Brooke sat alone at a corner table on the patio of the small Italian café. Eight days in Milan had been nothing short of perfect. Most of her spare time had been spent with Gordon shopping and seeing the sights of the beautiful city. It was a getaway, a nice vacation where she could escape temporarily the troubles from home. In Italy, she could just be another tourist walking around, sampling the delicious cuisine and having fun. A week or so abroad had been exactly what she needed but the days leading up to her departure hadn't exactly been drama free.

The evening of the baby shower she had told her husband of her business related travel plans. He hadn't said much then but Brooke knew the fallout would come eventually. She knew that because she knew Lucas. Being with someone for over ten years makes it slightly easier to predict their behavior and reactions. Sure enough, days later, Lucas let his true feelings be known that she shouldn't go. His reason was concern for the physical well being of her and their unborn baby but Brooke looked into his eyes and saw something else. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but she had the strong feeling that Luke had an ulterior motive.

Instead she assured him that she and Baby Scott would be fine and that the obstetrician had approved the trip. Lucas continued to protest, which pulled the conversation into a full blown argument. Lucas was adamant in his stand that she not go to Milan. Brooke was rather taken aback. In the preceding months during their various confrontations, it was she who had been the aggressive, angry one. Lucas had been the groveling almost whiny. Then for a few seconds, the roles were reversed. It was Lucas who was demanding and downright angry while Brooke found herself meekly defending her decision. Tired of the fighting, she told him she was going, there was nothing he could do about it and that her choice was final. And that's how they had ended things. The limo arrived bright and early to usher her to the airport. Lucas hadn't even bothered to come say good bye but she saw him peering out of the kitchen window of the guest cottage as the limousine had whisked her away.

"You look sad."

Brooke looked up and found herself staring into the eyes of Felix Colwell.

"I'm fine", she smiled.

"This seat taken?"

"Not at all. My trusty sidekick, Gordon, is off at the spa for a day of beauty treatments."

"And you're not with him?"

"No. I never thought I'd say this but I'm actually tired of the spa. I mean, Gordie and I go all the time and I just wasn't up to it today."

"Well the gods must be smiling on me then. It's my lucky day to be able to spend some alone time with the incomparable, elusive yet extremely gorgeous Brooke Scott."

Brooke smiled. Felix was still quite the charmer but their time together in Italy had shed new light on the man behind the cocky smirk. He was a hard worker and damn good at his job. In truth, his influence and assistance had made major dividends for Sascha Naj. But beyond the charm and the smile and the money and the power lie a good and decent, sensitive man.

"So", he smiled. "Our last night in Italy. It's the big show…Versace, Calvin Klein, Armani, Dolce and Gabanna, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Valentino and…"

"Sascha Naj", Brooke grinned.

"That's ride. The little design label that could."

"All thanks to you."

"Moi? Are my ears deceiving me or is Brooke Scott actually giving me a compliment?"

"Hey, I give credit where credit is due. Despite our differences in the past, if you do well then I'll tell you you're doing well. You're great at what you do, Felix and you really helped our company out."

"Wow. So I guess this does mean we're friends now."

"Yeah…I guess it does", she said softly.

"So is that all you see? The savvy and ruthless, handsome fashion tycoon."

"You forgot ego maniac."

"Okay. Savvy, ruthless, handsome, egotistical fashion tycoon."

"That's more like it", Brooke giggled. "No. I…actually I've come to see more. You say you read people, well I've been reading you myself."

"And what do you see?"

"I see the charming, slightly arrogant, charismatic front that everyone else sees on the outside. And I see an intelligent, totally driven, dedicated man with an uncanny knack for the business. And on the inside, I see pain and vulnerability and I see a good heart and a good person."

Felix smiled at her. Not with the trademark playboy smirk but a sincere smile.

"I guess you do see some of the real me. A lot of people don't and I like it that way. It's my choice but I feel a connection with you, Brooke. We have a lot in common."

"Sure if you count the fact that we're card carrying members of the 'broken hearted, cheated on, losers' club", she bitterly laughed.

"It must be hard for you, especially being pregnant and all."

"It definitely changed things. It changed me as a person and it made me see things differently. And it changed the dynamics with Lucas and me. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was a total basket case. Literally every day I could feel my mind slipping away. Life was so crazy and mixed up and I thought I wanted an abortion. I even went to a clinic in Switzerland to do it but I chickened out at the last minute. Luke was frantic too. So we…I decided to keep the baby. And that was the wild card, you know? Because all of a sudden, I had to put my feelings and emotions on the back burner. They didn't matter because I had another person to think of."

"That's very unselfish of you."

"I guess it comes naturally with being a mother. I have to be unselfish because I have to protect my child. My daughter is the innocent one in all this and I refuse to allow her to suffer because of her father's mistakes."

"So what happens now?"

"I don't know. The baby is due in two and a half months and if nothing changes then my divorce will be final in another six months. After that, who knows? I mean, Lucas can't live in the guest house forever but at the same time I want him nearby for our baby. Children need their fathers and there is no doubt in my mind that Luke will make an excellent dad."

"But he didn't make for an excellent husband?"

"For ten years he was a dream, the greatest partner anyone could ask for. And in one night, one brief, stupid, unforgettable night, it all ended. He threw it away. Yeah he's sorry and yeah he tries to fix things but it doesn't change the past. I still love him and I want us to be a family but I just can't forget."

"No one is expecting you to."

"That's where you're wrong, Felix. Everyone is. It makes me want to pull my hair out that people don't understand. So Lucas is a good guy, so he's sorry, so he's making an effort, so he was there for me when we almost lost the baby. Okay, I acknowledge those things and yes it counts for something but what about the trust issue? How can I ever trust him again? Every single time he walks out that door or when he goes on the road for a game, what am I supposed to think?"

