Thanks for the reviews just to clarify yes this is a Brucas story however there will be mentions of Leyton as there are issues that need dealing with there.

"Hey tutor girl." Haley looked almost childlike in the hospital bed. She seemed so fragile and Brooke felt tears rising. Haley was like a sister to her now and she hated to witness the agony she was going through. Haley looked towards Brooke. Her face was marked with tear tracks but her eyes were empty. Brooke made her way to the bedside and sat next to her. She took hold of Haley's hand.

"I thought you were with Lucas and Lauren." Brooke gave a small smile.

"They didn't need me like you do." Those simple words brought Haley back to tears.

"Brooke this baby is too small this shouldn't be happening. The doctor said that since I was given the Indomethacin treatment instead of what they were originally planning on giving me that there's a chance labour will stop for a week or more. They say they can give me it for up to 72 hours before there will be any lasting effects on either me or the baby."

"That's good, you'll be like 28 maybe even 29 weeks. That's so much better."

"I know but it's still terrifying. Even if it happens and the baby is fine, I'm not ready to be a mom yet. I don't have anything ready I thought I had months to be there and I'm not." Brooke laughed.

"Honey you're never ready for a baby but all those practical things I can do. I know what you'll need."

"It seems stupid now but I wanted to be all traditional and old-fashioned like you were and not find out the sex but now it's like what clothes should I buy, what colour should the nursery be. But there's this part of me that says don't bother until you know there's a baby coming home."

"There is a baby coming home Haley James Scott. Don't ever think otherwise." Nathan came into the room just at that second.

"Brooke hey. Hales how are you feeling?" If Nathan was worried he didn't show it. Brooke admired him for how he was stepping up and being a man for Haley. She knew from speaking with him earlier he was as terrified as Haley was.

"A little nauseous but mainly tired."

"The doctor said that can happen honey, the drugs are relaxing your muscles you're meant to be tired." Brooke sometimes found it hard to see the Nathan she had known before Haley. The person he'd become under the influence and guidance of her love was a person of great strength and dignity. Brooke loved the couple more she could begin to say. She was given a new determination in that second to make their nursery the most amazing nursery there was for the baby Brooke knew would come home to it.

"Hales if you're tired I'm going to leave you to rest. Call me if you need anything." Brooke gave Haley a hug before turning to Nathan and doing the same.

"It'll be ok." She whispered in his ear before leaving them alone. Brooke stepped into the elevator her mind whirring. As she left the hospital she debated what the best course of action was. She decided to go the hardware store first, not because she didn't want to know her daughter was okay but because it meant delaying speaking to Lucas. Brooke arrived at her destination in record time – it was amazing how different her driving was without her precious child in the car. She went inside and strolled along the paint aisle debating which colour to choose when the most adorable wallpaper caught her eye. She knew without a doubt that it was exactly what should go in the Scott baby's nursery. Unfortunately she had absolutely no idea how to wallpaper. Nevertheless she purchased the paper and placed in it the back of her car along with the supplies the shop assistant had informed her she'd need. She drove to Haley and Nathan's house and let herself in with her key. Before attacking the wallpapering she decided to see how Lauren was getting on with Lucas and called him. He answered almost immediately sounding completely breathless.

"Hey I just wondered how Lauren was? Haley and Nate are doing as well as could be expected. I told Haley I'd do her a small favour so I'm actually at their place. Would you be able to bring Lauren here instead of taking her home?" Ok then I'll see you in an hour or so. Tell Lauren I love her." With that done Brooke searched for a bucket to make up some paste to hang the paper with. She dragged the step ladders she found in the garage up to the nursery and unwrapped the first roll. This couldn't be that hard surely! Ten minutes later both she and the paper – and parts of the floor were covered in the goopy mess that was supposed to stick the paper to the wall. And then she heard her daughter call her.

"Momma?"

"Up here." She tried to detangle herself from the mess she had created before Lauren came in but she only managed to make it worse and put her foot the in the bucket of paste just as the door opened. Both Lauren and Lucas burst into peals of laughter upon seeing her. She pulled her foot from the bucket and picked it up.

"If you two don't quit laughing at me this bucket of goop is going all over you." Lauren was unable to stop her giggles and Lucas barely concealed his smirk. Tempted as Brooke was to throw the stuff at them she needed it to get the paper up so managed to contain herself.

"Brooke what are you doing?" Lucas looked at her in wonderment and she cursed that he was here.

"Haley was really upset that she wasn't ready for the baby so I promised I'd get the nursery ready for her. I was going to paint it but I saw this wallpaper – it was so adorable I had to get it. But the truth is I've no idea how to put the stuff up." Lucas grinned.

