Chapter 36: Untitled

Brooke and Chase arrived home. "So how was it?" Chase asked her.

"You were right," Brooke said. "I think that was a conversation that was long overdue. It was a conversation that probably would've made a difference if it happened earlier." Brooke responded.

"How was he? I mean about the engagement."

"He didn't really say. But I think he's okay with it. He's trying to own up to all of his mistakes. He understands he's made wrong choices in the past, and it seems like he wants to change." Brooke informed him.

"That's good." Chase agreed. He went to her, and wrapped his arms around her, "I'm so proud of you." Brooke smiled. "I'm so happy you're my wife. I'm so happy you're in my life." He kissed her neck. "I'm going to go take a shower."

Brooke nodded before he left. She decided to do some cleaning in the basement. Something's she's been procrastinating. She went into the darkened room, and saw all these packed boxes of hers, that she's neglected to unpack. She saw things from her childhood. But then she came across something that she thought she threw away a long time ago: her scrapbook.

And then she remembered that when she threw it in the garbage, she picked it up, and threw it in a box in the back of her closet. Back then, she thought what was the point of having a past, when you had nothing to remember it by?

She held it in her hands, and she felt the desire to cry; a lump in her throat was growing. She's been through the pages a million times, why was it now that she felt this way?

She brought it upstairs, and Chase came out of the shower. "What's that?" He asked her about the unfamiliar book she had in her hands.

"Oh, this," she chuckled nervously. "It's nothing. Just something I found downstairs."

Chase smiled at her, "Well I have to stop by the office for a little while. I'll just pick something up for dinner, okay?"

Brooke nodded, "Yeah. Just go, I'll be here...waiting." Brooke smiled.

"Okay." Chase went back into his washroom and changed. It wasn't long before he came out, and was ready to leave. "Babe, I'm going!" He called out at the door.

Brooke came out of the kitchen, and went to kiss her husband, "Okay. Drive safe. I love you."

"Love you too." Chase said, leaving.

Brooke got the book in her hand, and took a little waste basket out into the backyard.

She started looking through it again. Remembering when she was younger, and when everything in her life was so certain. When she knew exactly what was happening. When the emotions she felt was so strong. She remembered the first time she met Jake; the guy she fell in love with years ago. Everything changed so drastically. It was like she was a whole different person than she was when she was 17. She and Jake were two different people; people who would always be associated with one another until the end of time.

Her eyes moistened with tears as the memories flooded back to her: Good and Bad. Then she remembered the conversation that was recently finished between the two of them. She remembered the way his voice shook with sincerity. Why was it now he decided to own up to everything? Why couldn't it be before, when they actually had the chance of being together again?

She's said goodbye to this past so many times. But there was always something that would pull her back in to the memories. Maybe it was this scrapbook. Maybe if she got rid of it, she would finally be able to move on, and not think of Jake as her ex, but as a friend.

She took out a lighter, and burned a piece of paper to get the fire started in the wastebasket. She then slowly started to rip the pages out of the book, and threw them into the blaze. She felt upset that she was actually letting go of such a big part of her life. But deep within her heart, she knew this would be the best thing that would happen to her. She was a different person now, she was now Brooke Adams. Saying goodbye to Jake and their past would be something to help get over the pain in her life, and start living in the present, being the new person she's become.

Peyton and Lucas' relationship was growing each day. They went out everyday for two months, spending every passing hour together. It wasn't long that Peyton would spend everyday at his house. They hadn't made it official yet, but Lucas' home was now Peyton's home.

Chase's birthday was coming up, and Brooke wanted to do something extra special for the occasion. She wanted to know the perfect present to give her husband. 2 days before his birthday, Brooke and Chase were biking. Chase stepped off his bike, and sat on the sidewalk, while Brooke continued on riding in circles around him. "So babe, your birthday is coming up." Brooke started.

"Yup," Chase said.

"What's the number one present on your list?" She asked him.

Chase looked at her, "Babe, you don't have to get me anything. Just as long as I'm with you, that's all I want."

"Chase, c'mon. You have to want something. Tell me, and I'll make it happen." Brooke encouraged.

"Anything?"

Anything," Brooke echoed.

Chase didn't have to think of it. He already had something in mind for awhile now. "I want you and me…to start our own family."

Brooke stopped her bike, and looked at her husband. "What?"

"You know, little Brooke's running around." He chuckled. "I want us to have kids." Brooke smiled at him, and walked over to him. "That's the only thing I want more than anything."

