New Chapter! Updated on time! LOL! Go me! Hope you guys enjoy!
Brooke wondered aimlessly around the hospital room as Lucas packed. She claimed she was looking for things she might have left but really she didn't want to have to pack. Packing meant going home, not that she wasn't excited to be back in her home, with her stuff and Lucas all to herself… but home meant leaving Allie and Chloë with the evil demented spawns from hell that were the nurses of this hospital. Usually she didn't have a problem with nurses… on TV they were always nice and caring. Here they were just old and mean. Of course she was going to come and see them everyday… and now she could shop for them and all the other fun stuff she should have been doing before she had them. She just wasn't sure she was ready to stay the night away from them… and from the way he talked neither was Lucas.
"Ok… I think we finally have everything" Lucas said zipping Brooke's bad which was busting at the seems it seemed like. Only she could leave a hospital with more clothes than she came with… clothes, which she probably would never wear again once she was totally back to her normal size.
"Did you steal the good stuff?"
"Brooke this isn't a hotel"
"Well we can use the gloves at home for practical purposes" Brooke giggled snapping a glove his way. She figured they were probably paying an un-godly amount to be here… they could at least steal the fun stuff. Gloves, and well that was about it since Lucas was right, this was a hospital.
"Like what?"
"Like… um, making glove people?"
"Because that's really practical" Lucas laughed but listened to Brooke and grabbed her a couple of gloves out of the container. These things had kept her and Haley so entertained the whole time they had been here that he figured why not…
"Yes and you love my……..practicalness" Brooke giggled kissing Lucas. It felt so good to be able to stand up and wrap her arms around him again. She was still a little sore but it was nothing like it had been in the days before where she cringed at every movement. Now she could stand there with her arms wrapped around Lucas's neck and his on her waist just like usual… without the severe pain.
"That I do… ready to go tell the girls bye?"
"No… why don't we take them home and leave your mother here! I have no problem telling her bye"
"Brooke, she's just trying to help" Lucas sighed brushing her hair out of her eyes. He could tell that it was more than her being annoyed with Karen. It was Karen trying to show Brooke how everything was done and Brooke couldn't stand it. Not that he blamed her… he'd be pretty pissed off too if someone like Andy or Dan sat there and told him what to do with his girls.
"But I don't want her to help. I'm the mommy remember? I was there when these babies were made…"
"That I do remember"
"Lucas! I should get to do the mommy stuff like read to them and feed them and ok well she can change their diapers" Brooke giggled kissing him again. Having him here like this made her wonder how people like Karen had done it. She probably would have found a building to jump off if she hadn't had Lucas here through all of this to hold her when she was crying, or make her laugh when she was lonely and bored. When she was little she had always wondered why a woman needed a man to have a baby… now she knew.
"Was she feeding them again this morning?"
"Yes…"
"I'll talk to her" Lucas promised kissing Brooke's forehead. Finally things were starting to feel like they were getting back to normal… as normal as they could be since things were totally different now.
"Really?"
"Its not her job Brooke, if you want to feed them and… read to them? Since when do you read?"
"Elle, Teen people, J-14" Brooke smiled shrugging her shoulders as she giggled. Just because she was now a mother of 2 didn't mean she had to read those damn parenting magazines. She still had her love for the crazy rumors and articles her teen magazines had.
"My god I'm marrying a teeny bopper"
"You knew that when you started dating me…"
"I'll tell her no" Lucas said hugging Brooke tighter so that her head was against his chest. How he was going to tell Karen no he wasn't sure…but it had to be done, for Brooke's sakes and his own.
"I'm not saying she can't do that stuff sometimes… but we're the mommy and daddy… you and I… we made them, we get first dibs"
"Maybe Andy will drag her home…"
"Not as long as Deb is there to run the café" Brooke whined rolling her eyes at the thought of Deb and Peyton in Tree Hill together. Poor Karen, with 2 fake blondes running both her businesses it was going to be a mess when she got home. Maybe that would get her home faster.
"We could get Deb out of there… I know you have a crazy plan in there somewhere"
"Yea… but our Bestest friend Peyton is there"
"That sucks" Lucas sighed rolling his eyes at the thought of Peyton. The whole situation still pissed him off. Even more so now that he had had time to think about it.
