Hello y'all. First of all big thank you to my faithful reviewers! I don't think that I have to name you because I am sure you know that I mean YOU! I updated fast again and made it a longer chapter.
Some added my story as their favorite or have it as alert. Thank you so much! Nevertheless I wonder whether you are still reading? Everyone who reads this story would do me a BIG favour if you review and let me know (cause I have no idea except of the reviewers who let me know!). Even if you just say "Yes".
I ask because I am considering on writing a sequel but I am afraid that I start to bore you guys with the new character "Phoebe" and everything that happens in Tree Hill. If not-I would start writing immediately ;0). I have a lot of new and different plots in mind but it depends on the response I get because I also have other story ideas with different characters.
Thank you sooo much,
your CaseyJr.
xxxxx I hope you enjoy this chapter now xxxxxxxxxxx
Sam did not even have to think about the answer when Brooke asked her whether Ben was the right one for her. She immediately nodded and smiled even thinking of her boyfriend, "Yes. He is definitely the right one."
"Oh Sammy. You really are a young woman.", Brooke held her tight and could tell that she needed more moments like that with Sam and it felt so good to know that Sam needed these moments as well.
"Yeah. It's scary.", Sam whispered.
"Trust me. Growing up is the scariest thing ever and it will never stop.", Brooke pinched her nose and then went out of the bed, "How about we do anything we want today? Just the two of us. How does that sound?"
Sam smiled happily, "Perfect."
Brooke squeezed her hands, "But just one thing again: Don't rush into anything and still no sleeping in one bed.", she looked firmly at Sam who nodded with a smile, "Great, so what do you want to do?"
Sam had to think a moment and then answered, "How about spa and the cinema and maybe we could grab something to eat on our way?"
"Sounds perfect, let's go.", Brooke took her arm around her oldest daughter and they went outside. It was great to have such a mature daughter.
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Jamie and Julian sat on the bench and watched Nathan and Ben play two on two. "Dad. You'll loose.", Jamie was amazed and saw his father's astonished face. He was a professional and this kid was just about to beat him. Unbelievable! Finally Ben took the last shot and scored. A wide smile appeared on his face and he almost blushed a little when he saw Nathan's shocked face. Nathan could just watch from Ben to the basket and he even considered that he was dreaming.
"Do you consider on going pro?", Nathan asked with a lot of hope in his voice.
Ben shook his head, "When I was younger yes but I don't really know how to meet any scouts and…"
Nathan interrupted him immediately and pointed at himself, "Hello! I play in the NBA Ben! I know the scouts and I don't doubt one second that you'll get in. I take you with me soon."
Ben looked a little shocked at his offer and did not know what to say. Of course this was his big dream but he did not really believe in himself, "Um…Thanks but…"
"No but. You must not waste your potential and I saw your eyes. You love the game." Julian patted Ben's shoulder and gave him a water bottle, "Take this opportunity Ben."
Ben nodded after a while and threw the ball into the basket without hesitation, "Why not!", he whispered to himself. His mood had totally changed and he realized that it was good to spend some time without any women. Of course he loved Sam and Phoebe very much but sometimes Phoebe could really annoy him and now he even had the first fight with Sam and he definitely did not know how to handle that.
"So boys. What do you want to do today?", Nathan stood in front of Jamie and Ben who were laughing at some old pictures of Haley, Nathan and Brooke when they were in high school. Sometimes it was hard to believe that all of them were parents now with amazing kids.
"Look. My mom was the geek. Dad was the player and Aunt Brooke the…um…school sl….", Jamie immediately received a slap from Julian on his head. He remembered when Brooke told him that sex did not make her popular but that she made it popular and smirked.
"Jamie. Don't call my wife that name. She was…well, she was just experienced."
Ben laughed at that comment, "Wow. She really looks like Phoebe.", there was a photo of the three of them with twelve. You had to take a closer look to really see their differences. But the only big difference was that Brooke was taller than Phoebe.
"Yeah, crazy huh.", Jamie answered and thought of his best friend. Sometimes he wished that he could just hug her pain away but he knew that this was impossible. But the two of them always felt happy when they were together and except of little fights they got along perfectly.
A little later the four of them were inside and played the X-box. "Man. You punched me in the face.", Ben complained. Julian gave Nathan a beer and when Ben wanted to take one too, he raised his eyebrow. Ben immediately looked guiltily and took it back into the refrigerator. He had forgotten that there were adults that really cared in Tree Hill. So he took out a coke and gave one to Jamie as well.
"You're definitely not a good looser Ben.", Jamie laughed and ate some chips and suddenly turned around when Nathan pulled a water gun and shot at him. "What the…dad?", he looked shocked at him and went into the garden and took the other guns. "Here. Ben and I against you oldies."
