WELL HERE IS THE CHAPTER, REMEMBER THIS ONE COMES OUT UN- BETA SO TRIED TO DO MY BEST WITH THE UN-SCRIPT THING BUT I´M NOT THAT GOOD SO PLEASE BE GENTLE LOL LOL.
HAVING SAID THIS AND WITH THE SINCERITY THAT CHARACTERIZE ME, THIS YEAR I WILL START THE LAST YEAR OF MY CARREER (FINALLY!) SO I DON´T KNOW HOW MANY TIME I HAVE LEFT TO WRITE SO IF I DON´T UPDATE BETWEEN THE MONTH OR TWO DON´T WORRY, I WILL FINISH THIS STORY WHATEVER THE COST BECAUSE IT´S A PROMISE A MADE TO YOU AND I MADE MYSELF.
HAVING SAID THAT, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE ME REVIEWS, ALERT MY STORY, ME AS AN AUTHOR AND OF COURSE PLACED THIS PROJECT AS FAVORITE, ALSO MY ANONYMOUS READERS. SO THANK YOU: GOODGIRLGONEBAD1984, JENNY85, CHRISTINE, NEVERLAST690, LITTLEREDDEVIL8, DIANEHERMANS, BEBS, TJD23, ARUBAGIRL0926, PNV101, LITALOVE, HARRY´SLITTLESISTER, TANYA2BYOUR21, OTH02, AKINKA, BABELLA12 AND DARKPURPLEFAIRY.
DISCLAIMER: I DON´T OWN ANYTHING ABOUT OTH. IT ALL BELONGS TO MARK SCHWAHNN, THE CW, WARNER AND TOLLINS - ROBBINS.
I DON´T EVEN OWN THE SONG THAT BELONGS TO NICK LACHEY, AND HIS RECORD COMPANY.
HERE IT IS, I THINK YOU WILL LIKE THIS ONE... ENJOY AND PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW, THAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE ME.
BY THE WAY I INVITE YOU ALL TO CHECK MY OTHER STORY NAMED TAKING CHANCES, HERE IS THE LINK: s/7133371/1/TAKING_CHANCES
Chapter 26
Brooke was working on some papers in her office when she heard a knock on the door and a person coming in, she lifted her eyes to see it was Rachel so she says…
"What's up Rach?" Brooke said
"Nothing, I just got here and since Millicent is doing a great job attending the costumers, I thought I should go talk to my friend for a bit."
"Ok, have a seat." Brooke marked the seat in front of her
"I heard something very interesting a few couple of hours ago." Rachel sat
"What?"
"I heard that someone was very sad…"
"who? Is it someone we know?" Brooke said that while she was checking some papers and with a clueless face
"In fact yes." Rachel enjoying Brooke being so clueless
"Why?" Brooke still not getting who was the person Rach was referring to.
"Because someone she likes have a girlfriend."
"I'm not sad. Not at all." Brooke now realizing that Rachel meant her
"C'mon Brookie are you going to deny what you tell Jason?" Rachel confronting her
"What did I tell Jason?" Brooke trying not to remember what she told.
"It's more than a nod when he told you that you still love Lucas."
"I didn't do such thing." Brooke trying to deny it
"According to Jason, you were in the kitchen in the middle of the night crying
and when you asked if I told him what you told me, you said to him and I quote He has a girlfriend and cried on his shoulder. Are you going to deny that?"
"That I won't deny."
"So are you ready to admit that you still love Lucas like crazy?"
"What do you want me to say Rach?" Brooke feeling hopeless
"I want to you to tell the true, to be honest with yourself and your feelings."
"You want to hear that I love him… well yes I LOVE HIM THE SAME WAY OR MORE THEN WHEN I WAS A TEEN". Brooke almost shutting. "Are you happy now?"
"Very much, thank you." Rachel was pleased with Brooke´s response
"You are welcome."
"Why don't you do something?" Rachel asked
"What do you want me to do?"
"Go tell him the true and then tell him that you loved him that you never stop in these 15 years." Rachel encouraging Brooke to confess
"He is in a relationship." Brooke reminding Rachel about it
"And…?"
"How and?. He is in a relationship period!."
"Brookie, I'll bet my unwed ass that if you tell Lucas what you told me, he leaves that girl and comes back to you ASAP." Rachel said this with a tone of certainty
"Rach, I'm surprised to hear that from you who has a steady relationship for so long. What will you do if Lucas was Jason?". Brooke not believing what Rachel had said
"Well I would probably kill that bitch with my bare hands but the rules of general dating and all the stuff related to that doesn't apply to Brucas."
"Brucas… I haven't heard that…". Brooke surprised by how good that nickname feels
"In forever…"
"Yeah"
"So do something…". Rachel encouraging her again.
"I won't stay in the way of Lucas's relationship." Brooke being firm about this.
"Fight for him. You owe him that after all that he fought for you."
"If I tell him the true first he will be so mad…"
"Yes he will be so mad but I think with time he will be over it."
"You think?"
"Yes I do."
"No… You know what they say that If love something let it go and if it comes back to you then it was meant to be."
"But you have to help that a little."
"Rach!"
"Mark my words in 5 years at the most I will be attending to your wedding with
Lucas."
"Ok". After Rachel latest statement Brooke was laughing
"Well after this lovely chat, I will go help Millicent with the costumers."
"Ok. Go." Brooke was laughing a bit
~X~X~X~X~
Lucas was entering the café and scouted the room in search of Ben. When he find him, he said…
"Hey Ben." Lucas said
"Lucas". Ben´s face lightning up like a Christmas tree
"My mom is making you work hard…"
"Nah, its just pleasure to help after everything she did for me". Ben grabbed some plates from an empty table.
