HERE IS THE CONTINUATION OF CHAPTER 29.
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: SANDYGIRL, LOVEPJANDBRUCASLOVER, SALAZARJASAM, NALEY23ALWAYSFOREVER, ALEXANDRAVANESSA08, ARUBAGIRL0926, BJQ, LITERATURESOCCER, ENTHUSIAST, DARLINGDEPIAGET, RISINGXSUN26
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.
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 30
The morning came, everyone was sitting in the table having breakfast after going into bed really late last night.
They were all talking about the movie they saw ...
"I don´t know why but I love that movie." Ben said.
"Did you already see that movie?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, it´s one of Lucas favorites." Ben stated.
"Is it?" Karen asked.
"Yes mom." Lucas said.
"I didn´t know that." Karen stated.
"Me neither." Brooke said.
"Yes, I saw it with my mate Gavin." Lucas said.
"Mate? it cracks me up when you talk all british." Lilly said laughing.
"You do?" Lucas asked.
"Yes." Lilly said.
"You have to agree that it sounds so weird hearing you talk like that." Nathan stated thru his laughter.
"So I´m a joke for you." Lucas said laughing.
"Sometimes" Lilly said once again laughing.
"You keep micking me and that black card is gone. Not laughing now right? " Lucas said taunting his sister.
"Not the black card." Lilly whined.
"Lucas, Lilly stopped it." Karen said putting some order.
"Sorry mom." Lucas said.
"Yeah Sorry." Lilly said.
"I don´t believe you too ... one is over thirthy and the other is 17 years old, fighting like two babies." Karen complained a bit.
"We are not fighting, just a healthy banter." Lucas said.
"Fighting or not fighting, knock it off," Karen said.
"Ok. So anyone more enjoyed the movie yesterday?" Lucas asked.
"I did." Nathan said.
"Great. Are you comfortable enough in your rooms?" Lucas asked.
"I think I speak for all when I say we are." Haley said.
"Sir, you are going to be late for your meetings." Alfred said approaching Lucas.
"Yes, you are right Alfred." Lucas said.
Do you work on Christmas?" Brooke asked surprised.
"Yes, I have to but only in the mornings because it´s the day where I usually have the holiday meetings with the heads of my charities." Lucas said.
"Oh, Look at that. I still think you are doing such a great thing with the charities." Brooke said.
"Want to come and see it for yourself?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, please." Brooke said excited.
"Well let´s go that I´m already running late." Lucas said standing up from his chair.
"Let me get my coat." Brooke said also standing from her chair.
Minutes later they came out of the door towards the limousine and headed to downtown London.
~X~X~X~X~
Haley was in her room talking to Karen while this last one helped her unpack some of the Christmas presents that she brought from home.
"I still don´t know why you brought presents from home." Karen said.
"I feel bad that Lucas gives us all present, I feel like I´m taking advantage of him." Haley said.
"He would never ever think that, you are his sister." Karen said.
In that moment Nathan enters the room ...
"That is what I said when she told me that she wanted to bring presents." Nathan said hearing what Haley and Karen were talking about.
"Why are you nagging me about this? I´m the one who brought it." Haley said.
"That is true and thank god for private plane because I would have not paid the extra for exceeding weight permit that you can carry." Nathan stated.
"You are mean." Haley said.
"I´m not mean, I´m simply not as rich as my brother" Nathan stated thru his laughter.
"When this conversation became about money?." Karen asked while laughing.
"I don´t know." Nathan said.
"Yeah you do. By the way what are you doing interrupting girl chat?" Haley asked.
"I came to get my basketball shorts." Nathan said.
"Nathan no basketball, you can´t play. You will hurt your back again," Haley said.
"I will not." Nathan proclaimed.
"You will not play and don´t test me Nathan Royal Scott." Haley told him with a stern tone of voice and a piss off look on her face.
"I think she means business " Karen said looking at Nathan.
"Yeah me too." Nathan answered.
"Changing subject so we alleviate the tension." Karen said laughing a bit.
"Yeah better." Nathan said.
"Did you all see how good Brooke and Lucas are handling living under the same roof?" Karen asked.
"Yes, I´m surprised." Haley said.
"Me too. I thought Lucas would hit the bottle like the last time ." Nathan said too.
"Don´t remind me of that time, it was not pleasant to watch a drunken Lucas." Haley said with a disgusted tone of voice.
"Maybe the fact that Ben is living here, they are forced to be in contact." Karen stated.
"Probably." Haley said thinking.
"And Lucas not barking at Brooke or be uncomfortable." Nathan stated while laughing.
"Yes. I was so surprised when Lucas told me that he planned to invite her." Karen said.
"Me too." Haley said.
"I was not that surprise about that, what surprised me the most besides their good relationship here is this morning." Nathan stated letting his surprise marks the tone of his voice.
"Yeah that too." Haley said.
"Lucas willingly wanting to spend time with Brooke." Karen said happy.
"I thought I would never see the day after they broke up and how hard it was for him these past 15 years." Nathan said.
"I know." Karen said.
"Maybe this Lindsay chick we don´t know it´s really helping him." Haley said.
"Don´t know but one thing I do know is that my brother will always love Brooke and they are meant to be." Nathan stated.
"Awww honey that is so sweet, you ship Brucas." Haley said hugging his arm.
"Brucas?" Nathan asked.
"Brucas stands for Brooke and Lucas." Karen said laughing.
"I do ship them." Nathan said laughing too.
"And I love you for that." Haley said kissing his lips.
"I love you too." Nathan said returning the kiss.
"Did you guys see yesterday night during the movie how my son and Brooke hugged each other?" Karen asked.
"Really?" Haley and Nathan asked.
"Really I was behind them when the lights were turned on, they were hugging." Karen stated.
"Hugging hugging? or more like I´m hiding in your chest kind of hug? because I did the last thing with Nathan that night (laughing)." Haley asked once more laughing a bit.
"Don´t know. The only thing I know is that the lights were turned on and that was Brooke with her head on my son´s chest and her arm across his belly." Karen said.
"Wowwwwww." Haley said surprised.
"I think they have this good relationship because the bomb doesn´t explode yet " Nathan said laughing.
"Yeah that is true." Karen and Haley said.
"As soon as that happens is bye bye good relationship and if I know my brother a bit will be I hate you / how can you keep that from me relationship." Nathan said.
"I hope it doesn´t come to that." Karen said.
"Me neither." Haley also said.
"Well since I was not allowed to play, I will go check on the kids." Nathan stated.
"Ok. Have fun." Karen said.
"I will try to. Bye." Nathan said leaving the room.
"Bye." Karen and Haley said to the retreating form of Nathan.
~X~X~X~X~
It was Christmas night, the fireplace that was on the living room was lit, the dinner table was decorated according the date and everyone were dressed to impress.
Even Lucas had a black suit and a red tie, but the kids were not too pleased about having to wear that kind of clothes.
They were all taking when Alfred approached and said ...
"Sir ..." Alfred said.
"Yes Alfred, what´s wrong?" Lucas said wondering.
"Nothing is wrong sir, I just wanted you to know that the Harris are here." Alfred stated.
"Great. Bring them here." Lucas said.
After a few minutes, a group of ten people appeared at the living room, when Lucas saw this he got up from the couch and directed himself to the group, said hello to all of them and turned around ...