"Did he just call us an oldie?", Julian asked Nathan and smiled evilly and took his water gun and pointed at the teenagers.
"Yeah, he did. This means war.", they started to attack the boys and one could hear the four of them laughing and yelling for the next hours and probably destroying some vases in the house. It was a good thing that there were no women in the house.
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Phoebe and Lisa were sitting in the back of the car and talked to each other. "And I read that there's a baby elephant. I really want to see that.", Phoebe said happily.
"Yeah me too. He's probably sweet.", Lisa answered as excited as Phoebe. Haley just listened to their conversation. It was lovable to see Phoebe acting like a child and she loved how nice she treated Lisa. Of course Julian had told her about the emotional day and that it could be that Phoebe would be a little cranky but all she could see was a very excited kid.
"Girls. Jump out of the car. We are there.", Phoebe and Lisa immediately opened their seatbelts and went out of the car.
"Oh. I am so excited. Thanks for taking me with you aunt Haley.", Phoebe hugged Haley and then Lisa and Phoebe started holding hands and ran to the entrance. Haley loved that she called her aunt Haley and that all the troubles between them that had been there when they first had met, were gone.
While Haley and Lisa were at the toilet Phoebe walked over to the bears and was shocked. When she saw someone that worked in the zoo she went over to him, "Excuse me mister. Can I ask you a question?", the man looked down at her and nodded. He was definitely not the nicest man and all the kids around him annoyed him very much. "Why is this cage so small? I mean in real life a bear has way more space to walk around and this…this cage is just too small for it. And the bear walks around in circles all the time. Is he sick?"
The man looked shocked at Phoebe and rolled his eyes, "It's a zoo girl. How should we give them the same space as in nature?"
"I know it's not possible but this cage is really small. I don't think that this is appropriate for such a big animal and it is so beautiful and deserves a bigger one.", Phoebe did not give up but the man just answered harshly.
"If you don't like it then don't come to the zoo.", he almost yelled at her and rolled his eyes.
Phoebe could not believe how harsh he was. She had asked him really nice and did not expect such an answer, "The cage won't get bigger if I don't come." The man did not listen to her and went away to feed other animals.
"Hey, what's with the sad face?", Haley asked when she saw Phoebe looking at the bear. Lisa looked up at Phoebe and was confused as well.
"It's just…this bear is alone in this cage and all he can do is walk up and down the whole time while we watch him and what if he does not want to be watched? Or what if he does not want to be alone? I mean…no one asks him and…the cage is too small.", Haley looked at the cage and had to agree with Phoebe.
"Yes it is really too small and that's not fair.", Lisa complained as well. She would not have realized that on her own but if Phoebe thought so, she would think so too. "And that one too. This lion needs a bigger cage as well.", the six year old one pointed at the lion and Phoebe nodded and tried to suppress her tears. But they streamed down her face when she saw the baby elephant a little later. It embarrassed her a bit and she tried to wipe them with her hands and hid her face with her hair.
"He will never know what it is like not to be watched all the time or having people scream at him and…he will never see different places.", she whispered to herself while her tears were streaming down her face.
"Maybe they are making their cages bigger Phoebe.", Lisa tried to calm down Phoebe and squeezed her hand and Phoebe nodded. She did not want to cry but she could not help it. She found it horrible how human beings treated animals and felt helpless that she could not help the animals. Haley took her arm around Phoebe and pulled her closer to her.
"Can we go momma?", Lisa finally asked when she saw that Phoebe was sobbing at every cage. She did not want Phoebe to feel that sad.
"Phoebe, do you want to go too?", Haley took her arm around Phoebe and wiped her tears. Phoebe nodded silently and apologized, "I am sorry, I did not want to ruin your day at the zoo. I am really sorry."
"Mom you have to carry Phoebe.", Lisa said honestly when Phoebe could not stop crying. "I always feel better when mom carries me and hugs me."
"I am older Lisa. It's okay. I don't need to…", Phoebe said but Haley just slung her arms around her and picked her up. She was glad that Phoebe was still that small and stroked her back when Phoebe slung her arms around her neck and cried into it. Haley could tell that it was not only the zoo but also the whole day and the upcoming date of death of her older sister that made Phoebe so vulnerable. But it was good that Phoebe let others help her.
Lisa looked up at Phoebe and took her hand in hers, "You did not ruin our day. It is not right that the cages are so small and we should…um…we should…mom what can we do?"
"You could write to the zoo and tell your friends about it and show other people what the animals need.", Haley suggested and went through Lisa's hair while Phoebe was still in her arm and had her head rested on her shoulder.
"Yeah. We will do that Phoebe. And then the animals will get big cages and be happy.", Phoebe smiled down at Lisa but she thought that it would be better if they did not even need any cages at all.
