K Darblyne - Unbroken Season 1

“Well, not many petite woman like her can pull off that Harley chick look. What’s next, Brooke,” Rick asked, “the halter top or the tattoos?”

The young woman in question had just bounded back down the stairs and was standing in the doorway when the comment was made. Holding the manila envelope behind her back, Sam cleared her throat, hoping to attract her lover’s attention. Not only did a pair of blue eyes rise to greet her, but a room full of brown did as well.

“A Harley chick, eh?” Sam shook her head. “Never. It won’t go with the image that I’m going to have to keep up, once I start my internship.”

Suddenly, Brooke’s heart sank into her stomach at the thought of Sam leaving. She didn’t see the young woman cross the room, offering her the envelope that she held out in her hand, until Sam’s soft voice brought her back to reality.

“I think this was meant for both of us,” Sam looked at the envelope, “but I’d like you to open it.”

Preparing herself for the worst, Brooke took the envelope as she gave a little tug at Sam’s hand, and looked to the empty space beside her. Well, maybe she didn’t get sent to Siberia after all. Maybe it’s just somewhere in the state or the southeast or the Eastern Coast. You’re making it worse than it may be…just open it, Brooke. Meet it head on. Open it. You know, I could settle this all right now and just ask her to marry me. She doesn’t need to be anybody’s intern.

Sam promptly sat down on the floor, leaning into her lover as she wrapped one small hand around Brooke’s strong arm. The young woman watched her lover’s face as Brooke turned the envelope over to see the familiar logo in the upper left hand corner as it proclaimed loudly, Brownstone Records, Inc. She waited silently until Brooke looked over to her, tears forming in those beautiful blue eyes as she opened the packet.

Pulling out the cover letter, Brooke began to read aloud. “Public Relations Course 115 Completion Assignment for Samantha A. Moleson.” Her voice trailed off as her eyes quickly scanned down the page, her mouth sounding out a phrase every now and then, highlighting keywords. “Immediate Supervisor: Brooke L. Gordon.”

“What do you think?” Sam asked as seriously as she could. “Do you think maybe they’ll keep me in the area?” She watched the disbelieving look on Brooke’s face, then made another comment on her new boss. “You know, I heard that she’s a pretty tough boss, but a fair one. I wonder if I could get on her good side,” Sam asked whimsically. “What do you think?”

The drummer’s mouth dropped open as she stared down into her lap at the letter. Slowly she raised her eyes from the page and felt the tears starting to roll down her chiseled cheeks. “So, this…” she picked up the letter and held it in her hand. “This is real? You don’t have to leave?”

“Nope,” Sam said with confidence, then hesitantly she bit at her lip. “Well, not unless you want me to. Do you?”

“Never.” Brooke’s hasty reply came without a second thought.

“Brooke, tell me that you didn’t know about this.” Sam’s small hand rubbed her lover’s far shoulder in a circular motion, as she tried to soothe her.

“I…I didn’t know you were being assigned to me.” Brooke’s eyes darted back and forth as she thought. “I knew that I was going to have an intern but I thought…I mean, after that day in the Student Union…” The dark-haired woman suddenly stopped and turned to her lover as she finally realized what it all meant. “Oh my God…you’re not leaving.”

“No,” Sam wiped the tears from Brooke’s cheeks as they rolled freely down her face. “I guess we both got some good surprises this Christmas.” The blonde leaned into Brooke and wrapped her arms around her in a loving embrace.

Pulling back from Sam, Brooke took a turn wiping her face on each sleeve, then turned back to the blonde. The gleam in Brooke’s eyes was all that Sam needed to see as she felt strong arms wrapping around her, guiding her into Brooke’s lap. Oblivious to the family around them, the two women melded in a passionate kiss.

Letting out one of the loudest, most unlady-like whistles that one could image, C.C. sat back in her chair and polished her nails on her shirt as if she was taking credit for the floorshow that everyone was watching. “Ah…isn’t love grand?

The rest of the family watched with interest, each adding a round of hand clapping or hoots, as they deemed appropriate for the action that was being displayed.

Terri leaned over the arm of the sofa to get closer to her younger sister. “C.C.?” She waited a few seconds, then whispered the name a little louder. “C.C., did you know about this?”

The brunette acted nonchalant. “Hmmm…me?” Her brown eyes grew bigger as if she were surprised by the assumption, then slowly a subtle smile came to her face. “No, not a thing.”

Watching the exchange between her sisters, Randi looked at C.C. with the best cross-examination face that a lawyer could muster. “Nothing, huh?”

C.C. didn’t answer. She just looked to both of her inquiring sisters and pointed to where their focus should be, on the love-struck pair who were still locked in a kiss.

Drawing her lips away from her lover, Brooke took in a breath, then asked, “Samantha Moleson… does this mean you’re finally going to move in with me?”

The blonde wrinkled her nose up and smiled shyly. “Why, I thought I did the other day, Brooke.” Sam paused for a moment as she peered into blue eyes. “Yes, now I’ll move in with you.”

“What?” Brooke sounded shocked. “You mean…” then suddenly it all became apparent. “That’s why you didn’t want to talk about it…because you already had.”

Seeing her chance to toy with her lover in front of Brooke’s family, Sam nodded her head. “I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.” She paused, then added thoughtfully, “Well, at least not until my internship is done.”

“Done?” Brooke’s face paled, as her eyes seemed to double in size.

“Well, yeah. Who knows where I’ll get a job.” Sam winked as she leaned in to kiss Brooke on the lips. “I guess I’ll just have to make myself…” she kissed her again, “…invaluable to my boss. Who knows, maybe she’ll keep me.”

