"Ok…" the brunette brushed her hair from her face as she hit the little black button. "Baby, you want cereal?" she tossed a look over her shoulder at the gorgeous blonde behind her.
"Uh…yes," he nodded sucking hard on his lip as he scribbled on the paper. Placing his hand to his forehead, she laughed at the serious look on his face. As if what was on the paper was the most important thing in the history of the world.
"What are we doing?" she sat down the bowl and leaned close. Looking over his shoulder and ran her hand through his soft hair.
"Coloring…I make picture," he scribbled the crayon harder and she smiled. He was so happy, so amazingly happy and she loved even more that the look on his face was so identical to another blonde that held her heart that it made a relief wash over her.
"You know what we should do?" she toyed with his baby hairs above his ear and for a moment his blue eyes shifted from her before going back to the picture.
"What?" he turned to face her and she smiled leaning to rest her head against his.
"We should go wake up Lucas," she suggested and his whole face lite up.
"Otay!" he jumped up from his chair and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Let go mommy…"
"Let's go," she laughed, adjusting him on her hip as she walked up the stairs of the large home. It still almost fairytale like as she moved through it. Every time she pulled into the driveway she swore it was all make believe. "Ok…we have to be quiet," she whispered, cracking open the door to reveal the sleeping blonde on the bed. She swearing he hadn't moved a muscle since when she left him this morning. He was the stillest sleeper she had ever met.
"Shh…" he agreed and she bit back her laughter.
"Go…" she eased him on the bed and patted his little bottom. Him slowly creeping up the large body and sucked on his bottom lip.
"Hello…" he tapped his head and Brooke curled into herself laughing. "Daddy its Easton!" he squealed and her heart tightened into her chest at that. Closing her eyes she pulled in a long breath and slowly released it.
"What?" Lucas shifted a bit in the bed and stretched out his body. Cracking one eye open and yawned as he tried to adjust to the light coming into his room.
"Daddy! We wake up now!" he repeated and a slow smile started to creep across his face.
"I'm awake," he chuckled, grabbing Easton's little hands when they went to open his eyelids. "Why are you up? Isn't it early?" he raised a brow, tossing a look over at the smiling brunette before back at the small boy.
"No…" he giggled shaking his head.
"I guess it is close to nine," he yawned rubbing his eyes to rid the tiredness from it. "And I heard it's someone's birthday…" he stated and the little boy's eyes widened. "Do you know whose birthday it is?"
"Me!" he squealed throwing his hand up. "It's my birsday! I tree!" he held up his fingers and Brooke's eyes prickled with tears.
"What? It's yours?" Lucas looked shocked and Easton nodded quickly. "You know…" he shifted on the bed and tugged on the drawer of his nightstand. "Guess that means this is for you," he held out the small package.
"Yes!" he grinned snatching at the paper and throwing it up in the air. "Mommy!" he squealed at the old black race car in his hand. "Look!"
"I see it," Brooke smiled walking over and easing down beside them. "Looks like Lucas found your car," she eyed the boy who just shrugged and rolled his eyes.
"I lub dis car," he shook his head excited.
"I know you do buddy," Lucas ruffled his hair and dropped his hand to his girl's leg.
"Oh…" Brooke shifted to grab her phone of the nightstand when it started blasting. "Hello?" she brought it to her ear and brushed her hair from her face.
"Penny…" his tone was dead as if he was extremely serious, which he wasn't.
"Clayton…" she matched his tone with a smile.
"What you doing crazy girl?" he chuckled as he shifted in his chair.
"Nothing, just hanging out with my boys," she ran her hand through Lucas's hair as he started playing with Easton's car on the bed. "What are you doing?"
"Just waiting for Quinn to get up. She had issues sleeping last night," he explained still unsure of why that was. She had been in a weird mood the last few days and it was really lost to him. He had no clue what was going on. "I was wondering if she had mentioned anything being up with her…"
"Uh…" Brooke worried on her lip and Lucas's brows creased looking at her.
