A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews and feedback on this story. I am glad so many of you are enjoying it. This story was my baby in a way as strange as that may sound, and it actually hurt my heart when I had to take so much of it down and basically quit writing it because I was so disheartened after someone stole my words and tried to pass them off as their own. I'm really enjoying going back through this now and tweaking things, as well as writing on new chapters now and I'm so glad it's still getting such great reception from all of you. I know it's been a while, real life has been something else lately but hopefully that will soon calm, at least enough to keep me writing. Thanks again for the feedback, next chapter will be up by tomorrow.
Fulfilled and Wishful Dreams
~ One that if you wish hard enough for and love long enough, you may realize it's already come true. (Skyla Moorman)
Nathan ran up the court, swiveling around imaginary opponents before going in for the lay-up and watching as the ball whooshed through the net to bounce on the linoleum below. It had been a grueling year, working so hard to get back into the game and now tomorrow would mark the last of the five final games. If someone had told him even two and half years ago that he would be playing ball again and playing in the finals for a championship he would've told them to go to hell and rolled himself into a corner to drink away his regrets. Now, he was standing at the precipice of making all of his dreams come true and he was grateful to have his second chance.
"Do you ever quit?" Bobby said from the sidelines as the ball went in once again.
"Not really," Nathan answered as he grabbed the ball, hooking it under his elbow and against his hip as he made his way over to his coach. "You can never be too prepared."
He nodded in agreement. "But I think you are as prepared as you're going to be. We're going to take home this championship and that has a lot to do with you; you're a leader Nate and a real team player and I have every confidence that I'm going to miss you next season."
"You really think I have what it takes to make it?" he turned to look at the strawberry blonde man beside him.
"I don't think Nathan; I know it and I think you know it too." He took a look around the otherwise empty stadium. "For many of these guys, this is their NBA but for you, this is only the beginning." He paused briefly. "So get out of here; you're prepared enough and I'm going to need you well rested for all the scouts tomorrow."
"Thanks Bobby, for everything." Nathan bounced the ball towards him. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Lucas watched as the actors replayed yet another moment of his life. Things had been going well for the last few weeks but with the latest scene they just seemed to be stuck and were already a day behind schedule. As he watched them try to act out one of the moments he'd regretted the most during his teenage years, he wondered if perhaps he'd written it wrong.
"Cut," Lucas bellowed, a small smile gracing his lips as the real version of the actress in front of him waddled towards him with a drink in her hand. "Take a break guys and we'll re-shoot in 10."
"I love it when you talk director," her raspy voice whispered in his ear before she came to stand in front of him, kissing him softly on the lips. "Hey…"
"Hey," he smiled before his lips meet hers again for a brief kiss. "Is that for me?" Lucas motioned to the cup in her hand.
"Yup," she held it out to him. "From the looks of things, you look like you need it." She eased herself up into the chair next to him, swatting his hand away when he tried to help. "I can still do it myself, thanks."
He gave a throaty laugh as she completed her task and the pout fell from her face. "So, how was your meeting with the wedding planner?"
"Great," she smiled, "but don't change the subject." She reached over to grab his hand. "I thought everything was going well; what's going on Broody?"
"It's this scene," he rubbed the back of his neck and let out a deep breath. "It's Nathan and Haley's second wedding after…"
"I find out about the kiss," she interrupted, finally taking in the set's atmosphere and pushing herself from the chair to walk into the decorated area. "Wow…" she let her hand run over the silver fabric, "even the purses are the same." She turned around, finding him standing only a foot behind her. "Can I see it," she held her hand out. "The script, I mean."
Lucas nodded silently before walking over to pick up the copy on the arm of his chair before returning to her.
"Hmm," she said as she scanned the lines before reaching in her purse for a pen, making slight adjustments.
He squinted at her curiously, watching her in motion before a small satisfied smile graced her features and the adjusted script was handed back to him. "Do you remember it differently?"
"You remember the words, just not the emotion behind them." She paused briefly. "Can you get Missy and mini Luke back here?"
