Chapter 9: Daddy's Home

He parked his truck next to his wife's car and the now mandatory minivan. Reflecting on the minivan, he never dreamed of owning one, but he does now. Shutting off the truck, slipped out of the cab and he grabbed his bag out of the bed. Closing the truck door, he walked toward the front door of his house.

Walking through the door he looked around the house. Huck Burke sighed and felt the stress of the shift bleed away. Throwing his bag on a nearby sofa and slipping out of his jacket, which he hung up. He removed his THFR Bennie hat and put it in the jacket's pocket. He heard a noise coming from the kitchen, this brought a smile to his face. Nodding he headed towards the kitchen.

Walking into the kitchen he saw his second oldest daughter, Chase's oldest, at the sink working on the dishes. Huck smiled, as he watched his daughter rinse all the dishes. Once she was finished with the dishes she stopped and shut off the water. PJ dried her hands and stepped off the small stool she was using to help reach the sink. Huck knew that PJ didn't need it, but she insisted on using it. Linus's blanket he noted. Once, PJ was on the ground she turned and looked at the door.

PJ stopped and looked at Huck, after a moment her face went from blank to one of pure joy. Huck smiled at her and nodded.

"Daddy!" PJ said, rather loudly, and ran towards him. Huck bent down a bit and caught the running PJ. PJ was tall for a girl her age, but Huck was still rather tall and towered a bit over her. PJ hugged him, and he held her tight and spun her around.

"PJ!" Huck said, trying to match his daughter's energy. He looked at PJ and then they gave each other a quick kiss.

"Your home," PJ said.

Huck nodded, "Yes, I am," he said, as he ran a hand over her raven-colored locks, smoothing them down. Huck smiled, PJ was conceived right around the time he and Chase got engaged. So, she was the third party in the marriage. He never knew a day married without PJ in it, even though some of it he didn't know he'd have a daughter named Paige Josephine, her middle name came from his Dad's family, a name of a long since passed matriarch.

He put her down and looked at the tall girl before him. She would soon enter those difficult years of body changes. Huck wasn't sure he was ready for that; it was tough on him when Brett matured into the young woman she was now. PJ would hurt too. PJ was going to be tall and elegant, like her mom. In fact, PJ so much looked like her mom, down to the same eye color, raven-colored hair, and athletic ability. Huck knew PJ would play basketball with her cousins, Lennon, and Nomi. Lennon Scott really wasn't PJ's blood cousin, his brother Wyatt is, but that was just the complex family tree his daughter was born into.

"So, did you have any calls?" PJ asked, and Huck swore he heard a bit of Chase in her voice. Chase and her Adams sisters, Izzy and Trin, had a slightly sexy rasp or huskiness to their voices, something they got from their Mom. Huck hadn't noticed the same in Kendall, Chase's Stafford sister, but it was there, certainly different, maybe even harsher, but PJ seemed to have started to have that Adams rasp developing.

"Buffing out, PJ?" Huck asked, teasing his daughter.

"No," PJ said, then quickly followed by, "Yes."

Huck laughed, "It's not important," he said, "Need help with the dishes?"

PJ shook her head, "No," she said, "But you could help if you want to."

"Okay, I'll help, what do you want me to do?" Huck asked.

PJ nodded, "I'll load the dishwasher, Momma has a certain way she wants it loaded," he said.

Huck nodded, "Yes, I do know that," he said, with a slight laugh.

PJ smiled and nodded. She walked over to the dishwasher and opened it. Huck walked over to the sink and started handing his daughter dishes out of the dishrack. He watched her, as she went about her business. At eleven he knew that PJ was going to be a force of nature. He nodded, she reminded him of her Mom, and could only imagine what Chase was like when she was PJ's age, as they met when Chase was not yet seventeen. Chase was a bit of a prodigy and skipped a grade.

"Daddy, please give me the plates before the mugs," PJ said.

"Oops, did I give you a mug?" Huck asked.

PJ nodded, "Yeah, please pay attention, Momma does check this," PJ said.

Huck nodded, "Okay," he said.

Once they finished loading the dishwasher, Huck kissed PJ on the cheek and went to see the rest of the family. He walked to the Children's Playroom and found another of his raven-haired daughters working. She stood on a step stool and was putting books back on the shelves. Huck figured the kids were up late last night. So, the cleaning of the playroom was probably to offset the mess that last night caused.

The last book went on the shelf and Key step down. The books she was putting away were the books they bought for her and PJ. The funny thing was PJ wasn't a reader, she was smart but found no fun in it, it was Key that would read for pleasure. So, Huck found it fitting for Key to be putting the books away. BB and Col weren't readers either.

Key stepped off the step stool and turned around. Looking up she saw Huck or at least a tall adult body. Slowly her chin kept tilting back and her eyes brighten as she started to understand who was standing there.

His daughter smiled at him, it was a muted smile, almost a cool one, but there was a brightness in her hazel eyes that looked back at him. It was a smile, Huck had seen many times, but it wasn't his wife's smile. Huck knew the familiarity behind it but couldn't pin it down.