"Everything ok?" he whispered and she slowly nodded and cleared her throat.
"She's just been working a lot. I'm sure that's it," Brooke mumbled and hoped he didn't catch the lie. She loved Clay, she hated lying to him, however, Quinn had been her closet friend for years. She knows more about her than anyone, maybe even more than Lucas and she wouldn't out her. She wouldn't tell Clay she was pregnant when she knew she wasn't ready for him to know yet.
"I hope so…but how are you today?" he wondered and wasn't shocked by the long pause he received. "It's ok B…"
"I know…" she cleared her throat and swallowed the crack in her voice.
"Well, I was wondering if I might speak with that kid of yours?"
"That kid of mine?"
"Yeah…" he chuckled and she shook her head laughing.
"Sure," she leaned forward and held the phone out. "East…Uncle Clay wants to talk to you…"
"Clay!" he squealed excited grabbing the phone. "Clay! It me, Easton!" he announced as if the other man on the line didn't know. "I know!" he giggled, climbing off the bed and running out of the room.
"You think you're funny don't you?" Lucas rolled his head to look at the girl beside him. "Keep me up all night and then have him waking me up early?" he stated and she trapped her tongue between her teeth giggling.
"I'm kinda funny…"
"You aren't even a little funny," he reached for her and yanked her in his lap.
"Luke!" she squealed wiggling around as he started tickling her. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she flipped around and his arms tightened around her. "Lucas!" she gripped his hands and he flipped her on her back. His body pinning her down and his hands resting beside her head as she panted. "I'm sorry…" she repeated and sucked her bottom lip in her mouth.
"You ok?" he wondered and her eyes slanted looking at him confused. "You seem…sad…"
"I'm not sad," she told him quickly. "I promise. I've never been this happy…"
"You sure?" he asked swearing for a moment something flickered over when she was watching him and Easton.
"I'm fine, just tired. Between work and Easton and everything I'm just exhausted."
"Well," he twisted on the bed to face her. "Why don't you try to sleep some more and I'll go hang with Easton and go pick up everything."
"Thank you for offering but everything is pretty much done. Just have to pick up one more thing, but I have to get it."
"What is it?"
"Just something I have to get," she shrugged and watched his brows crease and as the wheels started to turn in his head.
"Ok…" his fingers trapped her chin and lifted it up for a sweet kiss. "I love you…" he whispered and her eyes fluttered shut. "And can I tell you something?" he wondered and she slowly cracked her eyes open to nod. "I really love hearing him call me dad…"
"Luke…"
"And I know I'm not," he rushed to tell her. "I'm not his dad, but I still was wondering if you were ok with him calling me it…instead of Lucas…"
"I'm ok with it," she told him and swore nothing was better than the smile that spread across his face.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," she told him and she swore he looked like a kid on Christmas. "Plus, I mean how confused would our children be when their big brother calls their dad, Lucas?" she pointed out.
"Our children?" his brow rose and she slowly nodded as she sucked on her bottom lip. "I definitely love hearing that…" he gave her a sweet kiss and she smiled sliding her hand to his cheek and enjoying it. "But ok," he pulled back and rested his head against hers. "I'm going to go jump in the shower and then we can get this show on the road."
"Don't tease me like that," she smirked and he chuckled giving her nose a sweet kiss and flipping off the bed. Swaying toward the bathroom and couldn't help but chuckle when he heard her squeal.
"Are you ready?" Brooke looked at her boyfriend who nodded. "Ok, I'll be right back. Get Easton…"
"On it," Lucas agreed taking a sip of his beer.
"On what?" Clay raised a brow to what was going on.
"We got Easton a present…something he's been wanting for a bit," Lucas explained and saw his friend still confused. "You'll see…" he chuckled.
"If you say so…" he took his own sip before letting his eyes scan around the large backyard. "Things seem good for you man. Both you and Brooke…"
"Yeah, we are happy. Really happy, actually," he told him and Clay watched as his friend's mind started clicking with around with something.
