The bedroom door slowly creaked open and a hush grew over the once noisy living room.

"My God, the dead has arisen", Gordon noted as only he could. "What's up, Diva?"

"Hey, Diva", Brooke said as she wrapped the blanket more securely around her body. "So what's the occasion for the party?"

Gordon had been camped out in her apartment it seemed for days. Chantal was now with him, coming over whenever a sitter was available to take care of her son. Throughout her ordeal the two had been rocks for her. They were there when she needed them and even when she didn't. Sometimes she just wanted to be alone and in a fit of pent up rage, she'd have no problem throwing a tantrum and telling them so. She'd scream and curse and throw things and tell them that it was her life and she could handle it on her own. Of course that was a lie and one they all knew. Her erratic behavior was largely ignored mostly because they understood the wide range of pain and anger she was feeling. It was a tough time and they would be there for her no matter what.

Gordon could deal with the yelling and even the dramatic outbursts but he drew the line when Brooke decided to completely shut herself off from the world. She'd take the phone off the hook, grab armfuls of junk food and disappear into her bedroom for days. Chantal was great help of course but Gordon knew he needed stronger reinforcement. He rummaged through Brooke's planner at work and found the name of Peyton Sawyer. She was a childhood friend of both Lucas and Brooke. She'd been through the drama and the good times and bad before so he figured she was his Ace card. He dialed her up at her home in Chicago where she was living with her fiancé, Jake and Jake's 10 year old daughter, Jenny. Gordon caught her in the nick of time as she had just returned from an art show in Brazil. She'd read about the bad news and immediately wanted to know how Brooke was holding up. When Gordon accessed the situation for her, she agreed to catch the next flight to New York.

"How is she? Any better?" Peyton asked nervously as soon as she arrived from LaGuardia International Airport via a taxi.

"It's bad", Gordon sighed sadly. "I've never seen my Diva like this. She was talking some real nonsense earlier. Talking about she had nothing left to live for."

"What?" Peyton's eyes widened. "Brooke said that? Come on. We've got to do something."

Peyton took a deep breath and made her way into the spacious and beautifully decorated apartment. She walked over and knocked on the bedroom door.

"Brooke? Hey kid, it's me. It's Pey."

"Peyton, what are you doing here?" Brooke asked from the other side of the door. "Gordon, did you call her?"

"Whenever the drama goes down, everybody swears calling Gordon's name", Gordon rolled his eyes.

"That's because you're usually in the middle of the drama, Gordon. Peyton, you may as well go back to Chicago. I don't need you here feeling sorry for me."

"Brooke, no on is feeling sorry for you. I'm your friend, your best friend since forever and I love you and I caught the Red Eye from O'Hare just to be here with you. I really want to see you."

"Leave me alone!"

"Brooke…fine, if you want to be alone, then we'll leave you alone but at least open up the door for a second so we can peek in and see that you're okay."

"I'm not a child, Peyton. I don't need to be looked after."

"I know. Brooke…just, just open the door. Please."

"Why? Who cares what happens to me now?"

The desperation and hurt in her voice tore Peyton apart. In twenty years of friendship, Peyton had never heard or seen in her in such a state of despair.

"Okay Brooke, this isn't cool. Open the damned door!"

No answer.

"Oh hell no! Miss Thang if you don't open this door right this very minute, I…I, well Peyton is going to break it down. And you know she could too. Her shoulders look stronger than mine, child."

Peyton shot Gordon an annoyed glance as all of a sudden a note was slipped from the other side of the door. Peyton read it aloud:

"'Definitely not suicidal and absolutely mortified by the threat I implied. Sorry for being an idiot. Please leave me alone to wallow in my self pity' Oh Brooke, no one thinks you're an idiot. Come on out and talk to us."

"Leave me alone", Brooke said again. "I'm fine. I'll be fine."

So the two, later joined by Chantal began their latest watch lounging in the living room. A few hours later, Brooke finally decided to emerge…

"Diva, this is no party. Just a couple of friends hanging out worried about you."

"Just checking. Making sure there's no one else lurking in the shadows", Brooke said as she rolled her eyes.

She spoke too soon as Haley emerged from the bathroom.