Lisa tried anything to cheer up Phoebe a bit when they were in the car again. Phoebe smiled at her but still her eyes were red and a little wet, "So girls. How about ice-cream and the new adventurous playground?", Haley suggested and smiled when Lisa immediately screamed "Yeeeeah." But then she looked at Phoebe who hesitated, "It's really fun Phoebe. There is this big slide and many other things more."
Phoebe did not really like the thought of a playground but could see how excited Lisa was and did not want to ruin that, "Okay. I've never been on a playground. There's a first time for everything, right?"
"You've never been on a playground? But every kid loves it there."
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A little later Haley sat down on a bench and watched how Lisa and Phoebe ran around in the sand. They had found two sisters that were six and eleven years old as well and now played with them.
"How about we try the biggest slide?", Emma, the eleven year old girl, suggested and pointed at it. It was very high and you could not see anything while you used it.
"Cool.", Phoebe answered and screamed at Haley, "Can we go up there?"
Haley hesitated a moment but then nodded, "But be careful.", she was seeing a side of Phoebe that she really appreciated very much: A responsible girl, that took great care of Lisa and pushed the swing for her, helped her climbing up some walls and defended her when a boy threw sand at her. But what she loved more was her smile. It was an honest and careless childish smile. And Haley could see that Phoebe definitely had a lot of energy and liked jumping around, doing back flips and laughed all the time. It was sweet to see Emma linking arms with Phoebe and talking nonstop. It was a totally different Phoebe than she got to see everyday in her class.
"Sure.", Phoebe took Lisa's hand and Emma Amy's and they ran to the slide. At first the little ones protested a little but then they climbed up as well.
"Nooo. I am scared.", Lisa whined up there and wanted to get down.
"Look. Emma and Amy already did it. You don't have to be scared Lisa. I will hold you the whole time. Promised.", Lisa looked up at Phoebe, hesitated a moment but then nodded.
"On three okay?", Phoebe took the little one onto her lap and Lisa nodded and whispered, "One two threeeeeeee."
"Again. Again.", Amy and Lisa pleaded and Emma and Phoebe rolled their eyes.
"Kids.", Emma said and laughed but they went up again.
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"It's my birthday next week. Don't you two want to come?", Emma asked excited when they had to go home again.
Phoebe smiled happily, "Sure. This is my phone number.", she wrote it down on a paper and gave it to Emma.
"Perfect. Bye Lisa. Bye Phoebe", Amy and Emma said and then went to their parents. The whole way home Lisa and Phoebe talked about Amy and Emma. How nice they were and that they wanted to meet them again.
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Brooke and Sam were in the spa and in a big mud bath. "Oh my god. This is so good.", Brooke moaned and Sam nodded. They could relax totally and all the stress from some hours before was gone. "I think we need to take massages too."
Sam nodded, "Definitely.", she suddenly burst out into laughing.
"What is it?", Brooke asked confused with the mask on her face.
"I just pictured Phoebe with us. She would be bored to death.", Brooke smiled and nodded.
"Yep. She is definitely not old enough to accept the calmness as fortune.", Brooke closed her eyes and enjoyed the calmness. But when they went outside she suddenly screamed in shock.
"What? What is it?", Sam looked at Brooke who went back into the bath with one jump, "Mom. What are you doing?" Sam smirked and almost burst out into laughing how funny Brooke looked while she looked hysterically for something.
"I…I lost my ring. It's somewhere in here. I have to find it."
"What? You went into it with the ring on?"
"I know. I know. It was stupid.", Brooke looked through the whole bath and tried to find her ring, "Julian will kill me." Sam just laughed from the outside. "Stop laughing at me and help me find it.", Brooke screamed at Sam.
"I bet it's on the ground. You have to duck under.", Sam smiled at Brooke, who just looked shocked at her.
"My hair will be ruined for days.", she whined but took a deep breath and then ducked under. "Ewwww.", Brooke whined when she came up again and rubbed the mud out of her face and looked a little confused at Sam who was holding her stomach because she was laughing hard and then Brooke saw the small ring in Sam's hands.
"You had it the whole time?", she asked shocked and went out of the bath and snapped it away from her.
"Yup. I hope this is a lesson for you. And yes. Dad would have be very, very mad.", Sam loved calling them mom and dad and was glad that this huge fear of never being adopted was finally gone.
"Oh you…", Brooke took Sam's hand and pulled her to the mud bath without mercy. She threw her inside and made sure that the ring was outside on the ground. She turned around again and ducked her under as well. "You don't make a fool out of your mom.", Brooke laughed hard but Sam caught her arm and pulled her inside as well.
