Brooke managed to keep it together until she arrived home. Once she was off the airplane and out of the car and safe in the confines of her Connecticut dream house, only then could she let out all the anger, confusion, frustration and pain. The tears fell like a flood and they were followed by loud, gut wrenching sobs. After a three hour melt down, finally she dragged herself to the shower. The hot water felt so good all over her hair face and body. She could have stayed there forever but finally turned the faucet off and dried herself, wrapping one towel around her body and the other one around her hair. Brooke opened the door that led to the master bedroom and gasped as she saw a shadowy figure sitting on the bed. Her heart dropped when she realized it was Lucas.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a surprisingly calm voice.

Lucas looked horrible. His face was worried and tired and his eyes were puffy and red from crying. Large bags loomed heavy underneath them.

"We have to talk, Brooke. Please let me explain."

"You want to explain? After you took vows to love, honor, and be faithful to me for the rest of our lives, you go out and sleep with another woman. I don't think there is anything to explain."

"Brooke, please. Oh God, how did you find out?"

"Does it really matter?"

"No and I should have told you myself. I felt so guilty and I wanted to tell you a thousand times but I just couldn't. I didn't want to hurt you and I didn't want you to hate me."

"Well you did and I do."

"I am so sorry..."

"Is this the first time or have there been other affairs? Really Luke. How many women are we talking here?"

"It wasn't an affair, Brooke, I swear! I promise you. It was one night, one stupid mistake and there have been no other women."

Lucas stood and walked closer to her. His voice cracked with emotion. Brooke couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to play the tough role and show him how angry she was. The last thing she wanted was to break down again.

"Are you...are you in love with her?" Brooke began to sob.

"No, no, no. I don't even know her. I love you."

"Well, if you love me so much, why then? Why Lucas? How could you?"

He buried his face in his hands and cried like a newborn child.

"I don't know! I don't know, Brooke. I am so ashamed, I never meant for any of this to happen."

"Tell me."

"What?"

"I want you to tell me everything that happened that night. I want to know."

"Brooke…"

"No. I want to know."

"Brooke, please. Don't make me relive all that."

"Don't make you relive it? Please. Lucas, you did this to us and you did it to yourself. This is all your fault. Now I want to know everything that happened."

He took a deep breath and a few fresh tears fell from his eyes.

"It was when we were going through all our problems some months back. We weren't having any luck with the baby and all and it was taking its toll on us. We were fighting about stupid stuff and when we weren't arguing we weren't talking at all. I needed you but you were being so cold, so distant towards me. I was blaming myself for us not being able to conceive and work was stressing me out. Every possible bad thing in the world was coming down on me at once and I couldn't handle it. When we were in Sacramento I was feeling pretty bummed out…"

Lucas sighed as his team took to the floor for warm ups. He felt like crap and the last thing he wanted to do was spend the night trying to put a ball through a hoop. The pressure was all too much and it was all around him. He had an image to live up to as one half of the invincible, infamous Scott brothers. He had a responsibility to his team and the fans and his family and most importantly his wife. Lately he felt like he was letting everyone down. It was living on the edge. Like the world watching you walk on a tight rope with no one or nothing to catch you if you fell.

"Heads up, Scott", a teammate shouted as he threw the ball out of bounds.

Lucas ran to retrieve it and as he stood, he found himself staring into an intensely beautiful, hypnotic set of blue-green eyes. She was wearing his Knicks jersey over a white tank top and her face was painted with his jersey number "3". She gave him a shy smile and he winked. It felt good. It motivated him to get his ass in gear. He had a job to do. He was Lucas Scott, the Lucas Scott, number 3, New York Knicks. The fans had spent their hard earned money to see him play some ball. He had no other choice but to deliver.

"We won the game and I started to feel better. Nate and Hales were there and a couple of guys suggested we go down to this local bar and unwind. I really needed a drink so I went. It was pretty low key, I mean, only a few people asked for autographs and stuff so I was just sitting there having a couple of beers when I saw her again…"

"Lucas Scott. Number three, New York Knicks. First round draft pick. Leads the league in assists and rebounds, leads the team in both plus points. Four year starter at UNC where you were the team MVP two years in a row and you shared the title for the entire ACC with your brother, Nathan, senior year. Career high of 39 points, 22 assists and 13 rebounds your junior year at Tree Hill High at an away game aganst Cove City."

"Wow. You know your stats", Lucas grinned, surprised but impressed.

"What can I say? I'm a big fan. Holly Thurman", the young woman smiled as she introduced herself and extended her hand.

"Lucas Scott", he nodded while shaking it.

