Liz looked in awe at the woman that intimidated her so back in New York. She was always such a bitch.
"Victoria, like Brooke's mom Victoria?" Sam sat up a bit and looked at the woman in complete shock. What the hell? It had effectively snapped her out of her rage.
Victoria was losing patience, "Yes." She snapped, "Can we move along with this? Your coat young lady."
Sam wordlessly did as she was told and pulled on her coat. Yeah, this was definitely her mother's mother. Always carping about her damn coat.
Victoria finally recognized the girl that was next to Sam, "And if it isn't the sidekicks whiny daughter."
Liz gave her a smirk, "Back off Bitchtoria. My mom's not a sidekick."
Victoria laughed, "Well look who developed a spine. Who knew Tree Hill would do that for you?"
"What the hell do you want?" Liz snapped back. Sam turned to her, "Chill Liz."
Victoria rose an eyebrow at the blonde, "Yes, Elizabeth. Chill. My dealings are with the crybaby, not with you."
"Hey!" Sam responded indignantly.
But Victoria paid no heed, "Please proceed to leave us both Elizabeth."
"No."
Sam sniffled a bit and looked at Liz. She didn't know why but there was something about Victoria that Sam felt comfortable with. Maybe it was the weird way that she made her put her coat back on like her mom would've done.
"Liz it's okay. Can you just stay in the classroom with Manny?"
"Sam-"
"It's not like we're all patched up anyways Liz.." Sam said exasperated.
Liz felt a twinge of hurt and backed off. She stood up and stared the woman whose arms were crossed and heel clicked impatiently on the floor.
"If you hurt her-"
"Then I hurt her." Victoria said back, "You have no power over over me. Now scatter."
She waited for Liz to go back inside.
"Sammy are you sure you want me to?" Liz asked once more giving Victoria the death glare.
Sam looked unsure but agreed anyways, "I'll be fine Liz."
Sam reluctantly made her way back into the classroom and Victoria then turned her attention to the girl who was sitting on the floor with her knees to her chest looking down at the floor. Ugh, what kind of weak Davis was she?
"Will you answer why you're so upset now?"
"Why do you even care?"
Victoria felt her heart skip a beat. Why did she care? She shouldn't.
'Get it together,' her mind yelled.
Victoria smiled quite devilishly, "I care because you are a Davis, and you crying out here gives us a bad name. Your mother might not care about that, but I certainly do. Now pull it together and tell me what's going on."
Sam lowered her legs and crossed them onto the floor, "It's nothing. Just some dumb guy making fun of my friends."
Victoria scoffed. That was it? This was exactly why she never cared for kids they were so unnecessarily emotional.
"Well wonderful. Waste your tears on unimportant people. Is this what your mother's been teaching you?"
Sam stared at her unsure of how to answer. Damn, was this woman so mean all the time?
"...Well I said it doesn't matter didn't I? God, what the hell are you doing here anyways? My mom doesn't go to school here any more."
Sam was exasperated. She should be questioning this woman's sudden appearance out of the blue, not the other way around.
Victoria took a deep breath, "Get up. I came here looking for you actually."
Sam's eyes filled with intrigue, "How'd you know where I was?"
"I donate to this school since Brooke was a student. I can find out where anyone is."
Sam looked surprised, "You donate? To a school? So you're not as bitchy as you seem, I guess."
Victoria eyes glimmered with amusement, "Wrong. I am."
The teen liked this woman. She could have a lot of fun messing with her. She slowly got up, "Why do you want to talk to me and not Brooke?" She was still suspicious. As far as she knew Brooke's mother was just a figure that would call her mama about business and left her in a sour mood for a bit after.
"Because...your mother is unreasonable, and this pertains to you. Where can we talk about this in private at this school? Lucas Scott isn't here too is he?"
Sam chuckled, "No, dad left."
Victoria cringed at the thought of Brooke and Lucas together when the word 'dad' came out of Sam's mouth.
"And we can go into that empty classroom I guess." Sam said pointing to it. Victoria pulled her in and pointed to a desk then leaned on the front table and watched the young teen sit and squirm under her gaze.
"So." Victoria started.
"Y-yeah?" Sam wasn't so sure this was a good idea anymore.
"I want you to do an interview with the magazine."
Sam frowned, "Brooke already said no. I told her I could, but she said no." Her voice deflated.
"Oh? Does she give you a bottle before bedtime too? Are you not capable of your own decisions?"
Sam pulled her legs onto the desk chair. Shit this woman had no filter. "I am capable! I never said I wasn't." She argued in her defense.
Victoria shrugged, "It doesn't seem like it."
"You're a bitch."
"As you are." Victoria countered, "As I recall it my daughter's life was quite simple. She had one job and that was as fashion designer extraordinaire, then you came along. Suddenly her responsibility shifted to some whiny child. You turned her whole world upside down. Don't you think that's a pretty bitchy move on your part?"
She leveled Sam with a look and gauged her reaction. Sam's chin quivered, and the woman could tell she was trying hard not to lash out at her. She felt herself frown. Well, geez, she didn't want to make the kid cry. But, alas, she had done it and she was not known to take her words back. Might as well continue forward.
"So it seems to me we are on equal level. Are we not?"
Sam looked at her skeptically and shrugged.
"Will you agree to an interview or not?"
Sam picked at her sweater, "Isn't Brooke like your boss? So what she says goes?"
