Chapter Twenty-Five:It's About Time
"Oh my god!" Haley squealed. "You're pregnant!" She accused as she pointed at the bride.
Brooke smiled as she glanced up at Lucas who nodded. "We're having a baby!" He exclaimed. Everyone erupted in cheers and giggles to congratulate the couple on their big news; everyone except Nathan who slammed his champagne glass onto the concrete causing shards of glass to go everywhere. "Nathan!" Haley exclaimed. "What the hell?" "Tell 'em Brooke." He challenged. "Tell everyone the truth." "Nathan." Lucas warned. "What Lucas? I'm not going to stand around and pretend to be happy when I know that she could fucking die! So Brooke, take that fucking fake smile off your face, and stop pretending to be happy about this baby who may end up killing you!" He screamed before storming into the house before slamming the back door. "Brooke," Haley cried. "I'm so sorry." Brooke shook her head. "He's right." Haley glanced at her quizzically before running into the house after her husband. The mood had instantly changed among the guests as now everyone stood around glancing at each other wondering what to do next. "Mommy?" Berkley asked softly as she tugged lightly on her mom's dress. "What's up bumblebee?" "Are you really having a baby?" She asked, her eyes lighting up. Brooke nodded. "You're going to get to be a big sister." "I don't want to be a big sister if it means you die." She said sadly. "Oh baby, I'm going to do everything in my power not to die, okay? I'm going to be here for you…forever." Brooke cried as she picked Berkley up. "Pinky promise?" She asked as she extended her pinky. "I pinky promise." Brooke smiled through her tears as she linked pinkies with her daughter.
"Maybe you should go talk to Haley." Lucas suggested as he and Brooke walked toward the house.
"How could Nathan do that? Berkley wasn't supposed to find out this way, she wasn't supposed to know I'm risking my life, Luke. She's not supposed to be scared anymore."
"I know." He whispered softly against her hair. "Go find Hales while I try and entertain our guests."
--
"How could you do this to Brooke on her wedding day?" Haley screamed at her husband. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I've stood by and watched her plaster that fake smile on for as long as I can remember but today, when she said she was pregnant and smiled that fake ass smile…I lost it. I'm not going to apologize for what I said."
"Yes you are." Haley countered.
"Hales," Brooke said softly as she knocked on the door. "Can I talk to you?"
Haley nodded. "Of course."
Nathan stood and exited the room without making eye contact with Brooke once. "I'm so sorry for what he did Br—"
"I need to tell you something." Brooke interrupted.
"Okay," She said skeptically as she sat down on the couch and patted the spot beside her. "What's going on?"
"I didn't mean to keep you in the dark about what's going on. It's just that you were the person I was the most scared to tell; I don't want to hurt you."
"You're not going to." Haley assured.
"I need you to not interrupt me while I tell you because if you do then I might not be able to continue and I need to be able to continue so you can understand. I need to do this." She explained. Haley nodded. "I'm pregnant." She whispered.
"I know," Haley smiled. "And that's great! I'm so excited for you and Luke. You guys deserve to be this happy—"
"Haley," Brooke warned.
"Sorry. Continue."
"Back when I had my miscarriage a few months ago I found out that my body will do whatever it can to reject a pregnancy; it's nearly impossible for me to carry a baby to term." It was then that she let the tears that had been welling up in her eyes fall. Haley was beyond confused. "The doctor said that if I become pregnant I run the risk of losing the baby or killing myself if I end up carrying to term. In eight months I could be gone, Haley. I know that in time Lucas would be able to come to terms with it but I don't know if Berkley ever would; I don't know if she'd ever be able to forgive me for being so selfish. That's the thing I'm having the most difficulty with…I don't want her to hate me if I die." She cried.
"Oh, Brooke," Haley whispered as she pulled her close. "She could never hate you."