"Daddy," Key said, in a way only Key could say it. She came to him, not walking but not exactly running. Huck knew Key was measured, but she is who she is, just like PJ or BB, are who they are.

Huck lowered himself to one knee. He was a giant to his young kids. Only his oldest, Brett, the redhead, rivaled his height. Key was also tall for her age, ten years, but not near as tall as PJ, Huck often wondered who would be taller between them. With PJ and Key being so close in age they were close and would often be doing things at the same time. They were Irish Twins, just like his wife and her sister Izzy, or himself and his sister Kelly. Huck was just barely an Irish Twin with Kelly, though. Once, Huck was asked how he had two daughters so close in age, he responded with, "Oops."

"Welcome home," Key said, as she hugged him.

"Thanks, Key," Huck said, "How was last night?"

Key slipped free; she wasn't big on long displays of affection. "Boring," Key said and headed back to a pile of books that needed to be put away.

Huck walked over towards her but stopped by a table. He picked up the two books that were not part of the pile on the table. "Key, you forgot these," he said.

Key turned and faced him, "No, I didn't," she said and went back to collecting books to put away.

"Then why are these here?" Huck asked.

"They are mind, Daddy," Key said.

Huck looked down at the books. One was a copy of Aesop's fables and the other one was a copy of Grimm's Fairey Tales. He smiled and flipped Aesop's Fables opened, on the flyleaf was an inscription.

To my niece Keelan, these stories were a great comfort to me.

I sincerely hope you enjoy them as well.

Aunt Izzy

Huck smiled. His sister-in-law, which still to this day kept the same copy of Aesop's Fables with her all the time, gave this book to Key.

He closed the book and opened Grimm's Fairytales. Again, there was an inscription on the flyleaf.

Key enjoy these stories.

Uncle Keith

Huck laughed, one of his best friends and brother-in-law was just like that short and to the point. He didn't get the flowery writing style of his Dad, but he knew how to get his message out in a few words as he needed.

Nodding, Huck put the books down. He looked at his daughter. "Key, do you need any help?" he asked.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Daddy, I got this," Key said.

Huck nodded, that was Key in a nutshell. "Okay, I'll see you at lunch," he said.

"Okay Daddy," Key said.

Huck left the playroom and started up the stairs. Chase was on bed rest with PJ when Tree Hill Hall was designed and constructed, on the foundation of the remains of the original Tree Hill Plantation House. Even though Chase was in bed at nearby Beaulieu Manor, she made sure all the interior details were to her liking. Huck liked what she did and really enjoyed the comfort here.

He paused to look at a picture on the wall. Huck smiled as it was him, Chase, Brett, and his and Chase's kids. It was after one of Brett's basketball tournaments and she was holding a trophy. He beamed at the picture of his oldest, and his only child that inherited his red hair. He rubbed the short stubble on the top of his head.

Brett, so far, was his only child to pick up a sport. Huck played football, basketball, and baseball in high school and went to Georgetown University on a full-ride basketball scholarship. He just wished his younger kids would find the joys of sports and free college. The free college that's something he had to worry about with five kids. He smiled one last time and finished his walk up to the second floor.

The first room he peeked in on was Brett's room. To his disappointment she wasn't here, he rarely saw his oldest anymore. He works, she works, school, basketball, her and boys, which causes Huck's heart to speed up, and Brett is almost in college and she shouldn't be hanging out with her dad that much. Huck still misses her.

Next, he poked his head into his youngest daughter's room, BB. Huck got PJ's nickname, her first two initials. He also got Key's, the first syllable of her name. BB's was given to her by her grandmother, Brooke Davis. Her name is Bridget, which was a common enough Irish American Girl's name, Huck also figured do the Norwegian thing where even if it was just the same initial it was naming a child after someone. Chase wanted to make it clear and BB's middle name was Brooke. Bridget Brooke Burke, BBB, Huck shook his head, maybe that's where his Mother-In-Law came up with the nickname. Brooke fell in love with BB the first time she saw her, or as Carson called BB "Wee Bairn", and it deepen when she heard the name.

Huck stood in the door and watched BB put her laundry away. Since he was the odd one out with his red hair. It was even more so when Brett was with them since her age difference and red hair marked her as his only, it made for interesting times. People would often assume that Huck was the stepdad.

"What are you looking at, Daddy?" BB asked. She had her Mom's tongue.

"I was just watching you put your clothes away," Huck said.

BB nodded, "Okay, Daddy, I should be done in a minute," she said.

"Do you need help?" Huck asked.

BB shook her head, "Thank You Daddy, but no, you'll screw it up," she said.

Huck cocked an eyebrow, "How am I going to screw it up?" he asked.

"You won't put them away from the way I want them away," BB said.

"Really?" Huck asked.

"Yes Daddy," BB said.

"Okay, BB," Huck said.

"Thank You, Daddy," BB said.

"You're welcome," Huck said and walked away. BB was just a hair bit off for an eight-year-old. Not in the OCD way, but in a way that Huck feared for her in her rapidly approaching teenage years. BB was headstrong and meticulous; she could also be fussy about how she looked. Maybe it was Brooke spoiling her. One thing Huck knew, was when BB said something, she meant it.

Huck looked in on his son's room. Col was the baby of the family, and the last child he was ever going to beget. Chase made sure of that, as she was tired of bed rest every time, she was pregnant. Also, the family didn't need to be like the Garland's with their fourteen kids. Chase was also tired of going to Catholic service, as they were raising their children in his faith. Col, or Colin, at six-years-old, bookended the eleven-year age gap between Huck's children. Huck noted the was a busy year for Brett, because her mom, Ashlyn, also gave birth to twin boys that year. Col was quite like Brett was at the same age.

Col was sitting on the floor with his back against the foot of the bed. He had a bunch of paper balls next to him and was throwing them at his wastepaper basket.

"Hi Col," Huck said.

"Hi Daddy," Col said.

"What are you doing?" Huck asked.

"Shooting hoops," Col said.

"Did you do your chores?" Huck asked.

"Yes Daddy," Col said.

Huck looked over to Col's dresser. He did put his clothes away; Huck could see them sticking out of the drawers. How could his two youngest children be so different? Col would just stuff his clothes in the dresser to get it done. BB sorted her clothes and put them away.

"How are you doing with your shooting?" Huck asked.

"Three in, five out," Col said.

"Getting better, keep at it," Huck said.

Col nodded, "Daddy?" he asked.

"Yes, Col?" Huck replied.

"When will it warm up, so we can go to the River Court?" Col asked.

"I wish I knew, Col," Huck said.

Col nodded, "I can't wait to go out there again," he said.

"Me too," Huck said.

Col nodded and picked up a ball of paper and took aim. Finally, he threw it at the wastepaper basket. The ball of paper bounced off the rim of the basket, spun a bit in the air and landed in the basket.

"Four in, five out," Col said.

"You're doing good," Huck said and walked out of the door. Col didn't want anyone to bother him. It was one of the few times that he wasn't around his sisters, and Huck knew he needed his own space.

Huck finally walked into his bedroom. There he found his wife straightening out the bedroom. Chase has always been known for her elegance, but to Huck, her at home in her sweats and no makeup always when she looked her most beautiful. She wasn't wearing sweats today, though. Chase had on old faded ripped jeans, and an old worn stretched out THFR T-shirt, and her raven-colored hair was swept up in a messy bun. Chase looked up from the bed she just finished making.

"How was your shift?" Chase asked.

"Six calls, they had us running around a bit," Huck said and walked towards her.

Chase nodded and looked at her husband. Huck took one more step closer to her, she held up a hand.

"What?" Huck asked.

"I can smell you from here, go shower," Chase said.

Huck nodded and walked into their master bath. He stripped out of his well-used work uniform. Turning around he looked in the mirror and poked at the fading scar on his left shoulder. The surgery repaired the damage he suffered in saving that child, and nearly retired him.

It was just the most serious of the injuries he suffered on the job. Sprains and strains were common, and his back felt a hundred years old.

Finally, he climbed into the multi-shower head shower and felt the warm water wash over his weary body. He was thirty-three years old, not old, but still not a spring chicken. Huck knew he was reaching the peak and soon would be on the steep downward slope. Nine years, Huck thought he could make just nine more years.

After he finished washing and he shut off the shower. Getting out of the shower he started to dry himself off. Next, he slipped on a robe.

The house was colder than normal, but not freezing like outside. Finally, he picked up his dirty uniform and threw it in the wash. Next, he came back into his bedroom and found Chase had finished up what she was doing.

Huck took a seat on the bed. Chase smiled at him and took off her shirt. He smiled back at her admiring her standing there just in her bra.

"I just got home, I need rest," Huck said.

Chase laughed, "I'm not going to jump you, yet," she said.

"Damn!" Huck said, with a laugh.

Chase laughed, "I have to work," she said and sat down on the edge of the bed. She leaned forward on one hand and looked into Huck's eyes, "There's something on your mind," she said.

Huck shook his head, "It's nothing, Chase," he said.

"Huck, what did I say about lying to me?" Chase asked.

"Don't," Huck said.

"So, what aren't you telling me?" Chase asked.

Huck sighed, "Chief Lowell talked to me, a few times, actually, the last shift," he said.

"What did Simone say?" Chase asked.

"She wants me to consider taking the captain's exam," Huck said.

Chase nodded, "Well, you should," she said.

"Why?" Huck asked.

"Why not?" Chase answered.

"Why answer a question with a question?" Huck asked.

"You just did it yourself," Chase said.

Huck sighed.

"Huck, I have to shower," Chase said, "You need to get dressed because Kelly is dropping her kids off, so she could tour the south tenants."

"Fun," Huck said.

"It's called adulting," Chase said.

"I don't want to adult," Huck said.

"Me either, but we have too, we do have four and a half kids," Chase said, with her free hand rested it on Huck's cheek, she finally leaned forward and kissed him. When she pushed back, she looked at her husband and gave him a small wicked smile, "It's a short night for me tonight," she said suggestively, got up and walked towards the master bath.

Huck looked up just to get hit in the face by Chase's bra, as she had thrown it at him. He smiled as she closed the bathroom door. With a nod, he knew his life was at least good at home. So, he got up and got dressed.