"It was completely innocent, Brooke. She just asked me to sign her jersey so I did. Then she offered to buy me another beer and we just sat there talking. It was small talk at first but then the conversation got deeper. We just started talking about everything. And when she looked at me, I could see the admiration and interest in her eyes. It's the same way you used to look at me, Brooke…"

"Everything okay? I keep seeing you wince every time you pick up your beer bottle."

"I'm cool. Old shoulder injury. I…"

"Your junior year of high school some guy side swiped you and your uncle. I know", she smiled.

"What are you, the CIA?" he grinned. "I should put you on my staff. Anyway, it acts up from time to time. I'll be alright. It's just a little sore."

"Well would you happen to believe that I am a certified massage therapist."

"Oh is that right?"

"That's right. And if you rub it like this…it kind of takes the pressure off the muscle."

Lucas jumped the first time she touched his shoulder.

"Um, thanks. Uh…that feels better."

"Thought it might", she smiled as she traced the outline of his jaw with her fingertip.

"Look Holly, it was really nice meeting you and all but I've got to get going. It's late and I'm tired and I've got an early flight back to New York tomorrow…"

"That's cool. Your hotel is only a few blocks from here…I could walk you back."

"Okay", he shrugged.

"We were just talking and she walked me up to my room and I said good night to her but…"

"Um, thanks for the autograph and the drinks, Lucas. It was fun."

"No problem. Take care, Holly", Lucas said as he kissed her cheek and turned to shut the door.

"Uh, Lucas…one more thing. I'm so embarrassed and I'm really sorry but I was wondering if I could use your bathroom. I drank a lot of beer and my friends and the car are a few blocks away…"

"I didn't think it was a big deal. I just thought she needed to pee. So I let her use the bathroom…"

"Wow. You are a total lifesaver. Thanks, Lucas."

"See you around, Holly."

She hugged him and they found themselves in the awkward position where their faces were just mere inches apart. Luke's breath was heavy as her lips brushed his. Her lips were so soft and her tongue even softer as it crept inside his mouth…

"Holly, I…we can't."

"It's okay", she whispered.

"Brooke, I knew it was wrong but I was sad and upset and more than a little drunk. I know that's not a good enough excuse and I'm not trying to make it into one…"

Lucas shuddered as the pretty, young woman kissed her way down his neck and chest. The want, the attention felt so right even though they knew it was wrong. As she leaned back and rid herself of a shirt and bra, he desperately wanted to ask her to leave. He opened his mouth but no words came out. For one night, he could just be. He didn't have to give anything and nothing was expected. He could just be…

"I was wrong, Brooke. I know that. I made the worst possible mistake and I am so sorry. Baby, I can't even tell you how sorry I am. I know you hate me right now, but please..."

Brooke put her head in her hands and sobbed like never before. The pain was far more excruciating than any physical hurt one could possibly imagine.

"Brooke…"

"Look what you've done, you son of a bitch! To me, to our marriage! How dare you ask me for forgiveness? You have betrayed me and the trust we had… how can I ever believe anything you have to say ever again?"

Luke's body shook with his own sobs.

"I am so sorry, Brooke. Please. Don't...I, I feel absolutely sick right now thinking you're gonna leave me. Baby, I promise it'll never happen again. I know I fucked up and I hurt you. I can't even tell you how sorry I am. Tell me how to fix this! What can I do to make this right? I will do anything to save our marriage."

"What marriage?" Brooke mumbled as she quickly dressed and wiped away what was left of her tears.

"Baby, don't say that. Please don't say that to me."

"Lucas, I love you more than life itself and I trusted you. I guess that's why this all hurts so much. What you have done has literally destroyed me and quite honestly, it disgusts me to even look at your face. Right now I feel anger and disgust and contempt for you and I don't know if I'll ever feel anything different. I cannot be around you so make a choice…either you leave or I do."

"Brooke, no! Please. Can we just talk or try to work it out? I'm begging you, baby", he said, getting down on both knees and reaching for her hand. "I love you. You are the reason I get up every morning. I can't live without you."

"Well maybe you should have thought about that before you started sharing rooms with random bar sluts."

"Brooke…"

"There's nothing to work out, Lucas. What you've done is unforgivable and we are finished. Now get out of my house."

"Please, Brooke, I…"

"Fine? You don't want to leave? I will. Either way it's done."

"Brooke, don't go. Babe, I'm sorry!"

"You are no longer apart of my life Lucas Scott and you must leave me alone."

"Wait…"

Good bye", she said as she walked out on him and what was left of their marriage.