Sam looked at the both of them.

"I see that look, so I'm gonna leave and do,,,yeah...not in the room anymore."

Both Julian and Brooke were sitting there, looking at their futures within each other. Did this just happen? Did Julian just propose and Brooke just sitting there....without a voice?

"And I thought you not saying 'I Love You' back was bad enough." He smiled at her and she looked more calm.

"Julian, I love you..."

He looked down, let out the air he was holding in...trying not to get emotional. "There isn't a yes coming after that, is there?"

"Is this because I'm pregnant?"

He was confused. "I had this ring the day I asked you to move to LA with me."

"And I never gave you a chance to ask?" She laughed to cover up her tears.

"That doesn't matter now, what matters is this...us...and our future."

"I love you..." She looked back up at Julian, a smile slowly curling around her mouth. "Yes."

"Yes?!" He went to hug her and they both fell on the bed in laughter.

Sam was waiting outside the door when it finally opened.

"I thought you were supossed to be happy, you both have those eyes that scream all the sad crap you had in Tree Hill." Brooke held up her hand and Sam saw the ring. "Really?"

"Yeah, really." They both hugged.

"This is so much better than pizza. So what now, big fancy wedding....I have to wear a dress, which I hate, but since it's you're wedding, I won't care. And the reception, Oh...Bachelor Party!"

"Okay, slow down there." Brooke laughed. "It's just day one. This is where I call Peyton and Lucas and Nathan and Haley...and tell them the best knews. And if it's okay, I'd like to a bridesmaid with me."

"A bridesmaid, really, sweet!"

Julian looked at the both fo them, he didn't know how life could have turned out like this and didn't care how it happened...as long as it did. His cell phone rang and he went to the balcony away from them to answer it.

"Hey...dad."

"Julian, I've been calling the office, they said you took a sabatical and you're not at your mother's house."

"I'm at the beach house...the house mom gave to me so it's like my home now."

"Since I'm not with the company anymore, what about you and I start on some projects together. Like finsihing Lucas Scott book."

"Dad, you hated that movie. You only went along when you saw the reviews of people who wanted to see the book into the movie. All you cared about was the salary."

"And I know that you went to do the movie because of a girl who broke your heart three years ago."

"Acient history."

"All things aside, how is Peyton?"

"She's good....pregnant and about to marry the man of her dreams."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"No, because you turn everything into a bad thing. Dad, I'm happy in LA." He looked at Brooke and Sam planning everything. "I'm really happy."

"In your words, you wanted the girl in the book..."

Julian jumped in. "I got the girl in the book and this conversation is pointless...bye."

He came back into the living room, Brooke walked over.

"Not great news?"

"My dad."

"I thought you and your dad got along?"

"Not really. He always say me as the screwup looking for the next project only to blow it off because of disinterest. He wanted to finish Lucas' book. I know it's not because of the story, becuase of the money and the notority."

"Sounds like my mother."

"So...your mother."

"I didn't think that was a cue to talk about my mother." She laughed.

"It's not, but aren't you going to tell her?"

"About this...no way. I'm finally, really, truly happy and with her in the mix, it won't be."

"What about her mother."

"No contact. And I know I should be worried about that one day a letter comes in the mail or she comes by, but I'm not. I mean look at her. She is our daughter...no adoption or birth mom is going to ruin that."

A knock came at the door, all them looked at each other wondering who it could be.

"Okay either I am psychic or it's just weird timing." Brooke stood behind Sam as she opened the door.

A nice, young man was standing there, long sleeve shirt on. "Ben?"

"Yeah, Sam, you forgot this." Her purse...she left it at the bar."

"I had no idea I left it at the restaurant."

Brooke smiled at the young man. "Come on in, we'd love to meet you."

Julian came over. "This is Ben? The boardwalk diversion boy."

Brooke politely corrected him. "No, honey, this is Ben, the very nice restaurant boy who came to return Sam's purse."

"Dude, it's LA, what's with the long sleeves."

Sam pleaded. "Julian!"

"It's okay, Sam....I know that a lot of people think I'm weird...or a freak as some have said about my tattoos. When I knew I wanted to meet you both, I wanted to present myself as someone who you wanted your daughter to date...not someone you wanted your daughter to stay away from."

Julian sat across from at the table. "Did you approach her first?"

"She sat down at the bar, it was mutual I guess." Ben looked at Sam. "Am I being interrogated."

Julian gave him a look. "Maybe."

Brooke sat down beside Julian and Sam sat down beside Ben. "No, my...fiancee is just trying to get to know you, right?"

"Sure...so..."

The rest of the night just went like that. Julian being the over protective father and Brooke trying to make excuses so Ben didn't feel threatened. Overall, Sam was completely mortified.