"Hi, Brooke. Um, how are you feeling?"

"Just great!" Brooke yelled as she threw her hands in the air. "Perfect! What the hell is going on here? You guys staging an intervention or something?"

"Brooke, I'm really sorry", Haley began. "I felt just terrible about everything and you weren't picking up the phone or answering messages…well, I was worried. I just wanted to see you. I brought the boys but they're at the hotel with the nanny for now. Anyway, I just wanted to check on you. Whatever happens…I love you and I'm here for you. I have your back."

"Fine", Brooke said as she took a seat. "Just make sure you don't stick another knife in it."

"Brooke, that's not fair", Haley protested. "I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how. I didn't want to see you…well like this. Nathan and I both felt awful. It was a really crappy situation to be in and it wasn't our place. But I did end up telling you and I hope that counts for something."

"Whatever", Brooke whispered.

"So", Peyton said, trying to semi change the subject. "Have you heard from him, Brooke?"

"Not in a day or two…"

"Actually the no good, Jezebel chasing, yet still delicious cheat called this morning", Gordon interjected. "Wanted me to tell you he misses you, he loves you and that he's sorry."

"What else is new?" Brooke sighed. "He must have gotten the divorce papers already."

"So you're really gonna go through with it? A divorce, I mean", Peyton asked.

"What else am I supposed to do? He lied, he cheated and I can't trust him anymore. Not to mention, I hate his guts."

"Are you sure, Brooke?" Chantal treaded carefully. "I mean, I know you're angry and hurt but Lucas has called the office several times and…well, he sounds really bad. And really sorry. I don't know. Maybe in time you guys could work it out…"

"Work it out?" Brooke snapped. "Work it out! Chantal, there is nothing left to work out here!"

"You go girl", Gordon added. "I don't blame you. Tell that scrumptious two timing buster to make like Justin Timberlake and cry you a river."

"But maybe it just seems that way now", Chantal tried again. "The pain is still fresh and all but after a while when you have time to think, maybe you guys could at least talk."

"Chantal, I consider you a friend and I love you dearly. I know what you went through when your husband died and I'm sorry for that. But your husband was a good man who loved you and he loved your son. Never once did he betray you or your vows or make you look like a damned in front of the entire world. And he left you because he died…just like the vows say, 'Til death do us part'. Jonathan died…he couldn't help that. Lucas threw our life away and shit on our marriage. He could help that. There is no way I could not divorce him."

"Did y'all see that ho's picture on the Enquirer?" Gordon asked. "Trashy! Bony, fake tan having, slutty, ugly, Christina Aguilera wanna be, man stealer. And did you see her clothes? Whoo child! Somebody speed dial the fashion police, we got a code red!"

The mood lightened temporarily as everybody got a chuckle out of Gordon.

"Yeah she might be all those things but…uh, she stole my man", Brooke said in a sad, quiet voice that drifted off.

"Well do what you have to do", Peyton nodded. "It's your life and your marriage. We can't tell you what to do. Lucas did a bad thing and now he'll just have to suffer the consequences, whatever they may be. Just take care of you, Brooke. Someone's got to."

"Look I know you don't want to hear my two cents but I have to say this", Haley sighed. Lucas is a good person. I've known him my whole life. And in twenty something years I've seen him be a stand up guy. He's loyal and kind and considerate. I know he loves you Brooke. I'm not defending him or making excuses for his poor taste in judgment but think about it. Lying and cheating? That's not the Lucas Scott we all know and love. Something had to happen for him to do this…"

"Haley, are you saying that this is somehow my fault? I was this oh so terrible wife who drove my husband into the arms of home wrecking tramp."

"No Brooke, I…"

"It's okay, Hales. I get it. Sorry we can't all be wife and mother extraordinaire like you!"

"Brooke, of course this isn't your fault and that is definitely not what I meant. I'm just saying that it's so out of character for Luke to behave this way. He made a mistake, a huge one but it's still a mistake and we're all human. I'm not saying pretend it never happened but at least communicating might be worth it. What if this marriage can be saved?" Haley asked, fighting back tears.

