Finding The Faith To Rebuild
At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. It's like one day you realize that the fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed. (Shonda Rhimes)
Brooke paced back and forth in the bedroom, cell phone glued to ear as she dealt with the latest crisis. Her stock was on a downward spiral due to all the negative publicity, Rachel had to leave to take care of a personal matter, and the board was getting restless for answers on what they were going to do to keep Clothes Ova Bro's from collapsing. Brooke could see Lucas in her peripheral, standing in the doorway looking concerned as she paced anxiously.
"Okay, here's what we're going to do Jenni," Brooke huffed out an exasperating breath. "I need you to find Liza Devane; she's the best in the business. I don't care if you have to sit outside her office or her home just find her today and tell her Brooke Davis says she's calling in the favor; trust me, she'll know what I'm talking about. Set up a conference call with her for tomorrow, sometime before noon. Promise her your first born if you need to but I need to talk to her by tomorrow morning, got it?" She waved a hand at Lucas who'd walked over to her and forced her to sit down. "And I need you to stall the board and inform them we're going to have an emergency meeting tomorrow afternoon that I will attend by satellite. Millicent will be there sometime today and she'll take over leadership until I can head back to New York, okay. I'm counting on you to do this for me and keep up moral," she paused briefly as her voice became a barely above a whisper. "Clothes Ova Bro's is counting on you. I'll be in touch, thanks Jenni."
"Hey, hey…" Lucas rubbed her arms up and down, trying to calm her. "You have to relax."
"I can't," she shook her head before standing back up, resuming her pacing. "I can't lose my company, everything I've worked for… Lucas, you don't understand. No one can take the success of your books away but me, I could lose it all tomorrow."
"Brooke, look at me." He stood in front of her, turning her face to look into her eyes. "That's not going to happen."
"You don't know that Luke," she said wearily.
"I do know that because I know you and I know the drive you have and how strong you are and how much people love you," he replied before taking her hand. "So I know you're going to come through this even stronger; the world doesn't stand a chance."
"You've said that to me once before," she smile softly.
"And I was right then too," Lucas answered. "Come on, let's get out of here."
"Luke?" she raised an eyebrow at him as he dragged her to the porch. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," Lucas just smiled before closing the door behind them.
Rachel sat outside the small yellow house, staring at the place that had become a home to her child. To say she was nervous was an understatement; frazzled would probably be a better word. She felt anxious, excited, and scared all in one breath. Rachel had been sitting in her rented SUV for the better part of a half an hour just willing herself to walk up to the door and knock but so far she hadn't been able to make her feet move.
It was times like this she realized how much she depended on Owen now, especially when she thought about reuniting with her daughter; their daughter. He'd been there for her during the tornado crisis and since then he'd become part of her support system. She knew he'd be arriving on a flight this afternoon but something inside of her wouldn't let her wait. Now as she found herself outside, she couldn't stop the fear and the flood of memories that were just as clear as if it happened yesterday.
Rachel look down at the baby in her embrace wrapped in a soft pink blanket she'd picked out months before. She stroked her dark tuft of hair, memorizing every line and curve of the young child's face as she rocked her By the window. Rachel smiled as her lids fluttered before opening, revealing the most beautiful set of ice blue eyes she'd ever seen. She imagined they'd change colors eventually but for now they were a shade of blue she'd never seen before.
"Oriana Gattina Morello," Rachel's voice was soft. "I never knew I could love something so much until I saw you. How can I walk away now; how can I say goodbye?" Her voice strained to say the words.
"Rachel," her aunt stepped inside the room. "Your mother is waiting for you downstairs."
"I don't think I can do this," the red head shook her head vehemently. "For the last week I've held her and changed her and feed her and loved her. She's my baby."
"And she always will be," Casey replied. "Rachel honey, we've already discussed this. I know you love her but you're young and you're just not ready. This is for the best."
"Then why doesn't it feel like it," she countered softly.
"You can still visit and when you're older and capable you can be a mother to her," she smiled warmly. "I know this is hard honey but your parents think this is for the best."
"I think they're more concerned on how it looks," Rachel replied bitterly. "She's mine."
"I know and I promise I'll take good care of your little girl," Casey assured her.
