Brooke Davis walked into her home with a small shiver. She shook the cold off a bit, closing her front door and shimmying off her coat to hang immediately went to the kitchen to boil some water for tea. Sam and Lucas would be coming home soon and so would Peyton with the twins. She had offered to watch them today since Luke's mom was unavailable and she didn't have much on her schedule for the day.
Just as the water was beginning to boil Brooke heard the front door swish open with a scowling Sam in view. "Honey what's wrong?" Brooke was surprised when she realized that Sam was stalking towards her with Lucas' phone in her hand.
"Wh-who took this picture of me?!" Sam burned bright, either from anger or embarrassment.
Brooke squinted to focus the picture and her eyes only widened when she realized, "oh Sammy, did someone see?"
"Yes! Someone saw! It was Liz and Rebecca! Dad was trying to show them pictures of us at the cabin as a family and in one of those pictures it was me asleep sucking my thumb and they saw it! Why would you do that! I- that's-" The teen could not help that her voice broke a bit, a sob threatening to escape, "That's embarrassing!"
Brooke felt so bad for her daughter "Sam I'm so sorry! I promise they won't say anything of it. I'll make sure of it."
"Was it you or dad?" Sam pushed, "Who took it?!"
Lucas walked in right then, knowing exactly what their child was arguing about. He had been taking the garbage cans into the garage while Sam had stalked out of the car immediately when they got home. "I did Sam." He admitted and Brooke looked up both upset for her daughter knowing that she felt sensitive about this and empathetic for Lucas, "Yes, but we both kept it Sam. And we're sorry we should've been more careful. We promise it won't happen again."
"Any picture we take like that we'll make sure is secure and we never show to anyone else okay baby?" Lucas added, "I was so so careless Sam. I'm sorry about that champ. I feel awful about it. I do."
Sam wasn't used to her parents being the ones apologizing. She blinked a bit as she took their words in. She shrunk a little feeling bad for her reaction. She knew Liz and Rebecca wouldn't say anything, and felt a little less embarrassed when Rebecca nonchalantly replied back "don't worry Sammy, Liz has her own comfort items. I promise you that. She had a pacifier until about age 8. We all comfort ourselves in our own way."
"Mom!" It was Liz's turn to blush. "Come on now!" Liz looked to Sam, both sharing beet red appearances.
But Liz honestly wasn't surprised she saw the picture of Sam. She'd seen the girl in enough intimate moments with Brooke and Luke to know that she was the most herself the happiest and lightest when around them. And by now she knew a lot more of Sam's past. That shit was fucked up. So Who the fuck cared if she sucked her thumb. Liz didn't.
In many ways Sam and her were more than friends at this point. They were almost like sisters. So while embarrassing, Sam wasn't worried about this ever spreading.
She sighed at her parents, "it's okay I guess." She murmured to her parents, anger still clear on her face, "just super embarrassing and I'm mad about that." Brooke gave her daughter a meaningful look, "We messed up Sam. You're allowed to be mad. That shouldn't have happened, hun." Sam only nodded half heartedly in response, but she bit her lip, feeling unnerved and emotional. Luckily, Brooke read her big girl's body language easily for what it was; a need for comfort, "Can I give you a hug Sam?"
Sam gave her a furtive glance and nodded, doing her best to hold in her eagerness for the embrace. She was mad at them, she shouldn't want to hug them. yet, she did. At the end of the day it was their arms she always wanted to fall into if she was upset. The mother walked over and made a quick move to take the girl's coat off, then pulled her daughter gently in. "We're sorry baby."
"I-I know." The girl said tearily, basking in her mother's warmth.
Lucas walked over and joined the hug, "I owe you ice cream Sammy."
"2 ice cream runs?" Sam bargained making Luke chuckle and Brooke roll her eyes. 16 but the girl loved herself ice cream trips with her dad.
"Finnneee." He caved.
Brooke patted the girls bottom twice before letting go. "Never again. Okay Sam? We promise." Sam nodded, their reassurance at least some form of ointment for the situation.
Later that night Lucas and Brooke looked at the said picture laying in bed. Honestly, it was one of their favorite pics in their family cabin trip album. They loved to organize their photos and it was a quirk that Sam teased them endlessly for. "You two are corny and old." She would tell it was a little past time of theirs to make albums of their memories, whether digital or not. And that picture of their sweet Sam pulled at both their heart strings.
... ... ...