"Very much! Ok… lets go, the sooner we get home and get this crap unpacked, the sooner we can come back"
"Unpacked" Lucas laughed looking at Brooke giving her a confused look. Brooke unpacking was like Deb staying sober… it just didn't happen. Not that he cared… if he had wanted a girl who cleaned, cooked and did the usual wifely duties he would have asked Haley to marry him.
"As in throw in on the bed, make out for like 10 minutes, and come back"
"Are you sure your ready for that?"
"Lucas, I could have just had 12 babies… and I'd still be ok to make out with you" Brooke giggled kissing as he ran her fingers through her hair.
"Ok you 2… I am good being a grandmother of 2 right now" Karen said sounding annoyed as she walked in. Brooke wanted to hit her so bad at that point… couldn't she kiss her fiancé in peace without someone walking in killing the whole perfect moment? Apparently not because Karen did it everytime.
"Hey, where've you been?"
"Showing Allie and Chloë pictures of extended family" Karen smiled like she had done something wonderful. It made Lucas laugh… like Allie and Chloë gave a damn. They were 4 days old. He didn't give a damn and he was 23… pictures of cousins who they hadn't talked to in years and probably never would again.
"Yea… I think they like the Tom Cruise pictures better"
"You show them Pictures of Tom Cruise?" Lucas laughed not all surprised by Brooke's response. He was actually glad she had said it… maybe Karen would lay off a little giving Brooke room to breathe.
"You have to teach them what type to go for early…"
"Uh huh, so are you to leaving now?" Karen asked ignoring Brooke's childishness as she called it to herself. She loved Brooke, but she wished she had been more mature and responsible before she had decided to bring to babies into the world… then again maybe if she and Lucas had been more mature and responsible they would have waited.
"For a little while… the house is a wreck there is so much I have to get done before we can even sleep there tonight… and its going to take me 10 times as long since I am not completely healed… I don't even want to think about it" Brooke said trying to sound as sad and pitiful as she could. Maybe Karen would have sympathy.
"Why don't I come home and help you 2? In fact… I'll head over there right now while you 2 are saying bye to the girls"
"You're the best Karen!"
"You are evil…" Lucas laughed once Karen was out of earshot. Brooke had her devious 'I rock so much' look on her face. He loved it… the way her eyes lit up and she smiled with her mouth closed… she had a different look for everything, that way he always knew how she was feeling or what she was thinking. Most guys weren't that lucky.
"What? How?"
"You don't ever clean in the first place?"
"Yes… but she thinks I do… she doesn't know we have a cleaning lady" Brooke giggled giving Lucas a quick kiss them grabbing his hand. She was ready to get out of that room! It was like a prison with no privacy and scary old people walking around everywhere.
"I love the way you think"
"Ready?"
"Lets go"
Peyton sat in the lobby of the hospital debating whether or not to go up and see Brooke. After having both Jenny and Jake talk her into coming she finally got into her car and started driving. It had taken her all day just to step foot in the hospital, and she was scared it was going to take her all night just to get up to Brooke's room. She knew she should have brought someone with her to talk her into going up there. Use to that person would have been Brooke, she'd be there to egg her on and whine about how she just HAD to do it or else. Brooke's constant whining had gotten her to do a lot of things, even though they weren't always good. Brooke had always been a very persuasive person; the only problem was… she didn't always know what she was talking about. Which had a tendency to make everyone else look like an idiot. Especially Peyton. Leave it to Brooke to leave for California for the summer, telling Peyton Lucas still had feelings for her… and then be wrong. Because that's what had happen the summer of their junior year. Brooke was off to California to see her parents for the summer, Jake was gone to find Jenny… yet again, Nathan and Haley were dealing with their issues…leaving Peyton and Lucas alone on the beach one night.
"So did you get to say goodbye to Brooke?" Peyton asked wondering if Lucas had made it on time… for Brooke's sake since she wanted to say goodbye to him so bad. At least that way her summer could be complete without wondering about Lucas.
"Yea…"
"How'd it go?"
"Not well… she was upset and emotional and… I don't really want to talk about it" Lucas whispered playing with the sand. He didn't want to talk about any of it… how bad he was hurting or how much he missed Brooke. Especially with Peyton who he partially blamed for this. Maybe if Brooke hadn't thought he was in love with her she would be with him right now
"That bad huh?"
