"But mama!" Riley stomped her foot at her mother who was currently looking at her with sharp, green eyes. Ones that, although similar in color still seemed so fiercely different.
"No, Riley. Not buts. You know you're not supposed to be going through your sister's sheet music. This is not the first time daddy and I have to tell you this." Brooke told her little one firmly, looking down at her adorably dressed daughter.
"I just wanted to look at them though!" Riley thought that the lines and notes looked pretty and wanted to copy them onto her own blank piece of paper. Last time she did that though she'd accidentally ripped one and put the rest of them back in a disorganized manner.
Brooke sighed, knowing her daughter was feeling unfairly chastised. But they had told her that the next time she did it she'd get a timeout and that's exactly what she was going to get. The mother softened her gaze and bent to her little girl's level "Ten minutes Riley." She picked the girl up in her arms and carried her upstairs into the kitchen. The small brunette pouted and refused to latch onto her mom. The walk was longer than it once had been because the family had moved into a much larger home when the twins turned six. The neighborhood was wealthier and if you saw the home you'd know that the family was rich. With two kids running around the house, Brooke and Lucas also opted for a housekeeper and a gardener that came every Friday morning.
Sometimes they'd come in on Saturday instead, and Mr. Diaz and Ms. Carrera would get to see a lot more of the family dynamics. Riley and Carter were mostly used to their presence, although they hated getting into trouble in front of them.
Sam had once come home from school on a late Friday morning before she'd met Ms. Carrera. The 20 year old walked into the home that was fairly new for her and laid her bags down on the floor. She called Jack and let him know that she was home, asking how far he was.
Ms. Carrera was upstairs cleaning the twins' rooms, so she wasn't aware of Sam coming in. When the woman finally came down she screamed and dropped the cleaning supplies she was carrying from upstairs.
There on the couch was a topless Sam and a naked Jack.
"Dios mio!" She yelled, covering her eyes.
Sam pushed Jack off her, "Holy shit." Sam hurried up and covered her bare chest with one of the couch pillows and threw one at Jack.
"Who the-are you...oh shit." Sam said covering her face with her hands, remembering that her mom had mentioned getting help for their much larger home.
Ms. Carrera recognized Sam from the various pictures in the house. "Ms. Sam?" She asked looking away as Jack pulled up his pants
"Please don't tell my parents."
She might've been 20, but the thought of her mom and dad finding out made age a nonexistent detail.
The woman never did tell on Sam, keeping it a secret between them both and advising a blushing Sam that maybe next time she keep it together until they at least made it to her bedroom.
Riley and Carter loved Ms. Diaz for other reasons. She'd give them little pieces of Mexican candy that they loved so much.
But, currently in the home, was just Brooke and her chastised daughter.
"Pouting won't get you out of it." Brooke told an angry Riley as they entered the kitchen.
This was an unjust punishment! Riley thought.
Brooke shook her head in amusement and couldn't help but remember all the times she'd carried a teenaged Sam. It was so different from the way Riley was reacting now.
Sam, even when upset with Brooke would melt in her mama's arms.
"But I don't want to go!"
Everything about Sam was angry. Her eyes. Her pose. Even her grey sweater and black jeans seemed to accentuate the 14 year old's anger.
"Sam, you told us you liked her." Brooke tried to appease to the girl's rational side, "We're already late, and it's been paid for. How 'bout you try it out one more time, and then we can talk after this session about continuing with this therapist.
"I don't want to go to dumb therapy any more. It's stupid and I'm not going!"
She crossed her arms and turned up the stairs, dismissing her parents completely. It's not that she didn't like Lopez. The woman was kind. But she didn't want to be another foster kid in therapy for all the fucked up shit she'd gone through. Going to therapy would just prove to the world that she was messed up. The messed up foster kid…what a classic joke.
"Samantha we are not done talking about this. You're going to therapy whether you like it or not!" The father said, losing his temper. It was for sure not his best moment, and it was definitely the wrong thing to say, but he felt at his wit's end with Sam's refusal. They had been arguing about this since last night.
Brooke looked to Luke and could see the frustration that only a son or daughter can bring out in a parent.
Sam turned back around at the top of the steps, "No, I'm not! You can't make me go. I don't want to go!"
The girl slammed the door to her room. Lucas was about to gun up, certain that she needed a bit of an attitude adjustment, when Brooke's hand stopped him, "Let me talk to her."
"She needs to go to therapy Brooke. How is she going to get better? She's just making it harder on herself!"
"Lucas, calm down." She chastised him, "I think the idea of therapy scares her, and we just need to get her over that."
He took a deep breath and shook his head before motioning up the stairs, "Fine. All you."
The father knew he was too riled up to be the one to talk to their daughter. It was the best decision to let Brooke take this one.
When Brooke opened the door her daughter was turned over at her desk. Her music was on, and she was writing something into her notebook.
"Sam-"
"No Brooke." She replied without hesitation.
"Samantha." Sterner now.
"No!" Louder than before.
Brooke didn't respond. Instead, she strode over and turned the girl's chair around. The move had surprised Sam, so Brooke took the opportunity to bend down and put her hands on Sam's knees and tilt the girl's chin down so they could look into each other's eyes.
"I don't want to go, you and dad can't make me. I don't care what you do. I don't need it."
Brooke gave Sam's blue eyes that screamed rebellion, a meaningful look, "It's okay to need therapy Sammy."
"Well I don't need it." She was adamant.
