It's a long one! Please excuse any editing mistakes. My eyes got tired of seeing all these words.
"Brooke you have a call on line 2." Millie stuck her head into her boss's door to let her know.
Brooke looked up from the designs she had been pouring over. She'd been deep in concentration and sighed at the interruption. "I know, I was ignoring it." She told Milie.
The assistant nodded, well aware of her boss and friend's intentions, "I figured. But it's Jack."
That stopped the fashionista in her tracks. Why would Jack be calling her?
Millie closed the door knowing that Brooke would pick up the call with that bit of onformation.
The woman grabbed the phone and pressed the button nearest the blinking llight, "Jack?"
"Hi, sorry. You weren't picking up your cell phone, and I wanted to get a hold of you." Came his gruff voice.
"Is Sammy okay?" The mother's heart started to quicken at the thought of her little one, well 24 year old, but still forever her little one, being hurt somehow.
"No, well, I mean yes she's fine. She came down with the flu last night. I was gonna stay with her, but I have this huge exam I can't miss, and you know she might need to go to urgent care if her fever doesn't go down, and-"
"I got it." Brooke cut him off. She was already halfway out the door when Jack had mentioned the flu. The strain that year had been particularly hard, and she did not like the idea of her Sammy being alone having to deal with it.
"Millie I'm taking the day. Sam's sick. Hold any meetings and give the designs I was working on to Becca." Jack heard her say on the other line.
Relief fell across his face. "Thanks Brooke."
"No, thank you for telling me."
He heard the slight disappointment in the mother's voice along with the sharp clack of her heels hitting marble floor.
"She's still upset with Luke." Jack tried to offer, "That's why she didn't wanna call, I think."
Brooke took a deep breath. Her daughter was so stubborn sometimes, and it was always to her detriment.
"I left the key under the mat."
"I'll be there soon. Good luck on your test bud. You'll do great."
The 26 year old smiled, thankful for the boost of confidence. "Thanks Brooke. I'll text you when I'm out."
Brooke walked out of her office towards Millie, "Mills I also-"
"Already let Michael know. Go." Her executive assistant urged. Millie smiled as she watched Brooke leave. No matter how old Sam got Brooke would still drop everything for the girl. Her baby.
Brooke found herself lost in thought as she drove all the way across town. It was Wednesday, four days since Luke and Sam had their falling out, and their daughter had made no attempt to talk to Luke.
Well, there was one attempt, but it was definitely not a success. Lucas had called Sam Monday evening. Brooke had heard the tail end of it.
"Sam can you at least understand where I'm coming from."
"And you have to understand where I'm coming from." Sam answered right back, "I literally come from Southside. And I guess if I would've been any kid from here you never would've even looked my way."
Lucas felt his frustration rise, "Samantha, you're my daughter! I love you, and you know that. I would give my life for you in a minute. Why are you bringing up all these 'what ifs'? They don't matter!"
"Yes they do!" Sam grew angry.
The father took a deep breath. He couldn't understand why Sam was so angry about this. He really thought it would've been over by now.
"Sammy, please." He spoke through a long, tired sigh, "Can you just come for dinner tomorrow? You may not care about what I think right now."
Sam felt that comment sting deep. Of course she cared.
"But the twins missed you and mom missed you today at dinner."
Sam looked down at the ground feeling guilty. She'd texted her mom she wasn't going, and Brooke had seemed okay with it. Honestly though, she had missed their weekly dinner ritual terribly too.
But she replayed her father's words in her head. How he thought she didn't belong there, and how she was too good for Southside. How even now when she asked if he changed his mind, it's like nothing had changed. She thought of the nightmare she kept having where her dad abandoned her.
"I already made plans."
Luke heard the click of the call and he did everything in his power to not crush the phone in his hands. How did a simple argument turn into this?
"Fucking hell!"
Brooke walked in just then.
Luke looked up to see his wife. "Babe." He shook his head desperate for this thing to be resolved already, "I don't know. I don't know what to do. She's so mad and so goddamn stubborn. And she thinks that I'm going to change my opinion on this, but I'm not."
Brooke sat by him on their bed and put an arm around his shoulders. She certainly missed Sam being home for dinner, but she also knew that Sam needed to truly hear her father out, and just like when she was a teenager they knew giving into her was not the right thing to do.
However, it seems like Lucas wasn't truly hearing her out either.
"You both are refusing to listen to each other."
"That's the whole reason I called her!" Luke argued his case, "So I could listen to her."
Brooke shook her head, "Think about how you went into that conversation. You're being defensive she doesn't need that."
"She needs to know that we can be on her side even though we don't agree with her." The father stood up, "I'm not coddling her on this Brooke. I'm not."
"I never said that's what you had to do. I think that her pride is getting in the way, yes, but she's also hurt Lucas."
Lucas swallowed hard. He looked at Brooke with a hint of pain in his eyes, "I'm not trying to hurt her."
"I know you're not hun. But I think right now, Sam's too upset and too prideful to see that."
"Should I just go to her place and talk to her? Has she talked to you about it?"
Brooke sighed, "Whenever I call her she tells me not to mention it. She agreed to come over Saturday for Riley's art show though. If it's not solved by that time, then that could be your opportunity."
Luke sat back down and laid his head on Brooke's shoulder, "I miss her living with us." He pouted slightly, "I miss her depending on us. I could just lift her onto my lap, even when she was mad, and hold her until she melted and calmed down and then we could talk it out."
"OW! CARTER, THAT HURT!" They heard Riley yell from downstairs.
Brooke chuckled at the coincidence.
"Luckily you still have two rambunctious ones to do that with still."
It made Lucas smile despite his worry, "Yeah, I suppose so."
… …. ….
Her thoughts took Brooke all the way to the small parking lot for Sam's apartment complex. She pulled her car into an empty spot and quickly walked towards the stairs.
She opened the door to her daughter's apartment and saw a small lump laid on the couch, hidden a bundle of covers with an episode of 'The Office' playing on the tv.
A very wet cough submerged and made the mother cringe.
"J-jack?" Sam's weak voice came.
"No peanut. It's me."
Sam got up and turned her head, not expecting her mother's voice at all. Unfortunately she'd gotten up too quickly and made herself dizzy. 'Oh shit.' She put a hand to her head and laid back down.
Brooke went over and sat near the edge where she could be near her daughter's head, "Don't move so fast little one." She cooed.
"I told Jack not to call you." Sam said her eyes closed, clearly relishing in the warm hand that was checking her over and stroking her hairline.
"And why would you do that?" Brooke rose a stern eyebrow, though her tone was still calm.
Sam just shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to talk much.
"Have you taken your temperature already?"
"Like 10 minutes ago. I'm at 102."
"Awww, baby." Brooke sympathized.
"I already took the medicine 10 minutes ago too. I'm just waiting for it to kick in."
Sam opened her watery eyes. There was something about Brooke's loving look, that even at her age, she just couldn't resist becoming Brooke's little girl, "I feel awful mama."
And just like that Sam was her younger self in Brooke's eyes. She didn't have her own full time job, live-in boyfriend, or responsibilities. She was Brooke's peanut, who was sick and needed some loving care.
"Come on baby, let's go into your bedroom so you can sleep. I'll lay with you."
Sam loved the sound of that. She unsteadily stood up, pulling on the strings of the gray hoodie she had on, and walked over to her room with her mother right behind. Sam immediately burrowed herself under the covers as Brooke looked at the mess of tissues around the bed. She shook her head and scooted them off towards the floor making a mental note to pick them up later.
Sam meanwhile was struggling to get comfortable, but she stopped squirming when her mother started to tuck the covers around her. The 24 year old could feel the medicine starting to kick in as she was becoming increasingly drowsier.
"I thought you were gonna lay with me?" Sam pouted slightly, and Brooke held in her smile as she put a hand to her daughter's forehead once more, "I will. I'm just going to get you a glass of water and I'll be right back."