"Ok. Do you know where my mom is?" Lucas asked.
"Yes she is in the back." Ben replied
"Ok I will go talk to her; don't go anywhere" he laugh.
"You will find me here unless coach Skills put an emergency practice" laughing too.
Going to the back now in search of his mother and when he got there, he found her at the kitchen grilling some stuff…
"What are you doing mom?" Lucas asked
"Oh Lucas so good that you came. I'm grilling some vegetables." Karen replied
"I thought we have a cook to do that" Lucas laugh.
"We have but this one are for tonight dinner at home."
"Ah Ok."
"I know that look." Karen reading the face of his boy like it was an open book
"What look?" Lucas trying to play dumb.
"The look of "Mom I want to ask you for something"". Karen calling his bluff
"That is because I want to ask you for something." Confirming what Karen suspected
"Spill it." Karen ordered
"Are you too busy?" Lucas asked
"Not much, why?" Karen replied
"Because I want to take Ben for a few hours. Is it ok?" Lucas asked
"Yeah sure." Karen said after thinking
"I don't want to leave you understaffed."
"Don't worry, we will manage. Take him whenever you want" she say after thinking that he is your kid.
"Are you sure?" Lucas asked.
"Yes I'm sure." Karen replied.
"Thanks"
"Have fun."
It only took a few minutes for Lucas to returns to the front part of the café where Ben was still busy cleaning the tables and he went next to him and said…
"Ben, do you want to come to the movies with me?"
"I would love to" Ben was all happy and excited.
"Then drop everything and let's go."
"I can't right now, I'm working and I don't know if Karen will let me."
"If you worry about my mom, don't. It's all settle with her, so do you want to come or not?"
"Yes" Ben got all happy and excited again.
"Then what are you waiting for?, Drop everything and let's go."
"Ok but at least let me put this behind the counter so nobody can steal anything."
"Nobody is going to steal dirty plates" Lucas laugh.
"Ok". Ben dropped the bucket with the dirty plates on the table. "Let's go."
"Ready to have some fun like I did in my days?." After grabbing Ben from the neck
"Ready". Ben was happy that his father was hugging him.
"That is what I wanted to hear" he said while he continue to grab him from the neck as they walk side by side
~X~X~X~X~
Nathan and Haley were waiting at the doctor inside his office, she was sitting in a chair while her husband was in the wheelchair since he couldn´t be on his feet much.
They waited what it seems like 5 minutes before the doctor came into the room and greet them
"Hi Nathan and Haley. How are we doing today?" said Dr. Hitchfield
"Very Good". They both answered
"Nathan how are you feeling?" Dr. Hitchfield asked
"Better doctor." He answered
"That is nice to hear. Are you getting practical with the use of the crutches?". Dr. Hitchfield inquiried again
"Yes, the little time I used them". Nathan answered.
"Good. Doesn't hurt anywhere when you use them?". Dr. Hitchfield with another question while he wrote everything on a paper
"No". Nathan answered once more.
"Good."
"Only my arms gets tired sometimes". Nathan stated
"That is nothing of concern maybe you are emphasizing too much weight on your arms, relax because if you don't then you can get muscular contractions in your back and we don't want that." Dr. Hitchfield explained.
"Ok, I will try." Nathan said.
"Why we don't want that? Excuse my ignorance." Haley asked.
"No that is ok Haley. We don't want that because that will make the whole back to start on a inflammatory process that will come with pain.
If that happens it will be more difficult for the Physio to work with and we would have to give him pretty powerful drug to fix that and this last thing will eventually cause digestive concerns. So if we can avoid that I'm pretty sure that Nathan will thank me" (laughing a bit). Dr. Hitchfield explained so that Haley knows.
"Ahh ok." Haley answered with a serene face
"I'm seeing the report that the physio gave to me" Dr. Hitchfield said while reading some papers "everything is going amazing and in all my 33 years as a doctor never saw a patient who can recover so fast as you." Dr. Hitchfield stated with a look of surprise in his face.
"Is that a good thing right?" Nathan asked.
"Very good thing. Let's go to the other room to examinate you a bit." Dr. Hitchfield said.
"Ok." Nathan answered.
"Haley wait here as usual." Dr. Hitchfield said to Haley
15 minutes later, both come back smiling…
"So how was it?" Haley asked
"He improved a lot since the last time I saw him." Dr. Hitchfield said to Haley
"Amazing." Haley said with pure joy on her face
"For a brief moment I could stand using the shoulder of the doctor as my support". Nathan said this all happy.
"Amazing Honey." Haley said while she touched his arm
"Amazing indeed. We are going on a good road so in honor of that, I will give permission to walk as much as you want but using the crutches and another good news…". Dr. Hitchfield said with a smile on his face
"What?". Nathan asked all anxious.
"You can leave that wheelchair behind." Dr. Hitchfield said with a grin on his face.
"For good?". Nathan asked surprised
"For good if you do what I say." Dr. Hitchfield said
"Ohh Nathan I'm so happy for you". Haley said while she was giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"I will do what you say." Nathan stated.
"Good. Now go and see you both in a month". Dr. Hitchfield dismiss them from the office.
"Bye Doctor." Both said their goodbyes
~X~X~X~X~
It was night, Brooke was in her room reading a book while Rachel and Jason where at the living room watching a movie and enjoying the comfy couch when Jason remembered a text that got from Ben a few minutes ago.
"Rach, did you get the text from Ben?". Jason said.