"Sweetheart-"
"Brooke, just leave me alone!" Her mother's tone was killing her. It was making her emotional and she hated it. She hated the compassion and concern that her mom always showed. She didn't want to be convinced to go. God, could they just leave her the hell ALONE?!
"I'm not leaving until you at least give me a real reason as to why you won't go."
"Go away Brooke!" She choked up and felt the weight of her feelings hit her.
The woman saw her daughter's visage crumble. "Just leave. Go away." She murmured through a cracked and watery voice, "You know you wanna leave anyway. I'm messed up."
Without thinking about it much Brooke wrapped her daughter in a hug and whispered a fierce "I'm not leaving you alone. Dad and I would never dream of it."
The teenager fought the embrace for a moment, "Mom, stop. STOP!"
But Brooke held on and soon enough she couldn't help but cry into her mother's shoulder, "M-mom." She squeaked, a wave of tears breaking her down.
"I know baby girl. I know." Brooke sympathized softly as she rubbed her daughter's back.
A few moments later she felt herself hoisted up completely into Brooke's arms.
"It's okay to need help." Her mother kept repeating. Sam could only cry in response. Cry and hold the woman tight, not caring that her mother was carrying her out of her room like you would a child much younger.
"You're our brave girl, Sammy." Brooke kept assuring her as she carefully walked down the stairs with a broken down Sam in her arms.
Lucas looked at the scene at the bottom of the stairs. His frustration disappeared when he saw his daughter in Brooke's arms. He took the change in Sam's demeanor in stride.
By now Lucas knew that with Sam her emotions could change at the drop of a hat, and they had to be ready to provide her what she needed. Sometimes it was a firm hand and stern words, but now it was clear she needed them to be her mama and daddy that always assured her it would all be okay.
"Can you take her to the car, I'll get her things." Brooke asked Lucas once she reached the end of the stairs.
"Peanut, dad's gonna take you to the car, okay?" Came Brooke's gentle voice.
"I don't wa-want to go!" Sam managed to squeak through her sniffles and tears. But despite her words she let her parents easily manuever her. She knew that it was going to happen with or without her approval.
Lucas carefully slid his arms under hers, "Shhhh. Mama and me will be there when you're out." He promised.
He felt Sam latch her arms around his neck as he put a firm arm under her bottom, "I got ya champ. Dad's got you." He stood there momentarily rubbing her back knowing it soothed their daughter before moving to the car.
Meanwhile, years later, an eight year old Riley was squirming to get out of Brooke's grip.
The little girl was secure and confident in the love of her parents and her siblings. Riley and Carter would never know Sam's long worn struggle of having to second guess simply existing in love and warmth. They'd never know abuse like she did. Fear like she did. Trauma, like Sam did.
Riley and Carter would know cuddles and giggles. They'd know Saturday morning cartoons in bed with mom and dad. And cool trips into the city with their big sister. They'd know of Aunt Peyton and Uncle Julian coming back from places they couldn't pronounce with presents. They would know private school and sports and art. They'd know a home with a magnificent kitchen with marble countertops, an entertainment room that was the envy of their peers, and a living room with big couches where the family could snuggle together.
From time to time Sam thought about this and would scoop them up into a huge hug reminding them that they were lucky they had so much. Carter would shrug and say 'Sammy you're weird,' but Riley would nod and hug her older sister tightly back.
"Mama, I don't want to go to the corner! Stop!" Riley begged once more.
"When you break the rules there are consequences Riley. I'm sorry buddy."
Brooke won the short struggle of getting her youngest up the stairs, and moments later Riley was standing in the corner of the kitchen, a huge pout on her face. Her arms were crossed, and she was trying hard not to kick the wall.
Her mama was being so mean. It's not like Sam even cared. Her parents had told her it was about respecting people's property, but god she only ripped one piece and it was an accident!
From the corner, Riley could hear her mom finishing up dinner. It was her favorite and that was kind of making her hungry.
"Mommy, how much longer?" Riley whined two minutes into her timeout.
Brooke put a hand on her hip and looked over at her youngest baby, "Until the timer rings princess, and remember you're supposed to be thinking about what you did wrong. IF you haven't figured it out by the end of ten minutes, I'm going to have to add more time."
Riley kicked the wall once.
"Riley Marie." Brooke chastised immediately.
"Sorry." Came a meek mumble.
Brooke spared a glance towards her forlorn daughter as she finished preparing dinner from time to time. She could see the timeout slowly affecting Riley's thoughts. Her stance was no longer defensive, and her eyes were slowly watering.
The 8 year old was trying so hard not to cry. What if Sam got mad at her this time for making a mess of her stuff? If Sam was mad at her then her sister wouldn't sit down and draw with her, or take her to the cool painting place in the city like she sometimes did. And what if she took Carter to get ice cream and not her?
When the timer finally rang, Riley squirmed. She knew the protocol already. Her mom walked up to her and turned her around, giving her those sharp, green eyes again.
"What're you thinking princess?" Brooke asked lovingly. Her daughter had guilt and worry written all over her small, childish face.
"I don't want Sam to be mad at me." Her voice soft.
"Why do you think she'd be mad at you?"
"Because I moved all her music out of place and she likes it a certain way. I just think they're pretty and I want to draw them." She explained.
"I know you do honey, but you have to ask first. You get mad when Carter touches your colored pencils and messes them up, right?"
The girl looked down at her pink socks and nodded solemnly, "Yeah, I guess so."
"That's why we have to ask for permission first. You understand why I had to put you in timeout?"
"Because you and daddy told me to stop doing it, and I still did it. They were just…they're pretty."