"Everyone these is my adopted family ... The Harris." Lucas said presenting.
"Hello." The family Harris said.
"Harris Family these are my family from Tree Hill." Lucas said once more introducing them to his real family.
"Hello." Once again the Harris said.
"I will make the proper introductions, Mom and the rest of gang, I want you to meet Papa Harris, Momma Harris, Gavin and his wife Miranda with their 3 kids, his brother Jason and his sister Stephanie." Lucas said.
"Well I already know some of them. Hey Haley, Nathan and Karen." Gavin said laughing.
"I think I speak for all the people here that is a pleasure to meet you all." Karen said.
"Hey Luke, is that Lilly?" Gavin asked.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"My god girl, you grew a foot in the last two years that I didn´t see you." Gavin stated.
"Thanks Gavin." Lilly said.
"I should be buying a shotgun Luke." Gavin recommend Lucas.
"I was planning too but my mom doesn´t want to." Lucas said laughing.
"Well, what can you do?" Gavin asked.
"Nothing. Well continuing with the introductions... Harris family, I want you all to meet my mom Karen, my sister Lilly, my brother Nathan and his wife Haley, my nephew James, my niece Sophia, Nathan´s mother Deb, the son of friend Ben, his mother Brooke, his godmother Rachel and her boyfriend Jason." Lucas said making the introductions.
"Like Karen said, it´s a pleasure to meet all the people that I heard so much about since we welcomed Lucas into our house." Papa Harris said.
"That much he talked about us." Nathan said.
"Yes." Papa Harris said.
"So this is the famous and infamous Brooke right?" Gavin asked approaching Lucas.
"Yes." Lucas said laughing.
"Not that bad mate." Gavin said.
"Gavin!" Lucas exclaimed.
"What? Seeing her only confirms more to me your implacable taste in women." Gavin defended himself.
"Mate!" Lucas exclaimed laughing.
"I want to thank you for taking such a good care of my boy." Karen said approaching Momma Harris.
"Don´t mention, he is a good boy and a good kid. You did a great job raising him." Momma Harris said.
"Thanks. Are they still like that?" Karen said looking at the interaction of Gavin and Lucas.
"Like what?" Momma Harris asked.
"Acting like two goofy kids." Karen stated.
"They are always like this since Lucas came to live with us." Momma Harris.
"Well no wonder they are best friends." Karen said laughing.
Half an hour later while Lucas was talking with Gavin, Nathan and James, Alfred approached to him and said...
"Sir ..." Alfred said.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"Ms. Lindsay is parking the car." Alfred said.
"Thanks Alfred. I´m going. You mates excuse me but I´m going to get my girl." Lucas said.
"Will finally meet the Lindsay I heard so much about." Nathan said.
"Great gal !. It´s the sister of the friend of my wife ..." Gavin said and explained.
Lucas left the talking boys and directed himself towards the door just in time to see Alfred closing it and retrieving Lindsay´s coat.
"Have I arrive late?" Lindsay asked.
Lucas: "No, just in time. Hey babe." Lucas said kissing her.
"Good. Love you." Lindsay said returning the kiss.
"Love you too. Ready to meet the family?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, but I´m nervous that I won´t like them." Lindsay confessed.
"They are going to love you because If they are not then they are nuts." Lucas stated.
"Thank you. You always know what to say." Lindsey said.
"You are welcome." Lucas said.
"Do I look ok?" Lindsey asked.
"You are gorgeous. Now c´mon." Lucas said grabbing her hand and leading her to the living room.
Seconds later both entered the room and Lucas said ...
"Well the last person that needed to be here, just arrived. Harris family you are already know her." Lucas said.
"Yes we do. Hi Lindsey." Momma Harris said.
"Hi Momma Harris." Lindsay said.
"Mom and gang, I already told you all about her but tonight I want you to meet her. Lindsay, this is my mom Karen, my sister Lilly, my brother Nathan and his wife Haley, my nephew James, my niece Sophia, Nathan´s mother Deb, Ben´s mother Brooke, his godmother Rachel and her boyfriend Jason." Lucas introduced Lindsay.
"I´m so happy to meet you, Lucas won´t stop talking about you all." Lindsay with joy in her voice.
"Hi." Everyone said.
"I as Lucas brother I want to welcome you to the family." Nathan said.
"Thank you." Lindsay said.
"Happy to meet you too. Thanks for making my boy happy." Karen said.
"You are welcome and he makes me happy too." Lindsay said.
"Well I´m happy that you all know her and don´t think it´s a ghost (laughing)." Lucas said laughing.
"Ghost?." Lindsay said.
"Yes, for a moment my family thought that you were made up by me." Lucas explained laughing.
"I´m very real. Brooke right?" Lindsay said and asked looking at Brooke.
"Yes. Nice to know you." Brooke said trying to be polite.
"Nice to know you too. I wanted to congratulate you." Lindsay said.
"Why?" Brooke asked.
"You have a very well behave boy and you did a great job raising him." Lindsay said.
"Thank you but the merit also goes to his godmother Rachel that is by my side." Brooke said.
"Well congrats to both and it´s a pleasure to meet you." Lindsay stated.
In that moment Alfred enters again and said ...
"Sir..." Alfred said.
"Yes, Alfred." Lucas said.
"You can all enter the dinner room, the dinner is serve." Alfred stated.
"Then let´s go to enjoy the fabulous feast that they prepared in the kitchen." Lucas said.
~X~X~X~X~
Taking advantage of everyone leaving the living room towards the dinner room, Rachel manage to grab Ben´s arm and remove him from the flock of people.
After telling him that she wanted to talk to him, both directed themselves straight to Lucas´s office and once Rachel closed the door she said ...
"The reason that I removed you from the mass of people going to the living room is because like I said before I wanted to talk to you." Rachel said.
"What´s wrong Aunt Rachel?" Ben asked.
"I noted that you are acting weird." Rachel stated.
"No I´m not." Ben said.
"Kiddo, I know you since you were in the womb of your mother. You can foul
Lucas or even Karen but not me. " Rachel said.
"I´m not weird." Ben stated.
"Now because you are with me but since Lindsay arrived you are acting super weird." Rachel stated once more.
"Ok you are right." Ben acepted.
"Why? Is it because of your father´s girlfriend?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, I don´t like Lindsay. I find it annoying and fake." Ben said.
"I didn´t get that vibe and I´m usually a good character detector." Rachel said laughing.
"You are" Ben said laughing.
"Did she do something to you? Tell me because if she did, not even Lucas will recognize her when I´m done with her." Rachel asked concerned.
"Chill Aunt Rachel. She didn´t do anything." Ben calmed her down.
"So Ben, what is it? because if I could tell maybe others can too and it´s not pretty. We raised you better buddy." Rachel asked.
"Ok, I will tell you. Please don´t tell anyone what I´m about to confess." Ben said.
"Ok, you got my word." Rachel promised.
"The reason I don´t like her is because I don´t like her and because after hearing mom´s side and dad´s side of the love story, I think he still loves her." Ben explained.
"Awwwww buddy ." Rachel said hugging him moved by his confession.
"I can´t help to want them to be together." Ben said returning the hug.
"You want your family right?" Rachel asked.
