Author's Note: Okay...as I've said time and time before, I really do appreciate and encourage any and all feedback, comments and reviews. I like reading what you guys have to say whether it's good or bad. However, let me stress yet again that as I write these stories, I use my general outline and even if I have to steer from it, the entire story, top to bottom, start to finish has been played out in my head about a thousand times. So I already know what's going to happen. I know the majority of readers want Brooke and Lucas back together. Will that happen?? I won't tell you at this point and the only way to really find out is to to keep reading. If that is too frustrating for you, then don't read it.This "neverending" storyhas quite a few more chapters to go and eventually everything will come together and start to make sense. So this is just a warning to let everyone know that things between now and the end might not go the way you like or expect. Be patient, express your gripes but no flames please because all that's gonna do is piss me off. Thanks...

"Oh let me hold her. She is so adorable."

"Fine", Gordon huffed as he handed over Baby Harmony to Peyton. "But just be careful, will you? Baby Diva is precious cargo."

"Gordon, I know how to hold an infant."

"I don't know. With them broad shoulders…"

"Would you stop with the broad shoulders thing? I am so self conscious now because of you. I feel like I should be in the NFL or something."

"You said it, I didn't", he mumbled with folded arms.

Watching the playful altercations between her two best friends was almost enough to make Brooke forget about her disastrous meeting with her bastard of a father in law.

"Diva, you're back and looking mighty Diva-licious. Work the baby blue, child", he grinned as he greeted Brooke with a kiss on each cheek. "Now if you hags will excuse me, I'm off to make sure I get a good seat in one of the limos. There is this absolutely edible hunk downstairs with brown hair and the cutest baby face. Between you and me, I think we were meant to be together. Oh Diva, it would be perfect. I would give up the fast paced city life and move to the country with him where we would have a farm and a house with a picket fence and a Golden Retriever."

"You, country living, picket fence, Golden Retriever? Why is that picture not meshing in my brain? And who is this flavor of the day anyway?"

"I don't know his name but there is one glitch in my life plan. This little girl keeps calling him Daddy."

Peyton's eyes grew as big as saucers as Brooke struggled to contain the laughter building up inside her.

"Gordon, wait a minute. Is the guy wearing a dark blue suit and the little girl is about eleven with a pink and yellow dress?"

"Yeah, that's them, Broad Shoulders."

"Gordon, that is my fiancé and my step daughter!"

"Oops! My bad! Don't get your briefs in a bunch, Broad Shoulders. I was just looking. And since you are such a good friend of Diva, I promise that I will not steal him away."

"Gee, thanks Gordon", Peyton laughed as Gordon smiled and left the women and child alone.

"I'd say you better hurry up and marry Jake before Gordie does", Brooke giggled.

"I guess you're right. Not only do I have to beware of other women now I'm on the look out for bald head Rupaul look-alikes with a better make job than I have", she joked.

"Oh my Gordie is harmless…I think. Anyway, I'm really glad you and Jake and Jenny could make it."

"Where else would I be, Brooke? There's no way we would miss this. Harmony is an absolute doll. I think I'm gonna steal her and take her back to Chicago."

"You're a natural with her", Brooke said as she rubbed her baby's back. "We're not getting any younger, Pey maybe it's time you and Jagielski finally take the plunge then give Jenny a little brother or sister."

"More and more I think about it all the time, believe it or not. I like kids and Jake is already an incredible dad. The last few months have been really good for us. I'm happy, I mean really, really happy. It's the first time I've ever felt like part of a real family. I know it's time to quit making excuses and just get married already and after that, yeah as much as I love Jenny, I guess I do want a baby of my own."

"When the time is right and you're both ready, it'll happen. You can prepare all you want but I guess you'll never really be ready for it. Don't worry though. You and Jake are already amazing parents. Raising a child really is a joy. Yeah it is hard work and I worry all the time because I'm kind of learning as I go and sometimes when she won't stop crying and I can't comfort her, it gets very frustrating but I love Harmony with all my heart. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Having her has all been worth the bad times and I wouldn't trade that little girl for all the money in the world."

Peyton nodded like she understood and the old friends chatted some more before it was time to head off to Stamford. Brooke was excited to be surrounded by the people she loved most and more importantly she wanted her child to be baptized. Religion and God and spirituality were important and she wanted those same values instilled in Harmony's heart at an early age. Everyone actually arrived at the church a little early. People were still arriving so Brooke had a few extra minutes to change Harmony's diaper.

"Hey little cutie", Haley grinned as she walked over to play with her niece.

She looked nice in a dark green pantsuit.

"Hi Hales. You look great. Have you been tanning? That shade of green really goes with your hair."

"Thanks. Yeah I've managed to hit the beach a few times and Nathan is actually, having a tanning bed installed for me in the sauna and Jacuzzi room."

"Sauna and Jacuzzi room? Okay Ben and J Lo! You go girl."