It had been the day before they left the cabin and Sam had been hiding her anxiousness about returning home. Back to the reality of school where shit was getting real because they were going into full blown SAT prep mode, which reminded her she'd be a junior soon and that meant soon a senior and then she'd be 18 and have to leave Brooke and Lucas for college. Yes, she had been spiraling. She couldn't help how her brain worked.
And so the whole day, despite Brooke and Lucas' attempts to change her mood, the girl had been ornery and generally disagreeable. Both parents were patient with her though, more lenient with her than usual because just the night before as the two parents stayed up late drinking wine and eating snacks just the two of them, they heard whimpers come from the kids' room. The cabin although large with full amenities, only had two bedrooms, so Sam had to share with the twins.
The parents recognized that distinct, panicked whimper. They'd heard it many times before, though not in a while. It was their eldest baby.
Brooke and Lucas had gone into the room,grateful that the twins were still dead asleep, and that they had caught Sam's nightmare early. Grateful to have been awake when it happened. But the teen was still shaken up. She was visibly shaking when her eyes opened, and it took Brooke, staring over her, her hand smoothing down the length of her hair, telling her, "Mama and daddy are here. You're safe." a few times for her to get her bearings.
This let the parents know that whatever nightmare had distressed their daughter was a heavy one. But Sam refused to talk about it, or talk at all. She didn't want to admit that she had been dreaming about losing her parents again.
Sam stayed visibly upset and refused to lay back down, stiffening her back when Brooke tried to lay with her, so the mother covertly decided the next move for the girl. She kissed the top of her daughter's head which was leaned on her, "Does sleeping with dad and me sound good, princess? Would you like to do that?" Her voice was just a whisper. Sweet and low. One, because Sam needed her mama to be soft right now, and two because she had two other children laid asleep in the same room.
Sam nodded immediately. She needed to be close to them right now. She was sure of that. With no hesitation, Lucas lifted the girl into his arms, her head against his broad chest. Brooke followed behind giving her twins a quick look before walking out with her husband and eldest.
Once in their bedroom they laid the girl in the middle. "I'll clean up outside." Lucas offered, "if you want to get settled with her."
Brooke agreed, busying herself with fixing the covers around Sam, "I'm going to brush my teeth and then I'll lay down with you, okay Sammy?" Some stubborn, stray tears were still falling down the girls cheek but she nodded silently, and hugged tightly onto her bear. Brooke's heart always felt heavy in these moments. Sam was a strong girl. She was funny. She was sensitive, but passionate. She was their wise ass, loving care bear. But her trauma left her with moments of complete emotional turmoil that could break her. And Brooke and Lucas were as tender as they could be for their girl in those moments. Because she was their child and they would go to the ends of the earth for her.
The next morning however Sam seemed no worse for the wear when she woke up, uninterested in having a follow up conversation with her mom, well not yet, at least. Though by 11 am her attitude reared itself. Unbeknownst to the parents, her intrusive thoughts had started once more and they were getting rather overwhelming.
To the outsider though, Sam just seemed like a teen in a sour mood, that wanted nothing to do with her family. She managed to seclude herself enough on the final excursion they went on, only talking when absolutely necessary, and once back at the cabin she kept her distance from the others, despite her siblings trying to play with her. "Go away munchkins. Go somewhere else."
"Sam they just want to play with you." Brooke admonished, though softly. Sam rolled her eyes at her mother, not caring if Lucas or her decided to scold her for it. The mother shook her head controlling her own temper, while Luke watched the interaction from the couch. They both shrugged at one another unsure of what was going on with Sam but not wanting to harp on her about it just yet.
By the end of the day however, the parents were tired of next day would be their last at the cabin and they hoped that Sam didn't wake up like this as well. They hoped no nightmares would come to plague her either.
"Sam it's time for bed." Lucas called from the kitchen where Brooke and him were. Sam had been reading a book by the fireplace with music playing in the background when her dad's call brought her worry to the forefront all over again. Going to bed meant being one day closer to leaving the cabin and going home. "It's still early though!" She argued, slamming her book closed.
"What? It's already 10!" Lucas walked to where he'd be visible to Sam and vice-versa, "By the time you're changed and showered it'll be practically 11pm. Go on Sam."
"Jesus, fine. I'm on vacation, but whatever." She stood up, forcing herself to go up to bed. Wait. Her body froze. Oh no. What if she had another nightmare? She didn't want to lose her parents again! Her nightmares always felt so real. Last night's was awful. She didn't want to see that again. She didn't!
Lucas having heard enough attitude filled quips from Sam to last a life time, dropped the rag in his hands and walked into the living area, "Samantha, the tone and attitude has been- " The man stopped when he noticed the state of his child.
