Author's Note: hey everyone! Thank you so much for all your love and support you have shown to this story. I love you all. I promise Lucas and Brooke will meet soon (maybe in this very chapter…. Who knows *wink*).
Someone said that 6 year olds don't read novels and don't talk like that. I agree, maybe most of them don't. But as I already mentioned that Abby is really intelligent.I once saw on a news channel where a 4 year old was reading shakespeare and Dante, so Abby is a very intelligent six year old, I thought she could easily read Jane Austen. In fact, I was 6 when, I saw pride and prejudice for the first time and fell completely in love with it. I come from a family of avid readers, so with the help of my mom (and of course with a lot of help from the big ol' dictionary) I started reading it at that age. So Abby gets that Jane Austen obsession from me (well, I am still very much obsessed with Jane Austen).
Next source of inspiration comes from my niece, who is just 7 and jabbers on like an adult, picking up expressions from her mother.And it's a fact that if you do activities with babies, be it reading, singing or whatever, they pick up on it at a very young age.. So we know Brooke used to read to her, so Abby got hooked to reading.
As I don't have any kids of my own, so I don't have much knowledge about kids, I just took whatever little I know from the kids around me, the TV kid, my niece and myself and used it as inspiration to write Abby's character.
I don't why, but I have always imagined brucas kid to be super intelligent. I am really sorry if I couldn't capture an intelligent six year old's essence properly, but that's just how I see Abby to be. :)
Okay now that I am done with my rambling, let's move on to the story!
Oh! Did I tell you I love you all? Because I do!
Lucas stood on the stairs and saw the taxi cab leaving. He had called her out in hopes of stopping her, but she didn't. Maybe she didn't hear me, he thought. Then scoffed, of course she had heard him, he knew she had heard him, maybe she even knew he was here, maybe she had seen him. He sighed in frustration as he turned around to go inside.
As he went inside he was stopped by many guests, mostly women, telling him they were his fan. This had been happening since he entered the ballroom, this evening. He slipped on his fake smile, and thanked them and talked to them about his books. He hated this part of being a famous author. He loved his fans, he was thankful for them, but being the center of attention always made him feel awkward.
When he managed to dodge his fans and meet Lindsey she beamed at him.
"guess who I met today?"
"who?"
"Brooke Davis!"
He almost shuddered hearing her name again.
"remember I used to say that all the people from film and fashion industry are just too fake and bitchy? I take that back! She is really sweet and down to earth." she said with a big smile.
"good" said Lucas trying to hide his irritation.
"huh! You are not even listening. And where have you been for so long and where is the drink that you went to get?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "the bar was too crowded, I couldn't get it, sorry"
"Luke are you alright? you just look so… Off. Always say you don't get jetlag, but are you sure?" Lindsey asked with concern.
"Yeah I guess I do have Jetlag." he said, internally thanking her for providing him with an excuse.
"Hey Lindz, I am really not feeling that great. Would you mind if I just went back to my room?" he asked wanted to just go back to his room and drown himself in some strong scotch and contemplate on the events of this evening.
"No its alright, go and rest, you look terrible." she sympathized.
"thanks. I'll see you tomorrow." he kissed her cheeks and walked out as fast as he could, dodging the fans.
-x-
As the penthouse door flung open, Millicent and Abby turned around to see Brooke enter. Millicent looked at her watch and raised her eyebrows in surprise and Abby smiled brightly at the sight of her mother.
"you are back early" said Millicent.
"yeah, the event was boring and macaroons and pride and prejudice sounded too tempting to miss." she said with a smile as he tossed her clutch on the couch and sat down on the floor, at the foot of the couch. She hugged Abby tightly and sighed.
Millicent didn't miss the distressed look on her face and knit her eyebrows in concern.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly.
Brooke let go of Abby and picked up a macaroon from the box on her lap and smiled. She took a bite and sighed contentedly.
"yeah, never been better." she said assuring Millicent.
Millicent knew something was troubling Brooke, but she also knew there was no point probing if Brooke didn't want to talk about it. They watched movies till Abby passed out on her lap and their eyes were heavy with sleep. This was good, his was safe. This was family.
-x-
Lucas pulled on his tie with one hand as he slid the keycard in the doorslot with his other hand. He entered his room, dropped the tie on the floor and raided the minibar. He grabbed as many tiny bottles of alcohol as he could hold in his hands and sat on the couch. He gulped down three nips of alcohol, not caring what type. All he wanted to to was get drunk. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even feel the usual burn of alcohol in his throat.