"Brooke, if you don't have trust then what do you have?"

"Exactly. Then there is the fact that we were married. Married, Felix. He didn't fool around on his girlfriend, he cheated on his wife. I am his wife. We took vows that legally and religiously bind us for eternity, promises of everlasting love and faithfulness. And he slept with another woman. And that kills me, Felix. It kills me in every way. I think about it constantly, hell I have nightmares about it. I envision him touching her and kissing her and his hands and…oh God it seriously makes me ill. If that isn't bad enough, I wonder why he really did it, you know? He says it was a mistake and he'd been drinking and he wasn't thinking clearly and never meant for it to get that far but…I don't know. Was it me? Was I too hard on him? Did I bitch too much? Was I ungrateful? Was I not enough for him in bed? Did I drive him into the arms of another woman? Those questions haunt me on a daily basis and I don't know if I'll ever get my mind right. And soon it won't be just me. There will be this other little person. This baby. The baby that I had every reason in the world not to want. But I do want her and I do love her. And I love my husband but it's not that easy. People don't understand that. Not my mom or his mom or Nathan and Haley…not even Gordon sometimes. It's s just not that easy to take him back no matter how much I may want to."

"Then don't. You have to do what's right for you first, Brooke. Those other people? Screw them. It's not their life and they haven't walked a mile in your shoes."

"Yeah but…"

"But nothing. They have no right to judge you. I don't understand you, Brooke. You are pretty and you're talented and successful and smart as a whip. You have everything going for you. I've seen you in action at work both here and back in New York. I was watching you before you even knew I existed. And you know what? I liked what I saw. I liked the fact that you were tough and aggressive. You knew what was best, you knew what you wanted and you did whatever you had to do to get it. You were always out for the kill. You played the game on your terms and you didn't give a shit what anybody else thought. What happened to that woman?"

"I don't know."

"Yeah? Me neither. Maybe when I come back, she'll be back too."

"Come back?"

"Yeah. My work with Sascha Naj is done for now. Everything is in place and the campaign has been a raging success so far. My expertise has been summoned to London to work on some up and coming ads."

"You…Felix, you're leaving?"

"For a little while. But I'll be back. In six months Jessica and I already have our eyes set on the newest summer line and we're thinking about developing a fragrance."

"Six months", she repeated sadly.

"What's that face for? It almost looks like you'll miss me", Felix joked.

"Yeah…I guess I will."

"Well, I got you a little something to remember me by", he said as he dug in his pocket and pulled out a small, black box. "Here."

"What is it?"

"Open it and see."

"If it's a diamond I'll tell you right now that I am so keeping it but no dice on a proposal."

"Don't flatter yourself, doll."

Brooke matched his grin as she opened the box. It wasn't a diamond but it was a beautiful ring.

"What…"

"It's a rare Opal."

"It's exquisite. Oh…oh my. Felix, I…I cannot accept this."

"Yes, you can. It's a token of my friendship", he said, slipping it on the fourth finger of her right hand.

She shivered as Felix continued to hold her hand even after the ring was on. It was so beautiful, like nothing she'd ever seen before. And it was a nice decoration for her hands that both had remained bare ever since she had callously returned her engagement and wedding bands to Lucas.

"Thank you", she said, trying to gain control of her emotions.

"You're very welcome. Now I know I'm not seeing tears in those pretty eyes…"

"I'm fine."

"Don't waste your time with tears. Crying never solved anything. Channel all that emotion into something else."

"I'll have a welcome distraction when the baby is born but what do I do in the meantime?" she smiled.

"Yell. Scream. Curse at the top of your lungs. Run naked through your yard", he laughed.

"My neighbors would love your last suggestion", she quipped.

"To hell with them. And when it's all over and you let everything out, do what I do."

"What's that?"

"Go dancing."

"Who will I dance with?" Brooke asked.

"Anyone you want to."

She smiled thoughtfully as she played with the new ring on her finger.

"Felix?"

"Yes?"

"Take me dancing."

"I can't believe this", Lucas muttered in disbelief.

"Maybe it's not as bad as it looks", Nathan offered.

Nathan, Haley and Lucas sat in the study of Nathan and Haley's home. Lucas, frantic with worry after Brooke had taken off, had retreated to California to the sanctity of his little brother and best friend. Brooke had been the major topic of discussion as the younger married couple had tried to console Lucas. Brooke would be fine. She would be home soon. The doctor said there was nothing to worry about. And Brooke and Felix Colwell were just co workers…casual acquaintances at best. They had seemed to calm his fears, then it had happened. On the front of the society page of a popular magazine, was a large color photo of a beaming Brooke, stunningly outfitted in a strapless, sleeveless, ivory satin gown, dancing in the arms of an adoring Felix Colwell.

"I begged her not to go", Lucas said again. "But she doesn't listen to me anymore."

"She doesn't listen to any of us", Haley sighed.

"When is she supposed to come back?" Nathan inquired.

"Day after tomorrow, I think but I haven't been able to get in touch with her", Luke answered.

"It'll all be okay, big brother."

"Will it? Because I don't think so man. I used to but I guess I was just kidding myself. Everything is so different now. I'd give anything to take that night back but I can't. It was a mistake and no matter what I do, I'm gonna pay for it forever."

"Luke, don't get ahead of yourself", Haley said softly. "It's a business trip and she'll be home soon. Besides, I seriously doubt anything is going on between Brooke and Felix Colwell. It was probably an innocent dance at some party. You know how the press is, they love to make a mountain out of a molehill by taking photos and putting a stupid headlining grabbing caption over it. It's probably nothing."

"Oh it's something alright", he answered sadly. "And it always comes back to that night."