"Happy birthday, Daddy!" I whispered in Lucas' ear early in the morning to wake him up. I felt Lucas' lips curl into a smile at that. It was early in the morning and I really wanted to do something special for him. He had been through enough, and he was genuinely such a good friend to me, I felt like he deserved some extra love on his special day.
Lucas stirred from his bed to see all of his friends standing there and his mother holding a cupcake for him. "Hey guys!" he said, smiling at all of us. "Thank you so much for this."
"Thank Brooke. She is the one who got us all out of bed at this ridiculous hour!" Peyton complained.
"Yeah, I mean I don't get how anybody can be a morning person but he is. I am half surprised that he actually is in bed and not at the River Court right now. Thank God these kids are night bugs," I replied.
"You say that right now. You're going to want to pull out your hair once they are born and crying all night," Karen told me. I just gave her a miserable look, not knowing what to say to that.
"Make a birthday wish," I said instead, lighting the single candle on the cupcake. He looked towards me and smiled before closing his eyes and blowing out the candle. It made my heart flutter, because I knew that his wish was for our kids to be healthy and happy. I could tell.
Karen made all of us breakfast and we ended up going to school together, Lucas driving me today instead of Peyton. The day was going as usual except for the fact that there was a surprise party planned for Lucas.
Karen and Deb were in the process of expanding. They were going to open a nightclub and Peyton was employed to provide the live music, even though we weren't allowed in the bar when it was going to be up and running. She had come up with the name Tric for it. The renovations had been completed and they were just waiting on the final approvals of their liquor licence to come through before the grand opening. The space was the perfect setting for a party so from the mind of Brooke Davis and supervision from Haley and Peyton, we had pulled off planning a surprise party for him complete with food, courtesy of Karen's cafe, a get your own fake ID booth, 7 minutes in the elevator and silly string to surprise him with. Nathan was in charge of getting him to the party and everything was set.
The boys from the River Court, the guys from his team, all their friends and girlfriends, everybody was involved to make this special for him.
"So what do you want to do tonight, for your birthday?" I asked him, raising my eyebrow quizzically to check whether he had any idea about our plans.
"I don't know, dinner at the cafe with mom and maybe you?" he asked me. "Oh and Nathan wanted to go to the River Court for a match so I'll do that with him."
"Sounds like a plan," I smiled. "Oh also, I got you a present."
"Oh Brooke, you shouldn't have," he said, but smiled while taking the little box from my hand. It was a necklace with a cuboid bar which I had personalised. The sides read Broody, Squirt, Princess and Pretty Girl each.
"Oh my God Brooke. This is just, thank you," he said. "Yeah, I mean we never discussed names. So all I had to go with was our nicknames," I laughed. "They are going to hate you for those names, especially Squirt."
"See, you just called him Squirt yourself! Admit it, it is the most fitting nickname," he smirked, knowing that he had just won that bout.
"Okay fine, but can we please come up with real names soon?" I asked him.
"How about post dinner tonight? We can take the day to make our lists and then compare them at night," he suggested. My head immediately went to the elevator list game I had planned, to compare names but I had no choice but to agree, despite knowing that the night would not entail baby name I simply nodded my head in agreement.
"Shall we get you to Biology?" he asked me, clearing our table and helping me up.
"Yeah, lets go, or you will be fired by Mr. Mitchell for being late to Math again," I answered.
Class was going on boring as usual until I felt a little uneasy, almost like a cramp. I ignored it until I felt uneasy. I shot my hand up asking for permission to go to the bathroom. He nodded for me to grab a hall pass as I scurried over to the girl's bathroom.
The sight that I was met with made me gasp as I sat on the floor with my back to the bathroom stall, afraid and crying. I pulled out my phone to call Lucas.
"Brooke, what's wrong?" he asked me. I could hear Mr. Mitchell screaming at Lucas in the back about him having his phone on during class and having the audacity to pick it up but Lucas knew that I wouldn't call unless something serious was afoot.
"Lucas! Help!" That was all I managed to get out before breaking down.
"Brooke, where are you? Are you in class?" he asked, his voice getting huskier as his throat was beginning to close up due to fear.
"Girl's bathroom on the second floor. Please hurry, I am afraid that I am losing them," I cried.
"Somebody call 911!" I heard him yell before the phone call ended.
"Brooke!" I heard him yell out, not even a minute later.