"Hey guys," Lucas motioned to the chattering teen actors. "We're going to try this again after some direction from an expert," he winked at his fiancé. "They're all yours Pretty Girl."
"Well I only need Missy really," she handed her doppelganger the script. "I made a few changes here."
"Wow, this is so cool getting to work with you again," the younger brunette smiled giddily, clapping her hands in enthusiasm.
"Um, okay." Brooke nodded slowly, taking a breath before she got back to the task at hand. "Now if you look at the minor changes I made, it should help you get this scene better."
Missy studied the slight changes before her eyes returned to the woman she's portraying, a somberness taking over her features. "So Brooke isn't-you weren't angry?"
"No," the older brunette shook her head before turning to the actor playing Lucas. "But you seem dead set on thinking she is." She turned back to the young girl in front of her. "In this moment, she's disillusioned. This boy," she pointed to the actor playing Lucas, "this boy is the only guy you've ever really loved; the only guy you ever will love but he's hurt you, betrayed you with your best friend before. It's not so much about the kiss but the fact that you've let him all the way in after he hurt you but he won't do the same and now he's thrown this beautiful moment where he forgave you back in your face."
"The Chris Keller thing," Missy nodded.
"Lucas really is sort of, he's a real man and an angel for forgiving that but then to take that away really undermines all the faith that you've had in him and in your best friend." She pauses briefly. "You've given him everything you have to give, all of you and you're just begging for that back. And it's really heartbreaking. You're not mad; you're crushed. And in this moment you realize that this boy that you love so much just doesn't know you."
Lucas stood back, really taking in her words as a soberness fell over him at how much that moment had really hurt her.
"She's not mad," Missy nodded in understanding, trying to hold back the moisture that was suddenly forming in her eyes. "She's just heartbroken."
"Exactly," Brooke immediately stepped out of the shot, nodding to Lucas. "Shoot it," she mouthed.
"Action," Lucas shouted, knowing now the scene would be perfect but hoping revisiting this moment in the past wouldn't set back their future.
Haley leaned back against the jukebox, tilting her head back to catch the light as her eyes drifted to an imaginary point behind the head of the man in front of her.
"Beautiful," he said with a Spanish accent as he stepped closer, his finger pressing down on the shutter of the camera. "Beautiful, tilt your head a little more to the left… que bonita!" he took a few more photos from different angles, moving effortless around her form to capture the best angles possible. "I think we've got it. Set up the next shot."
Haley was quickly ushered to the makeup chair where the make artist was suddenly applying more eye shadow to her lids.
"You're doing great," Peyton was at her side.
"This feels really weird," Haley said, opening the lid the woman hovering in front of her wasn't currently working on. "I didn't do many photo shoots the first time."
"Well get used to it superstar," the blonde beamed. "I have a feeling this is only the beginning. You're album is climbing and not only do the fans love it but so do the critics Haley. Between you, Mia and my new artist, Red Bedroom Records is now in the big leagues and so are you."
"I wasn't so sure that I was ready for it but now that I'm here, I can't wait to be back on stage again." Haley beamed up at her friend.
The blonde looked towards the wardrobe assistant before looking back at her friend. "They're ready for you," Peyton returned the smile. "Go get 'em Haley James-Scott."
Haley was quickly ushered behind a screen and put into a long flowing white gown before returning to set, where she was promptly directed to sit on the deep blue couch and pose with her guitar. If someone had told her even a year ago, this would be her life she would've laughed but now that it was, she couldn't imagine it any other way. This was her second chance at her dream, and this time she was going to go the distance.
Owen sat on the couch, flipping the channels as he waited for his daughter to finish getting ready. He laughed to himself at how long it took his eight year old daughter to get ready. It was amusing how much of Rachel she had in her already, he mused, before smiling as he heard her bounding down the stairs.
"Can we get a princess one?" she looked up at her father, her iridescent blue eyes wide and hopeful. "Please."