"But?"
"I don't know man, I'm sure it's nothing," he waved his hand at it and his friend just kept watching him. "Brooke has just been weird today…"
"Luke…"
"And I know she is stressing about Carter, but she has seemed to be doing really well lately. She has been working really hard at not concentrating on him and just being happy. However, today…today even when she is trying to be happy there is just something off…"
"It's not Carter," Clay told him quickly and Lucas looked at him confused. "I mean…it might be a little, however…"
"However what?"
"This day is always tough," he explained and Lucas's brows creased confused. "It's Will's birthday…" he gave a half shrug and Lucas's eyes closed.
"Damn it…" he cursed pulling in a long breath and running a hand over his face. "I…I forgot…she told me and I forgot…shit…" he felt the anger at himself build in him. He should have remembered. Right when they first started dating she had mentioned how they shared a birthday, how he forgot he didn't know. He should have remembered.
"We don't talk about it much. She tries to focus more on Easton…"
"I'm sorry man," Lucas slapped a hand to his friend's back and received a shrug.
"It's ok…just…just have to focus on Easton…"
"Ok!" Brooke's sweet voice popped back into their ears as she came back around the corner. "Luke…get Easton…"
"Sorry…" he apologized, eyeing her a moment and her eyes slanted confused.
"What?" she tilted her head looking at her boyfriend and friend. "What's going on?"
"Nothing, Pretty Girl," Lucas walked over and pressed a kiss to his girlfriend's head. "I'll get Easton…"
"Is he ok?" Brooke looked at Clay and he quickly nodded.
"Fine…but what you have for East?"
"Follow me!" she skipped around and he chuckled following her.
"Ok…" Lucas stepped up a few steps to reach them in the kitchen. Easton on his hip and his little hand running his small sports car back and forth his shoulder. "Ready for your present?"
"Present?" his blue eyes widen and Brooke and Lucas smile.
"Yup, come here buddy," Brooke took her entire world and started carrying him toward the back door. "Mommy and Lucas got you something for your birthday," she explained pushing open the glass door and stepping outside. "Now I want you to go see Aunt Quinn…" she nodded at her best friend who was standing by Easton's play-set.
"Aunt Quinn!" Easton's little feet took off toward her as the adults slowly followed.
"Hey gorgeous," Quinn beamed, wrapping her arm around his small waist and tugging him close. "Why don't you look in your tree house for your present?"
"Otay," he licked his top lip and slowly bent down to tip toe inside, the adults laughing as he disappeared and suddenly you heard a squeal. "Mommy! Dare a puppy!" he yelled and Brooke smiled, she loved hearing him happy. "Momma!" he came out and the little yellow puppy followed slowly behind him. "Look!"
"I see," she laughed, walking over and sitting down in the grass. "Come here, kiddo," she tugged him in her lap and reached for the dog. "This little guy right here is your puppy."
"Mine?" his eyes grew big as he slowly stroked his hand over the soft hair.
"Yup, but you have to be careful with him," she explained and he slowly nodded not taking his eyes off the small dog. "And you also have to name him."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you know how mommy named you Easton?" Quinn explained and she slowly nodded. "Well you get to name this little guy," she ruffled the puppies head and watched as Easton started to think.
"Cooper!"
"You want to name him Cooper?" Brooke gave him a questionable look and Easton quickly nodded.
"Yeah, like the racecar," he reminded her of the time they went to the track. "Like daddy's friend…" he told her and the group laughed.
"You know…I think that name is pretty perfect," Brooke rested her head against his and smiled. "Best name ever…"
"I sink so," Easton agreed, before standing up. "Come on Cooper!" he called and started walking off, tossing a look over his shoulder at the dog who sat still in Brooke's lap. "Cooper!"
"It might take him a second to learn his name buddy," Lucas explained when he saw the announce flash over the small boy's face. "Here…give him this," he handed him a small puppy treat and Easton looked at it.
