Brooke revolved in her office chair, chewing the top of her pen and lost in her thoughts. It was way too early to be in the office and with no one there yet, the silence just made her inner voices, her inner thoughts louder. Last night had been really weird and confusing. When she came back home and found Lucas sitting there, she was nervous, even uncomfortable but something happened and they just fell into normal conversation as if the last six years hadn't happened, as if the altercation that happened a few weeks ago hadn't happened, as if it was just normal for them to joke and banter and have a normal late night coffee. It felt so easy that she picked up Haley's topic. Her heart ached every time she looked at her friend and Lucas, keeping her secret had cost Haley her friendship with Lucas, but Brooke never wanted that. So when last night everything seem so light and easy she talked to Lucas about Haley and in that moment everything went back to how it was. The six years showed up again, the altercation they had before talking to Abby, showed its ugly face too. And yes, he definitely hated her. She could see it in his eyes how much he despised her.
When everything went back to being awkward and uneasy, she lay in her bed, unable to sleep. That was the reason why she was in her office at the crack of dawn. She had told Millie she had to finish some designs which were needed today, for the meeting and had asked her to stay till Lucas and Abby were up. But being the overachiever she had been, her designs were complete a week ago and with nothing to occupy her, her thoughts traveled to the past.
{Flashback}
"oh my god!" Brooke exclaimed resting her chin on his chest.
"what happened?" Lucas scrunched in face.
"Is that a smile? Is Lucas Scott smiling?" said Brooke dramatically.
"very funny, Pretty Girl" he smirked and flipped her on her back and pinned her under his body.
Brooke's giggle turned his smirk into a full blown smile again. He could never have enough of that giggle.
"I missed your smile, Broody…. So much" she smiled dreamily at him. Oh what could she not do to keep that smile there forever!
"I am happy" Said Lucas kissing her nose.
"After what feels like ages, I am happy again, Brooke. I am happy being here with you." he said kissing her neck.
"mmh.. Yeah, I thought you'll like it here." Brooke gasped as her body tingled with his feather like kisses.
Brooke had booked a weekend getaway at a serene mountain lodge which was nestled on the shore of a lake in between the breathtaking woods. It was peaceful, it's was romantic, it was perfect. It was what they needed.
It felt like ages that she spent some alone time with her boyfriend. Since Keith's death everything just went haywired. Her heart ached for Lucas, she wanted so much to help him, but the grief make him bitter, made him shut everyone out, he pushed her away. Her heart broke when he left on a road trip with Karen and never called her once. She hated every moment they were apart, but she acted as if it didn't matter. To be honest, it broke her with every passing day, it scared her, the intensity of her feelings scared her. She never thought she could miss someone so much. He parents were always absent but she never missed them as much as she missed that blonde boy. It scared her how deep she was in with him and it hurt that he didn't even miss her enough to call her or even just send a text. It was painful. But when he returned, he looked better and all what mattered was he was back and he didn't push her away anymore. Their weekend in the woods with friends was so good. He opened up a little. Her heart swelled when he called her Pretty Girl again, when he made love to her again.
Things were finally becoming good again so she booked this little getaway to surprise him, and surprise he was. They reached the lodge on Friday night and hardly ever left the room.
Brooke sighed at how safe she felt under him as his fingers caressed her naked body.
"I love you, boyfriend." she purred as he gave her soft kisses on her neck travelling up to her lips.
"I love you too, Pretty Girl" he mumbled against her lips before capturing them into a fierce kiss.
Lucas ran his tongue on her lips. He loved those lips and more than anything his loved the owner of those lips. Their tongues danced together in the music of desperation. They separated after what seemed like hours. Panting he rolled his hips on her and she giggled breathlessly feeling his hardness against her.
"again?" she giggled and Lucas rolled his hips again.
"mhmm… it's been so long" he said biting her earlobe. "Lucas" she half moaned and half giggled his name. "it's not even been an hour" she managed to smirk in between her shortening of breath.
He kissed every inch of her flawless body. Brooke let out a breath as Lucas latched his mouth on a breast and played with her other. Brooke ran her fingers and his shouders. She always thought his shoulders were really sexy, hell! his everything was sexy.
