"Luke, I don't mean to brag but we totally have the cutest kid ever", Brooke said into the phone as she admired one month old Harmony in her carrier.
"Definitely", Lucas agreed. "And think about it. She's only a baby. Wait until she's like 14. We're gonna have to beat the boys off with a stick. She is so not dating until she's at least 45."
"45?" Brooke laughed.
"Yeah, you know, so she'll be mature and all", he grinned.
"I see. Um, when will you be home?"
"I'm pulling up in the driveway as we speak."
Brooke smiled at then went back to her favorite pastime, which happened to be staring at her daughter. Whether it was colic, or she was being fussy for whatever reason, Harmony's crying stage had tapered off dramatically. At four weeks she was a happy and calm baby, sleeping a little better during the night, much to her parents' delight. Lucas had moved from the guest back to the main house so he could help with their child but the two still maintained separate bedrooms. They had naturally fallen into the role of life long friends facing the inevitable but determined to raise and provide the best for their child.
"Good girl", Brooke cooed, lightly scratching her baby's belly.
It was almost dusk when the front door opened.
"How are my two favorite girls?" Lucas asked.
Brooke smiled and turned to look at him but she could barely see his face for the large bouquet of flowers he was holding.
"Who's the lucky girl?" Brooke grinned.
"Oh these? They're for Harmony."
She laughed and studied his face just to see if he was serious. What could a four week old girl do with a dozen roses? Still Lucas had been spoiling her rotten from the minute she'd been born so there was no telling.
"You hear that, Harmony? Daddy bought you flowers, baby. Isn't that sweet? You can't even lift your own head yet and already you're getting flowers", Brooke smiled.
"They are for you, smart ass", he winked.
They were beautiful. Brooke loved peach roses. Lucas knew how much she loved peach roses.
"Well thank you. They're absolutely gorgeous", she said as she went to put them in water. "What on earth is the occasion may I ask?"
"Because you're beautiful and you're the greatest mother on the planet."
"Flattery will get you everywhere", Brooke quipped.
"I was hoping you'd say that. Besides, I bet you forgot what today is."
"It's our fifth wedding anniversary", she said quietly. "Lucas, I'd never forget that even though sometimes you make me want to."
"Well it's our last anniversary together I suppose so let's make it a happy one."
"Happy Anniversary."
"And mostly you deserve flowers my dear because it's only been a month and you're able to fit into your old jeans. I'm proud of you, Cheery."
Brooke had added 27 pounds to her tiny frame during the pregnancy and had dreaded the aftermath of rigorously dieting and exercising to regain her pre-pregnancy shape. She'd had horrible thoughts of stretch marks, saggy boobs, and fat rolls but to her surprise and delight, she'd yet to see any of the above. It was like dropping a bowling ball and her body went back to its original size, mostly due to breast feeding. Her stomach was almost completely flat again and all she would need was a few extra hours at the gym before being able to fit in all her old clothes.
"So, um, you noticed I still fit in my old jeans, huh?"
"Oh yeah", he flirted. "I noticed."
They exchanged grins as equally naughty thoughts raced through their minds. They were in the midst of a painful divorce and the perfect love they once shared may have faded but the sexual attraction certainly had not.
"Luke, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"God, I hope so."
"I mean, it's okay, right? We're two consenting adults. It wouldn't be the worst thing if we had one last hoorah."
"Brooke, I agree."
"And we're friends."
"With benefits", Lucas added.
"And we're still married."
"What better excuse do we need than that?"
"It's our last anniversary for Christ's sake."
Lucas pulled Brooke towards him and she shivered as his tongue traced a trail on the most sensitive exposed spots of her neck. Her breasts, braless in a tank top, brushed against him and she felt his hands cupping her ass through the pair of jeans she was wearing.
"I want you", he breathed.
"It's only been four weeks", Brooke said. "I mean I feel fine physically but Dr. Ellison hasn't cleared me for sex yet."
"I don't want to hurt you..."