Brooke’s eyebrow slowly arched high on her forehead. “It won’t matter. You’re stuck with me now, woman.” The drummer let a smile come to her face. “Besides, you already are invaluable to me. I love you.” She gave Sam a kiss on the lips, as her mind began to wage its own internal war.

She’s staying. Janet assigned her to you. She’s living with you. Just do it. Go on and ask her to marry you. Brooke came away from the kiss a little lightheaded. She took in a few breaths as her mind started to clear. Yeah, make her think that you’re just asking her so you didn’t have to get her something else. Remember, that’s what Janet said when her guy popped the question on Christmas day. Humph…Humphreys…it all comes back to you, doesn’t it? Maybe this isn’t the perfect time to ask such an important question. Brooke shook that last remaining doubt from her mind, then reached under the tree for the small box with Sam’s name on it.

“Okay, Baby…it’s your turn.” Brooke held the small box out to Sam.

“What?” Sam looked at the box, then up into loving, blue eyes. “Brooke, you already gave me a present.”

“I know, but this one’s important.” The corners of her mouth turned upward into a slight smile. “You might say that it’s a continuation of your gifts to me, only you get to open this one.”

Confused by that last statement, Sam looked at her lover. “Okay.” She accepted the gift into her hand and looked for a place to start unwrapping it.

“Come on, Roomie.” C.C. spoke up, “Rip that paper off.”

Sam glanced over to C.C. and shook her head. “I’m not your Roomie anymore, C.C. The blonde looked at Brooke and smiled. “I’ve got me a new Roomie, now.”

Brooke wasn’t sure whether she wanted to give out an exuberant yell or start to blush in front of her family. It was all so new to her, knowing that they were now officially living together. Finally deciding to do neither, she urged her lover on. “Go ahead, Baby, open it up.”

The young woman eagerly dug into the decorative paper and soon the box was ready to be opened. Hesitantly, she looked over to Brooke, then leaned in toward her ear and whispered, “Can I do this in front of your family?”

Choking back a laugh, Brooke nodded. “Yes, Darlin’, no one will be embarrassed.”

“Okay,” Sam took in a breath and held it as she pulled the lid from the box. Peering down she saw a shiny gold key ring that was chock full of keys. Taking it from the box, Sam looked to her lover. “What is this for?”

“Well, we’re kind of going to do the twelve days of Christmas, only a little backwards and more imaginative.” Brooke’s eyes twinkled as she reached for the first key on the ring and held it up for everyone to see. “There are twelve keys on this gold ring.”

“Hmm…” Sam pondered out loud, “And what day was that present with my family? Was it the three French hens or the four calling birds?”

“I don’t know. Are you French?” Brooke asked seductively.

“Do you want me to be?” Sam returned in a coy manner as she leaned in to whisper in Brooke’s ear. “I could be your French maid.”

The woman smiled rakishly at the thought. “Ah…I just want you to be mine.” Brooke paused, then added, “Then again…that would be very nice too.” She winked, then looked into Sam’s eyes and asked softly, “Do you want to know what each key is for?” Brooke held them up and giving them a little shake, caused them to jingle.

Sam nodded, “Of course I do. Go on.”

Brooke took in a deep breath, then started as she held each key up, announcing what it would open. “House Front door alarm, House back door alarm, my office here in the house, Brownstone Record’s main entrance, my office at Brownstone…”

“Hey, wait a minute. These are all of your keys, Brooke.”

The woman simply nodded, then continued on. “The basement studio, the master bedroom balcony doors, the 300Z, the Jeep, the truck ignition, the truck doors…”

The blonde looked to the twelfth and final key on the ring. “And…what special thing does that funny shaped looking one unlock?”

“That one, Sam. That is the most important one that I can give only to you.”

The young woman wrinkled her brow and softly asked, “The key to the executive washroom?”

“No,” Brooke chuckled, then turned very serious as she gazed deep into Sam’s green eyes. “It’s the key to my heart.”

The instant that Sam heard those words, her whole being seemed to melt and leak out from her eyes, as the tears immediately started to roll down her cheeks. It took her a moment before she could get the words to leave her mouth. “Honey, that is the best gift that I’ve ever received.”

Brooke nuzzled into Sam’s neck, then whispered softly in her ear, “You’re my best gift. I love you, Sam.”

The young woman closed her eyes tightly and wrapped both of her arms around her lover. “I love you, too, Brooke.” She spoke loud enough for all to hear. “Merry Christmas.” She caught the sitting woman off balance as she shifted more of her body into Brooke’s lap, causing them to fall backward under the tree as they continued to kiss.

“And God bless us…everyone,” C.C. quoted as the rest turned to gaze into their own partner’s eyes, remembering their first Christmas together.

Coming up for air from the kiss, both women laid on their backs and looked up at the ornament hanging above them, inscribed with the words, ‘Our first Christmas’ and smiled.

“C.C.’s right, you know?” Sam glanced over to her lover, then repeated the classic phrase. “God bless us, everyone.”

“Yep,” Brooke sighed with a very satisfied smile as she gazed at the ornament, then added, “for everyone in a long line of forever.” Her focus now turned to a pair of loving green eyes and the twinkling lights reflected therein.

“… I buy you flowers, I buy you rings… Everything is all for you, you’re what I’m all about…”

The soft shadows of late afternoon were becoming more evident as Brooke pulled up in front of her family home, just before 4:00 PM on New Year’s Eve. Throwing the gear shift into park, the dark-haired woman turned off the ignition, and then looked over at Sam before leaning in and kissing the young woman softly upon her lips. There were no words to express the peace that Brooke had felt since exchanging presents on Christmas, knowing that her beloved Sam was here to stay.