"Is that bad?" Ben asked.
"No Kiddo. Every kid in your situation wishes that." Rachel said hugging him again.
"Probably." Ben said.
"I will confess something..." Rachel said.
"What Aunt Rachel?" Ben asked.
"I think your mother still loves him too." Rachel said not wanting to say that she knew Brooke loved him.
"Can we do something so they can be together?" Ben asked.
"Before you were even born, when you were just a tiny pea in your mother´s belly, god knows I did my share of helping them getting back together..." Rachel confessed.
"Why it didn´t work?" Ben asked.
"Your mother can be one stubborn women when she wants too." Rachel stated.
"Yeah I know." Ben said knowing his aunt was right.
"By the way don´t ever tell your mother what I just told you." Rachel said.
"Why not?" Ben asked.
"Because duh! she doesn´t know and she would kill me." Rachel stated laughing.
"So what can we do Aunt Rachel?" Ben asked.
"Truthfully nothing." Rachel said.
"I don´t like that answer." Ben said.
"Listen to me buddy ... If it´s meant to be, it will be." Rachel said.
"That is bull." Ben said.
"No is not, example... I will never thought that Jason would become my boyfriend when he was all into your mother at first." Rachel said.
"Uncle Jason liked my mother?" Ben asked surprised.
"Jason was all over your mother at first but later with time, destiny, call it whatever you want it became the love of my live and I can´t imagine life without him." Rachel confessed.
"Wow!." Ben said surprised.
"Don´t ever talk about this either." Rachel said laughing.
"So if Mom would have said yes, Uncle Jason could have being my dad?" Ben asked.
"Yes." Rachel said.
"Creepy." Ben said with a surprised face.
"Very. So what I´m trying to tell you is... the fact that your parents are having close to a friend relationship is fantastic because every time they go down that row always end up being a couple." Rachel said.
"Really?" Ben asked.
"Really. Just let the time, fate, or whatever they call it now, do its magic. I have faith that they will end up marrying and giving you more brothers and sisters." Rachel said.
"I wish." Ben said.
"Now let´s go to eat that they will start looking for us and please act better around Lindsay." Rachel said.
"Ok Aunt Rachel." Ben said.
"Promise?" Rachel asked.
"Promise." Ben said.
"Come on big boy." Rachel said giving him a kiss on the head.
~X~X~X~X~
The dinner was over so they all moved towards the living room to sit on the couch in front of the fireplace, until it was time to open the presents they talked about several subjects.
They talk and talk for a long while relishing on the comfort that the couch brought but now it was time to open presents and Lucas was like a Lord of Misrule for the gifts ...
"I´m going to start with my own family ... Mom here is your gift ... Open it up." Lucas said handling her the present.
"Nice Dress. Thanks son." Karen said grabbing the present and unwrapping it.
"You are welcome mom but that is not any ordinary dress, is an Stella McCartney." Lucas said remarking the importance of it.
"I don´t know what that is but thank you." Karen said laughing.
"Mommmmm, Stella McCartney is like the top designer in England and one of the tops in the world right Brooke?" Lilly asked annoyed by her mother lack of fashion sense.
"Yes Lilly, Karen that is a very good dress." Brooke stated.
"Since you spoke now is your turn Lilly" Lucas said handling the present to his sister.
"The latest Nicholas Sparks book" Lilly said grabbing the present, unwrapping it and surprised to see what it was.
"Open it..." Lucas insisted.
"And it´s signed and dedicated to me." Lilly said opening her eyes like two ballons.
"Read the dedication" Haley pleaded.
"To Lilly, my most devoted fan with all my love, Nicholas Sparks" . How did you get this?" Lilly asked.
"That was particulary difficult to find but Lindsay reminded me that my publishing house has an office in USA and that office has a subsidiary who turns out to be his publishing house so It´s all in the family." Lucas said laughing.
"Thank You. Thank You." Lilly said while she went to hug Lucas.
"You are welcome. You can thank Lindsay too without her I couldn´t do it." Lucas said returning the hug.
"Thanks Lindsay." Lilly said.
"You are welcome Lilly. It was nothing really." Lindsay said.
"This means a lot." Lilly stated.
"More than the black card?" Lucas asked laughing.
"I would say on the same level." Lilly said thinking and later laughing.
"Now is the turn of Haley so here is your gift..." Lucas proclaimed, handling her gift.
"A dress. You weren´t that creative my brother in law." Haley said grabbing the present, unwrapping it and after looking at what it was laughing.
"That dress is an Stella McCartney too and it´s difficult to shop for girls" Lucas excused himself laughing.
"Ok Ok, I forgive you because it´s an Stella McCartney but you sure know the way to a girls heart." Haley said laughing all along.
"You got me. Did my little princess wants her gift?" Lucas said laughing after hearing her response and asked.
"Yes Uncle Lucas." Sophia said.
"Ok. Here you go baby girl." Lucas said handling her the present.
"A Doll". Sophia said grabbing the present, unwrapping it and after seeing what it was told everyone with a happy face what was it.
"Yes, a doll. I hope you enjoy it." Lucas said.
"I will, thanks Uncle Lucas." Sophia stated.
"You are welcome baby girl. Ben, your turn." Lucas said kissing her cheek.
"What did you get me?" Ben asked.
"You`ll see. I think you will like it." Lucas said handling him the present.
"A photographic camera. Awesome!." Ben said grabbing the present, unwrapping it and proclaimed with an excited tone of voice what it was.
"So you can take great pics of your time with me in England to have it as a souvenir." Lucas stated.
"Thanks. I will take great pics!." Ben said hugging him.
"You are welcome. Love you kid." Lucas said returning the hug.
"Me too." Ben said.
"Now is the turn of Nathan and Jamie. Here" Lucas said handling the two gifts.
"What is this? Ticket?." Nathan asked grabbing the present and unwrapping it.
"Yes, it looks like a ticket. To what Uncle Lucas?" Jamie said grabbing the present and unwrapping it but later asking.
"Read well." Lucas said laughing.
"Oh My God!..." Jamie said while reading.
"March Madness" Nathan practically yelled getting excited.
"Yes, March Madness. I thought you would enjoy it." Lucas confirmed.
"How did you get them? ..." Jamie asked.
"I thought they were sold out." Nathan said.
"They were sold out but I have my ways. So are you happy with your presents?" Lucas said laughing and asked.
"I am ecstatic. Thanks Uncle Lucas." Jamie said hugging his Uncle.
"Luke, I don´t know what to say. " Nathan was speechless.
"Then don´t say anything (laughing). I love you Little Bro." Lucas stated laughing.
"Love you too." Nathan said hugging him.
"Deb here is your present, like Haley said I´m not that creative" Lucas stated handling her the gift.
"I should presume another dress right?" Deb asked.
"Yes." Lucas said laughing.
"Well you can never have too many dresses. Don´t tell me that the new line of dresses comes a paper ticket?." Deb said grabbing the present, unwrapping it and laughing but after seeing no dress, she asked.
"Foul you" Lucas said laughing.
"You sure did. What is this?" Deb stated and asked.
"That is a passenger ticket to a single cruise thru the Mediterranean so you can score with another single person." Lucas stated.
"Luke! that is my mother you are talking" Nathan said exasperated.