"What text?". Rachel asked clueless staring at the TV
"The one about him talking about his first game?." Jason stated.
"Ummm yeah.". Rachel thinking.
"It's the first game he will ever start. Do you think we should tell Brooke?" Jason asked.
"Of course we should tell Brooke." Rachel said.
"But what if Ben gets mad and do not talk to us anymore." Jason contemplated with some degree of concern.
"Screw him, his mother needs to know that." Rachel said vehemently
"Yeah she does but our good relationship with him is what enables us to work on
forgiving her." Jason reminded Rachel.
"She has to know whether she will go or not is her decision." Rachel stated.
"I imagine that we are going." Jason said.
"Of course." Rachel said with an air of "you already know that".
"Let's call her up." Jason told Rachel.
Rachel left to go get Brooke so they can all have the conversation in the living room. A few minutes later Brooke and Rachel returned so this last one said…
"Brooke, we have something to tell you."
"Ok. What is it?". Brooke asked.
"Is about Ben" Jason stated.
"Did something happen to him?" Brooke asked with concern.
"Don't worry nothing did." Rachel eased her mind.
"So…" Brooke said.
"We both got a text a few minutes ago probably one hour tops, it came from Ben inviting us to his first game as a raven starting line-up player so we have discussion with Rachel about if we should tell you or not." Jason told her.
"We came to the conclusion that we should so here we are." Rachel stated.
"When is the game?". Brooke asked.
"In the next couple of days." Jason said.
"And we think you should come with us." Rachel said what the two of them thought.
"We don't try to force you to but I think it's something that you shouldn't miss just because he is angry with you." Jason said.
"I understand." Brooke said.
"Plus, Haley's son will be playing too so you have your perfect excuse in case
Ben gets mad." Rachel trying to convince Brooke to go.
"Yeah probably." Brooke said after thinking it for a bit but not sure about it.
"Plus we can bitch about how awful are the cheerleaders nowadays" Rachel said laughing.
"Uhhhh Cheerleaders!." Jason getting excited.
"Not for you sweetie, if you just dare to look at him, you will know the real me!." Rachel said this looking into his eyes with a very firm tone of voice.
"I thought I already knew her" Jason said while giving Rachel a kiss on the cheek.
"Not the angry one." Rachel stated.
"Ok ok I won't look." Jason said kind of laughing.
"You better. So what do you say? Are you coming or not?" Rachel said part to Jason and part to Brooke.
"I will." Brooke said this after thinking.
"That is my Brookie!" Rachel said while she hugged her.
"Stay with us to watch this movie that is great." Jason asked to Brooke.
"Thanks Jason but I'm going to go and continue to read my book." Brooke thanked him but preferred to go back to her room.
"Ok, anything you need just shout us." Rachel said.
~X~X~X~X~
The next day Lucas decided to go see his friend Skills coach the ravens and at the same time to see his nephew and Ben at the training ground.
When he entered the gym, he had to stop for a minute at the rush of memories flooding into his brain, some of them were good and some not that good.
After that he walked to Skills´s side and say…
"Hey man!."
"Luke" Skills said while he hugged him "so glad to see you."
"Me too." Lucas said while he returned the hug.
"What are you doing in here?" Skills asked.
"Just wanted to see you, have a small talk" Lucas said while he laugh "and see the kids training."
"Great." Skills said
"How is the group this year?" Lucas asked.
"This group is a great group; we gained a lot of offensive power with the addition of Brooke's kid…" Skills said
"Ben…" Lucas asked.
"Yes him…" Skills stated.
"He is good then?" Lucas asked again.
"He is amazing. I will tell you that sometimes when I look at him; it looks like I'm watching you play when you had his age." Skills stated
"Really?". Lucas asked not believing what Skills was saying.
"Really and Jamie got Nate talent so sometimes it looks like I'm watching the two of you when you had their age." Skills stated again.
"Well in some form or another you have a power couple" Lucas said laughing "and you had the pleasure to train Scott's."
"Is he your kid and I didn't know anything about it?." Skills asked surprised.
"No Ben is not my kid." Lucas said laughing.
"Then why did you say Scott's?" Skills asked.
"Because he is an honorary Scott if you think about it since my brother loves Brooke like a sister ergo he is like a nephew to Nate so an honorary Scott he is" Lucas stated while he was laughing.
In that moment Nathan enters the gym walking with his crutches and directing towards the figure of Lucas and Skills.
When the two men turned around their heads and so who was coming, both said…
"Nate!." Skills said almost shouting.
"Little bro what are you doing? Are you suppose to be resting?." Lucas asked.
"No Luke, the doctor gave the good ahead to walk as many time as I want with the crutches so I think I'm ready to start part- time with my assistant coach job." Nathan shaking hands with Skills but talking to Lucas.
"Welcome on board then Nate." Skills said.
"Congrats Nate. What did Haley tell you when you say that?" Lucas asked Nathan.
"Thanks. Well she wasn't too pleased, according to her I should be resting this week and start next week but I said to her that I wanted to come to the gym to see the ravens training." Nathan said.
"Very good!." Skills said.
"Ok then and now I can kill two birds with one stone" Lucas said laughing.
"Why?" Nathan asked.
"Because I was going to pass by your house and talk to you." Lucas said.
"Ok," Nathan said while he was laughing. "Talk."
"Nothing against you Skills but I would like the chat to be private." Lucas said to Skills.
"Ok so while you girls chit chat and I'm going to continue to direct a practise" Skills said while moving to the other side of the gym to give them privacy.
"What's wrong bro?" Nathan said while he sat on the bench.
"Nothing is wrong." Lucas said.
