A/N: Hello all! Thanks so much for the feedback, both new and old. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying the story whether for the first time or re-reading. I appreciate all the reviews & the DM's i get from those of you who can't review cause you did when this fic was posted before. Anyways, I'll keep this fairly short. Thanks for your support.

FYI, in this story the ring that Lucas gave Lindsay and then Peyton was not the ring Keith gave Karen. To me, that seemed like a last minute rewrite because wouldn't Brooke have noticed in New York when she was inspecting it & when she wore it around time, given Karen had showed it to her in Tric after she & Keith were engaged. Personally I think Brooke would've mentioned it, or even Haley or Peyton should have recognized it when Lindsay showed it off. I'll shut up now, just keep in mind Karen did not give Lucas her ring to give to Peyton or Lindsay.

Now, on to the next chapter...

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You Say Goodbye And I Say Hello

~The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep. (Robert Frost)

Jamie sat in the chair by his mother's bedside, swinging his legs as he watched the nurse checked the machines attached to her. He looked back at his father, who was asleep in the other chair at the foot of the bed, albeit from exhaustion and lack of sleep. The nurse offered him a smile and a nod before exiting the room, Jamie waving at her before refocusing on the woman in the bed.

"Hey Momma," he sat on his knees, leaning towards her. "Daddy says your sick and you can't wake up. Daddy's sad and so is Chester, me too." He exhaled scrunching his nose. "Daddy didn't want to bring me until you woke up but when Grandpa Dan was sick he never woke up and I never got to say goodbye. I don't wanna say goodbye Momma." He shook his head, unable to really understand. "Who's going to sing the Fifty-Nifty song with me and who's going to play goldfish checkers with me or make me chicken noodle egg noodle soup when I'm sick?" His blue eyes stared at her face as water began to fill them. "I'm scared. What if Daddy gets really sad again? Please wake up," he moved closer to her, laying his upper body on top of her stomach. "Momma, you have to wake up." He closed his eyes, just listening to the machines and the sound of his mother's breathing.

She reached her hand out slowly, touching the hand that laid upon her as her eyes opened slowly, a small smile gracing her features as the person sitting beside her came into view. "Hi…"

His eyes flew open as he sat up, turning to look at her. "Momma?"

"Yes baby," Haley smiled as she took a deep breath, her voice slightly scratchy from lack of use. "Hi there little man."

"I knew you'd wake up," his grin formed from ear to ear. "I told Daddy to bring me and I knew you'd wake up."

"You are the best medicine James Lucas Scott," she reached up, stroking his hair. "I love you so much."

"I love you too Momma," he turned back. "Daddy, wake up, it's Momma!"

Nathan nearly leapt out of his sleep induced state at the frantic sound of his son's voice. "Jamie, what is…" he stopped mid-sentence as he saw the other pair of eyes that were looking at him. "Hales?" His eyes immediately began to tear up.

Haley smiled through blurry tears as she watched him stand up, his face one of disbelief. "Hi husband."

"You're okay?" it came out breathy as he rushed over to her and enveloped her in a hug. "I missed you so much Haley. I love you, I love you."

"I woke her up Daddy," Jamie said, looking proud of himself.

"You sure did buddy," Nathan replied as he ruffled the boy's hair before pulling him into one arm as he hugged Haley with the other one. "You sure did."

Skills sat out front of the hospital on the bench. After Fergie passed, he couldn't really be in the room anymore. It had taken everything in him to be there as his friend died but being there with his friend's lifeless body, he couldn't handle it. He could still hear the sound of Fergie's last breath and the voice of Mrs. Thompson as she sang her son the last song he'd ever hear.

"Skills," a familiar female voice called to him.

He looked up at her, eyes bloodshot from unshed tears he refused to let fall. "Cass; what are you doing here?" He stood up.

"I just wanted to see how you were; how everyone's doing?" Cass replied as she stepped closer to him. "Antwon, what's wrong?"