Brooke smiled and brought her daughter in for a hug, happy to feel Riley hugging her back "I know they're pretty, honey. Just ask next time."
Five minutes later Riley was helping her mom set the table when her dad came in through the front door. "Daddy!" She ran up, sliding on the hardwood floor, and hugged her father tight.
Lucas spun her in the air causing her to giggle, a sweet sound to the father.
"How's my big girl." He asked with a smile.
She looked away shyly then hid into his shoulder, "Uh-oh, what happened kiddo?"
"Someone got a timeout today." Brooke came in then kissed Lucas on the lips.
Riley frowned, why did her mom have to tell dad?
"What'dya do princess?"
"I-I messed up Sammy's sheet music again." Shame riddled her voice.
Lucas decided not to get onto her about it because by the looks of it she already felt guilty.
"Well she'll be here with Carter soon, so you make sure to apologize, okay?"
She nodded her head solemnly and let her dad walk them both over to the kitchen where Brooke was. She laid her head comfortably on his shoulder as he carried her. He then put Riley back down to finish setting the table.
Lucas grabbed the salad bowl that was on the counter and placed it onto the kitchen table, helping Brooke and Riley finish setting up.
"How was practice babe?" Brooke asked Lucas as she put the lasagna next to the salad.
"Long and tiring. I'm glad to be home with my two girls already."
Brooke turned and gave him a deep kiss.
"mmmm." He smiled through the kiss, "That was-"
"I missed you." She winked, not letting him finish.
"Those whole four hours without me got you feeling lonely?"
She chuckled and looked fondly at such a perfect husband and father, "Most definitely."
"I finished!" Riley exclaimed happily, killing the sweet moment between the parents. "Good, 'cause I'm starving!" Lucas exclaimed.
"We have to wait for Sammy and Carter, dad."
Lucas put his hands up as if he was ready to pounce, "I guess that means I just have to eat you!" He chased Riley around the table, with a warning from Brooke to not break anything, moments later he caught her and pretended to eat her up by blowing raspberries into her stomach, making the 8 year old laugh uncontrollably.
"We're home!" They heard come from the living room, "And Carter is in one piece!"
Riley squirmed away from her father and ran to where her siblings were. When Brooke and Lucas walked in Carter was on the floor taking his soccer cleats off and Riley seemed to be telling Sam about what had happened with her sheet music. The 23 year old was reassuring her baby sister that it was all okay.
"Daddy, I want to play soccer with the kids Sam works with ALL the time!" Was the first thing Carter said when he saw his parents.
"Oh, do you now?" Lucas raised an eyebrow at his excited boy, "I thought you were happy with your team here."
"But they're so much cooler! Julio was the best. Can I play soccer with them next week?" He asked, then looked to his older sister, "Can you take me to play soccer with them next week Sammy?"
Lucas looked to Brooke, who looked equally surprised.
Sam chuckled, "Yeah, I don't see why not."
Riley, however, remembered an important detail, "Carter you have a game on Saturday, remember? You can't miss it!"
Carter shrugged, "Oh, yeah. I forgot. Never mind Sammy!"
Since graduating college six months ago, Sam's internship that she had at the girls' group home with Ms. Thrice had turned into a full time job. A month into the job and Sam had fallen in love with working with the south side community, one that she'd grown up in, so she began to volunteer at the community center on the weekends. It's there that she took Carter, who was dying to meet some of the kids that Sam sometimes talked about. Riley, the shyer of the two, decided to stay back with her mom. The idea of meeting so many new kids kind of scared her.
The parents sent a still excited Carter up to change out of his dirty clothes.
"Come on Riley!" He called after her, "You choose my shirt!"
The boy loved letting his sister choose his clothes, the way that Riley let Brooke choose hers.
The girl went toddling after his brother, leaving Brooke and Lucas with their eldest kiddo.
"Hi baby." Brooke kissed her daughter's head after a long hug. Lucas hugged her afterwards.
"Hey guys." She smiled at them.
"Come here peanut." Brooke took her hand and led her into the kitchen, "I feel like I haven't seen you in months!"
"It's been two weeks mom." She rolled her eyes good naturedly as she sat at the table.
"Is Jack coming over?" Lucas asked, sometimes the boyfriend would join them when Sam came over.
"Joey has him closing the shop tonight, so he can't make it." Sam replied easily.
Lucas watched his daughter as the twins came down. She helped Carter into his seat and helped fix him a plate. Meanwhile, Brooke did the same for Riley.
Moments like this reminded him of how much older Sam was now. She was renting an apartment in Southside with Jack. They continued to help her with her car and health insurance bill, while Sam paid for rent, utilities, and her phone. Of course, Brooke and Lucas always padded her bank account with a monthly allowance. They wanted Sam to have her independence but they also didn't want Sam to lack absolutely anything she needed, or even wanted.
"I'm not going to have you running around in rags." Brooke so nicely put it once, "You are Brooke Davis's daughter, remember that."
Sam just rolled her eyes at her mother's words.
But their little girl wasn't so little anymore, and it frightened the father who was always Sam's safe haven.
Luke and Brooke had managed to get Sam into the therapist's office. Her fight had left her long ago.
Brooke was checking the girl in with the receptionist while Sam and Lucas went to find a seat.
Sam, too overwhelmed with the situation, did not care that another patient might come in, she sat on her dad's lap and curled in.
"I don't wanna go in." She whispered sadly playing with one of the buttons on Lucas's shirt.
Lucas kissed her head, letting Sam snuggle into his chest, and bobbed his legs to relax her, "It'll be okay baby."