"I don't know, child", Gordon said. "A leopard don't change his spots, he just camouflages them. I'd take him by those raggedy practice sneakers he wears, and make his beady but oh so cute little head hit every wall in this building."

"I just don't want her to make a mistake. If you decide on a divorce, then fine but give it some thought Brooke. Just don't rush into anything. I don't want you to look back and regret the five minutes it took you to make a bad decision and realize yiou ruined your life."

"What about Lucas?" Brooke asked Haley. "What about the bad decision it took for him to make in five minutes. I'd say he ruined a lot of lives with that one."

"Look", Peyton interrupted. "Let's just halt all this premature divorce talk. Regardless, it's Brooke's decision. Our job is to just be here and love and support her no matter what. Brooke, like I said before, take care of you first."

"I am. That's exactly what I intend to do. I have a lot of stuff to think about so I'm going to lay low in Paris for a while until I decide."

"Oooo! Gay Paree! My kind of city! When do we leave, Diva?"

"Who said you were going?" Brooke asked, causing Gordon to scowl.

"Getting away might be good", Peyton agreed. "I know being cooped up here isn't the best thing. I'm sure just about everything around this place reminds you of Lucas."

"Yeah", Brooke said quietly. "Lucas left a lot of reminders. His clothes, his pictures, his stupid basketball collection…but uh, seems the joke is on me."

"What joke?"

"The biggest one of all", Brooke grinned spitefully through tears. "The saying is, be careful what you wish for, right? Well apparently I wasn't careful enough because my wish came true."

"Brooke, what are you talking about?" Chantal asked.

"I'm pregnant."

Everyone in the room let out a loud, collective sigh at the same time.

"Oh my God, oh my God", Chantal said over and over again.

"Scandalous", Gordon shuddered.

"Brooke, what are you going to do?" Peyton asked as she hugged her best friend.

"What am I supposed to do? I tried so hard for so long to get pregnant because I wanted Luke's baby. A baby that was the perfect combination of us. A baby with his looks and charm and personality. I wanted us to be a family, a real family. Two happily married people with lots of love to give to our child. Well, that fantasy is shot to hell right about now, don't you think? Right now I feel an anger and a hate and a deep rooted disgust for Lucas. I didn't even know I could feel that way about another human being. What kind of mother will I be if I feel those same things for the little baby that looks just like him."

"So you're not going to have the baby?" Haley asked wide eyed.

"No. I…I have an appointment in Geneva in a couple of weeks. It's funny, Switzerland is about the only place I can go where the stalkarazzi won't be one step ahead of me. Anyway, I want it to be quick and low key so I can go on with my life and forget about this baby and Lucas and everything else."

"God, I don't know what to say", Peyton shrugged. "This is…oh God. I can't tell you what to do but whatever you decide, I love you and I'm here for you. I mean that, Brooke. I'll even go to Geneva with you."

"Brooke wait", Haley said frantically. "You can't…you can't just run off to another country and have an abortion like it's buying clothes or something. Yeah Lucas was an asshole and yeah you hate him but that's still your baby, too. It's apart of you and I know how much you wanted it. I see you with my boys and I know you love kids and you'd make a great mom. Brooke, don't rush into this because if you do and you regret it, it's one mistake you can't take back."

"It's my life, Haley."

"Brooke, I agree with Haley. I'm begging you. Please don't do it", Chantal pleaded.

"My mind is made up. My body, my decision, right? Or at least that's what the Democrats tell me when I'm spending thousands at their fundraisers."

"Well at least tell Luke", Haley pointed. "You have to. It's his decision, too. He's the father and he at least has the right to know."

"Whatever. My soon to be former husband's rights aren't my top priority at this time."

"Brooke, if you have an abortion without even telling him that you're pregnant, then you're just as bad as he is."

"This is the way it is. And I'm sorry if you guys don't agree but I have to do what's right for me. So Peyton, thanks for the support, Haley and Chantal, butt out and Gordon…well for once you're actually speechless. Go ahead and give me your two cents so I can tell you to go to hell, too."

Gordon just shook his head. For once he was speechless. Real life was suddenly more intense and dramatic than one of those back in the day Tom Hanks tearjerker flicks. Only word kept coming to mind.

"Scandalous!"