"Ha! Beat you again! I am the greatest of all time! Wimbledon here I come!"
Brooke grinned as she wiped her sweaty face with a towel.
"Okay, which ace are you, Venus or Serena?"
"Honey child, it don't matter because I look better than both of them in this fabulous little Nike skirt. Don't you agree?"
"Yeah and that's the only reason you beat me because I couldn't stop laughing at your little chicken legs", Brooke giggled.
"Diva, you take that back", Gordon protested.
"Okay, okay. Gordon, you have great legs."
He seemed satisfied at the compliment, which only made Brooke laugh more. It had been an unusually good day. Work was busy but Brooke had enjoyed getting back into the swing of things. After lunch at the Mayor's office and a string of high profile meetings, Gordon had joined her back at the house in Greenwich where they had played a rousing match of tennis. Brooke was the better player and surely would have won but the sight of her flamboyant best friend dancing around the court like Muhammad Ali in a tennis dress was quite the distraction.
"Whoo! All that hard work has worked up appetite."
"Why don't you stay on for dinner? Baby and I are in the mood for Frog Legs and Loaded Mashed Potatoes."
"I don't think so. Call me when you and Baby Diva feel like a nice juicy steak like the rest of us normal folk. Besides, if I keep eating with you and your creepy ass cravings, I just might lose my girlish figure and after all, if I don't watch it, then neither will the boys."
"Fine", Brooke scoffed. "I will have dinner all alone..."
"Halt the guilt trip, Miss Thang. I have a date tonight anyway."
"And what is more important? The lonely, pregnant best friend who loves you or some new flavor of the week piece of flesh?"
"Diva, don't make me answer that one", Gordon teased.
"Gordie!"
"What? Baby Girl, I have needs! And trust me, my needs do not get fulfilled sitting next to you on the couch eating cupcakes and ice cream."
"You're such a little ho", Brooke grinned.
"Call it what you want. Call me a ho but you won't call me horny, that's for sure."
"Whatever. Just call me when it's over so I can hear all the juicy details over Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and Sour Cream and Onion potato chips."
"Girlfriend, I don't know how you do it..."
"Easy. Just dip the chip in the ice cream and..."
"Not that even though the thought alone makes me want to vomit. I'm talking about sex. Or in your case seriously lack thereof. You're a better girl than me."
"Gordie, it is not easy. Trust me. I am hornier than a, than a, than..."
"The brass section of a band?"
"Yeah...that's it. Good analogy, Gordie."
"Well, I feel no pity because that's your fault, Diva. You very well could have let that sniveling, conniving, no good, lying, cheating, two timing, mistreating, double dealing but nevertheless scrumptious, gorgeous, hard bodied soon to be ex of yours, hit it the other night."
"I'd rather be sexless for the rest of my life", Brooke pouted with arms folded. "That was a huge mistake, the whole night was. I'm just thankful I came to my senses before we ended up in bed. I can't forget what he did, Gordon. Lucas really hurt me. He lied to me, he spit on our vows and betrayed our trust. I don't know of I can ever be intimate with him again."
"When it comes to making love and being intimate and all that nonsense, then you're exactly right. But who cares about all that? I'm talking about denying yourself one night of pure lust. Heavy breathing, grinding, writhing, passionate monkey sex. Then when you got yours, you could have sent his sorry fine ass packing all the way back to the guest cottage."
"I know and that probably would have happened had he not opened his big mouth and went on that spill about loving me and wanting us to be a family again. That load of crap certainly jolted me back into reality. Anyway, I'm kind of glad he spoke up. Even though it would have been just sex, I know I would have felt like shit in the morning. It's just best to keep the barriers up and not even put myself in situations like that with Lucas. It's about principle, I guess."
"Then you're a better Diva than me. There is no way I could resist that handsome little devil. I say you be roommates with benefits but I'm no shrink and I ain't one to give advice..."
"Really?" Brooke laughed.
"Not too much, Diva. Not too much. Child, look at the time. I know I need to get my ass back to the city and get ready for my date. I need to exfoliate my pores anyway."
"Well who am I to keep you from exfoliating?" Brooke laughed. "Now have a good time. And don't forget to fill me in tomorrow. And it's been a long, long time so make sure you use the dirty words when you describe the experience."
"Will do", Gordon said as he kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Brooke waved as her friend pulled his brand new Mercedes out of her gated driveway. It had been a good day after all even though the lonely nights and solo dinners did get a bit depressing after a while.
"Brooke...hey."
Brooke winced as she saw Lucas make his way from the guest cottage.
"Oh hey."