"Then why the whole privacy thing?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know." Lucas said.
"I don't know what? You are not helping me much here Luke." Nathan said.
"It's about Ben." Lucas said.
"What is wrong with Ben? Did he do something wrong?" Nathan asked with some concern.
"He didn't do anything wrong." Lucas stated.
"Then?. Please stop circling and go straight for the point already, you are making me nervous." Nathan asked.
"Ok, I'm sorry. I don't know, it's a strange feeling that I have towards him." Lucas said
"Strange how or why?" Nathan said with a surprised face.
"It's like I want to spend more time with him every day." Lucas said.
"That is not weird at all, he is an amazing kid." Nathan said happy at some point about Lucas comment.
"Yeah I know but it's weird because those feeling also involve …" Lucas said.
"Involve what?" Nathan asked.
"I want to protect him; I want to hug him…" Lucas said unsure of what he was feeling.
"Protect him how?" Nathan asked still feeling happy about what he was hearing but at the same time trying to Lucas let all his feeling out.
"I got this sense of protecting him like a father would but at the same time I know I'm not his father, I can't take his place because that would totally confuse him and if…" Lucas said conflicted about his feelings
"His father show up eventually it would kill you right?" Nathan asked knowing that this wouldn´t happen.
"Yes. I want him to know that he is not alone, that even though is not long since I know him, I care for him and he can count of me because sometimes I see him and I see the what could have being…" Lucas said kind of ashamed of the confession.
"You see him as the potential son if you and Brooke would have stayed together right?". Nathan poked a bit more.
"Right and sometimes that really messed with my head because I'm trying to move on and I'm happy with Lindsay but other times I feel like I can be some kind of "Uncle Keith" to him." Lucas confessed.
"Ok let me put this straight, sometimes you want to be a father figure for him like Uncle Keith was for you. Is that it?" Nathan said trying to organize the thoughts on Lucas´s brain.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"Then I should say go for it, men." Nathan encouraged him
"You think?" Lucas asked.
"Yes. He could really use one, more when they are teens. Do you think you would have being the same person if Uncle Keith wasn't in your life?" Nathan encourage him once more and asked.
"No, without Uncle Keith in my life for giving advice and talks about other
things I would not have being the same." Lucas answered.
"Then go for it, Ben needs all the father figure he can get plus the kid loves you." Nathan once more encouraged him
"Really?" Lucas asked.
"Really. Didn't you notice the way he looks at you?" Nathan asked.
"No." Lucas said.
"He looks at you like you are a freaking hero to him." Nathan said.
"Thanks Nate." Lucas said.
"You are welcome bro. Don't hesitate, go for it." Nathan encouraged him one last time.
"Ok. Do you have someone who can bring you to your house?." Lucas asked worried about his brother ride.
"Yeah don't worry, Skills can drive me. What do you have in mind?" Nathan asked out of curiosity.
"I was planning on taking the kids out" Lucas said.
"You mean Jamie and Ben." Nathan said.
"Yes". Lucas stated.
"I don't have a problem with that. Check if they don't have appointments" Nathan said while he was laughing "Jamie is getting some serious heat from the ladies."
"Like his dad in your days." Lucas said while he laughs.
"Yeah" Nathan said laughing "and Haley is not that please about it" he said laughing again.
When the practise ended, all the men waited for the kids to come out of the shower. Skills said his good bye to his team and Lucas grabbed both Ben and Jamies´s neck and told them the three will have fun together.
~X~X~X~X~
It was a bit past noon; Karen was entering the store with a bag of food in her hand after passing thru Rachel and leave her part of the food.
She directed herself towards Brooke's office, knocked on the door and after getting the coming shout from her, she entered the room…
"Hey Brooke." Karen said
"Hey Karen." Brooke answered
"You didn't come to the café to eat." Karen stated.
"I was super busy, a couple of conference calls and some paper work to arrange." Brooke said
"I'm sorry to hear that but you know that you are like a daughter to me." Karen said feeling sorry for her.
"Yes I know that." Brooke answered with confidence.
"And you are the mother of my grandchild so I will not let you starve so I bring you your food." Karen said handling her the bag of food.
"You didn't have to do that Karen." Brooke said feeling kind of ashamed.
"Yes I have." Karen stated
"Where is it?" Brooke asked.
"Here" Karen said while she handled the bag towards Brooke.
"Thanks" Brooke said while she grabbed the bag.
"In there you have some of your favourites." Karen said with a smile.
"Again thanks Karen." Brooke said feeling grateful for everything that Karen was doing.
"I also want to you let you know that Ben and Lucas are spending a lot of time together." Karen told Brooke to inform her about the father and son relationship.
"Really?" Brooke said with a surprise face.
"Yes." Karen stated.
"Doing what?" Brooke asked.
"They go to the rivercourt and play, went to the movies or they stay at home playing with the PS3." Karen enumerated all the things they did.
"Good to know" Brooke said with her happy face on.
"I love to see them interact." Karen said feeling happy too.
"How is that?" Brooke asked
"They have a very good interaction. They act like they know each other for years and have being friends for that long or another one could say that they have a very familiar relationship." Karen reflected.
"That makes me happy. I was afraid that they wouldn't click." Brooke revealing one of her fears
"Don't worry about that. I knew they would always click because blood is thicker than anything else that can exist." Karen stated trying to ease Brooke's mind
"You are probably right." Brooke said.
"Well I have to go, enjoy your meal." Karen said looking at her watch.
"Wait so I can go look in the kitchen for something to put this food so you can
take the recipients back." Brooke told her.