"Let her have her fun." Lucas said laughing.
Now it was the turn for the Harris Family to get their holiday present and even though that Lucas didn´t want for them to bring presents for him, they would always bring one so one in a row were exchanging presents.
The Harris family loved the gifts that Lucas gave them and Lucas loved the ones he got but Gavin got a lot of heat from the rest of the family because of his gift. He decided to give Lucas as a holiday present the balance sheet with the profits of their society when it came to the restaurant, bar and cafe.
When he look at it laugh at the idea of his mate but after taking a closer look to the sheet, he was pleased by the outcome.
After that was finish, it was time Brooke, Rachel, Jason and Lindsay to get their presents ...
"Brooke, now it´s time for you present. Here you go" Lucas said handling her a square box.
"What a big box. Oh my god, what a beautiful dress." Brooke said grabbing the present and unwrapping it.
"I bought it in red because it´s the color that best suits you." Lucas stated.
"Oh my god, did you buy me a Versace?" Brooke asked surprised.
"Yes. It´s an original Versace. I saw how you look at it this morning when we stop at a red light coming back from the charities and after all this years I think I know you and they way you look at things so I made my choffer drop us off, go back and get it for me." Lucas said laughing.
"It´s amazing. Thank you Lucas." Brooke said grateful.
"You are welcome but be careful not to drop the other gift." Lucas warned.
"Other gift?" Brooke asked.
"Yes, one that I already had before the dress." Lucas stated.
"The other gift is in here?" Brooke asked after she searched thru the box and found an envelope.
"Yes. I had to pull a few strains and influences to get it but If I can´t make it happen then no one can." Lucas said laughing.
"Oh My God. You never seize to amaze me." Brooke said opening it, reading and when she finished surprised was written in her face.
"Well thank you." Lucas said laughing.
"What did he get you?" Rachel asked.
"Rach, he got us an invite to the London Fashion Week." Brooke stated.
"As a public, great!." Rachel said assuming that.
"No Rach!. He got an invite for C.O.B to show its designs on the London Fashion Week." Brooke said pulling Rachel from her assumption.
"Oh My God. That is awesome!." Rachel said with a surprised tone of voice.
"I know!. Rach and I don´t have words to express how thankful we are of this opportunity." Brooke said mimicking Rachel´s tone of voice.
"I know but I know how hard it is to progress as a single mom. I gave you the opportunity then what you do with it, it´s your responsability." Lucas stated.
"You are right. Thanks." Brooke said.
"Jason, I also have a gift for you..." Lucas said.
"You do?" Jason asked surprised.
"Yes. Here" Lucas said handling him the present.
"It´s a contract." Jason said grabbing the present and unwrapping it.
"Yes. I know you are a photographer of models and all that stuff so I got you a contract for a photo shoot in Rome with this highly famous international model who happens to be the girlfriend of Gavin´s brother and I kinda introduce them." Lucas said laughing.
"You did that for me?" Jason asked still surprised.
"Why not?. Read the contract." Lucas said laughing and urged him to read it.
"I know who she is. I have wanted to work with her for so long but I never got picked." Jason said after reading.
"Now you are going to. The only thing that contract needs is your signature and you fax it to the number above." Lucas said laughing.
"Thanks Lucas: I don´t know what to say." Jason said thankful.
"Wait, your present doesn´t end here ... You also have two plane tickets to Rome." Lucas stated.
"Two?" Jason asked.
"Yes one for you and one for Rachel." Lucas stated once more.
"For me?" Rachel asked surprised.
"Yes for you. I owe you so much from the teen years, in fact I still owe you for cutting our rivercourt date short and other stuff." Lucas stated laughing.
"I can´t believe you still remember that." Rachel said laughing of how Lucas remembered that.
"What rivercourt date?" Jason asked.
"I will tell you later Jass." Rachel said.
"So to not owe you anymore, my gift is one week vacation before the shoot in Rome with your boyfriend, all expenses paid." Lucas stated.
"Thanks Lucas. Your debt to me is forgotten now." Rachel stated laughing.
"Ok. Last but not least, Linds here is your gift ... " Lucas said laughing and handling Lindsay a small package.
"Let´s see what it is?." Lindsay said opening the package.
"I hope you like it." Lucas said.
"I´m sure that I will... Two tickets to París?" Lindsay said seeing what was on the package and after that asked.
"Yes, two tickets to Paris. They are for the end of June." Lucas confirmed.
"Why are you giving me tickets with a 6 months of advance?" Lindsay asked.
"Because I want you to save the date with a lot of time and because Paris is the city of people in love and for the past year, you reminded me what it was to be in love, you made me laugh, you made me happy and that last part was a very difficult thing for me to feel so with that in mind ..." Lucas said kneeling with one knee on the floor and pulling a very little, delicate box from one of his pockets.
"Oh my god" Lindsey said watching what Lucas was doing.
"Would you marry me?" Lucas asked opening the little box and showing a magnificient ring.
"YES!" Lindsey said first looking at the ring then at Lucas and jumping from her seat to hug him and kiss him.
"Way to Go Lucas!." Gavin said jumping from his place in the couch.
"Shut up and sit back again." Miranda said with her voice stern.
"By the way those tickets to Paris are for our honeymoon so you have 6 months to plan the wedding. Can you do that?" Lucas said putting the ring on her finger and asked.
"Of Course." Lindsey said.
What only Rachel and Haley noted was how Brooke´s face changed to sad when she witness Lucas asking Lindsey to be his wife. She thought that one day she would have being his wife and also guessed that her best friend, godmother to her only child prediction was wrong but for the rest of the night she put a brave face and reserved her feelings to herself.
~X~X~X~X~
After Lucas did the proposal and everyone in the room congratulate both of them for it, everyone continue to do what they do best talk to one another.
But Ben kept looking at that photographic camera and to put a small on his mother face because he noted her face after the proposal. He wasn´t happy either, a part of him was telling to do something to bring back his parents together but for the other hand another voice came through saying that he should do what his aunt told him ... and that was do nothing and let the destiny work his magic.
Then he came up with an idea that it wouldn´t mean do something but it wouldn´t hurt either so he say ...
"Lucas..." Ben said.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"You bought me a photographic camera ..." Ben started.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"You told me that it was to take great pics" Ben continued.
"Yes." Lucas said.
"So I was wondering on using it." Ben finished.
"No problem the batteries are inside the camera." Lucas said laughing.
"Cool" Ben said.
"What are you planning to photograph?" Lucas asked.
"A pic of my favorite people." Ben said.
"Ok. Go ahead." Lucas encouraged him.
"Ok. Lucas Can I have a picture with you and my mom?" Ben asked.
"Yes but why me and her?" Lucas asked.
"Because you two are my favorite people." Ben explained.
"I don´t have a problem Ben, you should ask your mom about it.." Lucas said.
"Mom do you have a problem to take a pic with me and Lucas?" Ben asked.
"No. But why with the two of us?" Brooke asked.
"God! You asked the same thing as Lucas." Ben said.
"Sorry." Brooke said laughing.
"Come so we can take the pic." Ben said.
Brooke followed Ben to where Lucas was and before this last one ask anyone to take the pic Ben insisted on taking it Selfie Style with him in the middle, Lucas and Brooke on each side of him.