It had been an awkward week or so following the disastrous end to their Canadian venture.
"I hadn't seen you in a while and I just got back from a road trip. Um, I wanted to see how you were doing."
"Fine", she answered as she turned in the direction of the main house.
"Look, I'm sorry about the other night and..."
"Lucas, just save it, okay? Besides, I've heard it all before. I know you're sorry and you don't want me to feel pressured. I know we had such a great time that it seemed like we could go back to the way it all used to be. I know that you still love me and you don't want to lose me anymore than you already have. I know all that and I know that's what you were going to say. Look, I don't want to argue with you right now, okay? I'm kind of tired and I'm going up to the house for dinner and I'll see you later."
"Okay", he simply nodded.
"Okay."
"Hey Brooke..."
What now, she wanted to scream!
"Yeah, Luke?"
"You look kind of out of breath. Are you sure it's okay for you to be playing tennis and all?"
"Actually it is, Dr. Scott", she rolled her eyes. "I'm pregnant, not paralyzed. Now is there anything else?"
"No", he said quietly. "Um, just have a good night."
She shook her head as she made her way into the house. Sharing a residence with her soon to be ex was quite an experience and one that was literally beginning to suck the life out of her. Why couldn't he just be? Why did he have to try so hard? Why did he have to be all attentive and concerned and loving? The very thought of it all made her physically ill.
Brooke's eyes opened and peered over at the nightstand clock. 12:04 a.m. She must have dozed off as the lamp was still on and the book "What To Expect When You're Expecting" has slipped from her hands to her lap. The book was the pregnant woman's Bible, Haley had told her and it turns out her sister in law had been more than right on that one. Brooke found herself engrossed in the reading for hours, learning about all the things she was and would soon be feeling. More importantly were the daily changes inside her body that she couldn't see. A new little life was slowly forming deep within her being. It had a heartbeat and a brain and tiny arms and legs were starting to develop. It was truly a miracle, her miracle she thought as she smiled and rubbed her stomach.
Everything was going exactly according to plan. It seemed like everyday the pouch of her belly seemed to stick out more from her body. The pregnancy was right on track except for the one thing she had been most looking forward to. She hadn't felt her baby move yet. According to the book, she was right around that phase and she was as anxious as ever. She yawned and decided she would mention it to the doctor at her next appointment scheduled a few days later. It was late and she was tired and had a full day ahead. All she wanted to do was set the alarm and roll back over and sleep but that idea was vetoed by the undeniable urge to pee. Brooke walked down the hall to the nearest bathroom and relieved herself. She wiped and did a double take as bright red blood appeared on the tissue. For a moment the entire world froze. Brooke finally brought herself to look in the toilet and to her shock and dismay, there was more blood in the bowl. Her heart stopped as she stood and realized it was dripping down her leg. All the books and the doctors had said a little spotting was common but she was practically gushing.
Okay Brooke, remain calm here, she repeated to herself. She walked into the bedroom and looked for her obstetrician's number. Her hands shook as she dialed it then there was a sharp pain that seared across her entire middle. Brooke screamed as she dropped the phone. The blood and the pain was too much as an unbelievable panic welled deep inside of her. Her mind couldn't seem to grasp what was happening but she knew she had to act fast. Stumbling, she made it down the steps. More blood. More pain. All of a sudden the room felt very hot and Brooke's legs turned into jello. She was determined not to pass out. Just a few feet in front of her, though it felt like miles away, was the intercom system that reached out to various parts of the property. If she could just make it...just reach it...a few more inches...
She collapsed as her sweaty hand slammed the button that reached out to the guest house. Please God let him answer, she prayed.
"Yeah?" finally came a sleepy mumble.
"Luke! Lucas! Oh God..."
"Brooke!"
"Lucas!"
"Brooke, I hear you. What's going on? Is everything alright?"
"No...please! Please help me!"
"Brooke..."
"The baby..."
Lucas felt his heart skip a beat as he desperately threw on clothes and shoes. He took off in a sprint for the house. The doors were locked and in his state of mind he hadn't bothered to grab a key. Then he heard her faint cries and his brain couldn't even focus on remembering the alarm code. There were cute little miniature stone statues of lions Brooke had had implanted by the front door when they first moved in. Lucas kicked at one furiously until it was loose and he used it to ram his way into the home.
"Brooke! Brooke, I'm here! Where are you?"
No answer.
"Brooke!" he screamed again.
Then he saw the crumpled heap in the corner. Her pale clammy skin, eyes rolled back in her head, and blood that had soaked her white nightgown an evil crimson. In all his years, Lucas Scott had never known such fear.