Almost Her Baby
The only word she could think of was numb. Her entire body felt numb. She couldn't think, couldn't feel. In the moment she saw Chloe holding that perfect baby girl, her whole world stopped. Now, it felt like she was just reliving that moment over and over again.
So Brooke had just started walking. She went wherever her feet took her, not really having a destination in mind. She heard a sharp cry and looked up. There, right in front of her, was the nursery.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared into the window. There were at least 10 babies in there. Some were squirming, some were sleeping. She stood there, watching them. It would hurt when she thought about it later, but for right now, this was what she wanted to do.
She smiled when she read the first name tag. Lydia Bob Scott. Nathan and Haley had chose Quinn and Clay as Lydia's godparents, but Brooke didn't mind; she already had Jamie. She watched as little Lydia moved her tiny arms around.
Her eyes scanned the other babies, wondering which one would have been hers. If only she had proven herself better. If only she was more dedicated. If only Chloe's boyfriend hadn't come back.
Brooke shook her head; she couldn't, no, wouldn't think like that. For some reason, that baby was meant to be with Chloe. Who was she to intervene with fate?
"Can I help you?" she turned around to face an older woman dressed in scrubs.
"Oh, no. I'm just looking."
The woman came over to stand by her with a knowing smile. "Is one of them yours?"
"No." but one should have been, she silently added. "That little one is my friends' baby."
"Lydia Bob. Her middle name is interesting." Brooke started to defend it, but the nurse smiled. "I like it."
"Yeah." She kept her eyes glued to the precious baby girl. What would it have been like if she got the baby? Then she and Haley would be raising daughters together.
"I know there's more to the story than that." Brooke's attention was snapped back to the woman. "What happened?"
She was a little weary of explaining to this stranger, but needed someone to vent to. Julian had been amazing, but she couldn't unload this burden on him. After all, he had lost the baby too.
Brooke stood there, telling the story of her infertility, Chloe, and the baby to this woman. She just nodded, absorbing the information as the young girl talked.
"Would you like to hold her?" the question stunned Brooke. She looked at the nurse.
"Isn't there some rule against that…"
"She was almost your baby. You at least deserve to say goodbye. If anyone asks, we can just say you were visiting little Lydia. Come on." The woman led her into the nursery. Brooke felt her breath catch in her throat as they got closer and closer to the bassinet.
The woman reached down, lifting the baby into her strong, but gentle arms. Brooke smiled sadly.
"Here you go." Brooke accepted the baby, holding her close to her. As soon as that child was in her arms, she knew it was a bad idea. But she couldn't help but fall in love, forcing her to cling to what could have been for just a little bit longer.
"Hey sweetie." She cooed. "My name's Brooke. I know you don't know me and there's really no reason for your mother to ever tell you about me, but I was almost your mommy. You see, Chloe, your mom, she's very young. She didn't think that she could do this alone. So she came to me and my husband Julian and told us we could have you. We were going to give you this great life. I know that normal nurseries are painted pink or blue, but yours was going to be black. Chloe decided on that and I agreed because my best friend Peyton had a black room. Some people might have thought that was strange, but I know you would have loved it.
"But now, your daddy is back. He and your mommy are going to keep you. I just want you to know that I'm never going to forget you, okay? Because for a little while, you were my baby."
Brooke stood there in silence for another minute, just staring down at that child's beautiful little face. She was a quiet baby and just stared up at her with her big, blue eyes.
"Thank you." She said to the woman, nodding her head in appreciation. "Thank you so much." She passed the baby back to her, turning to wipe her tears away.
"Would you like to know her name?" Brooke turned around, looking at the woman. "Her parents decided on Sophia Brooklyn."
"Brooklyn." She whispered. Had they picked the name after her? "That's beautiful."
"What name did you and your husband have picked out?"
"Amelia." She said. "Amelia Haley Baker."
"I'm sure she would have loved it." The nurse said with a smile.
"Thanks again." She turned around, looking out the window. Haley was standing there, Nathan by her side. They both were staring at her, a little confused. Brooke ran from the room, going straight to them, hugging them both.
"Chloe had the baby and she's keeping her." She sobbed. Haley wrapped her arms tightly around Brooke's waist as Nathan stroked her hair. They stood like that for a little while.
Quinn, Clay, Julian, and Jamie came around the corner, intending to go see Lydia. But they froze when they saw Brooke, Nathan, and Haley. It would have felt like they were intruding if they went any closer. The three were best friends and had known each other since high school. Right now, they needed this.
"Why is Aunt Brooke crying?" Jamie asked quietly. "Mom and Lydia are okay."
"How about we talk about that later, buddy?" Julian suggested. He watched as his wife slowly pulled away from her friends. She turned towards the glass, blowing a kiss at it. Then, he realized what was going on.
Chloe was pushed over in her wheelchair by Eric. She took in the scene before her, a little overwhelmed. When Brooke saw her, she stepped back a little bit, bumping into Nathan. The ex basketball star steadied her quickly and got ready to defend her if needed.
"Hey." The teen whispered. "I'm sorry…"
"It's fine." Brooke responded, void of all emotions. "I understand."
"Then why are you here?" they all looked at Eric. "This is my daughter, not yours. You have no rights to her whatsoever, so why are you standing around the nursery like you're going to swoop in and take her?"
"Back off, man." Nathan said, shooting Haley a look that told her not to get too worked up. She sat down in her wheelchair, crossing her arms. "She's here to see my daughter."
Chloe's eyes were sad as she stared at the woman who was so willing to take her daughter in. Brooke wouldn't look at her.
"Brooke." She whispered. Once their eyes met, she continued. "We picked Brooklyn as her middle name. After you."
She nodded. "Thank you."
"I'm really sorry about how this turned out. But you have to understand. I just looked at her and fell in love."
"I get it."
"So now Aunt Brooke doesn't get a baby?" everyone looked at Jamie when he came over. "You're keeping it?"
"Jamie…" Brooke started.
"No, that's not fair. You can't just give something to someone and then snatch it back. That's Aunt Brooke's baby, not yours."
"Listen, kid…" Eric began.
"No you listen, you little jerk." Haley jumped up, stepping threateningly close to him. "You do not talk to my best friend or my son like that. Second, you have no right to come around after being gone for Chloe's pregnancy and then demand to keep the child. Do you not understand the severity of this situation? Brooke wanted this baby, she made a nursery, she fell in love with this child and now she's just being ripped away from her? Have a little compassion."
"I know it's hard for her. But she's my baby. I get her."
"It's a child, not a possession." Nathan interrupted. "Ask yourself if this is the best life you could give to that little girl. Brooke and Julian have so much to offer."
That was when the other three adults approached, standing next to their family. Eric just glared at Nathan.
"Whatever. It's my kid. Come on, Chloe." He pushed the wheelchair into the nursery.
"I'm sorry." She called as he pushed her away.
Brooke turned, walking away, her heels clacking noisily as she moved. She didn't know how to feel. The emotions hit her like a ton of bricks. She was sad and angry at the same time, but didn't know which she should go through first.
"Brooke!" she heard Julian call after her, but couldn't stop. He caught up with her, gently turning around. "Baby, it's going to be okay."
Baby. Her heart skipped a beat every time he called her that. But babies were the last thing she wanted to think about.
"Look, Julian, I know you want to help me, but you can't. I need to be alone right now, okay?" he stared at her in defeat. "I love you." She kept walking.
This is my first One Tree Hill story, so I'm a little nervous about it. Please Review!