She nodded thoughtfully before turning her attention back to her daughter. "She's beautiful," Rachel smiled down at the little girl in her arms. "She's just perfect." Tears rolled down her cheeks but she smiled through them, hoping somewhere deep inside she'd remember.
They both turned at the honk of a car horn from outside. "It's time Rachel," Casey held her arms out for the child.
"I love you so much Oriana and I promise I'll come back for you," Rachel whispered to her daughter before kissing her on the forehead. "I promise I'll come back for you," she whispered once more before handing her into the waiting arms of her aunt and walking away slowly. Rachel turned at the doorway, glancing back at the picturesque scene before walking out and sobbing all the way to the airport.
It was the last moment she ever felt whole and she sometimes wondered if that moment had been different, how different she'd be today. Rachel took a deep breath as she gathered her courage and stepped out of the vehicle, tentatively making her way to the door and knocking on it.
"Just a minute," she heard a female voice call before a figure came to stand behind the screen door. "Yes?" The woman peered at the red head on her doorstep.
"Aunt Casey it's me, Rachel." She watched the woman's eyes grow wide. "I'm here for Oriana."
"Yeah alright Skills," Nathan said into the phone. "I'll see you later man." Nathan hung up he receiver with a smile on his face.
"Skills?" Haley said from behind him. "Does that mean you guys have worked things out?"
"It means we're setting aside our differences for the basketball game," he turned around to answer her.
"You can't just pretend like it isn't happening," she said as she stepped forward. "I know it's weird but Skills is a good guy, you know that and your mom," she paused briefly, "she deserves to be happy. Now she's got that chance after everything Dan put her through and that kid is going to need their big brother Nathan."
He nodded in defeat. "I hate it when you're right."
"I'm always right Nathan," she smiled knowingly. "So if that wasn't about your friendship, what did Skills say to you that had you smiling so?"
"Blake Ahearn," Nathan paused briefly, "he's a guy from a different team in The D-League; he'll be playing with us along with Joe Crawford from the Knicks."
"Wow," Haley looked up at him. "How did Skills get them to sign up? Neither of them have ties to Tree Hill do they?"
"Only Brooke Davis," he replied. "Apparently she called in some favors."
"With everything she's going through…" Haley let the sentence trail off.
"She'll get through it Hales, Luke will make sure of that." Nathan replied before taking her hand.
"I know he will and I'm sure she'll be there tonight so I can make sure she's alright," she looked up at him. "But until then I'd love to take care of you."
He put his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. "Is that right Mrs. Scott?"
"It sure is Mr. Scott," she wriggled her eyebrows at him before placing a hand against his chest and rising up on her tip toes to kiss him. "What do you say we go upstairs?" She mumbled against his mouth.
"Don't have to ask me twice," Nathan replied in between kisses before lifting her up in his arms and carrying her upstairs as she let out a throaty laugh.
Peyton sat on the porch swing sketching. There was a funnel in the middle and on one side she drew faceless people with microphones holding one side of a cracked house with the other side was held by a group of men in jerseys with basketballs. She began to sketch some words around the page, loving the feel of the charcoal gliding across the page. It was the second drawing she'd worked on today, her creative juices flowing after a short hiatus. Although she no longer published any of her artwork, she still found comfort in it. It helped her express what was on her mind and make sense of things; and put her emotions into something concrete.
"Hey," Jake said as he stepped out of his car and walked towards the porch.
"Hey," the blonde smiled up at him before making room for him to sit beside her. "I was wondering where you ran off too."
"Oh, I just had to take care of a few things," Jake shook his head. "What are you working on?"
She handed him the pad slowly, part of her still shy about someone seeing her work in the middle of the process. "It's about…"
"Tree Hill being rebuilt," he finished for her. "This is great Peyton."
"Thanks," she nodded appreciatively. "I'm glad you're back; we have to get ready to go soon. I thought you might miss it."
He shook his head. "I wouldn't miss that; I'm playing in the game or have you forgotten?"
"No I haven't forgotten," she smirked at him. "I dug out my old cheerleading costume just for you; I thought I'd put it on if you lost."
"And if I win," he looked at her curiously.