"Here…" he held out the small treat and let out a giggle with Cooper started to lick it. "Dat feel funny…" he said as Cooper's tongue licked his baby hand.
"I bet it does," Clay laughed shaking his head. Glancing up at his girl and smiling as he watched her watch Easton. She always looked so happy when she was interacting with the small boy.
"Hey Brooke," the brunette looked up to see her boy looking at her. "Can I talk to you a second?"
"Yeah," she slowly eased up. "Quinn, you mind watching Easton a moment?"
"Of course not," she told her quickly, always loving her time with the small boy. It honestly being a long time since they actually got to hang out. She missed him.
"Come here," Lucas laced his fingers with his girl and tugged her up the porch steps and in the house.
"What's going on?" Brooke tossed a look back at her little boy to see him giggling as Cooper chased he and Quinn.
"I…I wanted to talk to you a second…"
"Talk or make out?" she teased wrapping her arms around his neck and grinning. "Because I don't mind the latter one bit…" she leaned up for a sweet kiss, but felt when he wasn't fully into it.
"I love making out but this time talking," he pulled back and her brows creased. "I'm sorry," he said and she just grew more confused. "I forgot what today was…"
"Luke…" she glanced down a moment before looking back up at him.
"I should have remembered. I feel like a piece of shit for not and I'm sorry…"
"You don't have to be sorry, Broody," she rushed to tell him. "I mean…today is a happy day. I am happy."
"I know…but today also has flashes of your big brother and its ok to be a little sad," he made sure she knew and she nodded.
"I'm ok…" she promised and he nodded. "I love you for worrying about me, but I'm good. I like to just keep myself busy and I think of it less. Night was always harder because I was only with my thoughts…"
"Well you aren't alone tonight…"
"I know," she tilted her head up for a sweet kiss and rested her head against his. "Just…just be here with me…" she told him and he nodded.
"Right here Pretty Girl…always…" he reassured and she nodded as she leant up to capture her lips once again with his.
"Hey girlie girl," Brooke swayed into the kitchen to find her best friend leaning against the counter. "You doing ok?" her eyes trailed down to her small belly.
"Fine…" Quinn nervously ran her hand over her stomach and straightened up her posture. "How are you?"
"I'm great," Brooke glowed as she glanced out the window at her two boys laughing and playing in the backyard. Easton giggling as Lucas jogged after him. "Just worried about my best friend…" she looked over and frowned. "Haven't told Clay yet, have you?"
"I don't know how," she let out a small broken smile and glanced out the window. "He is so stressed and content with life right now. How am I supposed to just throw a wrench in everything?"
"He wouldn't see it's as a wrench Quinn. Clay loves you. He loves you more than he has loved anything in this world," she told her as if she wasn't already aware of this. "His life plan is to marry you and have babies with you and spend the rest of his life with you."
"I…I'm scared," she admitted. "I mean I'm a great aunt. I love Easton but…but I see how hard it is for you. I don't know if I can do it…"
"It was hard in the respect of money…being a mother is probably the easiest thing I've ever done. It just comes so naturally and I promise you nothing feels better than hearing that sweet little voice saying I love you mommy," she reached for her friend's hand and gave it a squeeze. "You can do this Quinn. You have a stable job, a great place and an amazing boyfriend. Situations could be worse….You just have to tell him…"
"I will…" Quinn agreed and Brooke slowly nodded. "Just takes some time, but I'm going to tell him. Want to tell Haley first, only because...well she and Nathan have been trying."
"She's going to be happy for you Quinn. That I know for sure," she gave her hand a squeeze and a reassuring smile that Quinn nodded too. "However, I do need to talk to that boy of yours," she tugged her friend to follow. "Have something for him…"
"Brooke…you didn't have to get Clay anything. He would never want you to spend money on him…"
"I know…and I really didn't spend money on him," she told her and Quinn's brows creased. Brooke just waving her hand at her, knowing it was about to be explained. "Clay!" Brooke pushed open the back door to yell. "Can you come here a second?"