"Lucas" she gasped as his kisses traveled south and he kissed her inner thigh. He looked up at her and smiled against her thighs looking at the need in her eyes. He kissed her everywhere around the place where she actually wanted him to kiss.
"Broody" she growled threading her fingers in his hair and pulling him to where she needed him. Lucas chuckled at her actions. He loved how unabashed she was about sex, how she knew what she wanted and was never embarrassed to ask for it.
"Oh Pretty Girl, I love you so much." he smiled as he pulled her thighs apart and dipped his head to suck on her clit.
"oh boy!" she gasped as his tongue worked wonders down south. It still amazed her what this boy could do to her with his tongue. Those intricate designs he made with his tongue, that delicious tingling sensations she felt as he swept his tounge there, turned her body into a quivering mess. She felt those tingles build up again. Her walls pulsated against his tongue, she wanted a release but not like this.
"baby.. No" She pulled at his shoulder and he looked up at her in confusion.
"what wrong baby?" he asked in horror. She never stopped him. Never! She laughed looking at the horror in his eyes and pulled him into a kiss.
"I was close" she panted.
"I know…"
"but I don't want it like that…. I want to feel you Luke…."
"I need to feel you." she mumbled as his lips crashed on to hers and he entered her, pushing Brooke off the edge. He held her close as her body spasmed under him. He kissed her forehead and grinned at her as she let a weak satiated smile. Once she caught her breath again and pulled him into a searing kiss, he started moving into her in slow passionate movements, with every thrust whispering sweet nothing into her ears, driving her crazy again. Oh, how he loved this girl! He had realized he loved her after losing her, but what made him realize the intensity of his love was when he got back from the road trip. He saw the pain in her eyes and it broke him, but how she had hidden it with a smiled and welcomed him back, never trying to make him feel guilty for leaving her and not calling her, how she understood his pain even when he didn't understand it properly, how she was still there even when he pushed her away after Keith's death, it just made him fall harder for her.
His pace quickened and he felt things bubbling inside him. "Lucas" she moaned his name kissing his shoulders and clawing his back. Lucas felt her quivering under him again and he trusted hard as he felt his own relief approaching. "God!" he gasped burning his face in her neck.
"come here" he whispered as he rolled off her and pulled her close to him. She snuggled in to him letting out a deep blissful sigh. Her life was perfect when she was in his arms.
{flashback ends}
"Davis!" a loud voice pulled her out of her thoughts and she flustered as she felt her cheeks heat up. She looked up at her PR manager blankly, still trying to regain her posture.
"are you alright? You look all flushed." he asked furrowing his brows.
"Umm.." she cleared her throat "Yeah I'm fine. Uh… why are you gracing me with your presence so early in the morning, Kevin." she joked.
"Really? You really don't know why I'm here?" he raised his eyebrows.
"No Kevin, what happened?" her voice laced with concern. Kevin was always cool and managed the P.R well. He hardly ever bothered to come to her to discuss things as he knew she didn't have any interest in it. He wrote the statements and most of the times she just read the final draft before signing. Him being her in her office meant something was wrong.
"how could you not tell me this Brooke" he asked tossing the newspaper in front of her. Brooke picked up and opened the gossip section "shit!" she mumbled as she saw the news clip.
"how am I supposed to manage anything if you don't tell me what's happening?" he said sinking down on the chair.
"So, he is Abby's father?" he asked casually and Brooke's head snapped up to look at him with widened eyes.
"nothing like that is written here" she said going through the newspaper again.
"no, it's not written yet,but it won't take them to add two and two." said Kevin tapping his finger on the arm rest.
Brooke sighed, this is what she was afraid of. The paparazzi saw Lucas enter her building last and may have seen it a few times more in the recent past and concluded that something was budding between the writer and the fashion designer and once the dig deeper and find out the roots in tree hill, they would just blow things up out of proportion. She always kept Abby away from those story hungry paparazzi, but now it was inevitable.
"yeah, Lucas is Abby's father. But how did you..?" she sighed, dropping her head in her hands.