"We can get whatever you want sweetheart," he said, knowing he could never say no to her puppy dog eyes, especially when he wasn't sure he'd have the opportunity to be able to say yes to her forever.
"Thanks," she threw her arms around his neck tightly before running back towards the stairs. "I think I should change my shoes."
"Don't be too long," he called after her. "They should be here any minute." As if on cue there was suddenly a knock on the door and Owen got up to answer it. "Jake," he greeted after opening it up wider, allowing the father-daughter pair inside. "Hey Jenny."
"Hi Mr. Morello," the little blonde smiled up at him before stepping inside, holding a blue and purple butterfly shaped kite.
"What's with the mister," he laughed. "It's just Owen," he closed the door behind them. "Ori, Jenny's here."
"Bye Daddy," Jenny hugged her father who quickly returned her embrace. "I can't wait to show Oriana my kite."
The two men watched the blonde bounce upstairs towards the brunette's room. "Hey man," Jake finally spoke. "Thanks for doing this."
"Not a problem," he shrugged nonchalantly. "Ori loves Jenny. I think they're quickly becoming best friends." He sighed deeply. "I just hope it stays that way."
"You and Rachel will get custody," Jake said reassuringly. "I know it."
"I hope so because if we lose tomorrow, I don't know what Rach will do." He shook his head wearily. "Honestly, I don't know what I'll do." He shook his head again, trying to push the possibility of losing his daughter out of his mind. "Enough about my problems, let's hear yours." He gave a small laugh. "Everything alright with you?"
"I'm okay," he nodded.
"Really?" he peered at his friend curiously. "And have you told Peyton yet?"
"It's the last thing she needs right now," Jake replied. "We're just getting back on track."
"Are you sure it's her who can't handle the news or you not sure if you can handle telling her?" Owen countered.
"And I guess you told Rachel about your feelings for her," Jake crossed his arms over his chest.
"Fine, you got me there but me and Rachel aren't like you and Peyton, all emotional and stuff." Owen scoffed. "Don't wait till the last minute; I told you before I'm sure it'll be fine but like I said she's emotional, you might want to prepare her. I know you told me this stuff in confidence but just think about it man."
"I will," Jake nodded. "I have to go; have fun at the park."
Haley watched her son from the back porch, enjoying her cup of tea as he bounced his basketball in the backyard, tossing it through the hoop several times.
"Did you see me Momma?" he looked up at her.
"I did little man," she smiled. "Uncle Skills said you did really well at your game. I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"It's okay," he said as he put his ball down and joined her on the porch. "Nanny Deb was there and Q. And Uncle Skills is always there. He said you were taking pictures."
"I was," she nodded.
"It's okay if you were too busy," he started to head for the basket again.
"Jamie honey, come here a minute." Haley waited till he complied, setting her drink down to pull him up on her lap. "I want you to know that I will never be too busy for you. I love singing and doing all these things to help my album but none of this is more important than you so if you ever feel that way, I want you to tell me, okay?"
"You got a deal," he held his hand out to her to shake. "And Momma, I'm really proud of you."
"I'm proud of you too buddy," she kissed him on his forehead before he hopped down off her lap.
"I can show you some more," he beamed.
"I think I have a better idea," she smiled down at him. "What do you say we leave tonight instead of tomorrow to surprise Daddy and then you can show us both your moves?"
Jamie nodded happily.
"Let's go pack son," she took his hand as they hurried into the house.
Rachel sat in the café, using the coffee stirrer to play with the foam on the top of her cappuccino as she looked at her watch for the third time in fifteen minutes.
"I'm so sorry I'm late," Brooke said as she made her way out to the patio, sitting in the chair across from her friend before motioning to the waitress. "I'll take an Oragon Chi tea." She turned to Rachel, "Sorry but I ended up at Tric longer than I expected and I had to stop and pee like three times."
The red head laughed. "I guess you're excused, seeing as how you waddle now rather than walk. How are you going to make it down the aisle next week?" she tapped her fingers against the table. "I guess we could always just roll your fat ass down to Lucas."