"Yea… so sorry about Jake"
"Its ok… he is doing what he has to do" Peyton smiled. She didn't want to talk about Jake either. Her heart was hurting, but at the same time she was relieved it was over for now… she could be a normal girl over the summer. Hopefully with Lucas
"Yea"
"So you and me for the summer… we could have some fun"
"Catch up" Lucas smiled… or at least tried too. He wasn't even sure why he was here. Maybe because he was lonely. He felt bad that he didn't really care what was going on in Peyton's life. Of course she was still his friend but right now he totally focused and worried about Brooke.
"And other stuff"
"Peyton…"
"I know… sorry, I'm being blunt tonight, its so soon after Jake and you probably think I am just trying to get into another relationship really fast but I'm not… We were good together Luke" Peyton said leaning into kiss Lucas. She figured what the hell… why put off the inevitable?
"Peyton… read this"
"Lucas: Hi Peyton, what are you doing?
Peyton: Brooding, what are you doing?
Lucas: Brooding
Peyton: Want to Brood together?
Lucas: Sure" Peyton read out loud from a sheet of paper with little doodles on it. She didn't understand… was this some kind of sick joke?
"I found that in my room with the stuff Brooke left…I laughed when I read it… then I realized she was right"
"We aren't boring Lucas… I'm not saying we have to be some kinda epic romance and if your worried about Brooke… she's ok with us. She told me you were still into her"
"She did…" Lucas sighed not believing what he was hearing… leave it to Brooke to keep all of this from him. No wonder she had totally spazzed out on him. From the way he felt when she was Felix… her thinking he wanted Peyton, her BEST friend must have been 20 times worse.
"Yea, that you kept all the stuff I gave you"
"Peyton… I kissed Brooke before she left. Then had to explain to her it wasn't you I wanted to be with… it was her" Lucas finally said. He didn't really care how it sounded. It was how he felt… and the truth.
"What?"
"I'm in love with Brooke Peyton, I left here to go to Charleston telling myself I was in love with you…over and over every night because I thought I had to be. But it wasn't love Peyton… it was infatuation. Your fun to be with, we like a lot of the same things and maybe we did have something at one point"
"Lucas" Peyton whispered. She couldn't believe this, it was the last thing she had ever expected tonight… Even before her mother showing up. And that was a shock! But Lucas being in love with Brooke… that was a bigger one.
"But Brooke's different. When I was with Anna I realized I felt the same way about her that I did you and that made me think… I had spent all that time lying to myself about Brooke. She makes me happy… I feel better when I'm around her. Having her live with me the past couple of months was the happiest I have been in a really long time. Just seeing her there in the mornings whining that she didn't want to get up and giggling about some funny dream she had was worth it all"
"Kinda like that you'd rather have 3 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special"
"I guess…" Lucas sighed starting to feel bad he was laying all of this on Peyton. It wasn't like she didn't have her own problems to deal with and here he was explaining his undying love for her best friend. Sucked to be her right now
"Then where is she?"
"She left"
"Its funny" Peyton laughed looking over at Lucas who clearly wasn't getting it.
"Peyton! Its not funny…"
"No… I mean last week she was so into you she couldn't even shop straight, I told her to go for it"
"She thought I was into you and she said she was relieved" Lucas said staring down at the damp sand. He hoped Brooke had lied when she had said that… of course she had lied. She had been into him all year according to everyone at school. But why couldn't he have seen it?
"She's Brooke… she'd rather lie than get her heart broken"
"Because of me"
"And me" Peyton ½ laughed ½ sighed. They had done a number on Brooke that was true, but Lucas tended to forget what a number Brooke had done on other people in the past. She was so saint. She had screwed more people over than Dan Scott probably.
"What did we do to her Peyton… she never deserved this"
"Why are you so quick to defend her? It isn't like she is miss innocent"
"Why are you so quick to judge her" Lucas asked glaring at Peyton. He wasn't in the mood for this… not tonight.
"So you would rather be alone all summer pining for her, then have some innocent fun with me?"
"If it means that I get her back in the fall… then that's all I need" Lucas sighed looking out over the ocean… he felt like some cheesy character off of Dawson's Creek pining away for his love, waiting for her to come back to him… luckily she had too.
