Chapter 460: Tree Hill Hall

Tuesday, February 14th, Afternoon

She lifted her head off the pillow and looked at the sleeping form next to her. Gently, she shifted to lay on her side and gently ran the tip of her fingers over the scar on his shoulder. He saved a young child, but it tore up his shoulder and had to be put back together.

Chase sighed and studied Huck's face. They were in their early thirties and were still in good shape; Chase reflected even after four kids. Huck had a few lines in his face, stress lines. Chase gently moved her hand from his shoulder, gently rubbed his chin and cheek, and felt the stubble of his beard.

Suddenly, Huck jerked and opened his eyes. His eyes looked wild, then took a calm demeanor after noticing Chase. Chase smiled at him, leaned forward, and kissed him.

"Morning," Chase said.

"Morning," Huck croaked.

"How was your nap?" Chase asked.

Huck nodded, "Good, I guess," he said.

"How was your shift?" Chase asked.

"Unexciting," Huck said.

Chase laid her head on his shoulder and cuddled up to Huck. He reached over and held her tight.

"What's going on in your mind?" Chase whispered.

"A lot of choices I have to make," Huck said.

"Is this about the test?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, some of it," Huck said.

"Do you want my opinion?" Chase asked.

Huck grunted.

"Hear me out," Chase said.

"Okay," Chase said.

"Ask yourself what advice your dad would give you," Chase said.

"Chase," Huck said.

"I'm not finished," Chase said.

"Go on," Huck said.

"What does Carson advise you on this subject?" Chase asked.

"Chase," Huck said.

"I'm not done," Chase said.

Huck sighed, "Are you almost finished?" he asked.

"Yes," Chase said, "I think you should take the test and make your choice later."

"Chase, I don't want to talk about this," Huck said.

"Huck, you've been so going with the flow lately," Chase said.

"Well, it's just Col and me, so I'm not getting in a fight; I'm outnumbered," Huck said.

"Are you saying because you have four daughters, you are going to be deceived?" Chase asked.

"One is a teenager, and two are pre-teens; I'm picking my battles," Huck said.

"Well, your three oldest just love their daddy," Chase said with a chuckle.

"You know I noticed something," Huck said.

"What's that?" Chase asked.

"PJ got my freckles," Huck said.

Chase chuckled, "You just noticed that?" she asked.

"I knew Brett had them, but I just noticed PJ had them also," Huck said.

"Well, PJ is very much a black-haired Burke," Chase said.

"Why do you say that?" Huck asked.

"The way she's built; I can see Kelly in her," Chase said.

"I've always thought Brett was more of a Burke," Huck said.

"There's a lot of Pierce in her," Chase said.

"Hopefully, that's where she gets her looks," Huck said.

"I just wish any one of our kids got your red hair," Chase said.

"You want another ginger in the world?" Huck asked.

"Huck, I've known you and your family for how long?" Chase asked.

"Too long," Huck said, chuckling.

Chase took her free hand and awkwardly slapped Huck's chest, "With that attitude, you won't get any," she said.

"You want to add to the horde?" Huck asked.

"Oh, hell no!" Chase said and laughed, "Anyways, as Kelly puts it, I had your balls snipped."

"We both agreed to it," Huck said.

"Yeah, so, anyway, before, you distracted me," Chase said.

"You love me for it," Huck said.

"That I do," Chase said, leaned over and kissed Huck; when she pulled back, she looked at him, "As I was saying, I know four gingers from your family, and y'all have souls, well most of y'all."

"Who doesn't?" Huck asked.

"The jury is out on the girl," Chase said and laughed.

"Really?" Huck asked.

"No, Brett's a good kid, a little too stubborn for her own good," Chase said.

"Reminds you of someone?" Huck asked.

"Oh yeah, several someones," Chase said.

"Yeah, me too," Huck said.

"Now onto the main topic of discussion," Chase said.

"We've not hit the main topic?" Huck asked.

"Not hardly," Chase said.

"So, what is the main topic?" Huck asked.

"I got us a babysitter tonight," Chase said.

"Why? It's one of your busiest nights, and we both know you're going to be there," Huck said.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't come with, and we can have fun," Chase said.

"Having fun on a busy night and not watching like some goddess? What would Peyton think?" Huck asked.

"One, I'm not Peyton. Two, when Peyton handed the club to me, she told me to run it how I see fit," Chase said.

"Is that why I took a different office?" Huck asked.

"That's RBR's field office," Chase said.

"Do they really need to be there?" Huck asked.

"Not for me to decide," Chase said, then twisted a bit, threw her leg over Huck's hips, using her momentum to carry her onto him. Chase ended up face to face with Huck with her arms resting on his shoulders.

"Whoa!" Huck said.

"So, are you coming with tonight?" Chase asked,

"Why is this so important?" Huck asked.

"It's Valentine's Day," Chase said.

"It's the fourteenth already?" Huck asked.

"Yes, it is you've forgotten, have you?" Chase asked.

"It's important to you?" Huck asked.

"Huck, it's an excuse to spend time sans children," Chase said.

"Hold on," Huck said and leaned over to his nightstand. He came back with a fuzzy box. "I almost forgot about this," he said and handed it to her.

Chase looked at it, puzzled, then opened it. Inside a custom-made tennis bracelet with five colored stones. "Huck?" Chase asked.

"Kelly helped me design it, I figured since I didn't get you anything for our tenth," Huck said.

Chase nodded, her bottom lip quivering and her eyes welling up. Huck took the box out of her hand and gently put the bracelet on her left wrist. Chase looked at it and spun it to see the stones. "What are the other stones?" she asked.

Huck pointed to one each in turn, "The kids' birthstones, Brett, PJ, Key, BB, and Col," he said.

"Wow," she said.

"Did I do good?" Huck asked.

Chase nodded, "Yes, and you're going to get rewarded," she said and leaned down to kiss him.