It took multiple times to get the right pic but it was a good thing because more time they spent together.
Once the pic was over every returned to what they were doing before the pic.
~X~X~X~X~
Haley was taking the stuff of the bed so they can go to sleep, she was taking advantage of the fact that Nathan was in the bathroom so she was so busy doing it that she didn´t hear her husband joining her in the room...
"Hales, you have the bathroom. Earth calling Haley!." Nathan said realizing that she wasn´t hearing.
"What?" Haley asked snapping back to reality.
"I said that you have the bathroom." Nathan said.
"Ok thanks, I will go there in a second." She said.
"What is wrong Hales?" Nathan asked.
"Nothing." Haley assured.
"Haley I know you like the back of my hand and I know that is something bothering you." Nathan stated.
"Nonsense." She said.
"Haley ... Don´t make me ask again ..." Nathan said firmly.
"Ok ok. There is something bothering me and upsetting me." Haley finally confessed.
"What is it? The sooner you tell me, the sooner we can go to sleep." Nathan asked.
"I´m mad at Lucas for what he did tonight" Haley said.
"Ok but you will have to be more specific." He said laughing a bit.
"I´m mad at him for the proposal." Haley stated.
"Ok let me get my head straight... you are mad at him for proposing to Lindsey right?" Nathan asked.
"Yes ... and No." Haley said.
"Hales, you are driving me crazy here. Is it yes and no?" Nathan asked.
"Sorry honey but it is both." Haley said.
"Don´t you like Lindsey?. I thought it was a very pleasant person." Nathan asked and said.
"Yes, I like her too. I think the same thing and it clearly makes Lucas happy." Haley said.
"So let see, explain yourself so I can understand you." Nathan said.
"Ok. I´m not mad for the fact that he proposed to Lindsey because like I said before Lindsey makes him happy, you can see that and all I want for him to be happy again and leave that darker Lucas behind.
Whether she is his true love, I don´t know but I want him to be his old self again broody at times but mostly a happy person." Haley explained.
"Alright so why are you angry at the proposal?" Nathan asked again.
"I´m angry because of the way he did it." Haley said.
"You are angry because he did it in front of us." Nathan tried to understand.
"It was not the place or the time." Haley said angry.
"I think it was the time and place. What better way to propose that in front of
your family?." Nathan said and asked.
"Ahhhhhh all men are the same. Don´t understand a thing." Haley protested.
"I´m trying to understand you Hales but you are not making it any easier." Nathan said.
"Think Nathan, Think!" Haley said irritated.
"What do you want me to think?" Nathan asked.
"We were not alone in there." Haley said.
"Of course, we were not alone. The Harris family was there, Ben, Rachel, Jason and Brooke..." Nathan started but then getting to what his wife was trying to say.
"Finally!." Haley said.
"So you are angry at Luke for proposing to another woman in front of Brooke." Nathan finally realizing why Haley was so upset.
"Yes. Brooke still loves Lucas. Didn´t you see her face while he was doing it?" Haley said and asked.
"Actually no." Nathan stated.
"She was sad." Haley said.
"I didn´t really noted." He said.
"You guys don´t notice anything." Haley said laughing just a bit.
"When it comes to things like that, we don´t." Nathan stated.
"Lucas is just so stupid sometimes that I want to punch him in the face for being so freaking dumb!." Haley stated.
"Yes, Lucas can be one dumb brother when he doesn´t paid attention." Nathan agreed laughing a bit.
"Trust me I know him way more than you and he is dumb when it comes to things of love." Haley said.
"Leave him alone and let´s go to sleep." Nathan said.
"We better because we can´t make him smarter." Haley said laughing.
"I will try to approach the subject with sensibility." Nathan said,
"Do not tell him that Brooke still loves him because that is what I think, I don´t
have confirmation about it." Haley said.
"Don´t worry I´m not as dumb as my brother." Nathan said.
"Well that is questionable." Haley said laughing.
"Come here, Mrs know it all." Nathan said laughing and hugging Haley.
~X~X~X~X~
Everyone retired to their bedroom after they opened the presents and talked a bit more but Lucas decided to stay in his office to do some working, he was fond doing that when the house was quiet.
He stayed there for about 2 hour when he decided it was time to go to bed, so he stepped out of the room and saw the front door open, he peered out the door and saw Brooke was there looking at the sky without a coat on so he grabs one coat from the rack and comes out the door ...
"What are you doing in here Brooke?" Lucas asked.
"Nothing, just looking at the sky." Brooke said.
"It´s way too cold in here to be without any coat." Lucas said.
"I´m not cold, like I said I was just looking at the sky." Brooke said once more.
"I have to confess that I come here from time to time to look at the sky too. What
do you think it´s in it?" Lucas said and asked.
"Nothing and everything don´t you think?" She said and asked.
"Great answer. The typical Brooke Davis answer." Lucas said laughing.
"I´m not joking." Brooke stated.
"I know. Want to know something?" He said and asked.
"Yes. " Brooke said.
"I picked this place not only for how big it is but for this front entrance." He confessed.
"Yes it´s the best place to gaze at the stars." Brooke said.
"I knew that one night when I came here after I saw it for the first time." Lucas said.
"Always a broody even with real estates." Brooke stated.
"Yeah you can say that. Gavin insisted a lot on me buying this house but I wasn´t sure so one night I came and that sealed the deal." Lucas said laughing.
"I´m going to ask a silly question but was it expensive?" Brooke asked.
"Well for me who had just crossed the 2 million mark no but for the common english people yes." Lucas stated.
"Ok. It looks expensive." Brooke said.
"I spent a lot of time here, gazing at the stars, thinking, specially those first years." Lucas said.
"Thinking?" Brooke asked.
"Yes Thinking. If my memory serves me well which it hasn´t lately, I own this house for the past 9 years and spent probably 85% of my time in this place, at night with a whisky on my hand, thinking." Lucas stated.
"About?" Brooke asked again.
"About Life, stars, books, uncle Keith and I´m pretty sure you were not just staring at the stars." Lucas confessed.
"You got me. What do you think I was doing?" Brooke asked.
"Thinking." Lucas stated.
"About?" Brooke asked once more.
"I don´t know that something for you to tell me." Lucas said.
"What if I don´t want to?" Brooke asked.
"I know you Brooke. I know you want to tell me." Lucas said.
"How do you know?" Brooke asked.
"I know because in your eyes a sudden light starts to tinkle and you are trying to be cute which you are very good at it." Lucas confessed reading her like a book.
"Damn you Lucas Scott!, you know me too well." Brooke said a bit irritated that he knew her so well.
"The perks of being the ex so are you going to tell what you were thinking?" Lucas said laughing just a bit and asked.
"I was thinking about the what if..." Brooke now confessed.
"Ahhh the big question! and specially about what..." Lucas said.
"Life, what if I made different choices..." Brooke once more confessed.
"Ah the most popular what if..." Lucas stated.
"Really?." Brooke asked.
"Like someone would say being there, done that." Lucas said.
"You?" Brooke asked once more.
"Yes, most of that 85% I told you about was thinking of the what if. Heck my whole career was launched on a what if presumption." Lucas confessed.
"How?" Brooke asked again.
"We are going to embark in a serious talk, are you ready for it?" Lucas asked serious.