"It's Fergie," he still couldn't believe the words even as he spoke them; "he died Cass. Fergie's gone." The pain on his face and in his voice was indistinguishable. "Me, Junk, Luke and his parents were there…"

"Oh God Antwon, I'm so sorry," she quickly enveloped him in a hug. "When?"

"I don't know, I guess it's been maybe a half an hour," he stepped back. "I still can't believe it, you know." He shook his head. "I mean I've known Fergie basically my whole life and after Jimmy, we all made a vow to stick together. I feel like I failed him."

"You kept your vow, you were there with him during his last moments," her eyes were full of compassion. "Fergie knew how much all you guys care for him like brothers, you didn't fail him Skills. You never could."

He nodded. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me; I'll always be here for you." She reached up to gently cup his cheek. "I know I let you down before but you can count on me."

"I appreciate that," he replied as he reached up to take her hand. "And if you're talking about friendship, then I'd like that but whatever else was between us Cassandra, you know that's over right?" He removed her hand from his face.

"I understand," she paused briefly. "You're dealing with a lot right now and you're going to need some time but when you're ready for more, I'll be here."

"Cass," he exhaled deeply. "What we had was very special but it's in the past. I've moved on."

"To Deb," she paused briefly. "I know you have feelings for her but we were going to have a family. She's already lived that part of her life and I'm not trying to be mean but I doubt at this point she could offer you the family that we could have. We were so in love Antwon."

"You're right," Skills replied. "We were in love and I won't ever forget that part of my life. I'm grateful for it and the time I had with Bevin too because those things, my past led me to my present, with Deb. Something that started out as just having fun led me to the love of my life." He smiled just thinking of her. "Even if what you said was true about having kids, we'd adopt or whatever but it wouldn't change the way I feel about her. She makes me happy Cass," his teeth scraped across his bottom lip as he nodded. "And nothing: not age or race or anything else you try to make her feel guilty about is going to change that. I really want you to be happy too Cassandra, I do; but it can't be with me."

Cass looked in his eyes, taking in all he'd just said to her. "You really do love her, don't you?" It was as if she was finally realizing it; like she'd never really let herself believe it before.

"Yeah, I do." He nodded, "And not that this is really anyone's business yet, but you're wrong about the kid thing. She's pregnant."

She blinked hard, surprised. "W-Wow," she nodded as she exhaled deeply. "Well then if you're truly happy and I can finally see that you are, then I'll be happy for you." She sighed. "I guess it's time to say goodbye then."

"I guess so," he gave her a small smile before hugging her.

"I'm sorry if I… you know." She stepped back from his embrace.

He nodded. "I know. Take care of yourself Cassandra."

"You too," she smiled at him warmly with tears in her eyes before giving a small shrug. "If you're ever in Paris…"

"You can count on it," Skills replied before she gave him one last smile and disappeared around the same corner she came from.

Karen sat by Brooke's bedside as one of the nurses checked her vitals. "How is she?"

"Her stats seem to be improving," the blonde answered as she jotted something on the chart. "It's just a waiting game now." She offered Karen a small smile. "I'll see you later."

"Thanks," she smiled, hoping they'd soon receive some good news on Brooke the way they had Haley. Lucas had been reluctant to leave again but Karen assured him Brooke would want him to go see his best friend. "You have to wake up soon too Brooke because I have a feeling I'm going to be giving you something very special very soon." She reached up, playing with the gold chain around her neck before lifting it from underneath her shirt, revealing the simple diamond ring that hung off of it.