Five minutes later Sam was still laying her head on her father, music playing through her earbuds. Brooke sat next to them, silently looking over at her upset child, wishing to just whisk her back home, but she knew this was best for their daughter.
"Sam, ready to go?" Lopez came out asking with a warm smile ten minutes later.
Sam's head popped up and she looked to the man who had been protecting her up until now, "Dad, come in with me." She suddenly begged, not caring that she had only fought her father tooth and nail back home about an hour ago. He promised to always be there when he could, and currently she needed his strong arms to shield her.
Because the truth was, therapy not only made her feel weak, but she was also scared. Scared of the thoughts that she hated exploring.
Lucas and Brooke looked at her sadly. Mrs. Lopez had mentioned to them the importance of letting Sam do therapy alone.
"You can do this champ. Mom and me will be right here when you get out." He told her. He moved to pick her up off his lap but she tightened her hold, "Daddy no. Please." She begged and it broke both parents' hearts.
Sam caught a glance of the therapist who was waiting patiently for her.
"Come on peanut. We'll be right here." Brooke assured her as well.
Sam's face scrunched up. Brooke braced for the 14 year old to pitch another fight.
"How about mom and dad come in for the first half, Sam?" Lopez intervened, well aware that the child was not going to back down without a meltdown, and it didn't take a therapist's eye to see it.
Having that as an option made the young teenager finally acquiesce.
And that same, once scared girl, was the one who was so lovingly helping her brother now. She was the one who graduated college with honors, got a job helping kids who were just like her. She was out living on her own with Jack, and it scared Lucas, just like it scared Brooke.
"Carter you're not gonna tell mom and dad about the goal that you made?" Sam asked her little brother as they eased into their dinner.
The dark blonde haired boy smiled brightly, "It was the best goal ever!" He threw his hands up, almost hitting Riley with his hands. She scowled at him, but the boy paid no heed, "I crossed one of the other kids, and then I just ran like a million miles per hour. And it was the first goal for our team. Everyone was super excited! You should've seen it dad!"
"Looks like someone is starting to like soccer more than basketball." Sam teased Lucas.
The father playfully pointed his fork at his eldest, "Watch it."
"I just call it as I see it." Sam shrugged and took another bite of her lasagna, "And it was a pretty cool goal."
"Next time we go, Riley you have to come." Carter told his twin, "They have art stuff there too, so you can draw too."
Brooke loved how thoughtful her little boy could be. He loved Riley so much, and always preferred to have her nearby, as opposed to far away.
Riley shrugged and looked down at her plate. Lucas gave their youngest a soft look. She could be so painfully shy sometimes. Brooke would be lying if she didn't worry about that aspect of her daughter's personality. When the twins came out of school it was always Carter who came out with his friends and Riley would just join her brother. The parents were sure that the girl had two close friends, but not much beyond that.
"There's an art corner Riley. Would you want to come next time?" Sam asked her sister.
The girl shook her head, "Ummmm, I like staying home with mommy." She looked to Brooke, "We had fun, right mom?"
The mother smiled, "We did Riles. You're right."
Carter frowned and looked to his twin again, "Please come next time. Please, please. It'll be fun!"
Brooke could see that Riley was getting flustered, "How 'bout we worry about it when the time comes Carter?" The mother offered her young daughter an out.
"Fiinnnneee." He heaved out through a sigh. Sometimes his sister could be so boring.
"Finish your food kiddo. It's gonna get cold." Lucas advised him, trying to get his son's mind off the subject.
Sam could see the worry in her mom's eyes as Brooke stared at Riley. She wondered if motherhood was just a consistent state of worrying for your child. If that's the case, Sam didn't think she was cut out for it.
"Sammy, can you stay and play xbox with us?" Carter asked his sister a few moments later.
"Already planned on it."
"YES!" Both Riley and Carter squealed in unison.
"Mario Brothers first." Riley added.
"No, Motorace!" Carter argued, "We did Mario brothers first last time."
"You only wanna play Motorace 'cause you always win."
"You won that one time, remember?!"
"Riley. Carter." Lucas rose an eyebrow at his little debaters, "Neither of you are going to play if you don't finish your food first."
Brooke cut up the lasagna on their plates into smaller pieces, "Heads or tails when you to decide what game goes first, alright?"
"Yes ma'am." They both said, frustrated that they didn't get their way, "Now both of you take three more bites and finish your juice."
Carter turned to Riley and winked at her. "1. 2…3!" He said and they both shoveled the 3 bites into their mouths.
"That's gross!" Sam exclaimed, "Come on thing 1 and 2!"
"Riley, Carter, god not like that!" Lucas groaned.
"Finished." They both said in a fit of giggles.
Brooke put a hand on her forehead and shook her head, "The death of me. That's what you two are going to be."
Sam laughed softly at her mom's reaction.
The mother grabbed a hold of Carter before he ran off, "Riley take your dish into the sink please." She said standing up, leading Carter to the sink.
"Mommy I wanna go play." Carter whined.
"Your face is a mess." She grabbed a towel and carefully started to clean him up.
The boy squirmed his head left and right, annoyed that his mom was trying to clean his face when he was trying to have fun.
"Little girl. Wait!" Brooke called after Riley when she saw her try to scamper away. Riley stopped in her tracks and turned around with a syrupy sweet smile that she knew would melt that raised eyebrow right off her mother.
When it was her turn, she waited patiently for her mom to clean her the same way she did to Carter.
"Mom we're 8 years old now. You don't have to wash our faces." Riley complained while her mom took on the task.
