FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR ME TAKING ME SO LONG WHEN I THOUGHT I WAS OUT OF THE WOODS, I GOT SICK AGAIN, WHAT A CRAPPY YEAR I HAD SO FAR. I ALSO WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS BY FAR THE LONGEST CHAPTER I HAVE EVER WRITTEN SO BECAUSE OF THAT I SPLIT IT IN TWO ( DON´T FRET I ALREADY WROTE BOTH OF THEM) CHAPTERS. I JUST FINISHED BETA THIS ONE AND I DIDN´T THINK IT WAS NICE FOR YOU TO WAIT UNTIL I BETA THE OTHER SO HERE IS ONE AND PROBABLY THE OTHER ONE IS IN A FEW WEEKS.
THIS MASSIVE CHAPTER (I MEANT BOTH OF THEM) HAS EVERYTHING YOU ARE WAITING... BRUCAS MOMENTS, AND SOMEONE BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME AND OF COURSE WHO DOESN´T LOVE CHRISTMAS !. HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS FOR NOW.
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: KANIKAFULTZ123, LEONIE1988, ANNABELLE08, JUST A BIT TIPSY, RAELOUIS, B, LOVEPJANDBRUCASLOVER, ARUBAGIRL0926, NALEY23ALWAYSFOREVER, SANDYGIRL, SAPHIRABLUE25, BROOKE DAVIS23, SHILEYFACE2508, TRLD, MICKEI, TAMAL45, LUCKIEINTHESKY, LIVITO321, TRUELOVE13, RICKBILLY08, SALAZARJASAM, ALLY´S ANGEL, .7, HACHEMIMYRIAM1393, BLZ7, CALZONA1931, BASSWARD, HANBAN593, SHAMONTICUPCAKE, LILLY22498, EATSLEEPREAD54, LYSATATI, FANSQUEALING, IT IS MY LIFE. IT NOW OR NEVER, QUEENACEV, BEAUTIFUL 99.
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... ENJOY AND PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW, THAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE ME.
Chapter 29
Lucas was sitting in his office talking to Gavin about the business when he invited him and the entire Harris family to spend Christmas at his house since he wasn´t travelling this holiday season.
"Are you flying your mom here this year?" Gavin asked.
"Yes and that reminded me I need to call her" Lucas answered while he was grabbing the phone and dialling.
"Ok you do that" Gavin laughed.
"Hi mom..." Lucas said.
"Lucas I´m so glad that you called." Karen said with joy.
"Why? Did something happened?" Lucas asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
"No nothing. I´m just happy to hear your voice son." She said trying to sooth his child.
"I´m happy to hear your voice too." He said.
"You should, I´m your mother." She proclaimed.
"You are right. How is Lily?" Lucas said while laughing.
"She is fine. She is at a friend house studying." She said.
"Ok. You can´t complain you got two very nerdy kids." Lucas stated.
"Yes I do." Karen affirmed.
"Any boyfriend situation that I should worry about?" Lucas asked.
"Lucas Eugene Scott, leave your sister alone." Karen said with a firm tone.
"Ma, It´s a simple question." He said.
"Yes, it´s a simple question that you will get no answer from me. Respect her
privacy." Karen said firmly.
"I do." He said defeat.
"No you are not. Do you see me asking that same question when you were her age?" Karen asked.
"No." He said.
"Respect her privacy the same way I respect yours when you were her age." Karen said firmly.
"Ok mom, sorry to ask." Lucas apologizes.
"Apology accepted." She said.
"How is the business?" He asked.
"Doing good." Karen said.
"Nice to hear." He said.
"This chit chat is pointing to where exactly?" Karen asked.
"You know me so well." Lucas said.
"You are my son." Karen stated.
"Since I´m not flying or away this holiday season, I was planning to rent a plane and bring you all to London to spend them with me. How about that?" He asked.
"I would love it and I think your sister will be jumping of joy. You know how much she likes London and according to her all the posh stores" (laughing). She said laughing.
"Yes I know. The last time I was there, she kept on and on about how much clothes she will buy when she comes" Lucas said laughing.
"I´m torn ... I want to be with you but I also don´t want to leave Brooke alone." She said with a bit of doubt her voice.
"I say don´t worry, I will fix it." He stated.
"How?" Karen asked.
"I was already planning to invite all three of them and surprise Ben, because I know how hard it is to spend the holidays away from your family." Lucas confirmed.
"Really?" Karen asked surprised.
