Brooke Davis smiled as the last customer of the night left her boutique. It had been a long day and one of the most disgustingly wet days in New York City. Lucky for her the rain had finally stopped. She would quickly count the money, deposit it, and then go pick up her dry cleaning before going to get her daughter. An hour later she was speed walking along with the rest of the city, the bank was only two blocks away but by the time she got there her toes ached. Breaking in new stilettos on city blocks was verging on suicidal. But she really had no complaints. She was skilled with fashion and as a result could afford to keep herself and her daughter in luxury, which was a blessing after her parents disowned her. Of course, she hadn't been completely devoid of any monetary funds because at age eighteen she had come into her trust fund.

Basically she had created the type of lifestyle that allowed her to be a mother who was also a working woman. She was Brooke Davis, the head and CEO of her fashion line Clothes Over Bros, the bitch who refused to put a model on her magazine cover unless she was at least a size three and the best mother at Mommy & Me.

She stopped in front of The Children's Center where her daughter went to every weekday while Brooke went out and tackled the world. She loved that they had very strict security because she was rather paranoid. It was one thing for people to gossip about her but she wanted to shield Molly from all of that.

"Welcome, Miss Davis," Deacon, the very colossal security guard opened the door.

"Thank you Deacon," Brooke replied and began to walk toward the Tenacious Threes section of the daycare. Molly had been in this daycare since she was a Napping Newborn, through to a Fun First Year, and a Tiny Two. Brooke rolled her eyes at the names but then thought that it was a good thing some people were born to deal with everyone else's kids.

Before Brooke even fully opened the door there was a 2'5" bundle of energy with her arms wrapped around her legs. Brooke smiled down at her daughter, "hey baby, look at you! All ready to go?"

Molly looked up at her mother, complete adoration in her dark blue eyes, "Mommy, I played with Sarah! We played blocks and painted!"

"Really," Brooke waved at the attendant before signing the chart and taking Molly's hand, "I thought you were going to play with Tony today."

"No, me and Sarah had fun," Molly told her.

Brooke looked outside as they approached the door and sighed. It had started to rain in the few moments she had been inside. Molly released her mother's hand to pull up her hood, Brooke didn't have the luxury of having a hood on her custom made jacket, made for her twenty-sixth birthday by Donatella Versace.

"Your cab is waiting Miss Davis," Deacon sounded behind her.

Brooke smiled gratefully, "thank you Deacon," added a wink and ran with her daughter toward the honking cab.

0000

Brooke lived on the upper east side of Manhattan in an apartment that had once been three different apartments. She had bought all three, torn down some walls and after half a year of working it had become her home. It was spacious with two bedrooms, an office and everything else she had ever wanted.

"I want macaroni and cheese," Molly told her as Brooke helped her out of her jacket.

"Boy, you are just like you're Godmother, do you know that?"

"Aunt Haley," Molly asked.

"Yeah, that's her favorite food," Brooke told her.

"Mommy," Molly waited until Brooke had turned from the cabinet, a box of macaroni and cheese in her hand, "do I have a Daddy?"

Brooke's mouth opened in surprise. She hadn't been expecting this question so soon. Maybe next year or even kindergarten but not right that second. How was she going to explain this to her daughter? The situation was complicated but before Brooke had split with Molly's father they had agreed to certain terms.

"Yes," Brooke began slowly, "everybody has a Mommy and a Daddy. But sometimes Mommies and Daddies can't be together. And other times they can be."

"Where's my Daddy," Molly asked next.

Brooke swallowed hard, "he's in Chicago, baby. Your Daddy really wanted to be with you but he had to go live in Chicago."

"Why?"

"Because he and Mommy couldn't be together anymore and we both decided you'd be better with me," Brooke told her.

Molly was an astute child. She realized that her mother was sad and that was why she quieted. But later as Brooke looked down at her angelic face as Molly slept she felt tears roll over. She hadn't cried over Nathan Scott in a very longtime. But she did still cry for what she'd lost when they'd parted ways.

It was so hard to be a single mother, harder when you considered that she knew she would never find a man who could rival Nathan. He had been her one and only love, she wasn't a cynic but she did recognize that not everybody experienced the kind of love she'd felt with Nathan. They'd been together for most of high school, the captain of the basketball team and the cheer squad, but their relationship had been more then popularity and sex. It had been two souls truly merging. Nathan had been more then her boyfriend and lover, he'd been her best friend. What she had missed the most after she left him was him just talking to her.

But they had both known they had to split, too much had happened. Nothing would ever be the same and they had both known what had to be done. Finally after a few long moments of crying Brooke wiped her eyes. She was okay, she was an independent twenty-six year old designer and mother, she was going to be just fine. She stepped out into the kitchen to clean the dishes and pushed the button on her answering machines. As she washed she smiled as Haley threatened her with her life if she didn't call back because it had been three whole days. But it was the next message that made Brooke's stomach drop to the floor.