Brooke smiled and bopped her daughter's nose, happy with the work she did, "Well don't be so messy and I won't have to do it kiddo."
... ... ...
"Your kids are crazy." Sam joked once the twins were settled in the living room.
"Hey, they're your brother and sister!" Lucas poked her side playfully, causing Sam to pull away and laugh.
"Yeah, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't like that when I was 8 years old."
Brooke tried not to frown. She'd never know what Sam was like at 8 years old.
Don't think about it Brooke. Shake it off. The mother told herself.
"So, umm" Sam moved the fork around her plate, "So Carter mentioned that there was some girl at school that tried pushing him."
Brooke's head popped up from her plate, "My baby boy?"
Lucas held in a smile, "What girl?"
"Some fourth grader named Therese." She replied, a bit uncertain about the name.
"Therese Wilkerson?"
"Well I don't know her last name. He just said that she tried pushing him."
Brooke turned to her husband, "Lucas, I told you about that girl!"
Sam's curiosity perked, "Had she done something to him before?"
"To your sister." Lucas said rather bitingly. He hadn't realized that a 9 year old girl could give him so much disdain, but Therese certainly did.
"What'd she do to little bug?" Sam felt her body tense. The thought of someone hurting her baby sister or brother made her want to throw up.
"Riles likes to read during recess and this girl took it upon herself to let Riley know that she was weird for wanting to read alone. Riley stuck up for herself and told her that she loved reading and if it was weird then she was fine with it. But Therese kept it up for a while."
"Did Carter know?" Sam didn't think that Carter would let anyone poke fun at Riley. He was her greatest defender.
Brooke nodded with a sigh, "He pushed her at recess and Therese ended up with a scraped knee."
"Oh my god." Sam couldn't help but laugh, "I bet she stopped messing with Riley after that."
Brooke hid her own satisfaction, "Well don't laugh! Your brother lost his xbox for three days and he had to go apologize to Therese at her house."
"Daddy she's a jerk, and you know it!" Carter tried to pull away from his dad's grip but his father was obviously much stronger.
Lucas stopped walking up the driveway and bent down to be at his son's level. Carter's face was steeped into a scowl.
"Carter buddy, can you look at me?"
Lucas felt his son pull against him again, but he kept firm, "Now Carter." His voice sterner, making him finally look up, "I know she was mean to your sister, but we don't hurt people that we're mad at. That wasn't the right thing to do kid."
"I don't like that she was mean to her. She's my baby sister." Carter grumped and then kicked his Vans shoes into the concrete
Lucas pulled him into a hug, "I know you were just protecting Riley buddy, and I'm so proud of what a good big brother you are. You defend her and I love that you do that, but next time come to mama and me, okay?"
"If I apologize it doesn't mean I have to like her, right?"
Lucas chuckled, "No you don't have to like her at all."
"Fine." He finally gave in.
Relieved that his little fighter agreed, Luke stood back up and held out his hand for his son to grab onto. Honestly, Lucas wasn't too mad at the boy's reaction. Riley had been so upset when everything had happened and he felt that at 8 years old he probably would've done the same for Brooke too.
... ... ...
Their youngest had said not one word on the car ride home from school. Their mother picked them up home early after the incident at recess.
Through the phone Brooke had been told that Carter pushed and hurt a girl and he needed to be picked up because he was suspended for the rest of the day.
"Mommy, she was being mean to Riley!" She heard Carter yell some feet away from the phone.
"Is that my son?" She asked the assistant principal, Mr. Davila.
"Yes ma'am. It is." Mr. Davila confirmed, "Carter do you want to explain what happened?"
There was silence and Brooke was growing impatient, "Carter Davis Scott, you need to start explaining right now."
The boy bit his lip and sighed.
"Therese called Riley weird, mom. And she kept doing it, so I pushed her away when I saw her do it again today. She fell and scraped her knee. I wouldn't have done it, if she just stopped. But she didn't!"
Carter had argued his point passionately.
Brooke felt her blood run hot, not for Carter's actions, but more for the fact that someone was making fun of her sensitive baby, "I'll be right there. I expect an explanation as to why bullying has been allowed at a place where I spend thousands of dollars on a year."
The mother hung up the phone and cleared her schedule for the rest of the day. Her babies needed her.
"So you're telling me Therese has had no repercussions for bullying my child?" Brooke asked Mr. Davila. Carter was sat next to her, enjoying how her mom was making their assistant principal squirm.
"Ma'am, we weren't aware of it."
"You don't have hall monitors? With the amount of money we pay, you can't hire someone to watch the kids during recess."
"I can assure you that there are adults watching the children, but it is near impossible to capture everything that is happening."
Brooke scoffed and rolled her eyes, "I agree that my son-" She glared at Carter, "-should not have stooped to violence and we will talk with him about that, but I am also letting you know now that I will also not tolerate this Therese child getting away with the way she's been treating Riley. I am calling first thing Monday morning and asking what punishment she's received for her part in this. Is that clear, Mr. Davila?"
The man looked at the intimidating woman, shocked, "Yes ma'am."
With that Brooke stood up and held out her hand, "Good. Let's go Carter."
She then asked the secretary to call for Riley because she wanted to take the both home. Riley came into the room and Brooke gave her a quick hug and a kiss before turning back to sign an early release paper for Riley. The girl took the moment to stand next to her brother and ask if he was in big trouble.
He shrugged, "Mommy yelled at Mr. Davila. I think she's more mad at him."
Riley's eyes widened, but she didn't get a chance to ask any more questions.
