"Wow that is amazing Brooke.", Haley hugged her best friend tightly and looked around the big house.
"Yeah, well I thought it's nicer to live in one house together instead of a hotel. But of course vacation means no cooking, so we have a cook.", Brooke smiled wickedly while Haley looked confused up at her, "My mother is paying for everything! Phoebe was just being a genius and talked her or more threatened her into it." Haley raised an eyebrow and laughed.
"Wow. She is more and more like you."
"What's that supposed to mean tutor wife?", Brooke tried to suppress a laugh.
"Well you know how you always got what you wanted by just threatening people or whining.", Haley always looked happily back at their high school time, "God. I am so lucky that I finally got to see the real Brooke and Nathan. Two spoiled brats but lovable ones." Nathan joined them and took an arm around Brooke.
"Did my wife just accuse us that we were spoiled brats?" Brooke looked up at him and nodded. Nathan immediately ran to his wife and tackled her onto the sofa and tickled her.
"Oooh. Tickling time?", Julian asked happily knowing that the kids were looking around in the garden.
Brooke pointed a finger at him, "Don't you dare.", but it was too late. He tackled her as well and then tickled her merciless. "Stoooooop.", Haley and Brooke screamed but they had no chance against their big men. Finally they lay exhausted on the ground while their men gave each other's a high five.
"Did you see the basketball field in the back Nathan?", Julian asked and knew by his look that he had not seen it yet.
"No way.", he walked after Julian, "but you know that I am a pro. No chance against me." Julian laughed "But it's the kids and me against you. And our wives. So you are basically alone." Brooke and Haley were still sitting on the sofa when they heard their husbands yelling, "Are you coming or what?" They rolled their eyes but came.
xxxxxxxx
"Okay kids. It's you and the two gorgeous creatures there and me against this basketball star.", Julian pointed at Nathan who rolled his eyes.
"Do you always have to make such a speech about everything?", he took the ball from him and of course he scored.
"New rule. You have to shoot from this...um...three point line. And we only from the two point one but it counts the same. The first team with 40 points wins."
Nathan laughed hard, "That's a way to play basketball but okay." Phoebe, Jamie and Lisa were excited. Haley was the first one to try it, "God. That's so far away."
"Don't whine, just do it.", Nathan said but received a mad look. She threw the ball but missed the basket by centimeters.
"Ohhh. That should count. I even hit the orange ring."
"It's really a shame that you folks don't know more about basketball with a star amongst you.", Nathan kissed her cheek and then pointed without even looking at the basket. "Now Brooke. It's your turn.", Nathan laughed hard "umm...I think it is fair if she takes three steps nearer to the basket. I remember the times at high school. Every game that included using a ball, she sucks in. She is better in screaming and running away from it." "Haha. Very funny.", Brooke took the ball and tried to point. She tried to stand like Nathan always stood.
"Okay. The one hand under hear and the other there and then...", she touched her head and said "Owwww.", she had managed to just throw the ball in the air and it landing on her head. All of them laughed hard.
"God. I have never seen anything sweeter.", Julian kissed her head and threw the ball. Even Julian missed by centimeters.
"Is anyone good?"
The little Lisa screamed "I am good.", so Nathan picked her up and she threw the ball into the basket. Phoebe ran to her and hugged the little one tightly.
"You scored. Lisa Scott just scored a point. She is the youngest and best player in the world."
Haley whispered to Nathan "She is definitely spending too much time with Julian." He laughed at the continuing speech, "So son. What about you? Will you score or not?", Jamie rolled his eyes "Easily.", and without hesitation he scored.
"Wow. That was pretty good.", Nathan touched his shoulder and was very proud. But now Phoebe stood in front of him.
"Well Nathan. You've never seen me play, right?", she smiled happily while he looked confused down at her. "So, show me what you got little miss. I hope you are better than your sister.", he pointed at Brooke who had a little red mark on her forehead.
"Way better.", Phoebe took the ball and walked to the line.
"That's the three line...or how it's called Phoebe.", Brooke said to her but Phoebe rolled her eyes and smiled "I know." Without hesitation she threw the ball into the basket. Nathan and Jamie looked stunned at her while she smiled wildly.
"See. That's what I call good.", she laughed hard when Julian high fived her.
