Summary: Julian is about to lose his job after the company he works for is combining with another. His boss, Lucas, always flirted with his wife, Brooke. What happens when Julian pushes Brooke to sleep with Lucas to keep his job?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the little boys. Everything else is owned by One Tree Hill. The title is from a Fall Out Boy song!
I'm not sure if I really truly like this chapter but I rewrote my ideas three times and settled sort of on this one. I will not be able to up date for the rest of the week as I'm heading to Florida and then school starts when I get home again. So I'll try to update when I get home and I'll jot down ideas when I'm away. Enjoy this! Thanks!
Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging
Chapter Thirteen
Brooke's Point-of-View
Stupid fucking state of North Carolina custody laws. One must start with going to mediation to determine if custody can be agreed upon between the parents before seeking help from a judge to hear the case.
After Julian fought on every single fucking option I gave him, we ended up in court.
I personally think a 2-2-5 schedule or 50/50 would work best, according to Lindsey. I wanted to hold custody during the week and Julian every other weekend but start where compromises can be made.
Julian didn't even have a job now. Me, well I was working as a secretary for the past two weeks for the Scotts. Yeah I probably got it because of Lucas but I still had to interview with HR and the whole shebang. It paid me enough for a tiny house to be rented, room for the boys to each have their own rooms.
But as of now, they haven't seen it. He some how got me to have supervised visits for threat of flight risk. Flight risk my ass. He just wants me to suffer, and that is what I'm doing.
Talking to the boys nightly and seeing them twice a week is killing me.
"Your honor," my lawyer spoke with such confidence. I'm sure if I were lying she would be able to tell anyone a lie in such a way that they would believe it, "this whole case is a bunch of lies. I have proof that Mrs. Baker was not heading away forever with the sons in the matter, that it was just a weekend get away."
"A getaway that my client knew nothing about," Julian's lawyer spoke. "He showed up at home with half of everyone's clothing missing and his sons teddy bear on the driveway. Wouldn't that scare you?"
"If he didn't show up intoxicated- something that if one will question the son- would be proven as true."
"A six year old does not comprehend the ability to know what it means for someone to be intoxicated. Plus, wouldn't the school deny the child to leave with the father if they sensed worry from him being intoxicated?"
"Or he could have become intoxicated between the time picking up the child and arriving at home. There are versions of the story; different from the story Mr. Baker is speaking about. If there is proof of these differences then why have a court order that stands on nothing?"
I just watched the bickering, back and forth like a tennis ball during a match. They continued on and on for God knows how long but I only paid attention when the judge spoke, but something with the way his lawyer spoke made me nervous.
Lindsey, my lawyer seemed amazing. She was dead set on proving that something fishy has occurred between the judicial system and my case, something that Julian probably did, but nothing can be proven, sadly.
"Your Honor, there are three things that are of focus when it comes to custody cases in North Carolina: the best interest of the child, the child may not participate in the proceedings and status quo for the family." Lindsey went on, "my client has been the soul care provider for her sons since they were born. She dealt with the day-to-day activities while Mr. Baker handle the financial aspect of their family. If one were to stick to the status quo wouldn't that be putting custody of the children where they belong and have been with?"
"My client has been supporting these children since they were born, to support means to provide for and that what he is doing. Was it his fault that his was the one working to provide for his family? Working means he shouldn't be the person in charge of his children. To me that seems absurd."
Julian's lawyer was so snarky pro-father's lawyer. Some thirty something male who has graying hair and thinks he is better than anyone in the world right now. He seemed like, from the harsh meetings, that he is a whiskey kind of guy.
I personally love a beer kind of guy.
"I am not denying that he is physically supporting them but is he really emotionally supporting them?" Lindsey stood strong armed, ready to fight if needed. "Where was he when one son got a cut, or when one was sick? Mrs. Baker was there, not him."
"Enough is enough," The judge spoke loudly, his voice echoing through out the wooden walls of the old courtroom, "this is not a place for children to be brought into. You two will need to learn to come together to work as co-parents to do what best is for your children."
I understood. Some day I think I will be able to let my anger towards Julian go, but now is not the time or place too.
"What is best in my opinion would be court order mediation," The older man spoke.
"Your honor, we tried and failed at that three separate occasions," Lindsey went on, "Ever compromise my client presented was shot down unless she gave into have her sons every other weekend."
"Because that is what my client feels is best for his children." Julian's lawyer rebutted.
"Well we have recently got word, your honor, that the plantiff is moving to Raleigh for work at the end of the month. That would be a two hour commute. What will be done with school?"