"Don't worry about them. Bring it to me later." Karen told her.
"Ok." Brooke said.
"Bye Brooke." Karen said leaving the room.
"Bye Karen" Brooke said, focusing back on her papers and the food.
~X~X~X~X~
It was night and after they left Jamie at Naley´s house, Lucas and Ben went to the café to help Karen with the closing. In fact when they arrived there both of them urged Karen to go home and start working on the dinner.
She refused but they convinced her to do and that she didn't have to worry that they will clean and close up everything.
They were cleaning up when Lucas says…
"This brings back a lot of memories." Lucas said while cleaning a table.
"Like what?" Ben asked
"I was your age and mom always has me helping her clearing the tables after I did my homework of course." Lucas said thinking back
"Look at that. Did she at least pay you something?" Ben said while laughing
"No, she said that my payment was giving me an education" Lucas said while laughing too
"Well she kinda has a point there. Otherwise you wouldn't be who you are now." Ben stated.
"Yes. Want to know another thing?" Lucas answered.
"Sure."
"Sometimes Haley and I would do a competition to see who can clear more tables and we put a prize." Lucas said
"What prize?" Ben asked.
"The person who didn't won would have to clean all the tables and give the "paycheck" to the other person." Lucas answered.
"That is good." Ben said while he laugh.
"I know." Lucas stated.
"Did you won?" Ben asked.
"Once but it was short lived." Lucas said.
"Why?" Ben asked.
"Because Mom found out, nagged the hell out of me and forced me to return everything. Plus I had to clean the house by myself for two weeks." Lucas answered not happy remembering.
"Woow she is very severe." Ben said.
"You can bet she is. Want to know what happened to another person who broke her rules?" Lucas said.
"Yes."
"One time Brooke broke my mom curfew, she was living at the house in that moment just like you are now, and Karen made her do all the chores in the house like cleaning, laundry etc. so I came to the house to visit my mother…" Lucas said with his back now facing the door while he continue to clean the counter.
"You didn't live there?" Ben asked.
"At that moment I was living with my father but back to the story… I found her with her knees and hands on the floor cleaning it with a brush.
By that time she had made a significant part of them but when I saw her like that I just couldn't help to laugh and I told her do you know that there is a mop behind that door" Lucas laughed at the memory "She wasn't too pleased with my remark."
"What did she do?." Ben asked while he laugh.
"Well she complained and I felt sorry for her and helped. I told that I would take the even and that she would take the odds" Lucas said while he continue laughing at the memory .
In that moment like it was something provoked by destiny, Brooke entered the café with the recipients that Karen brought at noon for her.
Ben sees that and says…
"Lucas, I'm going to go." Ben said.
"But you didn't finish cleaning" Lucas said while he turned around and saw Brooke.
"I'm going to go now" Ben said while he rapidly left the café not saying a word to his mom.
"Ben…" Lucas said shouting.
"Don't worry, he always do that when I came to room." Brooke said showing her sad and resigned.
"That is no good.." Lucas said.
"Tell me I have being enduring that for the past 5 months." Brooke said.
"He can't treat you like that; you are his mother for Christ sake. He has to show some respect." Lucas said a bit angry.
"I tried to talk to him but I can't, everyone tried to talk to him and it was like hitting a wall." Brooke said with her eyes full of tears that were spilling to her cheeks.
"Come here" Lucas said unable to see her cry while he moved to where she was "I will talk to him." He whispered to her while he hugged her.
"Thanks." Brooke said returning the hug while more tears were coming down.
"He will have to listen to me." Lucas said still hugging and comforting her.
~X~X~X~X~
Nathan was sitting on the couch watching TV when he heard the door and it was Haley coming back from doing some last minute grocery shopping so he remembered that he hadn't told her about his talk with Lucas and with that in mind, he got up, grabbed the crutches and went to the kitchen.
When he got there he said…
"Hi Hales, did you get everything?" Nathan asked.
"Yes. How are you today?" Haley said while giving him a little peck on the lips
"I'm good." Nathan said returning it.
"Aren't you tired?" Haley asked.
"Not at all." Nathan stated.
"Good."
"I have to tell you something." Nathan said kind of excited.
"What?" Haley asked.
"I had a talk with Lucas today." Nathan said.
"About what?" Haley asked.
"Ben…" Nathan stated.
"Really?" Haley asked with surprise and with her eyes so big.
"Yes." Nathan said.
"Did he behave bad?" Haley asked.
"At first I thought that too but after that talk I realized that what Karen said that blood is thicker than anything else it's true." Nathan stated.
"What did you talk about?." Haley asked intrigued by her husband statement.
"He told me that he has strange feelings towards Ben." Nathan said.
"Strange how?" Haley asked.
"I asked him the same thing and he told me that he wants to spend more time with him every day and I told him how could you not because he is an amazing kid but he also told that those feelings involved a sense of protection, a desire to hug him." Nathan said.
"No! Shut up!." Haley said surprised and not believing what she was hearing.
"Yes and wait it gets better… I asked him protect him how and he told me like a father would but he is conflicted by this because he knows his not his father and that he can't take his place because he knows that would confuse Ben…" Nathan said.
"But only if he knew. Did he tell you something else?." Haley said and asked.
"When he told me that I told him knowing that it wouldn't happen that if his father showed up it would kill him right and he recognized that it would." Nathan said.
"Poor Lucas." Haley said feeling sorry that her best friend doesn't know the truth.
"He also told that he wants Ben to know that he is not alone, that he cares for him and that he can count with him too.
What was most shocking for not finding a better word is that he sometimes sees him and think of the what could have being so he confessed that he sees Ben as the potential son he and Brooke could have if they stayed together." Nathan said.
