Sorry about the longer wait but I've had a really grueling run of shifts. Also I know I've messed with the Season Four timeline a little bit it was needed for the story.

4. "This miracle God gave to me, gives me strength when I am weak, I find reason to believe in my Daughter's eyes."

Knocking loudly on the hotel door Lucas repeated her name over and over again demanding that she open the door and talk to him. After her phone call yesterday he had been desperately trying to get hold of her, he had heard from Nathan how she had run from the house in tears and since then it had been twenty four hours since he had last seen her.

"Well, well, well if it isn't Lucas Scott," Rachel said as she turned the corner to find him banging on Brooke's hotel room door.

"Rachel," Lucas growled, continuing to knock on the door.

"Are you trying to wake the whole of Tree Hill?" Rachel asked with a smirk.

Lucas turned to face her. "Have you seen Brooke? Only this is supposed to be her hotel room but she's not answering."

"That's because she's not there," Rachel said, her words slow as if she was speaking to a child.

Taking a step forward Lucas balled his hands up against his side. He really wasn't in the mood for Rachel's crap, not when he was terrified that Brooke had run off again, taking any chance he had of getting to know his daughter with her. "Where is she?"

"I'm here," Brooke announced as she rounded the corner, a small child sleeping soundly in her arms.

"I-" Lucas was speechless as he spotted the tangle of limbs wrapped up in a High School Musical blanket that Brooke carried as if it was the most precious cargo.

Brooke looked down at her sleeping daughter and then back up at Lucas. "You always did know how to make a seen Luke."

"I thought you'd gone, I thought I was never going to see-"

"I wouldn't do that to you, not this time," Brooke whispered, as she careful readjusted Summer in her arms, the weight of her sleeping daughter causing her arms to ache.

Lucas nodded, still mesmerized by his sleeping daughter. "Here let me-"

"It's alright, I've got her," Brooke insisted, cutting him off.

Realizing that Lucas and Brooke needed some time alone Rachel silently opened the door and put all of their bags inside the room. "I'm going to go for a walk. See how much has changed."

"Thanks Rach," Brooke whispered as Rachel walked passed her, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze on the way.

Entering the room Brooke sat down on the couch as Summer instinctively snuggled closer into her. Leaning back against the couch Brooke ran her hands across her daughter's back as Summer laid with her head on her mother's lap and her legs stretched out across the couch.

"I'm sorry I scared you," Brooke apologized.

Lucas nodded. "I thought you'd left. Now that I wasn't a match I thought I'd never see you again and that I'd never meet-"

"Why are you whispering?" Brooke asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

"I don't want to wake her," Lucas explained.

Brooke couldn't help but chuckle gently at his thoughtfulness. "She spent six months living in a hospital, and the rest of the time living with Rachel, it will take more than raised voices to wake her."

"I don't know anything about her," Lucas sighed as he crouched down in front on her.

"I would offer you a seat but she's always been a couch hog," Brooke smiled.

Lucas looked around the room before pulling across a footstall and sitting on it. "I had no idea where you were Brooke."

"I had some things I needed to sort out," Brooke hedged.

"When did they get here?" Lucas asked.

Brooke felt Summer shift slightly in her lap. "About half an hour ago."

"Does she know she's meeting me?" Lucas wondered.

"Not exactly. She's knows that she has some family here who would really like to meet her, and she knows it's where I grew up. I'm taking it one step at a time," Brooke shyly admitted.

Lucas nodded. "How are we going to do it."

Brooke shrugged. "I don't know. I thought we could just play it by ear."

"I called my mother," Lucas said, changing tact slightly as he could see Brooke was beginning to get uncomfortable with his line of questioning, he knew he had every right to ask these questions but he was also afraid of pushing her too far.

"On a scale of one to ten who made is she?" Brooke asked, suddenly feeling like an insecure seventeen year old who had broken the rules.

Lucas watched as Summer turned on her side, allowing him to see her face for the first time, her eyes were closed as she slept but he couldn't get over how perfect she was, her porcelain features sat perfectly on her face as she brought her thumb up to her mouth in her sleep.

"I didn't tell her, I just told her than I needed her and that I would explain it all when she gets here. She should be on a plane as we speak," Lucas replied still mesmerized by the sight of his sleeping daughter as she sucked her thumb.

"You know she stopped doing that when she was two. She never had a pacifier but she sucked her thumb since she was a few months old, then a few weeks after her second birthday she just stopped. Then she got sick and it started again, I know I should try and wean her off it but she only does it when she's sleeping and it comforts her so I figured in the grand scheme of things," Brooke shrugged, for some reason she felt the need to explain her parenting choices to Luke.