By the time Brooke came back Sam was huddled into a ball, facing the door. During the time she was gone Sam had gotten a hold of Barry, and now held tightly to him. Her eyes were closed now, and her breathing heavy.
Brooke frowned out of sympathy. Her poor baby girl looked something awful. As quietly as possible she slipped off her shoes and climbed onto the bed. Without hesitation Sam moved to snuggle onto her mama's chest. It'd been a while since she had all her mom's attention like this. There were days that Sam wished she was still a girl, when she knew she could go home after a long day and her parents would always be there to snuggle her.
Jack was always there for her, but there was something about her mom and dad's arms that nothing else could compare to.
Sam was in Rebecca's car with Liz up front talking endlessly about her day to her mom. Meanwhile Sam stayed quiet as she watched the cars move across the highway. She wasn't upset about anything, she just felt tired.
The girl had stayed up all night finishing an Honors English project she had procrastinated on, and then had two tests that day on top of that. She was over at her mom's for that week and Brooke had scolded her for not managing her time the night before, even giving her an early bedtime for the rest of the week because of it! The girl held her tongue knowing that arguing would probably make it worse.
But honestly she was worried that her mom was mad at her for her irresponsibility, and that seed of thought kept nagging her all day. Then, to top it off, she had Glee practice after school, and had to wait another 45 minutes for Liz to get out of soccer practice because Luke was at an out of town game, and Brooke had some meeting she just couldn't miss apparently.
"Earth to Sam!" The 14 year old heard from the front of the car.
"Wha-waht?"
"Do you want Chipotle?" Liz asked once more.
Sam shrugged, "Yeah that sounds good."
Rebecca eyed Sam from her rearview mirror. "You alright Sammy?"
"Mhm. I'm just tired."
"Your mom'll pick you up by 8:30 alright?"
"Okay." The 14 year old tensed, she wondered if her mom would be even more mad because she was so tired and the only reason she was this tired was because she had stayed up. But at the same time all the girl wanted was to get a hug from her mom, thinking about the fact that she would have to wait another three hours to be where she felt at home made her tear up.
'Stop being a baby, you idiot!...Liz wouldn't cry for her mommy. Grow up.'
Sam curled into herself even further and sighed. Today just needed to end.
…. ….. …
"Hey auntie Brooke!" Liz opened the door, and greeted the fashionista. Brooke immediately wrapped her in a hug, "Hi babe. How was your day?"
Liz let the woman in and closed the door, "Alright. Soccer practice killed me but it's all good."
"How was the meeting?" Rebecca strode in from the kitchen, where she was working on answering some emails while Liz watched Keeping up With the Kardashians in the living room.
"Long." Brooke sighed, "The quarterly reports are looking good though. Looks like Michael thinks we're going into some pretty good profits, enough to start a new line."
Rebecca's eyes twinkled, but then shook her head, knowing that talking about business this late was not fair to either of them. Enough work talk. "We'll talk about it later." She smiled.
Brooke gave her a relieved look, "Where's my rugrat?" She would've expected Sam to come out from the kitchen as well.
Usually when she was picked up late the teen would eagerly gather her things and stand quietly near Brooke or Luke waiting for them to stop talking and surreptitiously fist onto the back of their shirt, letting them know she was ready to be home. Whenever that happened Brooke would whisper into Sam's ear, "We're almost home. Hold onto my hand baby." and Luke would gently pull her closer to his side and rub her back.
They were still working on her getting used to being in other places without them for longer periods of time.
"Passed out in mom's office" Liz so thoughtfully put, "She really likes mom's couch."
Rebecca handed the Chipotle bowl that Sam was unable to finish, "I got her to eat three our four bites, but she said she wasn't hungry anymore, and as they were working on homework she could not stay awake. So she went into the couch in my office at some point and was just completely asleep when I went looking for her. I didn't have the heart to wake her up."
"She stayed up doing a project for Haley's class of all things." Brooke explained with a slight smirk, "I called Haley and gave her a hard time about it and she just laughed."
Liz stood up, "I'll go wake her up."
"I got it Lizzie." Brooke said pressing a kiss onto her head before walking into Rebecca's office.
She saw her sleeping child and sighed. She remembered their morning and shook her head slightly amused.
The girl had thrown on an old gray t shirt that she slightly tucked in the front and let hang loosely around. Brooke was pretty sure it had been Jack's. She also had on her oldest pair of jeans and her black vans slip-ons. A vastly different outfit than one Brooke would've worn in high school.
The fashionista said nothing about it when Sam trudged into the kitchen, aside from a raised eyebrow that Sam rolled her eyes at, "I'm not changing." The teen grunted.
"I wasn't gonna make you." Brooke quipped, messing up her hair a little, just enough to make the tired girl groan.
But looking at Sam sleeping now though, Brooke realized the outfit certainly screamed 'Sammy' and she hoped that the girl never changed her own unique fashion sense.
She also silently thanked god that Liz hadn't come in because Sam's thumb was peacefully set in her mouth, her lips still slightly puckered around it.
She was pretty sure Sam would've been embarrassed if Liz had found out of her habit, no matter how many times Brooke and Luke assured her that she had nothing to be ashamed of.
She bent down so she could be eye level with the teenager and began to caress her cheek over and over again.
After hours of seeing perfectly polished men and women, the fresh, innocent face of her 14 year old- her chest evenly breathing. Up and down. Up and down- was exactly what she needed to be reminded that CEO of a huge fashion line was not her only role.
No, her most important role was mom.
"Hey Sammy.." She whispered, "Wake up, little one."
Sam's eyes slowly began to flutter open with the comforting feeling of a soft hand smoothing over her hairline.
Brooke broke into a smile when beautiful blue eyes looked at her.
"Good evening sleepy head." She whispered, gently bopping Sam's nose.
The 14 year old frowned. "Wha-what time is it?"
"It's almost 8."
"Already?" Sam's eyes widened.
"Becky told me you were really tired today." Brooke rose an eyebrow knowing exactly why.
Meanwhile Sam didn't appreciate the stern eyebrow her mom was giving her, and she was still too sleepy and worried about her mom being upset to tell that Brooke was joking.
The mother immediately noticed the watery eyes that Sam started to form.
"What's wrong peanut?"
Sam sat up and took a deep breath, wiping her eyes, "I-I'm sorry for procrastinating. Are you r-really mad at me?"
Out of habit she started to pull at her t shirt, refusing to look at her mother.
Brooke sat down on the couch and thoughtfully removed Sam's tight grip on her shirt. The girl's eyes peered over at her.
"Sorry." Sam tried not to look back down, "It's a habit."
Brooke laid the girl's hands onto her lap, "That's okay kiddo. I know you do it when you're nervous, I just want you to know you don't need to be nervous right now."
She hugged Sam tight with one arm, "I'm not upset with you. Dad and I will just have to make sure we're checking to make sure your work is getting done, but you are not in any trouble."
The mother felt the tension that Sam was holding in her body dissipate. She sighed deeply, reminded that there were moments where Sam still felt like she was on eggshells with them. Maybe one day that would end. But today was not that day.
"Come on." Brooke whispered, "Let's go home and you can relax more comfortably over there, okay? I'm not mad at you peanut." She gently pulled Sam out of her hug, so she could look at her, "You are not in trouble." She assured her, "Everyone procrastinates. I know I scolded you yesterday, but that was just the mom in me worried that you weren't going to get enough sleep." She gave her daughter a playful shove.
Sam smiled shyly. It was just the mom in Brooke. She had a mom. And a dad. And a home. Two homes to be exact. She was safe. She didn't have to be scared all the time anymore. Her parents never got upset with her out of sheer anger, it was out of worry for her. For her safety. For her well being.
"You got that peanut?"