"But—"
"If something, god forbid, happens to you I will make damn sure she knows how much you loved her and how you never wanted to leave her. Granted, she may hate you when she's a teenager when you tell her she can't go to the movies because she has homework to do…I won't be able to help you out there." She smiled. "You're going to be around, tigger."
Brooke nodded.
"Now why don't you go hang out with your husband? Today is supposed to be the best day of your life, Brooke. You're not supposed to be in here wallowing with me." Haley said as they stood up. "And again, I'm really, really sorry about what Nathan said; he wasn't thinking, you know with Berkley around and whatnot. I know that's not how you wanted her to find out."
Brooke shrugged. "She was going to have to find out sooner or later, right?"
Haley smiled weakly.
--
"Hey," Nathan said softly as he approached Brooke and Lucas. "Can I talk to you?"
Brooke nodded before leading him toward the edge of the pool. "What's up?" She asked as she dipped her feet into the water.
"I'm sorry about what I said." He replied as he sat down beside her.
She nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the pregnancy thing in private. I wanted to it's just that when Haley pulled out the champagne—"
"It's okay." He smiled.
They remained in silence for a few moments before he broke it. "You told me you weren't going to get pregnant. I told you I wasn't ready to lose you."
"I never said that." She corrected. "You told me to not run the risk of getting pregnant and I nodded."
"Still, I meant what I said. I can't lose you, Brooke."
"You know, you keep saying that but what's your reason behind it? You ruined my wedding day, you ruined the surprise of Lucas and I telling Berkley about the baby and you made her scared to death that she's going to lose me! She's four years old, Nathan; she's not supposed to worry about her mother dying!" She yelled causing the yard full of guests to turn their attention toward the pool.
"And I'm sorry about that!" He yelled back. " I wasn't thinking when I blew up, I was just so pissed that you continue to plaster on that fake smile when I know inside you're miserable. I know you're scared to death about the baby and I know that every second of every day you wonder if you're doing the right thing by continuing the pregnancy. I know you want to be around for the day Berkley brings home a boy for the first time and Lucas grills him. I know you want to be there when she goes off to college, when she gets married and when she has her first child. I know you want to be there, Brooke but I also know you want a child with Lucas because you feel responsible for what happened seven years ago with Keith. But what I know best is how much my life has changed because of you. You're the reason Haley and I are together; if it weren't for you messing up at the party and then sending us out on that make-up date we wouldn't be where we are right now. We grew into better versions of ourselves together, looking back at high school you and I were headed down the wrong path but then we met Haley and Lucas and they changed us into the best possible versions of ourselves. I've always thought of you as the sister I never had, I've always looked out for you and tried to protect you and I think that's why this is so hard for me." He said softly. "I can't protect you from this."
"I'm going to be okay." She said as tears fell.
"I hope so," He whispered as he hugged her. "Because I'm not ready to lose you."
"I'm not ready to lose you either." She smiled.
They laughed as they tried to wipe their tears away as everyone began clapping at their reconciliation that had just played out in front of everyone.
"Who's ready to party?" Brooke asked as she got up from the side of the pool.
Everyone cheered and the mood of the party was restored to one of happiness and bliss.
--
"I don't think we've formally been introduced." Mr. Davis said as he bent down to Berkley's height. "I'm your Grandpa Richard." He smiled.
"You're mommy's daddy?" She said as her eyes lit up.
Richard nodded.
"My name is Berkley Elizabeth Davis-Scott. The 'Scott' part just got added today because mommy married Lucas who's been my daddy since we got here."
"Lucas is your dad?" Richard asked.
Berkley shook her head. "Owen's my real dad, Lucas is better at it though. He doesn't hurt me."
Richard glanced at her with a quizzical expression.
"I've waited a long time to meet you." She said as she glanced up at him. "Mommy always said you were too busy with work to come and visit us."
"I was." He replied. "But I've made a few changes in my life, you know, I've reprioritized."
Berkley shook her head. "I don't know what that means."
"I thought you knew everything." He laughed. "I've heard you're a pretty smart girl."