Lucas bit his bottom lip. "When was she born?"

"July the fourth … independence day," Brooke answered.

"That's exactly a month after Jamie was born. Haley was what four months pregnant when you left and you were what-"

"Four weeks," Brooke finished for him.

Lucas quickly did the math in his head. "That doesn't make sense."

"She was born early," Brooke explained. "Thirty two weeks. There were some complications with my pregnancy and they had to do a c-section."

"But everything was alright?" Lucas wondered.

Brooke debated how much to tell him, she'd already burdened him with so much already that she couldn't help but wonder if the traumatic details of Summer's birth might be too much information.

"Brooke?" Lucas asked when she didn't answer his question.

"It was … complicated," Brooke hedged.

"Complicated how?" Lucas needed to know.

Brooke bit her bottom lip looking down at her daughter she ran her finger gently across the top of Summer's head. "Summer was fine, a little on the small side but she was fine."

"And you?" Lucas asked reading between the lines.

"I didn't come off so easily," Brooke finally admitted.

"In what way?" Lucas questioned.

Not taking her eyes off of her daughter Brooke continued to trace her finger across her arm. "I had eclampsia and it got pretty bad so they had to do a c-section, I don't really remember much after that until waking up and being told that I had a one week old daughter."

"A week, you were out of it for a whole week?" Lucas queried, shocked that it had been so difficult, even with the complications his mother had with Lily she was only unconscious for a day.

"Like I said it got pretty bad," Brooke shrugged, not wanting to go into more detail.

Lucas could see that she was beginning to shut off from him so he decided not to push her anymore. "You said you had a business?"

"Yeah, when I moved to New York I started fashion school, it was just two nights a week but it really gave me a start, and then Rachel's grandmother died and left Rach some money, she decided that she wanted to open a boutique and sell my designs, over the years one boutique has turned into four," Brooke proudly explained.

"That's great Brooke," Lucas exclaimed, genuinely pleased for her.

"Well it's no New York Times Bestsellers," Brooke smiled, referring to all he had achieved since leaving high school.

Lucas couldn't help but smile as he watched the way she was with Summer, motherhood definitely suited her. "How long is she here for?"

"That's what I was sorting out earlier," Brooke began. "I was on the phone to her doctors and then we had a meeting at Duke to see if her treatment could be taken over by them if needs be … if we decided to stay here longer."

"And?" Lucas asked, trying not sound too hopeful.

Brooke looked up from Summer's sleeping form. "If we go to transplant then yes definitely but if we can't then Sloane Kettering are offering experimental chemo and Duke aren't."

"Right. So does that mean you have to go back?" Luke questioned.

"The relapsed AML protocol she's on at the moment is available at both centers so she can have her next cycle here if I decide to but if we can't go to transplant and she doesn't get into remission then we have to go to Sloane," Brooke said, she found it hard to explain something she barely understood herself.

Lucas nodded. "When will you know?"

"I don't know," Brooke breathed.

"I-"

"I know you want answers Luke and in time I promise I will try and answer every question you have but right now I just need to concentrate one hundred percent on doing what is best for Sunny. You get that right?" she pleaded.

Lucas looked down at his daughter. "Of course," he smiled, hoping to put her at ease. "God Brooke she's so beautiful."

"I know that every mother thinks that their child is the most beautiful person in the world but she really is, before the chemo she had the most amazing chocolate brown curls which were in such contrast to the piercing blue of her eyes that you couldn't help but be mesmerized," Brooke gushed proudly.

As if she could sense that the conversation was centering around her, Summer sat up, blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from her eyes she pulled herself up into a sitting position before turning to face her mother.

"Momma," she yawned, her voice thick with sleep.

"Hey there Sleeping Beauty," Brooke greeted.

Summer pulled the High School Musical blanket around her a bit more. "I thought it was a dream."

"What was?" Brooke asked as she wiped the sleep from Summer's eyes.

"That you were here, and that you, me and Rachie were on an adventure to where you growed up," Summer explained.

Pulling her daughter up onto her lap Brooke placed a kiss on her head. "It's not a dream. It's a real life adventure."

Lucas watched the interaction between mother and daughter and the way that they looked at each other as if they were the only two people in the world and he wanted so desperately to be a part of that.

"Momma?" Summer frowned, looking up at her mother with the same piercing blue eyes as her father.

"Yes Sunshine?" Brooke smiled.