"Sure," he tossed the football in the hair and the blonde boy catches it. "What's going on?"
"I…I wanted to show you something…" she nervously fiddled with her fingers. Almost as if she was a child waiting to show their parents some really terrible artwork the made in art class.
"Ok…" he looked at her and she just stood still. "What you want to show me?"
"Come here…." She nervously grabbed his hand and he laughed as he started to follow her.
"Brooke, why are you nervous?" he wondered and she worried on her lip as she lead him through the large home. "You aren't pregnant again are you?" he teased and her eyes narrowed on him.
"I am not," she snipped a bit and he chuckled. "I just…I want you to know how much you mean to me," she paused at the front door to tell him. "How much even though I might not show it always, but how much I love you. How you aren't just Will's best friend…you are my big brother…"
"I know that Brooke…I know…"
"And I know I've disappointed you a lot lately," her voice cracked a bit and his eyes traveled to the ground before back to hers. "And I'm sorry…"
"Don't be sorry kiddo…" he brushed a small tear as she sniffled. Both Lucas and Quinn sharing a look before looking back at their people before them.
"But I'm working really hard at becoming someone you are proud of…"
"I am proud of you Brooke. There is probably no one in this world I'm more proud of than you. You are really turning things around and working hard at a better life. A life I know Will would be so proud of…"
"I hope so…" she pulled in a long breath before clearing her throat. "But I also wanted you to have something…"
"Have something?"
"Yeah," she opened the front door and stepped outside. Clay's mouth widening at the object in front of him.
"Brooke…"
"I know it's old," she said first because she was greatly aware of that. "However…you two worked so long on it…" she fiddled with her fingers as he slowly shuffled his feet down the steps toward the old beat up looking truck. "It still runs well," she explained as he ran his hand over the hood. "Just the outside looks…old…"
"That was the best part," Clay told her with a small smile. "Why are you giving this to me?"
"Because Will loved this car," she reminded him. "And I remember when we were little…well I was little…you two spending hours on end working on it. Fixing up the engine and painting it. I know there was no one else he would want to have it…"
"Yeah…" he pulled open the door and smiled. Climbing in the front seat and running his hands over the steering wheel. Glancing around and chuckling. "He never did clean this thing…" he noticed the old empty water bottle on the floorboard, the sticky change in the cup holder and some old t-shirt laying in the seat.
"It gave it character…"
"Yeah…" Clay agreed, reaching up and touching the Saint Rita medal hanging on the chain around the mirror. "You don't want this?" he toyed with it and looked at the young brunette.
"It's yours…" she gave a tight smile and he nodded. Climbing out of the truck and heading back over to the brunette and pulling her into a hug.
"Thanks kid…" he kissed the side of her head and felt her nod. "He would be proud of you, you know?"
"I know…" she cleared her throat and felt the hot tear slip down her cheek.
"Mommy, why you sad?" the sweet little voice trailed through the air and the two pulled apart.
"Mommy isn't sad baby," she walked over and quickly knocked the tear. "She is happy, I promise."
"You sure?" he ran his small hand over her cheek. It honestly not being the first time he had seen her cry and Brooke knew it. He was a baby and didn't understand, however he knew when someone was crying. It confused him she knew but he did know it wasn't because someone was happy.
"Promise…" she said and he slowly giggled.
"You so silly mommy…."
"That she is…" the group heard behind them and Lucas watched when Brooke's eyes widened and body tensed up. Snapping her eyes up the blonde boy behind her son and praying to god she was imagining things.
"No…" her heart started to race and she quickly swooped Easton in her arms and stepped back behind her boyfriend.
"Hey Brooke…" he flashed his flawless smile and she felt the pressure build in her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Clay snapped and Brooke clung tighter to her little boy.
"What? Am I interrupting something?" he tilted his head to the side with a smirk. "Sorry I didn't RSVP to this, my invite must have gotten lost in the mail."
