Chapter 25 - Unknown Future (Final Chapter!)

7 months have passed

What's happened :

Lucas and Brooke: They took marriage counseling as planned. Slowly but surely, they worked through their problems and found it in their hearts to completely forgive each other. Now they are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the two new additions to the family!

Braydin – saw a psychologist and got his life back on track. – for the most part. He broke up with girlfriend Britney Jensen because he was in love with another girl. But before he broke up with Britney, he slept with her. Now he may have to face the consequences…

Lucas – has been having heart problems again. He doesn't want to worry pregnant Brooke so he secretly went to have some tests done and should be getting the results any day now. Is it something serious? Time will tell…

Peyton – following the kidnapping incident, she was sentenced 5 years in prison, even though most of the things she did were caused by her pill addiction. She stopped taking the pills and is getting better, for her son Max (who Jake brings by to see every now and then)

Jake – he settled in California with Jenny and Max. Jake is now is engaged to Max's nanny, an attractive young woman named Kelly. They are getting married next month.

On a beautiful June morning, Lucas woke up beside his wife. She was sleeping, but she still looked beautiful as always. Lately Lucas found himself loving everything about Brooke. He liked to make mental pictures in his head about her and just watch her every move. After all these years, everything and anything Brooke did or said captured Lucas' heart. And now, as her due date nears and they await the arrival of their new babies, Brooke seemed even more beautiful to Lucas.

He kissed her forehead and she opened her eyes smiling and stretching.

"Hi husband"

"Hi wifey"

Landon, now 15 months old was lying on the bed between his parents . He pulled Brooke's hair.

"Ouch!"

Landon squealed with excitement and Lucas and Brooke laughed.

"Wow he's becoming so naughty now!" Lucas observed. "I see who he takes after in that department" he eyed his wife.

"Hey!" Brooke playfully punched her husband on the shoulder, and then studied her youngest son. "Yeah. But you're right. He is getting naughty. And big too" Brooke said sadly.

"What are you so sad about babe? We have two new babies coming any day now!" Lucas reminded, rubbing Brooke's stomach.

"Yeah, and I can't wait! But it's just…they grow up so fast!"

"I know...I know" Lucas eyed a picture of his five children on the wall and began wondering if he'd be around to see them grow into fine, young human beings..

Later that afternoon, Lucas grocery shopping when his cell phone rang. It was his cardiologist.

"Hi Lucas. It's Doctor Meadows"

"Oh hey"

"Lucas I uh, I'd like you to drop by my office sometime today"

"Why? How was my heart exam?"

"I need to discuss some things with you. But not like this. I'd like to see you soon"

"That's gonna be tough doc. I'm taking Brooke shopping for the twins nursery"

"I see. But this is your health we're talking about here, can you take a few minutes out and come see me?"

Lucas sighed. "Alright. I'll be there in 15 minutes" he left the store and was on his way. He knew something was wrong because Dr. Meadows never called his patients to his office unless it was something serious. So this was gonna be bad, Lucas already knew. He prepared himself for the worse.

Dr. Meadows was pacing nervously in his office when Lucas rushed in.

"I have the results of you heart exam and your EKG."

"How bad is it?"

"The hole in your heart is rapidly growing"

Lucas took a deep breath. "Okay so what do we do about it?"

"Your best chance of survival would be to have a double bypass surgery performed"

Lucas shook his head. "No. I don't want to"

"I'm so sorry Luke. But if we don't try to close the hole up, the most you'd be able to live is 6-8 months."

"I'd rather take that than die in surgery." Lucas insisted. At least then he'd be around for SOME time to see his unborn twins.

"Look, I know this is devastating. But think long term. If we can close the hole, your heart problems will significantly decrease. If we can't close it, the least we can do to it is make it smaller. Your heart vessels are getting weaker by the day. The only way to keep the strength up is to control the hole. For that, your best shot is surgery"

"How soon would you do the surgery?"

"I don't want to delay it. I say the sooner, the better."
"Brooke's having the twins soon. I wanna be there" Lucas said burying his head on the table.

Dr. Meadows stood behind Lucas and patted him on the shoulder.

"I know. I know you do. I would suggest not to wait but if you really want to, the best I can stall the surgery is 2 weeks. But no more than that. It's too risky, you hear?"

Lucas had tears falling down his cheeks. He couldn't believe it. His life was coming to an end, weather or not Dr. Meadows chose to say so. He could tell by the expression on his face.

"Alright. We'll do the surgery – after Brooke has the babies. I wanna be there to see my kids be born" Lucas implied.

Dr. Meadows nodded. "We'll discuss this in further detail next week"

2 weeks later - In the hospital delivery room :

Lucas locked lips with his wife.