"Yes, mama." Sam responded so sincerely that Brooke couldn't help but turn into putty.
"There's my good girl." She placed a hand on her side, "Let's go."
…. …. ….
Once home Brooke asked if Sam wanted hot chocolate. Sam looked at her mother confused, "I thought I had an early bedtime?"
An embarrassing 8:30 pm to be exact.
Brooke shrugged and pulled out two mugs, "I think one episode of the Fairly Odd Parents won't hurt."
Sam couldn't help when her eyes lit up.
Brooke caught the gleam of excitement in her kiddo's eyes, and the mother would do anything to keep that childish innocence in Sam forever. "Go shower and put on your PJs."
15 minutes later Sam came down with Barry in hand, and sure enough her mom was waiting on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate just for her.
She slid onto the couch and moved as close as she could into Brooke's side, holding the mug close to her.
"I know you had a long day sweetheart." Brooke put a gentle arm around her, "And I'm sorry if I made you think that I was upset at you."
Sam shook her head embarrassed at everything, and turned into her mother's side as if she could hide away, "I don't know why I was so worried." Her words muffled by Brooke's soft work blouse.
Meanwhile, Brooke smiled softly at the childish move.
"It happens love. Don't worry about it."
A quarter of the way into the episode Sam had put the mug down and laid her head on her mother's lap. She then pulled onto her mother's arm so it could wrap over her and began to play with the ring and on Brooke's hand.
By the time the episode had ended Sam was fast asleep once more. Her bear secure in her arms. Brooke fawned over how peaceful her daughter looked.
"Come on baby. Bedtime." She cooed to the sleeping form.
The 14 year old had barely registered when her mom moved from under her then picked her up into her arms to walk up the stairs.
She was fluttered awake however, when she felt her mom bending down to lay her in bed, "Nooooo." Sam whined from her spot on her mother's shoulder, wrapping her legs tighter around Brooke's waist.
The mother stopped, "What's wrong?"
"Wanna sleep with you." Her voice a notch below a whimper.
She hadn't gotten any cuddles from her mama yesterday, and today she'd been so worried that Brooke was mad at her. All she wanted was that reassurance she felt when asleep next to her parents.
And once more, the fashionista CEO melted, "Okay. Okay." She placated the fussy girl in her arms, patting her bottom twice, "Let's go to my room peanut."
Brooke walked over to her room and laid Sam where Luke usually slept when he stayed over, "Alright my tired girl. I'm gonna tuck you in, okay?"
"Barry?" Sam asked, noticing the absence of his presence, and missing his fuzziness in her arms.
"I got him right here." Brooke put the bear back in her daughter's arms. The teen immediately hugging him tight and unabashedly.
"Do you want your blanket too, sweetheart?"
Sam shook her head. She didn't need it whenever she slept with Brooke or Lucas.
"Alright let's get you comfy then." Sam curled in as her mom fixed the covers around her, and soon enough Brooke was cooing her little one back into deep sleep.
At 24 years old Sam still remembered so vividly how careful her mother was with her when she was 14 and mere months into living with them. How both her parents had so much patience for her doubts, so much love to be able to look past her insolence at times and see what was really there.
A scared young girl.
And now, sick as she was, she realized those same careful hands, and soothing voice were with her in that moment.
"What're you thinking about peanut?"
Sam shrugged and buried her face into her mom's side, "Nothing."
Brooke dropped a kiss on her head, "Go to sleep baby. I'll wake you up when it's time for more medicine."
…. ….. …
"Sammy. Sam. SAM."
It was a far away voice that kept calling her. She could hear it despite the taunts on her dad's behalf. The ones that told her she wasn't good enough. A waste of space. The taunts that were the reason for the hot tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Stop it!" She yelled at Luke and at the men now pulling her away from home, "Let me go!"
"Sam, wake up, wake up!"
She jolted up and opened her eyes terrified, sitting up quickly. "What-stop! I-"
Wait..It was. It was just. mom.
"You were dreaming sweetheart." Brooke explained, two hands on Sam's frail shoulders, pure concern in her eyes.
But Sam couldn't help it. She burst into tears.
"I thought that dad-I-I thought that you-" She shook her head and buried her head in her hands,
"Mommy." Sam cried, knowing mentally that her mom couldn't really fix this but a hug and sweet maternal words would at least ease her.
Brooke felt her heart sag as her daughter cried into her arms, "Oh sweetheart."
This wasn't a new occurrence. Sam was having nightmares almost daily since Luke and Sam's argument, but the fever she had donned made this particular dream seem so vivid. So emotionally terrifying.
Warm arms covered her. "Sammy, breathe." Brooke almost begged her, "You're already sick baby. Breathe in and out. Remember? Like we used to do it." Brooke whispered whilst rubbing soothing circles onto her back, and started to slow her own breathing down so Sam could follow her.
"He didn't want me. Daddy-he-It always happens! He didn't want me." Sam shuddered through her waning cries.
Brooke immediately knew that Sam's underlying emotions about the argument between her and Lucas were manifesting themselves in her subconscious.
"Shhhh." Brooke rocked them both, "It's not real peanut. Daddy loves you so much."
She wanted to ask how often these nightmares had been happening, but knew that right now was not the time.
It didn't take much after that for Sam to finally compose herself once more. She moved from her mother's embrace and wiped at her eyes. The gray hoodie engulfed her and made her look much younger than her age, "S-sorry." She looked away embarrassed, realizing that they had just reenacted a scene from Sam's youth. Something that she thought she'd moved past.
"I-that was, umm, it felt so real. I'm sorry."
Brooke could see right through it though. She could see her daughter was still hurt, still reeling from the nightmare, but trying so hard to act like it had passed.
"Samantha." She spoke more sternly, forcing Sam's eyes to lock with hers, "It's okay to still be upset about it."
The young woman shrugged, "I'm fine now."
Brooke was having none of it though, "Samantha Davis Walker." She scolded, "Your father and I have sat and consoled you through many of the painful nightmares you've had. We know you better than anyone, and you're going to sit there and try and lie to me right now?"
The scolding and the fact that she wasn't feeling well at all brought tears to the younger brunette's eyes, "N-no ma'am." She whispered feeling all of 14 years old again.
"That wasn't the first time, was it?"
Sam bit her lip.
"Sam." Brooke rose a stern eyebrow, making Sam squirm in her place and finally relent,"No...but it's not this bad usually."
Brooke stood up without another word and left the room. Sam watched her go nervously, unsure of what Brooke was doing.
"Your fevers back, you need more medicine." Brooke came back in saying. She handed Sam the cup and watched her grimace and swallow.
"Sammy, you need to talk to your dad." Brooke finally said it as she covered the girl's shivering shoulders with a blanket, "And tell him what you're really feeling."
"Mom, he already knows how I feel." Sam groaned before breaking into a coughing fit.
The mother handed Sam the water cup, "He doesn't know about your dreams. He doesn't know that you feel like he doesn't want you because of where you come from."
Sam's eyes widened. How had she known exactly that?
"You were muttering the whole time Sammy. I heard a lot."
Sam just looked down at her hands and sniffled, "I hate this." She whispered in a watery voice, laying her head onto her mother's shoulder, "I hate being mad at dad, I hate my stupid dream, and I hate being so sick."
"I don't like you so worked up like this either Sammy."
Sam moved her head up slightly, "C-can we just watch tv?" Her lower lip pouting up at Brooke. The mother sighed knowing Sam was avoiding her thoughts, but she wouldn't force her to do anything, "If that's what you want to do but you need to hear me, Sam, this won't stop, until you and your dad make up."
Sam restrained from rolling her eyes and only mumbled out an 'I know.'
…. …. …..
"You're here a day early!" Carter opened the door excitedly and hugged his older sister. Sam was supposed to have gotten home Saturday morning, but she surprised him by being at their door by 6 pm Friday.