"Well then I thought I'd take it off," she laughed.
"Well then I am definitely winning this game," he leaned over to kiss her before standing up. "I'm going to go get ready."
"Jake," she noticed the faraway look in his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine Peyt; everything's great." Jake flashed Peyton a reassuring smile before going in the house.
Peyton watched his retreating form, unable to shake the feeling deep inside that said something was going on and that it was serious. She looked down as her sketch, hoping that whatever it was wouldn't split the house apart yet again.
"Luke," Brooke stumbled across what felt like sand as he held his hands over her eyes. As she continued walking she began to smell the salt in the air and hear the sound of the waves splashing against the shore. "We're at the beach," she smiled as the words came out of her mouth.
"We are," Lucas replied as he took his hands from her eyes.
"What are we doing here?" she looked from the ocean into the ocean of his eyes.
"Taking care of you," he answered as he took her hand in his and lead her towards the water, stopping a couple feet from shore. "Do you remember that night after formal when I found you here?"
"Yeah, of course I remember Luke." She gave him her famous dimpled smile. "It was the night you and I really became friends again," she shrugged. "Well the first time, why?"
"I saw you sitting on this beach, looking out at the water and I realized then that the beach was to you what the River Court is to me," Lucas explained as he bent down to grab a fist full of sand. "It's where you go when you need answers. It's where you get your strength from," he let the sand flow through her hand, "the golden grains of the beach."
She nodded silently before glancing towards the ocean and then looking back up at him. "Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself."
"I told you before; I do know some things about you Brooke Davis," he smirked.
She nodded. "You are wrong though about something though," she paused briefly. "It's not just from here that I get my strength you know; it's from you Luke."
Lucas cupped her cheek before bringing his lips to hers in a soft kiss. "I think you're wrong about that; you were already strong when I meet you. You have this resilience inside of you." He paused to place his hand on her stomach. "We're going to be fine, I can feel it." He looked down as his cell phone began to ring.
"Do you need to get that?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Everything else can wait."
She offered him a dimpled smile before nodding silently and staring ahead at the depths of the ocean, a comfortable silence falling over them as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
Rachel sat on the sofa across from her aunt who still looked shocked and a bit unsettled by her presence. She'd already informed her that she had a lawyer on standby if Casey though about keeping her away from her daughter.
"I don't know what to say," Casey said as she looked up into the scrutinizing eyes of the red head. "Rachel, I never meant to keep her from you for so long."
"But you did," she shot back icily.
"Your parents told me about the problems and we thought it would be best if Oriana stayed here," she replied calmly.
"We," Rachel repeated. "And when did any of you ask me what I wanted, what I needed? Do you have any idea what it has been like for me? Don't you think any of my problems came from the fact that my daughter was stolen from me?"
"That is not what happened," the brunette said firmly, shaking her head. "I looked out for her when you couldn't."
"And moved so I couldn't find you," Rachel stood up. "Well I'm here and I'm not leaving without my daughter!"
"Aunt Casey," a small voice came from the stairs. "What's going on?" She peered through the slot in between the rails.
Rachel turned to see a young girl standing behind the banister. She stared at the child, taking in her dark auburn hair and apricot toned skin. Rachel's eyes sought out the girl's, recognizing the iridescent ice blue she thought would change color with time. "Oriana?" Her voice was shaky when she finally spoke.
The little girl nodded before stepping down the last two steps and walking in front of the woman who spoke her name, staring up at a face she'd seen in pictures. "Are you…" she turned to her aunt. "Aunt Casey is she…"
"Yes," Casey replied before her eyes shifted to her older niece. "I never lied to her about you."
Rachel knelt down in front of the timid little girl. "Oriana, do you know who I am?"
She swallowed before nodding. "You're my mom, right?"
"That's right baby," Rachel smiled as tears began to cascade down her cheeks. "I'm your mom and you," she reached out tentatively and stroked her auburn hair, "you're my daughter. I'm so sorry I've been gone so long; I lost you but I'm so glad I found you again." She paused briefly. "Can I, can I hug you?"
Oriana looked up into her mother's eyes for what felt like a lifetime for both of them before a small smile graced her lips. "Okay," she nodded.