Karen fingered the ring between her index finger and her thumb. "I have kept this ring with me since Keith proposed to me. Well actually I proposed to him but he gave me this ring after, the one he'd proposed with originally when I was stupid and said no." She sighed. "Sometimes I think about all the time Keith and I wasted but then I think of all those moments, all those years we spent loving each other, even if for so long we never, or I never let it be more than friendship; our love was always there and it never wavered and I think the same is true of you and Lucas." She reached over and stroked Brooke's hair. "I met you in this very same hospital and it didn't take long for me to realize what a special person you are. I love you like you are my own daughter and Keith loved you too. So when you wake up and my son finally gets it right and proposes to you, I want you to have the ring that I've kept close to my heart for the past five years because I can't imagine Lucas giving it to someone else and I know Keith would want you to have it too."

Brooke laid still, hearing all of Karen's words and wanting so desperately to tell her how much they meant to her but somehow she couldn't force her eyes to open. Her finger twitched slightly.

"Brooke honey," Karen noticed her movements. "Can you hear me Brooke?" Karen cupped her hand within her own. "Come back to us sweetie, come back to us."

Rachel hopped around her hospital room, searching for her clothes. She was getting restless just sitting there and could no longer take the waiting around.

"Well that's a look," Owen laughed as he stepped inside the room. "Enjoying the breeze?"

"Pervert," Rachel's eyes shot daggers at him as she tried to balance on one leg while holding the back of her hospital gown closed. "You'll use any opportunity to check me out Morello."

"It's good to see you're back to your conceited self," he said as he walked over to her, ushering her back to the bed. "What are you doing out of bed anyways?"

"I need to get out of here Owen," Rachel huffed. "Did you get any more news about Brooke or anyone else?"

He took a deep breath. "Well Haley woke up so I guess that means she's doing better. I don't know how close you were to Fergie but, he died Rach."

"What?" she shook her head. "We weren't really close but I knew him, you know. We all hung out a few times and he was… he was a really good guy. Wow, this must be so hard for the guys. Do you know if Mouth knows yet?"

"I don't know," he answered.

"Wow," Rachel looked up at nothing in particular before exhaling deeply. "You never really think things like this happen to you, to your friends." Her topaz eyes looked up at him. "And Brooke?"

"There's no change yet," Owen replied. "She's stable though and so are her babies." He clarified after she gave him a quizzical look. "She's having twins."

"You need to get me some clothes so I can get the hell out of here; I need to be with Brooke." Her eyes were soft. "This is my fault; I never should've let her leave the house that day."

"This is not your fault," he said as he sat next to her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. "What happened to you and Brooke and everyone else was horrible but it's not your fault."

"But if I would have just made her stay," she countered.

"You have a pretty big head on your shoulders there, don't you Gattina; thinking that you can control the weather, tornadoes, and everything else?" He watched her roll her eyes at him. "Listen, you and I were in that house and you almost died; Rach you were dead for like two minutes or whatever, so there's no guarantee Brooke wouldn't have been worse off there." He paused briefly. "Look, there's a reason why you and Brooke are so close, it's 'cause you're cut from the same cloth. You're tough and you're fighters. She's going to survive this just like you did."

Rachel nodded. "You're right, she is a fighter but she's just been there for me through so much and I made a promise to her that I'd be there for her."

"And you're going to keep that promise, you'll be there for her when she wakes up and when you're healed but until then, you're going to get some rest," Owen said firmly. "Do I need to call your doctor?"

"Owen," she crossed her arms over her chest.

He mimicked her movements. "Rachel."

She exhaled deeply. "I'm not going to win this one, am I?"

"Not a chance," he replied. "I can tell you're already tired so will you please lay down and stop fighting me on this, for not just your sake but for Brooke's and Oriana's. They're going to need you healthy."

"Fine," she said as she scooted back, leaning herself against the pillows. "But will you go check on her for me?"

"Yeah, I will." Owen stood up, covering her with the blanket before giving her a kiss on her forehead. "Try to rest until I get back."

"Hey Owen," she called before he exited, waiting for him to turn and look at her. "Thanks, for all of this."

"You're welcome," he smiled before walking into the hallway.

