Chapter 25-Come On Home
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, they make my day...I always look forward to opening my inbox (pathetic I know!) anyway, enjoy the chapter and please review!-Lydia
Lucas walked into Brooke's apartment, dropping his bag by the door as he walked into the nursery.
Brooke was presently sitting in the rocking chair, fast asleep as Ella lay awake in her crib.
"Hey baby girl, I think you exhausted your mom out" he whispered to Ella as his picked her up and walked out into the lounge room.
Lucas never thought that he could love his daughter as much as he did. After Brooke went into premature labour, he vowed to himself that he would protect Ella no matter what. Now that Brooke seemed to be gradually let him in, Lucas was more determined to make it work. With Ella, and especially with Brooke.
Lucas switched on the television, and settled back onto the couch, still cradling Ella in his arms.
"See Ella, this is ESPN Classics" he said "and we're watching Basketball, can you say basketball Little El?"
"Considering she's two months old I don't think she can answer you"
"Hey" Lucas said looking up at the love of his life.
"Hey, boyfriend" she replied flopping beside Lucas on the couch and kissing him lightly on the lips.
"Well with our genes she's either going be a great basketballer or cheerleader"
"Definitely a cheerleader" Brooke said, leaning against Lucas shoulder
"Hmm…I like this" Brooke said, her eyes closed, taking in the sounds around her
"Like what?" Lucas said
"Us. Now. Here. Bring a Family" she said snuggling into Lucas
"Me too, Cheery"
Lucas' phone rang through the air, interrupting the perfect family moment.
"Hello?"
Lucas listened intently to the caller for a moment. Brooke looked at him with questioning eyes
"What?" he said, giving Ella to Brooke before he started pacing around the lounge room
"We'll be there as soon as we can, Nate" before closing his phone.
"What's wrong?" Brooke said, concern evident on her face
"Nothing wrong, Cheery, but we need to get to Charlotte straight away, Haley just went into labour"
"How long ago?"
"Not long, Nate was calling on the way to the hospital, but he sounded pretty freaked"
"I should think so, Jamie is nearly 6 years old, and it's been a while since he has been through it, plus he doesn't have the added excitement of graduation"
"Well I said we were going to be there ASAP" Lucas said as he turned off the television.
"We?" she asked
"Yes, you're her best friend, Brooke"
"I'm not sure about taking Ella on the aeroplane though" she said looking down at her daughter.
"She'll be fine, Cheery" Lucas reassured her.
Brooke still looked unsure. She had just gotten used to take Ella outside, let alone taking her across country. But Haley was one of her oldest friends.
"Okay, just let me get our things together" she said, kissing Lucas on the lips before taking Ella in the nursery
"I hope we get there in time" Brooke said, taping her foot nervously, her eyes not leaving her daughter as the plane ascended into the sky. Ella never made a fuss, and as the plane started the journey to Charlotte, NC she was lulled into a deep sleep.
"I'm sure we will, I mean you were in labour what 10 hours?" Lucas recalled
"Yeah but this is their second kid, it will probably come out quicker" Brooke said, stroking the top of Ella's head
"How'd you figure?" Lucas asked
"Read it in one of the baby books during the pregnancy" Brooke shrugged
"Oh"he said disappointedly
"Don't worry, you'll be there every step of the way for the next one" she winked at him
"The next one?" he said smiling at her
"Hey lets not get ahead of ourselves, we can barely manage with this one" motioning down to Ella.
"I suppose so" he said, kissing the sleeping infants forehead
"I'll be so happy to see the others" Brooke said
"They only left 3 weeks ago"
"I know, but it was nice to have friends around, I guess"
"You have me"
"Yes and I love you for that, Broody, but sometimes you just need your gal pals around, I mean when was the last time you saw Skills or Mouth or even Nate?"
"I guess your right"
"I think so" she said playfully
"I guess we're going home" Lucas concluded
"We sure are" Brooke said grinning ear to ear.
"Did we miss it?" Brooke said running down the hall of the maternity ward
"No, but Nate hasn't updated us in a while so it shouldn't be long" Peyton said as she got up and hugged Brooke.
"Where are Ella and Luke?"
"Just parking the rental"
"How are you guys, you know doing?" Peyton asked raising her eyebrows
"Finne, P.Sawyer-Jagielski. But get your mind out of the gutter, we're just taking it slow at the moment"
"But it is going well?" Peyton asked as they both sat down in the waiting room.
"It's going very well" Brooke said, her eyes shining, and her mouth forming a bright smile, complete with dimples.
"You look happy" Peyton observed
"I am. I really truly am"
"I'm glad. Haley and I worry about you"
"Nah, I'm fine. I just hope Haley isn't crushing any of Nate's fingers" Brooke said giggling at the thought
"Oh she probably is. Did Hales mention to you the sex of the baby?" Peyton asked
"No.You?"
"Nope. Said she wanted to be a surprise for Nate"
"Well why didn't she tell us?" Brooke exclaimed
Peyton just gave her a look
"Hey I can keep a secret"
"Brooke, you're the biggest blabber mouth we know"
"Yeah I know, I'm wanna find out, its killing me!!" she said dramatically
"It's a girl" Nathan said softly, walking into the room with the newest Scott. The baby girl had stark raven hair like her father, but gentle green eyes like her mother.
"Aww Nate she is beautiful" Peyton said, half hugging Nathan.
"Nathan, she's almost as cute as Ella" Brooke said, making cooing sounds at the newborn
"What's her name, man?" Lucas said, coming in behind the group, with Ella in her carrier.
"Hey man, I think Hales wants to tell you all"
"We're allowed to see her?" Peyton asked
"Yeah she is a little groggy but she really wanted to tell you all before she fell asleep"
"Ok!" Brooke said leading the group into the delivery suite
"Hey tutor mom twice over" Brooke said, sitting down on the chair next to Haley
"Thanks, Tigger" Haley said wearily
"So come on, spill it, what's baby tutor girl's name?"
"Annabelle Haley Scott"
"Haley, that's a gorgeous name" Peyton said softly
"Thanks, Nate picked it"
"Seriously Nate who knew you were such a softie" Brooke shoulder bumped the new dad.
"Well, only for my girls and my little guy" he said, looking proudly at his wife.
"Where is my gorgeous God son?" Brooke asked looking around
"In Tree Hill with Bevin and Skills" Nathan said
"Seriously?" Brooke said
"Yeah, they are surprisingly good babysitters when Skills isn't trying to corrupt Jamie with all his basketball talk" Haley stated "Anyway, Karen said she would look after him for a bit too, since he and Lilly are on summer holidays" she concluded
"Yeah once Hales is discharged we are going to head down there to spend some time in Tree Hill before the basketball season starts up again" Nathan said
"Oh I miss Tree Hill" Brooke said
"Why don't you come down with us then?" Haley suggested
"Are you serious?"
"Completely, it will be nice to spend some quality time with my niece and best friend" Haley nodded wearily
"What do you think, Luke?" Brooke asked
All Luke needed to see was the pure joy on Brooke's face to know that not only this was the best decision for her, but for his family too.
"Alright. Let's do it"