Rachel quickly scooped the girl into her embrace, sobbing silently as she ran a hand through her hair. "Oh baby girl I've missed you; I love you so much." She pulled back to look into her daughter's eyes. "I never stopped loving you and I'm going to prove it to you. We're never going to be separated again, I promise." Rachel pulled the girl back into her embrace.
"I knew you'd come back for me," Oriana wrapped her arms tightly around her mother's neck. "I found your letter and I told all my friends you'd come get me."
Rachel nodded as she reluctantly let go of the little girl. "Go get whatever you want to take with you okay."
"I get to come with you?" she looked a little unsure, looking between the adults in the room.
"Yes," Rachel replied as she stood up. "I'll be up to help you in just a minute okay?"
"Don't leave me again," her small voice pleaded.
"Never," the red head smiled before watching her daughter ascend the stairs.
"Rachel, this is the only home she's ever known. She may be excited right now but she's going to need time to adjust," Casey pleaded. "You can't just take her out of here after all this time."
"Watch me," Rachel said firmly. "And if you try to stop me I will bring you up on charges of kidnapping. Now, I'm going to go get my daughter." With that, she whipped around and headed up the stairs.
"Welcome to The Friends With Benefit Basketball Charity Game," the familiar voice of Mouth announced as the game was about to begin. "All proceeds from ticket sales as well as raffle sales will go to The Tree Hill Tornado Relief Fund…"
Nathan and Lucas stood outside the locker rooms listening to the pre-game commentary. "So it looks like we're on opposite sides again," the blonde laughed.
"You sure you're up for this big brother?" the raven haired man asked. "I don't want to give you a heart attack. But if you have to fake one because you're scared to play against me…"
"Man we're gonna smoke ya'll Nate," Skills chimed in from behind them.
Nathan visibly stiffened for a moment but shook it off quickly, knowing this would be their normal banter if he hadn't found out about his friend and his mother. "In your dreams man, this ain't college."
"That's right, because I'm here." A voice echoed from behind them.
"Jake Jagelski," Skills reached over to shake his hand before giving him dap. "It's been a long time since we balled together man."
"It has," he nodded towards the blonde, hoping their friendship was still in tact after all the recent changes. "Hey Luke."
"Hey man," Lucas smiled naturally, glad that they were still friends. "You all ready to take a loss?" he asked jovially.
"Not likely," Nathan shook his head with a laugh as Mouth started to announce the players before they each ran out at the sound of their names.
Within a few minutes they were standing on the basketball court preparing for the tip off. Tim Smith and Junk Moretti were in the center on opposite sides, Tim flagged by Vegas Norris, Jake Jagelski, Nathan Scott, and Joe Crawford while Blake Ahearn, Lucas Scott, Skills Taylor, and Ruben Gutierrez surrounded Junk.
The crowd was a sea of blue, from light to dark in spirit of The Ravens as the players ran up and down the linoleum. The star of the game was Nathan Scott, whose 40 points included 3-pointers and a 360-degree slam fed off of the backboard. The final score was 85-82 but the real winners were the community as a whole who'd been enveloped by the experience, the cause, and the intensity of the game.
In a way it felt like they were transported back to high school when Lucas first invited Nathan and his team for a pick up game at The River Court; that was the last time the eight of them had played together. And even though they were on separate teams there was still a camaraderie amongst them; a purpose to rebuild the spirit of a town.
Peyton stood in the doorway, watching as Jake pulled the covers up over Jenny before kissing her on the forehead and putting away the book he'd found atop of her bed. It reminded her of all the times they used to put her to sleep years ago when she was just a baby.
They'd been through a lot of changes recently and a year ago, maybe eve a few months ago she never imagined she could have this again but looking at the scene in front of her Peyton knew that they were slowly rebuilding what they had lost. It was funny how your fairytale could change and somehow become better than you ever imagined.
She walked over to the bed and kissed Jenny on the forehead herself before standing next to Jake and wrapping her arm around his torso, looking down at the sleeping girl.
"She looks so peaceful," Peyton whispered as she felt his arm sling across her shoulder. "She's was so excited seeing you play tonight."
"Yeah, it was fun to be out there again." He nodded, his voice a whisper as well.