"You mean she's all you need"
That's the day Peyton decided that if Brooke could win Lucas over that easily. So could she. The fact that Brooke had Lucas so wrapped around her little finger even after she had left and broken his heart disgusted her. She guessed now that that was the day her ploy had started. She wanted Lucas to show him that there was better out there. That there was someone who could love him back without having to worry everytime he looked at another girl. When she thought back on it now she realized she had just been jealous that Brooke had someone who loved her as much as Lucas did. But just like Lucas had explained… Peyton had become infatuated with Lucas after that night… and it became even worse after they finally did date in the future. She didn't care how "in love" with Brooke Lucas was… she knew she could make him love her more. Now she wasn't sure she could… or if she even wanted to anymore. It all seemed stupid and pointless now chasing after a high school crush, and she really missed her best friend.
Lucas sat with Brooke as they said goodbye to the girls. Brooke who wasn't the least bit teary eyed was setting a high standard to live up too. He figured with her hormones still haywire she would be balling and crying just like every other mother they had seen leave their babies. But not Brooke… she was just chatting and going on and on about how much they both loved them and how they were going to come home really soon. By now the girls were finally breathing on their own and both looked so much healthier. Allie was up to 4 pounds 7 ounces and was definitely the innocent quiet one, while Chloë was the screamer and according to Brooke had a serious jealous streak. If Allie was being touched… she had to be touched too. Allie weighed 4 pounds 7 ounces so Chloë had to shoot up to 4 pounds 10 ounces. It amused Lucas how they were so little and each already had their own personality. It was the only way he and Brooke could tell them apart.
"Ok… now I want you 2 to be really really sweet and actually… I don't have to deal with you here… you 2 can totally be the little devils I know you are while we're gone" Brooke smiled winking at the babies she was holding in her arms. They were both asleep but she didn't seem to care.
"Brooke… their not little devils"
"Yes they are! But that's ok because they are OUR little devils… right girls? You 2 definitely get your deviousness from me… I'm so proud… but your lucky, you know why? Because you both have that look about you that makes everyone fall in love with you… and you got that from your daddy… we're doomed when they are teenagers… you know this right?"
"Yea…I kinda got that" Lucas laughed taking the babies from Brooke to tell them bye
"Ok… bye my babies! We love you… don't go anywhere"
"You're ready to go already?"
"Luke… we've been here for 2 and ½ hours" Brooke laughed waving at the babies as Lucas put them back into their incubators. The look on poor Lucas's face was heartbreaking. She expected this from her… but not him. Mr. Broody don't show emotion Scott didn't want to leave his babies.
"Yea… but"
"Gorgeous… are you having separation anxiety?"
"No…" Lucas lied. If Brooke wasn't loosing it he definitely wasn't going too. It just sucked leaving them was all. Brooke had been right when she said it wasn't right to go home without them… because it really wasn't.
"Girls… tell your daddy you'll be ok for an hour or so without us"
"Brooke I'm not"
"Luke… I don't want to leave them either but we don't have a choice… we can either do it now when we can come back in 10 minutes when we are both crying… or we can wait until tonight when visiting hours are over and we cant come back" Brooke said hugging Lucas. He didn't know she had this all planned out…
"10 minutes huh?"
"Dude… I am so going to be crying in 10 minutes… so now lets pretend to be strong and leave… and then we can get all emotional and come back… because we both know that's what's going to happen" Brooke smiled running her fingers through his blonde spiky hair as she kissed him. This felt better, of course everyone was staring at them but she didn't really care. She wasn't afraid to kiss Lucas in public and she people she loved him… if they didn't like it that was their problem.
"Do we have to leave the hospital?"
"No… I can pretty much promise you I'll be crying by the main lobby"
"Ok… lets go get this over with, bye girls" Lucas laughed waving bye and taking Brooke's hand as they walked out. This was going to be interesting… definitely something they had never experienced.
"Bye babies! I didn't wear mascara today because of you guys…"
5 minutes in the elevator sure enough it hit Brooke that they were actually going to have to leave them and the tears started flowing. She knew she was going to cry, and the depressed look on Lucas's face wasn't helping matters…
"Lucas… we can't just abandon them" Brooke cried into Lucas's chest. Her hands were trembling and she just really wasn't ready for this. Even though she knew they were going straight back up there as soon as they hit the lobby, since they had stayed so long saying goodbye the first time they only had 10 minutes to do the real goodbye before visiting hours were over.