"Well first off you're supposed to let the paper hang from the top of the wall and cut a strip off, not try and put it on the wall while it's on the roll. And second of all this is far too thick. It's also a good idea to have another bucket with a really thin paste to make sure the wall isn't dry so you can slide the paper around to get it in place. And a cloth to smooth it down with is a good idea too." Brooke stared at him incredulously. She was loathed to do what she was about to do but it was for Haley and Nathan.

"Would you happen to…you know…be able to…help?" Lucas gave her a curious look before taking off his jacket.

"Lauren why don't you go find me another bucket and a dry cloth. Brooke – go add about half a pint of water to this paste. Is there a match on the paper?"

"A match?"

"Yeah like a pattern that needs matching." Brooke shrugged.

"I didn't know I was supposed to look for one." Lucas sighed before shooing both girls from the room. Brooke returned a few minutes later to find Lucas had set up a tressle table and had begun to cut strips of paper from the roll. Lauren was mixing a watery version of the paste Brooke had in her own bucket.

"Can I help daddy?" Lucas' head spun to look at Lauren.

"Sure you can." Lucas took one strip to the table and laid it out. "How about you take this brush and use the paste your mom made to cover the paper." Lauren eagerly did as he said and Brooke stood back. Once the paper was covered Lucas briefly let his gaze rise to settle on Brooke. "When papering you always put your first strip in the centre of the wall so that when you're done there isn't a join in the middle." Brooke watched as he did just as he'd said. He held a pencil on a piece of string and Brooke realised it was to ensure the paper was straight. Once the first strip was up he turned to her. "How about you go along ahead of Lauren and me and use the thin paste to moisten the wall?" Brooke merely nodded. She acknowledged only to herself that without Lucas' help this was looking as though it would have been a huge disaster. They worked relatively silently for a while.

"Momma I'm hungry." Brooke glanced down at her watch to see it was gone 6pm.

"My gosh I didn't realise how much time had passed." She looked around the room and was impressed with how well they'd progressed. Another couple of hours and she thought they'd be done. "Since we're going so well as long as your father doesn't have plans how about I order pizza and we take a break to eat and then finish up. Maybe tomorrow we'll go see Auntie Haley and tell her what a good job you've done of decorating the nursery." Lauren's eyes lit up and she spun to Lucas.

"Daddy you've not got plans right?" Brooke suddenly felt awkward realising that she'd put Lucas in a bad situation. Her desire to finish the room had overridden her common sense and she figured that this wasn't how Lucas wanted to spend his evening.

"There's nothing I'd like more than to eat pizza with you honey. And it would be nice to get finished today so it can dry overnight. Then we can see what it looks like finished before you see Auntie Haley." Brooke let go of the breath she was holding. Lucas genuinely seemed to want to finish the papering as much as she did. She made a mental note to tell Haley how great he'd been. Their friendship was still frosty and she knew she was to blame. She wanted to make it right and she knew Lucas obviously cared.

"Can we get one with everything on it?"

"Even mushrooms?"

"Momma they're my favourite – you can pick them off." Brooke smiled.

"Ok then, you two carry on and I'll go order a pizza with everything on it." Lauren smiled happily as Brooke disappeared. Within minutes she was back and the trio went back to work. The doorbell interrupted them shortly after and Lauren bolted down the stairs with Brooke trailing behind. Lucas called after them.

"Save me some I'll just get this strip up so it doesn't dry."

"Sure." Brooke called back. She moved around Naley's kitchen as though it were her own. A testament to how much time she spent there. Lauren was settled with a slice on her plate while Brooke was making drinks for the three when Lucas came down. He slid onto the chair to the left of Lauren. Brooke handed him a glass of juice and settled one in front of Lauren.

"Thanks." He barely looked up at her when he said it. Brooke paused and watched him grab a slice of pizza.

"Actually – thank you. I think it's safe to say I was heading for disaster before you showed up." For the first time since Lucas found out about Lauren he looked Brooke straight in the eyes.

"Well despite everything I still love Hales – I couldn't let you destroy her nursery." Brooke was stunned at his words until she noticed the glint in his eye and the beginning of a smile on his face. She reached across and her hand clipped his head.

"That's cruel Lucas Scott." Lucas opened his mouth to respond but Lauren got there first.

"Is this what a family is?" Brooke couldn't find the words to give her an answer.