Summer looked down at the small white tube that dangled from her chest. "Do I still have poorly blood in Tree Hill?"

"I'm afraid so baby girl," Brooke croaked, her heart breaking at the innocence of her daughter's question. "But mommy is doing everything she can to make it better and I'm never going to stop I can promise you that."

"Then it's alright," Summer nodded as she lifted her head up and kissed her mother on the cheek.

Wiping at his eyes Lucas wanted to be able to take his little-girl in his arms and tell her that he was her father. That he was sorry that this was happening to her and that he loved her and was going to do everything in his power so that she could grow old and give him many gray hairs and sleepless nights.

As if sensing that there was someone else in the room Summer slid down from the couch, letting the blanket slip to the floor to reveal the bright red pajama bottoms and white vest top that she was wearing.

"Who are you?" Summer frowned, her nose crinkling as she faced Lucas.

"I'm Lucas," he smiled, trying not to laugh at the confused expression that graced her four-year-old features.

"L-U-Cas," Summer sounded out as if trying to figure out if she knew the name from somewhere, when she couldn't place it she turned to face her mother. "Who is he Momma?"

Brooke looked down at her inquisitive daughter. "He's Lucas."

"I know that," Summer sighed, in an over-exaggerated manner. "But who is he?"

"He's someone I went to school with, someone very important in our lives," Brooke said, trying to break the ice on the subject.

Summer bit her bottom lip, an action very similar to one her mother often did. "If he's important how come I'm only seeing him now?"

"Because it's complicated," Brooke hedged.

Sighing loudly Summer placed her hands akimbo style on her hips. "That's what you always say when you don't know the answer."

Lucas couldn't help but let out a small laugh at this, there was doubting that she was Brooke Davis daughter, it was like watching Brooke get interrogated by a mini version of herself.

"I know Sunny but-"

"Who is he?" Summer repeated, determined to get an answer she could understand.

"He's a very good friend of mine," Brooke settled for.

Summer nodded, seemingly placated by this answer for the time being. "Like Rachie?"

"A bit like Rachie," Brooke agreed.

"Do you kiss him?" Summer asked, eliciting another laugh from Lucas.

Brooke glared at her daughter. "Summer Karen Davies."

"Uh oh," Summer sung, she knew that she was close to getting in trouble when her mother used her full name.

"Are you hungry?" Brooke asked, deciding that a change of scenery was needed.

Jumping up on the spot Summer nodded her head wildly. "I'm hungry all the time Momma."

"I know, it's great," Brooke grinned, pleased that her daughter's appetite seemed to have returned bigger than ever before.

"Can we have pancakes and French toast and bagels?" Summer asked.

"If you like," Brooke agreed.

Summer made her way over to her suitcase. "I hope Rachel packed everything I said on the list."

"Of course she did, Rachel is an expert luggage packer," Brooke reassured her daughter.

Turning to face Lucas Summer put her left hand on her hip and pointed at him with the other. "You have to wait outside because I'm going to get changed now."

"Oh … alright," Lucas stammered, a little bit thrown by the sudden change in pace, from the moment Summer had woken up she was like a little tornado of energy changing from one pace to the next.

"Because I'm getting changed which means I'm going to be in my panties," Summer started. "And Momma says that boys aren't allowed to see me in my panties until I'm at least a hundred and five," she concluded.

Lucas couldn't help but laugh. "A hundred and five?" he asked, turning to Brooke.

"Yep a hundred and five," Summer answered not giving Brooke a chance to speak.

"You can wait down in the lobby if you like," Brooke suggested.

"You mean-"

"We'd love for you to join us for breakfast," Brooke reassured him. "Wouldn't we Sunny?" she added, as she turned to her daughter who was emptying every item out of her suitcase.

Summer looked up from the task at hand. "Are you paying?"

"Summer," Brooke warned.

"Rachel says that a boy can only join you for dinner if he's got the dollars to back it up," Summer informed her mother, the meaning of her words lost on her childish innocence.

Brooke rolled her eyes in an amused manner. "I need to find you a new role model."

"Oo I'm going to wear this," Summer announced picking something up from the large pile of clothes that was now on the floor.

"So you joining us?" Brooke asked, turning to Lucas.

Lucas nodded. "Of course. I'll meet you in the lobby."

"Yeah we should only be about a few hours," Brooke smirked. "She gets her love of changing outfits from me," she explained with a laugh as Lucas headed down to the lobby.

Walking over to her daughter Brooke wrapped her arms around her. "I missed you Sunny."

"Mom I'm trying to chose an outfit here," Summer sighed as she threw a t-shirt onto the pile.

