A/N: This chapter was completely done yesterday and I totally forget to upload it. I'm so sorry for that.

Chapter Twenty-One: A Step Forward

"I have a confession to make. I was really nervous about tonight," Erika admits before taking a sip of her wine.

"I was too for more than one reason. My daughter has just been going through some things and I was going to tell her, but then I chickened out."

Erika nods her head in understanding.

"Haley mentioned something like that. Sam's been ignoring her."

Rachel nods her head.

"I've always wondered if making the divorce go by faster was the wrong thing to do."

"Can I be frank with you?"

Rachel nods her head.

"The divorce was never about Sam. It was about you and Brooke. You guys weren't happy so you did something about it. It sucks for Sam, but you made it a point to change your life to fit around your daughter. I mean you told me you took a job here so you can be closer to here instead of different state parenting. She should see that."

"Sam's an actress Erika, she's damn good at it and half the time I don't know if what she's saying or what she's doing is really my daughter."

Erika reaches across the table and grabs onto Rachel's hand.

"All you can do is hope and pray that what you are doing is right. You don't have to tell Sam about us if you don't want. It might even be easier considering Brooke and Haley's new relationship."

Rachel smiles and nods her head.

"Okay, but no more talking about things like this. Let's just talk about us."

Erika grins. "I concur."

-BTM-

Brooke, Haley and Sam are sitting in the living room. Brooke and Haley are snuggled close together and Sam was sitting far away from them. Sam kept glancing at her mother and teacher. She had told her mom that she would try, but it still hurt that her parents weren't together anymore. It just kind of sucked. She wished she could get out of her, but she couldn't because she was still grounded. She even had to cancel her plans with Nathan. It made Sam a little angry.

"How was school today Sam?" Brooke asks once a commercial is on.

"The same as always," Sam responds with attitude.

"Don't give me that Samantha, I wasn't the one that grounded you and we have company so be respectful."

Sam rolls her eyes and stands up from the couch.

"I'm going to my room."

Brooke sighs and watches as Sam gets up from the couch. Brooke turns to Haley who was still snuggled into her side.

"I'm sorry about her Hales. She's usually not like this."

"It's understandable Brooke. I get it. Every kid wants their parents together. It's natural for her to act this way. I just hope it doesn't last forever. There is only so much I can do. She ignores me in class as well. I make it a point not to call on her."

Brooke's hands find Haley's and she interlocks their fingers.

"I think time will make it all better, but with Sam being a hormonal teenager, it could be awhile."

"Tell me about your past Brooke, the past were I wasn't present."

"I met Rachel in college. We started off as friends like all relationships start. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with her. We barely fought and it was nice. A year into the relationship she proposed, I said yes and six months later we were married. A few months into our marriage, Rachel brought up the idea of children and I was happy because I wanted them and I didn't know if she did," Haley gives Brooke a funny look and Brooke chuckles. "I know I should've asked her before we went through everything, but I loved her so I didn't matter to me. Not long after we asked Nathan if he would do us a favor and he agreed. He said that this maybe the only chance to be a father even though he has no rights whatsoever. He was happy being uncle and knowing that his genes live on."

"I didn't think it was Nathan," Haley says once Brooke finishes.

"It wasn't really a hard decision. Rachel and I talked and we said Nathan or Lucas and if they both said no then we would have had to go to see a donor specialist. We were lucky that Nathan said yes. He adores Sam so much."

Haley sits up and faces Brooke.

"Does Sam know?"

Brooke nods her head.

"We've never hid it from her. She knows she doesn't have a father, just fatherly figures."

"I'm glad you told me all of that Brooke."

Brooke turns to face Haley.

"I'm glad too."

Brooke leans in and kisses Haley softly on the lips.

"You have to go don't you?" Brooke asks once she pulls away from Haley.

Haley nods her head with a frown.

"Unfortunately I do, but I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, I should go talk to Sam."

Haley stands up from the couch and gives Brooke one last kiss before walking out the door, purse in hand.

Brooke gets up from her spot on the couch planning on walking into her daughter's room, but she stops when she sees Sam leaning against the wall with tears rolling down her face. Brooke kneels down next to her daughter and wipes her tears away.

"Honey, what's the matter?"

"I don't know. I just felt like crying."

Brooke nods her head knowing that wasn't the reason, but she did nonetheless. Brooke sits Indian style next to her daughter and Sam moves her body so her head is lying on Brooke's lap.

"It'll get better with time, right?"

"Yeah sweetie, I think time heals all wounds or something like that. But it doesn't mean that your family is broken. Rachel is still my friend and you will see her all the time. I know it will take time for you to get to know Haley and whatnot, but could you please at least talk to her in class when she calls you? It's really rude if you don't."

"I'll try," Sam states with a tired sigh.

Brooke smiles, "That's all I ask."