It was difficult to move, but I somehow managed to unlock the stall to the bathroom. He pushed open the door and gasped at the sight. I was wearing a maternity dress so I was completely covered, yet there was no denying it. I was bleeding. There were red stains at the bottom of my pale blue dress and my panties were blood soaked and strewn on the floor.
"It's going to be okay. We will get you to the hospital. You are going to be just fine," he said to me as he picked me up from the bathroom floor. I was in his arms, bridal style as I continued to cry, trying so hard to block out every thought out of my head. He began to carry me out of the school. School network was fast, by then everybody was peering at us from their classrooms. We heard the sounds of the ambulance outside as the paramedics met us in the hallway. Lucas handed me over to them who placed me on a gurney.
"How far is she?" they asked Lucas who was just so frazzled and in deep shock himself.
"Six months. She is carrying twins," he said after a moment of silence.
"Are you the father?" they asked him as they began to push me out of school and into the ambulance.
"Yeah," he stuttered.
"Okay, you can ride with us, come on let's hurry!" they said before closing the doors and riding to the hospital. I heard them say some medical terms as we began the ride.
"Ma'am, just relax, you will be fine," they said to me as they put on my mask and gave me something to control the bleeding.
"Lucas?" I yelled, right before they put the mask on.
"I'm right here," he said, clutching my hand tightly.
We rolled out to the hospital in record time and had a team of doctors waiting outside the emergency gates. They took me in immediately and my OB was called.
"Okay Brooke, the medicines have controlled the bleeding and you don't seem to be having a miscarriage but something is wrong. We are going to have to do a Transvaginal ultrasound to check everything, okay?" Dr. Crawfords said to me after the initial twenty minutes which were used to control the blood flow.
I nodded my head as he put the probe in. After what felt like a decade, he finally pulled out and looked at me.
"Okay good news is that the twins are perfectly fine and healthy. The bad news is that you have developed a condition which is called cervical insufficiency. An incompetent cervix, also called a cervical insufficiency, occurs when weak cervical tissue causes or contributes to premature birth or the loss of an otherwise healthy pregnancy. Had there been just one baby, I would have done a procedure called a cerclage where I would sew a stitch around the weakened cervix to make it stronger. However, we cannot do that with Twin pregnancies. I'm sorry, but there were lacerations in your cervix. That is what caused heavy bleeding instead of light. I am going to put you on Progesterone supplementation and strict bed rest. I am so sorry, but that is all I can do. SInce it was twins, it was anyway going to be difficult to get you to carry to term, especially given your age. This just confirms that the kids are going to be born prematurely. The bed rest will only give you more time but neither of these are stop gap measures. If you have any questions, I will come by to check on you in a little while and you can ask anything you two may want to know," the doctor said and left the room for us to collect our thoughts.
"Lucas, you need to watch her like a hawk. Complete bed rest. This can be fatal for the twins, I am so sorry. There is no sugar coating the matter. We are giving her medicines to take care, and the results and trials indicate positive results so the chances of her miscarrying seem very unlikely. Yet, I cannot guarantee it. The babies will be born prematurely which can lead to so many complications such as underdeveloped organs or organ failure, death. As long as you keep her non-stressed and happy, everything should be fine," he whispered to Lucas who stood there like a doorpost, trying to retain all this info but failing miserably.
"Doc, she has been everything but non-stressed and happy since she found out about being pregnant. I never should have been on her feet or worked that hard," he whispered back to the doctor thinking that I could not hear him since I was so busy staring at my stomach and crying. Yet, I could.
"I'm incompetent even here. I can't even be competent to have a functional body to carry your children," I cried to him.
Lucas got into the bed with me, "Shh, you're supposed to relax now. Just calm down. Shh." He continued to soothe me until my breath had evened out. I knew he wanted to break down as well and cry as well and feel the pain and anxiety that I was feeling as well. Yet, he was putting up a strong front. He had to be strong for me. I saw him looking at me like a small, fragile lamp. He rubbed my back and kissed my forehead.
"Brooke Davis is a fighter. She is a warrior. She is fierce and brave and she loves with her whole heart. She truly cares so deeply, she baffles me every moment. She got this itch in the path because she is a fighter and God knows she can get through this because she is strong and she can handle anything," he whispered to me which instantly made my eyes close and my heart flutter. Pretty Girl, let me be there for you. Let me help you. Please, Brooke, for our babies. The Rugrats whom you and I both love so much already."
I turned around to him and before he or I could think, I just kissed him deeply on the lips. Our tears mixed as we continued kissing deeply. His eyes grew wide for a moment, but he reciprocated soon enough as his tongue licked my lips asking for entrance which I granted.
"Brooke?" he asked, breaking us apart. I on the other hand just wasn't having it as I reattached my lips to his.
"Pretty Girl!" Lucas said as he pushed me back again.
"What, don't you want this?" I asked him.
"More than anything. But…" he tried to come up with words but his brain was probably just as fogged up as mine.
"I need to forget Lucas! I just need to stop thinking and this was the best way that I could do that," I answered but I was not meeting his eyes.
"And?" he coaxed, knowing my tells.
"And I just want you to take care of me, okay? I mean you do take care of me and you have. I just want emotional support too. I always wanted it but I kept telling myself that I could not have it because losing it hurts so much. Yet, right now, I just cannot do this. I cannot deal with this. I love you and I want you and I want to forget. I want to feel! I want to feel anything but this numbness that fear brings to me. So can you just shut up and make me feel?" I answered truthfully.
"Okay, so I'm going to do another check up and if everything is fine now, I will discharge you home. You need to come in here for a check up every week now and Lucas, you get her here at the slightest cramp or sign of blood. Do you have any questions?" Dr. Crawfords asked as he began his examination.
"Okay," I squeaked. "But school?"
"I'm sorry but I need you to only make trips to go to the bathroom. No activities. We want them in there as long as possible. Eat healthy and regularly and don't forget to take the medicines I prescribed," he instructed yet again.
He gave us the okay to be discharged. My dress was bloodied and my panties were still probably lying on the school bathroom floor so Lucas had to run to Peyton's to get me some fresh clothes. When he came back, Lucas wheeled me out on a wheelchair. It was dark by then. "Shit Lucas!" I yelled as soon as we reached outside.
"What! Should I call Dr. Crawfords?" he asked, turning the wheelchair around to enter the hospital again.
"No! I'm fine," I laughed. "It's just, well… we had planned a Surprise Party for you at Tric or where Tric is going to be in a week. Everyone from school was coming and Nathan was supposed to get you there. It's your birthday!"
"Oh God, stop giving me heart attacks, woman! I don't care about a stupid party. My greatest gift is that the three of you are okay," he said as he began to wheel me back to the car.
"You have to go! I put way too much effort planning it!" I laughed. "Peyton and Tutor Girl deserve credit too. They did all the heavy lifting. I was in charge of ideation."
Lucas drove me to the beach house instead of Peyton's. "Listen, you're moving in with us. I texted mom about it and it was she who told me to get you straight over. She said she is going to personally care for you till the children arrive," he said, carrying me out of the car and into the house.
"Wh-what about my stuff? I- uhh," I tried to argue but I didn't have much. Frankly, it felt good to know that in case things got scary again, somebody would be there to take charge.
"The gang and I will get your stuff packed and moved tomorrow," he said as he put me in his, rather Nathan's bedroom.
"I'm scared of your mum, Luke," I admitted once I was comfortable in bed. "I have only ever lived with nannies and well, you. And, what if she hates me?"
"Who can hate you?" he asked, nuzzling his nose to mine until I trapped his lips for another soft chaste kiss that made both of us smile.
"What does this mean?" he asked again, wanting to define us.
"What do you want it to mean?" I asked, still keeping vigil over my heart.
"I want you to be my girlfriend again," he said, beaming towards me.
"Okay, boyfriend," I responded, biting my lips. "But now you have to leave."
"What?" he asked.
"Luke! Your not so surprise anymore surprise party! Come on, I'm sure everyone is still celebrating there, with or without you. You have to go be a seventeen-year-old, at least until you can! Now go before I have to push you!" I screamed.
"Brooke! Can I please just lie next to you? That's all I want, please," he begged.
"Well, okay. If that's what's going to make the birthday boy happy," I smiled goofily.
"I was thinking about school for you," Lucas said once he too was comfortable by my side.
"Oh Jesus!" I wailed. He was just as adamant and stubborn as me.
"I mean, we convinced Turner once. We are too close to give up now. We'll use an ipad and prop it on the desk. Whoever is in class with you can set it up, that way you get to stick to a stable class schedule right from bed. You won't be bored, you will be busy and you will graduate. Haley and you have barely anything left anyway. Among all of us, we can manage all your assignments and tests," he said as if he was a certified genius who had solved a Millennium Prize Problem.
"Well, it will stop me from going insane in this bed. But you gotta get me paper and colour pencils," I asked.
"Huh, why?" he asked.
"I like designing and that's what I usually do when I'm bored or lonely. I sketch," I told him.
"You have to show me!" he said excitedly.
"Can't, tore them all before London and haven't found the time since," I replied.
"Okay, it will all be here tomorrow. Now, go to sleep," he said as he gently stroked my arm.
"They're squirming and kicking," I whined, feeling cranky. My body was so tired but they were just not.
"Come on Princess, Squirt; how about we let mom rest up? But stay inside okay, you still need cooking," Luke spoke to my belly as he rubbed my back in hopes that it would settle them. After foot rubs and back rubs, I finally had enough.
"Can you just read to me? Your voice seems to do the trick. Just read me a damn book!" I said as I sat up, totally irritated.
Lucas laughed as he picked up a book from his nightstand. He sat against the headboard, spreading his feet and I sat between them, my head resting on his chest, hands on my stomach. I absolutely loved this, him reading to our unborn children. I was going to make him do this every single day. I smiled as he read to me, slowly the children did start to sleep and so did I.
Happy Birthday, boyfriend," I smiled before closing my eyes.
— — –
LUCAS' POV
I continued to read to her, even after I heard her snoring lightly. She was going to be an incredible mom, I just knew it. As slowly as I could, I eased her out onto the bed. I still wasn't sleepy so I continued to read my book by her side, my one hand loosely draped around her hip.
Fifteen minutes later, Brooke woke up again, feeling one of her hot flushes. She grumbled, still in a sleep induced state as she pulled off her top and sweats, going back to sleep in only her underwear. She was still kid Brooke when she was sleepy. She was just so cute to watch. I was smiling wide, looking at her when my mom entered the room.
"Hey, how was the party?" I whispered to her.
"Not so fun when the birthday boy who also happens to be your son doesn't show up," she said sadly.
"Why are the two of you in the same bed and why is she half naked?" she asked me in an annoyed tone.
"Brooke was cranky, the babies kept squirming and kicking, they wouldn't just settle so I was rubbing her back and feet and then I read to her, err, them. And I don't know, it just felt wrong to leave. She just took off her clothes because she gets heat flashes. It's a regular night thing. Give it another 30 and she will be ducking under the covers like her life depends on it. Besides, its not like we can do anything Maa, and the worst that could happen already has," I said to my mother who simply rolled her eyes at me.
"I still can't believe that my baby is having a baby! I'm gonna be a grandmother at 38! I should be having children of my own at 38," she shook her head.
"I guess you could," I laughed and cringed at the same time. "Mom, Brooke will try to be difficult at first. She has never been taken care of by anyone but Peyton's family. She doesn't know how to allow that and as much as you're going to hate to hear it, I say it from my own personal experience. Just please continue being her pseudo mom, she secretly loves it and is just too scared to admit that."
"She is a great girl, Lucas. No matter how upset I am that you two were so careless, I'm glad that if it had to only happen, it's with her. She has a laundry bag full of issues and insecurities, but underneath it all she really has a remarkably generous and beautiful heart," my mom admitted, looking at the sleeping Brunette who was curled to my side.
"I love her. I'd do anything for her. It's just so crazy sometimes, I can't tell what is right and what is not. What am I supposed to do?" I asked, feeling exacerbated. "I mean, she still looks so pale and fragile to me. And look at the insanity of a life she has had. And yet she has an incredible capacity to love."
"That's what real love is," mom said and I could see just how difficult it was for her to admit that. "You should get some rest too. Very soon the babies are gonna wake Brooke up and she will be whining and waking you up too."
"Honestly, I don't mind it. I actually like it. Brooke pouting is really cute, especially when she is sleepy so she isn't thinking and putting all her walls up," I answered with nothing but love and pride for my girlfriend.
"If only you were out of college, this would've been so different and so much more joyous," mom sighed sadly.
"Yeah, but I love those two nuggets either way," I said, touching Brooke's belly as I watched it expand and contract with each breath that she took. She wasn't growing from anywhere drastically. Her bra size had gone 1 size up and her hips were wider and curvier. But other than the gigantic belly she was sporting, the rest of her looked exactly the same.
"I'm gonna have a tough job keeping you out of her room, aren't I?" she asked me, letting go of her prejudices.
"I mean, what even would be the point? Let us just have it. Let me be there for her. She deserves it," I said, looking at the sleeping brunette.
"You're doing really good by her, Lucas," she told me after just watching us for a few moments.
"I hope that I can for the rest of our lives. For her and our children," I smiled as I watched my mom wish me good night and a happy birthday before exiting the room.