"Carter…" Quinn felt the heat bubble in her and clenched her teeth. "You need to go…" she warned, honestly never knowing what Clay would do if someone allowed him to get his hands on Carter.
"Already? I just got here," he shuffled his feet forward and Lucas stepped down a step toward him.
"Leave…" he ordered, really not wanting to cause a scene in front of Easton.
"Why? He is my son…" Carter reminded him and watched the anger flicker through the blonde. "It's his birthday; I have a right to see him."
"A right?" Lucas let out a bitter laugh shaking his head. "You have no rights to him…"
"Car…" Brooke clung tighter when Easton started to wiggle in her arms. "Momma…down…I want my car…" he told her.
"Easton…" she tried to keep a hold on him, however with her eyes focused hard on the man before her she couldn't really comprehend much. Easton wiggling until stood on his own feet and moved toward the two men, in that moment Brooke swearing her feet were glued to the ground.
"Hey buddy," Carter smiled down at him and his little blue eyes looked at him confused.
"Hello," he said back before tugging at Lucas. "Daddy…I want car," he pulled his hand and Brooke watched the anger flash over Carter. Her heart racing quickly at what she was supposed to do. She didn't want to make a scene, she did that and Easton grew lost and scared. Right now, it seemed Easton just thought he was some guy, some random person just like all the other random people he has met. However, she really didn't want them talking and she really didn't want Carter trying to fight someone.
"I don't have it buddy…" Lucas looked down making sure to keep Easton closer to him and further from Carter.
"Yup…" he pushed up on his toes and tried to dig his hand in his pocket. "I put it dare…" he giggled when he pulled it out.
"Oh…"
"We play with Cooper now?"
"Go on in with Aunt Quinn and I'll be there in a second, ok?"
"Otay!" he beamed, jumping up the step and taking Quinn's hand as she quickly lead him inside.
"You let my son call him dad?" Carter snapped and Brooke coward back.
"I'm…sorry," she apologized as she wrapped her arms around him. Just like always turning into that scared young girl she once was when he was around.
"Don't apologize to him Brooke," Clay ordered and she slowly nodded as she nervously bit her lip. "And you don't talk to her…"
"She can speak for herself Clay," Carter rolled his eyes. "Her mouth is normally what got her in trouble…"
"Luke!" she freaked when he lunged forward and pinned Carter up against the old truck.
"You watch your fucking mouth," he warned. "This is my house and my family and I'll be damned if you come up here and try to get in."
"That's where you're wrong," Carter chuckled. "It's my family and one word and all this is gone," he flipped his hand up. "The nice house, the nice cars. If I want to I can take all of it…"
"And how do you figure?"
"Because law states she can't have someone living with her if my son is in the house…hell you can't even sleep over…"
"Clay…" Brooke looked at him nervously wondering if that was true.
"With all the shit you've done Carter…a judge won't side with you…"
"No…but I can draw it out for a long ass time…weeks…maybe even months," he shrugged casually before locking his eyes on the blonde before him. "You enjoy playing house with my family for now…but it won't last long…" he shoved him back and smirked. "Looking real good baby girl…" he told her and watched her swallow hard. "I've missed the hell out of that body…" he licked his lips and Clay grabbed Lucas's shoulder when he watched him move toward him. "See you soon…tell my boy we will hang out soon…" he made point to say before spinning on his feet and down the driveway.
"It's ok…" Lucas quickly pulled her into his arms when he saw her start to tremble. "It's going to be ok…I promise…" he kept repeating and Brooke suddenly feeling sick. She didn't know what she thought anymore…where her mind was at. He couldn't take Easton; she was really all she had. He was her world, her everything. And in that exact moment she felt like she couldn't breathe. She felt like she had the night she heard the new Will had been killed.
She felt numb and like her entire would was about to fall apart.
Sorry I've been slacking with updates. However hope this one makes up for it!
Please review!