"Come on babies. Let's go home." Brooke told them, beckoning them with her hand.
Once in the car Brooke told Carter he would be losing the xbox for three days. The boy was trying to argue the unfairness of the punishment, but Brooke wasn't having it. After a final warning with a slightly sterner voice he finally stopped, opting to look out the window with crossed arms, and a clear frown on his face.
Brooke kept eyeing the twins through the rearview mirror on the drive home. A call came in from Millie but she ignored it, knowing it was probably to debrief her about the meeting she missed after finding out she needed to pick up her children from school.
Riley demeanor worried Brooke. She had her hands folded up in her lap. Her sad and guilty face reminded the mother of the look Sam used to give them when she'd done something wrong and was scared of having lost their love. It was breaking the fashion mogul's heart.
When they finally got home Brooke directed Carter to get his game console and to leave it in her office. She asked Riley if she wanted a snack, the little brunette just shook her head sadly as her mom took her winter coat off for her.
"Why didn't you tell us about Therese being mean to you, princess?" Brooke asked gently.
Riley shrugged, "I don't know."
"I think you do, kiddo." Brooke pushed, "Were you embarrassed?"
Riley looked down at her pink converse, "M-maybe a little bit."
Carter had come in stomping up the stairs, "Here mom." He put his xbox down carefully not wanting to hurt the precious cargo, "It's still not fair though."
"Mommy, it's not Carter's fault." Riley looked at her mom with eyes begging her not to punish Carter, "He was just helping me. It's my fault."
"No, it's Therese's fault, she's the big dumb jerk that called Riley weird!" Carter argued still mad about the whole thing.
Brooke saw the tears in her daughter's eyes forming. "Carter go to your room. I'm going up to talk to you in a bit. Take off your uniform and put on some other clothes."
"Can Riley come with me?" He asked looking at his sister.
Brooke shook her head, "No, just you."
"But-"
"Carter, upstairs please."
The little boy grumbled all the way up the steps. How could he be in trouble for defending his sister?!
Brooke turned back to focus on her daughter after making sure that her son had gone all the way up the stairs. Riley's silent tears were now falling down her cheeks.
"Oh, sweetheart." Brooke gushed.
"It's not Ca-carter's fault!" She cried.
"Come here princess." She bent down in her heels and pulled Riley into a deep embrace that only a mother could give. The 8 year old breathed in her mom's lavender scent.
Without any effort, Brooke picked her baby up and moved towards the living room to sit on the couch with Riley in her lap. Her heels clicked all the way through.
She rocked the little girl who wiped her nose on her mother's shirt. "I'm sorry for getting Carter in trouble." She cried.
"Oh my sweet girl."
Just like her sister. Brooke thought.
"Don't you worry about Carter. He'll be okay Riles. Nothing is your fault." Brooke moved her daughter away from the embrace for a bit, "Let's get your shoes off so you can be all comfy in mama's lap, okay?"
Riley nodded and laid her head on Brooke's shoulder, watching her mother's gentle movements. Once her shoes and socks were off, the small brunette curled herself back into Brooke.
The 8 year old welcomed her mother's softness.
"Mama?" Riley asked through a weepy voice, her head nuzzled into Brooke's blazer. She hadn't had the chance to take it off yet.
"Yeah Riles?" Brooke asked, holding her tighter.
"Do you think I'm weird? I don't think I am, but Therese kept saying it."
Brooke looked at the beautiful green orbs that were looking at her. She saw the infant that she'd nurse and hum to for hours. The child that slept with a stuffed hippo, and who loved to crawl into her dad's arms whenever she got the chance. She saw the daughter that, even at 8, the mother could already tell would be so different from her. She loved books, writing, and drawing, her artwork hung all over Brooke's office wall at work. She saw her beautiful and wonderful daughter that she had so much pride for.
"Riley, I think you're perfect just the way you are." Brooke answered, "Being different doesn't make you weird honey."
... ... ...
That evening Carter and Riley were watching Finding Dory in the living room together. Brooke called Lucas over from the kitchen sink as she watched from the archway.
Carter's head was laying on Riley's shoulder, and they caught when Riley gave Carter's head a soft kiss.
"I don't think I've ever seen two kids love each other so much." Lucas whispered.
Brooke thought for a moment of Sam, Jack, and Tamara. She imagined that their bond was similar to that of Carter and Riley's as kids. The mother's heart sagged thinking of the trio having to comfort each other after bad nights at the group home or with a foster family.
And that rag tag trio turned out wonderfully. Tamara was the manager at the restaurant she worked in, and Jack was a mechanic and just started at the community college to get his business degree. They survived childhood together, and now they were thriving through young adulthood.
Brooke couldn't have been more proud.
"Let's go sit with them." Lucas grabbed a hold of Brooke's hand gently.
Soon enough, Carter was straddling his mama's lap. His back leaning on his mother, while Brooke's arms held his front. He was clad in his 'Go Diego Go' pajamas that were becoming too small for him but he refused to let go of, holding onto his Spiderman that had long become his comfort item. The boy would drop dead of embarrassment if his friends at school saw him like this. He was the coolest kid on the playground, but at home that didn't matter much to him. At home he was a mama's boy and proud of it.
Meanwhile Riley was hidden under one of her dad's arms. Her head leaned onto his side. He would pat her bum gently under her large nightie with Minnie Mouse right at its center.
The parents decided some loving up was needed for both the twins after such an emotionally laborious day.
"So now that Therese girl is just trying to push Carter as revenge?"
"Basically." Lucas replied.
"What a little asshole."