"I don't have to do that. You are pretty good in making a fool out of yourself.", the two laughed while they threw mud at each other and finally went under the shower with huge smiles on their faces.
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A little later the two of them were at home again. They were still totally relaxed and enjoyed that the others were still outside. "I am a little worried about Ben.", Sam revealed another fear but felt safe to say it out loud.
"Why?"
"Well, he does not think about his future. He does not go to school and tells me that he is okay with his mini-jobs but he could do so much more. Sometimes he says those incredible sentences and he is very good in basketball but he won't listen to me. He tells me that he wants to be there for Phoebe and me and that this is all that matters right now. But I want him to have a good future too. Do you understand that?"
"Of course I do. I think Julian and I should talk to him.", Brooke suggested and Sam nodded gladly.
"That would be great. Maybe he listens to you." Brooke squeezed her hand and wanted to answer but Phoebe, Ben and Julian went through the door and Phoebe immediately ran to the refrigerator.
"I am dying of hunger right now!", Phoebe looked for anything to eat and both of them, Sam and Brooke, knew that the calmness from before was over. It was not a bad thing; just different. Julian kissed Brooke a hello and Ben did the same with Sam and held her tight from behind.
"Am I forgiven?", he asked and smiled down at her with a puppy look. Sam nodded happily, "Yes, you are forgiven. How was your day?"
"Perfect. I will see some scouts soon and how was yours?"
"Scouts? But…that's amazing Ben! I am so proud of you.", she really hoped that Ben would realize how good he was "My day was perfect as well." She kissed him softly but was careful that Julian was not looking. He accepted them but nevertheless he always spied on them and could not really believe that Sam was growing up and had a boyfriend.
"There is nothing to eat in there.", Phoebe complained loudly and closed the refrigerator furiously and took a chair to get the sweets that Brooke and Julian always hid on top of the refrigerator.
"We eat in ten minutes Phoebe.", Brooke pulled her down from the chair and had to laugh at her behavior.
"But I'll be dead then. I am sooooo hungry.", Phoebe whined and fell to the couch face first with a loud moan. She was the queen of exaggeration.
"What did you do that you are that hungry?", Julian asked her and smiled down at her dirty face, "You look like you've been playing in dirt."
"No. We were at the new adventurous playground and I got a new friend named Emma. And there was this really, really big slide. It was so cool. And I learned a new stunt.", all of them could see that Phoebe was still very excited and talked fast.
"What stunt?", Sam asked curiously and was relieved to see all of them in a better mood.
"Phoebe is the master of stunts.", Ben smiled and remembered how often Phoebe had tried any new stunt.
"Can I show you? Pleeeease.", Phoebe looked up at Julian and Brooke with a puppy look.
"Is it dangerous?", Julian asked a little worried but Phoebe shook her head and ran outside. The others followed her and saw how she concentrated. She stood on one spot and smiled up at them and then did a back flip without hesitation. Julian, Sam and Brooke looked totally shocked at her while Ben complained, "That was not a very good back flip Phoebe."
"Stop stop stop!", Julian said when Phoebe wanted to do it again. She looked confused up at Julian who put his hands on her shoulders, "We are back in a minute.", he said and took Phoebe's hand and pulled her inside.
"What is it?", Phoebe asked and then looked annoyed up at him when he took a helmet and put it on her head. "Dad!"
"No. You are not going to do such dangerous things without protection.", Julian said firmly.
The others laughed when they heard the two of them arguing and finally they came outside again. "Do you want to stay in the cheerleading team or not? You need permission and I can take that away from you Phoebe."
Phoebe looked madly up at him and then snapped the helmet away and put it on her head.
"Great.", Julian took his arms around Brooke who laughed at him. "What?"
"You know that all athletes do such stunts without helmets."
"I don't care. It's dangerous.", he always flinched when Phoebe did another stunt. Suddenly Phoebe started running fast and made one back handspring after another and finally did the splits.
"You have to concentrate more.", Ben criticized her. The others could not believe what she was doing. They knew that she was athletic but not that agile.
"I am!", Phoebe whined and walked over to Ben. Ben pointed at her and rolled his eyes.
"No you are not and you know that you have to be so that nothing happens. Look.", Ben jumped in the air and did a back flip as well without hesitation and then ran right to a wall and it looked like he would crash into it but he just walked up a bit and jumped backwards again. Phoebe looked jealously at him and wanted to try the same but Ben caught her in the last moment.
"You know what happened the last time. You ran straight into the wall and needed stitches.", Ben laughed when Phoebe stuck out her tongue. "Let's show them your rewind."
Phoebe nodded and stood with her back to Ben. "One two three.", without hesitation she made a back salto in the air and finally landed with one foot in his hands. She took her other food up in the air.