"Someone needs to force Brooke to tell him the true." Haley said with a hint of decision.
"I'm not defending Brooke but you know very well Hales that forcing someone to make something doesn't work. He also said that this way of thinking really messed with his head since he is trying to move on and he is happy with Lindsay.
To finish this up he said that he wants to be for Ben like Uncle Keith was for him." Nathan said.
"Awwww. What did you say?" Haley said feeling moved by Lucas's words.
"I say he should go for it but I seriously cursed Brooke in my insides." Nathan said.
"I would and I don't know if I could contain myself in your situation because Karen was right, he doesn't even know that is his kid and he has all this feelings that a father towards his child has." Haley said.
In that moment a voice from one of the kids came from upstairs and decided to cut the chat in case the little one heard something she shouldn't.
~X~X~X~X~
A new day was here and after the events of the night before Brooke called Haley to come to her house to have a coffee with Rachel and her so she could tell both of them since when she arrived yesterday, the first one was out with her boyfriend.
So when Haley arrived, all the girls sat around the breakfast island with their cups of coffee and demanded Brooke to tell them what the reason behind this reunion was so she said…
"I need to tell you what happened yesterday night." Brooke said.
"What happened?" Haley asked.
"Yeah Brooke, what happened? Because when I left you told me that you were going to Karen's café and back home." Rachel asked too.
"I did that but something happened at Karen's Café." Brooke said.
"Then tell us!." Rachel implored.
Brooke: "Ok" Brooke said sipping from her coffee mug "I closed the store and went to give back to Karen the recipients where she brought the food to me at noon and when I enter there, I found Lucas and Ben cleaning up." Brooke said.
"Woow. The whole family" Rachel said at first surprised and now laughing at the fact.
"These two are spending a lot of time together from what I heard from Karen." Haley said.
"Yes Karen told me the same thing." Brooke said.
"Continue with the history…" Rachel asked.
"What the next that happened is always the same, my son sees me and immediately leaves the room and this time wasn't any different." Brooke said with sadness.
"I don't know where is Ben going to stop being so stubborn." Rachel said.
"I don't know because he has stubbornness from both parents." Haley stated.
"The thing is that Lucas didn't see me until he said to Ben that he didn't finish cleaning." Brooke said.
"Awkward!." Rachel stated.
"Totally. So what happened next?" Haley said.
"Ben left the room and Lucas shouted his name. I said to him that he did that every time I came to a room." Brooke said.
"What did he say?" Rachel asked.
"That it was no good and I responded that I have being suffering that for the past 5 months." Brooke stated.
"We all are trying to talk to him but he doesn't listen." Haley said while she touched Brooke's hands
"Not even to Jason." Rachel said.
"I told him that and he said that he can't treat me like that, that he has to show some respect." Brooke said.
"He is right." Rachel stated.
"Yes he is right." Haley said.
"I know he is and after that I couldn't help the tears falling down my eyes so he hugged me, comforted me and told me he will talk to him." Brooke said.
"He hugged you?" Haley said surprised.
"Well maybe his father can break thru his stubbornness." Rachel said.
"Yes, he hugged me and I thank him for trying to speak with him." Brooke said with a small smile on her face.
"How did you feel with that?" Haley asked.
"Sorry, I got lost. How did she feel with the hug or the father talking to the son?" Rachel asked.
"With the hug." Haley clarified.
"Ahh ok. Thanks Haley." Rachel said.
"I felt like I was finally home." Brooke said ashamed with the response.
"Awwwwww" Haley said.
"I will tell you this a million times but you will ended up married to Lucas!." Rachel said with decision.
"Uhhh I agree with Rachel on that." Haley said matter of factly.
"I told her to fight for him." Rachel said.
"I love you Brooke and I want the two of you together again but I don't know if I agree with what Rachel said." Haley said.
"Ok" Brooke said while he laugh "Let's just finish our coffee and talk about other issues." She said while she laugh again.
~X~X~X~X~
Lucas arrived to the rivercourt looking for Ben, trying to talk to him about what happened at the café yesterday night.
He saw Ben sitting on the bench with the ball in his hand so he went there and sat next to him and said…
"Hey Ben." Lucas said.
"Hey Lucas." Ben said.
"I looked for you yesterday night and when I came to my mom's home you were sleeping." Lucas said.
"I was tired." Ben said.
"Ok, a person can be tired so since I still wanted to talk to you, I thought I could find you here." Lucas stated.
"What do you want to talk about?" Ben said but already having an idea of what was the issue in discussion.
"Why did you leave like that?" Lucas asked.
"I said to you that I was tired." Ben said kind of annoyed.
"Did it have something to do with the fact that Brooke show up?" Lucas asked again.
"Probably." Ben answered.
"My mom told me that you two had a fight." Lucas stated.
"Yeah." Ben answered.
"Why?" Lucas asked.
"I don't want to talk about it, the only I will say is that she did something that really hurt me." Ben said trying to be as calm as he can.
"Ok I can respect that you don't want to talk or what you want to say about it but buddy" Lucas said while he caressed his hair "you can't treat her like because she is your mom. Whatever she did, she doesn't deserve that treat from your part because god forbid something happens to her, you will have this guilt over you about how you could fix it and you didn't." Lucas stated.
"But…" Ben said but he got cut by Lucas.
"Let me talk and when I finish you can say whatever you want ok?" Lucas said.
"Ok." Ben said.