"I thought you already had one picked," Brooke remembered.

"Nah. That's too boring," Summer insisted as she launched herself back into the pile and began sorting them into smaller piles.

Forty five minutes and six outfit choices later Brooke and Summer were dressed and ready to go. Entering the lobby Brooke scanned the chairs for Lucas, spotting him in the corner she took hold of Summer's hand and headed over to him.

"We're ready," Summer announced.

"So I see," Lucas smiled as he took in her ensemble, she was wearing a bright red pair of skinny jeans, a white long sleeved top, a gold ballet tutu, a gray cardigan with black hearts on it, a pair of black converse high tops and to complete the outfit she had on a red silk bandana. "That's quite an outfit."

Brooke found Lucas's reaction amusing. "She chose it all herself."

"Because Momma dresses really boring," Summer sighed.

"I've never heard anyone describe Brooke Davis as boring before," Lucas chuckled as they headed out towards the parking lot.

"We should take my car as it's got Sum's car seat in it," Brooke suggested.

Lucas pointed towards his car. "Mine's closer, and it's got Lily's seat in it that she could use."

"Ok," Brooke agreed as they headed towards Lucas's car, almost silently Brooke strapped Summer into the seat before climbing into the front passenger seat next to Lucas.

"Where are we going?" Summer wanted to know.

"Karen's Café," Lucas suggested.

Summer's face lit up. "Karen is one of my names. I'm Summer Karen Davies. But you can call me Sunny if you like Lucas," she offered as she turned to look out of the window.

"Karen is my mother's name," Lucas informed her.

"That's so cool," Summer sung, her voice full of the excitement of childhood.

Lucas watched her in the mirror as he waited for the lights to change. "So what do you think of Tree Hill Summer?"

"Well I've only seen the inside of a hotel and the inside of a car," Summer pointed out.

In the passenger seat Brooke covered her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter as she watched the interaction between Summer and Lucas. She was used to her daughter's ways so it always amused her to see other people's reactions to the four-year-olds straight shooting.

"You have a point there," Lucas agreed.

"Is there anything cool to see?" Summer asked.

"Well there's the Rivercourt where you can go to play basketball," Lucas began, as he struggled to think of other places that might interest a four-year-old who was used to the bright lights of New York City.

Summer turned her attention back to the adults in the front of the car. "Rachie says basketball if not for girls but Momma says that it's for boys and girls and if I want to play there's lots of people that can teach me."

"I could teach you," Lucas offered.

"Really?" Summer's face lit up at the idea.

Lucas looked to Brooke for approval and when she nodded he turned his attention back to Summer as they pulled to a stop outside the café. "If you'd like that is."

"That would be so cool," Summer exclaimed as Brooke helped her out of the seat.

As they entered the café Lucas went up to make the order while Brooke and Summer found a table. Sitting down Brooke watched as Summer emptied out the pot of crayons.

"Momma?" she asked, looking up from the picture.

"Yes?" Brooke answered as she picked up the red crayon and started doodling on a napkin.

Summer put her crayon down and looked up at her mother. "Is Lucas my Daddy?"

Stunned by her daughter's question Brooke found herself frozen. When Summer was born she promised herself three things. That she would always put her daughter first, that Summer would never doubt her mother's love for her and that she would never lie to her.

Now as she sat opposite her far too intelligent four-year-old Brooke found herself being put to the test. She could take the easy way out and deny it or she could be honest and tell Summer the secret that she had been hiding for nearly five years.

"What made you ask that?" Brooke asked, wondering how her daughter had reached such a conclusion.

Summer shrugged. "Well I don't have a Daddy. And you said he's important … and it would be cool if he was my Daddy because he could teach me to play basketball all the time then."

"Oh Sum-"

"Is he my Daddy?" Summer repeated picking up an orange crayon.

Brooke nodded her head, her eyes bright with tears. "Yes. Lucas is your Daddy."

"That is so cool," Summer smiled brightly as she put the orange crayon down and picked up a yellow one. "Now I can add a Daddy into my picture. I couldn't do that before because I didn't know what color to make his hair"

Tears were streaming down Brooke's face as she watched Summer add a head of bright yellow hair to the tallest of the four people she was drawing and she couldn't help but allow herself to believe that perhaps everything would be alright. Her daughter had such an amazing strength of character and the way she so easily accepted everyone into her life gave Brooke the hope she needed to believe. And now that she had Lucas fighting by her side Brooke knew that they would never be alone in the fight. That he would always be there for and for Summer no matter what.