Her parents had known, but the twins hadn't.
The boy embraced her and hugged her tight. Sam looked him over as if they hadn't seen each other last week. He was in a white Nike tee shirt and soccer shorts. "Jesus Carter, how are you already getting taller than me?"
"I'm gonna be dad's height, watch." He smiled brightly, flexing his bicep. Sam rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Where's Riley?"
"Mom's picking her up from school right now. She was helping setting up for tomorrow's art show...DAD! Sammy's here!"
"Coming!" They heard Luke yell from upstairs.
Sam cringed. She was hoping that she'd get a chance to settle in a bit before having to face her dad. The whole reason of her coming home Friday was for them to have some time alone to talk, and well, Sam was kind of dreading it.
"Here, I'll take your things to your room." Carter grabbed Sam's bag and rushed up while Sam went into the kitchen for a cup of water.
Luke quietly stood at the archway of their kitchen. He watched Sam with bated breath. The whole day he thought about how he was going to talk to his daughter without it blowing up in his face.
'You have to truly listen to what she's telling you.' Brooke's words kept ringing true.
And so Luke did something that for some reason he hadn't thought of doing before. He looked up the Southside group home online and read of all the programming and outreach they did for the foster kids there. His heart soared as he read Sam's biography online and the pivotal role she played at the home. And although he still had his concerns about Sam working there, he knew that he had to fix the way he'd framed it all.
His daughter was a superstar in her own right, and he just couldn't see past her simply being his baby girl.
"Shit." Sam put a hand to her heart, "You scared me."
The young woman was not expecting her dad to be standing there.
Luke pushed himself from where he was leaning, "Hey you. Long time, no see."
He walked over around the large marble island and pulled her in for a hug, which Sam accepted, "I missed you." He told her with a kiss to her cheek.
Sam couldn't help but agree despite the pent up hostility that had been building up, "I-I missed you too."
Just as Lucas was about to say something, the sound of the front door opening and slamming harshly stopped him. Both father and daughter went to see what the ruckus was.
"Why did you do that?!" They heard Riley yell right at Brooke, her face laced in anger, "Why didn't you just leave it alone?!"
Brooke folded her hands across her chest, standing at a much more impressive height in her heels and black dress than the 4 foot 5 inched 11 year old in her schoolgirl uniform.
"Riley, that girl was bullying you, wasn't she?"
"I was handling it!" Riley argued, and she truly felt like she was. Sarah Peters already use her being a 'nerdy art geek' as her joke. Now she could add mama's girl to the mix. Besides they were just jabs. Riley was used to those. She had her own set of friends, and Sarah had hers. Riley had thick skin she didn't need her mom swooping in. Carter already did that plenty. She wasn't fragile!
"Riley, sweetheart, ducking your head and walking quicker is not handling it." Brooke scoffed in frustration.
So, yes, maybe Brooke may have come off a little too strong, but she had not expected to hear the sly comments thrown at her baby girl!
Riley had been taking an unusually long time and Brooke decided to go inside and check if she needed help, but when she rounded the corner to where the lockers were she caught sight of how that Sarah Peters girl treated her daughter.
'Hey Riley girl, the nerdy girl."
Brooke narrowed her eyes. Riley said nothing she just rolled her eyes and told Sara to leave her alone.
"What? You have so much to say in class, but you're just a punk outside of it, right?"
"Whatever, Sarah." Riley mumbled walking towards the exit.
"Hope you don't get any milk spilled on you again!"
And that's when it all hit Brooke.
"HEY!" Brooke yelled from across the hall, "That's my kid!"
Both Sarah and Riley jumped.
Riley watched, her face a deep red, as her mother stalked over.
"Mom, what are you-"
Brooke held up a hand, "Stay right where you are sweetheart." Her voice left no room for argument, and so Riley watched as her mother scolded Sarah for being "nasty" and "rude as hell, " and how lucky she was that Sarah wasn't her daughter.
Riley wasn't particularly fond of being her mother's daughter in that moment either. She averted her eyes as Sarah kept darting her stare from Brooke to Riley.
Brooke warned her to stay away from her daughter, then she went over with Sarah in tow and walked into the auditorium where the art show was to be held and demanded to talk to the administrator available.
By that time it was all over Sarah was terrified and Riley was mortified. Her mother had made an even bigger scene in front of the students and teachers that were still there.
"I suggest Mr. Davila, that you get this school's affairs in order. How is it possible that I walk into the school and hear this student berating my daughter?"
"Ma'am-"
"No! Don't ma'am me! This student has been harassing my daughter for a while now."
"I have not!" Sarah weakly argued.
"So you're going to look at me and your vice principal and say you had nothing to with spilling milk all over my child?"
Sarah couldn't help when her eyes teared up.
Riley saw as everyone in the room locked eyes with the scene in front of them and with her as well. Her cheeks grew red hot.
"I really hope that when I come back tomorrow for my daughter's art show, you can give me a detailed report on the disciplinary action that she'll face."
"I can't give her a consequence without any solid proof." Mr. Davila tried to explain, "Riley has to be the one to say something."
Brooke whipped her head around and was surprised to see the amount of anger in her child's face, "Riley-"
The 11 year old shook her head adamantly, "No!" And ran off. She couldn't believe her mom had just done that.
Brooke pointed a finger right at Sarah, "I don't even want catch a whiff of you bullying my daughter."
She only glared at the vice principal before she walked out in search of Riley.
"Riles!" Brooke called as her daughter was almost out the door. But the girl didn't listen, she went straight to the car.
"Riley" Brooke tried again, "Why didn't you want to talk to Mr. Davila?"
"You mean after that scene you made?! Leave me alone." She growled. The mother took a deep breath.
"And having you come in like some crazy lady isn't going to help either!" Riley yelled throwing her hands up, "I don't care what she says mom! I really don't. And it's stupid that you care more about it then I do!"
"Riley, watch. Your. tone." Brooke warned.
But Riley was too worked up to see reason.
"Everyone in my art class saw you!" Riley felt herself redden with anger, "All the teachers that were helping saw. And you just kept going off. I didn't want you doing that! Just leave me and whatever goes on at school alone! You don't run the school! You're not the boss! You're just ONE parent. So BACK THE HELL OFF!"
The tirade stopped when a firm arm grabbed a hold of her, her pleated skirt was pushed up above her panties and she was held firmly to someone's side. She looked around in her confusion. It was her dad.
By the time she realized what was happening she could only yell out a 'no Daddy, don't!,' but despite her plea, her father's hand connected to her cotton clad bottom a total of six swift times. The almost 12 year old couldn't help but squirm and yelp with every spank.
She was immediately righted and Lucas looked at her with a stone stern stare. He bent to her eye level and kept two hands on her shoulders while the girl put her hands under her skirt to rub the sting out. Her haughty demeanor no longer existent.
"You do not ever talk to your mother, you do not talk to me, or any adult like that again. I don't care how upset you are young lady. That was beyond disrespectful."
Riley could only respond with silent tears. It had been a long while since either twin received more than one or two swats. "Is that understood?"
"But daddy-" Riley knew if anyone would understand it'd be her dad.
Lucas shook his head, not accepting any excuses, "Unless your answer is 'No sir or Yes sir' I suggest you don't say it. Now did I make myself clear, or do you and I need to have a discussion upstairs?"
"No sir." Riley whispered, knowing that said discussion would involve her going over her dad's knee, and she most certainly didn't want any more sting added to her warmed tush.
And it was now clear neither of her parents wanted to listen to her today. She looked down at the floor, her ears turning beet red as she fidgeted with the end of her skirt. She had just noticed Sam was there.
The father was relieved that she hadn't put up a fight. He was not mentally prepared to spank his littlest baby. The baby that was the most like him.
Luke looked to Brooke who had both a face of sadness and frustration written all over it.