"Really, I was planning to call her after you so please don´t tell her anything. I want to surprise her myself." Lucas confirmed once again.
"I´m so happy for you son." Karen said with obvious joy in her voice.
"Thanks." He said.
"You are doing such a good deed. Both of them will be so happy." She explained.
"I know." He said.
"I´m so happy that we will spend christmas as a family." Karen practically jumped of joy.
"Me too mom. Please let Haley and Nathan know." He let her mother know.
"Know that I´m not going to be here? or that they are coming too?" Karen asked.
"That they are coming too." Lucas said laughing a bit.
"I think Deb is with them this year." She said.
"Don´t worry she can come too. The more the merrier." Lucas explained.
"Ok, I will." She said.
"Bye ma." He said hanging the phone.
"Bye Lucas." Karen said hanging the phone too.
"Are you really going to invite Brooke?" Gavin asked surprised.
"Yes." He said.
"Awesome, I will finally meet the person that you love so much and the only one
that can make you an emotional drunk" Gavin said laughing.
"That you remember..." Lucas said laughing.
"That was painful but kind of funny to watch." Gavin stated.
"Happy that my former misery amuse you" He said laughing.
"What is your loss, is a profit to me... I got my wingman !" Gavin said not stopping the laugh that came out.
"You are character. Get out of the office" Lucas stated still laughing.
"You know you love me" Gavin said still cracking up.
"Go!" He said between laughs..
"See you tomorrow." Gavin said.
"Yeah." He said.
~X~X~X~X~
Brooke seized the opportunity that the store was rather quiet and not to much customers to go into her office and call Karen about the subject of sharing the holidays, she have to do it today because if she delayed more, Karen might not be available.
So she grabbed the phone, dialed and waited for a response...
"Hello." Karen said.
"Hi Karen, it´s me Brooke." Brooke responded.
"Hi Brooke, how are you?" Karen asked.
"I´m good, you?" Brooke answered.
"I´m good." She said.
"That is good to know. How is Lily?" Brooke asked.
"She is good. She is at a friend house studying." karen stated.
"I´m glad that she is doing ok." Brooke said.
"How is the store?" Karen asked.
"The store is doing good." Brooke said.
"Good to know that." Karen said.
"Karen, I seize the opportunity that the store is rather quiet to make this phone call because I wanted to ask you something." Brooke said.
"Ok. What?" Karen asked.
"This holidays are going to be tough for me since it will be the first one without Ben by my side and I don´t feel like going on a trip so ..." Brooke said.
"So?" Karen asked getting a hint to where she was pointing with the conversation but not saying anything.
"So I was wondering if you and Lily want to spend the holidays with me, Rachel and Jason." Brooke said.
"Ohhhhh Brooke if you had called earlier maybe I would but now I have to say no." Karen said.
"Why? Who invited you?" Brooke asked.
"Because earlier Lucas called and since he is not travelling this year either he is going to rent a plane and flight all the family there. I´m sorry." Karen stated.
"Ahhhh ... that is ok. Don´t worry." Brooke said trying to be cool.
"I would love to spend holidays with you." Karen said without a hint of doubt.
"Don´t worry. It´s only logical that you want to go there." Brooke said.
"I don´t want you to spend the holidays alone" Karen said trying really hard not to give out the secret invitation that Lucas has for her.
"Again don´t worry, Rachel and I will manage." Brooke said.
"I know but it breaks my heart." Karen said.
"Forget about it. Who is going?" Brooke asked.
"That I know of ... Haley, Nathan, the kids, Lily and I." Karen answered.
"Looks like everyone is going" Brooke said trying to sound casual.
"Pretty much." She said.
"Well enjoyed it because you deserve it and give a lot of kisses to my Ben." Brooke said.
"I will and Brooke?" Karen stated and asked.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"Don´t worry, I have the feeling that something will come up and you won´t be
alone in the holidays." Karen stated.
"You think?" Brooke asked.
"I have a gut feeling." Karen stated.
"Thanks Karen." Brooke said thankful.
"You are welcome and I´m sorry." Karen said.
"Bye Karen". Brooke said hanging the phone.
"Bye Brooke".Karen said hanging the phone too.
After that Brooke sat alone in her office for a good 10 minutes, sad that she will have to spend the holidays alone with Rachel and Jason.
~X~X~X~X~
After saying good bye to Gavin, he organized his desk, talked to Alfred about what will be the meals for the day and went to check on Ben who was watching a movie in the cinema room, he returned to his in house office and grabbed the phone to talk to Brooke.