"Well you would know since you are the expert on being fat. Remind me again how much you weighed; was it four or five hundred pounds?" Brooke laughed. "I think I may still have that picture of you in that blue bathing suit."
"Even pregnant you're still a bitch," the red head rolled her eyes.
"What can I say slut," she shrugged before flipping her hair. "It's a gift." Her face turned more serious as she saw the somewhat pensive look on her friend's face. "Hey Rach, are you okay; you thinking about tomorrow?"
She nodded. "I talked to my aunt today, trying to reason with her but she acts like she's doing what's best for everyone as if it's best for her to try and steal my daughter a second time. I know I've made a lot of mistakes but I'm good now; I'm clean and focused and surprisingly responsible. I am ready to be a mother to my daughter."
"I know you are honey," she reached over to hold her friend's hand. "I really believe you'll get this second chance with her. The judge will see that she belongs with you and O."
"You're right," she nodded. "Thanks Brooke."
"Anytime," she nodded.
"So," Rachel began, "what kept you at Tric so long, a little pregnancy afternoon delight?"
"I wish," she rolled her eyes. "Try Nathan and Haley's second wedding and reliving all that." She pursed her lips in annoyance at the gleam in Rachel's eyes and the soft giggles after mentioning her discomfort. "Laugh it up now but wait until Lucas films you trying to drown everyone after the reception."
Rachel suddenly stopped laughing.
"Not so funny now is it chuckles," the brunette rolled her eyes before taking a sip of the drink in front of her and finishing her story.
Peyton sat on her back porch, sketching the sandy beach that lay before her. She had to admit, she felt more peaceful today then she had in a long time. She supposed it was in large part due to her appointment with Brooke's therapist; although technically she had been Nathan and Haley's therapist first. She let out an ironic laugh in the wind at the thought, wondering if Lucas would be next and if they should be getting some kind of group discount.
"And after you admitted to Jake about your fear," she sat back in her chair, pen in hand hovering over a notepad. "How did you feel?"
Peyton let out a deep breath. "Like a huge weight was lifted off my chest. I mean, I didn't really realize that I was pushing him away because I was scared of losing him…" she shrugged, unable to put it into words.
"Perhaps on someone else's terms rather than your own," the red head supplied.
"Exactly," the blonde nodded. "People always leave has kinda been my thing forever and I think maybe because everyone around me has left, some by death or just life, I just want to get the leaving part over with."
"But you haven't lost everyone," she replied. "You told me yourself how despite fights and not always being nice to each other, that Brooke is always there for you; that she hasn't left."
"No she hasn't but she's having twins and getting married so it won't be the same," Peyton sighed as she sunk further back into the cushions. "And I know it probably sounds stupid because when I was getting married I didn't think it would change but now… it's just all her dreams are coming true; her family and her company doing better than ever and helping victims of rape after what she went through. And then there's Haley whose album is doing phenomenal and she's about to go on tour and Nathan's NBA bound and they have their family. Even Jake's album is getting ready to be released. All their dreams are coming true and I guess I feel left out."
"I think you need to take a look at your own dreams, whether that's continuing to make your label a success or a family or both or neither; whatever it is," she explained. "You need to take a look at what is going to make you happy and allow yourself that happiness Peyton."
"Hey," Jake stood in the doorway in his boxers. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just drawing out my dreams," she smiled as she handed him the sketch pad.
He studied the intertwining figures in the moonlight with the waves crashing at their feet and the expanse of sea behind the kissing couple, a small figure to the right of them surrounding by an elaborate sand castle. "It's beautiful."
She stood up. "It's us," her green eyes bore into his warm brown ones. "You and me and Jenny, that's my dream."
He bent down to kiss her softly. "It's my dream too," he smiled against her mouth before kissing her deeply.
"Hey," Brooke said as she made her way down the stairs, finding Lucas sitting on the couch with his laptop. "When did you get in?"
"A couple hours ago," he turned back to look at her, putting his computer on the table. "You looked so peaceful sleeping; I didn't want to wake you."