0000

Nathan looked up at the gray sky and swore. If it started to rain it would take even longer to get there. He was all ready late because his practice had been postponed until later because one of the rookies thought all of the other player's lives revolved around him. Soon he'd know different. Rookies could be picked out quickly especially on a close team like the Bulls. Nathan had fit in as a rookie because he was on the same page as most of the other guys. He had a family to support.

Finally after what seemed like forever Nathan was in the backseat of one of the team's privately hired cars. After telling the driver the directions he flipped open his phone to listen to his voice mails. He smiled as he listened to Lucas berating him for not bringing his niece to visit more often. He smiled again when he heard his mother's voice telling him to visit for Thanksgiving this year because she really didn't want fly again just because he didn't like to come back to Tree Hill.

"We're here," the driver called.

Nathan flipped shut his phone, he'd listen to the other messages later. He walked into the daycare and nodded slightly at the security guard standing watch by the door. Barely two minutes later he was bending down to capture his three-year-old daughter, Ally, into his arms.

He looked her over, as he always did, "hello, little munchkin, you look good enough to eat," and proceeded to nuzzle her neck until she erupted into fits of giggles. Sometimes he thought it was curious that she had the same ticklish spots as Brooke, he wondered if Molly did too. Nathan felt his heart constrict but before he could dwell on it Ally wrapped her chubby little arms around his neck.

"I missed you today, Daddy, I made you a picture," Ally smiled happily as he let her go so she could show him.

Nathan looked at the mess of five different colors on a piece of plain white paper, it looked like a masterpiece to his biased eyes, "it's absolutely stunning, munchkin."

Without much more prompting Nathan took Ally back home. He lived in the older portion of Chicago in a small house but it was quaint and most of his neighbors were old and nice.

"Daddy," Ally spun around as Nathan removed her coat and then grinned up at him, "I want macaroni and cheese and where's my Mommy?"

Nathan's jaw dropped, had his daughter really just asked that question, "yes, we can have macaroni and cheese. Do you know that's your Godmother's favorite?"

"Daddy," she frowned as he lifted her onto a stool, "where's my Mommy?"

"Your Mommy," Nathan began. He knew this day would come, he and Brooke had talked tentatively about what they would say, "couldn't be with you, munchkin, we both agreed you'd be better off living with me in Chicago."

"Does she love me," Ally wanted to know.

Nathan struggled not to break, he had to be okay, "very much, munchkin, more then anything else. Sometimes Mommies and Daddies just can't be together anymore."

0000

Nathan recognized a lot of Brooke in Ally. While she had his eyes, she had two deep dimples, a pout that carried more persuasion then was fair and dark, deep brown hair that formed beautiful curls. Sometimes when he was alone he would look at the birth pictures he had left. Ally had been born two minutes before Molly but the moment Nathan had seen the two of them had been love at first sight. He and Brooke had been so happy, and so naïve. Everything had crumbled, they'd both done stupid things. In the end they had both known what had to be done.

It was sometime around ten when he finally flipped his cell phone back open to check on those messages he hadn't heard. He was surprised to see that he had missed a call since practice. He was even more surprised when he saw that it was Brooke's number. All at once his heart began to pound furiously. Thinking all kinds of awful, scary thoughts he hit his call button.

"Brooke," he said her name.

There was a pause, "have you watched the news?"

"Are you okay? Is Molly okay," he needed to know they were both okay or he would be flipping out.

"Turn on the television, Nate. It's bad," she paused, obviously waiting to do what he was told.

He turned on the television and flipped to a local news station. What he saw made his mouth fall open, "no way!"

"I know," she sounded tired.

There were two very detailed pictures of both he and Brooke in their separate cities with identical children. They had been found out. They had both worked very hard so no one would ever know they'd had twins together, that they had ever been together. Now it had leaked somehow and the shit had officially hit the fan.

"What now," she asked.

It occurred to Nathan that they hadn't spoken since the divorce had gone through when Molly and Ally were only three months old.

"This could compromise my position on the team," Nathan replied, "after what the rookies did last month in that bar with those minors my coach put up a warning that we were all on alert. The next person to bring bad press is benched or even gets their contract terminated."

"This could ruin my sales. I've worked hard to appeal to women of every facet of life. Mothers will be horrified that I left my little girl," he heard her sniff, "as if I wanted to."

"Calm down, Davis," Nathan managed. Her tears had always gotten to him.

"I all ready have my press editor calling your PR guy," Brooke sniffled again.

Nathan sighed, "I think we'll have to meet."

After a long pause and sigh, "I think you're right."

0000

Rachel walked into Brooke's apartment and tucked her copy of the key away in her purse. After Brooke's divorce she had relocated to New York to expand her label, while her apartment had been under construction she had stayed with Rachel. In that time Brooke and Rachel became even closer. So close that Molly didn't know Rachel as anything other then, "Auntie Rachel!"

The squeal accompanied by Molly running into her arms made Rachel's heart soften a bit, "hey, baby cakes, where's your mother?"