He dialed her cellphone and waited for a response ...
"Hello..." Brooke said.
"Hi Brooke." Lucas said.
"Hi Lucas, is there something wrong with Ben?" Brooke asked.
"Kind of but we will get to that later." He said.
"No tell me now." Brooke demanded.
"It´s not that severe." Lucas said trying to calm her down.
"I want to know now Lucas." Brooke said with urgency in her voice.
"Do you trust me just a little?" Lucas asked.
"It´s not a matter of trust or lack of it, it´s matter of I want to know and you running around it makes me think it´s a severe problem." Brooke stated.
"I´m not running around." Lucas stated.
"Yes you are." Brooke said.
"I don´t want to fight with you." Lucas said.
"Me neither but tell me what is wrong." Brooke said.
"Ok." Lucas said.
"Ok what?" Brooke asked.
"Ok, I will tell you." Lucas conceded.
"Then do it." Brooke demanded once more.
"It´s nothing severe. Just broke his arm in a basketball practice in high school." Lucas said.
"Oh my god." Brooke said with worry.
"Relax. Do you know remember that I had an injury on my shoulder?" Lucas and asked.
"But that was not playing basketball." Brooke reminded him.
"Yes, I got hit by a car" Lucas said laughing.
"How is he?" Brooke asked.
"He is fine. Just a bit sore but other than that." Lucas said.
"Do you need me to go there?" Brooke asked.
"Nah Brooke, I got it all under control." Lucas assured.
"Really?" Brooke asked.
"Really." Lucas stated.
"How long for the cast to go?" Brooke asked.
"According to the doctor a whole month, then he will do an x-ray and if it´s all good ... the cast is out." Lucas stated again.
"Awww my poor baby. " Brooke said with a hint of pain.
"Yes he is kind of sad because he was playing really well in the basketball team but I told him that before he knows it, he will be back." Lucas said.
"Are you sure you don´t want me there to help you?" Brooke once again asked.
"I´m sure." Lucas stated.
"What is he doing now?" Brooke asked.
"He is comfortably seating in the movie theater room with a bucket of popcorn watching a movie." Lucas said.
"Is he?" Brooke asked.
"Yes, I came from there a few minutes ago." Lucas told her.
"I guess he is not watching anything that he shouldn´t right?" Brooke asked once more, her mother concern still kicking in.
"If you mean Porn, we don´t have Porn in this house." Lucas said knowing what she was refering too.
"Lucas?!" Brooke said horrified about that comment.
"What Brooke?!." Lucas asked.
"He is only 16." Brooke stated.
"So? What is your point?" Lucas asked once more.
"He is too little to watch that." Brooke stated once more.
"Brooke, seriously ... you and me at that age we were reenacting porn and the
Kama Sutra" Lucas said while he laughed.
"He doesn´t need to know that." Brooke said with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"Ok." Lucas said laughing.
"Well I´m glad that it wasn´t severe." Brooke told him.
"Before I forget the other reason of what I called you is that I want to invite you,
Rachel and Jason to spend the holidays with Ben here in London." Lucas said.
"Really?" Brooke asked surprised.
"Really." Lucas stated.
"Thank you." She said thankful.
"You are welcome. I know how difficult it is to spend the holidays away from the people you love and I don´t want Ben to experience that." He said.
"Again thanks and don´t worry I will buy the ticket for the three." Brooke said.
"Nonsense. I will rent a plane to bring mom and the rest of the gang so you,
Rachel and Jason already have their seats there." Lucas said.
"So you already planned this." She said still surprised.
"Guilty!. I can identify with Ben because I also know what it is to grow up without a dad so if having his family here will make him happy... thank god I´m in a position that I can do it, I will do it." Lucas said sincerely.
"Well, I don´t know what to say." Brooke said not coming out of her stunned state.
"Say that you will be here with the rest of the gang." He said.
"Rachel, Jason and I will be there." Brooke said.
"Amazing. I will be in touch with my mom to pass her all the details so talk to
her ok?" Lucas asked.
"Ok. Again thanks." Brooke responded.
"Nah, don´t mention it." He said.
"Bye Lucas." Brooke said.
"Bye Brooke. Have a nice day." Lucas said hanging the phone.
"You too." Brooke said also hanging the phone too.
~X~X~X~X~
Brooke finished talking with Lucas and instaneously speeded out of the voice in search for Rachel.
