Authors note: So here it is, the last chapter in this story. I hope you all like it, and I really feel like it ties my story up...although I have considered doing an a/u fiction with some of my other characters being in the forefront but who knows...I hope you like it...
Hayden Keith Scott stood on a stage in a gym of a high school in his home town. He stood before his family and his friends in the same place that they stood before him. Today, Hayden Keith Scott stood as the valedictorian on his high school graduating class just like his Aunt Haley had done years before him.
"This is the time for us to become who we are meant to be, to do the things we are meant to do," he spoke with a smile. Hayden certainly had his mother's charisma, his father's eyes, and he owned the hearts of his family. Hayden Scott was the baby, but more than that he was what bonded them together, forever.
"He's lucky," Sawyer spoke softly as she sat beside Davis in the row behind their parents and Aunt Haley and Uncle Nathan.
"How so," Davis asked.
"He's a part of both of them," she smiled as she nodded towards Lucas and Brooke. Davis smiled as he watched his mother lean her head against Lucas' shoulder and Lucas kiss the top of her head.
"Yeah," he smiled to the blonde sitting to his left, "but so are we, we're pretty lucky too."
"We are," she smiled looking to Davis and his wife, "aren't we?"
"Shh," Brooke smiled as she turned towards her two oldest children. That's what they were, her children, all three of them. Cheers erupted in the gym as the graduates tossed their caps in the air, and everyone was smiling watching Hayden with his classmates.
"When did we get old," Brooke asked with a smile as she turned towards Haley.
"About the time we became grandparents I think," Haley smiled as she turned towards Jamie who was holding his baby daughter, Lydia.
"Speak for yourself," Brooke chuckled.
"Honey," Haley said placing an arm around her best friend, "look over there, a few more weeks and you my friend are going to be a grandmother."
"I am," Brooke sighed as she looked towards Davis and a very pregnant Avery.
"You ok," Lucas asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Yeah," she smiled as he kissed her cheek, "perfect."
"I love you," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you Lucas Scott," she said.
"How are you doing," Brooke asked as she sat beside Lucas on their couch.
"Good," he smiled. She loved how his smile could still melt her heart after all these years. "What's going on in there," he asked placing his hand on her head causing her to laugh.
"Just thinking," she said as she cuddled up beside him. He couldn't help but smile when he was with her. She really was the love of his life. "Today was one of the good days."
"Yeah," he said as he ran his hand along her shoulder, "it was."
"I can't believe Hayden graduated, Luke, and Davis is going to be a father in a few weeks," she said, "and Sawyer is engaged to be married. Where did the time go?"
"I don't know," he chuckled, "I really don't. But, I do know that I have loved every single moment that got us here Brooke, every good day, and even the bad," he kissed her cheek, "because I am here, with you and we have this amazing family, and I love you so much."
"I love you too," she said.
"Hey," Hayden said as he walked into the living room, "everyone is wondering where you two ran off to."
"We didn't run anywhere," Lucas smiled at his son.
"Well," Hayden said with his dimples showing, reminding Lucas of Brooke so much, "it's getting late, and well we're going to head over to the beach house."
"Really," Brooke asked surprised.
"Dad said it was ok."
"Luke," she said as she sat up and looked at her husband.
"Brooke," he sighed, "he graduated high school today, he's a good kid," he smiled at her, "it will be fine, and he knows the rules," he said looking at their son.
"Yeah, I know the rules," he said.
"Fine," Brooke said sternly, "you clean up in the morning, no one leaves there at all tonight, I mean it."
"I got it," he smiled as Brooke made her way towards him, "I got it Mom."
"Ok," she said softly as she kissed his cheek, "I love you broody," she smiled. She had called Hayden broody just like she had Lucas all those years before. He always reminded her of Lucas with his brooding.
"I love you too," he said hugging his mother.
"Keys," Lucas said as he held the key out to Hayden, he reached for it and Lucas pulled him into a hug, "I'm proud of you, you know that?"
"Yeah," he smiled, "I love you Dad."
"I love you too kid," Lucas said with a smiled on his face, "now, go."
"Thanks guys," Hayden said as he walked back outside where everyone else was gathered. Lucas and Brooke stood near the window looking out at their family and friends that had gathered to celebrate this day.
"You nervous," Jamie asked as he sat beside his younger cousin. The two young men may not be related biologically, but they were cousins, and even more than that they were friends.
"Nervous," Davis asked with a laugh, "try terrified."
"Don't be," Jamie said, "you're gonna be a great dad Dave."