"How serious?" Brooke asked curious.
"Serious as the past." Lucas stated.
"Ok." Brooke agreed.
"I´m ready too. I told you that my career was practically launched of a what if presumption because even though An Unkindness of Ravens pretty much tell our story and by that I mean not only our daily life but our romance. In the middle of it the book takes turn and it gets a happy ending.
Only Gavin knows that the half of the book in question are my what if of our relationship." Lucas started opening his heart and confessing things from the past that he didn´t tell a soul.
"Gavin knows about us?" Brooke asked shocked by the revelation.
"Gavin knows my inner most secret thoughts and desire. He is probably the reason I am what I am, this famous writer that you see in front of you.
The thing is that when I got here, I was in a really bad shape, you were the only thing in my mind, day and night, I´m not ashamed to say that cried myself to sleep thinking of you, missing you. Thinking what went so wrong and I shared a room with him.
My heart ached so bad that I thought that a heart attack would kill me, my mind kept thinking of what if I just stayed with you the day of the school shooting like you asked me that way I wouldn´t have kissed Peyton and Uncle Keith would still be alive, we could be together for eternity.
Other of my what if were what would have happened if I just came clean with the kiss the second it occurred, or If I wasn´t fixated at first with Peyton, would you and me had the same kind of story of my brother with Haley?." Lucas continued to open his heart and confessed what he went thru.
"You really thought that?" Brooke asked once more now with watery eyes.
"Yes I did but there is more to it..." Lucas said.
"More?" Brooke asked.
"More. I also blamed myself for that stupid hero complex I had and still have a bit, but I toned down a lot. Me always trying to save Peyton that made realized that I neglected you so that also made me think what if I spent less time with her and more with you, would our history be different?.
One day Gavin got tired of seeing me suffer and started taking me party with him. Let´s just say that he told me that I´m an emotional drunk." Lucas said.
"Emotional drunk? Is that what I think it is?" Brooke asked once again shocked by the revelation.
"Yes. I got drunk and started to ask for you and that is not a chick magnet. I found in the alcohol the much needed painkiller to spend the rest of my existence without you but one day Gavin read my inner thoughts in my computer while I was sleeping ..." Lucas said laughing a bit.
"I can´t believe he did that." Brooke said.
"He did. Like I said he read them while I was sleeping and when I woke up he urged me to convert them into a book. I was not a happy camper when I realized he did that, in fact I gave him a good punch and a pretty good black eye.
After I finish the university, I stopped getting wasted and concentrate myself of writing our love story if you want to call it that way. I was many years stuck in the past and the what if but once I decided to move forward, I met Lindsay and I´m happy.
So what are your what if?" Lucas finished laughing just a bit and asked.
"After hearing your story, I just want to say I´m sorry for all the hurt I provoked without meaning too." Brooke gave him a heartfelt apology.
"Don´t be Brooke. I hurted you more then what you did to me plus we had an amazing love story, one that I´m grateful to have had even with all the pain and hurt because that meant it was real." Lucas stated.
"Who is this new Lucas Scott?. You have grown so much. I´m proud of you." Brooke said.
"Thanks. That happens when you live abroad for so many years and have a friend who makes you get the perspective of life and love." Lucas said.
"Gavin is a good guy right?" Brooke asked.
"He is the best. He once told me that you will never forget your first love. Are you cold?" Lucas stated and he realized that Brooke was shivering slighty so he asked.
"Just bit." Brooke said.
"Come here." Luca said approaching to her and putting her a coat on her shoulders and hugging her so she can warm up.
What they didn´t realize is that this scene was being seeing by Lindsey who came out of their room to look for Lucas and saw the door open, she stood there a couple of minutes watching their interaction and body language then returned to her room.
"Why don´t we go inside to the kitchen, have a cocoa and you can tell me your what if?" Lucas asked.
"Ok. You can make cocoa?" Brooke asked.
"No, but my cook makes a mean one." Lucas said laughing.
Minutes later they were sitting in the kitchen with a cup full of hot cocoa, the room was quiet since all the staff have gone to sleep so Lucas said...
"We have our cocoa, the room is empty and quiet so Brooke why don´t you tell your what if´s." Lucas said.
"What I was thinking about outside or my what if were many." Brooke said
"Ok. Start with one ..." Lucas said sipping his cocoa.
"One of my what if is about Ben´s conception." Brooke said.
"You wanted to abort him?" Lucas asked surprised.
"NO!, I would never abort him, I love him. He is my greatest gift." Brooke practically shouted.
"So?" Lucas asked.
"What if I waited a couple of years or took care of myself better... because it was hard to raise him being so young and with no family support." Brooke said.
"I understand but you did remarkable well even being so young." Lucas stated.
"Another what if is about Ben´s father ..." Brooke said looking at Lucas.
"What about it?" Lucas asked.
"What if I just told him the true that I was expecting Ben, maybe my life and his would be better and he would have had his father with him." Brooke confessed.
"Yes, you could have had done that different but you still have time to change that. " Lucas said.
"How?" Brooke asked.
"You can track him down and tell him the true." Lucas said.
"I know where he is." Brooke confessed looking directly at him.
"So go and tell him when you get back." Lucas said encouraging her.
"I´m afraid." Brooke said.
"Afraid of what?" Lucas asked.
"Of his reactions it´s being so long." Brooke said.
"Yes it´s being so long but it´s better then never and yes he will probably be mad, it´s not like you hid money from him, you hid a child so if he not get mad just a bit, he is not human. What else?" Lucas stated laughed a bit and then asked.
"Another what if of me is the way I raised him..." Brooke said.
"What about that?" Lucas asked.
"I feel like I didn´t spend too much time with him." Brooke said.
"Ok. After you finished high school, you started working in Victoria Secret if I recall exactly, am I making a mistake?" Lucas asked.
"No but don´t forget that I also study in the nights." Brooke said.
"Ok. Did your job have nursery or something like that?" Lucas asked.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"Did you take him every day there?" Lucas asked again.
"When he was not sick yes and my boss was so good that most of the time he was in my office." Brooke stated.
"And when he was sick what did you do?" Lucas asked once more.
"I stayed home watching him and worked in the house." Brooke said.
"So you had it with you all the time but you had to work to support him. A kid doesn´t feed with air and goodwill, it´s with money and food.
At night, did you take him to the university?" Lucas said and asked.
"No, Rachel was with him." Brooke said.
"When you started you company?" Lucas asked again.
"When I started C/B he started kindergarten so he went to school in the morning and in the afternoon Rachel picked him up and brought him to the small office, he stayed with me all afternoon until he started to be an adolescent." Brooke said.
"Don´t worry Brooke, you did a great job. If you haven´t done what you did you will probably be broke living under a bridge or struggling to reach the end of the month." Lucas assured her.
"Yeah probably." Brooke said.
"You raised him fantastically well. He is such a great kid." Lucas once again assured her.
"My last concern and what if is the fact that sometimes I feel I work too much so I think what if I work less." Brooke said.
"You are in Tree Hill and still work that much?" Lucas asked.
"The reason I move to Tree Hill is too work less among other things but sometimes I feel that they are days that I work too much." Brooke said.
"The only way to placate that what if is selling the company and live with the money you have." Lucas said.