"See. That's my Phoebe, Nathan. She can beat you in her dreams.", he lifted her up into his arms and they both ran around and screamed, "We won. We won. We won."
"Wait. Do it again!", Nathan said and gave her the ball. She threw it again and scored again. "Again.", he said. And she did it again. "How...how can you play like that?" Phoebe looked questioning at him and shrugged her shoulders.
"I just can. I played a lot on the street when I had no home. And some older kids taught me how to play when I was little." Julian did not like the thought of Phoebe being on the street.
"How old were the kids?", he therefore asked.
"I don't know. Maybe sixteen. They were really good and they said they would make a pro out of me." She remembered the time with all those cool kids. She had admired them all.
"You're really, really good. Don't you want to join a team?", Nathan asked but Haley put a hand on his shoulder.
"Honey. No pressure here." Nathan nodded but could not help it "maybe you really could go pro? Someone in the family after me should. And Jamie does not want to. Although he could. But it's okay. Maybe you want?", he looked down at her and was confused when she hugged him tight. The fact that he had just called her family touched her heart.
"Nah. I like cheerleading more and looking at cute boys.", she laughed.
"God Brooke. You spoil your sister. She is just turning out to be exactly like you. But with more athletic skills when it comes to basketball. "Brooke took the ball and wanted to throw it after Nathan but accidently hit Phoebe on the forehead. She looked shocked for a moment when Phoebe touched her forehead in confusion.
"What was that for?"
"Shit. I am so sorry. I wanted to hit Nathan but..."
"Yeah. You're really not good in basketball.", Phoebe smiled and then turned around to Jamie, "Let's check our rooms." He nodded and they ran inside followed by Lisa.
xxxxxx
The grown ups sat down in the grass and just looked at the sea. It was such a beautiful view. Nathan took his arm around Haley and Julian around Brooke. They leaned their heads on their shoulders and felt so happy at the moment. "Thank you guys so much. I really needed a vacation after such a stressful season."
"You're welcome. And we really need you with us.", Brooke squeezed Haley's hand. She was so grateful to have them as friends. They were her family. They knew her for a long time and they helped her with everything.
"So, the shooting is tomorrow. Victoria is somewhere in a hotel. How about we go to the beach and spend some time there and then go into a nice restaurant?", Julian suggested and all of them agreed.
xxxxxx
It was so beautiful at the beach, the palms were everywhere and the water had the perfect color. Jamie looked over and saw some surfers, "Sweet. I want to learn this.", he said to his dad who looked as amazed as his son.
"Well. Then let's do it." He went to the others, "We have decided to do something as a family. And everybody has to do it. Even the not so athletic persons.", he looked at Brooke who protested immediately.
"I am athletic Nathan." Nathan knew that she was but had always found it cute how girly she was.
"Right. We all are going to surf a little." Haley looked up at him and the shook her head.
"I don't want to surf."
"C'mon mom. It will be fun." It took them ten minutes to take all of them to surfing. Now they were all wearing the surf suit, even Lisa. It was funny because Lisa was actually very good. She was the first one who stood on it for a long time. She smiled proudly at Phoebe. Nathan was having some problems holding his balance,"Having problems Mr. Athletic?", Brooke laughed while she stood as well.
"No way. This is supposed to be a man's sport. So you should be the worst.", he screamed after her and was shocked to see that all the others were already standing, "I cannot believe that.", he whispered to himself.
"Dad. What are you doing? Just take the other foot to the front. Maybe that's better.", Jamie suggested. He did as told and suddenly everything did not seem so hard as before. Until he crashed into Brooke who fell into the water and the wave over her. He laughed hard when he saw her shocked face.
"That was on purpose.", she screamed after him but another wave pulled her under and she drank a lot of water.
"That was so mean.", she said when all of them were outside again, "You are such a cheater.", Brooke complained and jumped on his back. But Nathan, being bigger than her, took her off easily and threw her softly into the sand and put even more on her. "Ewww. Stop that.", she complained and Julian rescued her by jumping on Nathan and putting sand on him.
"You all are worse than my kids.", Haley laughed and looked at Jamie, Lisa and Phoebe who were admiring good surfers.
xxxxxxx
Finally it was late and the kids were in bed. Brooke, Julian, Haley and Nathan were outside and talking to each other's. "She has really changed a lot. Thanks to you two.", Haley said and the others agreed happily.
