"Mrs. Scott, what are you still doing here?" asked Chantal, one of the newest marketing interns.

"Just browsing over the last odds and ends of this stupid campaign. It's after eight, why are you here?"

"Mrs. Washingtom put me on the Q5E report and I want to make sure it's perfect."

Brooke smiled at the kid's heart. Chantal reminded Brooke of her younger, ambitious self at age 19.

"How is the report coming so far?"

"Almost done. The numbers are right and that's most important, I guess. I've come up with a new central database for all the reports to be logged into. It'll make it a lot easier for you guys, that's for sure."

"That's pretty cool. Did you come up with that all by yourself?"

"Yeah", the younger girl blushed.

"Good job. Hey, you know something, Chantal? I think we both have busted our asses enough for one day and night. What do you say we get out of here and go get something to eat? I don't know about you but I feel like a huge, greasy slice of pizza? My treat."

Brooke and Chantal took off down to a local pizzeria on 14th Street where they sold the delicious, traditional thin crust slices. Brooke didn't mind spending time with the younger girl. In fact, she had wanted to get to know each of the secretaries, interns and receptionists. They were all sweet girls and valuable assets to the growth and productivity of the company. They ate and made small talk, having a good time but Brooke couldn't help but notice how often Chantal glanced down at her watch.

"Chantal, do you have somewhere you need to be?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Scott. I don't mean to be rude. I'm having a good time and all, it's just that I have to be home by eleven because my sister goes to work then and she baby-sits my son."

"You have a son?" Brooke asked surprised.

Chantal proudly pulled a picture from her wallet of a beautiful blonde haired little boy who appeared to be about two years old.

"Oh Chantal, he is absolutely precious!"

"Thanks, Mrs. Scott."

"That's my mother in law, well not actually because that would be Ms. Rowe. And she prefers to be called Karen. So I guess Mrs. Scott would be my step mother in law, Deb. Never mind, totally long story that was a sordid southern love triangle. Anyway, just call me Brooke. "

"Okay", the girl laughed as Brooke went on and on.

"Anyway, back to you having a son. He's beautiful but gosh…you seem so young."

"I started early, married and pregnant at sixteen."

"Sixteen! Wow, where is your husband?"

A sad expression washed over the young woman's face.

"Um, he...uh, he died in a car accident last year."

Brooke's eyes widened as she instinctively covered Chantal's hands with her own.

"Oh, wow. I…I had no idea. I am so sorry."

"It's okay, I mean I can talk about it now...for a long time I couldn't because it was just too hard. But now it's kind of nice to remember. I have to, especially for our child's sake. My husband was a wonderful young man who loved everything and everybody and he worked real hard his whole life. His name was Jonathan and he was the best husband to me and the best father to our little boy. We were all just so happy… I felt like the luckiest girl in the world and all of a sudden in one instant, that was snatched from me. I was a widow at the age of 18 and the hardest part is just not having him around and having to accept the fact that he's never coming back. The very last time I saw him… I didn't know that was the last time. I wish I had paid more attention the last time he made love to me because it was the last time. That's why I tell everyone, you never know when it's the last time when you're gonna be with that somebody you love. That's why you should always tell them you love them. Don't ever take those special times and that person for granted."

Brooke looked at Chantal who had tears streaming down her face.

"You are a very, very brave young woman."

"That's because I have a guardian angel watching over me", she smiled sadly. "Oh, Brooke, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I know you're married too, to that basketball player."

"Yes, I am."

"You guys have kids?"

"No", Brooke answered sadly.

"You want kids?"

"Very much so. You have no idea", Brooke managed to smile as she practically poured out her heart to a stranger. "Growing up, um, my parents…well they weren't around a lot. They were always on trips or here or there and they didn't pay me a lot of attention. It hurts but I got used to it. Then I met and fell for Luke and we were together forever before we got married…now we are and it's perfect. He's perfect. I mean, he is the funniest, sweetest most lovable goof ball on the planet. He's just a real good person and we kind of complete each other. He volunteers and sponsors lots of charities for underprivileged and handicapped kids and I see him with these children and he is absolutely amazing. I know he would make the best father ever. And lately my maternal instinct sort of kicked in so we started trying. No luck yet but I'm sure it'll happen soon…or at least I hope so. It's very important to me…to both of us. Sure we have the money and the fame and everything but giving birth to my own child…that would complete me. It would totally fulfill our lives and I think it would heal a lot of wounds from my own childhood."