Haley sat smiling with her husband, son, and mother in law around her. She couldn't believe how different she felt from the last time she was awake in this hospital bed. She'd basically accepted the fact that she was dying and now she felt, alive. There was really no other word for it.

"Is there room for one more?" Lucas said as he walked in, smiling at his long time best friend.

"You bet there is," Haley returned the smile. "Get over here best friend."

"Awe Hales," he said as he hugged her. "I'm so glad you're awake." He stepped back, "How do you feel?"

She shrugged. "A little groggy but better than I have in weeks if that makes any sense."

"The magic of what good drugs can do," Deb offered from the chair she was sitting in. "How I miss that…"

"Miss what Nanny Deb?" Jamie turned to look at her.

"Nanny Deb was just joking, weren't you mom?" Nathan sent her a look.

"Your dad's right," Deb smiled at her grandson. "I just meant that the medicine and you, the best medicine of all, helped your mom wake up."

"That's right," Haley nodded. "Jamie woke me up." She smiled warmly at her son, her eyes now full of life again.

"So everything's fine now?" Lucas looked at her, worry still in his eyes. "You are okay, right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied.

Lucas turned around, blue eyes meeting a darker hue as he looked at his brother. "Nate?"

"Yeah, she's good." Nathan couldn't wipe the grin off his face. "The doctor said the new antibiotics are working great and the swelling has all gone down. She'll be here for a few more days for monitoring but Haley's going to be fine."

"That's great Haley," Lucas smiled warmly at her but his eyes were still clouded with emotion.

"Luke, what is it?" her chestnut eyes looked up at her friend, reading him the way she always could. "What happened?"

"Hey Jamie, why don't you and I go get something out of the vending machine?" Deb immediately stood up and grabbed her grandson's hand. "We could get a snack, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

Nathan spoke once his mother and son were out of earshot. "Is it Brooke? Has something happened with her or the babies?"

"Babies?" Haley repeated. "Was Brooke hurt? What babies?"

"Brooke was in an accident during the tornado but no she's stable," Lucas answered. "She hasn't woken up yet but she's strong. She's going to wake up and the twins are fine." He paused briefly. "Haley, Brooke is pregnant."

"It's not from the attack is it?" her voice was full of concern.

"No," Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, "they're mine."

Haley's eyes were wide. "What; what about Peyton?"

"Peyton's with Jake now," he answered.

She felt her own forehead. "How long exactly have I been out?"

"Just a couple of days," Lucas reassured her. "Brooke and I didn't exactly go the traditional route with this pregnancy; she asked me to be her donor and I accepted. I'm not even sure if we're together, I had just told her how much I wanted to be with her right before the accident. Peyton and I only called off the engagement that morning; it's all been very eventful but I just realized Brooke is the one I'm in love with."

"I could have told you that," she shrugged. "Nathan and I both wondered what you were thinking with that Vegas engagement to Peyton. So you and Peyton, you're okay?"

"We're trying to be," he explained. "When something like this happens, it just puts it all in perspective." Lucas paused briefly. "God Haley, I am so happy you're back."

"Come here," she opened her arms as he hugged her once again. "I couldn't exactly leave you all to fend for yourselves. Who would take care of Nathan, Jamie, and you? I have too many promises to keep to leave my family."

Brooke lay soundly in her room, her mind still caught in the darkness as the machines kept track of her breathing and her heart rate. It was true what they said about comas. For hours now she'd been able to hear everything that went on around her, the sounds of everyone's voices but somehow she couldn't wake up from her deep slumber.

She could hear the clicking of heels against the floor before an abrupt woman's voice echoed through the room. "Karen Roe."

"What are you doing here?" Karen stood up and walked towards the uninvited guest. "Lucas told me about what you did to her."

"I'm sure he did," Victoria sneered. "Look Karen, I'm sure you and your son have your own opinions about me but you have no idea the way I feel about my daughter. I'm sure you've made mistakes."

