Chapter 13

Lucas and Haley followed Sylvia to a conference room.

"Coffee anyone?" Sylvia offered as she made her way to the coffee maker.

"No thanks." The best friends replied at the same time as they sat at the table. They looked at each other and then looked away. The tension between them was still slightly there.

Sylvia walked over with her cup of coffee and sat down. She pulled out her files and got right to it.

"Mr. Scott, you are listed as Sebastian's legal guardian. Do you understand what that means?"

Due to Lucas' lack of a response, Sylvia figured that she should explain.

"Because Ms. Davis is hurt and unable to take care of Sebastian, you will have to take full responsibility and assume the role of his care-giver. That means that he will live with you and-"

"Hold on, I barely even know the kid!" Lucas said incredulously.

Sylvia gave him a confused look.

"I just learned that I was his father a few weeks ago. I don't know anything about him and I'm sure he doesn't know anything about me."

"Wow." Sylvia cleared her throat. "This is very peculiar. Have you and Ms. Davis communicated at all on Sebastian's behalf?"

Lucas thought for a second. He had a flashback of him and Brooke arguing.

Lucas:…You're being a spiteful bitch and not telling me that I have a son!

Brooke: Ugh! You are such an asshole!

That was the only time they discussed Sebastian. But he wasn't going to tell Sylvia that.

"We've only talked about Sebastian briefly." He told the social worker.

This whole time, Haley was quiet. When Lucas took a while to answer Sylvia's question, she knew where his head was. After all, she was a part of that flashback too. Even though she stayed silent, Haley loved her best friend and she was there for moral support.

"If you are not willing to take care of Sebastian, then he will have to go to the next of kin." Sylvia looked through the paperwork. "I see that he has a grandmother, Victoria Davis?"

"NO!" Lucas and Haley yelled simultaneously.

"Is there a problem?" She asked, as she picked up her pen. If there was a problem with Victoria Davis and the welfare of her grandson, she would have to document it.

"I just don't think that she would be the best person to take care of him." Lucas replied.

"If you are not willing and his grandmother is unfit, then I am afraid that Sebastian will have to go into foster care."

Haley interjected. "I don't see why that should happen when my husband and I can provide a loving and stable environment and take care of him until his mother gets better."

Lucas thought about what Sylvia said. He didn't want his son to end up in foster care when he had family. And he sure as hell didn't want him with Victoria. His encounter with her at the Clothes Over Bros grand opening was less than pleasant. And he silently vowed to himself right then and there that he would never subject his child to Victoria's abuse.

"I'll do it." Lucas interrupted Sylvia and Haley's discussion. The room was silent until Sylvia asked him if he was sure.

"Of course I'm sure. He's my son and I will be happy to take care of him." Lucas declared.

Haley couldn't help but smile. She knew Lucas was scared but she also knew that he was determined. Her friend was finally coming to his senses.

"Okay then. Mr. Scott, if you can just sign these papers, you can take your son home." Sylvia said as she pointed to where he should sign.

After Lucas signed the papers, they headed back to the group.

"I'm proud of you Luke." Haley told him.

Lucas gave her a tight smile. "Thanks Hales, but do you really think I can do this?"

"I know you can. And your friends will be there to help you." She hugged him.

"I see you two made up." Nathan said as his wife and his brother walked over to the rest of the group. Jamie squirmed in his father's lap and fell asleep again.

"Yeah we did." Lucas told him. He then turned his attention to Millie. "Hey can I talk to you for a minute?"

"I think I know what this is about." Millie said as they found a quiet corner to talk in. "Sebastian is going to stay with you."

"Yeah, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know what he likes or dislike. I don't know what he eats. I don't know when his bedtime is. I don't know what size clothes he wears. I don't know anything." Lucas rambled anxiously.

"Calm down Lucas. I'm sure you'll get to know him. He's a great kid. He likes to read. He doesn't like to sleep completely in the dark. He eats regular food. His bedtime is at 8:00 but he usually goes to sleep at 8:30."

"Can you write that down?" Lucas asked nervously.

Millie laughed. "Just survive through the night and you can bring him over to the house tomorrow. We'll get his clothes and things together and we'll talk about everything."

"Thanks so much Millicent."

"Call me Millie. And you're welcome. Come on; let's tell Sebastian what's going on."

They walked over to where Sebastian was sitting. He was trying to stay awake but his eyes kept closing. Millie nudged him gently.

"Sebastian, wake up sweetie. I have to talk to you." She told him.

"Aunt Mill, I tired." He yawned.

"I know, but it's really important."

"Kay." He rubbed his eyes and gave his aunt his attention.

"Sebastian, your mommy is not feeling well so she has to stay in the hospital for a while. Are you listening?" She asked to make sure he comprehended what she was telling him.

"Yes, how long she stay here?" He asked. He had never been away from his mother for a long period of time.

"I don't know sweetie, but until she feels better you are going to stay with Lucas."

"What's a Lucas?" The little boy asked.

Lucas took a deep breath and finally introduced himself. "I'm Lucas. How ya doing?" He asked awkwardly as he reached his hand out for a handshake.

"You the man from the food place." Sebastian remembered.

"Yeah that's me."

Sebastian turned his attention back to Millie. "Why do I got to stay with him? Why can't I stay with you? Or Aunt Haley?"

Millie couldn't stand looking into his sad eyes. "You have to stay with him until mommy feels better." She repeated.