"That makes sense. Good luck."

"Listen to me rambling on and on. I'm sorry."

"No. It's okay. I don't mind. Your husband seems like a really nice guy. My Jonathan loved him. Followed his whole career from North Carolina and everything. Anyway, be sure and tell him I said congratulations."

"What for?" Brooke asked confused.

"For winning the ESPN MVP trophy last week. Didn't you know?"

No, Brooke didn't know. Winning that award had long been a dream of Luke's. Brooke could only imagine how very happy and excited he was upon hearing the news. Why hadn't he told her? Why hadn't she known? The whole drive home to Greenwich in her brand new BMX 3 series convertible, those thoughts really bothered her. There she was with her new car, a fancy house, hot career and more money than God and it had taken a 19 year old girl to make her realize how she was taking it all for granted, especially my marriage, the one thing most important. Lucas Scott was a wonderful husband and Brooke had nixed so many chances to go home and just hold him when this young widow would have given anything to be able to touch her husband just once more. She had been a selfish fool but after that conversation with Chantal, Brooke made a promise to herself that things would be different. She had messed up and made mistakes but she was determined to make it all right.

The next night…

Brooke heard Luke's Lexus pull into the driveway and she looked around one more time to make sure everything was in place.

"Is everything set?" she asked Alex.

"All done, ma'am", he nodded. "Just waiting on Mr. Scott."

"Very well. That'll be all for you tonight", she said, handing the man a crisp one hundred dollar bill for a tip. "Thank you for your help."

She wanted the evening to be perfect and she quickly took her seat as she heard his key turn in the door. Lucas opened it and dropped his bags at the door, immediately calling for Pete. His handsome face looked so tired and worn.

"Pete isn't around but I was hoping I'd do for tonight. Welcome home, Mr. Scott", she said softly.

Lucas looked around at the scene before him. The house was dimly lit with scented candles and soft music was playing in the background. At the table there was his favorite meal catered from his favorite restaurant. His wife sat waiting for him a few feet away in a pair of heels, his favorite neck tie, and nothing else.

"What's all this?" he asked.

"Come here", she beckoned him.

He sat beside me as she fed him his later dinner. Afterwards, Brooke cleared the table, blew out the candles and led him upstairs where the scenery was similar. She gently pushed him down on the bed and removed all his clothing. Using hot oil, she proceeded to give him a full body massage and he moaned as she rubbed all his most sensual spots. The oil was cinnamon flavored and Brooke was all too happy to lick it from his glistening body. His back arched as she planted tiny little butterfly kisses all over his forehead and face, nibbled his ear lobes, licked his neck, kissed his chest and nipples and moved further south. She let her lips love him until right before his breaking point. Both were crazy with anticipation and it was time.

"How do you want it? Anyway you want to have me, Luke" she breathed.

God she looked so gorgeous lying on their bed with the moonlight casting a heavenly glow upon her already angelic face. He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anything in his life.

Afterwards, he turned over to look at her.

"Brooke, what was all this for tonight?"

"Because you deserve it. Because I love you more than anything in this world and lately I've been too busy and too selfish to let you know that. I neglected you and I've been distant and I am sorry for that, Lucas. You are my life Broody, my soul and I want you to know how much you mean to me. You work so hard to create this beautiful life for us and I do appreciate that, sweetheart. Sometimes we take each other for granted but being with you, being your wife...that's all that matters. Not work, not the money, not the house, not the cars...not even the baby. We love each other and I have faith that in time that love will bring us a baby but for now I just want to concentrate on us and take care of you like you've taken care of me all these years. Lucas, I love you so much, babe, I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Tears clouded his eyes as he held me. It took her by surprise. In ten years she had seen him cry only once and that was when he opened up to her about the pain from the abandonment of his father. She stroked his face as the tears spilled and his voice cracked with emotion.

"Brooke, I love you with everything I have. I want you to know that, okay?"

"I do, Broody", she smiled in the darkness.

"I mean it. Just promise me that you'll never forget that. No matter what happens I always want you to know that."

She saw the seriousness on his face and the pleading in his eyes.

"I promise", she whispered as she kissed his tears away.

"I don't even deserve a woman like you", he said.

She ran her fingers through his hair.

"Don't even talk like that, Luke. I'm the one who's lucky."