"You're still good pumpkin.", Ben hugged her when he let her down and remembered how Rebecca and Phoebe had worked out every day. It was good to see her doing it again because after Rebecca's death Phoebe quit it.
"Oh my god. I did not know that you were that good.", Brooke walked over to the two of them.
"Me neither.", Sam looked at Ben with a grin. Somehow it made him even sexier to see
him so athletic. Even Julian had to admit that she was really good.
"Nah. Rebecca was always better.", Phoebe said with a smile on her face.
"So now let's eat."
"Oh can I go to Emma's birthday next week?"
"Sure. How old she'll be?", Julian really wished that Phoebe would start having friends in her own age. Her friends at school were at least fourteen and the age gap was starting to be a real problem.
"Twelve.", Phoebe answered and jumped up again and looked into the oven, "What are we going to eat?"
"Mom and I made lasagna and a salad."
"Eeeew. I hate cucumber salad.", Phoebe said when she sat down and looked at the food.
Brooke did not listen to her and just took it onto her plate. "Phoebe could you please wash your hands.", she took Phoebe's hands into hers and was shocked how dirty they were now.
"Fine.", Phoebe jumped up and went into the bathroom as fast as possible. She had obviously too much energy left and was still pretty excited from the day.
"So Ben. The scouts? That's really big. I did not know that you loved the game that much.", Brooke said while they started to eat.
"Well, yes, I always loved it but I did not really believe in getting such an opportunity."
"If Uncle Nathan says that you are good then it's true.", Phoebe spoke while eating.
"I've seen him play. He is awesome and Phoebe please don't talk with your mouth full of food", Julian looked at Phoebe and then at Ben. He really liked the boy and it was good to have another male person under his three crazy women.
"We always played when we were kids.", Phoebe said happily and remembered the times, "And he showed me everything. What did you two do today?", she looked at Sam and Brooke curiously and a little bit jealous.
Sam and Brooke looked at each other and smiled happily, "Mom and I went to the Spa and into the cinema. It was great."
"The spa? What did you do there?", Phoebe had never been to a spa.
"Well, we were in a mud bathe and had masks on our faces and were massaged and…", Brooke answered and giggled when Phoebe looked astonished at her.
"How boring.", Phoebe looked disgusted at the salad but started eating it because she knew that Brooke would make her eat it any way.
"What did you watch?", Julian immediately asked as curious as Phoebe.
"We watched "Vicky Christina Barcelona". A real good movie and now our nails are perfect and we are totally relaxed.", Brooke said happily and took a sip from her juice. She had really enjoyed the day with Sam and it was totally different than spending a day with Phoebe. Sam was definitely a young woman and Brooke liked that.
"So how was the zoo Phoebe?", Phoebe looked sad at Ben.
"It was so horrible Ben. Lisa cried all the time because we thought that the cages were too small for the animals and…", of course Brooke had talked to Haley and she had told her about the whole day.
"So Lisa cried the whole time? Poor thing but it really shows that she loves animals.", Phoebe blushed at this comment and stared at her food, "Yeah, I cried a little too.", she whispered.
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It was five days before Rebecca's date of death. Phoebe went from crying to smiling but all of them could tell that talking about Rebecca helped her. She finally let her emotions out and showed her sadness with tears instead of little outbursts. Phoebe opened up a lot more and crawled into Julian's and Brooke's bed almost every night.
But the night before the day Rebecca had died Phoebe stayed in her room. Brooke opened the door softly. She wanted to see how Phoebe was and when she saw Phoebe kneeing on the floor and talking to a bear, she decided not to come in but could not help but listen.
"She is definitely like you said, Becca. She is so beautiful and like a princess. You would love it here but probably you see it all. And I would so envy you because you would never fight with Brooke. And Julian would make all your stories to a movie and you'd be a star. He is really great. Way nicer than daddy. Can you believe it? They never hit me. Never. Not even once and you probably know that I've not been the nicest all the time.", Phoebe smiled and kept on.
"And Sam. Oh you would love each other as well. She writes, you know. Like you do. She is really amazing. And guess what, Ben and Sam are a pair. Isn't that weird? I am a freshman now and school is okay. Those stupid bullies are away and everybody is nice to me but they treat me like a baby and don't take me serious. I hate that. I learn a lot and you would probably spend the whole time reading. There is a really, really big library at school. I…I hope you are at a good place Becca and I am sorry I was too weak to safe you.", Phoebe sobbed into her hands. Guilt was still consuming her mind.
