Stockholm
Day One. 10:38am
She looked down at the crib where her baby was peacefully sleeping. She couldn't believe how her life turned around with just one year. Things were horrible and then, one day,, they weren't anymore. The pain was now bearable. Nothing could replace Cecilia; no one could replace Angelina to Julian. Their lives weren't easy but they had each other.
Their relationship was slow, as it had to be. They couldn't imagine it any other way.
But once they fixed everything they need to fix there was no need to be slow. They already lived together, they had a son together and Julian felt like he didn't need anything else in his life. There was nothing more out there for him and proposing to Brooke was just the next step. Maybe their relationship was backwards but he wanted to marry her. She did so much for him. She took care of Angelina the best she could, she melted his father's heart and she gave him the present of fatherhood. Julian loved being a daddy. And that was why forgiving his father was unavoidable. He wondered if he ever hurt Ryan and his son couldn't forgive him, he would be devastated. He couldn't deny Paul the forgiveness he craved for. He lost a daughter and then he lost a granddaughter. It wasn't only him who lost Angelina. He had lost his daughter for more years than he could talk. And because of his usual toughness and his lack of experience with problematic children he failed Angelina when she needed him the most. But he regretted it, he tried to fix his mess and somehow he did it. It was almost too late and he couldn't keep torturing his father, not when he knew exactly how deep that pain could be. He lost Cecilia, forever. He wouldn't do that to any father in the world, let alone his own. Paul was definitely flawed but Julian loved him, he loved his father. But he wouldn't do it without Brooke, not only because she gave him Ryan who put him on perspective but because her heart was so pure and forgiving. It was contagious and he definitely got it.
But Paul wasn't the only unfinished business Julian had. The robbery events were still very alive in his memory and despite all the hard work Brooke and Dr. Williams put on it and even Paul, what really helped Julian was the fact that Brooke got pregnant. It helped him to change his view of the events between them that day. But somehow he now felt thankful for it. How couldn't he? The boy was his sunshine. He was finally feeling like he was one of those people he used to imagine while he looked at the buildings in the city. He was not only ordinarily happy, he was extraordinarily exultant. Every day, with all the difficulties life threw his way. So as he watched his little boy taking his small steps, almost running despite his small size, his heart fluttered. He was complete.
Ryan was the most precious thing that had ever happened to him. No, that was a mistaken thought. The best thing that happened to him was now walking towards him, beautiful as she always did. A lot of things crossed his mind. A lot of things crossed hers.
"I'm pregnant," she offered nervously. She didn't know what his reaction would be. She knew the man in front of her, he wouldn't oppose but they didn't plan it.
"That's great, Brooke," Lucas was excited about the news.
"I had a one night stand. I don't know who the father is," she explained and the smile on the blond's face dropped.
"I can't deal with you right now Lucas. My babies are fighting for their lives. We can't be together. I'm in love with Julian, even if he doesn't want me, even if he doesn't want the babies, I can't use you like that," she explained and kissing his cheek she walked away.
"I just need one answer," he asked and she could see how tense he was.
Seeing her nodding to him he looked away gathering strength to make the question that had been in his head since the doctor said the possible conception date.
"Are the babies his?"
"Yes," Brooke answered quietly and turning around Lucas left without looking at her again.
Their eyes were locked and the memories didn't stop coming.
"Name of the mother?" the city hall employee asked as he typed the information on the birth certificate.
"Brooke Penelope Davis…"
"Name of the father?"
"Julian Ryan Baker," Julian held a proud smile.
"Name of the baby," he asked finally.
Julian and Brooke looked at each other, as they stood in front of one another. There were unshed tears in both of their eyes.