"Oh Lucas they're beautiful!" Brooke whispered getting a first look at her just born twins who was holding for the first time.

"Of course they are! They look just like you" Lucas replied admiring the new babies.

Moments ago, Brooke had delivered the newest additions to the Scott brood – healthy and happy baby girls.

"You did great. I'm so proud of you" Lucas whispered.

"Couldn't have done without you" Brooke replied, smiling. She kissed Lucas back.

The 5 older Scott kids joined their parents in the recovery room minutes later, to meet the new babies.

"Kids, say hello to Alexis Michelle and Ava Miranda…your new baby sisters!" Brooke announced.

"Yay! I have two sisters!" Mercedes cried excitedly. She was ecstatic because she was no longer the only girl in the family.

Everyone laughed. Lucas picked Landon up and everyone crowded around to see the newborns.

"Congratulations mom" Braydin and Cameron gave their mother a kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks boys. Ready to baby-sit and change more diapers?' Brooke grinned.

"Cam is. And I'll help out whenever I'm back home. Otherwise, you're gonna have to drop the squirts of at my new place in New York if you want me to watch them"

Lucas and Brooke looked up in surprise.

"New York?"

"Yeah. I got an acceptance letter from NYU this morning. I'm going to New York!" Braydin announced proudly.

"Son, that's great!"

"I knew my valedictorian son would go to his dream school!" Brooke cried. Braydin was graduating high school next week and was going to start college.

"Make us proud son." Luca patted Braydin on the shoulder.

"I will dad. I will." Braydin promised.

But was he really?

At Braydin's graduation, the following week…

"Look at him. Our little boy is all grown up" Brooke said wiping tears from her eyes. The graduation ceremony was coming to a close.

"I know, I can't believe it. And he's worked hard to get his life back on track. I knew he'd be able to do it" Lucas patted Brooke's hand.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Tree Hill's class of 2024! Congratulations graduates!" the principal announced.

The audience cheered and applauded and all graduates stood up, throwing their caps in the air. Britney Jensen, Braydin's ex girlfriend stood beside Braydin.

"We did it! Braydin threw his arms around Britney.

"I need to talk to you" Britney pulled Braydin's graduation gown. They both sat back down quickly.

"Britney what is it?" Braydin asked. Obviously it was something serious.

"I need to talk you" Britney repeated.

"Right now? What's wrong?"

"I'm pregnant"

Braydin's expression went blank.

"Uh…okay why are you telling me this?"
"Because you're the father. We're having a baby Braydin" Britney cried.

"Are you sure it's mine?"

"Positive. I've never slept with any other guy, Braydin. You know that"

Braydin froze and remembered that night he spent with Britney at her house a month and some days ago. Her parents were out of town at that time.

"No..NO…we were so careful!"

Tears began falling from Britney's eyes. "Not careful enough"

Braydin embraced her and held her close. "It's okay.It's gonna be fine"

"How can you be so sure?"

Braydin took a deep breath, not really thinking before he spoke. "Marry me Britney"

"What?"

"Marry me!"

"Braydin are you listening to yourself?!"
"I know it sounds crazy and rushed and stupid..but it's for the best. I still love you Britney."

"I- I love you too Braydin". They kissed.

"Is that a yes?" Braydin asked, wiping a tear from Britney's cheek.

Britney nodded. "Yes! I will marry you Braydin Scott!"

Of course, Lucas and Brooke couldn't hear what was going on, but they stood up and watched the reconciliation.

"Looks like Braydin's got his girl back!" Lucas exclaimed watching them kiss.

"They look adorable together. Oh, I miss high school so much, don't you?" Brooke asked, sighing.

"And all it's crazy drama? Nah, I don't miss it" Lucas replied, putting his hand through Brooke's. Brooke giggled, and then they proceeded out the hall to wait for their son…

Troubled pasts, unknown futures, tragedy, happiness…were words all too familiar to Lucas Scott. Who knew how long he would live for? No one. He didn't know what the future would bring, but he decided he wasn't going to let the present trouble him. Because he knew that life was short and you had to cherish the moment.

As Ida Scott Taylor once wrote, "Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering."

Author's Note: THE END!!!

I hope you guys liked it! I know, I know I ended with cliffhangers!! But that's because I want to know how would you guys feel if I did a sequel to this story? I was completely blown away by the amount of reviews I got for my first story. I really didn't expect you guys to like it so much! It means a lot to me, so THANK YOU to all my dedicated readers! You guys are awesome!

Please answer these questions!

1 – What was your favorite chapter and why?

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I want 20 reviews for a sequel.

Once again, THANK YOU for reading!!!

Xoxo,

Sam