"In here, Rach," Rachel lifted Molly and walked into the office where Brooke was typing furiously at her lap top, "I couldn't go outside without being mobbed."

"Well good thing you don't have to take short stuff to soccer," Rachel replied.

Brooke looked up, her eyes dark and moody, "thank you for coming on such short notice. I shouldn't be gone longer then tomorrow morning."

"Why are you going to see him, why can't he come here," Rachel asked.

"Molly," Brooke glared at her friend, "why don't you go play with your dollies."

"Okay Mommy!"

"Thank you baby," Brooke smiled until Molly was out of sight, "I don't want her to know I'll be out of town seeing Nate. It would only confuse her."

"Well if you ask me-"

Brooke cut her off, "I'm not asking you. Look, I'm sorry to be so mean but this was not something that was supposed to happen."

"Will you get to see her," Rachel asked as she leaned forward.

"I don't know," Brooke shrugged.

"Don't pretend, B," Rachel chastised her, "we both know you still cry at night over that baby. They should know one another."

"It would just be too complicated," Brooke replied. Her heart ached, one of her arms was full with Molly, she wanted the other full with Ally.

0000

Nathan had never been so nervous in his entire life. Not even when he had asked Brooke out on their first date in ninth grade Social Studies via a well crafted note that including a check mark box for no or yes. He had spoken with his coach briefly, just long enough to have his wife look after Ally while he hid in the back gym waiting for Brooke to get there. The whole operation had to be very stealth, the coach had been very adamant about this whole get together ending with a solid story or Nathan's career would be in jeopardy.

His heart hadn't stopped beating aggressively since he'd heard Brooke's voice. It was insane that after all the shit they'd been through that she could still have that effect on him. He had to control himself, for Ally's sake and Molly's.

The clicking on the court got louder and louder before it stopped right beside him, he realized that it had been the sound of heels on the waxed floors. He finally looked up and into familiar hazel eyes, "Brooke."

"Nathan," her voice had a rough quality that made him hard whenever she spoke his name.

"I brought my people, they're talking to your people in the office," Brooke told him.

She didn't look different. She was still short, still gorgeous, her hair was shorter and twisted into some crazy hair thingy. Brooke was thinking the same thing. Nathan hadn't changed, just the length of his hair.

"Do we know who leaked," Nathan asked.

Brooke shook her head, "I'd give one guess but I don't know why he would try and ruin your career."

"Me either," Nathan wondered what that said about his father if they had both thought he was trying to ruin their respective careers.

There was a long pause before Brooke asked, "do you have a picture?"

Nathan nodded and reached for his wallet. Brooke reached in her planner and they swapped photos. Nathan looked at the little girl, identical to Ally, and felt his breath hitch. She was beautiful. He wanted to know her, wanted to hold her. He looked into Brooke's eyes and watched as a tear fell.

"She's gorgeous, Nathan," Brooke bit her lip and looked away.

"Molly's so big," Nathan looked away too.

"I want to see her," they both finally said at the same time. Their eyes met but before they could speak again their PR people were walking in.

They all sat down at the table that had been set up on the side of the court. Roger, Brooke's PR man, and one of the best in NYC began, "all sides agree that the only way to put a good spin on this is to get you kids together."

"What do you mean," Brooke asked nervously.

Tom, the team's PR representative, continued, "the world wants to see the basketball player and the fashion designer play house. We'll have to give that to them until this tides over."

"What about our kids? We can't put them together and take them apart," Nathan argued.

"I agree," Lila, a very knowledgeable old bat of a PR woman, told him, "so I think it may be time to rearrange your custody agreements pertaining to each child."

"We have to talk about this," Brooke told them. She rose and held her hand out to Nathan, "come on, let's take a walk around the gym."

Nathan took it and tried not to read too much into it. They had ended in one of the worst ways possible. They had to work this just right because it wasn't just them, there were two little girls who could potentially be traumatized from the whole experience.

"What do you think," she finally asked.

"During the season I have to be in Chicago, but during the off season I'm free to live where I choose. The season is just beginning so you'd have to do a lot of business from here."

"I have a boutique here," Brooke told him absentmindedly.

"Really," Nathan hadn't realized that she had expanded quite so much.

"I'd have to fly back periodically," she paused, "I can't leave Molly there without me but if I bring her here she'll never be able to leave Ally."

"Same goes," he agreed.

"We'd have to do partial custody for both of them."

Nathan swallowed, that would mean a portion of time without either one of them. It made him sick to his stomach and judging from the look on Brooke's face it didn't sit well with her either.

"Nate," Lila called to him.

"Well," Roger asked as they both sat again.

Brooke licked her lower lip, a telltale sign that she was nervous. She couldn't afford to lose her clientele; Nathan couldn't afford to lose his entire career. The only way that they provided for their children was by working. It was sensible to do this, Brooke thought, and tried desperately to believe it. At least for the sake of their children.