"I will tell you a couple of things… I had a University partner that him and his mom fought all the time, he even said the nastiest things to her because she had a substance abuse problem. One day he said I won't talk to you anymore until you stop using and he did the same thing that you did, every time his mom came looking for him he would just leave the room until one day his mom had a car accident and passed away.
My university partner was devasted and had this guilt on him on how he could have fixed things with his mom and didn't." Lucas said.
"What did he do?" Ben said surprised by the story.
"He did therapy a couple of years but finally the guilt was too much for him to bear and committed suicide.
I don't say that this will be your case but I don't want you or your mom to find out if it is the case.
Plus I can gloat about the fact that I'm one of the few persons that knows your mom like the back of her hand and I'm pretty sure that Brooke was always there for you. Yeah it's sucks not to have a dad but I'm sure she managed to cover that as well as she could." Lucas said.
"Actually she did." Ben said thinking back.
"See. I will tell you another thing, more personal this time…" Lucas said.
"What?" Ben asked.
"My story…" Lucas stated.
"Your Story?" Ben asked.
"Yes. Karen was pregnant with me just like your mom when she had 18 years, my dad when he found out, do you know what he said?" Lucas said.
"No, what?" Ben asked.
"That she should have an abortion." Lucas stated.
"Really?" Ben asked surprised again.
"Really." Lucas stated.
"What a Douche." Ben said disgusted by the reaction of his grandparent.
"Tell me about it." Lucas said while laughing.
"What did Karen do?" Ben asked.
"Well at first she almost listen to my dad but later she started to think and she came to the realization that she couldn't picture her life without me in it so she had me.
It was really rough for her since she didn't go to college and started a business to support me. She didn't have anyone to help, my uncle Keith was with her but he also had a business to attend." Lucas said.
"So my mom put up a crib in the café so she can put me there and attend the costumers but if I got sick, she have no one to take care of me so she had to take me to the café and attending a café with a sick kid is not good combination."
"One time I was little and I enjoyed playing basketball for a team and it happens that on the same team my brother Nathan was and in that time I didn't have the relationship that I have with him now. All the boys played pranks on me, called me bastard etc. and my mom who always came to see me play had to suffer how the rest of the people saw her.
So I didn't want her to suffer anymore…" Lucas continued with the story.
"So what did you do?" Ben asked.
"I quit the team and started to play in here" Lucas said signalizing the rivercourt "What I mean with this is that you have to take care of your mom, she is all that you have and you are all that she has." Lucas stated.
"I understand." Ben said happy to hear his father entire story.
"I will tell you one more thing before I ask you something." Lucas said.
"What thing?" Ben ask
"A thing that only a few people know…" Lucas stated.
"Tell me." Ben asked.
"I'm a very wealthy man that is no secret but when I became a rich men, I decided to do some good with all the money I had because I remember how my mom struggled."
"So I decided to create two charities, one that will help all the pregnant teens like my mom or your mom and the second one for all the teen moms so that both of them don't have to struggle like your mom or my mom. Because what your mom did have more merits that what Karen did." Lucas stated.
"How?." Ben asked.
"Because Brooke not only decided to have you but she also continue to study and she worked at the same time plus taking care of you and from what I witness from you, you turned alright." Lucas said.
"You are probably right." Ben said.
"You think?" Lucas asked while laughing.
"Yeah. Tell me more about these charities of yours…" Ben said.
"Ok, What do you want to know?" Lucas asked.
"Everything." Ben said.
"Ok. The first one for pregnant teens, I bought a house for the charity to work because sometimes in the UK these girls are "evicted" from their house by the family or are girls that live on the street so we give them a place to stay, we tell them all the options they have and they decided what to do." Lucas said.
"In case they decided to keep the baby, we provided them with doctor's check up free of charge, food, clothes, everything that they need and they stay in the house until their due date." Lucas stated continuing with the story.
"You run that on your own?" Ben asked.
"No, I have people who do it for me." Lucas said while he laugh.
"Ahh ok." Ben said.
"The second Charity for Teen Mom, it's practically the same with the exception that we give them another kind of formation so they can get a job, we help them get it and we have a nursery for the moms to leave their kids so they can work" Lucas said.
"That is amazing." Ben said surprised about what his father told him.
"Thanks." Lucas said.
"You are doing so much good." Ben said still amazed by what he father did.
"I know but what I also wanted to say and ask from you is that I was also a teen, I was also mad or angry at my mom several times but I always said Hi and bye to her, give her a kiss or a hug or say to her that I love her." Lucas said.
"The only thing I ask for you is that when you see your mom say hi and bye to her, tell her that you love her and don't escape like you did yesterday because I know Brooke and she is suffering so much that she doesn't deserve that."
"She suffered so much in her life that she doesn't deserve it coming from you with all the sacrifice she made." Lucas stated trying to be as sincere as he could with everything he was saying.
"Umm I don't know." Ben said having doubts about it.
"Do it for me please." Lucas asked.
"I will think about it." Ben said not sure yet.
"Ok." Lucas said.
They stayed in the rivercourt a while longer before going to the café to grab a something to drink.
~X~X~X~X~
Nathan was sitting on the couch that was on the other side of the kitchen just watching some TV, trying to watch some basketball game when next to him sat Jamie and asked to talk to him so Nathan said…
"What do you want to talk about buddy?" Nathan asked.
"It's about the whole situation with Uncle Lucas and Cousin Ben." Jamie said.
"What about that?" Nathan asked.
"I want to know how many time do I have to keep to myself that Ben is my cousin by blood?" Jamie asked.
"Ahhh that thing." Nathan said.
"Yes that thing." Jamie stated.
"Why do you want to know?" Nathan asked.