Victoria laughed, "Wrong. Don't you worry your pretty little head over that. I have my tactics. Besides Brooke is rarely involved in what goes in and out of the magazine. That's what editors are for."
Sam scoffed, "She'll see the interview at some point!"
"And then you'll face the consequences, yes. But the benefits of you interviewing is far greater than the cons. Trust me. It's for the good of the company. What will you be, grounded?"
Sam blushed and nodded. She wasn't sure if doing this would also mean a spanking, but it's not like she was putting her life in danger, right? And this wasn't like MAJOR disobedience. Besides the blow over with Liz the threat never really came up since they warned her about it. Sam was doing pretty well.
Victoria sighed, "Look, it's up to you to decide whether you want to or not. But I'm allowing you the opportunity because I see how much this will benefit the B. Davis enterprise."
Sam suddenly felt worried. Was her mother's company in trouble? Was it all because of her? Oh...no.
"Is, is the company in trouble?" Sam asked looking up at Victoria with wide blue eyes. Victoria felt her heart constrict at the sound of the teen's hesitancy. Her face reminded her so much of Brooke when she was a young tot. But those eyes weren't her daughter's and that was enough to keep her from falling into the adorableness that sat in front of her.
"Not as of yet. It's just people loved how caring Brooke was to her fans and readers. Now it seems she's become much more reserved and it's bothering some of our base. I'd hate to see it slowly crumble."
"But what about the clothes side? And wouldn't Brooke get mad at you too?"
Victoria laughed, "That side is always doing well, but we make just as much money with our media and magazine. And I can deal with Brooke. I've known her for all her 32 years, as much as she likes to say otherwise."
Sam nodded and bit her lip.
Oh, God. There it was again. Brooke bit her lip too and Victoria could see her daughter written all over this fourteen year old for a second. Of course this girl seemed much more vulnerable, maybe a bit more childish than her daughter at fourteen. Then again, Brooke had grown up much too fast.
'That was your fault. You made her do that.' Her mind reminded her.
"Well what happens if I say yes? How does this work?" Sam asked cautiously.
Victoria undid her crossed arms and placed hands on either side of herself on the desk.
"You will interview with one of our editors. I'll have them come to Tree Hill. They'll ask you questions about your life. Very personal ones if you so choose to answer them. Of course the juicier, the better. There will probably be a photoshoot of some sort. It'll be a 3 or 4 page spread. The whole thing will probably be a morning to afternoon thing."
"So I'll have to sneak around Brooke and Lucas."
Victoria rolled her eyes, "God, yes! I'm sure you've done it many times before."
Sam sighed, "Will you be there with me?"
Victoria's annoyed face almost broke at the question. Why was she feeling endearment?! This was not supposed to happen. As far as she was concerned Sam was nothing to her. Right? Brooke had made it explicitly clear that their relationship was business and that was it. So why should she care about Sam?
"If that'll get you to do it, then yes."
Sam contemplated her choice.
Victoria looked at her watch and took a step closer, "You don't have to decide now. I'll be around this week. In my hotel of course and at the office. Whatever you decide send me a text or call me." She handed Sam a piece of paper, "This is my number. DO NOT contact me for anything else but this. I don't care for your life's drama nor for your sob story. This is explicitly business. Understood?"
Sam took the paper and nodded her head.
"So...what now?" Sam asked.
Victoria grabbed her purse, "I leave."
Sam watched her go and quickly stopped her, "Wait!"
"What?"
Sam hid a smirk, "So you're my grandma now...right?"
Victoria huffed and her face contorted, "ABSOLUTELY NOT. Call me that once more and you will not live to see another day. I am not old enough for that. I am Victoria and nothing else."
Sam burst out laughing. She got flustered just like her mom.
"What's so funny?" She said with a pointed eyebrow raise that was even scarier than Brooke's. Sam retreated a bit, "Nothing. Nothing."
"That's what I thought."
Just then Sam's phone rang. Sam sighed, "It's my mom. I'll call her back later."
Victoria was intrigued. She had yet to watch Brooke in mom mode. She walked over and picked up the phone for Sam.
'Hello, Sammy?' Came Brooke's voice.
"What are you doing?" Sam whispered to Victoria.
Victoria pointed to the phone to which Sam rolled her eyes.
"Hi Brooke."
'Hey kiddo. Did you get Luke's text? He was going to wait for you but had to come home and move the things out of the guest room since they're coming in tomorrow morning.'
Victoria hid the smile at Brooke's warmth towards her daughter. She could just barely make it out, but she could hear it.
Sam looked up at Victoria then back down, "Yeah I got it. Are we still going to Ralph's today?"
'Yeah. Do you want to head over now? Or wait for us to pick you up?'
Sam stayed thinking and looked up at the woman who was trying to act like she didn't care about the conversation. Too bad Sam could see right through it.
"I'll find my way. Don't worry."
'Okay Sam. We're excited to hear about your club meeting kid!'
Sam bit her lip again, "Yeah, I'll see you in a few mom. Bye!"
Sam hung up the phone and put it in her backpack. She looked up at the woman once more with a bit of coyness, "So I have to leave now. Do you think you can take me to where I need to go?" If she could just get her mom and Victoria in the same place. Maybe they could talk it out. Even though the woman was flat out mean, Sam still saw something in her. She could see this woman cared about Brooke and maybe even her.
