Two months later

Sam walked in the house from school, Brooke was putting together designs for Peyton's maternity wedding dress. She was working on every exact measurement to make sure it would be just perfect, for her best friend. She didn't look up, but just waved to Sam, acknowleding her presence.

"You know Brooke, do you ever think you'll wear a wedding dress of your own?"

"Probably, I love weddings, they're so....I don't know, just something about them."

"Well, I happen to know a great guy in LA who would drop his career...and pants...for you to come to LA."

"Sam, we talked and talked and talked some more about this. I'm not going to LA."

"Why not? It's not like I'm this helpless little girl who can't take care of herself. I lived in a car when you met me, I can survive a big, lush house for a few days...or until you send for me and my things to live in LA."

"Sam, I have a wedding dress to finish, you have school to finish. My best friend since childhood is getting married to the man of her dreams. I can't leave her in this time and she's having a baby...see my point?"

"Yeah and you know there's video chats with the internet service package, right in your room, you can take the computer with you."

"Sam! NO!"

"Fine, live in your morrow of sadness for the rest of your life and watch everyone else get married. Hell, Mia will probably ask you to design her wedding gown when her and Chase get married since you'll still be here, in little old Tree Hill wondering when your prince charming will ever come to you. But wait, he did."

"Sam, you don't get it. You're only in high school. Julian and I--"

Sam butted in. "are perfect for each other. He loves you and he wants both of us, you and me, we're a package deal and he wants both of us. Come on, you're from California, it's not a foreign country."

"Sam, stay out of it. Now go to what you normally do when coming home from school."

"Fine....but just so you know, Julian was the guy worth losing it all for...not Lucas."

Sam slammed her door and turned up her music, loud enough for Brooke to hear it through the closed doors.

"Now that's more like it."

Brooke's phone rang, she smiled. "Hey soon to be P. Scott...how's mama Peyton doing?"

"Ah, we're okay. Lucas is out with Nathan and Jamie...doing guy stuff. I'm on bed rest and was curious about my dress."

"It's beautiful, I'm putting finishing touches."

Peyton held the phone slightly away from her ear. "What's the loud noise?"

"Oh, Sam and her usual loud music after school plans. I'm rather used to it. I'm just glad it's music we listened to in high school and not rap or hip hop or words that I don't even understand."

"She's a good kid. I wish I had a mom to care about me when I rebelled."

"Rebelling I'd be okay with. She's on this kick with me giving up everything and moving to LA with Julian."

"Wait, he's gone and you're not with him? Brooke?"

"Peyton, I can't. Everything is here. You're here, about to get married and have a baby...Sam, she's in the middle of the school year."

"Yeah, but they are not you. Let's say I wasn't here..." Peyton paused, rubbing her belly. "And Sam...she was out of school; what's holding you back."

"My work, it's here, the store."

"Which Victoria had taken from you, and all you have is an empty store space to design my wedding dress."

"So you're guilting me into this?"

"No, I'm facting you into this. I know I said stay away from Julian, but he loves you. It's more than high school love that you and Chase had and what Jake and I had. It's the real love that can transcend you moving to Los Angeles. Sandy beaches....making sandcastles whenever you want. And you know how you hate the North Carolina cold."

"What if I left...what about you and Lucas and my niece or nephew?"

"We'll be fine, Lucas...and I will be fine."

"I can't wake up knowing my P. Sawyer is across the country."

"You did when you left Tree Hill. Even though I stayed in Los Angeles, you knew you'd be in LA longer than I was. And it's a plane ride away. You love to fly, gives you a sense of control, being able to jump from one side of the country to the other at your becon call. And Sam will be with you. Take her out of Tree Hill, away from Jack, all the bad memories of living in a car. Give her a family."

"Why do I get the idea I'm thinking about everyone else and using them as excused."

Without hesitation. "Because you are B. Davis. The next time I talk to you, I better hear the wind from the ocean on your phone so I can be jealous of you and also happy at the same time knowing how happy you are."

