Brooke groaned out loud as she tossed and turned in the unfamiliar king sized bed. Sleep hadn't come easily ever since she had arrived in Tree Hill to be there for Lucas with Dan's medical situation. Now at three in the morning, she was miserably hot and wide awake in one of the guest rooms of the Scott family home. Sighing, she dragged herself out of bed and crept into the dark hallway. As soon as she stood, the baby began to move. At first it had felt like butterflies, tiny little bubbles inside her and gradually the movements became more frequent and stronger. Brooke loved every moment of those feelings.

"So you're a night owl too, huh?" she grinned as she lovingly rubbed the bulge of her belly.

The door to the room in which Lucas slept was slightly ajar. Brooke entered and stood over the bed. The plan had been to wake him up. Maybe they could talk or watch TV or share a glass of warm milk but he looked so peaceful in sleep that she couldn't bear to wake him. He had always been a beautiful sleeper, she thought to herself. She took a deep breath as memories of the happy times came flooding back. Sometimes it was hard not to live in the past, for everything there had seemed so perfect. But it was now the present that was heading into a future Brooke had never imagined.

"Good night", she whispered as she turned to leave the room.

On the way out she nearly tripped over one of Luke's small overnight bags that had been carelessly left in the middle of the floor. She cursed to herself and reached down to nurse her stubbed toe. During the course of their marriage she had always had to remind of her husband about leaving dirty clothes on the floor or bags and other things in the middle of the room. It was an accident waiting to happen, she had always said.

Her attention quickly diverted to the notebook that had been placed on top of the bag and was now on the floor. From the combined dim lights of the outside moon and the inside hall, she could barely recognize Luke's scribbled handwriting. All of a sudden, her curiosity got the best of her. She knew it was wrong to snoop but she couldn't help it. Besides, he was fast asleep and she would return the contents as she had found them before he ever had the chance to awaken. Carefully, slowly she removed the notebook and took it back to her room. Plopping down on the bed, she nervously tugged at her lip before beginning to read, almost afraid of what her nosiness might expose. Finally she allowed herself to read the words before her. Nothing could have prepared her for what Lucas had written:

Dear Baby Girl,

It's your daddy. I feel kind of bad writing this when your mom and I haven't even picked out a name for you yet. Believe me, we're working on it but it has to be special… perfect, just like you. First of all, it has to flow with the last name Scott and at the same time be totally original and beautiful yet simple. In less than four months you're going to be here with us and I still can't believe it. These five months have been so wonderful. I've never been happier. When I first found out you were coming, I was so scared. I didn't know how to be a dad. Babies require so much responsibility...this tiny, helpless little being who depends on you for everything. I didn't think I could handle it. It was something I've wanted more than anything but as happy as I was, I didn't think I was ready. But now I know that I am and thank God for that.

Now that we know you will be here soon, we are the happiest people on the planet. We're so excited. I haven't seen you yet except for a fuzzy image on a sonogram screen but I love you already. I love you so much it's unreal. Every time you move or kick, it is the most incredible feeling in the world.

Your mother and I are so very excited. Wait until you meet your mommy, you're gonna love her. She already loves you too. She has been working really hard to make your nursery beautiful. I know she can't wait to see you and hold you and sing to you. She's the absolute greatest and we're so lucky to have her in our lives.

You will live a blessed life. You will grow up in a nice house with two parents and a great dog named Pete. There is a big yard and lots of trees and green grass and plenty of things to play with. No doubt you will probably be spoiled rotten with every material thing your heart could ever desire but I want you to appreciate the little things as well. I want you to swim in the pond and enjoy the sunset in the evening. I want you not only to play with toys and dolls and stuffed animals but the grass and the bugs and the sticks. I want you to enjoy a life of privilege but at the same time remain grounded and humble. I want you to be raised with the same values my mother, your Grandma Karen instilled in me…faith, family, love, honor and respect. We want you to be a good person because that is the more important than anything. Always be honest, never look down on anybody and treat others the way you'd want them to treat you. Be strong and proud, happy and free. Respect yourself and others.

God there are so many things I want to teach you but I guess there will be plenty of time for that. It'll probably be a while before you can read or even understand this letter so I guess I'm writing it more for me at this point. I just want you to know how much you are loved and wanted even before you're here. Already I look forward to your first word, your first tooth, your first day of school. I am just in awe of how truly wonderful this all is. The more weight Brooke gains and the more her tummy takes shape...the more you grow everyday just amazes me beyond belief. Your mother is more beautiful and feminine than ever thought possible.

Before I thought basketball was my life and that I was put on this earth just to be a NBA Superstar. It's funny how all that can change so quickly. That thought is so fickle and superficial now. Now I know I am here to be Brooke Scott's husband and to be your father. We are going to give you so much love and affection.

Your mother is a very beautiful woman. She is kind, thoughtful, sincere, intelligent, articulate, funny and sensitive. I hope you inherit her creative juices. Her imagination is unbelievable sometimes. Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes and becomes a natural at it. Maybe I'm biased but I think she's brilliant… you'll come to see all that in time.