"I've never done anything like you've done to my worst enemy, much less my child," the look in Karen's eyes was pure disgust.

"Maybe not," Victoria countered. "But if you ever did something to your child that you had some regret over and he or she was lying in a hospital bed, wouldn't you want to see them?" Victoria didn't give her a chance to answer. "I'm not asking your permission; I need to speak with my daughter, alone. I trust you not to make a scene."

Karen had to admit if it were her who'd done anything to harm Lucas or Lily, she'd want to make it up to them although she could never imagine doing anything in the same league to one of her children as the woman in front of her did to her daughter. "I'll go check in with Haley. You have ten minutes Victoria," she spoke firmly. "Don't make me regret allowing you that." Karen shot her a look before exiting the room, leaving the mother and daughter pair alone.

"Oh Brooke darling," Victoria looked down at her daughter, taking in the oxygen tubes in her nose and the wires and IV connected to her. "I never wanted any of this for you; I know that people think I'm the worst mother in the world, and they may be right, but I never ever wanted this for you."

Victoria sat down in the chair next to the bed, placing the manila envelope on her lap. "You know, I was like you once. I dreamt of having my very own fashion line; my own company just like you," she breathed out deeply. "But then I stupidly fell in love, got married, and found out I was pregnant with you so I had to just put my dreams on the back burner." She shrugged to herself. "I wasn't ready to be a mother but I made the best of it and I suppose I was happy then. But your father, he wanted a boy and so I got pregnant again but things... things were never the same." She fiddled with the envelope in her hand before standing up, pacing the floor a few times.

"It happened to me too, some vile man thinking he had the right to violate me," Victoria exhaled sharply, fighting the tears that threatened to form in her eyes. "I was meeting a friend, she had a little problem with coke and I went to meet her because she was thinking of using again. It wasn't the best neighborhood and this man just came out of nowhere," she shivered at the thought of the memory she hadn't spoken about since it happened. "He forced me into an alley and he raped me. He beat me so bad that when he was done, I started to miscarry and by the time your father arrived in the hospital, two people died that night: the son he'd always wanted and the woman I was before. There was so much damage after the miscarriage that I was told I'd never be able to carry another child but by that point, I didn't care." She breathed out deeply, her bottom jaw jutted out slightly. "Something was broken inside me; something I can't describe. I made a vow that day to never again let someone or something have power or possession over me again."

She made her way to her daughter's bedside, stroking her hair. "I guess I took it out on you far too much but it's only because I wanted you to be strong. I didn't want Rachel's drug habit to bring you pain the way my friend's did me. Everything I have done has been to protect you and myself the only way I knew how." She paused for a moment, composing herself back into the cool exterior that had started off as a façade but that had become who she was over the years. "I have divested all of my interest in Clothes Ova Bro's; it's all her in this envelope." She paused briefly as she picked it up and placed it on the end table closest to the bed. "I meant what I said Brooke when I told you I'd help you get through this and I know now what must be done." She smirked down at the younger brunette. "And so do you; you're a Davis so act like it, stop milking this for all it's worth and get up out of this bed. You have much too much to do to give up now." Victoria bent over, kissing Brooke on top of her head. "I do love you my dear Brooke. Goodbye." Victoria took one last look at her daughter before walking away, the sound of her heels clicking as she exited the room.

Brooke suddenly felt a tingling sensation all over her body, almost the way you'd feel when moving a limb that had fallen asleep. Her eyes fluttered as the sounds of the clicking heels, although moving away from her, became clearer and she began to find herself moving out of the deep, dark and lonely stretch of all-encompassing darkness, jumbled images, and muffled sounds. Her eyes suddenly popped open, revealing their hazel green hue as she looked around, a bit disoriented but immediately recognizing she had finally awakened from her slumber. Her hand tentatively found its way to her stomach before sighing in relief as a small smile graced her face.

Robert Frost wrote, "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep. But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep."