Brooke fastened the buttons on her new baby blue suit, delivered courtesy of Marc Jacobs. With her body looking pre pregnancy radiant, designers all over the city were clamoring to make sure Brooke Scott would be sporting their clothes. With the public's interest repeaked following the birth of Harmony, Brooke was sure to be photographed everywhere she went. With publicity, surely free advertising would follow.

The jacket was lined with white and white buttons fell down the middle. The skirt was above knee length but not too short and she had found the cutest pair of white sandal heels to accent it. She curled her dark hair and carefully applied pastel type make up. When she was satisfied, it was on to dress Harmony. Once in the christening gown, the little girl looked like the precious angel that she was. Although the house and soon to be church was filled with plenty of people fussing over her, she was being a good baby, sleeping most of the time away. It would be a short ride to the church in Stanford and the Scott party would be sure to arrive in style via limousine.

"Alex, is everything on schedule and as planned?" Brooke asked Alex, the assistant.

"Yes, Mrs. Scott. The baptism should take place on time in three hours. Transportation has been set up and the caterers will on hand here at the house upon your return to prepare the meal."

"They were able to accommodate my menu changes?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Very well. Anything else, Alex?"

"Actually, yes. Mr. Scott has requested that you meet him at this address for breakfast", the man said, passing her a hand scribbled note with directions scrawled on it.

"Breakfast?" Brooke asked. "I don't have time for this. What the hell is Luke thinking?"

"Not that Mr. Scott, ma'am. The other one. Mr. Dan Scott. And he says it's very important."

Brooke hated to admit it but now her interest was peaked. She couldn't imagine why Dan would want to have breakfast with her alone and seemingly in secret. She thought for a second, checked her wrist watch, then checked it again before sighing and grabbing her purse and keys.

"Karen, um, I have some last minute stuff to do before we go to the church. Would you mind watching Harmony for me?"

"It would be my pleasure", the grandmother grinned as she cuddled the baby.

Brooke gave her daughter a quick kiss good bye, then slipped out to her car. She found the destination rather quickly and sure enough there was Dan Scott sitting at a back table dapperly dressed in his suit for the baptism.

"Do you mind telling me what this is all about, Dan?"

"Brooke", he smiled as he looked up. "You made it. I'm surprised but it's very nice to see you. Have a seat."

"Dan…"

"I took the liberty of ordering you a glass of orange juice."

"Uh thanks but I'd really appreciate it if you just cut to the chase. Why are we really here?"

"Do I have to have some kind of hidden agenda? Can't a man enjoy a meal with his beautiful daughter in law?"

"Now you're scaring me."

"Brooke, I did have a heart attack, you know. I'm only 45 years old and I could have died."

"Like that would ever happen. If you died then who would be around to jerk all of our chains?"

"Brooke, I'm serious. When my heart stopped on that table, you know what I saw? A bright light and these flowers…the prettiest, most colorful flowers I've ever seen."

"Dan…"

"And you know what else I saw? I saw Luke's face. Look Brooke, I haven't been the best husband or the best father or at times even the best human being. I've messed up but I'm truly sorry for that. When you come so close to death, it really changes your perspective on life."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I messed up with Lucas. I know I hurt him and his mother very badly. But I want to make amends. I want to make it right. He's my son, my first born son and I love him."

"Maybe you should be telling Lucas all this instead of me."

"No. You're exactly the person I need to talk to. I hear that you're not happy in your marriage…"

"Dan, did you have a heart attack or a lobotomy?" Brooke laughed. "Big news flash…what marriage? It's almost over anyway."

"So you say…"

"Sir, are you ready to order yet?" the young waiter interrupted.

"Yes. I will just have oatmeal with a bananna, please."

"And you, ma'am?"

"Cottage cheese and pineapple. Thank you."

The waiter nodded, refilled their drinks, then disappeared.

"Cottage cheese and pineapple? Is that all? I hear the omelets here are out of this world."

"Dan, did you really have me come all the way out here to discuss omelets?"