Victoria shook her head adamantly, "No I'm not taking you."
"I won't bug you after this except to text you about my decision. I just told my mom I'd be there soon and I don't feel like walking it'll take me ages to get there!"
Victoria clenched her fists together and took a deep breath, "One ride and that's it."
Sam smiled, "Maybe you can stay and have ice cream with us." She got up and headed out with the woman.
"Brooke and I sitting over ice cream? That'll be the day."
"Well today can be that day." Sam added looking at the woman next to her. Victoria stopped walking and looked at the girl then scoffed.
… …. … …
Brooke looked out the window of the ice cream parlor and felt herself pale at the sight. Her head shook over and over.
"I'll kill her." She growled, "I'll kill her now."
Lucas swallowed the ice cream that he had just put in his mouth, "What? Brooke, what?"
He watched her get up wordlessly and march outside. He turned over and saw what Brooke had seen. Victoria had parked her car in the lot and next to her was their daughter.
"Who's that?" Tamara asked.
Lucas gulped and turned to look at the girl, "Brooke's mom."
"Oh shit." Tamara said with a bit of glee, "It's about to go down isn't it?"
Lucas sighed.
"Shouldn't you go out there?"
"I've been conditioned to never interfere with Victoria and Brooke."
"But Sam's right in the middle of it."
"And she'll learn that lesson in about five seconds." He said glumly.
Sam saw her mother walk briskly, more like madly towards the car.
"Oh no." She muttered trying sliding down in the seat.
"What the hell are you doing here Victoria!" Brooke spouted off as soon as she was in earshot distance of the car. "Sam you get your little ass out of that car!"
Sam swallowed. Okay, so maybe this wasn't her brightest idea.
"Brooke, hold on-" Sam said but was cut short when her mother opened the door and whisked her out rather unceremoniously, "Brooke, stop!" Sam squirmed trying to move away from her mom, but had no such luck. Her mother held her firmly and pulled her close to her side, to Sam's great embarrassment.
Victoria calmly closed her door and stared at Brooke.
"What are you doing with my daughter?" She screeched at the woman.
"Brooke you are causing a scene. I suggest you stop this right now."
Sam finally peeled away from her mom's grip, "Yeah mom. Geez." and fixed her crumpled sleeve, but she immediately regretted the flippant attitude she had when her mother's gaze made contact with her own. Is it possible to feel someone's eyes bore into you?
"Oh you have much to explain as well Samantha. I suggest you tread carefully with me right now."
"Why are you so mad? It's not like she's some predator! She's your mom." Sam shot back
Victoria held a smile, "She has a point Brooke."
Brooke felt double teamed and so, so confused.
Sam opened her mouth once more.
But Brooke swiftly pointed at her, "Shut it." Her tone left no room for argument and Sam's face wilted.
"And you tell me why you had my daughter in your car. And Victoria, just a sidenote, you know damn well I don't consider you a mother. You've never acted like one."
Sam saw the hurt that flashed in Victoria's eyes.
But Victoria composed herself quickly, "I went to see her Brooke, after school, okay? I went to say hello because I knew you'd never let me get to know her. It's that simple. She asked me to take her here and I did. Now I'm leaving. I won't have contact with her any longer. Not like i want to anyway. She is a stranger to me and that's exactly what she will always be. But forgive me if curiosity got the best of me."
"I told you not come. I told you this!" Brooke took a step closer and narrowed her eyes accusingly at the woman in front of her, " I can deal with you in business. We agreed to that. But not here. Not with my family. You got your little curiosity placated, right? So leave. We're done with this."
Sam cringed at the words her mother was saying.
"Mom, can't she stay?" Came Sam's voice, throwing Brooke's vitriol for a loop.
Both of them looked at the girl, "No." Brooke said adamantly, "Get inside Samantha."
Sam looked at Victoria who was wearing one of her best poker faces, then back at her mom. Her eyes got bigger and they gleamed. Puppy dog eyes.
Brooke swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm not telling you again. Go inside Samantha, now."
"But Brooke-"
Brooke pointed to the front door of the shop, "Now. Do you need me to tell you this in a firmer way?"
Sam shook her head quickly. She looked at Victoria with sad eyes then glared at her mother before making her way inside.
Brooke watched her girl take a few steps before turning back with eyes that fumed at Victoria, "You just love to make my life a living hell. What did you tell her?"
Victoria rolled her eyes, "Nothing Brooke. I told her who I was that was it. I didn't tell her any big secret or anything of the sort."
Brooke's eyes narrowed, "Oh really? While you played catch up did you tell her that you wanted me to give her up when I got her back? Did you tell her?!"
"Brooke-"
"No! Did you?!" She got closer to Victoria, "I could forgive you for when she was a baby. I figured maybe you just didn't want to see me waste my potential and become some statistic. I could brainwash myself into believing that. I really could. But now. At fourteen? Seeing her so broken and come back and still hear you tell me to give her up." Her voice broke, "That's unforgivable. I won't have you hurt her."
Victoria schooled her face, "I was only thinking of what was best for the company."
Brooke threw her hands in the air, "God I'm tired of you! That's all you care about. The stupid company. You've always only cared about business. Would it kill you to act human for once!? Just once mother. Just once!"
Victoria blinked twice and grabbed Brooke's arm, "Pull yourself together this instant." She whispered harshly. Brooke felt the thorough chastisement in the words. She hated that at 32, Victoria still had that effect on her.