Sam couldn't control the full hearted sob that came out when her mind realized that bed also meant more nightmares. Meant losing mama and daddy. She'd been doing so well with her nightmares too. Their daughter's tearful state alarmed both parents.
"Baby." Lucas moved quickly to her. Sam stumbled over, arms outstretched, like a hurt toddler seeking comfort, and held onto her father for dear life. Clearly beside herself. In one move, Luke had her up in his arms. Her legs hugged around his waist, as he rubbed her back and moved to the couch, "Shhhh, baby. What's wrong, hmm?" He coaxed her with a few sways to calm down, "You've been having a rough time since last night, sweetheart. Talk to me."
"I-I don't wanna go to sleep!" She cried between sobs.
Brooke had made her way over the moment she heard Sam crying and sat down as Luke adjusted Sam on his lap. He had to slightly force her since she was refusing to unlatch from him. Brooke and Lucas looked at each other worriedly. They had not seen Sam like this in a while, but they at least had an inkling of why. They knew it had to do with her nightmares.
"Okay Champ. Deep breaths." Luke cooed gently.
"No sleep!" Sam argued, while her dad moved her from her place in his arms to sit on his lap, "Please dad, no sleep! NO SLEEP!" She was not sure how else to communicate her fear amidst her panic.
"Shhhh. No sweetheart." Lucas began to rock her, "No yelling. You'll work yourself up, You're okay, little one. I want you to take deep breaths. I'm right here, mama is here too, and we're not going to go to sleep right now. Follow my breaths okay." He took in a long inhale and breathed out slowly, doing so until he felt Sam match him. "Good job peanut!" He praised, no different from how he would praise his younger twins, "Keep going."
His tender words and soft rocking were what finally calmed Sam, she wasn't sure how long she'd sat there being rocked on her dad's lap before her mother spoke up as well,
"Peanut, can you look at mama, please?" Brooke's gentle voice peered through. Sam felt her mother pat her thigh, and the teen knew exactly what would come next. She could never not come clean to her parents about what she was feeling and why. She could only stay hard for so long, especially when it came to Brooke and Lucas. Honestly, they both had a made of making any facade of steeliness melt. It was always only a matter of time. After all, the traumatized child that she was when she came to them learned early on, that no matter how difficult her thoughts were to admit Lucas and Brooke would always listen with compassion and always, ALWAYS, give her comfort.
So it was that night when the parents learned of their daughters worries, of growing up and leaving the house. Of her nightmares of losing them. The whole time Brooke and Lucas treated her with the same care that they gave her when she was just turned 14 and fresh from her traumatic past. They reassured her profusely and promised that college did not mean that she would leave them for good. They even explained that she could always choose a college close by and stay at home if she so chose. Secretly, that's what they wanted, but of course, would not push. The parents stayed and comforted her until she'd fallen asleep right in Lucas's lap.
"I should help her get ready for bed Lucas." Brooke commented as they both watched the girl's chest rise and fall through sleep, "She'll just have to shower tomorrow."
He nodded, sniffling softly, "She looked so broken tonight." He kissed her head, "I still hate so much when that happens to her."
"I know." Brooke whispered, "I'm glad she talked to us though. She could've kept it to herself. I'm proud of her."
"I hope she'll always talk to us, like she does now." Lucas thought out loud.
"I know she will... Come on peanut. Let's go upstairs." Brooke coaxed the girl awake and up for a sluggish walk to their bedroom, where Sam's snowman pj shirt was the only option available so Brooke easily slipped it on the girl after helping take her day clothes off. She then handed the girl her prized bear, which had stayed in their room from the night before. "There you go Sam. All done. You can lay down."
Sam did so murmuring out a, "But you and dad-"
"Will lay down soon with you." Brooke assured her before the girl could even finish her thought. They knew their child well. "I'm going to tell dad to come in now."
" 'Kay mama." And Brooke's heart melted for the hundredth time that night before going into the bathroom.
Once Sam was decent Lucas walked into their room and found Sam curled up in the middle of their bed. She was above the covers with her thumb securely in her mouth and Barry in her arms. Her snowman jammies adding to the teenager's childish look. She still wasn't completely asleep after having gotten changed, but she was almost there. Lucas just watched her quietly. He loved her so much, it felt like a pit in his stomach sometimes. And a ball in his throat others. Right now was the latter. Brooke came from brushing her teeth and smiled warmly at the sight as well. Forever their baby girl. And although Lucas agreed that their child looked adorable, he was more glad that she finally looked peaceful.
So sue him, but Lucas couldn't help but take the infamous picture.