"But you have way more business than me and you seem to work less." Brooke said.
"Well thank you. I have business yes but Gavin is my partner in those so I delegate to him the managing of it and he also takes care of my inversions so my only worry is to put my butt into that office chair and pull another book from my mind. That can be exhausting sometimes." Lucas said laughing.
"You say I should delegate control of the store?." Brooke asked.
"I say that maybe the control of store can be in the hands of your asistents and you can manage design and talk with headquarters." Lucas explained.
"That is a good idea, I will think about." Brooke said.
"It´s getting late and we should both go to sleep ..." Lucas said looking at his watch.
"Yes, it´s getting late and I promise the kids and Naley that I will go with them on a shopping spree." Brooke said getting off the chair.
"What I want for you to know before you go... is that I spent years fixating on the what if´s but I realized that it didn´t take me anywhere. What happened to us, our decisions, our failed lovestory made us who we are, some people are bad, some are good but in the end everything that happened enriched our person and gave us baggage to maybe contemplate life in a different way or have more than one point of view about something.
Consider that." Lucas heartfelt said grabbing her wrist and preventing from fully getting out of the chair.
"I will. Thank Lucas." Brooke said.
"You are welcome. I want to thank you too for being so open about your fears, I know that you don´t like to be seeing as vulnerable." Lucas said and thanked Brooke for opening her heart too.
"I should go." Brooke said.
"I will walk you to your room." Lucas offered.
"It´s not necesary." Brooke said.
"I know but I want too." Lucas stated.
They left two empty mugs on the kitchen counter and left the room.
~X~X~X~X~
The first thing that Rachel did when she woke up that morning was to rush to Brooke´s room...
"Good Morning Brookie..." Rachel said entering the room.
"Rach! What time is it?" Brooke said opening her eyes.
"It´s 9 am." Rachel said.
"Let me sleep. I went to bed late yesterday." Brooke said.
"I know, that is why I´m here." Rachel stated while laughing.
"Wait, what do you know?" Brooke asked thinking.
"I know that I heard your door very late and I know that when I went to bed the only two people who were still around the house were you and Lucas." Rachel said sitting next to her in bed.
"Great power of deduction Rach!" Brooke said laughing.
"I know. So spill the beans." Rachel said laughing too.
"I was out looking at the sky and thinking..." She said.
"Thinking about the what if?" Rachel asked.
"Yes. After that shocking news." Brooke said.
"Yeah, what is up with that? He did a very douchey thing and I notice that it didn´t sit well with you or Ben." She asked and said.
"You notice?" Brooke asked.
"I know you for almost 20 years. In fact I think Lucas even though sometimes he acts like a freaking dork, Karen, Haley and I know you like the back of our hands." Rachel said.
"Well like I said I was looking at the stars thinking and suddenly Lucas showed up and we started talking." She said.
"About?" Rachel asked.
"About how he picked this house because it has a great front entrance to gaze at
the stars and I joked with him about he is even broody to pick real estates." Brooke told her.
"What did he said?" She asked laughing.
"That I was right." Brooke said laughing.
"What more?" Rachel asked wanting to know more.
"That in the first years living here, 85% of the time he spent it here thinking." Brooke continued telling her.
"Which one is the broody one, you or him?" Rachel asked laughing again.
"Definitely him." Brooke stated laughing too.
"Did he tell you what he was thinking?" Rachel asked more.
"Yes, about life, stars, books and his Uncle Keith." Brooke said.
"Lilly´s father right?" She asked again.
"Yes." Brooke stated.
"What else?" Rachel questioned her once more.
"I was surprised that he still knows me so well. He knew by just looking into my eyes and see how I behave to know that I wanted to say something." Brooke said still the surprise in her voice.
"Did he?" She asked again laughing a bit.
"Yes, he knows about the tinkle in my eyes and me trying to be cute." Brooke said.
"Yes, he knows you." Rachel said laughing.
"I told him that I was thinking about the what if and my life and he said that they were the most popular what if." Brooke told her.
"Really?" Rachel asked surprised.
"I asked him the same and he said yes, he also said that he thought about the what if in his life. He assured me that his career was launched on a what if presumption." Brooke continue telling her.
"How is that?" Rachel once again asked.
"Again, I asked him the same and he asked if me I was ready to have a serious talk about the past." Brooke said.
"Serious talk about the past? How serious?" Rachel asked now curious.
"My thoughts exactly and he said and I quote "Serious as the past". Brooke stated.
"Leaving the Ben part apart that would be a long 17 years overdue talk." Rachel said.
"Yeah..." Brooke said.
"Now I´m more curious." Rachel said.
"When he told me what I´m about to tell you, I was surprised and emotional." Brooke confessed.
"Oh boy, that is not pretty." Rachel said.
"Yes." Brooke stated.
"Tell me already." Rachel said impatient.
"He basically told me that An Unkindness of Ravens is not only a story about our life but also the story of our love and how in the middle of the book the story turns towards a happy ending for us." Brooke started.
"Then that book is a love letter to you." Rachel said surprised.
"I think." Brooke said.
"You think? Brookie, I´m positive about it. Hell I wish Jason would make a gesture to me like that, it´s like the biggest I love you I know." Rachel stated.
"But it doesn´t end there, he also told me that the only person who knows that is Gavin." Brooke confessed.
"Gavin... Gavin... Ahhhh the british dude that came with the family that Lucas invited." Rachel said trying to remember him.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"I know who he is now. I think we could both sit and talk about your relationship" Rachel said laughing.
"Don´t you dare Rach!." Brooke said with a menacing tone of voice.
"Relax, I was joking." Rachel said easying the atmosphere.
"He also told me how when he got here, the only thing in his mind was me, that he went to bed crying because he missed me, thinking what went wrong between us.
He even thought that all the pain would cause him a heart attack so he started to talk to me about his what if." Brooke continued telling Rachel.
"If we had arrived an hour earlier to that airport this wouldn´t had happened." Rachel said.
"It´s not your fault Rach, It´s mine back then and now." Brooke said.
"What were his what if?" Rachel asked.
"His what if were about the day of the school shooting... about what if he had stayed with me like I asked him that way Uncle Keith wouldn´t be death, he wouldn´t have kissed Peyton and we would be together forever." Brooke told her.
"Don´t remind me about that episode." Rachel said guilt written on her face.
"He also thought back then that what if he came clean about the kiss the second it occurred, or if he wasn´t fixated with Peyton at first would our love story be different and be the second Naley?" Brooke continued.
"I don´t picture you as a Naley." Rachel confessed.
"I know." Brooke recognized.
"So you were talking heavy stuff." Rachel said.
"Yes " Brooke stated.
"Did he tell you anything more?" Rachel asked still a bit curious.
"Yes, he blamed himself for his her complex and that he realized that he neglected me and another of his what if were what would had happened if he spent more time with me, would our relationship be different.
He also told me he is an emotional drunk." Brooke said.
"Wait !, What?" Rachel asked, shock written in all her face.
"Yes like you heard. Back then he found in the alcohol the much needed painkiller and when he got drunk, he started asking for me, talking about me." Brooke said.
"Woooowwwww, I´m surprised. I never thought he would go for the drink." Rachel confessed.
