Six Years Later

"Wakey, wakey, Dr. Scott."

"Five more minutes."

"Your family is waiting for us so we can have breakfast, husband of mine," Brooke Scott teasingly whispered into her husband's ear as they lay in bed.

"They can start without us," he mumbled, pulling her closer to him so she was cuddled against him with her head resting on his chest.

"Lucas, you know your mother has probably been up for hours making all of your favorite food. Don't make her wait," she lectured him, lifting her head up so that he could see that she was being serious.

"Baby, I never get to sleep in and just cuddle with you," he said, changing tactics.

"Ugh. That's not fair," she complained, swatting him gently on the chest and rolling her eyes. Still, she laid her head back on this chest and relented. "Five more minutes."

"Thank you. I love you, Pretty Girl," he said, kissing her gently on the top of her head and using the arm that was around her to rub up and down her arm.

"I love you, too," she sighed happily. He really did deserve some time to rest. He had been working such long hours lately.

Two months after college, they had gotten married in a very small ceremony and immediately moved to New York so Lucas could attend medical school. Brooke knew that they wouldn't be living there permanently so she worked as an architect but only as a consultant so she had some flexibility to work around Lucas' schedule. She planned her contracts around his time off so they were still able to enjoy some time together.

Once he graduated from medical school, they spent one year in Seattle where he completed his general medicine residency and now they were in Connecticut as he finished up his residency for children's oncology. It had all flown by in such a hurry but the one thing they could always count on was each other. If anything, their love and commitment had only gotten stronger. Those initial struggles early in their relationship were definitely worth it to get where they were now.

She was thrilled when he was able to get some time off and they were able to get away for a weekend to come back to Tree Hill and spend some time with Keith, Karen and Lily, Lucas' 5 year old little sister. She had been quite a surprise but she benefited from the big age gap as her brother and sister in law spoiled her to pieces.

The only negative was that Nathan, Haley and their two year old son, Jamie, were unable to make it. They were currently living in Chicago as Nathan had been drafted by the Chicago Bulls. After a long season, the other Scotts had gone to Orlando for the week to visit Disney World. They promised to come up and visit Brooke and Lucas after they had settled back into Tree Hill for the summer.

Peyton, Jake and Jenny were now living in Los Angeles where Jake was working as an attorney specializing in child custody and Peyton had opened an art Gallery. They were able to keep in touch with weekly Skype sessions but Brooke hoped to be able to get in a visit with them soon too.

An hour later, they had greeted his family and were digging into the huge breakfast that Karen had prepared. For all of Lucas' complaints at getting up, he was the first one seated at the table. He had piled his plate high with food and stopped speaking as he concentrated on eating.

"Karen, this is delicious. Thank you," Brooke said to her mother-in-law, while at the same time rolling her eyes at her husband who was in the middle of inhaling a stack of pancakes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, when he finally looked up and saw the look on her face.

"No reason. I promise I feed him Karen," she said only semi-joking. "Lucas, chew please. You're scaring Lily."

"Yes, dear," he said, rolling his eyes at her.

She arched her eyebrows at him and he sheepishly grinned.

"These are really good, Mom."

"Thanks sweetie. I'm glad that you like them," Karen responded, unable to stop from laughing. "I know I went overboard but it's been so long since we've seen you."

"We were here last month, Mom."

"That was ages ago. You have to promise that once you're done with your residency, you guys will move back. You already have a house here. Besides, how am I supposed to spoil my grandchildren if they're so far away?"

"Moooommmm…." Lucas whined.

It had been the same thing ever since they had been married. Karen had practically begged them to have kids as soon as the ceremony was over. It was quite a shock to everyone when she ended up pregnant instead and then had Lily.

Brooke fondly watched their interaction with his family and smiled. Deep down, she knew that Karen was right. They would come home some day because she couldn't picture raising her family anywhere else other than Tree Hill.

After breakfast, Lily had tired herself out playing with Lucas and was taking a nap. Keith and Karen had disappeared to different parts of the house, leaving Brooke and Lucas to entertain themselves in the living room. They were cuddling quietly on the couch.

"Let's go for walk," she suggested, breaking the peaceful silence.

"That's random," he replied, looking at her questioningly.

"C'mon Luke. We're going to fall asleep here and waste such a beautiful day," she reasoned, smiling so her dimples were in full effect. Besides, she already knew that he would never deny her.

He smiled back at her shaking his head. Leaning down, he gently kissed her. "God, you're beautiful. I love you."

Her heart leapt hearing those words. They just never got old.

"I love you, too."

She gave him another quick kiss before getting up and taking his hand to pull him up as well. Once up right, he tugged her back to him and kissed her again, this time much deeper, only releasing her when they were breathless.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of that," she murmured as their foreheads touched.

"You better not because I'm the only one who will ever get to do that to you," he teased.

"And you're the only one I want to ever want to do that to me," she teased right back.

"Same for me."

She shook her head. They really could be nauseatingly cute but she couldn't help it. Being so in love definitely agreed with her.

They didn't discuss where they were going as started to walk in silence, holding hands, but as was always the case, they ended up at the picnic table at the Rivercourt. He sat down first and then pulled her down into his lap, holding her tight and breathing in the scent of her sweet shampoo.

"I don't really know if I deserve it but I am definitely the luckiest guy in the world," he said softly.

"Luke, you deserve everything you have. I wish you knew how perfect you are," she whispered to him before leaning in for a kiss.

"You're pretty perfect yourself. I guess this means we're made for each other," he replied, this time with a smile.

"That was a done deal eight years ago."

"Yeah, it was."

They sat in peaceful silence just holding each other for a few more moments when Brooke leaned over to her bag and handed him an envelope.

He grabbed the envelope and turned it over to examine it but it gave no indication as to what it was. Squinting at her, he started to ask what it was but she stopped him with a finger to his lips.

"Just open it," she ordered. "It's good, I promise."

After she said that he was relieved but anxious as he pulled out a card. It was their stationary, with the entwined L & B. The ones she used to send out their usual thank you and greetings but the inscription inside was anything but ordinary:

My dearest husband,

You have given me everything I could have ever asked for. There are no words to explain how much I love and adore you and I can only hope that I make you a fraction as happy as you have made me. There was only one thing missing but in seven months, you'll give me that as well…

Congratulations Daddy!

Yours forever,

B

xoxo

He must have reread it five times and he still hadn't reacted. She started to worry a bit, but deep down she knew him and she knew that she just needed to wait for him. She grew anxious in the meantime.

"We're having a baby…" He looked to her and she nodded enthusiastically to show him how she felt. His eyes were light blue and clear today. She loved when they were like that.

"Yup."

"You're sure?"

"Dr. Lawrence confirmed it on Friday."

"We're having a baby," he repeated softly, lifting his head to look out at the river.

"Luke, what are you thinking?" she asked.

Instead of responding, he cupped her face to bring her down for a kiss. She could feel this one in her toes.

"Thank you," he whispered to her after she had finally pulled away and she smiled down at him. He didn't need to say anymore. She knew he was thrilled.

"Just think, this time next year, we'll have junior here," she said, bringing his hand to rest on her still flat stomach.

His didn't have any words so he just rubbed her stomach in awe. Then he pulled her in and held her tightly against him.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to keep thanking me, Luke," she laughed. "You kind of helped out. But since we're on the subject. Thank you, as well."

"I'm so happy, Brooke."

"Me too, baby. Me too."

Seven months later, Brooke gave birth to a boy, Brandon Keith Scott and four years after that, their family was complete when she gave birth to a girl, Lauren Karen Scott. And they all lived happily ever after.