"Riley" Brooke began, "I want you to go upstairs shower and get changed for bed. When you're done, You will go into our room, not yours, sit on the bed and write what you're feeling down. You can use the pen and paper on my nightstand. I'll be up in 45 minutes."
Riley was still refusing to look at her.
"Go." Brooke ordered, leaving no room for discussion and the preteen ran up the stairs, happy for the reprieve to be away from everyone.
"Carter, down here please." The father already knew that the boy was ready to comfort his sister, but that is not what Riley needed in the moment.
The boy trudged down, "I wasn't gonna go in there." He muttered once at the bottom of the steps, "Mama, are you okay?" The boy realized his mom looked rather upset.
Brooke took in a shuddering breath, "I'm okay Carter."
Carter went over and hugged her tightly, "I'm sorry Riley yelled at you." Brooke chuckled a bit and hugged him tight, "My sweet boy."
"Hey Carter, why don't we go into the media room and you teach me how to play that Fortnight game." Sam tried to give their parents space. It was obvious they needed it. Carter nodded, knowing no wasn't an option and was led down by his big sister.
Brooke immediately walked into the kitchen and sat down on the island her head in her head hands as she took deep breaths.
Riley's words rang like a clanging bell in her head.
A gentle arm was placed around her shoulders, "What happened?"
And Brooke told him exactly what Sarah had said and how she had retaliated. Lucas listened quietly and felt sympathy for both his wife and his daughter.
"I can't believe she yelled at me like that. She must've gone certifiably crazy if she really thought she'd get away with it." Brooke lifted her head with a deep sigh, "Did I embarrass her that bad?"
"You were upset."
"Would you have done the same thing?" She asked.
Luke looked away and Brooke knew his answer, making her groan deeply, "I wasn't going to let her just stand there and take it Lucas!"
"She was walking away." Lucas pointed out, "And you said Riley was telling her to stop."
"And that little brat wasn't listening to her, she would've just kept doing it the next day and the day after that."
"Babe, I just think that she handles things differently than you do. You went in there ready to shed blood. And our girl is 11, I don't think having your mom going in like that would bode well with any preteen."
"I was trying to protect her." Brooke put a hand to her forehead and looked towards the window, fearing the passage of time, fearing that Riley would soon enter her teenage years and parenting her would be even harder. She kept everything so close to her chest. "...She's so different from me." It pained the mother to admit.
Luke frowned, "I'd argue in a lot of ways you're the same."
"She's introverted, like you, and hasn't learned to not bottles things up 'til she's ready to explode. She doesn't wear her heart on the sleeve like Carter does." Brooke said, "She loves to do all the things I would scoff at while we were in school, and she already looks at the world with such a deep moral compass. She's nothing like me when I was her age."
"She's stubborn to a fault when she thinks she's right." Luke added, "Kind of like someone I know."
The mother chuckled,
"Her artistic and spatial eye definitely comes from you. You channel it through fashion, and she does it through drawing and painting, and that heart of gold she has well that comes from both of us."
…. …. ….
Riley stared at the white paper in front of her angrily. How was it that she was the one who was made fun of by Sarah, thoroughly embarrassed by her mom, but somehow ended up being punished?
It was stupid. Stupid and unfair.
Could she write that down on the paper? The slight sting on her bum told her maybe that wasn't such a smart choice, although her mom did say to write down all her feelings? So why not?
By the time she got all her thoughts down, although reluctant to admit it, she had calmed down some. She played with the corner of the paper as she thought about the words she'd thrown at her mom...which, well was the real reason her dad swatted her in the first place.
'Stupid brain.' She mumbled to herself and although a bit reluctantly decided to add one last bit to her letter. An apology.
Thank god their housekeeper had recently washed her and Carter's clothes. Carter's old soccer tshirt and her favorite ankle cuffed giraffe printed bottoms had that familiar detergent scent that Riley loved so much. At least that could comfort her as she sat in her parents' vast bed.
Eventually, she turned the page and started drawing a random pattern of overlapping circles. The mindless motion started soothing her and took her mind off the fact that her mother would be coming in very soon.
The door had been left open to her room so Brooke hardly made a sound when she walked into the room. She took note of her daughter's pajamas and wanted to shake her head. How could the same girl that wanted to bite her head off only an hour ago look so adorable now?
The 11 year old was so focused on her drawing she wouldn't have even noticed her mother anyway. That was another quirk of Riley's, Brooke noted. Her ability to block everything out and daydream.
It wasn't until Brooke sat next to her and removed the notebook from Riley's hands that the girl looked up wide eyed at her mother.
When had she gotten there?!
Brooke looked over the circular pattern drawn all over the paper. Riley watched her mother's movements, unsure and unable to read her.
"Is this all you did while you were up here?" Alluding to the possibility that her daughter had not followed her directions.
The 11 year old knew better than to give any unneeded attitude. She silently shook her head and flipped the page to what she wrote before looking back down at her lap. She did not want to apologize to her mama just yet. It was still her fault all of this happened in the first place.
Brooke looked the page over and then back at her squirmy daughter who was looking everywhere except at her.
She's nervous. Brooke thought. Feeling bad for the girl and despite her frustration with Riley, she slightly leaned in and kissed the side of her daughter's head before reading what she'd wrote.
The momentary reprieve, the slight affection on behalf of her mother, was the perfect offering that Riley didn't even realize she needed...and really wanted.
It annoyed the girl that now she wanted more of her mom's touch, especially because she was still kind of upset at her. She crossed her arms across her chest and huffed loudly. As if her physical reaction could push away at the gnawing need for her mama. She was basically 12 years old after all, she didn't need any of that stuff….right?
Brooke eyed the girl curiously but did not say anything yet, choosing to let her stew in her thoughts. She went back to the paper in her hand.
I'm mad that you yelled at Sarah in front of everyone at school. I'm mad that you made this a big deal when it wasn't even like that, and the people in my art class saw it. I don't care about Sarah. She's just a dumb girl. So she spilled the milk on me and that made me mad and I felt stupid and horrible when it happened, but it doesn't mean I need to be treated like a baby because of it. I'm okay. And sometimes it feels like you, dad, and Carter think I can't handle things. Like I always need to be protected or something. I don't. I don't need that. And I guess that's why I got mad.
I'm really sorry I yelled at you. Sammy always tells me to take three deep breaths if I'm really mad and want to say something mean to Carter. I guess I should've done the same thing. I know that you were trying to help me. It just still sucks. I am sorry about that mama.
Brooke exhaled and folded the paper, putting it aside and then looking to her youngest child. The girls hands were being wrung tightly as she looked to the floor.
"Before I say anything about what you wrote in here Riley, I want to make one thing extremely clear, and you need to look right at me for this."
The 11 year old gulped and forced her head up. Her mom did not look pleased at all and it made her want to melt right into the sheets. Where was the mama that had just kissed her head?
"You told me to leave you alone and that I'm not the boss while you're at school."
"Mama-" Riley cursed herself for the meek sound that came out of her mouth.
Brooke lifted one finger, "You are listening right now. Not one word."
Riley nodded, and bit her tongue, wanting so bad to explain herself.
"I'm sorry to let you down Riley, but I am your mother, so that means that in fact, I am your boss. Until you are out of our house, able to sustain yourself on your own, then dad and I will always have a major say in what you do or do not do. You crossed a line Riley Scott, and I don't know where you got it in your head to yell at me the way you did today."
Riley felt her eyes water and was about to move her head away but Brooke didn't allow it. "I'm not done. Look at me."
Brooke patiently waited for her youngest to meet her eyes once more. "That attitude needs to be reigned in or you'll find yourself rubbing that bottom more than you'd like."
Riley blushed and bit the inside of her cheek. Today just really freakin' sucked.