Brooke just grew more frustrated, "I won't have you telling me what to do! You don't control me. Not anymore!"
Victoria shook her a bit, "You are in public. You are the poster woman for B. Davis and your daughter is in that disgusting ice cream shop. Stop this now! You may have your issues with me, but you DO NOT act like this in public. Where anyone can hear you and make their own assumptions. We are not scum. Act like I taught you manners. Your actions are repulsive! Is that understood Brooke Davis? I don't want any outbursts like this again."
Brooke noticeably coiled into herself, though she did her best to hide it. She felt 10 years old all over again after she had broken her mother's vase and was sent off to the corner for not listening to the maid's order to stay away from it. But she quickly recovered and pulled away harshly, but no longer argued back, "I'll see you at the office."
It was Victoria's turn to watch her daughter walk away. Sadness bubbled up inside her. She took a deep breath and brushed it off. She was Victoria Davis. She would not cry.
… …. …
Lucas, Sam, and Tamara quickly looked down at their ice cream when Brooke walked in acting like they weren't looking at the scene outside.
Sam felt bad for what she had caused. She didn't know Brooke's problems with Victoria were that serious. But still, her mother was being unreasonable. Victoria seemed okay enough. They just needed to work out their differences, and what was worse was that her mother didn't seem to think she could handle herself alone with Victoria.
"Brooke you could've just let her stay for a bit." Sam said quietly after her mom took a seat.
"Samantha-" Luke said through a groan.
Brooke took a deep breath, "Sam, you don't know what's between us and I'd appreciate it if you didn't try and get into this mess."
Luke gave Sam pleading eyes. Silently telling her not to continue on with this.
"Brooke she seems nice. She didn't say anything wrong to me, I swear."
So she might have fudged the truth with that statement. I mean she was asking the girl to go behind her parent's back. But it was for a good reason, and Sam just wanted to help.
"That's enough Sam!" Brooke's voice raised an octave causing the others around them to turn. Tamara even felt herself blush. She rolled her eyes and jabbed Sam in the side.
Brooke saw her daughter's gaze fall quickly at her harsh words "I'm not talking with you about this any longer."
For some reason Sam just couldn't contain herself, "You're being unreasonable." She muttered.
Tamara turned to her friend eyes wide. Luke just put his head in his hands. Did his daughter lose her sense of self-preservation?
Brooke having had enough would be lying if she said the thought of dragging her daughter to the bathroom to swat some sense into her didn't cross her mind. She opted for a more gentle option, of course. Brooke leaned in closely to her daughter, "We are not talking about this right now. If you want to keep arguing you and I can head home, where you will go straight to bed, and you'll be grounded for the rest of the weekend. Clearly you've decided that whining like a five year old will get you your way, so I'll treat you like I would any other five year old." Sam was averting her mother's gaze. A furious red reaching her ears at getting scolded in front of Tamara and wouldn't be surprised if the table next to them could hear too. Brooke cupped her chin so their eyes could meet, "Are. We. Clear?"
Lucas squeezed Brooke's hand under the table. She was being harsh. He knew she was always emotional after meeting Victoria, and Sam wasn't letting up, but he didn't want this to blow up further. At his touch she released her daughter's chin and just gave a tired sigh.
Sam looked down and tried to eat her ice cream. She knew she shouldn't have argued with Brooke about Victoria, "Yes m'am." She whispered.
…. …. …. ….
Tamara and Sam stayed upstairs after they watched some TV. Brooke didn't really say much after Ralph's, and Sam did her best to avoid her mother. It wasn't hard since she had stayed in her office. They could hear her talking to people. Probably prepping for Victoria the whirlwind.
Sam told Tamara all about what had actually happened with the woman.
"So what are you gonna do?" Tamara asked flipping through a magazine.
Sam shrugged, "I don't know. I wanna do it. Show Brooke it's not a big deal. But I also want to live."
Tamara laughed, "Life is nice. I learned that too."
Sam frowned. Her friend was alluding to her incident with Marcus, 'Are you okay T? What'd the lawyer say?"
Tamara sighed and snuggled into the bed, "That I should press charges. It would be a good case and that he'd serve like two years in prison. I just, I don't know. I don't want to ruin his life."
Sam laid down next to her, "I support you in whatever you decide."
Tamara smiled slightly, "That's what your mom said."
"Um, yeah, so let's not talk about her?" Sam said chuckling then frowning, "She was so mad today and I didn't make it any better afterwards. They won't let me stay with you tonight because they don't want me to hurt you in your sleep. But I don't know how I'm gonna take a whole night sleeping next to her. Usually she has a reason to be harsh and stuff, but geez. I felt like she wanted to eat me alive."
Tamara rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, "You were crazy for trying to argue though. Obviously she was fuming."
Sam laughed a bit, "Yeah, I think I'll take the couch over her for tonight.'
When Sam heard Brooke head up the stairs and into the shower she took the chance to go downstairs and hide in the music room. She went down and was caught by her dad, "Hey Champ. Where you headed?"
She smiled at her dad, at least he wasn't mad, "To play some piano."
"Can I sit and listen?" He asked her.
