that picture – the way it looks – until you see it again."
"But the sky – it won't ever be exactly the same again," Lucas says, correcting her gently.
"That's why it's beautiful. Because it's unpredictable."
His hand brushes her cheek as their lips touch again.
"I love you Brooke."
She pulls away slowly, and there are tears in her eyes. A droplet falls slowly across her cheek.
He stares, confused, his thumb wiping away the tear. She takes his hand and kisses it, holding it against her cheek.
"Say it again, Luke."
He smiles tenderly as he repeats the three little words that shake her world like an earthquake. And she knows he means them.
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Next on 'She's Electric'! HOMECOMING! And later – tragedy strikes.