"No! I don't wanna stay with him. I wanna stay with you!" He yelled as tears began to form in his eyes.

Everyone looked at him, not knowing what to say or do.

"I'm sorry but you have to stay with Lucas." Millie told him again.

Sebastian reached out and held tight to Millie. "Please Aunt Mill can I stay with you? I promise I be good." He said as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

When she didn't answer, Sebastian's cries got louder. "I WANT MY MOMMY!"

"It's going to be okay." Millie told him as he clung tight to her.

"NO! I WANT MY MOMMY!" He cried. "MOMMY! WHERE ARE YOU?" He figured that if he cried loud enough, then Brooke would magically appear. When she didn't he cried harder.

"AUNT HALEY! I WANT MY MOMMY!" If Millie wouldn't help maybe Haley could.

Haley got up and walked over to where they were. She gently rubbed Sebastian's head, trying to console him. She didn't know what to do either.

"UNCLE NATHAN! GET MY MOMMY PLEASEEEE!" Sebastian whined. His face was turning red now.

Nathan just gave Sebastian a sad look and Jamie buried his face into his father's shirt, not understanding what was happening.

Lucas looked helpless as his son called for everyone but him. Sebastian didn't call for Skills or Mouth because he didn't know them, but Lucas couldn't help but feel jealous and incredibly sad that his son couldn't call on him.

After trying to wait him out, Millie could tell that he wasn't going to stop crying. This was new territory for him. His mother wasn't there and he couldn't stay with the people he knew. She suggested that they began to head home. She was anxious for this night to be over so that she could see Sebastian tomorrow, in what she hoped would be a better day.

Sebastian of course, wouldn't let her go, so she carried him in the elevator and to Lucas' car. The group gathered around as Millie buckled Sebastian into the backseat. She kissed his forehead, told him she loved him, and said that she would see him later. Sebastian still screamed and cried as he reached for her. She gave Lucas her cellphone number and then she left. Since she had known Sebastian as a baby, she had never seen him act this way. And walking away from him, if only for a little while, was the hardest thing she'd ever done.

The rest of the group said their goodbyes to Lucas and they told him if he needed anything to give them a call.

Feeling dejected and scared out of his mind, Lucas started the car and headed to his house.

…

Either the car ride calmed him down or he tired himself out, when Lucas pulled into the driveway, Sebastian had fallen asleep. Lucas turned off the engine and opened the door and un-buckled Sebastian. Moving ever so gently, he picked up Sebastian without waking him. He locked the car door and walked to the porch. Lucas balanced Sebastian on his hip as he fiddled with the key in the lock. He had been staying at Peyton's house so long that he almost forgot how to work his own front door.

With a few twists and turns, he finally got the door open and walked into his childhood home. It looked the same as it did before he left for his book tour. But, it could use a little dusting.

Sebastian squirmed in his arms and Lucas figured that he should put him to bed before he woke up and start to cry again. He walked through the living room and almost tripped on the rug. He mentally slapped himself. After 22 years, he still tripped over the same rug.

Lucas walked into his old bedroom. He laid Sebastian on the bed and took off his shoes. Then he grabbed a blanket to cover him up. Lucas stared at the little boy for a while. This was really happening. His life was changing right before his eyes. Lucas laughed at the irony of the situation. Four years ago, Sebastian was conceived in this room. His mind escaped to the teenage version of himself and Brooke. The love that they shared in this same exact room, though the bed wasn't the same; it had purpose. And Lucas was staring at he and Brooke's greatest creation.

Lucas reached over to his desk and turned on his lamp just in case Sebastian woke up in the middle of the night. Then he left the room, leaving the door wide open. He thought about sleeping in his mom's old room, but he needed to stay close by for Sebastian, so Lucas went into the living room, stepping over the rug this time, and laid on the couch. Looking at his cell phone he noticed it was almost 3am. He also noticed that he had messages from Peyton. Too tired and exhausted to check the messages, Lucas tossed his phone onto the coffee table and closed his eyes, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before he woke back up to his crazy life.

…

Two and a half hours later, Lucas stirred awake to the sound of keys in the door. After a few twists and turns, the door finally opened and Karen walked in with Lily sleeping in her arms.

"Mom?" Lucas asked as he sleepily rubbed his eyes. Then it occurred to him. His mom was here! "Mom!" He jumped up quickly.

"Hi, Luke, you want to help me out?" She said as she motioned toward their luggage.

He pulled them in and closed the door. Then he just stood there trying to process everything that was happening.

"Don't just stand there, give me a hug."

Lucas walked over to his mom, hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi Lukey." Lily greeted her brother in a sleepy voice.

"Hey Lil." He kissed her cheek.

"Are you surprised to see us?" Lily asked.

"You have no idea."

"Andy is out of the country on a business trip, so Lily and I decided to visit." Karen told him.

Lucas nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Mom, I have to tell you something."

Karen shifted Lily in her arms. "Okay, I'm going to lay Lily down in my room and then we can catch up."

"Wait mom, I have to tell you now. It's really important."

Karen was already halfway down the hall. When she got to her room, she dressed Lily into her pajamas and tucked her in. She was on her way to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee when she noticed the light on in Lucas' room. She went to turn it off when she was startled by a little boy curled up on the bed. Karen and Lily had a long flight, so she figured it was the fatigue catching up to her. She rubbed her eyes and looked again and the little boy was still there.

Karen quickly walked out and went into the living room.

"Uhh Lucas-"

"I know mom. That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

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