The sky is losing all its light faster by the hour,

All this hurt inside of me and it opens like a flower.

Even if I wanted to I couldn't be a coward now.

Sitting with the memories and all these sudden changes,

Looking at my life I know I gotta rearrange it.

Guess I'll find out soon enough

If I am strong enough to lay with all these shadows now.

So I'm gonna pull the covers over my head,

Gonna face it even though I know I'm not ready yet.

In the morning I won't miss you anymore.

That's what the night is for.

Brooke was lying across her bed, staring at the darkness above her. She had just fed Elijah his mid-night meal and he had quickly drifted back to sleep. She knew he was getting to old to be in her bedroom, but she had no where else to put him and she needed the company. These were the times when she missed Lucas. The times when her life was silent, and she just wanted to be held. She could still remember the good times with Lucas. She remembered when he kissed her in the pouring rain and the look on his face when she told him she was pregnant the very first time. But she also remembered the times he hadn't been there. When every single child had the stomach flu, and she had sat, covered in vomit, crying, he hadn't been there. He hadn't been there when Jenna was born. He didn't go to Leighton's school play. She could never forgive him. But, still, she missed him. The next thing she knew, the alarm was beeping and life had started back again.

"Mommy," Jenna said, sleepily stumbling into Brooke's bedroom, "I don't feel good."

Brooke wrapped her in a hug. Jenna had memorized which days Lucas had with the kids. Jenna had seen Taylor stay with Brooke once when she was sick, and since then, every other weekend, she had complained of a tummy ache or stuffy nose without fail.

"I'm sorry Jenna; you have to go to Daddy's."

Jenna put on a pout and stomped out of the bedroom. Brooke smiled at her daughter's dramatic side. Haley said it was just like Brooke, but Brooke wasn't so sure.

"Good morning Mommy!" Aniston said cheerfully, hopping out of his room wearing mismatched clothes and his shoes on the wrong feet. He had improved so much. Every weekend he spent with Lucas, he came home a little more outgoing.

"Morning, Aniston," Brooke said yawning, then kissing her little boy's forehead.

She found Leighton at the kitchen table, shoveling Cheerios into her mouth at full speed.

"Hey Leight."

"Hi Mom," she said, mouth full of cereal.

Brooke placed bowls in front of Jenna and Aniston and went to try to drag Taylor out of bed. She was the late sleeper of the bunch. The doorbell rang as Brooke was tying Taylor's tiny tennis-shoes.

"Daddy!" she squealed, running to the door, her left shoe flying off in the process.

"Hey Tay," Lucas said, scooping the little girl into his arms.

"Taylor," she corrected, "Taylor Isabelle Scott."

"Sorry," Lucas said. He still hadn't mastered the fact that only Leighton would respond to anything except her full name.

"I'm sick," Jenna said, with a pathetic little fake cough.

"You are?" Lucas asked, slightly confused.

"She's not sick Lucas," Brooke said, situating Elijah and Jenna on each hip, carrying them out to Lucas' car. She slid the door closed, jumping slightly when she turned to see Lucas standing directly in front of her.

"I want to come home Brooke."

"Lucas, I told you, I need more time."

"How much longer? I want to chance to be a good dad and husband."

"I don't know how much longer. Maybe never. You already had that chance Lucas."

"I know. And I messed it up. I messed it up so bad, and I'm sorry."

Brooke allowed herself to be momentarily captured by his word and soft voice, leaning into his body.

"I can't Lucas," she said, physically pushing herself away from him.

"I can't."

AN- First of all, whoever is still reading this deserves an award. Like a big, shiny, gold medal that says, "I'm the nicest and most loyal person ever." I'm so sorry about the lack of updates. To be honest I haven't been watching the show very loyally, plus I have a lot of uncreative writing for school this year, and after 1000 words on Beethoven or Jane Austen novels, I'm not really in the mood to write anything. I know that those are both lame excuses, but I'll try to do better. Lyrics by Hillary Lindsey. Thanks for reading.

PS- Please please please review! They make me very happy!