Her smile was wide, "Okay." She said. Having kids didn't even cross her mind. But now that he mentioned it, she absolutely loved that idea.

"Yeah?"

Brooke nodded happily, "Yeah." She confirmed it. "I want to have kids with you." They kissed each other, and Brooke knew exactly what lied in her future.

When Chase went off to work, Brooke was preparing the perfect birthday dinner. She called Peyton.

"Brooke, what are you doing?" Peyton asked.

"I'm in the middle of preparing dinner for Chase. It's his birthday, and I need everything perfect."

"I'm sure dinner with you is enough. You don't need to go all out." Peyton assured her.

Brooke was too excited, she needed to tell someone about their plans. "Well, it's not only dinner. We're trying…" Brooke said with a smile on her face, trailing off.

It didn't take a scientist to know what she meant, Peyton knew for sure what she was trying to say. "Oh my gosh, you want to have family together?" Peyton said shocked, but also overwhelmed for her cousin.

"Yeah, we are, and I need everything about this night to be perfect." She heard the door open. "P. Sawyer, I got to go. Chase's home. Love you. Bye." She hung up the phone quick.

"Hon!" She heard Chase call. She sat down at the table on the balcony. Chase walked by, and then noticed rose petals leading to the balcony. He followed it, and saw a candle lit dinner with his ravishing wife. Soft music was playing in the background with the stars shining above them. He walked to her, and Brooke stood up. He put his hands on her waist, and kissed his wife.

"Happy Birthday," She said, putting her arms around his neck.

After eating dinner, they started dancing under the moonlight. "I love you so much, do you know that?" Brooke asked him.

"Of course I do."

Brooke stared at him with her radiant brown eyes. "I don't think you do. When you came into my life, I didn't know that I could love someone this much. I was so afraid to love someone like this because I was scared I'd get hurt again. I've been hurt so many times before." She explained.

Chase gave her a smile, "Whoever wants to hurt you, is going to gave to go through me. I promised you that I will always protect you." He reminded her.

"Exactly. And then when I met you, it was just so different. I didn't know that I could be loved so much by one person, until you came along. And you will never be able to know how much I am thankful that you're in my life, and how much I love you." Brooke told him. "And I just wanted everything to be perfect today. I wanted to show you how much I love you."

"Being with you makes this day perfect." Chase leaned in, and pressed his soft lips against hers.

A flock of butterflies rioted in her stomach and stole her breath. Her hands reached for him instinctively, and she touched the warm skin of his cheek. She wanted this to be right. They kissed each other passionately, holding onto each other.

Their lips parted, and their eyes locked. Chase grabbed on to her hands, and led her towards their bedroom. He picked her up in his arms, and laid her down on their bed. He took off his shirt, revealing his athletic body, and he crawled on top of her. That night, they made love.

When Brooke woke up the next morning, she could still feel the heat of Chase's lips on hers. Her hands reached out, searching across the crumpled sheet, looking for something they did not find. But she felt a piece of white paper. She took it within her hands, and read it:

Can't wait to come home. I love you, forever and always.

Chase.

Her lips curved into a smile. She couldn't help but do so. Last night was just the beginning of the rest of their lives together.

Peyton woke up in Lucas' bed. She spent another night there. But she got up, and started searching for her clothes. Lucas' eyes opened. "You know it would be a lot easier if you just moved in here." Lucas said.

Peyton shot him a look, and smiled. "Are you asking me something?" Peyton asked.

"I don't know, did it sound like I was asking you something?" He teased her.

"Luke, I can't move in here."

Lucas' eyebrow raised. "Why not? You spend at least everyday here. It makes the most sense to move in."

Peyton laughed, "Are you kidding me, we've been going out for what – 2 months. It's too soon."

Lucas stood up, and walked to her. "Peyton, I've never felt this way about anyone before. You already know how I feel about you. And I think you feel the same. Plus, it's not like we just met, I've known you for 2 years now. I'm officially asking you to move in me." He said.

Peyton smiled at him, overwhelmed by his request. "But Luke…"

"I don't see anything wrong with what I'm asking you, so what 'but' is there. Come on, move in with me."

Peyton was hesitant at first, but she gave in. "Okay." She first said it quietly.

"What?" Lucas just wanted to hear it again.

"I'll move in with you."

Peyton moved in with him two weeks later. Everyone's life was finally looking up, but everyone knows that something's going to ruin it. There's always something to ruin it.