No more than thirty minutes later Lucas sat and watched her daughter finish playing. It always made him swell up inside with a pride that he didn't know that he could hold for someone else. Then after having jabbered on about her glee club meeting carefully avoiding the parts with that scumbag guy and Victoria's offer, Sam walked over from the bench and plopped onto the couch next to her dad. "I'm pretty tired." She said through a yawn.
He nudged her with his shoulder, "I bet you are. All that back and forth with Brooke."
Sam felt pretty stupid about it all, "I'm sorry."
"I think you mean to say that your mama, not to me."
"I'd rather not. I appreciate not being yelled at. I think I'll wait just a bit more."
Lucas stifled his chuckled, "Sam, I know she was a little bit extra today, but you have to understand that her mom and her have years of grief between them. Brooke didn't have it easy with her."
Sam frowned, "I get it. I was stupid. I know."
He kissed her head, "You weren't stupid. You didn't know, but now you do. Don't mess with this Sam. Those two are a difficult pair."
Sam nodded, "Dad?"
'Yeah?"
"Can I sleep downstairs tonight? I, umm, I don't think I want to be around angry Brooke right now. I don't think she wants me around her either."
Lucas enveloped her in a hug, "Kiddo of course she does."
Sam shook her head, "Luke she was in her office working with the door closed. I really don't want to mess with her right now."
Luke frowned. He knew Brooke needed her space after the whole ordeal, but was sure that she'd want Sam next to her at night as well.
"You can stay down here for tonight. But come up if you want. If it makes you feel better you can just stick to my side." He winked at her and Sam nodded grateful for her father.
Like Luke predicted, Brooke was excited to get into bed after her day. But Sam wasn't in her bed by the time she got to her room,
"Where's Sam?" She asked Lucas who was already in bed, "I told her to come in here by 11:00."
He looked at Brooke then put his book down, "She preferred to sleep in the music room tonight, and I don't really blame her Brooke."
Brooke sighed, "I was mad Luke."
"I know." He said gently, "And she knows it too. You made sure of that."
Brooke ran a hand through her hair, "She wasn't letting up. I had to tell her to stop."
"And you were quite effective about it."
"God, Luke just say what you're thinking!"
He got up and went over to Brooke's side and started to massage her tense shoulders. He kissed her neck, "I love you." He said in a hushed breath. She let herself relax.
"I know that Victoria winds you up. Just make sure not to destroy everyone in your warpath. Okay? And I get it. Sam pushed your buttons. That's understandable, but right now she thinks you're angry at her and would rather sleep on a couch then next to you because she feels you need your space. And it's okay if you do need space."
Brooke turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist, "God, I love you."
He kissed her plump lips, "Ditto."
Brooke walked down the steps and went into the basement then headed to the music room. She opened it slowly and saw her daughter sleeping on the plush carpet rather than the couch. Sam's shirt was riding up and her panties were showing. Her sweat pants were by the piano. She had shed them when she was going to sleep, but had sat down on the floor for a bit to think and ended up asleep. Brooke rolled her eyes. She was going to catch a cold like that. She felt a pang of guilt for lashing out so harshly as she stared at her cute little lump on the floor.
She sat criss-crossed on the floor and gently pulled her daughter's shirt down then began to lightly caress Sam's cheek with her thumb. Sam stirred and lazily slapped whatever was touching her. She hadn't been asleep for too long, so waking her wouldn't be hard.
Brooke smiled and waited for Sam's eyes top open. When they did, Sam saw two compassionate eyes looking at her. She sat up through her sleepiness, "M-mom." She spoke anxiously. Brooke gave her a small smile and waited for Sam to say something else.
"I, um, I'm sorry for today." Her eyes looked everywhere but at her mother.
Brooke nodded, "Let's not worry about it tonight. You're going upstairs. You're not sleeping on the floor."
Sam bit her lip. She actually felt guilty for considering this dumb interview, especially because it was still a consideration in her mind, regardless of what Brooke thought, because of this she felt she didn't deserve her mother's kindness, "I, uh, I think I'll stay here. I'll sleep on the couch this time."
"Sammy. I'm not angry. You can come up."
Sam looked at her mom. Brooke could tell Sam was debating in her mind. She internally sighed and took a seat on the floor once more.
"Was she really mean to you when you were a kid?" Sam asked quietly.
Brooke frowned, "More like she was never there for me, and when she was it was to make me feel inadequate. She had better priorities than her daughter. Always. But she did make damn sure that I was a good representation of what it meant to be a Davis."
Sam played with her hands, "I didn't know. I didn't mean to-"
"I know Sam. I know. But you wouldn't stop."
Sam blushed, "She didn't seem that bad."
Brooke conceded. She wasn't evil. She just wasn't a mother. "How 'bout we both agree that we crossed the line today. I'm sorry I blew up at you."
Sam smiled, "Can I ask you a question, and you have to promise not to get mad at me? I just really want to know."
Brooke gave her daughter a skeptical look, "Depends. What is it?"
"If I wanted to get to know her. You know, on my own time and stuff. Could I? If I never brought her around here and never talked about her. Could I?"
Sam saw her mother's face fall and she tried to explain herself, "I'm not trying to be difficult. It's just, I'm just wondering."
Brooke wasn't sure how to approach this. She really didn't want Sam building a relationship with Victoria. "Well what are you wondering?"
Sam shrugged, "She was just...I don't know. There's something about her. She reminds me of you just a meaner version."
"I'm not mean!" Brooke put a hand to her chest, utterly appalled.