When they'd finally left Naley's the previous night Lauren had been exhausted. Lucas had carried her to Brooke's car and gently placed her inside. He'd wanted to see what their efforts had achieved in daylight and dry so Brooke had agreed to meet him back there at 10 the next morning to inspect their – or his – handiwork before she took Lauren to see Haley at the hospital.

It hadn't exactly been awkward last night, whether it was because of Lauren being there or because they were working on something for someone they both loved Brooke didn't know. But it was a relief. She acknowledged that now he knew of Lauren and was being a father to her they would inevitably have to be around one another.

She pulled into the driveway and saw Lucas sat on the front step waiting. His face was turned up towards the sun and Brooke glimpsed the boy she had fallen in love with. Lauren was out the car almost before Brooke had stopped it.

"Daddy!" She flung herself at Lucas who picked her up and swung her round. He placed her back down as Brooke joined them to open the door.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself." Brooke ducked her head down as she opened the door. They all made their way excitedly to the nursery. Brooke swung the door open and her mouth dropped. It looked amazing. The paper she had chosen was beautiful and Lucas had done a good job with it. "Wow." She breathed.

"Good choice Brooke."

"Momma the baby will love being in here. Maybe I should even give the baby one of my Pooh bears." Brooke smiled down at her daughter.

"I'm sure the baby would love that."

"I'll get everything cleared away if you want to take Lauren to the hospital." Brooke hesitated. It was one thing having Lucas in the house while she was there but was unsure about leaving him there. It's not like everyone was on good terms. But she reasoned it was Lucas and Haley loved him.

"Sure. I'll drop by later to lock up." The three bid their farewells as Lauren and Brooke left. Lauren was almost buzzing with excitement as they drew close to Haley's room in the hospital. She rushed towards her aunt and Nathan perched Lauren on the bed beside Haley. Brooke noted that she was looking better than the previous day. Brooke wanted to ask how they were doing but Lauren didn't yet know why her aunt was in the hospital. Brooke made eyes at Nathan and they excused themselves for a moment. Once outside the door Brooke reached a hand to his shoulder.

"How's everyone doing?"

"They're okay. Haley is feeling much better today which is good. The doctor said that labour seems to have stopped for now so it's just a case of preparing the baby as best they can. They did consider a caesarean section but they think Haley and the baby will both be able to handle a normal delivery and that if left there's a chance the baby will stay put for longer than if they hedged their bets and did a caesarean. So basically it's just a waiting game now. The doctor seems sure it won't be that long, though we're still praying for weeks rather than days."

"How are you holding up?" Nathan seemed surprised by her question and she guessed that he hadn't had time to even consider himself.

"I'm okay. I just need to keep Haley believing everything's going to be fine."

"It will be." Brooke pulled Nathan into a hug before they both went back inside. Haley turned towards them an inquisitive look on her face.

"Lauren's just been telling me about how she got to eat pizza for dinner last night and how she even got to eat dinner with her momma AND her daddy." Haley's eyebrows were raised and Brooke blushed. Nathan looked at her with a strange half-smirk.

"Did Lauren tell you about the nursery?" Haley didn't look like she could be distracted but Brooke knew that really Haley would be desperate to know.

"Oh Auntie Haley it's soooooooo nice. Momma chose some pretty Winnie the Pooh wallpaper. It's kinda yellowy but not like the sun. And it has Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and Eeyore and Piglet and Rabbit and Roo and Lumpy and trees on it."

"Wow that sounds great. I didn't know your momma knew how to wallpaper." Lauren giggled. Brooke shifted awkwardly.

"Well actually that's how we ended up having pizza with Lucas, he brought Lauren to your place and well it was chaos. I've no idea how to wallpaper – I didn't think it would be that hard but it was bordering on disaster until Lucas showed up. He really knows his stuff. He did a great job." Nathan gave Brooke a strange look.

"Lucas decorated the nursery?"

"Momma and I helped." Nathan smiled at his niece before turning his attention back to Brooke.

"Yeah he did, like I said it's really good too."

"But why?" Brooke turned to Haley to answer her question.

"He still loves you, it's obvious. He's really worried too." Haley looked away.

"Maybe he should visit me." Brooke nodded.

"I don't think he knows whether that's a good idea. But he asked me to keep him aware of any news." Haley nodded. Brooke knew how hard Haley had found Lucas leaving, even harder how his anger upon his return had caused such a breakdown in their friendship. Even with all the miles that had been between them both had still made a huge effort to keep their friendship going. Haley's doctor came in at that point.

"Hello Haley ready for some more injections?" Haley groaned.