"Language!" Both Brooke and Lucas scolded simultaneously.
"What? Come on, even at 23?"
Brooke rose her eyebrow at their eldest, "When it's directed at someone, yes. Even at 43 young lady. Watch it."
"God, fine." She put her hands up in surrender. She knew when to fight her battles. This was not one of those times.
… …. ….
At 9 pm the twins went upstairs with their parents for their bedtime. They were given a warm cup of milk, and then either Brooke or Lucas would read to them. After their story and maybe a song or two Lucas would pick Riley or Carter up, depending on whose room they were in and take them to their own bed with a small kiss to their forehead. It was a ritual that both parents didn't want ending anytime soon.
While Brooke went to shower, Lucas went downstairs to put the cups they'd used for the twins in the dishwasher.
He heard the all to familiar piano notes coming from downstairs. His heart swelled, knowing Sam was safe and sound doing what she loved so much in their home.
He wished Sam would just commute to work from their house.
The father thought she was too young, too small, and too inexperienced to be living back in Southside of all places. The place where Mike once lived. The place where she suffered the abuse of so many hands.
He only voiced his concerns with Brooke though. Lucas knew he would only cause a rift between his daughter and him if he ever made his concerns known to her.
"We have to let her do this for herself."
Brooke urged him when Sam had first told them her plan to move into Southside with Jack.
"I'm not happy about it either, but we'll always be there if she sees that she can't handle it."
"You think she can?"
"Yes, I think Sam can do this."
"Brooke, we're rich. How are awe gonna let our little girl back over there?"
"It's what she wants."
"Your company can start a charity to help children in the foster system. I don't want her to go back there." He remained adamant.
"Do you want to be the one to tell her then?" She finally asked him.
He looked towards the kitchen where her daughter was sitting and sighed. She'd never agree to it. He knew that Sam wanted to be on the ground, giving direct service. Unlike the twins, being rich was never a lifestyle that Sam felt suited for her.
It had become Sam's passion to help kids who were stuck in an unimaginable cycle like she once was. And Lucas would not stop her from doing so. In the end, Brooke's company did end up starting a charity in Sam's name, but Sam still remained firm in working in Southside.
Lucas walked down the steps towards where Sam was and just let her finish playing. She had the sheet music to 'A Heavy Heart' by Anthony Greninger up on her piano. The notes enveloped the room and gave the father goose bumps.
"I haven't heard that one in a while." He commented once her playing came to an end.
She turned around and smiled softly. "It's the one Riley wanted to draw. Guess her bringing it up from the back of my sheet music was for a reason. This piece always calms me."
He sat next to her on the piano bench. "You used to play for hours when you were upset. We had to force you to come up for bed one time. "
"Yeah." She thought back fondly, "Remember when you guys first bought my piano? I was so scared that I wasn't going to be able to pay you back and that you were gonna regret getting it for me."
The father remembered that moment so clearly, "And we sat next to you and told you that our love for you wasn't based on your actions. You made us pinky promise that we weren't lying to you."
Sam rolled her eyes at her 14-year-old self. "Oh yeah. I did do that." She thought back to those younger years, "...You know, you and mom were always so patient with me. Even when I didn't deserve it."
"You're our child. It's the least we could do Sam." Lucas answered, trying not to get choked up, "You came to us with so much hurt and your mom and I, we were determined to help you through it."
He put an arm around her and Sam laid her head on his shoulder, "I am so proud of you, champ. "
He heard her chuckle a little bit.
"I am." He repeated, kissing the top of her head, "You're carving this entire life out for yourself, and you dedicate your time to helping others, and not yourself. I guess you really are my big girl now."
"Daaaadddd." She groaned. Lucas Scott. Still as embarrassing as ever.
Sam was in the lunchroom, eating with her Glee club. Liz had just come over and squeezed herself in.
"Hey, I just saw your dad in the halls. He was looking for you." She told Sam as she opened up her pudding cup.
Sam shrugged, "He'll text me if he can't find me I guess." and went back to eating her food with the group of friends she'd formed.
"Sam, come with me to Robertson's class. I forgot my bag there." One of the girls from glee club asked her.
Sam rolled her eyes but relented walking out of the lunchroom with her.
"Champ!" Lucas called when he saw his daughter leaving Ms. Robertson's room, "I was just about to call you."
Sam and her friend stopped, "Hey dad."
Lucas walked up to them.
"Hi Coach Scott."
"Hey there Savannah." Lucas smiled before focusing back on Sam.
"Peanut, Aunt Haley told me you won that writing contest just now."
"Oh, yeah, I was gonna tell you and mom when we got home." She smiled happy that her dad knew.
Lucas couldn't contain himself and picked her up and swung her around, "I'm so proud of you little one." He held her close and kissed her cheek, "My big girl." He exclaimed just like he always said when Sam did something he was proud of.
"Dddaaaddd." She groaned. God, Savannah was right there!
Lucas put her down, "Right. Sorry." He said and ruffled her hair, "I'm still proud of you."
He watched her daughter walk away with her friend. He shook his head because he knew if they'd been alone Sam would've hugged him tight and told him all about it. The teen would've beamed unabashedly at her dad's words.
In fact, that very night, the same girl that blushed profusely at Luke's elation, jumped into bed with her mom and dad and begged them to watch an episode of the Fairly Odd Parents with her, which they happily did. Sam sat right in between her dad's legs and melted into his cuddles. He even carried his sleepy girl to bed and tucked her in receiving a 'night daddy.' when he kissed her goodnight. But things were different in public. Teenagers.