"I wish I could have brought you to your princess…", Phoebe felt someone hugging her from behind and knew that it was Brooke. She jumped up and looked into Brooke and Julian's eyes. She reluctantly fell into their arms and let it all out. Phoebe leaned back against Julian and started to suck her thumb. The therapist had told them that she sometimes did this in situation she could not handle and were very stressful and that it helped her calming down a bit but that they had to observe that behavior. Brooke and Julian could see that Phoebe was close to falling asleep and just held her tight. A minute later her eyes were closed and Julian carried her into their bedroom. They decided to go to bed as well.
"She is so small.", Brooke looked down at the sleeping kid that was still sucking her thumb and had a wet face from the crying. Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if they had never met.
"Yes, she is.", Julian kissed Brooke and Phoebe's cheek and lay down as well.
"Nooooooooo.", Phoebe suddenly screamed in her sleep. "Open your eyes. No. C'mon Becca. Breath."
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Rebecca and Phoebe were walking through the wood and sang a song. Somehow they felt free and hoped to find their princess. They sat down on floor and threw some stones into the water. "How do you think the princess will be?", Rebecca asked a little unsure and took the photo of Brooke into her hands.
"I don't know. I hope she's nice but…um…if she's not…we just get our own place and life on our own.", Phoebe suggested. She wanted her sister to be happy but lately Rebecca did not smile that much. But then she saw the smile she missed so much. "As long as we two are together, I am happy.", Rebecca looked into the sky and hoped that their futures would be a good one.
"Yeah. Me too. Maybe we find an island with lots of fruits and sweets only for the two of us. And horses.", Phoebe looked up as well but then heard a weird sound. "What is that?" she looked backwards and saw a nest of bees that obviously had fallen down a tree.
"Oh no.", Rebecca immediately took Phoebe's hand and pulled her away from it. The bees followed them.
"Owww.", both of the girls screamed but the bees did not stop attacking them. "We have to jump into the lake."
"But we cannot swim.", Phoebe answered panicked but Rebecca already jumped and pulled her along. Fortunately the bees stopped attacking them and the two girls surfaced. Rebecca could stay in the water but Phoebe couldn't. "Aaaaaa.", she tried to swim but dumped under again and again.
"Gimme your hand.", Rebecca held it out and pulled Phoebe towards her. The girls were totally exhausted and coughed when they fell to the ground again.
"Thank you.", Phoebe whispered while the two of them held each other tight and tried to get back some energy. It was then Rebecca realized how much her stitches hurt and that they were somehow getting bigger than Phoebe's. She scraped them and felt very uncomfortable.
"What is it?", Phoebe asked confused when they kept on walking but Rebecca somehow slowed down and started to have trouble breathing and coughed hard.
"I don't know. I…", Rebecca tried to catch air but somehow it was getting harder and harder.
"What is it Becca? Are you hurt?", Phoebe asked panicked and looked down at her sister. But Rebecca could only whisper that she could not breath any more and started to sound weird. The tears streamed down Rebecca's face and she panicked and caught Phoebe's hand and squeezed it real hard. Phoebe felt totally helpless and did not know what to do.
"Maybe you need to drink.", she screamed in panic and did not care that Rebecca actually hurt her hand but then Rebecca fell backwards and her face was starting to turn blue and suddenly she did not move any more.
"Noooo. Becca.", Phoebe did not have a clue what happened but her sister was laying on the ground without moving and a blue face. She shook her, "Open your eyes. Open your eyes." And then she wanted to breath into her mouth. She had seen it on TV and hoped that this would help.
"Heeeeeeeeelp. We need help.", she screamed in the middle of the wood while she held Rebecca tight and shook her over and over again. "Becca. Wake up. C'mon please." Phoebe did not know what to do at all. "Becca. Becca. Open your eyes.", but Phoebe did not know in this moment that Rebecca would not open her eyes any more. She would never hear her voice again, see her eyes or feel her touch. Those moments would be gone forever. The eight-year-old Phoebe tried to carry Becca through the woods to get help but soon she fell down with her. She was too weak to carry her, so she kneed besides her big sister.
"Don't be afraid Becca. I'll get help and I'll come back. I promise.", she hoped that Rebecca would answer her but nothing happened. Finally she ran as fast as possible through the woods.
"Heeeeeeelp. Somebody. Pleeeease.", she fell to the ground very often but managed to stand up again and again. She needed to help her big sister. She did not know that it was already too late and that the days with her were over. She did not know that the person she loved the most would be buried soon and that she had to cope with this loss her whole life long. This one moment would change everything. Phoebe was a very brave girl, a girl that loved to play detective, loved adventures, loved to listen to her big sister's story and loved to smile. Even her cruel father could never take that away from her. He could hit her and call her whatever he wanted-Phoebe always managed to believe in good. And the reason why she could be that strong was Rebecca. A sister that believed in her, that supported her and loved her unconditionally. It had always been Rebecca and Phoebe. They were each other's hope and protection. They were inseparable and both of them thought that they would grow up together and one day sit in a beautiful house as grandmas and laugh about the past. But nothing of that would ever happen.