Brooke's face flashed in front of him, the sparkle in her eyes as she talked about the project in her raspy voice, her dimpled smile as she talked to the guest after her speech and her taking off in that taxi. The wondered what it would have been to talk to her after so many years. He wondered again why she left all of a sudden, if it was just a coincidence, maybe she just had other events to attend. But somehow he was sure that she left on purpose because she didn't want to see him.
He flung the empty bottle towards the wall and in shattered into a million pieces. His bitterness and ego taking the better of him, he decided he didn't want to see her either. Why should he bother to find her when she didn't want to be found.
He ego taunted him for running after her like an idiot, he cursed himself for thinking about finding her, even for a second. He hated for being affected by someone who meant nothing to him.
"nothing" he hissed, affirming his thoughts.
He took another swig of the liquor and this time he hissed as felt the on burn in throat as it traveled through his food pipe to his stomach. He finally registered the alcohol generate some heat in his stomach.
"Go to hell Brooke Davis" he yelled to the empty room and chugged down the remaining contents of the bottles.
-x-
Brooke woke up to her ringing phone. She disconnected the call without even seeing the caller ID. It was a Sunday and she never worked on a Sunday. It rang again and she frowned as she saw he number of her midtown store manager.
"for God's sake it's a Sunday! What do you want Sam?"
"Umm.. Brooke, sorry. I know its a Sunday, but there's just a crisis in the store. Could you please come here, it's urgent or else I wouldn't have called you." said the manager nervously.
"okay I'll be there as soon as possible." she said and without saying anything further she disconnected the call.
Brooke sat with her head in her hands. She had promised to take Abby to the zoo, how was she going to tell her they wouldn't be going. This would break her heart. She sighed defeatedly and dragged herself out of the room.
She opened Abby's bedroom door and found her stretching her arms and waking up. She walked to her bed and petted her hair.
"Good morning baby!" Brooke smiled.
"Goood morning mommy" Abby said in her morning voice.
"so what does my princess want for breakfast?"
"waffles!" Abby beamed.
"waffles it is then! Go brush your teeth and come downstairs" she said and Abby jumped out of her bed running into her bathroom..
-x-
Garry entered into Lucas' suite and saw mini alcohol bottles lying around on the floor. He saw some broken pieces of glass and avoided stepping on them. As he walked further in, he found Lucas passed out on the couch, still wearing his his dress shirt and black trousers, his shoe clad feet hanging from the couch. He opened he curtains and the sun rays fell directly on Lucas' face and he groaned as if he rays were cutting into him.
"Wake up sleeping beauty! Looks like you had a time of your life last night." said Garry and Lucas moaned again covering his face with his arms.
"Wake up! No time to waste, we have a very busy day today. " he shouted from the bedroom as he tried to find something suitable for Lucas to wear for his book reading.
"could you be any louder." Lucas groaned as he sat up holding his throbbing head in his hand.
"why the fuck did you chug down the whole mini bar when you knew you have a busy day today." he said in a disapproving tone and tossed a bottle of advil. Garry was all for fun, drinking till he passed out, waking up with a stranger, but when it came to business, he was a no nonsense guy.
"thanx" Said Lucas catching the bottle and quickly popping to pills.
"can you please order some breakfast while I take shower. And some really strong coffee." said Lucas as he dragged himself to the bathroom.
"Yes honey, whatever you say" Mocked Garry.
-x-
After breakfast Abby got busy watching cartoons and Brooke went to her room to get ready. She still didn't know how to break her little girl's heart. The problem was who would babysit her, Jessi or any other babysitter was not available on Sundays. She could take Abby to the store with her, but that would just mean further spoiling her Sunday because Brooke would be really busy solving the problem and Abby would be stuck in her office. She sighed and got down the living room. Abby was so engrossed in the cartoons that she didn't even notice Brooke standing behind her.
"Sweetie" Brooke called her out.
"hmm" said Abby, her eyes glued in the television.
"I need to go midtown, to the store. Would you like to come with me or would you like me to drop you at aunty M's?"
Abby finally looked at her mother and pouted.
"but you promised we'll go to the zoo today." she whined.
"I know honey, I'm sorry. Something came up. Maybe we can go next week." Brooke said trying to cheer her up.
"Not fair! you said that last week. I want to go to the zoo." Abby said crossing her arms.
Brooke sighed remembering last week when they had to cancel their plans because some very important clients were in town and she had to attend a meeting. She had taking Abby to the headquarter and Abby had been a darling and happily played with the staff members.
Brooke took out her phone and dailed a number.
"Sam, I can't make it. If you can't handle it call Millicent. I have more important things to do today." she said and disconnected the call.
Abby happily jumped on Brooke and hugged her.
"thank you mommy! I love you."
"I love you too." Brooke giggled.
"now go get ready quickly."
"Can Neal come with us?" Abby asked.
"sure, let me call and see if he is free. Now go and get ready before I change my mind." said Brooke with a smirk as she tickled Abby and Abb jumped out of her lap and ran to her room giggling.
-x-
After some breakfast and coffee, Lucas felt a little better, but not enough to work the whole day on a Sunday. He had one of the worst hangover headache throughout the day. Still he went through the day professionally, reading books giving autographs, doing an interview with a local news channel. Sundays on a book tour were always the busiest days. 10 cups of coffee later be he did the final book reading. Once it was over he declared it to the worst day of his life and swore that he would never drink again.
He went to a fancy restaurant with Garry and Lindsey. It was just the usual New York evening as he always spent in the past 6 years. they discussed about the movie dealand rest of the remaining events. Lindsey and Garry brought up the topic of next book and Lucas avoided it as usual. Garry flirted with Lindsey and she as usual shot him down. He walked to his hotel and sighed when he finally hit the bed.
Brooke on the other hand had one of the best day in a long time. She had been so caught up in work lately with the clothes over Bros line releasing soon that she felt she was neglecting Abby. Abby was always a sweetheart and never complained. She had always seen her mother work this hard and it was nothing out of the ordinary for her. But Brooke always felt guilty whenever she had to leave her. But today was a good day, although she was receiving numerous calls from the store even after Millie went to handle it, yet she was happy to spend her time with her baby and her best friend. She, Abby and Neal spent the whole day together doing anything and everything.
They went to the Bronx zoo, looked at numerous aminal. Abby loved the butterfly garden and was wide eyed when face to face with the lion. She loved the camel ride. They had burgers, French fries and strawberry milkshake. Neal picked her up on his shoulder when she was too tired to walk. By the time they got home Abby was sleeping in Neal's arms, resting her head on his shoulder. He gently put her in her bed and brooke kissed her and tucked her in.
Once they tip toed out of Abby's room Brooke smiled ear to ear and her eyes sparkled with joy.
"you look more excited that Abby" Neal laughed.
"Best day ever! Thank you so much for coming along with us. We should definitely do this more often." she giggled, her dimples on full display.
"whatever you say" Neal smiled.
-x-
It had been almost two weeks since the fun Sunday in zoo with Abby and Neal. Brooke had been extremely busy throughout. He had cancelled going to the midtown c/b store on that Sunday, but the problem was beyond what Millicent could handle, it had just augmented the problem and she had to work extra hours to repair the damage, but it was all worth it. The time she spent with Abby was precious and she would have done it again if she had to. After Saturday's almost encounter with Lucas she had been on the edge that night and on Sunday morning., but since then she had forgotten about it and happily went about her life.
Lucas too had a very busy schedule with the interviews, book readings, a guest lecture in NYU. She also had book readings in two of the most prestigious private schools. In one of the schools he met the cute little light brown haired girl. He thought it was funny how he met that kid again and again, thrice in two weeks. He was finally enjoying New York again. He thought about Brooke the morning after he gala but he had decided not to find her and was happy with his decision. It had been two weeks and he hadn't thought about Brooke again after that night.
-x-
Brooke sipped her double shot latte with extra foam as the worked on her latest sketch in her office. There was a knock on her door and she looked up to see Millicent standing there nervously.
"what's wrong Millie?" Brooke sighed. It had been too long she had been dealing with crisis on after the other and hadn't been able to work on her sketches.
"Brooke I have a meeting with Luisa and need the zafferano deals file. Can't find it anywhere" she said nervously.
"oh honey I am so sorry. I took that file home a few days ago and just forgot to bring it back. I go get it for you" Brooke bit her lips.
Millicent sighed in relief.
"Oh that's alright. I'll get it. Anyways the meeting is near your house." Millicent smiled.
"oh! That's good then, I'll give you a ride. I don't have any appointments today. I was anyways thinking of leaving early." said Brooke as she gathered her sketches, her bag and her phone before leaving.
-x-
Jessi was padding up and down the living room, biting her nail nervously. Abby had sneaked out yet again. She had partied hard and had a hell of a hangover when she came to babysit Abby. Abby had asked her to take her out somewhere as she was bored,but Jessi being so hungover asked her to go to her room and play. She had dosed off on the couch and when she woke up she couldn't find Abby anywhere. Jessi cursed repeatedly. She knew she shouldn't have been drinking so much on a week night like she had been doing lately with her new boyfriend.
The frontdoor opened and Jessi prayed it to be Abby. She rushed to the door and froze to find Brooke and Millicent.
"fuck! What is she doing home" Jessi muttered nervously under her breath.
"Hey Jessi! What's up?" greeted Brooke.
Jessi was a 28 year old and jobless when she came to Brooke for the babysitter's interview. She had no reference, no prior experiences and she was in dire need of a job. Brooke remembered her junior year when her parents lost all the money and she couldn't et à job because she had no experience or reference. She had finally landed a pathetic job where she had to wear a pathetic lobster outfit and handout pamphlets, and that was tree hill. This is New York and she knew how tough it is to get a job here. Jessi looked like a good person and she was fun and sweet and looked trustworthy, so Brooke gave her the job and she didn't regret it. Jessi had been Abby's babysitter for almost a year and Abby loved her. Jessi had been acting a bit weird lately but she ignored it as long as she was doing her job properly.
"Umm.. H-hi Brooke… uh.. You are home e-early." stammered Jessi.
"yeah, I was free so I thought I'll give you the evening off and spend some time with Abby." Brooke said as she walked to her home office to get the file for Millicent.
"by the way where she? Is she sleeping?" asked Brooke as she walked back to the hall and handed Milliers the file.
Jessi broke into tears and repeatedly mumbled her apology. Brooke's heart raced on the thought of Abby being hurt.
"Jessi, where's Abby? Is she alright? Is she hurt? God! Why the fuck are you crying"
"Brooke I'm so sorry… I ddon't know, I was just here, I don't know how she.. I told her not to….." Jessi rambled.
"what the fuck are you saying Jessi… I can't understand a word. Where is Abby" Brooke raised her voice and demanded in a commanding tone.
"she sneaked out. I called every place she could be. No one has seen her. I am so sorry" Jessi said in a small voice.
Brooke froze hearing the news for her missing baby girl. Anger boiled in her and she shouted.
"what the hell Jessi? How can she sneak out? She is not even six? Where the fuck where you?"
"I'm sorry" Jessi whispered in between her sobs.
"If anything happens to my baby, I'll make sure you never get a job anywhere for the rest of your life." Brooke hissed at Jessi, hating the sight of her.
"Brooke, calm down I'll just make some calls and try to find her." Millicent rubbed Brooke's shoulder as Brooke shivered with panic and anger at once.
Millicent was talking to the office security when the intercom buzzed. Brooke ran to pic it up and the front desk told her Abby was coming up. Millicent disconnected the call and went to Brooke.
"listen she is home. Don't worry know and don't be to hard on her please." Millicent requested knowing Brooke was very loving but could be very strict when she needed to be.
"some man brought her home. Micheal from from desk said it's the man who brought her home the last time. You understand what this means Millie? This is not the first time she sneaked out. I didn't even know about it." she whispered in utter disbelief.
"I'll cancel the meeting" said Millie.
"no, no you go Millie, I'll handle this" Brooke said calmly.
"Are you sure?" Millie asked adjusting her glasses.
"yeah" Brooke gave her an assuring smile.
"okay then I'll see you after the meeting." she squeezed Brooke's hand one last time before rushing out of the door.
Millicent waited for the elevator and as the elevator door opened her Jaws fell open too.
"Lucas" she said in an almost inaudible tone.
Lucas looked at her with confusion. He didn't know this woman, yet she said her name as if she knew him. Then he figured she might be a fan amd smile at her politely. Millicent's phone buzzed loudly breaking her trance. It was Luisa, she quickly got into the elevator and picked out the call telling Luisa she'll be there soon. This is bad, really bad, she thought as the elevator took her away from the calamity that was about to happen.
-x-
The door bell rang and Brooke rushed and flung open the double door.
"Abigail Karen Davis is are so much in trou—.."
She froze as she saw the blonde-haired, blue-eyed man staring at her and looking as shocked as she was.
-xx-