+25

Recap:

"Bye Hales."

"Bye Lucas."

Lucas hung up the phone. He still couldn't believe it. Grandma James had passed away. He was thinking about what a great woman she was. And what a great woman Haley is. No wonder Haley turned out so great.

END PART 23

Chapter 25

It was about an hour now since Haley had called the second time. Brooke was still sleeping, and Lucas was sitting in that same chair still watching her. He moved from the chair and brought a blanket out and draped it over Brooke. Luke tucked it around her to make sure she would be warm. He decided to lie down next to her. Lucas was staring at her. She looked like an angel at this very moment. Lying there, sleeping, and looking so extremely fragile. He brushed hair away from her eyes.

Slowly Brooke started to stir. "Hey you," she greeted him groggily.

"Hey yourself," Luke said smiling at her. "How you feeling?"

"Like my head was run over by a Mack truck," she responded.

Lucas laughed. "Not feeling any better?"

Brooke shook her head. "No I am, just a little headache." She leaned closer to him and rested her forehead against his. "Don't you have something you'd rather be doing right now?" she asked him, "instead of taking care of me."

"Yeah, actually there is," Lucas told her. "This," he said just before pressing his lips to hers gently at first, but then deepening the kiss. And Brooke kissed him back. By the time they pulled apart they were a little out of breath.

Brooke brought her fingers to her lips and smiled. Her lips felt hot. "Wow."

Lucas laughed. "I wanted to do that since I saw you lying there looking so sweet and peaceful."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What took you so long?"

"You never woke up!" Lucas started laughing.

"So...what does this mean?" Brooke asked. "I mean if you did it because you felt sorry for me...don't do it...because I like you Luke. I think I really like you. And that's different for me."

He just looked at her. "I didn't do it because I feel sorry for you Brooke. I did it because I think I'm starting to really like you too. I liked talking with you. And you looked so beautiful just lying there," Lucas told her. "And I want to take care of you."

"When did you decide all this?" Brooke asked him.

Lucas shrugged. "When I wished that I could take away all your pain."

She smiled at him. "Well Lucas, I think you took some of it away."

Lying there with her felt comfortable; it felt nice.

Lucas traced the shape of Brooke's face with his index finger. He draped the other arm around her waist.

Brooke yawned.

"Still tired?" Lucas asked.

Brooke nodded her head drowsily, barely able to keep her eyes open. Lucas kissed her once more, very softly. And then Brooke nuzzled herself against his body.

END CHAPTER 24