"Because the other day when Uncle Lucas, Ben and I went out after practice I feel awkward and I also feel bad about lying to my uncle about the nature of my cousin relationship to him." Jamie said.
"I can understand what you mean son. I don't feel comfortable either but it's something that your Aunt Brooke should do." Nathan stated.
"Why?" Jamie asked.
"Because she has to face the consequences what she did. What do I always tell
you when you lie?" Nathan stated.
"That I have to come clean and endure the consequences of it." Jamie said.
"Exactly and that is what your aunt has to do." Nathan said.
"But what if she doesn't do it?." Jamie asked.
"We will cross that bridge when we came to it." Nathan said being honest with his son.
"Ok." Jamie said.
"Satisfied?" Nathan asked.
"Not much but what can we do…" Jamie said.
"Nothing." Nathan said.
~X~X~X~X~
It's being a week since Lucas left town for his American Tour and in this week, Ben did a lot of thinking.
He loved to spend all that time with him, getting to know him even though he didn't know he was his son. The talks they had… so after weighting all of that he took a decision and went to talk to his grandma to let her know about it…
"Grandma…" Ben said.
"Yes Ben." Karen said.
"Can I talk to you?." Ben said.
"Of course. Let's me take out this pot that is in stove and we sit here and do it." Karen said.
"Ok." Ben said.
"What's wrong Ben?" Karen asked while she sat on the kitchen chair.
"I did a lot of thinking since dad left and I took a decision…" Ben started.
"Ok, what decision?" Karen asked.
"I want to go live with him in England." Ben finished.
"This feels like déjà vu." Karen said reminiscing about the time Lucas said the exact same thing.
"Why?" Ben asked.
"Because I was sitting in the same place when your dad told me the same thing." Karen said.
"Ok." Ben said while he laugh.
"Are you going to go forever like him?" Karen asked.
"No, just for season at least. I just want to get to know him well and gain some of the 15 years we lost." Ben stated.
"I would love for you to stay here but I understand where you are coming from but I'm not the one who can give your permission to do it. First you need to talk to Lucas to see if he is willing to let you do that and second you need to talk to your mom so she can give you permission." Karen said.
"Ok I will talk to my dad first. Grandma do you have his cell phone?" Ben asked.
"Yes, here it is" Karen said while giving him the pad with all the telephone numbers.
Ben: "I will call him now" Ben said dialling a cell phone number, hearing it ring and someone picking it up "Hi, Lucas…"
"Hi Ben." Lucas said.
"You told me that if I needed anything I can call you. Are you busy?" Ben asked.
"No, I'm just in the hotel in Chicago, what do you need?" Lucas asked.
"Since you left, I did a lot of thinking…" Ben started.
"And…" Lucas said.
"I came to the conclusion that I want to do what you did." Ben said.
"What thing?." Lucas asked.
"I want to go do my high school in London…" Ben finished.
"And you need a place to stay and someone who can be your tutor right?" Lucas asked.
"Right." Ben said.
"Ok, I don't have a problem. You can stay with me as long as you want, it will be a pleasure to have you at my house but only if Brooke is ok with it." Lucas stated.
"I will talk to her and asked her permission." Ben said.
"Ok, let me know what she tell you." Lucas said.
"Ok." Ben said.
"Anything else?" Lucas asked.
"No." Ben said.
"There is a knocking on my door, I have to go Ben." Lucas said.
"Bye Lucas." Ben said.
"Bye Ben." Lucas said.
"What did your father tell you?" Karen said noticing that he finished the call.
"That he is ok with it if Brooke is ok." Ben said.
"Then don't forget to talk to your mother now that you two have a better relationship…" Karen said.
FLASHBACK
Ben's game just ended; on one side of the court Lucas, Karen, Lilly with Nathan and Haley were waiting to congratulate Jamie and Ben for the win.
On the other side of the court was Jason, Rachel and Brooke that by request on the last one decided to stay so she can congratulate Jamie and to see if Ben let her do the same.
Both boys entered the court already fresh thanks to the bath they just took and Jamie went directly to where his parent where, followed by Ben.
They got the congrats for the win from everyone there and including another one for how great they work together. After Jamie saw that his aunt was there and went to greet her.
In that moment, Lucas said to Ben…
"Did you think about what we talk?" Lucas said.
"Yeah I did." Ben said.
"And?" Lucas asked.
"I think you are right." Ben said.
"I'm glad that you feel that way and don't you think this would be a fantastic
opportunity to do it. She came to see you play." Lucas stated.
"I don't want to go alone." Ben said.
"I will accompany you if you want." Lucas offered.
"Yes, please." Ben accepted.
Lucas and Ben directed to where Brooke, Rachel and Jason where and when they got there the first one said…
"Hi Brooke, Rachel, Jason." Lucas said.
"Hi Lucas." Brooke, Rachel and Jason answered.
"Brooke, Ben wants to tell you something…" Lucas said displaying a small smile .
"Hi mom, thank you for coming." Ben said with an unstable range of voice.
"Hi Ben, you are welcome. You played really well there." Brooke said with her eyes filled with tears of joy.
"Thanks. Even though I'm still mad at you, I wanted to say that I love you and that I always will." Ben said.
"I will always love you too. You will always be my baby boy." Brooke said getting more emotional.
"I know. Can I hug you?" Ben asked.
"You don't have to ask that. Come…" Brooke said spreading her arms wide open.
"Ok" Ben said walking towards Brooke and hugging her.
"Thank you Lucas." Brooke mouthed while she returned the hug with tears running down her cheeks.
"You are welcome." Lucas mouthed to her.