She found her in the back room organizing the last shipment from C/B headquarters for the shop, she went thru the door and yelled...
"Rachel!." Brooke said.
"Calm down Brookie. Breathe!." Rachel said seeing Brooke so agitated.
"Ok". She said while breathing.
"There you go." Rachel said.
"Thanks." Brooke said calming down.
"You are welcome. What happened?" Rachel asked.
"You won´t believe who called me." Brooke said with a look of surprise.
"Don´t know. Flotus maybe?" Rachel asked.
"Flotus?" Brooke said clueless.
"Yes." She said.
"Who is Flotus?" Brooke asked clueless again.
"Duhhhhhh First Lady of the United States" Rachel said giving Brooke a dumb look.
"Noooo, Michelle Obama didn´t call." Brooke said realizing what Rachel was talking about.
"Damnnnn but I have the feeling that she will someday." Rachel said.
"Maybe. So do you want to guess who called or not?" Brooke asked.
"No." Rachel stated.
"Lucas called." Brooke blurted out.
"Really?" She asked.
"Really." Brooke stated.
"I love it." Rachel said.
"What do you love that he called? or what?" Brooke asked.
"I love how you are 17 years old again when you tell me he called" Rachel said laughing.
"Rachel!?" Brooke said.
"Ok ok sorry. Go on, why did he call?" Rachel apologize and asked.
"First to tell me that Ben had an accident..." Brooke said.
"Ben? How is he?" Rachel asked alarmed.
"He is fine, he only broke his arm in a basketball practice." Brooke said.
"Does he need us there?" She once again asked.
"Lucas said that he didn´t, that he was handling all without a problem." Brooke stated.
"Really?" Rachel asked.
"Really." Brooke said.
"Well I´m happy that he is turning out to be a good dad." Rachel said.
"Please don´t enter in that zone. I´m not in the mood to talk about that subject." She pleaded.
"Ok. So basically he is fine right?" Rachel asked for the final time.
"Right." Brooke said.
"What is the second thing?" Rachel asked.
"The second thing I wanted to tell is that Lucas invited you, Jason and myself
to spend holidays with Ben and the rest of the family in London." Brooke said.
"What?!" Rachel said practically screaming and so shocked.
"You heard me." Brooke said.
"He did that..." Rachel said surprised.
"Yes he did." Brooke said.
"I can understand that you get the invitation because you are the mother but Jason and I." Rachel said.
"He considers you and Jason part of Ben´s family." Brooke stated.
"We are so what did you tell him?" Rachel asked.
"I told him that we were going. Are we?" Brooke said and asked.
"Yes, I wouldn´t miss the holidays with my only nephew in the world. I will call Jason and tell him to book the plane tickets so we can leave from NY, are you ok with it?" Rachel said and asked.
"No, don´t book plane tickets." Brooke stated.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because Lucas is renting a plane to fly out his entire family and he saved three seats for us there." Brooke explained.
"Is that so?" She asked.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"Great." Rachel said.
"Yes, he told me to stay in touch with Karen that he will send all the details to her." Brooke told her.
"Ok. I will let Jason know so that he save those dates and I will tell him to fly to
Tree Hill because I´m assuming we are leaving from here right?" Rachel told her and asked.
"Your assumption is correct." Brooke stated.
"Ok I will do that now. Can I use the office?" Rachel asked.
"Yes of course. I will stay here finishing organizing this." Brooke said.
"Thanks" Rachel said leaving the room.
~X~X~X~X~
Haley was putting away all the groceries that she bought in the store in the correct kitchen cabinets.
She got the call of Karen letting her know about the holidays arrangements while she was shopping so she made a mental note to talk about it with Nathan.
Now she remembered that and called him to the kitchen to talk about it...
"Nathan ..." Haley said.
"What?!" Nathan yelled from the living room.
"Come to the kitchen, I need to talk to you." Haley said.
"Ok." Nathan said standing up from the couch.
A few minutes later, Nathan entered the kitchen and sat on the kitchen stools that served as seats when they wanted to eat breakfast on the kitchen isle.
"What do you want to talk about?" Nathan asked.
"Oh great, you are already here." She said.
"Yes, can you speed up?. I´m watching a game in the living room." Nathan asked.
"The game can wait for a little bit, this is more important." Haley stated.
"Ok but talk already." Nathan urged her.
"Did you talk to your mom about her holidays vacation?" Haley asked.
"No, she can spend her vacations in Aruba or wherever place she wants." He said.