"No. No, Brooke I didn't. Back to the subject at hand which is your marriage…"

"Which is about to be over and regardless it is none of your business."

"Oh you see, it is my business. Lucas is my son and anything having to do with him or Nathan or their children for that matter, well it does affect me."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Brooke, divorce is not an option here."

"Really?" she laughed. "Well tell that one to my lawyer."

"Lucas is one of the best pro ball players in the country. He's only 26 and he has unlimited potential. In almost four years alone, both he and Nathan have cleared about 75 million each in salary and endorsements. The NBA can be a lucrative business but I don't have to tell you that, do I? Now last year he made a very foolish mistake in a very public setting. It did not look good having the All American Golden Boy fall from grace after getting caught with some Motel 6 groupie. People, especially sponsors, frown on those scandals and such. It was a damaging blow to his career. Probably the only thing that saved him was you giving birth to that kid. Brooke, Lucas needs you right now. He needs you at his games, on his arm, smiling for family press photos and publicly supporting him. If you continue with this divorce not only will the public sentiment be against him, the poor boy loves you so much, he'd probably be so devastated by your final departure that it would really start screwing with his game."

"What are you saying, Dan?"

"I'm asking what it will take to halt this nonsense. What will it take to make you stay? Anything your heart desires."

"Are you bribing me?"

"Call it what you want."

"Fine…ten million dollars."

"Done", he nodded.

Brooke's lips curled into a smile and she couldn't help but laugh. The situation she found herself in was impossible. She had always known her father in law was quite the character but his latest shenanigans had definitely taken the cake.

"I was joking. Dan, I don't want your money."

"Are you sure? The funds could be transferred into a personal account by nightfall."

"Yes, I'm sure. I don't need your money. I earn my own money. And there is nothing you can do, no fancy vacations, not a new car, not cash…nothing you can do to change my mind about this. What's done is done and that is between Luke and me."

"You're a foolish girl and you are making a grave mistake."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No sweetheart, I'm warning you."

"I wonder what your son would think about your little warning."

"I am doing this for him. Someone has to look out for his best interests. I'm sorry Brooke but I have to take my son's side on this one."

"No you don't. You're not taking Luke's side. You're on the side you're always on…your own. Something is up. You do have a hidden agenda where in the end I'm sure you and you alone stand to benefit. So don't give me this song and dance about loving Lucas. You love yourself. And you may not understand the actions I am taking but I'm doing something for my daughter that you never bothered to do for Lucas or Nathan…I'm protecting her."

"You always were quite the firecracker weren't you?" Dan chuckled. "I like that. We Scotts are strong, we're winners and I always thought of you as a much more appropriate choice opposed to that Haley. Simple, naïve, weak, wrong side of the tracks Haley James. But in the end, I guess the joke was on me. Haley might be all of those things but she is loyal to my son and to the Scott family name and that's a hell of a lot more than I can say about you. You won't get away with ruining my boy's life."

"Your boy? Well maybe if he hadn't been your boy with those infamous Scott genes or maybe if you had taken the time to be a real father to him when he was coming up, then maybe your boy wouldn't have made some of the mistakes he has."

"Don't screw with me, Brooke."

"No, Dan. Don't you screw with me."

"You know, Brooke, if you're going to manipulate him, you should aim a little higher. And remember, pay back is hell."

Brooke looked him right in the eye, refusing to show the intimidation and fear he had surely bestowed upon her. She had grown up knowing Dan Scott all her life and for 26 years he had been the assiest ass on the planet. As he sat there smirking at her, she knew none of it would ever change.

"Sir, your banana and oatmeal. Ma'am, cottage cheese and pineapple. Is there anything else I can get for you today?"

"No, thank you", Dan nodded, dismissing the server before turning back to Brooke who nervously picked at her breakfast. "You should have ordered the omelet like I suggested. That's the problem, Brooke with you and Haley and Deb and Mom and all the Scott women. You just don't listen."