Brooke hopped up immediately as soon as she heard the knock on the door. It was about time Gordon had arrived. She loved her friend dearly but was much more excited about the gallon of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream he was bringing over. The first trimester cravings had kicked in big time and although it was nothing weird like pickles and whipped cream, Brooke's newly acquired sweet tooth was taking on a life of its own.

"No hugs, no kisses, no high fives, no hellos, no how are yous, no meaningless chit chatter, I am not interested about what kind of day you had at work or the new hunk you're going to spend the rest of your life with. Just show me the ice cream, Diva", Brooke grinned as she opened the door.

Her smile quickly disappeared. There no ice cream and no Gordon, just her miserable soon to be ex husband.

"Brooke…"

"Why are you here, Lucas?"

"I…I wanted to see how you're doing."

"Fine up until about ten seconds ago. Now get out", she commanded, closing the door.

He maneuvered his foot as to block it.

"Look, I know you don't want to see me and that's fine. I won't stay long and I don't want to upset you…"

"Good. Good bye!"

"Brooke, wait. Please. Um, I…I just wanted to say thank you. You know, for not going through with the abortion or whatever."

"Your gratitude is not required. Believe me, I didn't do it or not do it for you."

"Then why did you?"

His eyes bore into her and it threw her off that she had lost control of the conversation. He had no right to ask any questions at all.

"Not that I owe you an explanation but I did this for me. As much as I hate you and hope you rot in hell, this is still my child too. I wanted this baby for so long and I went through so much to get pregnant. It's not fair just to be selfish and want to terminate the pregnancy just because the father is lying scum."

"Brooke, I'm not gonna argue with you. If that's the way you feel, then fine. For whatever reason you didn't have the abortion, I'm glad. Like I told you before, I'm gonna do any and everything in my power to be a good dad. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me enough so we can get through the next nine months together. I want to be there for everything…"

"First of all, it's the next seven and a half months. You should know that and if you didn't, you could have read it in the paper like my mother and everyone else. And secondly, what's all this 'we' crap, Lucas? I just came back from Paris and all of a sudden you're the one that's speaking French. Just so you know, there is no 'we'. There is no 'us'. You are Lucas, I am Brooke and that's where it ends."

"But we created that baby. Brooke, that is our child."

"Oh no you don't. 'We' had sex, 'I' got knocked up, 'you' started screwing groupies and now 'I' am having a baby."

"So now I won't be able to see my own kid?"

"Not if I have anything to do with it. I guess it comes down to who'll have the best attorneys, right?"

"Brooke, don't be like this."

"Don't you tell me how to be!"

"Okay, okay. I am not doing this with you right now. I missed you and I was worried and I wanted to check on you but I see coming here was a mistake…"

"Yeah you seem to make a lot of those lately."

"Yeah I guess I do. And I guess I'll spend the rest of my life making up for them. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I've been seeing someone…"

"Who is it this time or should I just tune in to the next edition of the Enquirer to find out? Brunette, red head, or another one of your bottle blondes?"

"Not like that, Brooke. I meant I'm seeing a therapist. I needed to talk to someone about my issues and my mistakes. I need help so I got it. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that."

"Okay, so what do you want from me? A cartwheel? I'm not gonna give you a cookie just because you're in counseling."

"I know…but I just wanted you to know. Brooke, I'm trying really, really hard here to sort everything out and get my life back together. I told you I'd do whatever it takes and that's what I meant. I'm trying here and maybe you could try too. I talked to the doctor and he said it'd be a good idea if you came in for counseling with me…"

"Counseling? With you? Are you high, Lucas? Number one, I'm not going anywhere with you! If you want to get counseling and get all your emotions together, that's fine but it's not on me. There is nothing your little shrink could say or do to change what you did or how I feel about you now. So if you want counseling, best of luck. As for me, I don't need it. I'm not the one who fucked up…or fucked around."

Lucas tried to not react but it was hard. Granted his wife was justified in all her anger but her venom filled words cut through his heart every time like a searing knife.

"Yeah…I guess you would feel that way. Look, I'm gonna go. If you need anything or if you get any news from your doctor's appointments…"

"You'll be the last person I call. Good bye, Ex."

"Yeah…good bye", he said sadly.

"Oh Lucas…one more thing. I've been seeing someone too. It's called my team of lawyers. They'll probably be requesting meetings soon with your attorneys. There are things in the suit that need to be divided and all…"

"Okay."

"And just so you know with the baby and everything…well, I want a fair financial settlement and I intend to get one."

"So this is all about money now?"

"Call it what you want. I say it's about responsibility and consequences."

He couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't believe this was what it all had come down to.