"We're not abandoning them"
"Yes we are! What parents in their right mind leave their children with strange people they don't know! In a place that people have died? BAD parents I tell you! Really really bad ones! Lets go back"
"Brooke… we said the main lobby" Lucas whispered rubbing her head. Although h had to agree with her even though he didn't want to admit it… Brooke had a point, at least when they were there… they were there if anything happened.
"Lucas… You know you wanna go back too! Please… I'll do anything… Here… just hit me really hard in the stomach with that stick thing… then we'll just have to stay"
"You'll have to stay… I'll have to go to Jail" Lucas laughed. Brooke had hit a new low of desperate that was almost funny… and scary at the same time. She was all to pieces clinging onto him for dear life.
"I'll come visit… Lucas…"
"It has to stop at the lobby first"
"Make it go faster… Lucas!" Brooke whined from his chest not bothering to bring her head up. The tears had stopped and now she was content with leaning on Lucas. She had to think of a new plan to stay there as long as possible.
"Its stopping…"
"AH… Brooke, Lucas" Peyton said jumping back as the elevator door opened. She hadn't expected this at all… now her whole speech she had planned for hours was totally ruined.
"SEE! CRAZY PEOPLE ARE HERE! Lucas we cant leave them!" Brooke whined. Now she was just amusing herself with pissing off Peyton. That made her feel better and it seemed to help Lucas too.
"Peyton… what are"
"I came to see you guys actually" Peyton smiled trying to ignore Brooke's comment. This wasn't going to be as easy as she thought. Brooke was apparently still pissed off and Lucas didn't seem much better. Then again she guessed it wasn't just her considering Brooke had tear marks down her cheeks.
"Look! Lucas she wants to see the girls… we have to go back"
"Yea... Definitely" Lucas agreed hitting the 3 button to go back up.
"Oh… you guys don't have to go back if you were just leaving or"
"No… you have to see them" Lucas said not giving her a chance to finish her sentence. This was the perfect excuse for them to go back up. This way they didn't look like they were so desperate they didn't even make it out of the elevator… they could just use Peyton as an excuse
"We're sure"
"Ok… so congratulations by the way"
"Yea… uh huh could this damn thing go any slower? Oh thank god… ok this way" Brooke said dragging Lucas out of the elevator by his hand. Not that she had to drag… he was right behind her basically leaving Peyton in the elevator staring dumb foundedly at them
"What's with her?" Peyton asked once they were scrubbing room. Brooke was smiling again and washing her hands like a crazy person ready to get in there. Peyton was finally starting to understand what was going on with her and Lucas.
"We're not quite ready to leave them yet"
"Here Peyton… have a gown" Brooke smiled throwing a gown her way. This was like killing 2 coke birds with one stone. She got to show off her and Lucas's beautiful fabulous babies… and stay longer with them!
"I have to wear this?"
"Over your clothes…wash faster Lucas"
"Ok lets go" Lucas laughed taking Brooke's hand again leaving Peyton clueless and alone while they went to go their thing. Not that they cared… they had more important things to deal with now than Peyton's petty issues with them as a couple.
"I think you 2 just may have set some sort of record"
"Allie! Chloë! Mommy and daddy are back!" Brooke squealed waving at the babies. In an instant she felt 100 better and a since of closure… now if she could just keep that feeling until they got home where she could cry to Lucas…more, she'd be good.
"Ok girls here's the deal… if you hit your mother really hard we can stay and I don't have to go to jail" Lucas whispered to the babies as Brooke giggled. Lucas was so great. He was like chocolate… he made everything better no matter how bad she felt or was feeling. He always had his little comments to the girls that showed what an awesome dad he was going to be to those girls. It for rid of every doubt she had about her being a good mother.
"Ok… I think this has turned you to neurotic"
"Those who have not had their stomach sliced open… or watched the love of their life get their stomach sliced open… don't get a say" Brooke smiled sarcastically
"Ok then…they're beautiful"
"Ok you get a say again…Oh dude! It just came to me!"