The next morning Sam came out of her bedroom, still in her flannel...pink...pajamas and sat across from Brooke.

"So, would Ben hate me for what Julian did."

"I doubt it, and you know, i think Julian is adjusting to being your father better than I thought he would."

"It's just so weird. I talked to him about boys and sex before..."

Brooke almost choked. "You talked to Julian about sex?"

"Sure, I mean getting a guys point of view is important right. But this was just after you two hooked up...or got together, whatever you want to call it. So it didn't seem like a father and daughter thing at the time."

"As your mother, I'm curious to what he had to say."

"Never jump into anything before you're ready. And he said that you and Brooke were a bad example and not to follow through with what you two were doing."

"What else did he say?"

"To really want to be with someone, you have to love them and love yourself enough to know that it's the right person. That's when I knew he really loved you and it wasn't just some fling that was going to last the summer and fizzle in the fall."
"I have to agree, even though I've had many circumstances where I've done the opposite. But follow your heart. Ben seems like a good kid, minus the fear of Julian though. I'd say go for it."

"Good, because he wanted to take me to this music thing, at the boardwalk tonight. I'd be home by like midnight."

"He's a good kid and the way you handled yourself when I met you, don't worry about a curfew."

"What about Julian."

Brooke smiled. "I'll take care of Julian."

"Eww, that was so a sex smile and I'm leaving." She smiled back. "Thanks, mom."

Brooke got on the phone, calendar in front and dialed the fimiliar number.

Peyton answered in a groggy voice. "Hey B. Davis."

"What are you doing November fifteenth? Besides taking care of that beautiful baby of yours."

Peyton held back the tears. "I don't know, what are you doing."

"Oh, big, big party. It's like a wedding and I'll be in a fabulous white dress, and..."

Peyton smiled. "My best friend is getting married....he proposed...that's awesome Brooke."

"We haven't figured out any details, but setting the date was pretty big. Now everything else can just fall into place."

"I don't know if I'll be able to fly to Los Angeles."

"No problem. Since my home is in Tree Hill and Julian gives me whatever I want." Brooke smiled. "We're gonna have the wedding in Tree Hill. So that beautiful baby of yours can be in the wedding."

"That's great, Brooke, really."

Brooke put the pen down. "Did I interrupt a weird pregnancy sex thing you and Lucas are having. You sound really distant, where is he anyway?"

"He's out with Haley."

"So, what gives? We talked hours and hours one night about your wedding."

"Brooke, I might not be around for the wedding?"

"What? Are you Lucas planning on a second child already?"

"The pregnancy....the doctors are saying if I have the baby, there is a good chance I could die."

Brooke's heart skipped a beat and emotions overcame her. "You're risking your life for a baby?"

"This might be the only chance to have a baby and this is me and Lucas...inside of me. I thought a lot about it and it's what I want to do."

"What about Lucas? Him raising a baby alone?"

"We're taking every day one day at a time. We're having this baby."

"What about Haley and Nathan, they're your family too."

"Just you know. We don't want to worry anyone, so, I guess when the time is right."

"When the time is right. How do you tell your best friend the baby you're carrying will take your life. How easy is that?" Brooke paused, clearing her throat. "That was not fair...I'm sorry."

"None of this is fair Brooke, but it's what I want to do. I know Lucas will be okay, with our baby. He's strong."

"No he's not Peyton." Brooke dried her eyes. "He's not as strong as you think. He needs you in his life. His heart....it's weak...not because of the HCM, because of you. His heart beats for you...and only you. It took me two broken hearts to figure that out."

"This is what I want to do, I just hope people don't hate me for it."

"P. Sawyer I could never hate you. I just don't understand you."

"Sometimes I don't either. But I want to do this, I want to give Lucas a baby."

"At the risk of losing you?" Brooke heard the door opening, she knew it was Julian. "Julian's home, I will call you later."

Julian saw her crying.

"Is it Sam? Is she okay?"

Brooke ran around the table and jumped into a hug.

He felt her body shaking and could hear her hard sobbing. "Baby, it's okay...I'm here....what's wrong."

She finally pulled away. "Peyton...she's....having a baby and it's risking her life and I'm not sure that she really knows what she's doing."

"Wait, Peyton is dying?"

"Pretty much. The doctor said it was a pretty good chance." She looked up at Julian. "I can't lose my best friend."

"Then let's go. Pack Sam up, everything, tell my mom I'm going back to Tree Hill. You need to be with your best friend and I'll go anywhere with you."

"But Sam?"

"Sam goes wherever you go, she is a mini you, Brooke. I'll call the airlines for the earliest flight. Just get some stuff together and we'll be in Tree Hill by morning." Julian kissed her forehead. "It's gonna be okay, we're all gonna be okay."