BROOKE'S POINT OF VIEW:

I've always loved Paris, but today I didn't. It was wet, and cold, and lacking it's usual paris-y sparkle. Not to mention, seeing the way Gemma transformed once we stepped off the plane. She fit here, and it was only because for the last sixteen years this had been her home. The pain of the thought never lessened with time, only heightened. I'd lost sixteen years of her life because I'd been selfish, well, because Lucas and I had been selfish. Lucas.

The last few days together were incredible. He'd stayed with Gemma and I while Peyton was away. I'd let myself enjoy the dinner's together, renting movies while eating dessert, the way Lucas started fixing things around the house. For the last three days we were a family. A happy, wonderful, little family. I glanced at Lucas from across the hotel lobby, he was helping Gemma with her bags. They looked so much alike, both tall and lean, with their strong jaws and navy blue eyes. But I had to admit, Gemma had my hair and complexion, and my sarcastic smirk. She was a perfect mix of both Lucas and I, she was just perfect in general.

Lucas looked up from the luggage, and gave me a smile. I felt my heart speed up, and forced myself to look away. I wanted him. No, I needed him. Lucas was the one person who was always a constant in my life, and without him I don't know where I'd be. I loved him for so many reasons, Gemma being the most important. Having them all together made me realize that we could have done it sixteen years ago, we could have kept Gemma, and we would have been the happiest family in the world. We didn't need money or a nice house, we just needed each other. My love for him was never going to go away. So I decided that by the end of this trip I would tell him, whether it ruined him and Peyton was something I would just have to deal with. I couldn't stand another day in Tree Hill with Lucas not knowing how I felt.

"Brooke, you ready to get something to eat?" Gemma asked, appearing next to me. She'd pulled her long, wavy hair into a side braid, and had wrapped a Hermes scarf around her thin neck.

"Yeah, what do you have in mind?" I smiled, linking my arm in hers as we walked out onto the street. Lucas met us at the door, "Lennie said she's going to get some sleep, she felt a little sick from the plane ride," he informed.

"Oh, poor thing." I said, as we rounded a corner.

"Yeah, maybe I should-," Gemma stopped, Lucas and I looked at her but she was already turning away, running across the street.

"Gemma!" Lucas yelled, running after her. I scrambled to catch up, it sucked when both your child and their father had longer legs than you. Gemma kept running, until she slowed down to leap into the arms of an old man. I was about to yank her off of him, when she spoke.

"Grand-pere!" she laughed, when he let her go she moved on to the older woman standing beside him. "Grand-mere," she smiled, the old woman took her by the shoulders and kissed both her cheeks. Oh no. Was all I could think, this couldn't be happening, this can't happen.

"Brooke." The woman spoke, "how nice to see you again."

"Hello, Jaclyn." I said through gritted teeth. Gemma looked at me, her face unreadable.

"You know each other?" She hissed, she turned back to Jaclyn. "You knew?" She demanded, stepping away. "You knew I wasn't your real granddaughter?" Jaclyn rolled her eyes, and grabbed Gemma by the chin. I reached out to slap her hand away, but Lucas stopped me.

"Of course I knew, but did I love you any less?" She said, sternly, tipping up Gemma's chin. "As far as I'm concerned you were and always have been Rachel's child, and my grandchild."

"Mrs. Gatina…" Lucas began, before I cut him off. Shit. This was it, everything was over. All of the lies, and secrets that had been set in place to keep Gemma in the dark were falling apart.

"Gatina?" Gemma snorted, "Their last name is Archer, like me."

"No, darling," William, Gemma's grandfather finally spoke, "no it's not. You're mother changed her name when she adopted you, so she could have a fresh start."

"What do you mean a fresh start?" Gemma demanded.

"Why don't you ask Brooke," Jaclyn suggested, coolly, "She's known Rachel since high school."

"What?" Gemma's face went pale, "Rachel Gatina… The Rachel from Lucas's book?" She looked to me, her eyes starting to water. "All this time, I've been living in the same town she did and you didn't even bother to tell me? How could you?"