Phoebe could literally feel pain in her heart while she was running. She felt guilty that she had to leave Rebecca behind but she knew that a grown-up could help her big sister. She did not know yet that her sister was dead and that with Rebecca something would die inside herself as well: Hope for the better and a pleasure of life.
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"Phoebe. Wake up. You are dreaming.", Julian and Brooke shook her a little while Phoebe kicked around in her sleep, cried and the sweat was already dripping down her face. "Nooo. Don't leave me. Please. Noooo.", Phoebe screamed and then opened her eyes and sat up and held her chest in pain and panic. Brooke and Julian immediately knew that she was having an asthma attack when she started to try to breath. They had talked to many doctors who could not really explain to them why she was having those real severe attacks at times. Organically it could not be explained but the therapist assumed that it had to do with the fact that she saw her own sister suffocating and that this horrible incident triggered something.
Julian went behind Phoebe and took his arm on her chest while Brooke ran outside to get the inhaler. "C'mon pumpkin. Feel my chest moving in and out. Breathe like me.", he whispered into her ears and felt how Phoebe made fists and started to hyperventilate.
"I have to take this over your mouth and close your nose.", Brooke took the inhaler over her mouth and then held her nose close. Phoebe immediately panicked even more and tried to get it off of her. Fortunately Brooke and Julian knew what to do. It looked like torture when Julian held her arms down and Brooke closed her nose.
Brooke smiled at Phoebe and tried not to show her own fear. She went through her hair and was relieved when Phoebe started to breath normally. "You are doing great.", Brooke whispered over and over again and caressed her head that was in sweat. After some time Brooke could take the inhaler away and kissed her nose. Phoebe could breath normally again and looked into Brooke's eyes. She immediately slung her arms around her and started to cry.
"Shhh Phoebe. You have to calm down.", Brooke rocked her back and forth until Phoebe fell asleep again.
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Three-year-old Phoebe sat on the couch and was very afraid. She did not understand why her mother had taken her to this man and why he had hit her. Bill sat in front of her and looked at his youngest daughter. She looked very cute and somehow he showed a soft smile. "So you are Phoebe?", he asked softly and went through her hair.
"I want my mommy.", Phoebe cried into her hands and Bill just rolled his eyes and went into the kitchen to get a beer.
"Hey Rebecca sweetheart. Could you take care of your sister?", Bill said to his five year old daughter, who was sitting in a chair and looked at a book.
"My sister?", Rebecca asked very confused and looked up at her dad. She was a very lonely girl and spent much time at home looking into books and imagining a fun life. Her father did not hit her because she always did as she was told and tried to avoid him as much as possible but he did not really see her needs at all. He did not see how sad and alone Rebecca felt. Rebecca could be in a room with others and no one would notice her. She would just stay calm and there were days that she did not say one word at all.
"Yeah. You have a sister now.", Bill just said and went outside to meet some of his men. Rebecca looked confused when he left her alone again and then went into the living room to meet her new sister. She did not know what to expect at all and looked shocked at the little figure that was sitting on the couch, sucking her thumb and crying. Her newfound sister did not dare to move an inch and shivered. Rebecca immediately knew that she would take care of this small girl and went over to her.
"Hello.", Rebecca kneed down in front of Phoebe and looked into those sad eyes. Phoebe did not say anything when Rebecca smiled at her.
"I want my mommy.", Phoebe cried again and Rebecca took her arm around Phoebe and showed her book.
"What is your name?", Rebecca asked curiously and Phoebe whispered it.
"That's a cool name. I am Rebecca and we are sisters."
"Becca.", Phoebe whispered sadly and did not understand anything that was happening.
"No Rebecca not Becca.", Rebecca pronounced it very clearly but Phoebe could not say it correctly, so she gave up.
"Do you like books?", she asked softly and was happy when Phoebe nodded. "Do you want to look at it with me?" Phoebe leaned a little against Rebecca and nodded again. Although Rebecca was a small girl too, Phoebe felt safe in those arms and listened to Rebecca's saying to every picture. She could not read yet but pretended to do so.
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This night Phoebe woke up crying every hour. "Mommy.", she whined and could not understand that her mother would never come back to get her. Rebecca went out of her bed and into her father's room.
"Dad. She won't stop crying. I think she really misses her mom. Can't she take her back?"
"Her mother does not want her. If she annoys you, just take her into another room and lock it.", Bill was drunk and had another woman in his bed. Rebecca could not believe what her dad was saying and closed the door again. She went back into bed but this time into Phoebe's and took another book.