"I know that but I was referring to her vacations." Haley said.
"You don´t?" Nathan asked.
"I don´t." Haley said.
"Then what were you talking about?" Nathan asked.
"I was talking about Christmas and New Year." Haley stated.
"Ahhhhh, Yes I talked to her about it." Nathan said.
"So what was her answer?." Haley asked.
"She is spending with us this year." Nathan stated.
"What happened to the cruise ship she took last year?" Haley asked.
"She said too many old guys trying to have her way with her" Nathan said with a disgusted face.
"Yeah right. I forget she is a cougar now" Haley said laughing.
"Can we please stop talking about my mother sexual life?" Nathan asked.
"Yes ok and you were nagging Jamie the other day when he caught us." Haley reminded him.
"That is just two different thing." Nathan tried to explain.
"Drop the subject because you are going to lose" Haley warned him.
"Ok" Nathan said.
"The reason I asked that is because while I was doing the shopping for this house, I got a call from Karen letting me know that Lucas invited all of us to spend the holidays with him in London." Haley explained why she asked all those things.
"Awesome but all of us?" Nathan said and asked.
"Yes all of us, your mother included." Haley stated.
"Are you sure?" Nathan asked again.
"Yes, Karen told me that he told her to tell Haley to bring Deb too." Haley said.
"Great. Mom would be please to see him again." He said happily.
"Yeah she will." She stated.
"How is going to be? Do we need to book plane tickets?" Nathan asked.
"No need to book anything, according to Karen he is going to rent a plane to bring us all there." Haley said.
"My brother the big spender" Nathan said while laughing.
"Hey!" Haley almost yell.
"I was joking Hales, you know I love my brother and I´m happy of all the money he has." He clarify.
"I know. Want to know what other thing Karen told me?" Haley said and asked.
"Is it important?" Nathan asked.
"Ummm yes." Haley answered.
"Then do tell" He said.
"Lucas also invited Brooke, Rachel and Jason." Haley said.
"You kidding me right?" Nathan asked not believing what he just heard.
"I could never do that, at least not with this subject." Haley stated.
"I´m super surprised." Nathan said.
"I was too when Karen told me, he said and I quote "I know what is like to be away from the family on the holidays and I don´t want Ben to experience that". Haley said.
"Wow!. Our first Christmas with the whole Scott gang together." Nathan said surprised.
"Yes but please don´t tell anything of this to Brooke until Lucas talks to her." Haley begged.
"Lucas will call her to invite her?" Nathan asked astonishment not leaving his face.
"Yes plus he needs to tell her about Ben´s broken arm." Haley said.
"Ben broke his arm?" Nathan asked again.
"Yes in a basketball practice." Haley stated.
"He will be alright. It happened the same thing to me and I played alright until I had the last major injury." He said.
"We know." Haley said.
"Can I continue watching my game?" Nathan asked.
"Of course." Haley said.
"Thanks" Nathan said walking away and grabbing a bag of chips from the counter that Haley needed to put away.
"Hey I need to put away that" Haley yelled at the retreating form of Nathan.
~X~X~X~X~
It was already December 23th, Lucas was waiting at the house for all the guest to arrive.
He has not yet said a word to Ben about it because he wanted it to be a surprise, besides renting a plane, he also rented a huge van to bring them all to the house.
When he heard a car approaching, he left his office chair and went to look in one of the windows in the room and saw a van entering the house and getting ready to park in front of the door.
He jumped out of his chair and went to the door, beating Alfred on the who is answering contest so once he reached there, he opened the door and gave time for the van to park.
Once it did and the door opened, he hurried up everyone inside and away from the cold they were not used to and closed the door.
"It´s so good to have you all in here." Lucas said looking at everyone in the room.
"Thanks for having us." Brooke said.
"You are welcome and I should say thanks for coming." Lucas said.
"It was not a problem." Rachel said.
"Mom, how was the flight?" Lucas asked.
"The flight was good. We got a little turbulence that make your brother scream
like a little baby". Karen said laughing a bit.
"Did not! I was perfectly fine." Nathan protested.
"Yes you did". Brooke, Haley, Rachel and Lilly sang.
"Hales I thought you have my back." Nathan said offended.
"I do honey but there is no denying that you screamed like a baby." Haley stated.
"Ouch little brother." Lucas laughed a bit.
"They don´t understand me." Nathan whined.
"Apparently not. Hi Deb, long time no see." Lucas said.