The mother gave her a moment to let everything sink in, "But I know it took a lot to apologize in your letter, and I appreciate it. I know that you meant it. We love you Riley. Too much to let you get away with acting like that.. Is that understood?
"Yes ma'am." Riley answered.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"I-I am really sorry mom." She sniffled out.
"I know you are princess." The mother picked up the letter, "And I'm sorry I reacted the way I did Riley. My protective instincts kicked in. I saw the way that Sarah girl was treating you and I wasn't going to let her get away with it. It's not fair to you, bug. You shouldn't have to endure that. The way she's treating you. I won't tolerate that."
The 11 year old shrugged, "I don't really care though. She's just mad because I'm smarter than her in class."
This made Brooke chuckle, loving the confidence that Riley had in her intelligence.
"I know I embarrassed you Riley. I do know that and I regret it."
The girl frowned, choosing to say nothing.
"I didn't mean to come off like a crazy woman. I know what it's like being in middle school and having your mom do what I did isn't exactly cool."
"O-okay." The girl murmured clearly still not over it.
"I'll try my best to not go off like that again." She held out her pinky and Riley smiled a bit giving her mom her own pinky. "Pinky promise." The both said together.
But then Brooke sighed and scooted a little bit closer, knowing this next part might not go as well, "I want you to know that I'm going to get a hold of Sarah Peter's mothers information and I'm going to call her and let her know what her daughter has been up to. I think that's the route I should've taken in the first place."
"But mommy, I don't want you to!" Riley cried.
Brooke knew that her daughter would not take the news well, "I know you don't." Brooke explained, "And I hear you Riley. But as your mother I can't sit by and know that this girl is doing this to you."
"You're just going to make it worse!" Riley argued, feeling herself starting to get angry again.
Brooke looked into the frustrated green eyes that were piercing into her. The mother had no idea if this was the right decision or not, but she just felt in her heart that she had to do it.
"If it gets worse, you need to tell me."
Riley scoffed and scooted away from her mom, "Why can't you just drop it?"
"I'm sorry Riley, but I won't."
"Daddy would!"
"Daddy and I talked and decided that this was the best choice."
Riley felt hot tears hit her eyes once more. Even her dad agreed to this?! Meanwhile, Brooke wished that Riley would allow herself a hug but it was clear that she was too worked up about this.
"This is so unfair!" Riley cried, pulling her knees up to her chest and looking away from her mother. She wanted to be left alone, but this wasn't even her own damn room! God, all of this sucked.
"Riley, bug, we're just trying to do right by you. And daddy and me we definitely know you can handle things on your own. I'm sorry if you've ever felt otherwise. I want you to know that we're proud of how independent you are. How creative and unique you are. But princess, you're still only 11 years old-"
"I'm almost 12." She whispered fiercely from her place hidden in her knees and arms.
"Okay," Brooke hid her eye roll, "Okay, you're still only almost 12 years old. There's a lot of things you still need to learn. And one thing I want you to learn from this is that it's never okay to let someone treat you like you're less than. Because you're not."
Riley didn't move from her spot. She didn't react. She didn't look at her mom. She kept her head hidden in her arms and sniffled through tears.
The mother put a gentle hand on the girl's back and rubbed soft circles. As much as Riley wanted to deny it, the movement was soothing.
"You're upset and mad at me," Brooke spoke softly. Riley just sniffled, refusing to look up at her mother out of capriciousness..
Stubborn like a mule. Brooke thought
"But that's okay, princess. We won't always get along, and the decisions I make as your mom won't always be the ones that you want. But they will be the ones that I believe you need. I love you Riley bug."
Still no reaction besides her soft sniffles.
"And when you're ready for a hug and a cuddle I'll be there for you too."
But honestly, the mother was disappointed that Riley was more than likely going to go to sleep angry with her.
"We want you in bed early tonight because of the way you acted downstairs."
God, she really was just the bearer of all bad things for her youngest today.
"You can stay here or go sleep in your room. But daddy and I want you in bed by 8:00. One of us will check on you then. Understood?"
The girl finally lifted her head. Glistening green eyes looked up desperately at her mother, "B-but I wanna sleep with Carter." She blinked and a few stray tears fell from her long eyelashes, ones that always framed her delicate face perfectly.
"Please mom." She was ready to pour over tears if her mother denied her request. She wanted to snuggle with her brother and fall asleep to him watching dumb youtube videos on his Ipad attempting to laugh quietly, though Carter was always horrible at being covert.
Brooke wiped the tears on Riley's cheek with the pad of her thumb and smiled softly, glad that her little girl finally looked up, "Okay, okay. No more crying, bug. You can sleep with your brother if you'd like."
"Can I go now?" Riley asked quietly defeated.
Brooke nodded sadly and without another word Riley got off her mom's bed and walked out. She really didn't want to be around her mama at that point and was itching to be away from adults in general.
Brooke watched her walk into her own room and leave with a book and her hippo into Carter's. They made eye contact for a moment before the preteen shut the door as silently as she could.
Brooke rubbed a hand through her hair. God, she'd forgotten what parenting a teenager was like. It was a while since Sam had been that age, and even still, Riley and Carter would be a whole other ball game.
….. …. …..
"Is mommy done talking to Riles?" Carter immediately asked his father when Luke made his appearance in the media room where Sam and Carter were playing fortnite. Well Carter was pretty much destroying Sam, while the older sister was pretty much trying her best to stay interested.
He nodded, "Yes sir, bud."
Carter paused the game, "Can I go upstairs with her after I pummel Sam one more time?"
"Hey! You jerk." Sam chuckled.
"What? You're horrible at this game." He snickered leaning into her shoulder.
She playfully poked at his side and he jumped away with a short yelp, "I'm ticklish!"
"She's up in your room." Lucas mentioned sitting down by Sam and giving her a small smile.
"Is Riley okay?" Sam asked her father.
"She's mad at the situation."
Carter rolled his eyes, "Mom has a point though. Sarah's always bugging her, at least now she'll probably stop."
"She's also upset by the way you're mom went in there."
"So she went in Brooke Davis mode?" Sam joked.
"Definitely Brooke Davis mode. And I think she's feeling pretty powerless in the situation, so she's acted out because of it."
"Is mommy still gonna go back and raise hell?"
"Carter, what are you talking about?" Luke said completely confused as to how his son knew so much of the situation.
The boy shrugged, "I wasn't eavesdropping. Dave texted me because his friend Shawna was there when mom yelled. He said that she said that mom told Mr. Davila that she was going to come back and it would be worse if he hadn't fixed things."
Luke looked to Sam, who looked equally confused and impressed by how quickly Carter stringed that sentence together, then back to Carter, "We're going to handle it. Mom isn't going to go down and 'raise hell' and I don't know what all these kids are saying Carter but-"
"Don't worry dad. It's not like the whole school knows. Dave just knows Shawna. It's whatever."
Luke massaged his neck, "Just...just let us know if-"
"If mama made things worse for Riles?" He put ever so bluntly.
"Tell me first, I'll break it to mama, if that's the case."
Carter nodded with a smile, "Okay." Lucas took a deep breath and hugged his boy tight, "I love you big boy."
The boy relished the hug, "Love you too daddy."
Carter let go first then hopped off his seat, "I'm gonna go with Riley. Sammy can you come up later and watch a movie with us?"
"Riley has an early bedtime bud." Lucas broke the news.
"Awww, but dad-"
"No whining, Carter. That's her punishment."
"Fine." He frowned, "Can you watch a movie with me later?"
"Sure bud. I'd love to."
"Awesome!" He grinned and headed up to check on his baby sister.
It was just Luke and Sam now along with the sound of the combat game's soundtrack in the background. Up until Luke grabbed the remote and turned the game off.
Silence.
The tension between them was still there. Thick.
"So today took a turn for the unexpected." He slightly joked, "I'd still like to talk to you champ, if you're still up for it."