"I don't have a mommy either. We don't need one.", Rebecca said honestly and showed Phoebe a horse in the book, "Look. Isn't that a cute horse? One day I'll buy one." From this day on the two were inseparable. Rebecca looked down at her little sister that had fallen asleep and took her hand into hers. She was happy that she had a sister now and soon she fell asleep as well.
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One year later Phoebe had forgotten about her mother and ran around in their room. "C'mon. Let's get outside.", Phoebe whined while Rebecca was looking into a book.
"No. I wanna stay in my room.", Rebecca answered and took another book. They had this conversation almost every day. While Phoebe was a very wild child, Rebecca preferred her books. But Phoebe almost won every day and got her to go outside and do some stunts with her and have fun.
"No. You don't. We play outside today. Dad is not here so we can get out. You can read outside.", Phoebe took Rebecca's book and ran downstairs.
"Phoebeeeeee!", Rebecca ran after her and finally caught her.
"Pleeeeease.", Phoebe looked up at her with a puppy face and Rebecca immediately nodded.
"Fine. But we get home before it's dark.", Rebecca whined and Phoebe rolled her eyes and then waved happily.
"Beeeeeen.", she saw her nine-year-old cousin playing with some friends on the streets.
"Hey.", he answered and threw the ball into a basket. Phoebe tried to take the ball but it was not easy because one arm was in a cast.
"Have you eaten already?", Ben asked his cousins and took his arm around both of them. "No.", Rebecca smiled up at him and together they walked to aunt Macy and uncle Jim.
"Hey my favorite nieces.", Macy kissed the two girls over and over again.
"Stop that.", Phoebe whined while Rebecca enjoyed the warmth.
"So Rebecca. I heard you could read now? Very smart girl.", Rebecca blushed a little and nodded.
"Yes she is. She reads books that are this big and she even knows how to write.", Phoebe admired Rebecca and made her blush even more, "Look.", Phoebe took a book and gave it to Rebecca. But Rebecca looked a little mad at her. "Please. Just one sentence."
Rebecca shook her head and just went over to Ben. She did not like to have all the attention drawn to her.
"She is really good.", Phoebe said again and watched the TV with the others.
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"Why are you crying?", Phoebe was worried when her big sister lay in her bed and the tears streamed down her face. Her first tooth was missing and she felt miserable. "Becca, what happened?"
"The tooth fairy did not come.", Rebecca answered and cried into the pillow, "Maybe I am a bad kid."
"No you are not a bad kid. Maybe…maybe she comes tomorrow." But the tooth fairy did not come tomorrow either. The next day Rebecca jumped up in joy in the morning.
"Looook. She came. She came.", she looked down at Phoebe who was lying in her bed with a big blue eye and a split lip.
"I told you she'd come.", Phoebe managed to smile.
"She gave me ten dollars Phoebe. I can buy us candy.", Rebecca suggested and felt pity with Phoebe, whose body was bruised. "How about we buy something right now?"
"You can buy it. I stay at home."
"No you don't."
"But it hurts to walk.", Phoebe sobbed and held her stomach.
"Well, then…um…oh I got it. Just walk down the stairs with me, okay?", Rebecca helped Phoebe to get up. "Wait here. I get you in a minute.", she took a pillow outside and then helped Phoebe. Phoebe looked confused at the large handbarrow that was filled with pillows. She sat down inside of it and Rebecca started to push it. It was not the easiest task but she did not want to leave Phoebe behind. She bought Phoebe's favorite candy. Phoebe did not regret that she had stolen the money from her father although it ended in being bruised now. But Rebecca's smile was worth it.
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Sam tiptoed into Ben's room and although he protested she stayed with him. Right now she did not really care whether Julian would find them or not and she knew that Julian would not check on them this night because they needed to be there for Phoebe every minute. But Sam knew that it was not only Phoebe who suffered. Ben had lost Rebecca as well and although he had not been as close to her as Phoebe, she had been his cousin and he loved her.
Ben tried to suppress his own tears but it was really hard. He took Sam's hand into his and snuggled closer to her. No one said anything but they held each other tight and knew that they would be there for each other. He laid his head against her neck and she could feel his small tears falling down. He did not want to cry; he wanted to be brave and "a man" but he missed this little girl as well and he feared the next day but he was glad that they had so much support in Tree Hill.
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"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." *From a headstone in Ireland
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Ps: Right now I am mad at myself that I let Rebecca die. I know that this is a weird statement but at first I did not intend at all to write any flashbacks and just wanted to show you Phoebe's pain. But now that I did write all of those flashbacks I somehow miss her myself ;) LOL. I know, it's just a story but right now I wish Rebecca could be with the Bakers and writing about her is not really easy ;(. I hope you start to like the character as well!
Wish you the best!