Thank you Lucas for getting the phone call about a recommendation for Julian for a job.
"They can go to a school one week and a school another week." Julian's lawyer spoke out of his ass. How would that possibly work?
"These children need consistency." Lindsey spoke. "Home to them is Tree Hill, not Raleigh. Why should they have to move away from their mother because their father was fired?"
"Fired for their mother's open legged policy."
"This needs to be solved today." He held a stern look as he looked at Julian, "As for you, Mr. Baker, I wouldn't try any more of those shenanigans you do with the cops. If I had the power and want, I would make sure those children were protected from you." He paused, "It is ordered that custody shall be handed to their mother, with every other weekend be hand to their father for visitation. Mr. Baker, next time you want to get what you want, go about it the right way. You have until tomorrow at 9am to bring the children to Mrs. Baker's home. Custody for every other weekend will begin next weekend. Court is adjourned, the order will by typed up and signed by me."
I sat there stunned, was this really over or did hell just begin?
Lindsey looked at me and smiled happily, "Stage one complete, Brooke." She was excited, "But now we get to the annoying stage of if he follows the order. As of now you'll be able to get your sons on Sunday. Enjoy it."
Tomorrow I will get them just as I wanted them. They'll be mine, all mine.
"Call me if he doesn't bring them, we'll fight even harder and this time he'll get penalized for it."
"Thank you Lindsey." I hugged her. If it were possible, I'd give her my life right now. "Thank you for everything."
"Don't worry about it, I was just doing my job."
A kick ass job that is
"I won, Luke. He get's every other weekend for the shit he pulled?" I called him as soon as I got to my car. I had to share my good news with someone and as of right now he is the only one I have left. "I get them tomorrow for good."
"See, I knew something good would happen. Lindsey's good right?" There was something in his voice that made me nervous.
Since the boys were taken from me, Lucas has been there. He was the one I could turn to for support. The one that would clear my doubts away when they fogged my brain. He was there for me. That was what I needed.
But now it seemed distant. Like almost similar to him pulling away.
I would now, since custody is figured out and divorce is in the process of being completed thanks to Lindsey, take the relationship further again. But I'm scared too.
"Yeah, she's good." I paused, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah everything is okay, Baby."
"Can you still come over tonight? I'd like to see you." I was nervous again. This whole day has been one nervous wreck after another.
He paused before answering, something was wrong, I could feel it, "Yeah, I'll come by after work. There's something I need to discuss with you."
"I'll see you then." I hung up not even bothering asking what it was. I felt it in the pit of my stomach that something was completely wrong and my excitement for the day will be gone.
-XO-OTH-XO-
"I grabbed some pizza for us, if that's okay?" Lucas asked as soon as he walked in the door. "I was hungry and think of it as a celebratory pizza."
I laughed slightly with a smile on my face, "Yeah, pizza sounds good."
Gone were my preppy court clothing, they were replaced with sweatpants and t-shirt that was Lucas's. I was comfy and it felt good that I didn't need to worry about how I look in front of a guy. With Lucas I was comfortable with being myself.
"I'm glad court went well for you, I don't think I could've been okay with myself if something happened. I mean I'm the reason this whole mess started."
"Luke, don't even think that. At first I almost thought of that, but then I realized something. I realized that if it didn't happen then, it would happen sometime soon. He would've snapped and I would've done exactly what I did. I don't blame you and I don't want you to blame yourself."
"But Brooke,"
"No," I sat on his lap, completely forgetting about the pizza for a second. "No more blaming."
"There's something else also." He looked down at my hands, holding them for some sort of support. "My dad bought a new company he is trying to fix and then sell if possible. He wants me to run it."
"I feel like there is a but in there somewhere."
"There is," He sighed, "It's in Charlotte."
"Three hours from here." I felt like breaking down. Everything seemed to be going so well and now it was crashing around me again. I couldn't loose him, I wouldn't and can't without breaking down.
"I don't want to go."
"Luke,"
"No, I'm going to tell him I can't do it."
"I can't let you do that, Luke. There's time to see each other I guess, still." I shrugged it off. "You should go."
"But I don't want to leave you."
"Mama!" Grant and William ran into the house, arms open wide for me to hug them.
"Daddy says we stay here now, Mama. Is that true?" William asked and I nodded in response.
"Yeah, you two are stuck with me, now." I smiled, or tried too. I looked up at Lucas and lipped to him that we'll talk later.
I was excited that my boys were home but what does this mean for Lucas and I?
Him moving does put a damper on things. I guess when the boys go to visit Julian I can see Lucas.
Can I make this work?