"Fine, Brooke. Have it your way. I don't even care anymore."

"Good", she smirked.

"Anything else while you're on a roll at ripping out my heart?" he asked.

"Actually…yeah. Here you go", she said as she pulled off her banded engagement and wedding rings.

"Brooke…"

"What? I won't be needing them anymore."

It killed him to hold the rings in his hand. It was one thing for her not to talk to him or to yell at him. It was one thing to be served with divorce papers. But in all their years together, she had never taken off her rings. This was the final blow. One gesture made it all seem so final.

"Do you remember the love we felt when I put those rings on your finger?" he asked with tear filled eyes.

"Did you remember when you were humping your little tabloid ho?" she retorted with a reptilian coldness.

He gave her one last sad look before turning on his heels to leave the apartment they had once shared. Before he could make it to the elevator, he ran into Gordon.

"Hey…hey man", he stammered.

"Hey Judas."

"It's Lucas…"

"Same thing."

Lucas could only shake his head as Gordon breezed by him into the loft apartment which he still owned.

"Yeah, man. Good night to you, too."

"Good night, you groveling, low down but oh so handsome cheat."

Gordon entered the still open door then shut it behind him. He half expected to see Brooke on the floor in her usual emotionally torn breakdown but instead she sat casually on the sofa flipping through TV channels.

"Diva…you okay, baby girl?"

"I'm fine but you're late. That ice cream has been calling out to me. I am eating for two now, you know."

"More like ten, the way you be devouring those cupcakes. Whoo child!", Gordon said as he began setting out bowls for two sundaes. "Moderate, Miss Thang. All your business is already in every magazine this side of New Zealand and you know those gossip hounds are just looking for something else to talk about and if your hind parts balloon up a couple hundred pounds, they'll have just the fodder they need."

"Gordie…"

"What? Diva, we are in this pregnancy together. Every step of the way…except the hemorrhoids, the stretch marks, varicose veins, pre-epidural labor, midnight feedings and of course shitty diapers."

"Gee thanks", she laughed as she fed herself a spoonful of ice cream.

"Girlfriend, you know I got your back! Anyway, I'm saying we are going to take maternity fashion to a new height. You will be the most glamorous mama to be who ever lived! Think Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker pregnancy…elegant, beautiful, sexy! You don't lay off them cupcakes and cookie dough, you're gonna end up looking like Monica Lewinski and Oprah…back in 85! Now you know that's wrong. But don't fret my little peach. Gordon will be here to take care of you."

"Thanks, Diva…I think."

"Now what was that gorgeous skeezer doing at your door? Peddling and begging with what little pride he has left?"

"First of all he had the nerve to thank me for not having the abortion", Brooke said with a scowl as she rolled her eyes. "Can you believe him? Then I got to hear how he's attending therapy now and some bull about how I should come with him."

"Are you gonna go?"

"Do pigs fly? And I cannot believe you asked me that."

"Why not? Look, the boy made a mistake that ruined his life and cost him everything. Think about it. He lost his wife and his kid, his game is starting to suffer and thanks to that Johnnie Cochran like Dream Team of lawyers you have, looks like homeboy is about to lose a nice chunk of that fortune. Anyway, put yourself in his place. Okay he messed up, like we all do from time to time, but imagine how one bad decision costs you for the rest of your life? He's probably going crazy and who could blame him. So if self help and shrinks are what he needs right now, then I think it's a good thing."

"Gordon…"

"What? Y'all both have been through some shit! Ain't no handbook on how to deal with this real life 'Young and the Restless' type of crap. Therapy is probably helping Lucas and it just might help you, too."

"So now you're all concerned with Lucas?"

"No. But the boy feels bad, he's gone from scrumptious to scruffy so he's looking bad…you left him, you're taking his baby and you're about to take his cash, his house and his airplane. I'm just saying, cut him some slack somewhere."

"Cut him slack after he messed everything up? He cheats on me, publicly humiliates me then knocks me up. And I'm supposed to feel sorry for him? Ha!"

"I'm just saying, we all do stupid things. Sometimes people deserve second chances."

"Well he doesn't. There is no excuse for what he did and I am tired of justifying my feelings to the entire world. And I cannot believe you are defending him on this! Whose side are you on? Everyone is all of a sudden so worried about Lucas Scott. Why? He did this. He did all of this to me and to himself so I will never feel sorry for his ass. Who protects Brooke's heart in all of this?"

"Calm down, Diva. I'm on your side…always. You know that. I just want what's best for you and little Diva."

Brooke took a deep breath as she looked down at her tummy. That's what she wanted too. She wanted was best for everyone, especially her baby, but what was the "best" anymore?