"That's why I said meaner!" Sam said chuckling, "I know you're not mean. Only you know, when you're being incredibly difficult."
Brooke just huffed, "Oh you mean when you don't get your way?"
Sam's eyes narrowed, "...Maybe."
"Continue."
Sam looked at her shirt and pulled on it a bit, "And well, I know Karen and I'm just interested in Victoria a bit. She's you know, related to me. I don't know that many people related to me."
Brooke put a hand on her daughter's knee and gave a deep sigh, "I know I can't stop you. But I will warn you Sam. Please be careful. If you decide to do this and form a relationship with her and she actually lets you I want to know where you are with her and I'll probably be an annoying stick in your side about it." Brooke thought back to how her mother wanted her to give Sam back and wished that memory would just erase. It saddened her that Sam actually wanted anything to do with her.
Sam gave her a smile and a short nod. She was genuinely excited about getting to know Victoria more. She hoped Victoria wanted to do so too.
Brooke stood up and looked down at her daughter, "Now will you come up?"
Sam rolled her eyes but stood herself up.
"Come on, put your pants on and let's head up before your dad takes over the whole bed."
"Do I have to wear them? I'm just going to sleep."
"Yes, you'll-"
Sam finished her sentence, "Get sick if you don't. And you don't want that do you?"
Brooke shook her head with a glimmer in her eyes, "Glad we're on the same page kid. Now here."
She handed them to her daughter and waited for her to put them on.
Brooke watched her daughter sleep as she sat on the bed. She waited to hear the deep breaths come from her daughter's small frame and see the ease of her chest rise and fall methodically. The girl was sprawled out on her stomach, her hand holding tightly onto her blanket.
Brooke wished with all her heart that she could go back in time and keep Sam since birth. Why had she let Victoria talk her into giving her away? Why did Sam have to wait 14 years to finally meet her parents. Brooke closed her eyes and tears pushed through her eyelids. She opened them once more and gently started to comb through Sam's messy hair. If only things could stay this easy.
…. …. ….
The next day Sam sat on a bench waiting for Jack. Lucas and Brooke caught Tamara trying to head out with Sam but adamantly told her it was doctor's orders for her to stay home and take consistent pain meds until the end of the day. After that, she'd be free. Needless to say she was led back to Sam's room with a pout that could challenge any of Sam's. Brooke was amused at how quickly Tamara,who prided herself in being so fiercely independent could fall into the role of pouty teenager with her and Lucas rather quickly. Meanwhile, Lucas had Sam come back in to put on a hat and a scarf. Sam told them it was completely unnecessary but her father was having none of it, and so she walked out five minutes later bundled up for the cold day.
Sam's hands held the piece of paper that Victoria had given her and turned it over crumpling it a bit in the process. She sighed heavily unsure of whether to take Victoria's offer or not.
"Hey you." Came the distinct voice that could only be Jack's. Sam found her frown instantly molding into a smile.
"Hi Jack." She said turning to him as he sat down. He put an arm around her, "I've missed you this week." He gave her a kiss on the cheek and when Sam turned around he had not moved back. Their faces were closer than ever and Jack smiled, "Hi." He whispered.
Sam grinned, "Hi." She repeated.
His face grew serious as he stared into her eyes. He could tell she had a lot on her mind, but so did he. They both always did and they always understood that those thoughts were safe between them. He leaned in a bit more and tentatively brought his lips to her. Sam felt pulled to do the same. And so they kissed. Each one with worries that could only melt away at the touch.
It was Sam who finally pulled back. Jack sat back onto the bench.
"That was really nice." He said and closed his eyes. Sam leaned back and slipped her hand into his. Jack's eyes shot open but he only squeezed back.
It was a wonderful day spent between the pair, but the day was quickly ending and so Jack and Sam headed back to her house. Besides, Tamara was leaving the next night and they wanted to hang out with her too.
When Sam opened the door both kids were surprised to see Tamara bundled into Brooke's side asleep as a movie played on the screen. Brooke's hand was soothingly passing through the girl's hair. Sam swallowed the small feeling of jealousy that she felt hit her. Her mama said she wasn't mad at her, but she wasn't exactly very forthcoming past getting her up to bed last night.
Brooke saw both kids and smiled kindly at them, "Hey you two." She whispered.
"Hi Ms. Davis."
Sam forced herself to smile and said nothing else, then headed into the kitchen in search of her father. Brooke watched her go, feeling that there was something off with her.
Jack chose to stay and say hi to T.
He walked towards the sofa but Brooke put a finger to her lips, "The meds make her sleepy."
Jack chuckled and sat down next to Tamara, "You know this is the chillest I've ever seen her. You tamed the beast."
"I'm not exactly sure I achieved that, considering it requires an ungodly amount of pain meds."
Jack shrugged, "It counts."
"What'd you guys do today?" Brooke asked the boy who was looking at the movie in front of him. He immediately felt a blush come over him. He was not about to tell Sam's mother about how they kissed...then kissed again, and laid a little too close to each other. Nor would he tell her how their hands moved dangerously close to places they should not have gone.
But his blush was not lost on Brooke and she felt a hint of panic hit her.
"We, umm, just hung at the skate park, went for ice cream and stuff."
"That's it?"
Jack turned to look at her and not the screen and forced out a "Yeah."