"You think so," he asked as he looked towards where Hannah and Avery sat with baby Lydia.
"Yeah, I know it," he smiled as he looked towards his godparents as they walked towards his own parents, "look at who you've learned from."
"I guess you're right," Davis said watching his parents. Sometimes he wished he could remember more of his father, of the man Julian was, but he was so small when he died. Of course Sylvia and Paul had done their best, as well as as Brooke, to remind of his father, but the truth was Lucas was all he remembered.
"I remember your dad," Jamie sighed, "when you were born how nervous he was…"
"Uncle Julian," Jamie smiled as he watched Julian hold the baby nervously, "I think he's hungry."
"Yeah," Julian said, not sure what was causing his two week old son to fuss. Brooke and Haley were at lunch together, and Jamie was keeping Julian company. "I think maybe you're right."
"I can help you," the seven year old smiled, "I used to help Mom make bottles for Grace all the time."
"Well, I can always use a man like you around Jamie Scott," Julian said as he reached for the bottle.
"I know all about babies."
"I know that feeling," Davis said pulling Jamie from his memories.
"Well, I will tell you like I told him, I'll be here," he said, "if you and Avery need anything, we're here."
"Thanks man," Davis said with a sigh, "I'm pretty sure at some point we'll be taking you up on that."
"What does the dress look like," Sawyer asked.
"Beautiful," she said with a smile, "I'm so glad my mom let us use her material, I mean her dress was beautiful, and it was the first one Aunt Brooke did, but it wasn't me."
"I think it's great that you're using your mom's dress," Sawyer said softly.
"I'm sorry," Grace said as she wrapped an arm around her cousin.
"It's ok," Sawyer said forcing a smile.
"Hey daddy," Grace smiled hugging her father, "I've got to head out of here, Dalton has classes tomorrow. See ya Sawyer."
"Bye," she said as they hugged, "call me ok?"
"Ok," Grace said as she walked away.
"So," Nathan said as he stood beside his niece on the deck beside the pool.
"Hey Uncle Nate," she smiled up at him, wiping her eyes.
"You ok kiddo," he asked placing his arm around her.
"Yeah," she said nodding her head, "I am."
"She'd be proud of you Sawyer, you know that," he said speaking of his former sister in law. It had been a year since Peyton had passed away. Sawyer and Jenny were by her side with Jake, and as sad as it was, she knew there is no place else she could have been.
"I know," she smiled, reminding him of a teenage Peyton Sawyer, "I just miss her."
"We all do," Nathan said honestly. Of course over the years their relationships had drifted, but deep down they were the same kids who grew together in high school. Sawyer had been running Red Bedroom on her own for a year and the company had found much success, in fact that is how she met her fiancé. "So how's the wedding planning coming," he asked trying to overcome the sadness.
"Good," she smiled, "she's so excited," Sawyer said as she watched her parents together, "Dad on the other hand, not so much."
"Well, Ty is the son of Chris Keller," Nathan laughed.
"Yeah, but he's not his father," she sighed, "and Dad, and you," she said, "both should get that. I mean his dad hasn't even been in his life. Ty is a good guy."
"I know, and trust me, your dad will come around," Nathan laughed, "look at us now, and the way we started out…"
"What do I want? What do you want, man? I mean, other than my girlfriend and my spot in the lineup, huh? None of us want you on the team, man. I don't want you. The guys don't want you. My girlfriend sure as hell doesn't want you. But here's the deal. You and me, one on one. You can name the time and place. If you win, I'll quit the team. If I win, you crawl back in your little hole, and you remember your place in all this. Time and place, baby. Time and place."
"I hope you're right Uncle Nate."
"Trust me Sawyer, I was far worse than Ty could ever be," he laughed, "and we're here, give him a little more time."
"I'll try," she smiled as Nathan hugged her.
"Nanny," Oliver said as he tugged at Haley's arm.
"What is it baby boy," she asked kneeling down to her five year old grandson.
"Can you tell me the story again," he asked with his big blue eyes shining.
"What story is that," she asked as she sat down pulling him on her lap.
"The story about Daddy, silly," he smiled. Haley had always told stories to Oliver, it had been their thing, just like Nathan's had sports with him. He loved hearing the stories about Jamie when he was little and played baseball.
"When you daddy was a little older than you he played for the Sharks. And Chuck played too, and they were the best of friends. And Madison played, and your Grandpa and Uncle Clay coached them, with Julian. And daddy kept striking out," she was saying as Oliver's eyes started to close. Haley ran her hand through his hair as he fell asleep on her lap.
