A/N: Obviously I have been behind on my updating this week….School work has been keeping me a little busy, but today was sort of a slow day so I'm trying to catch up. I just don't want to update crappy chapters so I hope this will do.
Chapter Twenty-One: The Dragon
Aria and Sam arrive at the river court a few minutes after Aria went home to get her basketball. Peyton, Brooke and Sawyer were already there and they appeared to be playing tag or rather Sawyer was. Peyton and Brooke were standing in the middle of the river court with their arms wrapped around each other. Sawyer was running around them giggling and every so often she would tap her momma or her mommy's back and says you're it.
Aria bounced the basketball on the cement and Sawyer turned towards the sound.
"Aria," she said in excitement as she ran up to her friend.
Aria grins and hugs the girl that was encircling her legs with her tiny arms.
"Are you ready to play, girly?"
Sawyer nods her head enthusiastically. Aria hands her the basketball.
"Why don't you warm up while I talk to Sam okay?"
Sawyer grabs the ball and smiles.
"Are you going to kiss her?"
Both Sam and Aria blush at the little girl's comment.
"Just go practice shrimp," Sam says with a smile.
Sawyer runs away with the ball to the hoop and started shooting. Aria turns to Sam with a smirk.
"That girl is too smart for her own good."
Sam wraps her arms around Aria's waist.
"She is, but I believe you were about to kiss me."
Aria places her lips on Sam's. From a few feet away, Brooke and Peyton cheered. Sam pulls away and glares. Aria laughs, grabs Sam's hand and drags her over to Sawyer.
-Complications of the Heart-
Brooke and Peyton decided to take a seat on the sidelines and watched as their kids played basketball. Peyton was proud of her daughter. She was intently listening to what Aria was trying to teach her and that just made her happy. And the fact that it wasn't Lucas who was teaching her how to play basketball was an added bonus.
Brooke rested her head in her girlfriends lap as she thought about her family. For so long, it had just been her and then Sam had come into her life. Then it seemed like everyone left. Now everyone was back and things have been going well. It seemed like Sam was doing well with the help of Aria and Sawyer had started calling her mommy which made her heart swell to huge masses.
"You seem in deep thought."
Brooke sighs happily and turns her head upward and smiles at her girl.
"I'm happy with my life. For so long I was alone and then the next everything was different. You made me whole again and my dreams of having a family have come true. So, thank you."
Peyton grins and captures Brooke's lips with her own. Peyton pulls back with a smile.
"You don't have to thank me. You saved me too."
"I think you all are just a bunch of saps."
Brooke and Peyton turn towards Sam who takes a seat next to them.
"We could say the same to you."
Sam rolls her eyes.
"I'm happy, for the first time in a long time I'm happy."
"Everyone seems to be happy."
Sam, Peyton and Brooke turn to the person behind them that had spoken. It was Lucas.
-Complications of the Heart-
After leaving Lindsey at the hotel with their son he knew he had to at least talk to Peyton. Their divorce was finalized, but he still had a small amount of pain leaving Sawyer. Maybe it was to ease some guilt, he didn't know, but he had to do something.
When no one had answered the door to Brooke's home he decided to talk a walk around town and remember what he was missing after moving to New York. What he didn't expect was to see a bunch of girls at the rivercourt. One, he knew was his daughter and the other girl that was with her he had never seen before. He spotted Brooke, Peyton and Sam sitting in the grass on the sidelines.
"I'm happy, for the first time in a long time I'm happy."
Lucas wondered if he would be interrupting anything important, but he really didn't care.
"Everyone seems to be happy."
Lucas saw the girls turn towards them and he smiled hesitantly.
"What are you doing here Lucas?"
Lucas shrugs his shoulders at his ex wife.
"I wanted to talk to you."
Brooke sits up and walks away not paying any attention to Lucas or Peyton. Sam looks from Peyton to Lucas and frowns. Sam stands up and walks over to Lucas.
"If you hurt her, I'll hurt you," Sam says in a menacing tone that sort of scared Lucas a little.
Lucas watches with wide eyes as she follows Brooke. Peyton stands up and faces Lucas.
"I didn't think there is anything left to say. We're divorced and you gave up your rights to your daughter, that's it."
Lucas looks over Peyton's shoulder and sees Brooke holding his daughter in her arms.
"She calls her mommy," Peyton mentions. "She's upset with you Lucas. You coming back here are only going to make it worse. You legally let her go. You actually have to do it. Don't come back here."
"I grew up here Peyton. Is it so bad that I want to show my son where I lived?"
The mention of Lucas's son hurt Peyton, but she shook it off.
"You're right it isn't bad, but when you are here just leave my family alone."
Lucas sighs and nods his head.
"I'm sorry Peyton."
"I'm not. I'm happy," Peyton responded with a smile.
-Complications of the Heart-
"Why is the dragon here mommy?" Sawyer asks Brooke as Brooke picks her up.
"I don't know sweetie, but it looks like the dragon isn't being mean today."
"Peyton's tough. She knows what she can handle," Aria casually mentions.
"That's what I am afraid of."
"You worry too much mom," Sam says with a slight laugh.
"It's my job to worry Samantha," Brooke says as she watches Lucas walk away and Peyton walking towards them.
Peyton walks up with a smile.
"Why do you guys look so concerned?" Peyton asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Was the dragon bad, momma?" Sawyer asks innocently.
Peyton laughs.
"No baby, everything is fine. Why don't you show me your new moves?"
Brooke lets Sawyer on the ground and steps towards Peyton.
"Are you really okay?" Brooke asks softly.
"Honestly, I'm fine. Let's watch our daughter play some basketball."