I am ashamed to say that once upon a time I did a very bad thing and I hurt your mom very much. She never deserved any of the pain I caused her. Maybe one day when you're older, I can be man enough to explain it all to you. I hope that you forgive me and I hope one day your mother completely forgives me as well. If not, and even if we aren't together, we will never stop loving each other and we'll never stop loving you. I have tried to be a decent person and live a good life. I've tried to bring smiles to people's faces and inspiration to their lives. Besides you, that is the one thing I can be most proud of.

When you get here, there are so many other people who already love you and can't wait to meet. Your grandparents and godparents. Then of course Uncle Nathan and Aunt Haley. They are great and because of them you will have two cousins, Aidan and Tristan, who will always protect you. You'll meet your Uncle Gordon. He is a character to say the least but oh well. That is something else you'll learn in time. That's just Uncle Gordie. But he's a damn good person with a heart of gold and according to your mom, a pretty cool shopping partner. Grandma Deb is a sweetheart and I have a feeling Grandma Karen is going to be the "fun" one, the one who will probably let you stay up past your bedtime and eat pizza for breakfast and have ice cream whenever you want. She can be a tough lady when she wants to be but why do I get the feeling she'll probably let you get away with murder, a lot more than she ever let me get away with. Then there is Grandpa Dan. I hope that you get to meet him and spend time with him and get to know him in the way I never did when I was a little kid. I just hope that he can be there for you…whether it be by body or spirit. He'll probably just make you want to kill him but that's another story. He's still your grandfather and you will love him and he will love you back.

And you'll get to see the whole world. It's such a magical place. The sun and the moon, the stars, the fields, the water, the people...There are good people and bad people in this world and even though sometimes it may not seem like it, the good far outweigh the bad. Because of our jobs you will get to travel a lot. Your mom is a successful and talented designer and as for me, well basketball just runs in the Scott blood I guess. Who knows? I could be writing to a future WNBA star? I can't say that it is my dream for you to follow in our footsteps because my dreams are whatever your dreams are. No matter what, no matter how hard or demanding life may get, you will always be number one to us. We will never leave you, where Mom and Dad go, you will go. And if you're older and you decide that's not the life you want, it will be your decision. That is what is most important to me. That you're healthy and happy and that you always get to choose. You are the most wonderful and beautiful and special thing to ever happen to me. No matter what happens, always know that you were made out of the purest and strongest of loves. Already you are our everything. Thank you for being the final piece of our happiness puzzle. Thank you for being born. We love you so much...

Love Always,

Daddy

Brooke was taken aback by the words she had just read. The love, the emotion and level of sincerity Lucas had displayed was overwhelming and his message to their unborn daughter had touched her in a way nothing ever had. That was her Lucas…the man she had married, the man she had loved ever since they were teenagers. It was all she could do to keep from running to him but instead she put the notebook back in its place and watched him sleep for a while before going back to the guest room. Tears fell from her eyes, tears of joy and tears of sadness as well over what might have been if only it hadn't been for that one fateful night.

Haley needed to get away and she stepped onto the porch for a much needed breath of fresh air. A few feet away from the beach house, stood Brooke staring off at the ocean. Haley smiled. Brooke had always been an incredibly beautiful woman but the glow of pregnancy just became her. It had been hard and so much had happened. It was no secret that the women no longer shared the closeness they once had but Haley hoped that would change in time.

"Brooke? Everything okay?"

"I'm fine", she said, smiling a tired smile as the sea breeze blew through her brunette locks.

"That's good. I just needed a break and to get some air. Um, Deb just called from the hospital. Dan is recovering and it looks like he'll be home in a few weeks."

"I'm glad", Brooke nodded.

"Yeah…look, um, I know we haven't had a chance to talk, Brooke and I miss that. We used to share everything and it hurts me that we're not as close as we once were. I know you have a lot to deal with and a lot has happened and I am truly sorry for all that. But I miss you and I love you."

"I know", Brooke said quietly. "Everything has changed, I guess. Sometimes I wonder how we all got to this point and what will happen to us now? To you and me, to Lucas and me…to our children."

"Brooke…"

"I'm trying, Hales. It may not seem like it but I really am. It's hard. And there is no way you could understand that and I pray to God that you'll never have to. It hurts so much."

"Luke is trying too."

"I know. I see it everyday. And I appreciate it and I respect it but it still doesn't change the past, you know? Last night I found a letter he wrote. The sweetest thing I've ever seen…he wrote it for the baby. It was just telling her how much we want her and love her. It's basically his thoughts and feelings about everything."

"He really loves you."

"And I love him, too. But I can't rush things or force my heart into something it isn't ready for. I have to protect myself and my child."

"That's understandable. I just hope one day it will all be okay. Maybe Nathan and I can buy a farm in Connecticut and we'll live next door to each other with lots of children and lots of animals. And we'll all be happy and everything will be perfect. And you and I will be together…like sisters."

The very dream made Brooke smile. A year ago it all wouldn't have seemed so impossible. At least it sounded good and Brooke could see the hope written all over Haley's face. If her sister in law could harbor so much faith, then why couldn't she? It was possible. Maybe. One day.

"Yeah", Brooke smiled as she reached for Haley's hand. "One day."