A/N - Hey everyone!

Thanks: myla84, CheerandBrood323, reina123, onetreehillgirl066, othfan326, MissUnderstood92, BrOoKe DaViS23, journey4eva, chebelle, Mosie1213, TutorWife, awhero, brucas333, Simoman, onetreefan, and iluvmedou.

There was a slight descend in reviews, but I sorta expected it 'cause last chapter wasn't all that great. Hopefully this chapter will be better, and I feel it is.

Also, OMG, I can't believe I'm gonna reach 300! 300!! That's amazing!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Enjoy and review! (So I can reach 300!! YAY!)

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Finding My Way Back

Chapter 14-

Brooke sighed, looking around the living room that was filled with cardboard boxes. Lucas had moved most of his stuff back home from the beach house, and hadn't had time yet to unpack.

She would be lying if she said this all didn't feel weird and awkward. It had been quiet some time since Lucas had been home last, and this all just seemed like a whole new concept.

And even before his cheating came out, he wasn't home that often, either, so it was really new.

But both of them were ready to start over. Try again. And try harder than before and make it all work. Lucas promised to stay home more, and not focus so much on his work, and Brooke promised to try and open up more to Lucas.

When they went to pick up Emma at Nathan and Haley's, Haley questioned Brooke, asking her if she was sure about it all. If she was sure about her sudden change in heart. Days ago she had been furious with Lucas, and now she had forgiven him.

Brooke wasn't sure. Not one bit.

But if she wanted things to be normal again, or as normal as they possibly could be, then this was what had to be done.

She heard Lucas talking to Emma upstairs, and deciding to eavesdrop, Brooke tiptoed up the staircase, until she was finally leaning in the doorway of the nursery.

"Hey, baby." Lucas picked Emma up from the crib. Staring at his baby, he was in awe. He found it quiet pathetic how she was already a couple months old, and he hadn't really been able to spend much time with her since her birth. All he could remember were her first few days in the hospital, hooked up to monitors, tubes everywhere. And now he really got to see her. And she was beautiful. She had her mother's hazel eyes, her mother's dark hair, and her mother's dimples. All as he had hoped.

"Wow. You look just like your mommy. Just as beautiful, and just as perfect." He gave the baby a kiss on the nose, causing her to giggle, her dimples penetrating through her chubby cheeks. "I'm sorry I've been such a horrible daddy. But things have been hard, ya know? Your mommy just needed her space."

Brooke swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat and closed her eyes, not wanting to cry and make her presence known. She listened as Lucas continued.

"And I hurt her pretty bad, Em. But I love her, and I wish she knew that. Your mommy is the most amazing woman in the world, and you're gonna grow up one day and be just like her. I'll never hurt you or your mommy. I love you two too much to do that."

"I can't wait for this one to come out." Lucas rubbed Brooke's pregnant stomach as the two sat on the couch, side by side. They had both volunteered to watch Nathan and Haley's kids, and right now, all three of them, Jamie, Avery, and Ryan, were fast asleep on both sides of the two adults. Nathan and Haley's excuse for a night out was that it would be "good practice" for Brooke and Lucas, as their baby was due in a few months. Brooke and Lucas didn't refuse; they both loved their niece and nephews.

"Yeah, that way I won't be fat any more." Brooke said, smiling, leaning her head on Lucas's shoulder.

"You're not fat, Brooke." Lucas shook his head at his wife. Lately she was always saying she was fat. Lucas found it kind of cute.

"What do you want?" Brooke whispered.

"What?"

"Girl or boy? 'Cause I want a boy. A boy that'll look just like you. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Sensitive and caring. Have an interest for basketball and literature."

"Well, I want a girl. A perfect, beautiful baby girl."

"Why?" Brooke asked, interested, turning her head to face her husband.

"Because she'll be just like you. She'll look like you and act like you. Have your eyes, your dimples, your hair. Everything about you. She'll be perfect." He smiled at her, playing with the ends of her hair.

She smiled back, and by now, her eyes had gotten glossy and watery. "I love you."

Lucas closed his eyes, trying to erase that memory out of his mind. It was too happy. And they hadn't been that happy in a while. He didn't want to remember those kinds of times. If he hadn't screwed up a few weeks ago, he and Brooke could have been working to try and be happy again. But he messed up. They had been brought back to square one.

Those times, before the accident, before all this, before Emma, he and Brooke were happy. But he was keeping a lie from her all that time.

He didn't like to think about it.

He kissed Emma on the cheek before placing her down in the crib, bringing the soft blanket up to her chin.

Turning around, he was shocked to find Brooke standing there.

"...Hey...I...um..." Lucas stumbled upon his words.

Did she hear all of that?

"I'm sorry." Brooke smiled sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, or anything."

"Uh, it's fine." He walked away from the crib and closer to Brooke and noticed Brooke tensed up. "You okay?"

"Mhm. Yeah, fine." She managed to say, however it wasn't very believable. "Actually, I was hoping we could talk."

"Sure. Let's go downstairs."

She nodded in agreement, following his steps down the stairs.

"Look. I'm sorry that I'm all flip-floppy with this emotions and feelings and stuff, but...Is this gonna work?" It was obvious she was referring to them getting through it all.

"Brooke." He took her hand in his and lightly rubbed his thumb over it. "I promise you I'm never gonna let you down again. I was a selfish ass, and I hurt you. I get that, okay? But I never want to hurt you again. You may never get your memory back, but I'm still always going to love you, Brooke Scott."

She stared at him; her eyes looked sad and broken. Those words he just said hit her, and tugged at her heart strings. "Wow." She exhaled deeply, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "I...I don't know what to say..."

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. But I just wanted you to know. I'm gonna help you get through this, no matter what...and I know it's been a while and practically no progress has been made, but—."

"—I remembered something yesterday." She admitted. She hadn't told him that because after the kiss, their conversation had gone in a different direction.

"Brooke, that's great." He paused, unaware of why she was still crying. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah...I guess. It's just, they come so randomly...And they're just these random moments that only last, like, a minute."

"It's still something, Brooke. Every little thing counts, because eventually, all those little things are gonna turn into something big. And you're gonna remember everything. Brooke, you're a strong person, I know you can to do this." He wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead. "Wait one second, I wanna show you something."

She looked at him curiously as he got up from his seat and walked down the hall into his study. Instead of getting up and following, Brooke just watched the door, waiting for his figure to reappear.

Seconds later, he reemerged from the room and came back with a book in his hand. The book was unfamiliar to Brooke, hence the quizzical look she gave him.

He flipped through the pages until he came to some-what the middle of the book, and pointed his finger at a paragraph. "Read it." Was all he said, as Brooke took the book out of his hands and positioned it in her own.

"She was fiercely independent. Brooke Davis. Brilliant, and beautiful, and brave. In two years she had grown more than anyone I had ever known. Brooke Davis is going to change the world someday. And I'm not sure she even knows it." She recited the words from the book. "Lucas..." She mumbled almost speechless. "What is this?"

"It's something from the first book I ever wrote during senior year. Brooke, you're brilliant, beautiful, and brave...and that's how I know you're strong enough to make it through all of this. I know it's hard now. And I can guarantee at times it will feel harder, but I know you're the kind of person that will never, ever give up."

"Thank you." She nodded as a few tears slid down her cheek. She advanced towards his body and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you."

He had definitely turned around a complete 180 in the past few days. And this time, she knew he really was here to help.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A/N - I hope it was good!!

Review please!! I'll be your bestest friend ;p

–Melissa