"Lucas, not now…" Brooke said weakly. She felt like collapsing. All she wanted to do was curl under the covers and fall asleep for a long, long time until everything was resolved. She wanted to sleep until she found her happy ending.

"Lucas?" Adam spat out. "This is Lucas? This is cheating, high school basketball star, 'first love' Lucas?"

"Like you're any better," Brooke breathed angrily. "Lucas, do you mind leaving us alone for a second?"

"No, he can stay and listen to me calling you a hypocrite," Adam yelled, now standing up in front of Brooke.

"Nothing happened, man," Lucas said, stepping toward him swiftly.

"Don't get involved here, buddy. You've been in my place before, so you're no better."

"That was high school," he said defensively. "We're adults now, get it?"

"You don't fucking know me, man."

Adam and Lucas were now standing face to face. Adam felt the speed of Lucas's breathing increase as his anger rose, and warm shots of air darted past his cheeks.

"Please stop, both of you," Brooke pleaded as she herself began to stand up.

"Brooke, sit down," Lucas said. His eyes remained locked with Adam's, but his hand was extended to keep Brooke back from the unfolding scene.

"Don't tell her what to do!" Adam yelled as he shoved Lucas sharply.

Lucas stumbled backward.

"Stop! Don't touch him!" Brooke yelled, beginning to stand up again.

"Sit down, Brooke," Lucas demanded harshly once he regained his balance. He walked slowly up to Adam and smirked before punching him straight in the nose.

Adam keeled over in pain, holding his nose. The blonde was now standing in the doorway.

"Adam!" she screeched before running over to him. She leaned over his back and rubbed it soothingly.

Adam stood up straight after wiping the blood from his nose onto his sleeve.

"Now, I suggest you leave," Lucas said calmly, "before we call the cops."

Adam went to lunge forward at him, but the blonde pulled him backwards.

"Adam! Let's just go! We can be together now! Just end it!" the blonde yelled.

She ushered him forward and Lucas moved out of the way. As they reached the doorway, he turned around. His face was defeated and angry all at once.

"I love you Brooke. I hope he makes you happy. But, just remember how much he hurt you before you put yourself through that again," he warned before leaving the room, his blonde mistress in tow.

She sat silently and listened to the door slam behind the two. She heard the sound of them stepping through the gravel driveway. For the second time in her life, someone had left her for a blonde with nice legs. For the second time in her life, she was second best to someone she had given her heart to.

"Are you okay?" Lucas whispered. He was still standing up although all he wanted to do was to take her into his arms and make her feel safe. But he couldn't bring himself to. He knew what she was thinking. And she was right. She didn't deserve to be hurt by everyone who she loved, including him.

She nodded and he could see the tears glittering in the corner of her eyes.

He slowly eased himself toward her. When she didn't stop him, he sat down next to her on the bed.

"You know, you're one of the strongest people I know," he said truthfully.

She looked at him quizzically. She had been called independent. She had been called innovative… and gorgeous… and smart. But she had never been strong.

"Really?" She looked at him. He hated seeing her so weak, watching tears form rapidly I her eyes, occasionally a stray one running down her cheek. He wanted to kiss every tear as it fell, before she could even feel it rolling down her creamy skin.

"Are you kidding me? Brooke, look at yourself. When we first met, you refused to let anybody in. And now? You let people in and you've gotten hurt so many times, yet you still keep trying."

Silent tears ran down her face. He reached out to wipe them away and she let him. Not only did she not have strength to wipe them, she didn't mind feeling his warm hands on her cheeks.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" Lucas said, offering a small consoling smile.

She nodded slowly. She stood up and Lucas pulled back the covers on the bed. He ushered her under them, into their warmth and comfort. She crawled underneath them and he covered her up to her chin.

"Goodnight," he said softly before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

She felt like a child watching him leave the room. She felt so small.

"Lucas," she called as he reached the doorway. He stopped and turned around slowly.

"Would you… would you stay with me?" she squeaked, tears threatening to fall again.

"Anything for you," he said with a small smile. He walked toward the empty side of the bed and crawled in himself. He laid next to her, both of them staring at the ceiling in silence. He looked over at her and saw a small glistening tear falling down her face once again.

His hand made its way underneath the covers and found hers. He laced his fingers between hers and she didn't resist. This was enough to make Brooke completely breakdown. She turned onto her stomach and nestled her face into his chest.

"How could he do this to me?" she cried into him. He sat up now and took her into his arms. She sat limply in his arms, her head still in his chest.

"Because… he didn't know what he had when he had it," he said softly, stroking her hair. He was speaking from experience, but he wouldn't tell her that.

She continued to cry into him for awhile, eventually, her sobs fading into small, occasional hiccups. And after awhile, she became silent, breathing slowly.

"Brooke?" Lucas whispered, still stroking her back. When she didn't answer, he laid her down to sleep. He laid her so she was facing his direction and he laid down so that their faces were toward each other.

"Lucas?" she mumbled sleepily, her eyes fluttering slightly.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He smiled to himself as he watched her sleep. Although he definitely wasn't happy about how Adam had treated her and watching her hurt made him hurt, it did prove one thing to Lucas.

They were meant to be.