"Me neither. He finished telling me that he lived stucked in the past and the what if but when he decided to move forward, he found Lindsay and he is happy." She too confessed.
"Two things... one, Brookie you did a serious number on this kid..." Rachel started.
"I know. When I finished hearing what he had to say to me, I told him that I was sorry for all the hurt that I provoked without meaning too." Brooke said feeling guilty.
"What did he say?" Rachel asked.
"He said that I shouldn´t feel like that because he hurted me more than what I did to him and that we had an amazing love story, one that he was grateful to have even with all the pain and hurt because it meant it was real." Brooke told her.
"Ahhhhh" Rachel almost yelled surprised by the response.
"I was so surprised by his response that I asked him who was this new Lucas Scott? . I told him that he would grown so much, that I was proud of him.
Rach, I´m so surprised of how he opened his heart to me, he told me everything and was so honest with what he felt back then. I wish this was the Lucas when we had 17 years old." Brooke confessed and admitted.
"I see. You fell in love with him more after that talk right?" Rachel asked sure of what she will answer.
"Honestly?" Brooke asked.
"Honestly." Rachel said.
"Yes." Brooke admitted.
"I could see that. You have a light in your eyes when you talk about him or look at him." Rachel stated.
"I do?" Brooke asked not knowing she did that.
"Yes." Rachel assured her.
"So what was the second thing you wanted to tell me?" Brooke asked once more.
"Ahhh yes... he is a douche or a moron, I´m leaning toward the second one." Rachel said.
"Why?" Brooke asked.
"How is the world is he going to tell you that he is happy. You never tell your ex- girlfriend that you are happy with your new girlfriend unless that ex is like 3 or 4 steps behind the actual one ." Rachel said aggravated.
"I never heard of that rule." Brooke said laughing.
"That rule is commom knowledge. I won´t tell Jason that I screw with half of the male model in freaking Victoria Secret and if you push me a bit I would say it´s common courtesy." Rachel said continuing to be aggravated.
"Ok. Good to know that this rule exists." Brooke said laughing.
"Did he tell you something more?" Rachel asked trying to calm down.
"No, but he asked me my what if and he also realized that I was getting chilly so we move our conversation to the kitchen with a cup of hot cocoa but before doing that he put a coat on my shoulders and hugged me so I could warm up." Brooke confessed.
"He hugged you?" Rachel asked surprised.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"What did you feel?" Rachel asked once more.
"I felt intoxicated by his scent, I felt safe and at home. Silly right?" Brooke acknowledge.
"Not at all." Rachel stated.
"I told him my what if about work and the upbringing of Ben, he gave me his opinion..." Brooke said.
"Ok" Rachel said.
"And I also told him my what if about Ben´s father..." Brooke like it was nothing.
"Did you tell him the true? Wait do not answer that because if you did this house would not be so quiet this morning." Rachel first asked but then she answered herself.
"I expressed my what if I told Ben´s father about the fact that he was coming, maybe his life and me would have being different." Brooke said.
"You said that to him?" Rachel asked.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"What was his response?" Rachel asked once more.
"He said that yes, I could have had done that different but that I still have time
to change it, by track him down and tell him the true." Brooke said.
"If he only knew." Rachel said.
"I told him that I knew where he was." Brooke said.
"And his response was?" Rachel asked eager to know the answer.
"That when I get back, I should go and tell him. I told him that I was afraid, he asked me of what and I told him of his reaction because it´s being so long." Brooke said.
"What did he say to that?" Rachel asked once again.
"He said that yes it´s being so long but it´s better than never and that he will be probably mad, it´s not like you hid money from him, you hid a child so if he is not mad just a bit, he is not human." Brooke told her.
"Great answer!. So now you know how he will react when you say Lucas... Ben is your son." Rachel said laughing.
"I know but I´m still afraid." Brooke stated.
"Brooke, you can´t postpone this forever because the more time that passes the worst it is." Rachel stated.
"I know." Brooke said defeated.
"What will you say? Hi Lucas, This is Ben your son and these are your grandsons." Rachel told her.
"No Rach!." Brooke answered irritated.
"Then grab some courage and do it." Rachel encouraged her.
"I know." Brooke said.
"Did you finish the chat there?" Rachel asked again.
"He told me one last thing..." Brooke said.
"What?" Rachel continued asking.
"He grabbed my wrist and told me that fixate of the what if doesn´t take you anywhere. What happened to us, our decisions, our failed lovestory made us who we are, some people are bad, some are good but in the end everything that happened enriched our person and gave us baggage to maybe contemplate life in a different way or have more than one point of view about something. Consider that." Brooke told her.
"Wowwwwww that is very profound and true in a way. " Rachel said surprised.
"Yes." Brooke said.
"Wait, did I heard correctly? He used the term our failed lovestory right?" Rachel asked one last time.
"Right." Brooke stated.
"Woowwww." Rachel said surprised once more.
In that moment they heard a knock on the door and Brooke told the person who was behind of it to come in.
~X~X~X~X~
Ben stood up in front of Brooke´s room in Lucas mansion, he knocked the door and waited for her mom to give him permission to come in.
When that happened, he walked into the room and found his mother and his aunt Rachel talking sitting in the bed one in front of the other.
"Hi Aunt Rachel" Ben greeted her.
"Hey Ben" Rachel greeted him too.
"Can I talk to my mom alone please?" Ben asked.
"Of course. See you later Brookie." Rachel answered.
"Bye Rachel." Brooke said.
"Hey mom." Ben said.
"Hey back at you son." Brooke said laughing,
"I wanted to talk to you." Ben said laughing a bit too.
"Ok. About what?" Brooke asked.
"About Dad." ben stated.
"What about that?" Brooke asked again.
"I was thinking since all the party involved are in the same place at the same time, it would be wise to seize the moment and opportunity to come clean about your secret.
Scratch that, Mom I´m asking you to do that." Ben said with a tone of urgency in his voice.
"I don´t know Ben." Brooke said doubtful.
"What you don´t know?" Ben said trying to be quiet and not raise his voice.
"I´m not sure !" Brooke said.
"Sure of what?" Ben asked getting aggravated.
"I´m not sure if it´s the right time or place." Brooke confessed.
"It´s the right time and place. It´s Christmas." Ben assured her.
"That is what I was talking about." Brooke said.
"I will be his Christmas present." Ben stated.
"I´m afraid." Brooke confessed.
"Of course you are afraid, you kept this secret for as long as I´m living" Ben stated getting more aggravated at every second that passed.
"I´m not ready yet." Brooke stated.
"I don´t give a fuck if you are ready or not. Please mom tell him." Ben said trying to not yell.
"I don´t want to ruin his holidays..." Brooke said.
"Ohhhh you don´t want to ruin his holidays but you didn´t have a problem ruining my life and ruining Lucas´s life by not telling him I´m his son." Ben said still angry and not holding back the yelling anymore.
"Shushhhh, someone can hear you." Brooke said quiet him down.
"I can´t deal with you right now." Ben said angry, storming out of the room.
What Brooke and Ben didn´t know was that minutes before this last one stormed out of the door, Lindsey passed in front of Brooke´s door and accidently heard that Ben was Lucas´s son. She stayed there for a few seconds to see if she heard more about it but when she realized that someone was about to leave the room, she fled back to her room, shocked by the revelation.