"Stop it, Brooke, you're embarrassing me", Haley smiled. "You know Nathan, the more extravagant, the better. Anyway, I was just wondering if I had any special duties today."

"Excuse me?"

"You know for the christening. I was just wondering if the godmother has to do anything special besides stand next to you and Luke."

"Oh, um...yeah, I mean, can you hold on one sec? I need to uh speak with

Lucas."

"Sure", she shrugged. "I'll take the baby."

"Thanks", Brooke mumbled as she scurried off to find her husband.

Lucas was in a corner straightening out his tie. He rarely wore suite and always complained when he did but nevertheless it was those times when he looked most handsome.

"Luke, we got a big problem."

"What's that?" he asked.

"Haley. She thinks she is Harmony's godmother. She's asking what to do during the ceremony."

"Did you tell her you picked Peyton?"

"No. But I never came out and said it was her either. She just assumed. Lucas, what am I supposed to do?"

"Just tell her the truth, Brooke. And you have to tell her now and in private, otherwise she's just going to find out in a few minutes in front of everyone."

Brooke sighed and took a deep breath. She just wanted a special day for her daughter to be baptized. First Dan, now Haley. Why did it always come down to some kind of dramatic confrontation? Brooke walked over to where Haley was standing cradling Harmony.

"Hales, I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Sure. What's up, girl?"

"It's about today and about Harmony. About the christening and all."

"Okay. What about it?"

"You know that I love you, right? You've been a great friend, almost like another sister to me. In a way we are sisters because I was, well am, married to Lucas and you're married to Nathan. No matter what we'll always be connected and we'll always be a big part of each other's lives."

"I know", she said. "Brooke, what's going on? You're stalling on me."

"I know. You're right and I'm so sorry. I think you're a wonderful person. Lucas and I both think the world of you but..."

"But..."

"We talked it over and we felt...we feel that Peyton and Gordon are the best, I mean, right choice to be Harmony's godparents. Um, I hope you understand."

The look on her face said it all. Her entire expression fell into a cloud of shock, anger and hurt.

"I see", she swallowed.

"Please don't be upset..."

"No. It's okay", she said, handing Harmony back to her mother as Haley's eyes began to tear up.

"Haley, don't walk away."

"No. You made your choice, Brooke. I guess we've been growing apart as friends for a while now and I know you've always been really close to Peyton."

"Haley..."

"It's okay", she said, walking away.

Great! Now Brooke really felt like a big sack of shit standing in the middle of the church. She still felt that she had might the best decision possible concerning her baby, on the other hand, she had never intended to hurt Haley's feelings.

"Brooke, honey, it's time to start", Karen said, peeking her head in the door.

"Okay. Um, is my mom here?"

"Your mom made it but apparently your father and step mother couldn't.

"Great", she muttered. "What else is new?"

Brooke sighed again and walked her sleeping child to the front where the ceremony would be held.

"Is everything okay?" Lucas asked.

"No."

"Man, I just saw Hales. She looked pretty upset."

"She is."

"Yeah, she looked like she was crying."

Nathan emerged from his pew and motioned to Brooke and Lucas.

"What's going on?" Brooke whispered.

"How could you guys do this?" Nathan asked. "Haley's feelings are really hurt. Why would you treat her this way?"

"Nate, I don't see what the big deal is..."

"It's a very big deal", he said, before loosening his tie and taking a seat next to his wife and kids.

The ceremony started as tensions were thick among the Scott family. Brooke was nothing short of drained with her emotionally trying day and as the priest christened Harmony, it was hard to tell who was crying more, mother or daughter. Somehow everyone got through it and even at the party afterwards Brooke's head was elsewhere. She couldn't even concentrate on the guests invited. Everything had turned into a horrible mess. Ever the bad hostess, she made up some excuse about a headache and retreated back to the safety of her bedroom. She didn't want to deal with family or friends or the Nathan and Haley situation and most importantly, the last thing she wanted was to see Dan's face. All she did want was to curl up in bed with her daughter.

In order to give Brooke a much needed break, Deb had tended to Harmony downstairs. Brooke dozed off and when she woke up and looked at the clock, it was midnight. She heard her baby crying and went downstairs. Just as she rounded the kitchen it stopped. She assumed Karen or Deb or Peyton was taking care of her and Brooke appreciated the gesture but it would be impossible for her to sleep without her child in the same room.

The living room where Brooke had left them all was silent but she heard a comforting humming sound towards the back porch. She looked outside and seeing Elvis in a UFO wouldn't have surprised her more. There was Dan Scott tenderly rocking Harmony while singing to her. She stared up at her paternal grandfather quiet and wide eyed seemingly content in his embrace. In twenty something years, Brooke had never seen him show such tenderness. At times, much like their confusing confrontation just that morning, it seemed like he was some kind of monster incapable of being so loving. It was all too much. Brooke made it back to the kitchen table and collapsed in the chair, crying harder than she had in a very long time.