"Yes, long time no see. How are you?" Deb answered and asked back.
"I´m good. How are you?" Lucas asked.
"I see. I´m looking forward to spend a great holidays here with the entire family
and get to know London." Deb answered.
"Well I hope I can provide that." Lucas said.
"And If you know someone delicious that I can sink my teeth into, I will appreciate." Deb told him.
"Mom! there are kids and grown ups in the room, control yourself." Nathan said.
"Ok I will." Lucas said laughing.
"Brother, don´t you dare!." Nathan warned.
"Little Sister, ready to do some damage to the UK stores?" Lucas asked.
"Yes !. I can´t be more excited!." Lilly answered with a hint of excitment in her voice.
"Good because I have an black extension credit card for you to use." Lucas said.
"Lucas you shouldn´t. I will pay for her stuff." Karen said to her son.
"Mom, you can´t and clothes here are expensive. It´s my little sister that I don´t
see often, let me indulge her." Lucas stated.
"Yes mom, let him." Lilly pleaded.
"Ok." Karen conceded.
"I will give you that with one condition." He said.
"What?" Lilly asked.
"That you should return it when you are leaving." Lucas said.
"Ok." Lilly said.
"How is my favorite nephew doing?" Lucas asked looking at Jamie.
"I´m good and I´m your only nephew." Jamie answered and stated.
"Taking those Ravens into championship right?" Lucas asked again.
"And we are still undefeated." Jamie answered.
"Awesome. Give me a hug, love you kid." Lucas said.
"Love you too Uncle Lucas." Jamie said returning the hug.
"Do I get a hug too?" Sophia said watching the interaction between her brother and uncle.
"Yes, little princess come here." Lucas said.
"Hi uncle Lucas." Sophia said after she walked towards him and hugged him.
"Hi princess. How was the flight? " Lucas said and asked while he returned the hug.
"Good. Mommy and Aunt Brooke did a lot of fun things." Sophia said.
"Like?" Lucas asked.
"Watched a movie, Aunt Brooke read me a story and with Mommy we
painted." Sophia told him.
"Did you get scared by the turbulence?" Lucas asked.
"Yes but Mommy hold me tight and told that it was going to be over soon and it did." Sophia confessed.
"Good." He stated.
"Uncle Lucas ..." Sophia said.
"Yes." He said.
"Can I have a black card like Lilly is getting?" Sophia asked with all the innocence a girl of her age had.
"Why do you want that?" Lucas laughed at her request and asked.
"I want to buy pretty things too." Sophia stated.
"Well you are too little to have one of those but I promise that when you get to
her age, you will have one ok?" Lucas promised.
"Ok." Sophia said.
"With that said, let me get Ben and give him the surprise of his life." Lucas said.
Brooke, Rachel and the rest were patiently waiting for Lucas to come back with Ben but while they were doing that, the girls couldn´t keep themselves from gushing about their surrondings.
"Wowwwww can´t you believe this house?" Rachel said with a surprised tone of voice.
"I know ..." Brooke answered equally surprised.
"It´s huge" Rachel said.
"Yes." She said.
"And we are only looking at the foyer." Rachel stated.
"Loving the decoration." Brooke said.
"It´s looks very british." Rachel once again stated.
"How do you know that?" She asked laughing.
"Don´t you remember when I was travelling for my modeling gigs?." Rachel asked.
"Oh yes." Brooke remembered.
"One time we came here and the decorations looked just like this." Rachel statd.
"Look at that home office..." Brooke said looking at a room that had the door open.
"Yeah, looks pretty huge and important." Rachel said.
"Yes, it even looks way bigger than the one I have on the apartment in NY." Brooke stated.
"It definitely has more classic furniture." Rachel said.
"What are you saying that mine is too futuristic?" Brooke asked.
"No, but it´s tad bit more modern than that one" Rachel stated laughing.
"Yes , it´s true." Brooke stated too.
"I´m in love with that stairs." Rachel said.
"They are gorgeous." Brooke recognized.
"That mahogany." Rachel continued to admire the stairs.
"It reminded me of the one we had when we lived in Tree Hill before Ben was born." Brooke said going down memory lane.
"Now that you mention it, it has a feel to it but that was one of lesser quality." Rachel realized.
"I agree" Brooke said laughing.
"The ceiling are also great. Love high ceilings." Rachel said while looking up.
"Me too but the disadvantage of it is that in the winter makes the house super
cold." Brooke stated.