With milk leaking from her nipples, a lack of sleep, wearing nursing bras and being stuck all day wearing sweats, Brooke hadn't felt sexy since Harmony was born. As her husband hungrily kissed and touched her, it was the first time she had felt desirable in a long time.
"I want you too", she moaned.
Picking her up and wrapping her legs around his waist, Lucas began kissing her as hard and passionate as he ever had. His hands roamed her body as he searched for easy access ways to disrobe them.
Brooke tossed her head back, her eyes rolled back in sheer ecstasy. As she turned her face, she saw little Harmony lying on the floor. She was just a newborn and Brooke had heard that their vision was still slightly unfocused at that point. Of course the baby had no idea what was going on but that was still Brooke's child. It was a definite mood killer trying to have a quickie when your kid is ten feet away from you wide awake, staring intently.
"Luke...I can't. Pleaae stop."
"What's wrong?"
"We can't. I mean, Harmony's awake. She's like right in front of us. Don't you think that's kind of...well kind of gross?"
"What do you mean, Brooke? She's just a baby. She doesn't know what's going on. Besides we are her parents. What we're doing isn't dirty or wrong. It's beautiful. It's just physical affection."
"I know. I just feel weird, kind of like how it was when we used to do it with Pete in the room."
"It's okay", Lucas laughed.
"What? Lucas Eugene Scott, are you laughing at me?" she demanded.
"Actually Brooke Rebecca Davis Scott, I am. That is like the looniest thing I've ever heard of."
"I am not a loony", she whined.
"Maybe not but I am really horny and I'm really thinking I have to kiss you right about now. After all, this is the last hoorah. We'll be divorced soon so impromptu booty sessions will totally be out of the question. And it is our anniversary. Our last one…"
"Okay, okay, you win. Shut up and come here", Brooke said as they continued making out.
Just as they were almost naked and ready to get it on, the doorbell rang.
"Lucas, are you expecting anybody?"
"No. Nate, Hales, and the boys are out for the evening. They're in the city and they won't be back for hours. Just ignore it."
That was kind of hard considering it rang and rang and rang again.
"Lucas? Brooke? Hello? Anybody home? Are you guys in there?" someone called out.
"Brooke, that sounds an awful lot like...", Lucas started.
Before he could finish the front door swung open.
"...Deb", Lucas finished.
And sure enough in the entranceway of the house was half the population of Tree Hill. Keith, Karen, Dan, Deb, and Dan's parents, Royal and Mae. Unfortunately Lucas and Brooke were on the floor, hair tussled, pants around their ankles.
"Surprise", Keith squeaked out.
In a bustle of confusion, Lucas and Brooke retreated upstairs to get straightened out. There wasn't much time for greetings as they were both half nude.
"I thought you said they were getting divorced, Danny", the two heard Mae whisper as they ducked for cover.
"What is everyone doing here a day early?" Lucas asked as he searched for clothes. "Did you know they were coming?"
"Of course not. I thought everyone was coming tomorrow and certainly not together. Keith, your mom, Dan and Deb and your grandparents on one flight? You have got to be freaking kidding me. I thought they were all coming at different times tomorrow just like Peyton and Jake and Jenny. Oh God, this is so embarrassing! Do you think they saw anything?"
"I don't know. Probably just our bare asses in the air."
"Ha ha, Lucas. Very funny! This is no time for jokes. I am absolutely mortified! This is the worst! It's just like when we were 17 and got caught in the neighbor's hot tub that time your mom went to cooking school in Florence. Or the time Deb caught us at the drug store buying condoms and whipped cream."
"As I recall both instances were totally your fault", Lucas laughed with raised eyebrows.
"Well this is much, much worse. Lucas, I don't want to go back downstairs."
"Uh, we have to. They've got our baby."
"You think this is funny", she pouted, throwing a pillow at him.
"No I don't", he protested, trying not to crack a smile.
"Fine. Now that you're dressed, just go downstairs and try to pretend like nothing happened."
"By myself? Why me? Why do I have to be the sacrificial lamb?"
"It's your family."
"You're a cold woman."
"Okay, okay I'll go with you, you big baby. Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Alright. Let's do it. Uh, no pun intended."