"I am." She said eagerly. "I just don't have the vocabulary of a tenth grader."
Richard laughed. "You're a cute kid, you know that?"
She nodded. "Do I remind you of mommy when she was little?"
"You're exactly like her."
"Do you want to know what happened to me and mommy that got us here?" She asked.
"If you want to tell me." He shrugged.
Berkley nodded as she patted the seat beside her. "You might want to sit down, it's a long story."
Richard smiled as he sat down beside his granddaughter. As she explained what Owen would do to his daughter and granddaughter, he felt like he was going to be physically ill. It made him feel guilty for never calling and checking in on his daughter in the past seven years and as he watched Berkley with her zest for life and her resemblance to Brooke, it broke his heart that he missed so much of his daughter's life as well as his granddaughter's. But things were different now, he had made some pretty big changes in the past twenty-four hours and he was looking forward to his new life; he just had to tell Brooke about everything first. "So that's how we got to today." Berkley finished. "It was hard but seeing mommy so happy now, I know it was worth it." She smiled as she glanced over at her mom and Lucas who were laughing together.
--
"Hey daddy," Brooke smiled as she sat down beside him at an empty table. "How come you're all alone? Where's mom?"
Richard sighed. "Your mom left."
"What?"
"Last night, when Lucas called, we had a fight. She didn't want to come down here for the wedding because she thought it was a waste of time, she said she had more important things to do than come to a wedding—"
"It's not just a wedding," She cried in disbelief. "It's the wedding of her daughter."
"I know," He soothed. "That's what I told her. I told her that we haven't been there for our daughter for the past twenty-six years but we could start to make that up to her by being there on the most important day of her life. She wouldn't have any of it." He said as he shook his head. "No matter what I said I couldn't get through to her. So, I told her that I had two tickets for the Redeye and if she showed up in time for the flight I would be ecstatic but if she didn't show I wanted a divorce."
"But she showed." Brooke smiled.
Richard shook his head.
"But I saw her. You pointed to her when we were standing right there." She exclaimed as she pointed to the end of the aisle.
"I had your Aunt Ruth fly down here with me and sit in that chair. I knew you were going to ask about mom and I knew if I told you right as we were about to walk down the aisle that she hadn't come you would have been devastated. I didn't want to do that to you, bumblebee." He said softly as he brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "You didn't even notice it was Aunt Ruth, did you?" He smiled.
"I was so wrapped up in Lucas that I didn't even look." She replied.
"I'm so proud of you, Brooke. You've grown into an amazing woman despite everything."
"Thanks." She blushed. "So does this mean that you and mom are getting a divorce?"
He nodded. "Last night I realized how much control she's had over my life for the past thirty years. I hate myself for allowing her to make me miss out on your life and on Berkley's. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you from that son of a bitch when he would hurt you. And I'm sorry I wasn't there when you got your heart broken for the first time and when you learned how to drive and when you graduated from high school. I'm sorry I wasn't there, baby girl, but from now on I'm going to be there for you…always."
Brooke smiled as she wiped tears from her dad's eyes. "That's all I've ever wanted, daddy."
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"When I drove here today I couldn't help but notice a house down the street that's for sale—"
"Buy it!" Brooke exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck. "Buy the house, dad."
"You sure? We're going from zero to sixty right now; there's no turning back if I buy this house." He said cautiously.
"I've waited my whole life for my father to be part of my life…I'm more than ready, dad." She smiled.
"Good," He laughed. "Because I'm ready too."
"And I know you're upset that you missed out on Berkley's first few years but she's only four and besides, you have another grandchild on the way." She smiled as she placed her hand on her stomach. "And this time, you'll be there from the very beginning."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get it right, bumblebee." He said as he shook his head.
"Hey!" Berkley shouted. "That's what mommy calls me!"
"That's what daddy used to call me when I was your age." Brooke smiled.
"I thought he was never around?" She said as placed her hands on her hips.