Sam nodded, "Yeah."
"If I'm honest with you it's been eating away at me." Luke told her as Sam got a bit more comfortable on the couch.
"Me too." She admitted.
"And mama told me you were sick. I'm glad you feel better peanut."
"I'm just a little congested but that's it." She looked away, hating that things could feel so awkward between them. This was her dad.
"She also told me about the dream you've been having lately, sweetheart. The one she heard while at your apartment."
That caught her off guard. She bit her lip feeling slightly embarrassed that her dad knew the fact that she'd been having a nightmare about him.
Luke grabbed a hold of her hands, "Samantha, my intention was never to make you feel like I thought less of you because of where you came from. It kills me to know that you thought that and were having dreams because of it."
"It's oka-"
"No, it's not okay." Luke cut her off, "I want you to know that I am extremely proud of every aspect of who you are, including where you come from. I'm hesitant of your plans only because I was, and maybe still am, so scared to see you stay in a place that gave you so many bad memories."
"Dad, I can handle it. I'm older now." She seemed so confident, so much more mature in Lucas's eyes as he heard her speak, "I'm not 16 years old anymore and hurting. I can do this. I've been doing it."
"I know you have." Lucas conceded, "You know I, well I looked up where you work and I read about everything you've been doing."
Sam looked at him surprised. "You did?"
"I did. And I got to read about the impact you've been making. I wasn't thinking of any of that when I reacted to your news. I was just thinking about the fact that I wanted you out of the place where you were hurt so much."
"So you, you don't hate Southside?"
"I hate what happened to you there." Luke clarified, "I hate that I wasn't there and people took advantage of you. I hate that my little girl was alone there for so much of her life."
"Daddy I'm not alone anymore. I'm not weak anymore."
Lucas felt his eyes water, "Sam, you never were weak. You've always been my strong girl. My strong little one."
"It just felt like you were dismissing this whole part of who I was and that really hurt dad."
Luke leaned in and pressed a kiss onto her daughter's forehead. "I am so, so sorry peanut. That's not what I was trying to do at all. I think I had a moment with you like your mom had with Riley."
Sam snorted, "Oh God."
"You know your mom." Lucas quipped, "But all the same, you know me, and all my protective instinct kicked in and I couldn't help but put my foot in my mouth. I just thought of everything from your past and it makes me sick to think about it."
"I shouldn't have freaked out either." Sam admitted sheepishly, "I always tell my girls to actively listen to one another...guess I should've taken my own advice."
"Sammy, I'm your father and I'll support you in your endeavors, but know that even though I may disagree with you sometimes it doesn't mean that I think of you or your ideas any less."
Sam silently moved to lay her head on her father's lap.
Her affection a sign of forgiveness. The olive branch that Lucas was waiting for. The father was pleasantly surprised. He automatically ran his hand through her hair.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, peanut?"
"Did Riley ask more about it? About what happened to me at Southside?"It was a nagging thought in the 24 year old's head the past week.
Her sister hadn't asked or texted her, but she knew that Riley was too smart and too pensive to let something like that slide.
"We talked to her. She didn't understand how you could've been put through what you did."
Sam closed her eyes tightly, trying to will away tears laden with heavy memories. She didn't want to cry. She hadn't cried about her traumas in a while...But that's the funny thing about trauma. It creeps up on you when you least expect it. It overwhelms and overpowers years and years later.
She fought the urge and took three deep breaths. "Wha-what did you guys tell her?" She curled her legs in to be closer to her father.
Lucas could hear the emotion in his child's voice and was reminded of a conversation they had with her therapist towards a few years back.
Remember that what Sam went through will never leave her. She will have days where it hurts a lot more. It doesn't matter how old she gets. Those memories will always be there, and sometimes she will have to grieve those things. And that is okay. It's not a setback. It is a normal human emotion and experience. Trauma doesn't leave a person. It never will. But she's gotten so much better at dealing with it and accepting it. As her parents you should be immensely proud. I know as her therapist I am. Things could've easily gone another way for her, but they didn't. Remember that.
He continued to run his hand through her hair as he pieced together his words, "We told her that you suffered through abuse. But we didn't go into any detail. We just said that some people really hurt you mentally and physically. It's up to you Sam, if you want to tell the twins about what exactly happened to you. It's your story and your life to tell."
"Not now." Sam managed to say, sitting back up, but closing her eyes again as a few tears fell, "I-I don't think I can."
Meanwhile, Lucas felt that familiar feeling he always used to get when Sam was younger and she sat in his lap crying after a nightmare. It was rage and sadness mixed together. It was his heart in his throat and his blood pulsing quickly through his veins. It was the daddy in him that wanted to hold and rock his daughter until she fell into a peaceful sleep, and the father in him that wanted to tear everyone who hurt her daughter to pieces.
"There's no rush champ. It's on your time."
Another three deep breaths, pushing the rage of memories that began to swirl in her head back to the side streets of her mind. She forced her eyes back open and laid her head on the side of her dad's arm.
"I think if one of them asks me I'll tell them some things about it, but I don't know if I could ever just decide to tell them everything."
Luke moved his arm so Sam could lay comfortably into his side, "I think that sounds like a good plan. And if you're not ready you just tell them that, and if they keep pushing, talk to me or mama."
Sam nodded and felt her body shudder. Without thinking, she turned into her dad. Lucas hugged her tight and gave her multiple kisses to her head, "I'm here champ. I will always be here."
The girl breathed his scent in and listened to his voice. Two things that always helped her get out of her head.
…. …. ….
"Why'd you yell at mama?" Carter asked the moment he sat down next to Riley on his bed.
Riley shrugged, "I'm reading Carter, leave me alone."
"Well you're in my room." He forced the book out of her hands.
"HEY!"
"I'll give it back to you once you answer my question."
Jesus, was everybody against her today?
"I just got mad, okay? You wouldn't have liked it if she went all crazy mode at school either, so can you just drop it?"
"It looked like she wanted to cry when you went up to your room." He stated simply, crossing his arms against his chest, just like Luke did when he was unimpressed with one of them.
This made Riley pause for a second. She'd never seen her mama cry after scolding one of them. Her mama was always no nonsense when it came to discipline. Why would she have cried?
"You hurt her feelings."
Riley narrowed her eyes, "N-no I didn't."
The 11 year old did not like the sound of that.
Carter scoffed, "Yeah Riles. You did. She was sad and dad was talking to her in the kitchen to make her feel better. I saw them when I went to get a bowl of chips for Sam and me."
Riley let herself fall onto Carter's bed, "I just got mad, I-I didn't want to hurt mama's feelings!"
Carter laid down next to her and rested his head on his hand, "Are you still mad at her?"
Riley frowned, "a little bit yeah."
"Sarah's a jerk, Riles. I've been wanting to beat her up since the beginning of this year, but I can't because she's a girl. I'm kinda happy mom did that."
Riley chuckled, "It doesn't matter that she's a girl."
"Yeah it does! Boys can't hit girls."
"Girls aren't any weaker than boys. That's stupid."
Carter rolled his eyes knowing that he could never win an argument like this with Riley, "Fine. Fine. Whatever you say."
"You wouldn't beat anyone up anyways. You'd be too scared of daddy spanking you."
"Like the way he spanked you today?" Carter shot back.
She frowned and glared at him, "Shut up Carter."
He chuckled, "You should've seen daddy's eyes when you started yelling. They were so big I thought they were gonna pop outta his head!"
Riley only glared while Carter cracked himself up. He sat up and wrapped his arms around his sister, "But seriously, I'm sorry mama did that Riles. That really sucks. But I don't think it'll be a big deal at school, or even at your art show."
"Everyone at the art show knows what mom did though."
"Parents go crazy all the time. It's not a big deal. Besides your my sister."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Everyone loves me." He joked with a bright smile that not even Riley could argue with, "So that means everyone loves you."