"It's so funny. I cannot imagine my life without her any more.", Julian revealed and made Brooke very happy. She gave him a thankful kiss, "Me neither.", she said and Nathan nodded "Well, me neither.", he laughed but it was the truth "and Jamie neither."
"I think our son has a little crush on her.", Haley smiled at Brooke who nodded.
"Well. In my world they are both too young for boyfriends or girlfriends, but I really wish Jamie was her boyfriend instead of Joshua.", Julian definitely agreed to this.
After yawning for a few times all of them decided to go to bed. They checked on their kids but Jamie was not there.
"Where is Jamie?", Haley asked surprised but then she had a clue. She went after Brooke and they opened Phoebe's door. There he was lying with Phoebe in one bed. His arm protective around her and her head resting on his chest. Brooke and Haley's eyes were wide in shock. In fact they did not know what to do.
"Jamie Scott.", Haley screamed so loud that Phoebe jumped up and screamed, "nooooooooooo." She fell out of the bed and was lying on the floor crying and shivering. Jamie was shocked as well and wanted to help her up but she made her small like a ball.
"Please don't. Please don't. Don't hit me.", she screamed and Brooke knew all too well what she was talking about. Haley felt so guilty in this moment and her son gave her a mad look.
"Are you crazy? She had just stopped crying and now you scare us like that." Haley realized her big mistake. She had not come to the thought that Jamie was with her to console her. Brooke immediately went down to Phoebe and wanted to hug her but Phoebe, who was still in trance kicked with all her might.
"No. No. Leave us alone." She was still in her nightmare. Tears were falling down Brooke's cheeks. She knew this nightmare. Suddenly Julian rushed in and pulled Phoebe into his arms and on his lap. He rocked her back and forth and held her tightly, "You're dreaming Phoebe. We are all here to protect you.", he whispered into her ear like he always did. Phoebe's finally stopped sobbing and did not even wake up again.
"Is...is she okay?", Jamie whispered and Julian nodded. "She will be. Just go back to bed." Jamie did not want to but knew that Julian could handle the situation better. Haley saw how lost Brooke was and took her arm around Brooke and pulled her outside. They sat down on the sofa and for the first time Brooke started crying hard in Haley's arms.
"Let it all out honey." She caressed her back and hugged her tight. Finally Brooke was resting her head on Haley's lap and was totally exhausted. Haley stroked her hair. "Honey. I think you two should go see a therapist. I know that you have those nightmares too and I want you both to get better." Brooke knew that she was right but somehow saw it as a failure she did not say anything but nodded.
"You know it's not a failure." Sometimes Haley could read Brooke's mind, "Nathan and I went to a therapist as well when our marriage was in danger and she helped us a lot. You two must not live with a constant fear. Do you two ever talked about him again?", Haley asked directly but Brooke shook her head.
"No. I don't want to upset her and...I don't really know what to say to her."
"But you have to honey. You two made the same bad experience and you cannot live with that alone." Brooke nodded again. After a long talk both of them fell asleep on the couch. The one protecting the other. Nathan and Julian came into the room and saw their wives. They looked smiling at each other's and then decided to carry them into their rooms. Fortunately both of them were in a deep sleep and did not wake up.
"Good night you two.", Nathan smiled over to Julian.
"Yeah. You too", he smiled back and put Brooke on the bed. "Why didn't you bring Phoebe?", she asked confused and looked around.
"Jamie is with her. He pleaded to stay with her." Brooke was too tired to even answer and fell back to sleep.
In the other room Jamie looked down at a sleeping Phoebe and could see how much she looked like his Aunt Brooke. He was glad that Aunt Brooke was a beauty. He took his arm around Phoebe and on instinct Phoebe laid her head on his chest. Jamie blushed immediately and knew that he could not close one eye this night.
What he did not know was that Phoebe would awake screaming again in the morning and asking him why he was in bed with her.
xxxxx
"What are you doing in my bed?", she screamed and jumped up.
"You had a nightmare and...and...I did not want to leave you alone.", he tried to defend himself and blushed like a tomato.
"Oh...ok...umm...thanks.", she said back and before she could say more Haley went into the room, "Breakfast is ready.", she suppressed a laugh when she saw the two standing far away from each others in embarrassment.