"Ha ha."
"Sorry. Look, Lucas, I am really scared to face everybody especially Dan and Royal."
"How else are we gonna get Harmony back?"
"We could just let them have her. If we weren't getting divorced we could always have another baby", she joked.
Lucas smiled and gave her a friendly pat on the back for reinforcement. She took a deep breath and she could tell she was gonna need it.
"Brooke, I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience having everyone come a day early", Karen said. "We just thought it would be a nice surprise, a way to spend more time with you guys and the baby."
"It's fine, Karen. No biggie."
The family had been at the house for two hours and things had been going as well as expected. Lucas was hanging out with Keith and Brooke, Deb and Karen were making dinner while everyone Royal and Mae fawned over Harmony. There hadn't been the usual confrontation with Dan yet but the night was still young. No one had mentioned the little scene when they first walked in the door and that was making for an uncomfortable tension.
"I guess we should have called first", Deb nervously offered as they ate supper. "To uh...um, make sure we weren't interrupting."
"You didn't interrupt", Brooke shrugged.
"Oh. Um, okay. We...uh, I just thought..."
"My wife is just trying to apologize for us barging in on you and my son humping", Dan good naturedly laughed.
"Daniel Paul Scott!" Mae exclaimed, swatting him over the head.
"It's okay", Lucas grinned. "Everything's cool. Let's just say we ,uh ,forget about this little incident."
Harmony began to fuss from her seat, saving and distracting them all.
"Let me", Karen smiled as she picked her up.
She was such a great mother and an equally wonderful grandmother, so soothing and comforting with her voice and touch. Lucas knew he had been so lucky to have her in his own life and watching her with Harmony brought a tear to his eye and a smile to his heart.
After a somewhat routine meal, everyone settled in the family room. Dan was being quiet, a little bit too quiet in his own brooding way but no noise was better than bad noise. Lucas and Brooke hadn't really talked to him since the hospital visit and their impending divorce had never been a topic of conversation. Brooke felt like somehow in those days she had made a real connection with her usually evil father in law yet it had hurt her feelings that he hadn't made an attempt to even hold Harmony when he seemingly could never get enough of Aidan and Tristand. He had barely looked at her. For whatever reason he had issues with his son daughter, and everyone had long ago come to terms with that. But Harmony was a baby. A brand new little life who had never hurt anyone. Why should she have to endure his wrath? It just wasn't fair.
"We're back!" Haley loudly announced as she and Nathan returned from New York, each holding a sleeping son.
Everyone greeted them and Lucas and Brooke sadly looked on as Dan went on and on about his wonderful grandsons. So much for the so called reformed sweet man Deb had told them about over the phone and in letters. Score one more for Dan Scott. Once more he had ruined yet another family gathering. Lucas and Brooke could tell Harmony's christening would be loads of fun. Lucas sat looking at the tears in his wife's eyes as he glared at his father. Was it truly possible to love someone yet hate them at the same time?
"Brooke, why don't you show us Harmony's christening gown again?" Mae asked, clearing her throat.
Brooke went upstairs to the nursery and she prayed Lucas wouldn't snap and kill his father although she couldn't much blame him if he did.
"Oh Brooke, this is so pretty", Haley said.
"It is", Deb added. "It looks like the one Aidan and Tristan were baptized in. They looked beautiful and I know Harmony will too."
"I'm sure she will…if her grandfather bothers to notice", Lucas added
"Oh Luke, Dan notices. He is crazy about Harmony. He has her little pictures all over the office and the house. He loves all his grandkids. He's not ignoring Harmony, Lucas. That's just how he is. You know your father", Deb added
"Yeah I do and that's the problem. Why is he like that?"
"I don't know, honey. It's sad but it's just his way. But he's a good man at heart. He really loves you and Nathan and he loves Harmony just as much as he loves Aidan and Tristan", Mae spoke up. "He just has a stubborn streak, that's all."
"Well he better not ruin my daughter's baptism and I mean it. I don't want to put up with his shit."
"Lucas..."
"No. I mean it. I really mean it."
And he did.