"Gemma, sweetheart, before your mother adopted you from us she was going through some problems… she was in to drugs when she modeled for my clothing line, and she got into a lot of trouble. We thought it would be best if she started over, with a new name."

"So you gave your child away to a druggie?" Gemma spat, pushing past us.

"She changed, Gemma!" I ran after her, surprisingly managing to keep up. "She cleaned up, and went back to school, and when I got pregnant with you she offered to help."

"Help how?" Gemma spun around, "By taking me half way around the world and telling me I was her daughter? Making me believe all these lies? Who the hell am I, Brooke? These last few months have been so twisted, I'm not even sure if I've met a single honest person since I moved to Tree Hill!" She was yelling, and crying, and I desperately wanted to reach out to her but I knew she'd just pull away.

"I'm sorry." I croaked.

"You might be sorry, Brooke," she said, hailing a cab, "but that doesn't make up for the fact my whole life has been a lie." She stepped into the cab, and spoke some French that I didn't quite catch. Before pulling away she rolled down the window, "I won't be back for a while, don't call me, I'll come home." With that she sped off.

Lucas and I knew better than to follow her. Somehow we ended up in a tiny café, seated across form Jaclyn and William Gatina. It was as uncomfortable as it sounds. "Don't worry," William said, casually, "Our Gemma knows this city like the back of her hand." He made an extra emphasis on the word our. I wanted to smack him. Gemma wasn't his, or Jaclyn's. She was mine, and she was Lucas's. But most of all, she was Rachel's, and even I couldn't deny that.

"We've been meaning to contact you for some time," Jaclyn said, taking a sip of her tea. "I'm sure you know how much we love Gemma, and that considering the circumstances, the best place for her is here, with us."

"Like hell." Lucas said, not bothering to keep his voice down. "Gemma is our daughter."

"Yes, of course," William laughed, "by blood she is definitely your daughter, but legally? No, legally she is Rachel's child, therefore she belongs to us."

"Rachel's will, it's rock solid, It specifically states that if anything happens to Rachel Gemma goes into Lucas's custody." I spoke up, daring them to disagree.

"Yes that old thing was quite hard to figure out at first." Jaclyn replied, "but, darling, we have the best lawyers in Europe."

"So what you're just going to swoop in her and take her from us? Again?" Lucas asked, his voice raising a bit.
"Don't be stupid," William said, sternly. "No one took Gemma from you in the first place." That stung, and I bit my lip to keep from saying something I know I'd regret. William continued, "We are going to let Gemma decide for herself. But listen to me, If Gemma wants to come home, and you just so happen to stand in the way – we will fight you, and trust me when I say we'll take you for everything you have."

Lucas and I left shortly after that, we were walking down the street in silence. Lucas took my hand and rubbed the top with his thumb, I looked into his eyes and was overcome with the feeling of want again. Which made me feel sick, because right now my daughter was off god knows where and I was fawning over Lucas. "It's going to be ok." Lucas reassured me, kissing the top of my head.

"You know how they said they'd take us for everything we have?" I asked, as we sat down on a park bench. He nodded, never dropping my hand. "I don't have anything if I don't have Gemma." I whispered, trying not to cry.

"You have me," he said, leaning in close, "you'll always have me." That was it, I was done wanting. I had to have him. I pulled Lucas to me, and was relieved when his lips met mine with the same eagerness. He kissed me passionately, just like the way he used to. I let my hands run through his blonde hair, as he started to kiss my neck.

"I love you, Lucas Scott." I gasped, pulling away so that we were facing each other again. "I love you so much it hurts."

"I love you too, pretty girl," he smiled, kissing the top of my nose, "I always have." He threw his arm around me, and I leaned into him.

"What are we going to do, Luke?"

"We're going to wait," he whispered into my hair, "she'll come home with us, Brooke, I know she will."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Because there is only one Tree Hill, and it's her home."