Before Brooke had a chance to imagine the possibilities that could have happened, because clearly he was lying, Sam walked back to the living room right behind her dad who plopped down on the reclining chair and scowled at Jack.
Sam stopped mid walk and looked at her sleeping friend.
"Do you think she's gonna wake up soon? We wanted to hang out with her."
Brooke looked down at the sleeping girl, "She will. Give her a few hours."
Sam sighed then went over and sat down next to Jack and cuddled into him. Luke clenched his fists at the sight. He cleared his throat rather loudly, but the two were oblivious. Brooke, who would rather have them under her supervision at the moment than elsewhere, didn't want Lucas to cause them to leave, so she gave Luke a furious glance.
"When did the floor people leave?" Sam asked her dad breaking his furious concentration.
"About three hours ago. They were quick."
"I thought you were gonna go play ball with Nate?" Sam asked him noticing he was getting comfortable on the recliner. Jack and Brooke both looked at Lucas curiously.
Lucas shrugged, "Well I like this movie."
"You hate this movie." Brooke amended. She knew what he was up to and stifled an eye roll.
Lucas grabbed the remote and turned it to another channel, "True, but I like this one."
Truth was, Jack was here. A boy was here. And so was his baby. Lucas wasn't going anywhere.
…. … …
The next day had come and gone and Sunday night dawned on the family. Sam was settling into her bed with her laptop propped up on her knees. Jack, her, and Tamara had picked up on a series that day and she wanted to finish the last couple episodes of the season before heading off to bed. Lucas was taking Tamara back to Southside. Sam was a bit bummed Tamara was leaving. She had fun with her friend that week and it felt a bit like old times.
And regardless of the occasional twinge of jealousy she felt, especially because her and Brooke seemed to be at odds all week, Sam was glad her friend got to be taken care of by the best. After all, she knew first hand how healing it was to have Brooke's constant love and care.
But Sam was also sad. Her and Brooke just weren't getting along. Things had gotten particularly dicy since Friday, but she was glad Jack, Tamara and her got to spend all weekend together, it kept her mind off her mother and Victoria.
Saturday hadn't gone particularly well for the mother daughter duo once Jack left either. Sam had called Victoria and told her she was still thinking about the interview but really wanted to hang out with her. Victoria had laughed the offer off and gave her a definitive no. Sam assured her Brooke thought it was okay, and the woman felt herself waver at that but quickly put up her walls and simply said that all dealings between them would be strictly business ending with a 'you have your mother to thank for that.'
Needless to say Sam was upset and a bit snappy towards Brooke. Exasperated, Brooke quickly lost patience with it all and confronted her daughter. Sam told her mother what Victoria had said and Brooke was hurt that her daughter believed Victoria. That Sam actually thought Victoria was in some ways a victim here.
So for all of Sunday Sam stuck to Luke and her friends during the day and Brooke stuck to her work and of course Luke as well. The couple had the chance to do more than cuddle in bed that morning and it made them both mad with lust.
Brooke now sat in her office staring at the sketches her mother was to look over tomorrow. She seethed at the thought of the woman. It had only been two days and already she was causing tension. She knew her daughter was upstairs. She knew Sam was in her bed, looking rather young and perfect in her large shirt that she practically swam in, no doubt clutching her blanket, with Barry the bear somewhere near her. But Sam was also upset, and Brooke wasn't going to kid herself, so was she. She wanted so bad for Sam to share the same anger she held for Victoria, but the girl just wasn't. Rather, she wanted a relationship with the woman. Brooke sighed and immersed herself back in the work.
Later on Luke came into Sam's room and laid down next to her. Sam paused her show at his presence. He wasn't happy at the way both his girls were playing a game of chess with one another, doing their best to not get in each other's way, but most of all he knew it was the unresolved conflict between Brooke and Victoria that was causing this. For now, he'd be a source of comfort for the loves of his life.
"Hi baby." Luke said smiling at his daughter, happy to see her not attached to that floppy haired boy.
"Hi daddy." She said giving him a glance and a soft smile, then scooted in closer to her father and placed the laptop between the two so they could watch together. Luke placed a kiss atop her head and wrapped an arm around her, then pressed play on the laptop.
Midway through, Brooke appeared and leaned on the door frame. Sam looked at her then dropped her gaze back onto the computer and visibly tensed. Lucas looked up and smiled at Brooke, "Hey, wanna watch with us? There's room right next to Sam."
Brooke noticed Sam squirm a bit and bite her lip when her dad offered to watch. She sighed, "It's fine, I'm gonna go shower."
Meanwhile Sam tried hard not to look at her mother.
"Sam?" Brooke asked.
Sam now had no option but to look up, "Yeah?"
"Don't stay up late okay? You have school tomorrow."
Sam nodded, "Yeah I know."
Brooke then turned to Luke, "Lucas she has to go to bed soon." Usually he was the enforcer of bedtime and Sam's face darkened at her mother telling her dad to stop watching with her.
He gave Sam a gentle squeeze, "We're just finishing this one, right Sam?"
Sam nodded, "Yeah, it's like 45 more minutes"
Brooke gave a small smile, "Alright" She went over and kissed Sam's head then put a hand on her cheek, looking her daughter right in the eyes. "Goodnight Sammy." There was so much unsaid in her words and they both knew it. But noth were too conflicted to try and say more.
Sam swallowed the lump in her throat, "Night mom."