"What?" Peyton asked. Brooke had 'that' look. The look she always got when she had some crazy idea that was going to get them both killed… or worse. But seeing Brooke give her that look was good… almost like old times
"We get Peyton to hit me!" Brooke shrieked squinting at Lucas who was talking to the girls. This proved it… they needed therapy, and fast.
"Brooke I'm not hitting you"
"You had no problem stabbing me in the back" Brooke sighed sitting down in Lucas's lap. She hadn't meant to say it… it had just kinda popped out with all her frustration with having no plan to stay here.
"I deserved that"
"No you didn't… sorry, ok well you kinda did but I shouldn't have said it. Lucas and I are a little edgy today…"
"I understand… I'm really happy for you 2. Seeing the way you look at each other and the babies… I'm sorry for the way I was. You 2 are cute like this… worrisome parents"
"We're not… worrisome… we're…" Brooke started but couldn't come up with anything. They were worrisome… not that they didn't have the right to be after everything they had been through in the past week
"Loving"
"Thank you gorgeous… loving" Brooke giggled kissing Lucas.
"Ok you 2… visiting hours are over"
"But"
"No buts Brooke… the girls will be fine without you" The nurse laughed. By now she knew Brooke and Lucas's ways and the only way to get them out was to tell it how it was.
"Hey! Watch it lady… those are my babies and they need Lucas and I… don't mess with me or I will sooo sue your ass"
"Yea I gotta agree with her on this one" Lucas sighed doing his squinting thing that Brooke loved so very much. The nurse just laughed and rolled her eyes at them… and them motioned for them to get up
"Lucas… Brooke… one last kiss then go home, sleep because after you do bring these girls home you aren't going to for 18 years"
"I don't wanna go" Brooke whined standing up out of Lucas's lap and pouting to Peyton and the nurse…
"And you are?"
"They're friend Peyton"
"Peyton… get them out of here…" The nurse laughed giving Brooke a hug bye. Brooke hugged her but made faces the whole time. Stupid nurses holding her babies hostage…
"Come on Brooke…"
"Bye Allie… Bye Chloë, I love you"
"Where's Lucas" Peyton asked once they were back in the scrubbing room. She had had to basically drag Brooke the whole way as she whined and complained about how it wasn't fair and no one cared how she felt but Lucas.
"I don't know"
"Lucas! Come on" Peyton sighed seeing Lucas still standing talking to the girls. This was crazy sweet… so much so she wanted to puke, and hug them both at the same time.
"Bye girls… love you"
At Brooke and Lucas's apartment Karen and Andy… along with the help of Haley and Nathan had managed to clean, cook, and set up a mini welcome home party for Brooke and Lucas in a matter of hours. By the time Brooke and Lucas got home, followed by Peyton who Brooke had decided to partially forgive on the way out of this hospital… the table was set and everyone was whining in hunger. When Brooke walked in she didn't really care. She was tired and cranky and really just wanted to go crawl into the bed with Lucas and sleep. Of course she knew that wasn't going to happen. Not in this family… everything had to be a party even if she wasn't happy about it. At least the place was clean and smelled good. After everyone had hugged her and she had managed not to bite their heads off she gave Lucas her 'please lets get out of here' from across the table. How dim were these people that they didn't even put Lucas and Brooke beside each other for dinner?
"So what do you guys wanna do next?" Karen asked watching as Brooke and Lucas both just stared sadly at one another playing with there forks. It was going to be a depressing place around here until those girls were home… she thought seriously about buying t hem a puppy to keep them occupied
"Sleep" Brooke whined putting her face in her hands. All of the sudden she was tried. She just wanted to say in bed with Lucas and sleep… real, all night, in Lucas's arms sleep.
"Its only 8:30"
"That's what I tried to tell you when I was living with you…you guys this was really great, but I kinda just want to go lie down"
"Ok… Lucas you wanna help me clean up" Karen smiled taking Brooke's plate as Lucas helped her up from her seat and let her head fall onto his chest.
"With my fiance…"
"Right… Peyton can help, I need updates on the café and everything anyway"
"Thanks Karen… Lucas… Broody... gorgeous…Bed… sleep… back rub…" Brooke whispered into his chest as he hugged her tight.
"I'm way ahead of you"