"He's something else Haley James Scott," Brooke said with a smile as she sat beside her.
"He is," she smiled.
"God, Hales," Brooke said, "can I do this? Can I really be a grandparent?"
"You're gonna be amazing Brooke, I know it. You are the strongest, bravest person I know," she smiled at her best friend, "and besides, you only have a couple of weeks until that baby is here."
"I know," Brooke smiled as she watched Jamie and Davis sitting together.
"Look around us, Brooke," Haley said watching Sawyer and Nathan, "did you ever think it would be like this? All those years ago, did you imagine we'd be here, like this?"
"Not at all," Brooke laughed, "but, I am so glad that I would've been wrong. There is nowhere in this world that I can imagine being."
"I know what you mean."
"That used to be us," Brooke said as she motioned towards Hannah and Avery.
"It still is," Haley said, "we're still the same two girls we were…"
"What's your idea of a perfect date," Brooke asked.
"You getting hit by a bus," Haley said sarcastically.
"And that sense of humor," Brooke said trying to lighten the mood, "Nathan's really lucky."
"I'm lucky to have you," Brooke smiled. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world somedays, having Lucas and their children, Haley and Nathan, Jamie and his family, Grace. She really did have the kind of life she wished for.
"Well, tigger," Haley said, "I'm lucky to have you too."
"We can do this tomorrow," Lucas said as he walked in to the kitchen where Brooke was still cleaning up.
"I know," she sighed as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Nate and Haley just left," he said, "you know this is the first time we've been alone in a long time."
"Yes, it is," she said with a smile as they heard a knock on the door.
"Hey," he said peeking his head in.
"I thought you went home," Brooke smiled.
"I did," Davis smiled at his parents as he walked in the kitchen.
"And you're back already," Lucas smiled.
"Well," Davis said nervously, "I was hoping to talk to you, both of you."
"What's wrong," Brooke asked concerned, "is it Avery, the baby?"
"No, no, Mom, they're fine," he smiled, "but it is about the baby."
"Is it time," Lucas asked.
"Not yet, but," he sighed, "well Avery and I have been talking about the name."
"Well when are you going to tell us if it is a boy or a girl mister?"
"Mom," he sighed, "can I talk?"
"Go ahead," she said as Lucas chuckled.
"Well, it is a boy," he said, Brooke smiled brightly as Lucas stood with his arms around her, he kissed her cheek, and he was smiling just as big.
"A boy," Brooke said, "he's going to be so beautiful, Dave, I know it."
"Well, we've been talking about names, and I look around me, and we all have names that matter, from Jamie to Lydia, and I just want my son to have that. I want to be able to tell him where his name comes from, just like you did me…."
"You ok buddy," Brooke asked as she laid beside her son.
"Mamma, why do you want to be a Scott?"
"Well, baby Lucas and I love each other, and when people get married, the wife usually takes her husband name. Just like when I married your daddy I went from a Davis to a Baker."
"But I'm a Baker."
"You are, buddy, but you know what," she asked, "you're a Scott too Davis. Davis Scott Baker. Scott is your middle name because the Scott family has been my family, they've always been here for us, and I wanted you to be named after them, after Nathan and Haley, Grace and Jamie, and Lucas. So we're both going to be Scott's now, ok?"
"I guess," he said as she rubber his head, "so is Lucas gonna be my daddy for real?"
"Lucas will be your daddy, baby boy, if that's what you want, ok? He loves you so much, and he's always been here for you, and he always will be."
"Ok mamma, I want him to be my daddy," he said with a yawn.
"You are a Scott," Brooke smiled as she looked at her son.
"Yep," Lucas said.
"Well, I want my son to have a name that matters to me, and well," Davis said, "Dad, if you're ok with it, I want to name my son Lucas."
"Lucas," Brooke said as she looked up at her husband, she had a tear streaming her face.
"Lucas, huh," he said as he wiped his own eyes, "I think it is perfect," Lucas said.
"Me too," Brooke said with a smile.
"Lucas Julian Baker," Davis said, "Mom, that's what we want to name him. I want him to be a part of all of us, of our family."
"I think it is perfect, Davis, absolutely perfect," she said as she wrapped her arms around her son.
"Thank you," Davis said as he hugged Lucas. Brooke stood there and watched the two men embrace, and she wiped her eyes. Everything seemed perfect, this moment, this very minute seemed exactly like it was meant to be. She smiled as she thought about all the years before when she had told Lucas that people who are meant to be always find their way in the end, because here they were, together, just like she knew they were meant to be.