True to his word Lucas stuck with Sam until the end of the episode, "Champ I think I'm calling it a night." He undid himself from their comfortable embrace and Sam adjusted herself back onto her pillows. His movement not deterring her concentration.
She nodded eagerly, not trying to separate herself from the screen. Luke rolled his eyes, "Don't stay up too late kid."
"I won't."
He watched her for a full minute and she still did not turn to look at him, finally he pushed the spacebar on the laptop causing the show to pause.
"Hey!"
"No goodnight hug or kiss?" He asked her.
Sam groaned but gladly wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his cheek, "Night dad."
"Goodnight champ. I love you."
He got off the bed and headed out, hearing the mutter of "love you too." as Sam quickly pressed play again.
…. …. …
Lucas came into the room and Brooke was already in bed. His eyes twinkled and he felt a rush of excitement hit him. God, she was beautiful. He jumped on and got on top of her. "Hey sexy."
"I'm not in the mood Luke." She said turning over causing him to fall back onto the bed. His face fell in frustration, "Awww Brooke, really? Even after that wonderful sex we had in the morning. Don't you want a repeat?"
She sat up, "Luke-" Her voice broke and Lucas instantly wrapped her up in his strong arms, "Hey, hey." He cooed as tears began to make their way down her cheeks, "Shhh. Babe, babe. What's wrong?"
Of course, he knew.
"She's ruining everything. Victoria is ruining everything. I can't even hold a conversation with my child right now because she's upset with me, and for some reason I'm upset with her."
"Why, why are you upset with Sam?"
"Because she wants her!" Brooke exclaimed, "She doesn't know the horrible things Victoria said about her when I was carrying her in my stomach." Brooke's tears were getting heavier and she was almost sobbing. Lucas turned up the volume on the tv so Sam wouldn't hear.
"She doesn't know Lucas! She doesn't know the way she wanted me to 'discard' and 'forget' about her when Sam came back into our lives. Yet Sam thinks that I ruined some fictional relationship they could've had. How the hell did Victoria become the victim? Why am I the bad one? She's ruining it. My baby doesn't believe me and it hurts me Luke. It hurts me."
Lucas pulled her back into his embrace, "Okay. Okay." He eased her into a calmer state as he whispered loving words in her ear, "I love you. Sam loves you."
"It's just hard."
He kissed her lips, "Let me help you make it easy."
Once she had sobered up a bit she laid on his bare chest letting her finger graze his stomach.
"Babe?" He asked.
"Hmm?"
"What if Victoria has good intentions. Now hear me out, I hate what she said about Sam, I hate that it's her fault we couldn't have been a family but there might be a small, very small chance that she actually feels some regret."
"You think she has feelings?" Brooke griped.
Lucas chuckled, "Well I said it was a small chance."
Brooke sighed and mulled over Lucas's thought.
"But I do think Sam misses you." Lucas said tentatively.
Brooke's mind went to the forced smile Sam gave her Saturday, the dropped gazes whenever she came into view, and then the sad eyes she'd catch her daughter giving her throughout the week. Once again guilt ran through her. If only she knew that Sam was feeling that same amount of guilt.
"It hasn't just been Victoria. First it was Tamara, then it was the visit to Mrs. Lopez, now it's her." He said.
"It's been a rough week." Brooke murmured.
"I know you miss her too." He said softly.
And he couldn't have been any more spot on.
….. …. …..
Victoria sat alone in her hotel room, her body caressed by the velvety softness of her robe. She stared at the recent calls on her phone, and there was Sam's number. Her granddaughter's number. She was tempted to call. It was a silly thought, really. She'd never do that, but that girl was quickly taking up space in her mind. God, how she hated it!
Victoria hesitated a bit but then rummaged through her bag and found a picture she kept in a small pocket inside the bag.
It was one sole picture. She held it in her hands. Rarely did she take it out. It hurt too much, and Victoria didn't like the feeling of vulnerability.
Yet, there she held it. It was a picture of Brooke at 10 years old. She had just started middle school. A picture the babysitter had taken because she was out on business. Per usual. Brooke was in her favorite pajamas the ones with Winnie the Pooh all over them. She was coiled into a small ball on the couch as she watched television practically half asleep. Her thumb was in her mouth. Victoria remembered all the times she yelled and scolded the little girl for such a nasty habit. Brooke usually ended up in tears and she'd run to her dad if he was around.
'She was just a child. Why were you so harsh?' Her mind yelled.
Victoria ran her thumb through the photo. Ten was such a pivotal year for young Brooke.
'You never cared. She needed you. You weren't there.'
Victoria couldn't remember Brooke looking so young after that photo. It seemed like a rapid change. A matter of weeks. Brooke never did wear her favorite pajamas again, and it was rare to catch her with her thumb in her mouth. Instead her skirts got shorter. Her shirts tighter. Her attitude evolving along with it. But it never bothered Victoria. She was glad her daughter was finally growing the hell up.
'Why did you want her to grow up so badly?' Her conscience was screaming at her, beating down the walls she put up as a buffer.
And for the first time in a long time Victoria felt something wet fall from her eyes and run down her cheeks.
…. …. ….
I hope you liked it everyone! Because I can go either way with this and was struggling to come up with an answer, I will leave it up to you: Should Sam accept the interview or not?
Please review and let me know your thoughts on my story. I love you all for taking the time to read and review. I try to take it all into account when writing.