"I know how they sometimes tell that even the worst situation can bring something good. I thought the day I became a criminal couldn't bring anything good but I couldn't be more wrong. It isn't about the babies, though they're amazing. It's all about you, Brooke. I fell in love with you under the worst circumstances, I met you in a place that made me a monster but your kindness and warmth changed it all. Just like in the cartoons and fairytales, when you appear everything changes. Your touch is healing; your voice is comforting; your gaze is soothing. Your love is overwhelming and contagious. I'm happy I was touched; that I heard you; that you looked at me with such tenderness and warmth. But above all I'm happy you loved me when I couldn't love myself. Your love taught me so many things. I'm complete because I have you. I'm alive because of you. I'm living because I love you, Brooke, I will always love you with everything I am, because the moment you touched, talked and looked at me I couldn't stop myself from loving you," Julian professed his love to the woman standing in front of him and the tears she had been bravely holding back finally fell and moving his hands to cup her face, he used both of his thumbs to wipe them away.
"I've never seen such a big heart, such a big love in my life until the day I met Julian Baker. You, Julian, are unlike anyone I've ever met before. Love is something so natural to you. You're willing to do all the sacrifices, to fight all the battles and to risk everything you have in the name of love. Not only for your sister but for twenty people you had never seen in your life before. That was so powerful. I knew that moment I met the man I wanted to have in my life. The more time passed, the more my feelings changed. The admiration, the surprise, the enchantment, the fascination never wore down but I fell in love with you. It was so quick; it was so strong and astounding. Because that's all you are. You're strong, overwhelming, astounding, alluring and loving you wasn't just an option or a possibility. It was the only option, the only possibility I had because I've never seen something so beautiful and fascinating in my whole life. When the world around me was falling apart and I was afraid somehow you took the fear away and then I couldn't see anything else around me, except your sweet, piercing and beautiful eyes and they reached my soul and they swept me way. And that's why I'll always love you, for the rest of my life, throughout the whole eternity," Brooke offered with a quiet voice, trying so hard not to cry copiously in front of the man she loved so much.
"I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Julian Baker."
"Cecilia Rachel Baker," Brooke offered and her friend a few steps behind her was in tears, not believing that they had decided to name their little girl after her.
Julian and Brooke enjoyed their wedding reception the best they could with their two babies. Cecilia was much quieter than any baby they saw maybe because she was a preemie too and had been very quiet since the day she left the hospital. But Ryan had left the preemie quietness behind him, the seventeen-month old boy was running all over the place but somehow he always found his way back to his grandpa. Paul held Cecilia most of the time, to allow Julian and Brooke to dance, greet their guests and now as his son and his newly added daughter were preparing to leave, he looked down at the little girl in his arms. He remembered the day she was born and he held her just the same before they moved her to the NICU. All the money he donated throughout his life to the hospital allowed him to make company to his son in the room Brooke gave birth three months before. He was touched by the very small baby in his arms and the first and only thing he could say in that moment was the obvious. She looks just like your mother, the elder said and Julian who was already crying for seeing his girl alive only nodded before the nurse took the baby away. That was the moment he picked Cecilia's name. Julian was so proud because he was the spitting image of his mother and so was his daughter. She looked like him even more than Cecilia did.
"Are you sure you don't want to leave them with me?" Paul asked as Julian and Brooke finally said goodbye to everyone and came to take their children.
"Yes, Dad. Ryan loves the beach and Cecilia is strong enough. Brooke and I will have a lot of time to enjoy our honeymoon at night. But during the day we want to share it with them," Julian explained and moved to hug his father goodbye too, "But when Brooke and I need some mommy and daddy time when they're older and bratty, we'll call grandpa Paul, don't worry."
"I'll be my pleasure," he smiled as they broke apart.
"Paul," Brooke said with many tears in her eyes. Paul had been there for her during so many moments, in so many different ways that the affection she had for the man in front of her couldn't be measured. "I'll miss you," she offered still very emotional for the day's events.
"I'll miss you too, Brooke. But two weeks will pass by really quickly, especially in Europe. I promise you I'll take you there again soon as I think two children are already enough outsiders in a honeymoon," he offered a smile that comforted her heart.
Julian took Cecilia in his arms and Brooke took Ryan by his hand as he played with the lace in her wedding dress. Her other hand held her husband's and walking away from the garden of Paul's big house they headed to their house, from where they would go to the airport the following day.
That was their day one. The first day of the rest of their lives.
AN: So it's done. Thanks a lot for all of you who read, reviewed and favorite'd this fic. I'm sorry for the long hiatus it went through but now it's finally completed.