"honey it's my job to know, and as yo never tell me anything, I just have to guess. So I have becoming great in guessing things" he chuckled. "Anyways, I need the whole story now and call Lucas Scott and his publicist and fix a meeting asap. We need to decide a common statement and issue a press release before the media starts spreading unnecessary rumors.
All she wanted to do was avoid seeing him and now has to call him and possibly spend the whole day with him.
"aargh!!" Brooke groaned reaching for her phone.
-x-
"Hi Miss. Davis, I'm Garrison Truman, Mr. Scott's agent. It's really an honour to meet you." displaying his pearly white smile, he extended his hand.
"Hello Mr. Truman, nice to meet you too. This is my publicist Kevin Harris and his team." she said shaking his hand.
Lucas looked at her in confusion. She had called him to asked him to stay at her place and to call his agent. She had said nothing else, just that she'd be there in an hour.
"what's going on Brooke?" Lucas asked. Garry looked at Lucas in confusion. He had no idea Lucas was acquainted to Brooke let alone know her well enough to be on the first name basis.
"didn't you read the newspaper?" she asked knitting her brows together.
"well, you don't keep newspapers, do you?" he raised his left brow.
"oh yeah, sorry" she bit her lips. Garry saw the exchange and guessed that Lucas spent the night here. Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis dating!! That would be great for publicity, thought Garry and smile. Kevin's assistant handed a copy of the newspaper each to Lucas and Garry. "gossip section" he pointed.
"oh!" Lucas said. Speechless by what was written. Lucas himself had been quite famous. Seeing his name in the news wasn't a big deal anymore. His dating life had been entertainment news time and again, but this… This s crazy! It was just last evening that he came here and today it was news and that too with such exaggeration.
"Well, we need to release a statement before they figure out the real story and blow it out of proportion." said Kevin jumping straight to business.
"real story?" Garry's head snapped.
"I see your client is as difficult as mine" Kevin chuckled looking at Lucas' confused agent.
"ha? Luke? What's going on dude?" asked Garry, thoroughly confused.
"umm… Remember that day in the book cafe, When that little girl came asking to sign the book." said Lucas rubbing his neck.
"God! If I'll ever forget that firecracker. She total bit my head off. I still have nightmares about her." Garry rolled his eyes and Brooke looked away and pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing.
"well…. That firecracker… Abby... She is my daughter." announced Luke and Garry looked at him as if Lucas had spoken some alien language.
"sorry what? I think I heard something wrong." Garry asked blankly.
"umm… I have a daughter.. With Brooke and that's Abby." Lucas repeated, this time with a smile.
Garry looked at Lucas as if he had gone insane and turned to Brooke expecting her to looked as shocked, but Brooke bit her lower lip and nodded in affirmation.
"Shit! Is Brooke Davis the Brooke from "Unkindness of Ravens"?" Garry's eyes widened in realization as Lucas nodded.Garry regained his stance and turned all business like.
"how long have you known Lucas?"
"umm… About two weeks" Lucas shrugged.
"great! and you didn't think it's something you need to tell your agent?" he shook his head in disappointment when Lucas shrugged again. This news could just blow up in their faces badly if wasn't handled properly and with Ravens turning into a movie soon, this was a gossip handed in a silver platter for the paparazzi. He turned to Kevin in all seriousness.
"Mr. Harris, thank you so much for bringing this news to my notice. I agree we need to reveal it before the media can take advantage of the news." he stated.
"I am glad you agree with me. Let's just go and take a look at, the plan my team has come up with. And please call me Kevin." said Kevin raising from his seat. Garry gave a look to Lucas who was busy staring at Brooke. He shook his head and followed Kevin, leaving Brooke and Lucas in an uncomfortable silence.
"You left really early for work" said Lucas breaking the silence.
"umm.. Yeah.. Had a meeting today and the designs weren't ready. So decided to go early and finish it up." answered brooke and knitted her brows when Lucas scoffed.
"what?" she snapped.
"You didn't have designs completed on the morning of a meeting? Really? At least come up with something believable" he shook his head.
"what do you mean?" Brooke crossed her arms on her chest.
"Brooke if I know you at all, your designs were complete at least a week ago." he said looking at her with a challenging smirk. Brooke stammered uncomfortably under his gaze. She remembered her little walk down the memory lane she had in her office just a few hours ago and felt the heat rise in her cheeks. That, was the night he conceived Abby. That was the night that led them to this day.
"If me being here was a problem, you should have just told me. You shouldn't have have to leave your own home and go."
"It's nothing like that Lucas... I just… just needed some time alone." she mumbled clearing her throat.
Lucas looked into her eyes and saw a moment of unsurity and sadness flicker through her eyes. Before he could say anything, they were interrupted by their agents.
They read out the press release and Brooke made some corrections giving strict orders to make sure Abby is affect by this as less as possible. Kevin nodded knowing how protective Brooke has always been about Abby's personal life,always making sure she is kept away from the media. Brooke had build an image with the media, where the media knew well that if they tried to take a dig at her little girl, Brooke would totally shut the media out and not answer any further question about any topic. She had done that before and the media had learned its lesson.
"okay, it sounds good to me. Lucas you can change or add anything you want. I'll just go and wake up Abby, she has a dance class." she said getting up from the couch, straightening her dress as she walked towards the stairs. Lucas' eyes followed her as she disappeared behind the turn to Abby's room.
"Mr. Scott" called out Kevin pulling his attention towards him.
"uh. Yeah?" he said shaking his head slightly.
"Anything more you want to add to it?" questioned Kevin.
"Umm.. No sounds good to me." Lucas gave him a small smile.
"When are you planning to break this news?" Lucas asked, wanting to prepare himself and wanting to know how much time he had to tell a few people who are close to him before the news got out.
"Most probably tomorrow. I'll call a newspaper editor, she is a friend. She will handle this news delicately. I'll give Garry a call and give him the details." said Kevin with a genuine smile. Kevin and Garry went through the details one last time before he shook hands with Luke and Garry and left with his team.
"Dude!" Garry turned to Lucas as soon as they were alone.
"you banged Brooke Davis!" he whispered and Lucas cringed.
"dude you are an ass" Lucas said shaking his head.
"Fuck man why didn't you ever tell me? I mean I would have bragged if my banged such a fine piece of ass. And you have a kid? Fuck dude!! seriously a kid? And you never told me? Does Lindsey know?" he bombarded Lucas with questions and Lucas huffed.
"I didn't know about it Garry, I had no fucking idea that I had a child, damn it I had no fucking idea that Brooke was ever pregnant. And no, I haven't told Lindsey yet, but I need to tell her before the news gets out." said Lucas pressing the bridge of his nose and feeling a headache build up. Lucas has had a playboy image in the media and was afraid when this news comes out, things would take a bad turn. He just wanted to keep Abby safe from any idiotic situation the media would surely create.
"okay, I need to go now, I have a meeting and once you talk to Lindsey just let me know, cause I'll need to fix a meeting with the publishing house too, to make sure this news wouldn't affect your contract." said Garry, again turning all no nonsense.
Lucas grumbled dropping his head in his hands.
"it's going to be alright man" Garry said patting his shoulder before leaving.
-x-
Brooke came down with a sleepy Abby on her hip and Lucas turned to look at them. They were perfect. He smiled thinking at he finally had a family, Abby was his little girl and Garry was right, everything will be fine till he had his little girl. What he wouldn't let himself admit was what made Abby perfect was that she was on Brooke hip, he had a family with Brooke. Abby had tied them together in a way, forever. They were a family.
"hey baby girl" Lucas stood up greeting his sleepy little angel. Abby smiled but clung harder to Brooke's neck. Lucas bent down to kiss Abby's forehead and brooke stumbled a little feeling his breath on the back of her neck.
"are you alright?" worried Lucas holding her by her arm to stabilize her.
"yeah.. It seems she grows a little every day and it's becoming harder for me to pick her pick." Brooke chuckled.
"here, I'll take her" said Lucas pulling Abby on to his hips and frowning at Brooke.
"maybe it's not Abby, it's you" he squinted.
"huh! What?" she asked in confusion.
"you look thinner than you were in high school. How is that even possible?" he questioned making her chuckle.
"well, I have a company to run along with running after this brat." she laughed softly. "and I am not at all thin, Lucas" she said shaking her head and plopping down on the couch in exhaustion.
"you look exhausted. You came in late and left for office so early. I should go rest, I'll make Abby some breakfast and then drop her to the dance class." he offered.
"umm… Lucas, I think it's better you don't get seen with Abby in public before the statement is released." said Brooke biting her lips. She had told him to keep his time with Abby as private as possible and Lucas had made sure to not be seen in public with Abby. She knew it killed him that he had to be secretive about spending time with his daughter, but he understood it was to keep Abby safe.
"uh, yeah you are right. But you go take a bath or something I'll be here till that time." he shrugged.
"really? That would be great. Thanks" she smiled, really liking the idea of a hot bath. It was too early to be this exhausted, but all this newspaper drama had sucked out every bit of her energy. Gah! How she hated the paparazzi!!
"Abby baby wake up or daddy is going to tickle you" Brooke said winking at Lucas as she walked away to take the bath and heard her little girl burst into laughter with her Daddy. Oh, how she loved the laughs, both the laughs.
-x-
Lucas pressed his phone between his ear and shoulder as he hands worked on?
beating the eggs for omelette. It was so easy to work in Brooke's kitchen, as if he just knew where Brooke would keep what. The Phone rang and the woman with a calming voice picked it up.
"Luke! God where have you been? It's been ages I have spoken to you. All I ever get is your voicemail." the woman complained. Lucas cringed pouring the eggs in the pan.
"anyways how are you? Where are you these days? Are you back from London?"
Lucas chuckled "mom! Breathe" and he could imagine Karen rolling her eyes.
"that's not really funny Lucas. What's up with you. You hardly ever call since your last visit. I have been so worried." said Karen, concern evident in her voice.
"mom don't worry, I am fine. I was just… umm. Caught up with work. Anyways how are you? And how are Lilly and Andy?" asked Lucas and he seasoned the eggs and flipped the omelette.
"we are all fine. Lily misses her big brother and I miss my son."
"I miss you all too mom." Lucas sighed.
"uh" he cleared his voice, "are you guys still in Scotland?" he asked, still wondering how to bring up the topic.
"No, we are in New Zealand. Now with his mother gone, Andy wants to sell his house here."
"Oh. Okay" Lucas fell silent not able to bring up the topic. He turned the gas off and walked out of the kitchen, trying to find a better place to talk to Karen.
"Luke, what's wrong?" asked Karen and Lucas could imagine his mother knitting her brows in concern and already imagining the worst.
"Nothing's wrong maa. I…. I just…." he cleared his throat and spoke softly "I met Brooke"
"Oh!" Karen eyes widened.
"hmm.. Yeah" he chuckled humorlessly
"so you knew mom" he scoffed bitterly.
Karen let out a sigh "I just guessed. I mean Abigail looked like a copy of you, and I knew Brooke well enough to know that the baby had to be yours, I mean she was never the one to cheat on anyone."
Lucas closed his eyes feeling them burn. He had accused Brooke of being pregnant with someone else's child, even if not meaning it, but somehow his mom just knew Brooke would never do that. Where Did he go wrong? He wondered.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me mom?" he whispered in a cracked voice.
"honey, as much as I was sure the baby was yours, Brooke never ones mentioned you. When I asked, she told me some stupid story about some boy. I knew it wasn't true, but I had no right to say anything to you unless she wanted me to." she reasoned.
"Mom, I am the father. I had the right to know and you are the grandmother, you had the right to talk about Abby more than anyone else." he said bitterly.
"honey above anything, Brooke is the mother. A mother always does what's right for her baby. The other's might not see it, they might not understand it, other's might think it's selfish, but a mother always thinks of her baby first. It's instinctual." Karen softly explained.
"I kept you away from Dan. I didn't allow Dan to be a part of your life while growing up. A lot of people thought I was wrong doing that, but I knew I was right doing that." she reasoned and Lucas felt his anger rising.
"I am not Dan!" he gritted his teeth.
"oh Luke! honey, I know.. I know you are not Dan. I am not comparing you to him. I am comparing Brooke to myself. If you see it Brooke's and mine stories are quite similar. When you are pregnant, everything else just takes a back seat and the only thing that matters to you is your baby. I had my reasons to make my decision and Brooke must have had her own." Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. Lately every time Brooke was mention he seemed to be building a headache.
"I just don't know what to do. I am so mad at her that I don't want to see her face and then I see her with Abby and it just feels so normal.but God I hate f her for what is did to me."
"Lucas, they are your family. I don't know what happened with you and Brooke in the past and I don't know what will happen in the future, but now she is a part of your family and will always be, whether you like it or not. Just try to not hate her, and talk to her and try to understand her."
"hmm… I don't know… it's just too complicated mom." he sighed
"aw honey. I am so sorry. But just look at it this way, you have a beautiful daughter, you have finally found your daughter, your family. Just forget everything and make the most of it."
"umm.. Yeah I guess you are right. God mom, Abby is just so beautiful and so damn smart, but she looks exactly like Brooke." he laughed. "I still can't believe I have a little girl. She is just precious. I so want her to meet the rest of her family."
"Yes I want to meet my granddaughter too, officially. And Lily would love having another girl in the family. We'll be back as soon as possible. " Karen chuckled.
"okay mom, will be waiting to see you guys. Ok I gotta go. I'm making breakfast for Abby." he laughed softly.
"Okay. Love you, honey" Karen smiled.
"Love you too mom, bye." Lucas smiled disconnecting the call and walking towards the kitchen and he saw his pretty little girl skipping down the stairs.
-x-
Brooke came down the stair looking all refreshed after her bath. It felt like ages that she had relaxed like this. Being a single mom with a business to run, you never get too much time to relax.
She heard Abby giggle as Lucas told her some story about Lily. She smiled thinking how happy her little girl sounded. Abby was always a happy child. Even as a baby she was never very fussy and it just make Brooke life so easy. Brooke also felt that her angel always tried to make her life easier. Even a six Abby was way mature than other kids, maybe that was the effect of being brought up by a single mother. They spent a lot of time together and Abby was always laughing and giggling but the giggle she heard now was so much more than she has ever heard. Brooke felt her heart ache a little as she thought of how she kept her daughter away from this happiness. She could have been this happy, always. Did she take away a part of her childhood? Brooke wondered and immediately shook her head, not wanting to dwell on that thought. She knew she did what was necessary at that time. And she knew she would never regret it. She huffed in determination and placed a smile on her face.
"It smells good in here" she smile as at Abby as she hopped on the stool.
"Daddy made me my favourite cheese omelette. You know mommy, I have an Aunt Lily who is just as old as me. How cool is that?" she giggled.
"very cool" Brooke laughed and Lucas placed a plate in front of her and flipped and omelette on it.
"God! You didn't have to" Brooke looked at her omelette and then at Lucas who rolled his eyes and said nothing, just passed a fork to her.
"thank you" she whispered biting her lower lip and digging into her omelette. She took a bite and "mmhh" she moaned with satisfaction making Lucas and Abby laugh. "shut up and eat" said Brooke mumbled in mock anger making Abby giggle some more.
"Mommy I have dance class today" Abby reminded her mother who was eating in leasure. Brooke bit her lower lip in thoughts. The media was howering outside her building and tomorrow everything will anyways change after the news is out.
"Abs, I was thinking…. How about we skip dance class and skip office today…. And just have some fun today? Watch movies, tea party and maybe go out for dinner?" Brooke kinked her brows.
"Really?" Abby squealed. "will daddy be there too?" Brooke and Lucas exchanged looks and when Brooke gave him an approving nod, he smiled back.
"Yes baby girl, daddy will love to be there." said Lucas kissing her hair. He had to meet Lindsey today, but it could wait. Nothing was more important than this moment right now.
-xx-