"So, what just buy a planet ticket to Los Angeles. He might not even be there...out of town, or just..."

"Action cures fear."

"You got your man, I should go get mine, right? Easier said than done."

"Go find out. And send Sam over here. Any idea you're going to LA, she'll never let you hear the end of it thinking she had something to do with it. And, you know, it's like spending time with my niece too."

"How do I do this?"

"Well, you go online....buy a tic..."

"Ha, ha, funny P. Sawyer. Like go to his house."

"Julian always kept a spare key above the doorframe."

"And you know this how?"

"He's not too great about leaving his house with his keys."

"So, I'm doing this..."

"yes you are. Now get that stylish ass of yours on a flight and make Julian smile again."

"Okay..." Brooke hung up the phone and Sam came out of her room, music turned off. "No more music to drown out my voice?"

"You look happy, who was on the phone?"

"Peyton. Turns out I have to do some stuff for work, and you're gonna stay with Luke and Peyton until I get back."

"Brooke, I'm seventeen, I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, I know the blurb about the living in a car. But really, I think Peyton just wants to know her future niece. And I want to make sure my house is still in this shape when I get back."

"The party was like two years ago."

"Young lady, it was like less than a year ago. And yes, I still have the tie-dyed wedding dress number one in this house."

"So, taking a flight to Los Angeles, I hear it has a beautiful man waiting on a nice beach front porch."

"None of your business, it's work related."

"Fine, don't tell me, but really....the about to have the best sex of my life look on your face totally screams Julian."

"Samantha!"

"Seriously dude, sexual tension is not a good look for you...FYI."

Brooke was frustrated with trying to think of what to say. "Get in the car!"

Julian was involved in a meeting about future projects for the company. Since his father was replaced, Julian had a new boss to answer to. He kept looking at the piece of paper, reading the same line, over and over again, not really reading, but appeared to be.

"Baker!"

He looked up; noticed everyone eyeing him. "Yes, sir."

"Are you even here?"

"Yes, sir, sorry, I'm just....distracted."

"I had every right to get rid of you right after your father left. But I didn't; and now I'm really wondering why. My office, five minutes."

Julian nodded. "yes, sir."

Five minutes later, the man found Julian sitting in a car across from the desk, ready for anything.

"Baker, I know your work, you're good. But I'm afraid without your father, you're distracted, unable to do what needs to be done in your position."

"Thank you, sir, but my father leaving the company is not the reason. I'm kind of glad he's gone, really."

"Then why so distracted. Did you leave your mind in Tree Hill when you came back to LA."

"I left something that I can't ever get back."

"Julian, I'm in a desperate situation. I have banked on you doing your job in efforts to secure major projects. We start in two weeks. And I made a decision."

Julian looked up at him. "What's that?"

"Take a week off. Go back to North Carolina, get back what you lost. Then come back, you'll be good as knew."

"Sir,all do respect, I can't do that."

"The week off or get back what you lost."

"Sir, you're married, you have children?"

"Yes, of course, married 19 years."

"What if, for some reason, your wife wanted to stay in one place but you knew you had to go in another direction."

"I don't get what you're saying Baker, did you pop the question?"

"Not really. I met this amazing girl and her life is there and my life is here, but, and I know this is going to sound like second grade, middle school or call it whatever you want. I gave her my heart and I didn't get it back, and not sure if I want it back. She deserves it and I don't think she even knows it."

"Sounds like until you see her again, you'll be on autopilot."

"I guess so, not very business like, is it?"

"Tell you what, go home....give me a decision tomorrow. I can't have you here half way."

"I think I might do that, thank you, sir."

"Of course."

Julian walked slowly up the steps to the door. He had his key out and turned the lock. The door opened and there she was.

Brooke waved. "Hi...how crazy is this?"

Julian walked slowly over to her, processing all of this. "Not crazy, I had a dream about you last night, showing up...here...in my living room."

"And what happened in the dream."

"I've always woken up...so I never got a chance to really say it."

"Well, what are you waiting for?"