"I think it's time Lauren and I left. I'll come by later Hales." Lauren hugged Haley and hopped down from the bedside. Nathan came to the door with them both. He took Brooke's hand and she felt the hardness in it. When he took his hand away she looked down. He'd left his credit card in her palm.

"I need it to be perfect, for our baby who IS coming home." Brooke smiled.

"As if I'd do anything less." Nathan smiled back at her before going back to Haley. Brooke needed to go back to Naley's house before she went shopping for some baby essentials. She'd told Lucas she'd go lock up and didn't want him waiting around. Lauren chattered away in the rear of the car the entire drive. She was so excited about getting a baby cousin. As she pulled her car into the driveway of Nathan and Haley's home Lucas opened the door. Lauren was out and over to him in a flash.

"Daddy uncle Nathan has told momma to go buy all the things for the baby and he gave her his magic card." Lucas laughed.

"His magic card really? Well your momma is probably really excited that she can go shopping and buy lots of nice things with someone else's magic card." He looked over Lauren's head to Brooke. "It'll be like old times." Brooke felt a stab of anger at his judgemental tone and words. True she'd done that with her father's money in high school – but the money was thrown at her to make up for never having them around. Besides she was different now.

"Daddy can you come shopping with us?" Brooke almost froze, yesterday had been bearable but she wasn't sure whether she could handle anymore time around Lucas. But then Lauren turned to her with her big blue eyes. "Can he momma?"

"Well honey your daddy might already have plans…but he can come if not." Brooke had been looking forward to creating the perfect nursery for Haley and now she felt her excitement wan at the prospect of Lucas joining them. But after he'd saved her yesterday with the wallpaper she didn't feel able to say no. Not that she'd be able to say no to Lauren anyway – she felt she constantly had to make up for what she'd deprived them both of.

"I don't have plans actually." Brooke drew in a deep breath.

"I guess you could be of use with any heavy lifting."


Despite Brooke's reservations shopping had still been exciting for her and as she once again surveyed not only the purchases she had been able to bring home but the ones in boxes men were currently delivering to the nursery 3 days later she acknowledged it had been a great success. Somewhere along the way Brooke was sure Lucas had become as invested in creating an amazing nursery for Haley as she was. She mused briefly about what others had thought of them as they had shopped. They probably assumed they were a family, but Brooke had seen the things none of the other shoppers would have noticed. She saw how Lucas' gaze flitted between herself and Lauren. She knew that he was thinking how much he'd missed out on because of her. The drive back to Naley's to drop off their purchases had been frosty, though Brooke didn't think Lauren, who had chatted ten to the dozen had noticed. Despite that though Lucas had been almost insistent on being there today when the rest of the items were delivered. Brooke hadn't admitted she was in truth grateful. She knew she'd need his help assembling the crib and the changing unit. Putting up the shelves for the display of the stuffed animals and the frames waiting to be filled. She idly wondered whether Lucas' dedication was for Haley's benefit or his own. She wondered if he was trying to create an idea of what it would have been like preparing a nursery for Lauren. Her musings were cut short as the delivery man asked her to sign for the items before disappearing leaving her with Lucas and Lauren.

"I think the crib seems the best place to start, I figure once we've got everything assembled we can figure where to put the big things before deciding on the shelves and pictures."

"Sure Lucas, sounds like a plan to me." Lucas had brought Keith's tools with him and together they set to building the crib. Lauren was in charge of relaying the instructions to them. Unsurprisingly it wasn't long until Brooke took over that particular job leaving Lauren to put in the bolts that would hold it all together – with a lot of help from her father.

Once the furniture was assembled they took a short break for lunch. Brooke was constantly on edge waiting for the call from Nathan to say Haley was in labour. She was heading towards the 28 week mark, which meant the baby's chances of survival were increasing. Brooke knew it couldn't hold out forever and this baby would certainly be very early, but the longer it rested where it was the better.

Brooke directed Lucas as he began to position the furniture, had they been on better terms they might have enjoyed and even teased one another about the constant moving and twisting of the furniture. But their exchange was getting terser with each movement. Brooke would be glad when the whole thing was done.

Once the furniture was in place and Lucas had securely attached the shelves to the walls he held Lauren up high enough to place one her precious – though many – Winnie the Pooh stuffed bears upon on of the shelves.

"That's perfect honey." Lauren grinned as Lucas placed her back down. The three stood and surveyed the room. It was indeed perfect, all it needed was a baby to fill it. There was one frame that took pride of place on the wall, the words emblazed underneath it read 'Me, Mommy and Daddy' Brooke was eager for the photo that would fill the frame. It was about time one of them finally had a happy family.