"He wasn't." Brooke replied as she glanced at her dad. "But when he was home for short periods of time that's what he'd call me and it made me feel so special. Just like it makes you feel special, right?"
Berkley nodded. "When are we going to eat the cake?"
Richard and Brooke laughed. "Right now." Richard said as he reached for Brooke's hand and helped her up before reaching for Berkley's hand. Together, the three of them walked hand in hand toward Lucas.
"There's my favorite girls." He smiled when he saw them walking toward them.
"Daddy!" Berkley exclaimed. "It's time for cake!"
--
The rest of the evening was spent by the poolside talking and laughing with their small circle of friends. They couldn't have asked for a better night, the candles floated in the pool, the full moon shone down on all of them and for the first time in a long time, they all felt safe. Brooke noticed her dad eyeing Linda from across the fire pit and smiled to herself. Linda was the type of woman she could see her dad with: someone calm and relaxed with no real need to control the situation, the type who just let her life take her where it may. She shook her head and laughed slightly when she remembered her dad was still married to her mom and the reality of him and Linda dating was as likely to happen as her and Owen getting back together. Would that even be legal for him to date Linda? Linda was the grandmother of Berkley and he was her grandfather, but they're not related to each other so they could date, right?
"What're you thinking about, pretty girl?" Lucas whispered.
She shook her head. "Nothing."
"You had a pretty concentrated look on your face a few seconds ago; it had to be something."
"I'll tell you later." She replied.
"So you two," Peyton smirked. "Any plans for a honeymoon?"
Brooke shook her head. "It's just not a good time. I mean with our trip up to New York in two weeks and even that's going to be hard with Lucas constantly worrying about me and the baby." She joked. "I'm sure we'll do a family vacation sometime down the road that can double as the honeymoon we never had." She shrugged.
Lucas rubbed her arm as he nodded his head in agreement.
"This stinks that you guys don't live right next door anymore." Haley pouted as she looked around the yard.
"Hales," Nathan laughed. "They live one street over; it's no big deal."
"Yeah, besides; now you have the pleasure of having us as your neighbors." Skills smirked as he wrapped his arm around Bevin.
"Why'd you have to move?" Haley cried. Everyone laughed.
Eventually, around three in the morning, everyone decided it was late and time to go home. Sleeping kids were carried to cars, tired adults said goodnight and wished the newly married couple all the best. Plans were made for breakfast together the next morning at Jake and Peyton's, everyone was invited: all twenty-three of them.
Richard, who had no place to go, along with Aunt Ruth and Linda, spent the night in the three guest rooms Brooke had haphazardly thrown together when she realized they had no place to stay. Richard stood in the doorway of the room as he watched his daughter and her husband make their way up the staircase toward their bedroom. He smiled to himself when he saw Lucas pick her up and carry her the rest of the way down the hallway while she erupted in giggles.
"Thank you for today." She whispered to Lucas as they lay in bed.
"You're welcome."
"I didn't know you had a thing for weddings." She smirked.
He laughed. "As much as it may surprise you, I had a lot of fun planning our wedding."
She giggled. "You know, as I lay here right now I can't help but think how things have come full circle. Remember when my parents would be in this room and we'd be sneaking around down the hall? Now we're the parents and my dad is down the hall probably sneaking into Linda's room—"
"Brooke!" Lucas laughed.
"What?" She asked innocently.
"That's what you were thinking about earlier!" He exclaimed as he shook his head. "You're parents aren't even divorced yet."
"I just think they could be happy together." She shrugged.
"Is that even legal? I mean they're Berkley's grandparents, doesn't that make them somewhat related?"
"I was wondering the same thing." She laughed.
Lucas pulled her closer before kissing the top of her head.
"Hey," She whispered into the dark. "I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done in the past ten months. I wouldn't be where I am right now if it weren't for you, Luke."
"I love you so damn much." He whispered.
"I'm so glad you're my husband now." She said softly.
"It's about time you became my wife."
--
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