"Geez." The 23 year old mumbled at her dad's 'big girl' comment.
"Sorry." Lucas laughed at the groan Sam gave him, "You're still my little Sammy though. Our little peanut."
"I'm happy with that." She smiled as she picked her head back up and looked at her dad. Her cheerful eyes sparkling up at him. Eyes that Lucas was so happy to see filled with life, love, and satisfaction.
... … …
Late night had come and Brooke was having trouble sleeping. Lucas on the other hand was snoring his life away. The woman rolled her eyes. "You old man." She mumbled and got up deciding to make herself some tea.
Brooke stopped short though, when she saw light coming from Sam's room. The girl was staying at home for the rest of the weekend since she had the day off Monday.
When Brooke walked in it was clear that Sam had fallen asleep watching Netflix, and of course it was Law and Order. Forever her daughter's favorite drama.
Brooke turned the TV off and fixed the blankets around her daughter. Sam moved a bit and Brooke's heart sagged when she saw Barry's head sticking up from the covers, clearly being held by her child.
The mother sat and bent to give her forehead a kiss, "Night Sam."
"M-mommy?" Sam slurred, lazily opening her heavy eyes.
The endearing term always made Brooke beam when it came from her Sammy, "Go back to sleep baby. Sorry I woke you."
"Stay?" She asked her mom. If Sam was any more alert she wouldn't have asked for her mother to keep her company. But at the very core, Sam still loved her parents' kisses, hugs, and cuddles. Their arms were still her favorite place to be. With inhibitions so low, and her mother looking at her and tucking her in the same way she would've at 14, the 23 year old couldn't help but ask the question.
"Sure peanut." Brooke whispered lovingly, carefully making her way into the bed. Sam immediately moved to lay into her mother's side.
"Thanks mama." Sam whispered, when Brooke began rubbing her back, happy to have the familiar feeling of sleeping in Brooke's arms. Her dad was her safe haven, but her mom was her greatest comfort.
The visit to the therapist had been a rough one. Lucas and Brooke had not expected to encounter so much backlash from their daughter. And even at the therapist's with both of them sitting right there Sam had refused to talk, instead she opted to hide in her dad's side, clinging to his arm for dear life. Lopez had managed to get only a few sentences out of her.
By the end of it, Lucas and Brooke felt incredibly frustrated. The first session had gone well, and now it seemed like Sam had taken two steps back.
Mrs. Lopez assured them to have her keep coming though. She would break through eventually.
That night Sam had gone to bed early. She didn't say anything to the parents for the rest of the day and only stayed in her room. They felt at such a loss.
And before Brooke and Lucas went to bed they checked in on their daughter, she was perfectly asleep, holding her teddy bear tight, her favorite blanket covering her.
But it was 2 am when a visibly shaken Sam padded into her parent's bedroom. Her blanket and teddy bear in hand.
"Brooke." She shook the sleeping woman's shoulder. "Mom." She shook a little harder.
Brooke slowly opened her eyes. She came to her senses when her eyes adjusted to the dark and she saw that it was Sam standing in front of her.
"Peanut, what's wrong?" Her voice still heavy with sleep as she sat up.
Sam started to whimper, "M-mommy can I, can I sleep here?"
"Oh, sweetheart." Brooke moved so Sam could scoot onto the bed. She patted the space next to her, "Lay down baby. Lay with me."
Sam got on and laid her head on her mom's chest, "Did you have a nightmare?" Brooke whispered.
"You, you and daddy left me." She tried not to cry, but it was so hard not to, "be-because you said I was bad."
"Shhh." Brooke rubbed her back, "Oh honey, that must've been a really scary one. Daddy and I aren't going anywhere."
"I didn't mean to be a bad girl today." Sam cried.
She sounded so much younger than her 14 years.
"You were just scared." Brooke soothed her, "No one thinks you're a bad girl, Sammy. And we're not leaving you, or love you any less because of it."
Brooke felt her daughter's hitched breaths. "I'm not bad. I don't wanna be bad."
"You're not babe. I promise you, you're not."
Her poor child was in pieces.
"Shhh princess. How about I hum to you, hmm?" Sam nodded and so Brooke did just that.
Moments later, through her humming, Brooke looked down at her daughter and saw a calmer Sam sleepily sucking her thumb. Brooke knew the girl needed to self soothe.
Then, without trying to make a scene, the mother gently smoothed her daughter's pantied bottom, worried that she might've wet herself in fear during her nightmare. She was relieved that her daughter was dry.
It wasn't normal. Brooke knew it. It wasn't normal for a teenager to apologize profusely for being "bad." It wasn't routine for a teenager to suck their thumb in fear, or for the mother of a teen to check if their child had wet themself in the middle of the night. Kids didn't just normally move from happy to angry to clingy all on any given day.
But their daughter did.
In public Sam never seemed worse for the wear. She was a normal, moody teenager to most. But Brooke and Lucas saw it all. They saw all the hurt that their daughter suffered.
Thinking about it made Brooke's soul ache. Her daughter was still so traumatized. Her past wasn't that far away after all. Just last year, Sam was living in the thick of it. This is why Brooke and Lucas knew their daughter needed all the help she could get.
The mother sniffled and wiped the stray tears that had fallen down to her cheeks.
Her poor child. She couldn't wait for the day when Sam's past wouldn't plague her the way it did now.
"Goodnight peanut." Brooke whispered to her 23 year old daughter who, with ease, had already fallen back asleep.
I hope you are all still enjoying this story! Please tell me what you think! Reading reviews are half the fun of writing fanfiction :)