She sat next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I guess I was just tired with getting all the stuff for the nursery, the men's line, and the plans for the women's center."
"You can add assistant movie director to the list now too," he nudged her with his shoulder. "You were great today Brooke; we got a lot done after you came by." He took her hand in his. "Speaking of, how was that for you? I mean…" he sighed. "I don't know what to say, just hearing how hurt you were..."
"I'm not hurt anymore Luke," she lifted her head from his shoulder, turning to look at him so their eyes meet. "Is it kind of weird watching someone play our lives; our mistakes, sure. " She shrugged, "But you and I have gotten passed all that and I'm so glad we have."
"So am I. I am so sorry I ever hurt you," he reached over to cup her cheek. "I know I've made a lot of mistakes along the way but I'm so happy we made it here, together. I want you to know now because you didn't know it then, I know you Brooke. I know you." He closed his eyes briefly as he traced her lips with his index finger. "The fullness of your mouth, your dimples, the fact that your hair smells like strawberries with a hint of sunlight, the way you bounce into the room and change its atmosphere. I know that you're vulnerable and fragile but you're too tough to let anyone else see you like that except for me. I know that you still quote authors I've never seen you read and that there are two completely different sides to you, both of which are amazing. And I know you have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known. I know you," he held her face within his hands. "Even when I was young and naïve, I knew you. There were times I didn't know me but I've always known you," his blue orbs stared deeply into her hazel green ones. "You're my comet; you're my dream."
Brooke couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks as she smiled at the man in front of her. "You're my dream too Luke, you always have been, ever since I first saw you and I am so happy it came true." She reached up to cup his face. "I love you, so much more than I ever knew could be possible."
"I love you," he said softly before his lips meet hers in an ardent kiss.
Nathan lay in his hotel room on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He was excited about tomorrow but he also wished his family was there; he missed them so much when he was away. Nathan knew tomorrow could very well be the start of finally fulfilling his dream of The NBA but he also knew it meant nothing without Haley and Jamie there to share it with him. Just as his eyes were about to close, he heard his phone vibrate from the bed stand next to him. "Hello?"
"Hey Nate," his wife's sing-song voice rang through the line. "I was just thinking about you."
"Me too," he sat up on his elbows, cradling the phone against his shoulder. "Is Jimmy Jam asleep?"
"Yeah," she smiled as she looked over at her son resting on her shoulder. "He's so excited about seeing you play tomorrow; he can't wait."
"I wish you guys were here already," he replied just as a knock sounded on his door. "There's somebody here."
"It's pretty late," Haley replied. "Why don't you go answer it, I'll wait."
Nathan dragged himself from the bed, making his way slowly to the door and opening it, surprise washing all over his face as his wife and slumbering son were suddenly in front of him. "Hey," he wrapped his arms around her before taking Jamie from her arms.
"So we missed you too much to wait till tomorrow," she kicked her shoes off and tossed her purse on the table.
"Daddy," Jamie smiled up at his father groggily. "We missed you."
"I missed you too buddy," he kissed his son on top of the head.
"I'm going back to sleep now," Jamie said before letting his already drooping lids close, both his parents letting out a small chuckle before Nathan laid him on the bed.
"I was just thinking about how much I wished you guys were here," he said as he came around the bed, wrapping her in his arms again before he bent down to kiss her softly.
"And now here we are," she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him again before yawning.
"Tired," he cocked his head to the side, taking her hand in one of his. "Come on sleepy."
She smiled as they climbed into bed, Nathan wrapping one arm around his son and one arm around his wife. Haley snuggled closer to him as she closed her eyes, letting out a sigh of contentment. "It feels so good to be in your arms again."
"Like a dream come true," Nathan kissed the top of her head before his own eyes closed.
Skyla Moorman wrote, "So often dreams are thought of as fantasies, as fairytales that have no chance of coming true but in truth, a dream is just a desire made deep within your heart. One that if you wish hard enough for and love long enough, you may realize it's already come true; and that anything is possible."