"Do you miss it," her green eyes looked up at him, "basketball, I mean?"
"Nah," he shook his head before squeezing her closer. "I have everything I need right here."
She looked at him coyly. "Everything?"
"Well there was a mention about a cheer-leading uniform," he raised his brows at her seductively.
Peyton giggled softly before taking his hand and leading him out of Jenny's room.
"Jamie's asleep?" Nathan said as he walked up behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her.
"Yeah, he had a busy day." She smiled as she leaned back against his chest. "I wish you didn't have to go back already."
"I know, me too." He squeezed her tighter. "Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it, being away from you and Jamie so much."
She turned around to face him, reaching up to cup his cheek. "It's going to be worth it when you get called up and you will Nathan, I believe that with all my heart."
"You're so amazing," his eyes were soft as he gazed at her. "I just… if something was to happen while I was gone..."
"I'm fine Nathan," she replied. "The doctor says I'm doing great and I'm going to rebuild my music career while you focus on your basketball. We're strong Nate and we're going to be fine, I have no doubt about that." She looked up at him. "You remember what you told me after Chris showed up?"
"That we'd accomplish our dreams together," he nodded. "No fear."
She nodded in agreement. "No fear."
"Hey Pretty Girl," Lucas said as he stepped out of the bathroom from his shower. "You okay; you look really deep in thought."
She turned around to face him. "I'm great Luke." She paused briefly. "I have to thank you for today; you're always helping me find my way."
"You do the same for me," he said as he sat next to her, taking her hand within his own. "You made a decision." It was not a question; he could already see the answer in her eyes.
"I'm going to tell the world what happened to me," she looked up to see a surprised reaction on his face. "I know what you're thinking, if I'm sure but I am. What happened to me was probably the hardest thing that I've ever had to go through but I got through it because of Rachel and Deb and you…all of you. People look up to me Lucas and if I can help someone who felt as alone as I did rebuild their life then I have to."
"You're amazing Brooke Davis, you know that?" he couldn't help but feel proud of the woman who sat beside him. The fact that she was turning something so negative that happened to her into a positive for other people took his breath away.
"So you keep telling me," she blushed with a smile. "I couldn't do any of this without you Lucas."
"I'm glad you think so but I think you could," he replied. "You save people Brooke; it's just what you do. It's inside of you. I just…" he trailed off.
"What?" she looked up at him expectantly.
"Nothing," he shook his head. "I just wish I'd been there to save you when you needed me to; that I'd kept my promise to you all those yeas ago."
"Oh but Lucas, you did. When I meet you, you changed my life and the direction I was going in. It's because of you that I am who I am," she smiled at him as her hazel orbs meet his blue ones. "And this last time when I was lost in the dark, you brought me back. Lucas you did save me, from all of it."
"You saved me too," Lucas replied before leaning over to kiss her deeply.
Rachel stood at the baggage claim waiting for Owen to arrive. She'd taken Oriana back to Brooke's apartment for a while before they came to the airport. She'd tried to explain the best she could about never wanting to give her up and although Oriana seemed happy to be with her she still seemed a bit distant.
"Are you nervous?" Rachel looked down at the little girl beside her.
"A little," Oriana nodded. "I always thought you'd come back but I didn't..." the litle girl trailed off with a shrug.
"I understand," the red head nodded. "Look its okay to feel kind of weird about this and nervous," she bit the corner of her lip and gave a shrug. "I know I am."
"You are?" her ice blue eyes were wide.
"Yeah sure," Rachel exhaled deeply. "But I want to build a relationship with you and I hope you'll give us a chance, okay?"
"Okay," she nodded just as a man approached them.
"Hey Rach," Owen stood in front of them, pulling his suitcase to a stop before staring down in wonder at the little girl. "Oh, wow…hi…" He bent down to her level.
"Hi," she said shyly, her eyes slowly looking up to meet his. "I'm Oriana."
"Hi Oriana, I'm Owen." He paused briefly as he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, "I'm your dad."
Shonda Rhimes wrote, "At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. It's like one day you realize that the fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And it's not so important happy ever after, just that it's happy right now. See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you, and once in a while people may even take your breath away."