"You're such a dummy."
"But you love me, right?"
"I have to love you. You're my brother."
"I'm your twin to be exact."
A few minutes later Sam walked into the room. She hadn't gotten a chance to say hi to her baby sister and wanted to do so before her parents made Riley go to bed.
When the 24 year old walked in Riley immediately looked away, avoiding her sister's eye contact. She wasn't excited about her sister trying to "talk" to her about what had happened. And also Sam had never seen her get spanked more than a swat or two before and it really embarrassed her that she'd witnessed it that evening.
Luckily Sam was able to anticipate this. "Carter, can I talk to Riles?"
"But this is my room." He protested.
"Beat it, kid. Gimme like 10 minutes with Riles."
The boy rolled his eyes and stomped out of the room, "Fine then." He mumbled.
"Hey kiddo. I didn't get to say hi to you today and I wanted to give you a big hug before you went to bed." Sam sat by where Riley was reading in the nook of Carter's room.
"You're not gonna yell at me too, are you?"
Sam chuckled, "Pretty sure mom and dad did plenty of that already...you okay though?"
Riley shrugged, "I'm not happy. I know that."
The older sister sympathetically frowned, "Well, you can always talk to me if you want about what you're feeling."
Riley sighed, "I just...wanna stop talking about it." The preteen answered honestly. Sam brought her legs up onto the ledge they were sitting on.
"Well do you mind if I just sit here with you for a bit?"
"I don't think you fit." The youngest sister chuckled, "You have to be little like me."
Sam rolled her eyes, "You jerk. I fit."
"Barely."
Sam yawned and laughed at the same time. Riley put her book down when she took notice of the tired expression on her big sister's face. Sam closed her eyes and rested her head on the window for a moment.
"Did you have a long day at work?" She asked curious.
"A bit." It was really the emotional rollercoaster that she'd just had with her dad that tired her out,
"I guess I'm just glad to be home with you carter, and mom and dad." She turned to face her sister, "I'm excited for your art show tomorrow. I can't wait!"
"I'm really excited for you to see one of my pieces!" Riley exclaimed, allowing herself to move out of her wallowy mood for a moment.
"Can I ask what it is, or does it have to be a surprise?"
Riley smirked. The painting was actually related to Sam and she was very proud of it, "It's a surprise!"
"I hate surprises."
"I drew it at school, so mom and dad haven't seen it yet either."
"Has Carter seen it?"
"Yeah, but I made him swear on mom not to say anything."
Sam's eyes widened, "Wow. That's intense."
"Well he can be a blabbermouth so…"
Sam leaned in and kissed her little sister's forehead, "Even though I hate surprises, now I'm even more excited to go tomorrow. We're all super proud of you."
"Well it doesn't feel like it right now." Riley grumbled, crossing her arms and looking out the window. Wallowy mode back on and not following her own decision to stop talking about 'it', "They punished me, and they're gonna talk to that girl's mom even though I don't want them to." She stayed quiet for a moment, and looked away, "Plus mom never gets mad at Carter the way she gets mad at me."
Sam moved closer, "Riles." The young woman sighed, "They punished you because of the way you reacted in the living room. You really screamed at mom pretty intensely."
"Well I was mad!"
"I know you were." Sam placated, "And I get that. I've done it before too, and I got in trouble just like you did."
Riley felt a blush rise all the way to her ears, "Daddy spanked you for it?"
"Both of them have smacked my butt for going overboard on the yelling."
"But you were older than me when you moved in with them." Riley pointed out.
"Still happened to me though."
"Great." Riley replied miserably, realizing that she should expect the same in the future. She really had to control her mouth.
"The point is, you're their kid, just like I was, or, am really. But anyways they didn't punish you because of your feelings, but how you acted on them. You know they're huge on respect. And I know you said that Carter doesn't get in trouble with mom as much as you do, but I think it's because you have a big, big mind and you love to speak it when you feel particularly strongly about something. I know that it's something that mom really admires about you, but also kinda struggles with, you know? You give her a hard time with your thoughts and opinions sometimes. Carter doesn't as much."
Riley frowned and pulled her knees up, "Carter said I made her cry. I-I didn't mean to make mom cry."
"I think mom was probably just frustrated. She knows you didn't mean for that to happen. And I promise you she won't hold that against you. Whenever I saw her or dad cry because of me, which were always times that they didn't know I was looking but I was, I would feel really bad, kinda like you feel right now..and I realized that they love me so much that it sometimes comes out in tears. You're 11 years old Riley. You and Carter are going to mess up and get mad and get into trouble and give mom and dad more gray hairs than I did. I'm not saying to be horrible and not feel remorse about it. Just know that mom and dad punishing you isn't a sign of them loving you any less, or feeling any less proud of you. It's them loving you so much that they want to make sure you learn from those mistakes."
Riley nodded, but sighed deeply, "I know that."
"Good." Sam nodded, happy that her sister was so secure in her parents' love. It took her years to feel the same way.
"Today just really sucked and I want it to end."
"Luck for you, it's about to." Luke had come in the room and heard the tail end of Sam's words. He felt his heart gush with pride, hearing his eldest daughter speak so confidently.
Both Sam and Riley looked up. The eldest with an eyeroll at her father's cheesiness, and the youngest with a deep frown.
"Night Riles. I love you." Sam hugged her and kissed the side of her head, "See you in the morning."
She walked out, smirking at her dad as she left. Lucas watched Sam go for a moment before walking in and watching Riley get into Carter's bed wordlessy. He sat on the edge of the bed close to Riley's head.
"You mad at us bug?" He whispered. She looked up at him then back down at her hippo, shrugging softly.
"I know you don't like how things turned out today. I know that it makes you uncomfortable confronting that girl, and that you can most certainly deal with small jabs here and there. It's not that we don't think you can handle yourself, but mom and I are worried that things with her might escalate to a point where you can't handle it anymore."
"I get it." She answered softly. But she could still be mad about it.
"Sam was right" Luke added, "We are so very proud of every part of who you are."
The father fixed the covers around his girl, "I hope you also learned to control your anger bug. I really hated giving you those spanks princess, and putting you to bed so early when we could be doing something together."
Riley coiled into herself. 'Imagine how I feel!' She thought in her head, but was smart not to say it.
A kiss, an 'I love you, ' and one light switched off later and Riley was left alone. She wondered if she'd still be awake by the time Carter came up. She yawned deeply. Damn it. Maybe not.
She was, however, awake when Brooke had walked in the room about half an hour later to check on her.
The mother left the door slightly open just enough to let the light of the hall flutter in. Riley was laying on her side facing away from the door. She was still holding tightly onto her hippo.
"Riles, honey, you awake?"
Brooke shook her head, not sure why she asked that. If her daughter was awake, she certainly wasn't going to answer her considering she was still upset.
The 11 year old felt the bed dip and a hand smooth over her cheek.
It was now obvious to Brooke that her daughter was awake. She smiled at the failed act of 'pretend sleep' on Riley's part.
"Princess, if you're awake, I want to let you know that my heart aches thinking about all the emotions you must've gone through today. Mommy's sorry she embarrassed you, love. I really am."
Riley couldn't hold it and she opened her eyes right up at her mom.
"There you are bug." Brooke cooed. "Can I give you a goodnight kiss and a hug?"
The small girl sat up and let her mother pull her into a soft hug with a kiss to the side of her head, "I love you Riles. To the moon and back and then some."
She gently laid her back down and tucked her back in, "Love you too mama." Riley said as Brooke stood up.
The mother smiled, hoping tomorrow her daughter would wake up feeling better than she was now.
God, this was a long damn time coming. The next chapter will be the art show! It was originally going to be a part of this chapter, but it was getting too long and I wanted to put it up already lol. If you're still sticking with me I appreciate you so much! Please let me know your thoughts!