"I've wanted you to be in this living room, so I can look into your eyes and tell you....welcome home." Brooke sighed. "Please tell me that one woman rejects me in two different cities."

"I've had this dream too. I am in this living room, you looking at me, as if I'm the only girl in the world, and I tell you that I love you."

"So...what are you waiting for." Julian stroked her shoulder...calming her.

"I love you....and I know it's been a long time after you said it, and alo..." Julian kissed her, holding her in the embrace, not wanting to let her go. "Please tell me I'm still here....and it wasn't a dream."

"Still here, feet on the ground." Julian kissed her again, this one not so agressive. "Not to ruin our moment, but where's Sam?"

"Having no idea where I am." Julian gave her a look. "Okay, she has me figured out. She probably knows I'm here. But I wanted this...us...before everything else."

"And what is everything else?"

"I was hiding. I was letting Sam hide me and I can't do that. It's not fair. And I was using every excuse in the book to stay in Tree Hill when everything that was holding me back was screaming at me to go and be here."

"So you really want to be here?"

"If you really want me here?"

Julian nodded and kissed her again. "Yeah....more than anything."

the next morning...

Brooke woke up by her cell phone beeping. The sun was just rising above the ocean, everything was so beautiful. She looked over and saw Julian sleeping, his arm still draped over her tummy....the most incredible night....without fear. She slowly got out of bed, not to wake Julian and grabbed her phone, running softly out of the bedroom.

message one:

"Hey it's Sam, the daughter or whatever I am. You sneak. I checked your bank account, you so went to see Julian. Tell me all the details, well not all the gross sex details. But all the details about how I'm going to be living on the beach and, yeah, call me when you....recover."

message two:

"Hey B. Davis, it's Peyton. Sam is here, and yeah, she totally has you figured out. Adopted or not, she is so your daughter. You're gonna do great, call me with all the details."

message three:

"Hey Brooke, it's Julian. You're sleeping right now, but I wanted to tell you that you are so beautiful. Curled up right beside me, with no worries. I know you're having sweet dreams, and I love you."

Brooke heard footsteps and looked up at Julian behind her.

"You sent me a message to tell me how I sleep?"

"Yeah...one of those things that I just had to share with you....in the moment."

"Thanks....it was nice. I got a call from Sam....she has us figured out."

"Smart kid....when is she coming?"

"Whenever I say the word, she is chomping at the bit to live in Los Angeles."

"I have something for you, don't go anywhere."

"Okay." Brooke was confused, but curled herself up in Julian's shirt that she put on when slipping out of bed.

He returned and sat in front of her. "I had this made for you, when I knew that I loved you."

Brooke opened it up. "A heart necklace, original."

"I told my boss that I gave my heart to someone in Tree Hill....and I saw that heart necklace and thought of you."

"I love you, thank you." She kissed him. "Do you have plants today?" She continued to kiss him.

"You tell me."

That weekend Sam flew to Los Angeles and her things soon followed. Everything was seemingly perfect. After everything calmed down, Julian bought out Brooke some coffee...the morning breeze was a bit cool. She was curled up in a sweater jacket.

Brooke took a sip. "You remembered."

"Yep. Every morning, black coffee, everything else, two sugars."

"Sam sure is happy." She looked at Sam building a castle with two other kids on the beach.

"Brooke, what about you. You say that Sam is happy, Peyton calls and she's happy, and everyhing else. What about you?"

"I'm good....I'm happy, this is....paradise."

Julian scooted his chair against hers. "Now tell me the truth."

"I want it all...I want more kids, I want everything and I'm scared that you won't."

"What you want is what I want."

"Just like you said, you have to be happy too."

"Seeing you....carrying our baby....that makes me happy."

"Great."

"Why do I get the feeling this is some segway into what you really want to tell me?"

"Oh because it is?"

"What?"

"Julian, I'm pregnant." She looked at him, scared, sad eyes.

He kissed her. "And I thought you could not get anymore more beautiful than you are right now....I love you and our baby."