"Here is winter and I don´t feel cold." Rachel said.
"Probably because he has a great heating system." Brooke once again stated.
"We don´t know that." Rachel said.
"I know Luke and he doesn´t like the cold." Brooke said.
"Now is Luke?" Rachel asked laughing.
"Rach, shut up!." Brooke said getting a bit irritated.
"Ok. I will" Rachel said laughing.
~X~X~X~X~
Lucas reached Ben´s room but before going in, he started to think of a way to approach the whole "Hey I Got a Surprise for You" theme going on.
He thought for a few moments then entered the room and found Ben laying on the bed reading a book ...
"Hey kiddo, what are you doing?" Lucas asked.
"Reading a book" Ben said with that isn´t obvious look.
"About?" Lucas asked once more.
"Science Fiction." Ben said.
"Yeah dummy. I was wondering the plot not the genre" Lucas said laughing.
"Ok, It is about a group of alien teenagers trying to save the world in a fight with the mogadorians." Ben explained.
"Sounds interesting." Lucas said.
"It is." Ben said.
"What is the name of the book?" Lucas asked.
"It´s a saga." Ben clarified.
"Then what is the name of saga?" Lucas asked once more.
"The I´m number Four saga." Ben said.
"Who wrote them?" Lucas asked.
"In the book says Pittacus Lore but that actually is a fantasy name used by James
Frey." Ben explained to him.
"Look at that. I will keep them in mind so I can read it ." Lucas said.
"I never saw you reading young adults books." Ben stated.
"A writer must be capable of reading anything, even kids books if he needs too." Lucas explained.
"Wow I never knew that." Ben said surprised.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"I have a question." Ben said.
"Shoot" He said.
"Do you ever consider writing a book with a fantasy name?" Ben asked.
"What do you mean?" Lucas asked.
"I mean that the name that appears in the cover wasn´t yours." Ben explained.
"Actually no." Lucas said.
"Would you like to?" Ben asked once more.
"Never considered." Lucas said.
"Never?" Ben asked again.
"Never. So what book of the saga are you reading?" Lucas stated and asked.
"Number one" Ben said.
"The book is number one?" Luas asked.
"No. The book number one is called I´m Number Four." Ben said laughing.
"How are the other books named?" Lucas asked.
"The number two is The Power of Six, Number three is The Rise Of Nine ..." Ben started to explain.
"Awesome, making a mental note as we speak." Luas said.
"What is wrong with you?" Ben asked.
"Why?" Lucas asked instead of answering.
"You are asking too many questions and that is so weird on you." Ben stated.
"Not that weird." Lucas said.
"Yes it is, it´s always me trying to get to stuff out of you ." Ben said laughing just a bit.
"Ok you got me, something is happening." Lucas said thinking and knowing it got caught.
"What?" Ben asked.
"I have a surprise for you downstairs." Lucas said.
"Really?" Ben asked.
"Really." Lucas stated.
"Good Surprise or bad surprise?" Ben asked.
"That is for you to decide." Lucas said.
"What is it?" Ben asked again.
"I won´t tell but the only I will tell is ... that I know how hard and lonely are the holidays when you are away for the one you care." Lucas said.
"I don´t feel alone, I´m with you. You are someone I care about a lot." Ben stated.
"I know and thanks." Lucas said.
"You are welcome." Ben said.
"But I hope my surprise brings you closer to the ones that you love." Lucas said.
"Can we go down now?" Ben asked excited.
"Yes but before that, I will put a blind on your eyes." Lucas said.
"How am I suppose to go down the stairs with my eyes covered?" Ben asked.
"I will guide you." Lucas stated.
"Ok." He said.
Both men got up from the bed and Lucas went behind Ben to put the blind on and guided him towards the stairs and the lobby.
~X~X~X~X~
Lucas stopped with Ben in front of the last set of steps, and urged the people there to be silent, when he noted that they stopped walking he asked ...
"Are we there yet?" Ben asked.
"Yes, we are. Gimme me a minute so I can remove the blind." Lucas said.
"Ok." He said.
"SURPRISE! " Lucas yelled while he removed the blind.
"Is this real?" Ben asked surprised as hell.
"As real as you can get munchkin" Rachel said laughing at his godson disbelief.
"What are you doing here?" Ben asked.
"We always try to celebrate the holidays with Lucas and this year was no
different but he didn´t want you to feel alone so ..." Karen said.
"He invited us to tag along and spend the holidays with the greatest godson ever" Rachel said laughing.
"How did you manage to do this in secret?" Ben asked.
"I told everyone to be silent and I´m a wealthy men so what good the money do if It can´t help to make some you care about happy. I would have loved that someone did that for me when I had your age."
Family and our loved ones are all we got in this life." Lucas told him.
"Thanks" Ben said hugging him.
"You are welcome kid plus you deserved it. Go say Hi to everyone that when you are done, Alfred will take everyone to their rooms." Lucas said returning the hug.
"Ok." Ben said.
Ben rapidly descended the stairs and went to Karen, Brooke, Rachel, Uncle Jason, Nathan, Haley, Lily, James, Sophia and was introduced to Deb.
He chatted with everyone a bit until it was time for them to go their rooms but they all agreed to have a movie night that night.
~X~X~X~X~
It was night time, after eating and chatting on the dinner table, they all complimented the cook and asked Alfred to make popcorn for movie night.
Lucas was leaving the room but a voice stopped him.
"Where are you going?" Ben asked.
"I´m going to bed, I have a busy day tomorrow." Lucas said.
"Hell no, you are coming with us to movie night." He said.
"Ben ! the language!." Brooke scolded him.
"Sorry mom." Ben apologized.
"I appreciate the invite kid but I really do have a busy day tomorrow and need to
sleep." Lucas said.
"There is no excuse. You are coming." Ben stated.
"You are relentless but really I can´t . Enjoy it with the rest of family." Lucas said laughing.
"You are my family too. I want you there." Ben said.
"Thanks for that." Lucas said sincerely.
"C´mon Luke, come." Lilly begged.
"You both persistent." He stated.
"You bet your skinny ass brother" Lilly said laughing.
"So?" Ben asked.
"Ok, Ok. I´m coming but you will explain to everyone that has meetings with me tomorrow why I´m late" Lucas said while laughing.
"I don´t have problem" Ben said laughing.
"What are we watching?" Lucas asked grabbing both by the neck and walking.
Took a couple of minutes to get to the movie room because they made a quick stop to gather the popcorns.
They entered the room and they give everyone the share of popcorn that everybody deserved, now a fight occurred about what movie to watch ...
"Ok what are we watching?" Lucas asked again standing on the wall.
"Horror movies." Ben stated.
"Son, not horror movies, let´s see some romantical ones." Brooke pleaded.
"To see a romantical one, I prefer to watch ESPN." Nathan stated.
"Do you want to watch a Horror movie? but I warn you that I support Brooke´s." Haley asked and finally said.
"Yeah , it´s better than to watch some sappy rom com." Nathan said.
"You are so not my husband right now." Haley said a bit irritated.
"Mom what you do want to watch?" Lucas asked.
"Whatever you pick out it´s fine by me. I like both genres." Karen said.
"Ok. So what about we put it to vote?'" Lucas asked.
"Ok. Let´s vote." Ben said.
After a vote that took half an hour because another discussion broke about the distinction of horror movies and terror movies, they finally selected one.
It was Ben´s favorite movie and since no one saw it, they went with the hitcher 2008 version.
When Lucas came back from putting the movie in the state of the art blu ray player, Ben said ...
"Let´s sit together, ok?" Ben proposed.
"Ok." Lucas said.
"Here" Ben said nothing that the only spots left were the two seats on the right side of Brooke´s and walking toward there.
"You can sit next to your mother and I will seat here." Lucas said reaching there.
"I want to sit next to you so you sit next to my mother and I will seat next to you." Ben said.
"Are you sure?." Lucas asked.
"I´m sure." Ben said.
"Are you ok with this Brooke? " Lucas asked.
"No problem don´t worry plus it´s good to have company during a scary
movie." Brooke said.
"Ok. I´m sitting in the middle of both of you." Lucas said.
About halfway thru the movie when the really scary part of it came, Lucas got distracted by someone tugging his clothes and hidding in his chest, he thought it was Ben but when he looked down he was surprised to see Brooke.
"Afraid much?" Lucas whispered to Brooke while he laughed a bit.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"Well be my guest" Lucas said opening his arm.
"Thanks." Brooke said.
"But you have to pay rent later" He said laughing slighty.
"Let´s watch the movie." Brooke said.
"Ok ." He said.
This interaction was not missed by Ben who was happy to see what he was seeing and it came out the way he wanted, he knew that his mother was afraid of scary movies so if he sat his dad next to her mom this could happen.
TO BE CONTINUED ...